Devia Pectus Pectoris (Open)

[A'dion]

Kenessia adjusted the riding straps, earnestly trying to keep Loriath from fidgeting.

Kenessia, there are Blacks that must be aware of my presence. Rayth and Schwarzth are simply delicious looking. Don't you think?

I would, if it weren't for the fact that you'll be Rising here in about a month, and I'd rather not have any children by a man I don't even like. If Dragons could pout, Loriath would be the master of it. But she did stop moving about, though her eyes whirled as she thought about the two luscious Blacks. Her Rider, her poor poor Rider, had no mate, and she knew this upset her. Why no one wanted Hers -- Hers was perfect, you know. There was no one better in the whole of Pern, and everyone HAD to know that. -- was a mystery to the Green, and she figured she'd ask Rayth about it. She liked him.

As Assistant Weyrlingmaster, it was her job to go and find candidates for Orlaith's clutch. Though she'd been back for several sevendays, the place had been abuzz with activity, with candidates coming from all over. But they still needed more. And so she was about to mount up when Loriath straightened up onto her hind feet and didn't let her mount.

Loriath, what are you doing?

I want to speak to Rayth. Kenessia turned bright red at the impure thoughts that the Green had about the Black, and closed her eyes.

We have things to do, my love. Please, not today. Loriath peered at her Rider, and noticed dark circles under her eyes. Nightmares plagued Hers, and often she herself had awoken to her rider's shaking figure curling up between her forelegs. A fierce protectiveness was felt towards her nearly broken Rider, who always put on a happy face for her fellow riders. The Green shook herself stubbornly,

No. We are not leaving yet. And thus, she stayed on her hind feet to keep the woman from mounting. Kenessia sighed and rubbed her eyes, trying to dispel the tiredness. Lonely nights and full days kept her awake at night, as well as a ridiculous crush on a blackrider. She was far too old for girlish crushes that would be fruitless in the long run, and Loriath's endless prodding and matchmaking were grating on her despite her love for the Green.

[tealah]

Oooh, I see Loriath.

That's nice. D'ak's mental reply was short, and to him that was the end of it. They were just coming in from sweepriding, and nothing appealed more than a quick bath, a meal, and bed. Maybe he'd skip the meal, but he was feeling far too dusty to skip the bath before bed.

Oh good. We'll get started on that bath then. Rayth chuckled richly in his mind. D'ak had only time to be alerted that something was afoot by the black's tone of voice before Rayth tucked in one wing and dropped into a corkscew turn. He flipped over, around, and dove back toward the lake. Do you think she was watching? he asked his rider anxiously, but D'ak was too busy grimly holding on and keeping himself tucked close so as to not get whiplash to answer. Well, let's get you that bath, then. You need to look good for her rider.

At that D'ak began to sit up indignantly. "What - " But he had to swallow whatever else he was going to say when Rayth dropped into a sudden steep dive. The black wings flared out suddenly to stop their downward movement, then...

SPLASH.

D'ak sputtered and coughed, shaking the unexpected lake water out of his eyes when they resurfaced. Rayth had dropped them right into the middle of the lake with his antics, and was swimming toward the shore already by the time D'ak had caught his breath again.

Ah, beautiful Loriath, the black chirped. You are looking especially stunning today. Are you enjoying the day? D'ak's emotional state promised retribution, but Rayth cheerfully ignored it in favor of the little green.

"Rayth..." D'ak growled warningly through clenched teeth. He undid the riding straps. They wouldn't do much good wet anyway, and besides he could just walk to his weyr. Let Rayth make a fool of himself over a pretty green - he wasn't going to be involved in it.

Oh, do go say hello to Loriath's. Rayth dumped D'ak unceremoniously into the water, leaving him to flounder the last few feet to shore while the black hopped over to Loriath.

Even drenched and dripping, his boots squelching with each step, D'ak managed to keep his back straight and his expression coolly dignified. It looked like Kenessia was running into dragon problems of her own, judging by the way Loriath was refusing to let her mount. He nodded to her, intending to go right passed and keep walking until he got to his weyr.

Instead he stopped and took a closer look.

The dark circles under her eyes and look of weariness didn't seem to have much to do with her dragon's antics, unless Loriath were also keeping her awake at night. D'ak doubted it. "Are you all right, Kenessia?" he asked quietly.

[A'dion]

Loriath positively purred when Rayth did his aerial acrobatics. Turning to watch him, she crooned a greeting to him. She'd been watching, all right. If any Black caught her in flight, it'd be Rayth. Or maybe Schwarzth .. probably Rayth. He was nicer.

Wonderful Rayth, she simpered pleasantly, I'm so glad you're here. Her neck craned to brush her cheek to the Black's. As usual, she dipped her head to brush her muzzle gently against his bad foot, then sidled next to him and promptly laid down, looking quite content with herself.

I am enjoying it, yes, though much more so now that you are here. How are you and Yours? She asked, before looking pointedly to her Rider,

Say hello, Mine, her mind-voice urged as if it were speaking to a child. Kenessia's green eyes focused on Loriath in mortification. The Green was matchmaking! Her cheeks flamed a pretty shade of red, and only got worse when Rayth's presence indicated that D'ak himself was around.

"Are you all right, Kenessia?"

The woman froze, and she sighed, trying yet again to rub her eyes free of the tiredness,

"I ... I am simply tired, D'ak. I don't sleep much anymore, and when I do its ... complicated. I wouldn't want to bore you." She smiled a bright smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. Loriath had rested her head along Rayth's back, sunning herself and keeping herself cool with the combined heat of the sun and cool scales where water still lingered.

Swift bolted from between and darted around D'ak's head, a blue streak that began chattering angrily at the male before plopping himself on His big thing's shoulder, staring balefully at D'ak. Keelty arrived shortly after her counterpart and settled between Loriath's headknobs, preening herself and flirting up at Rayth, much to the Dragon's annoyance. Kenessia hugged the Blue flit on her shoulder, blushing darkly,

"Forgive me. He's ... jealous, I suppose." Why did she have to stutter like a bumbling fool at a Gather? Sighing in mortification, she was about to apologize when she arched a brow, finally noticing that D'ak was rather ... er ... damp. Tilting her head, she giggled just a bit, "Rayth giving you trouble?"

Rayth is perfect. He doesn't cause trouble. Do you, Rayth? She simpered again, looking up at the Black adoringly. Kenessia rolled her eyes and shook her head tolerantly, though the sag of her shoulders indicated she'd rather be asleep somewhere.

That's because you fancy him.

If I do? Why don't you fancy His?

Because D'ak doesn't fancy me back. ... I'm not having this conversation.

Loriath rumbled in what was probably a chuckle.

[tealah]

I could not help but feel wonderful with such beauty and grace to observe, Rayth declared, his eyes whirling down at Loriath. D'ak, however, seems to be rather moody lately. He's been brooding over Orlaith's clutch worse than Orlaith and Zevranth combined. The black dragon 'sighed' deeply. And then, slyly, He needs something to take his mind off all his troubles, maybe. And how is your rider, Loriath?

D'ak, clothes still dripping, regarded Kenessia somberly for a moment. If she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't push her, but really he hated to leave now if she was having issues.

A blue streak flew scoldingly around his head, causing his eyes to close in reflex. When he opened them again, it was to see the angry thing resolve itself into a blue firelizard perched on Kenessia's shoulder. D'ak resolved to ignore the 'lizard - pesky creatures, he didn't see why Rayth was so fond of them. Speaking of Rayth...

"Yes, he is," he answered with a calm he didn't feel. Over-grown tunnelsnake, dropping him in the water... Well, the clothes would dry better out here in the sun anyway than they would in his weyr.

The rider studied Kenessia impassively for another moment, then lowered himself down to the ground to sit stiffly. Incredibly undignified position, but for some reason it seemed to make people more likely to talk if they were sitting rather than standing around. He patted the ground next to him invitingly. "Come, sit, tell me what has been keeping you up nights. Or just talk with me."

Oh very good, D'ak, Rayth said from where he was eying the flirty green firelizard with amusement. Taking the initiative to socialize. Very good. You need to relax a bit.

Oh do hush, D'ak returned sourly. You aren't here to get me to relax, you're here to chase tail.

You injure me, D'ak. Rayth sighed mournfully. Maybe that's what you need. A nice pretty greenrider to get you to relax.. He chuckled at D'ak's mental growl.

[A'dion]

Loriath shook her head quickly, dislodging the green flit before she took Rayth's attention from her completely. Keelty chattered angrily at the Green before shooting towards D'ak. Wrapping herself around his shoulders, she drooped her head mournfully down along his chest, looking at Kenessia like she'd just been wounded gravely. Loriath would've rolled her eyes if she could have. Instead, she got a conspiratorial tone in her mind-voice,

Kenessia is ... off. For the last few sevendays, she has been having more nightmares than usual. Her whirling blue eyes darkened some in worry as she looked at her rider, She likes Yours, you know. Quite a bit. Almost as much as she likes me. What should we do, dear Rayth? She looked up to the Black, deliberately ignoring Kenessia's suspicious look,

"I ... don't quite think I trust those two together." She murmured, before looking to D'ak as he sat down ... albeit stiffly. Smiling some, she shook her head before sitting down herself, legs out to the side. Swift clambered up to her shoulder again, gave one final, warning hiss at D'ak and hid himself in the girl's long hair. Kenessia did roll her eyes that time, before looking to D'ak, face turning red,

"I don't want to bore you, really. It's nothing I can't handle ... " I certainly can't tell you. You would laugh me right out of the Weyr.

Why are you so sure that he won't return your ... awareness? Kenessia flicked her green gaze toward her Dragon, who was still conversing with Rayth as well as herself,

Because I tried, once, Loriath. ... And I'll never do it again. She brought up the memory for the Dragon to see. She had been in a relationship with a young Creche boy for a long time. Two Turns, in fact. They were happy, she thought ... until one day, he simply disappeared, leaving only a note on her pillow. The words it contained broke her heart, and she never got over the shame of the way he left her. Loriath felt the girl's emotions beginning to spiral downward again, and she pushed her consciousness into Kenessia's, bolstering her.

My Rayth, she spoke worriedly, we must do something. Mine has been scarred, and the wound still festers like Thread in a wingsail. She feels ... unworthy? I suppose is the word. Please Rayth, do something.

Kenessia felt the warmth of the flit on her neck, and the love of her Dragon in her mind, and both somehow stopped the flood of tears she knew would've embarrassed her greatly if shed in front of D'ak. He didn't need to know about her problems. His ambitions were for the Weyrleadership, not for a simple Greenrider.

You are not simple. You are wonderful, beautiful, kind, gentle, you are Mine! Why can you not see this? If they do not want you, then Thread on them. I will take care of you, because I love you.

Loriath... my darling, thank you.

You are welcome. Now, tease Rayth's.

Loriath!

What? What'd I say?

Kenessia was staring at the Green, face as red as the Red Star,

"Of all the impertinent.."

[tealah]

Really? She likes D'ak that much? Perhaps it wasn't entirely fair to D'ak that Rayth sounded so surprised to learn that someone liked him nearly as much as she liked her dragon, but D'ak's standoffish attitude when it came to relationships had always seemed to Rayth more likely to attract dislike than love. As it was meant to, of course. But, he put aside his shock for Loriath's sake. Your rider has nightmares often? D'ak did too - not nightmares so much as strange, strange dreams in the only time his control loosened enough to allow his emotions to wreck havoc in his psyche. But really, D'ak's vivid dreaming was irrelevant. What would D'ak say about these nightmares? Hm. Perhaps her nightmares come from something she is suppressing. If you could get to to talk about it maybe she'd feel better. Like... what is it called when humans write to themselves... a journal?

D'ak glanced over to the dragon pair disinterestedly. "I doubt you have much to worry about. Likely Rayth is thinking about one thing only and it is not anything but to woo a female."

The unexpectedness of the firelizard wrapping herself around his neck had caused him to flinch away a little, but now as he shifted back to look at Kenessia again he was careful not to dislodge her. As small as they were firelizard claws still hurt, and this lizard was closer to his eyes than he was willing to risk.

"I do not get bored," he assured her. And really, even if he did get bored by something did he not have the self-control to overcome such a momentary issue? "But we do not have to speak of what keeps you awake if you prefer otherwise. We can talk of whatever you wish to."

Quite a speech for you, Oh Succinct One, Rayth rumbled to him. Next you'll be turning in your rider knots to become a harper.

D'ak chose to ignore the dragon, who nuzzled the green at his side. Ah, dear Loriath, if I knew how to heal a rider's heart, I'd have given anything to have healed D'ak years ago. He shook his head. Humans make things... complicated.