Fishing Flounders [Tak'ril/Cirene]

[kevna]

Tak’ril ~ Bronze Agureyth

It wasn’t his best fishing rod, a little too firm, and a little too short for his large size, but it would work well enough for today. Agureyth was lying down, watching closely as he prepared the rod.

But I can swim when we are done with the fish catching, right?

He chuckled and looked over at the large dragonet, hope filled eyes zeroed in on him.

“Yes, I promise. Just a few fish, and then it’s your turn.”

Good, because I want to swim.

“I know, and I want to fish.” He threw the line into the water and leaned back against a rock that he had artfully positioned himself behind for just the purpose. It wasn’t as comfortable as Agureyth, but he wanted the bronze to learn, and being positioned away for a back support would not be the best learning position. He fiddled with the reel, which wasn’t the best makeshift reel, testing it’s feel and unhappy with the choppy pull it gave. He really had done a sloppy job on this rod, and vowed to make a better one later. One worthy of fishing with.

Now what? ‘Now we wait quietly, so we don’t scare the fish away.’ Oh. How long does it normally take? ‘It can take a long time.’ But how long? ‘It changes every time, so I don’t know.’

This does not seem like a beneficial way to spend time. If you really want a fish, I can get you one.

‘But that’s not the point. There is something satisfying about waiting and catching your own fish on your own terms that really just hits the spot.’

Okay, we will do it your way this time. But maybe we can try it my way later.

‘Sure, I don’t see why not.’

He closed his eyes, enjoying the lulling feel of the rod in his hands, and the rock at his back, the warmish breeze blowing over him. He had picked a perfect day for fishing.

tovaana

[tovaana]

Cirene :: Blue Imperath

A pail with some oiling tools and a scrub hung at her finger tips. She glanced at her growing blue, thinking about the day that Imperath would fly and she could finally fly on her dragon. She sighed, looking ahead at the sparkling lake ahead of them. It was a warmer day for spring weather and she was eager to clean Imperath outside, rather in the taverns. It looked like another was there, and it wasn't until they got closer that she realized that the man was not only in her class, but also fishing.

‘We may have to wait on cleaning or swimming today, it looks like that bronze rider is fishing.’

Fishing? That doesn’t look like fishing.

‘Whether it does or not does not matter, so far I have more experience than you, remember?’ And more memory, she added in the back of her thoughts, watching the handsome man fish. She’d seen him in her classes, but being social often ended up awry with her ornery blue.

I just don’t see why we have to wait. ‘It will scare the fish away from his lure.’ Oh, really? And before Cirene could stop him, he was bounding toward the shore and looking over at the pair. Hello Agureyth, how are you today? He asked, uncharacteristically kind. And Cirene didn’t have time to restrain him from what he would do next, but she thought she might as well make a show of it… She rushed toward him, but he was already prancing in the shallow waters, making a terrible splash. The water is so nice Agureyth, why aren’t you swimming?

“Uhm, I’m sorry. Imperath, this man is fishing – you’re scaring away the fish.”

Imperath paused, Oh, am I?

Cirene pursed her lips. Imperath had stopped splashing, but he hadn’t gotten out of the water.

[kevna]

Tak'ril ~ Bronze Agureyth

Agureyth stood, taking a defensive position.

I was letting my rider fish first, because it was polite, and I didn’t want to scare the fish away. Though you probably have just ruined it. Agureyth was miffed but tried to be polite; he had waited so patiently, and now his patience was moot.

“Err it’s okay, n-no big deal.” He said from his sitting position, and as if his mother cuffed him behind the ear, stood, remembering his manners. ‘You stand when in the presence of a lady.’ As his mother would say. “I wasn’t having much luck anyway.”

But we hadn’t been trying for long.

'That’s true, but there won’t be much luck with the fish now that the blue is in the water.'

“I’ll just get this reeled in, and the fun can commence.” He spoke haltingly, and started reeling the line back in, but the reel was finicky, and it stuck, so he climbed into the water, wrapping the line around his fingers to bring the rest of the line in. He must have stepped onto a mossy rock, because suddenly he was hurdling into the shallow water, falling backwards. He sat in the water for a moment, blinking and blushing. Then a small fish jumped across his submerged lap, and Tak’ril, dazed, just watched it go.

Are you okay mine?

tovaana

[tovaana]

Cirene :: Blue Imperath

Imperath blinked at the bronze then turned his white face toward the rider. He watched him carefully as he announced that he would clean up his fishing gear.

Well, you’re welcome anyways. Now you can swim. Imperath said cheerfully, lowering his body into the water and watching them carefully. Cirene was watching Imperath more carefully, trying to keep her gaze cool, even though she was feeling irritated with Imperath. ‘Imperath, you’re making me look like a fool!’ It’s too late to get out; he’s putting away his fishing things. And look, now I can swim and get clean. I don’t see how what I did was wrong at all. ‘Don’t play dumb with me.’

And then the man slipped and there was a bigger splash. Both the dragon and rider looked over, Cirene’s lips twitched in a smile – but quickly tamed it into concern. The fish that jumped over him was just as amusing and Imperath saw opportunity too good to pass up.

Well, I hope your rider is a better rider than he is a fisher. It wouldn’t do, having you two slipping through the sky while thread attacks.

"Are you alright?" Cirene said, unknowingly mirroring his dragon's concern.

[kevna]

Tak’ril ~ Bronze Agureyth

Tak’ril is a great fisherman, and he will be an even better rider and leader. Because he can actually lead, unlike you and yours. The bronze dragon was sharp, and his eyes twirled yellow, ever so slightly tinging with red. You should not question our ability to do our duty, Imperath, you are the one who seems to rush into things rashly, without looking or trying to understand first, as you have so demonstrated. At this the dragon puffed out his chest, accenting his larger size. Seems a bit naïve, almost like your human cannot teach you properly. This last was less heated, more speculative. I guess we will have to keep an eye on you. The dragon gave the blue dragon one last long look, and then hopped over to his human, concern dissipating as he studied the young man picking himself up.

Tak’ril got up, brushing off water and mud that was on his clothes. “I’m fine,” He said, responding both to his dragon and to the young woman who had approached. “Just a mossy rock and shoes not fit for water is all, but no worse for the wear.” He gave a lopsided grin, and looked down at himself, soaked through mid-abdomen. He would have to hang his shirt to dry, and for a moment again regretted the other’s presence, because he very well couldn’t hang his pants to dry while he swam with Aggy. Not that he hadn’t done it in other women’s presence, but fisher women seemed to care less about lack of modesty than women around here. Plus, he didn’t know this woman at all.

“I er… guess now I’m ready for that swim now.” He started with his shoes, removing them and dumping the water out of them.

Oh good, I want to swim and clean myself, but we will fish later mine. Indeed, and you will catch a lot of fish. The dragon jumped in the water, not bothering to notice the large splash he made, and getting his human even more wet, and the splash leading to the young blonde. [Possibly getting her wet.]

“Ah, excuse him, Agureyth forgets his size. I er, I’m Tak’ril.” He took a few steps and threw the shoes in the sun, then stripped his shirt off to join the shoes before reaching his hand out, offering to shake hers, muddy as it was.

[tovaana]

Weyrling Cirene :: Blue Imperath

The blue raised his white muzzle a little as the bronze started to talk to him. It was eternally frustrating the innate part of him that had to listen to the bigger dragon, but as the bronze jumped to defend his human, the blue felt pleased that the reaction was so thorough. Both Cirene and Imperath had heard that the weyr leader allowed lowered ranked dragons to attend leadership lessons, so he was not worried about the bronze’s threat that he and Cirene could never lead. Sure, he’d probably never catch a gold, but one did not need to to hold power. Power came in all sorts of forms, at least, that’s what Cirene had been teaching him.

Oh, I understood what I was doing. He said in a quiet response, eagerly waiting for the next opportunity to bring the dragon to rise in temper. The part that always stung in these encounters, as much as he loved to poke fun at dragons, was the lack of understanding in his personality. At least Cirene did, as much as he irritated her for it. He arched his neck back to look at her, and her fists were not balled up like a lot of frustrated riders did, but her eyes were on him steadily. He’d get a talking to later probably.

Cirene went over to a larger boulder and used it to steady herself as she took her boots off. She had worn clothes she didn’t care much about getting wet. She started to wade in to her knees, just as the bronze splashed in. Her hands went up to shield herself, obviously doing little. She forced an easy laugh, trying to ignore her frustration with her own dragon. His goals were similar to hers, but his ways of getting what he wanted were vastly different.

“Yes… and Agureyth’s brother seems to have forgotten his manners. I apologize in behalf of him. I’m Cirene, this is Imperath.” She wiped water away from her face as she spoke, half aware that he was taking his shirt off. Usually she had more control of herself, but her glanced briefly down at his bare chest. Her eyes snapped back up just as quickly, meeting his handshake with her long fingers. “I’m sorry that we interrupted your fishing, do you fish often?” Before her hands left his completely, she found a slippery rock and let her foot slide and let her ankle give out so that she fell toward him. She let out a gasp and reached out to him to steady her. “Oh shells, there are some slippery rocks out here…”

[kevna]

Tak’ril – Bronze Agureyth

Agureyth cast an irked glance over at his brother, more than annoyed, but decided to ignore him. Swimming was more important than stewing on unimportant and immature dragons. He playfully swam out farther, enjoying the stretch of his larger wingspan and the cooler water.

“Apologies accepted, it’s a-er very nice to meet you both. And well-I don’t get out nearly as much now that I have Agureyth, but I used to be a fisherman.” He said as she closed the rest of the distance to take his hand. He gave her a firm grip and was surprised at the strength in her return grip, but her hands were soft and supple compared to the rough calluses that overtook his own. His grip loosened, and before he knew what was happening, she was falling toward him.

He assuredly caught her, encircling his arms around her waist, afraid she would twist an ankle in her forward fall without support. But once he had her there, he realized just how close she really was, her height bringing her face just a little too close for comfort.

“Err, yes they are slippery… Ar-are you alright?” He loosened his grip and leaned away, allowing her to retain her balance while trying to obtain his space again. He had never truly held a woman so close that hadn’t been directly related to him, and while it had felt nice, he supposed there was someone else he would prefer to hold, someone much more petite then this young tall weyrling.

“We both succumbed to the rocks now, didn’t we?” He chuckled awkwardly and took a step back into deeper water. “Just got us wet a little faster I suppose. Falling is how I first learned to swim, I sure swallowed a-a lot of water. Back then, I mean.” He took another step back, getting waist deep. 

Agureyth had watched the escapade, curious at the strange actions both humans were making. You are rambling mine, what is wrong?

[tovaana]

Weyrling Cirene :: Blue Imperath

Imperath’s whirling gaze was somewhat interested in Cirene’s strange and sudden gesture toward the man, for he knew that she did not just ‘fall’ and she wouldn’t have reached out for help. His neck turned toward his bronze brother who was taking up an uncomfortably large space in the lake. It made him conscious of his own size, which was far smaller. The blue and white dragon moved more into the cool water, sinking all the way into the water for a moment before emerging with as much of a splash he could, but it didn’t end up being a very large splash in actuality. He’d have to find a different way to bother his brother.

Meanwhile, Cirene was gratified by the strong hands that kept her from falling. It sent a thrill through her and she enjoyed the feeling of his muscles under her own grip. She knew very well relations weren’t permitted while they were so young, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t capture the intentions of a bronze rider before it was time for their dragons to grow up. Perhaps if their dragons were older, she would have taken that moment to kiss him – but she knew better and let him steady her and let her go.

Her head tilted a little as she watched him carefully, his reaction was intriguing – the way he stumbled over his words and backed away from her. A nervous one, eh? She bit at her lip, finding his retreat rather cute. Well, she didn’t want to scare him off… but it was all too good, to have a bronze rider within her grasp. She didn’t need a man to complete her – but having a bronzer as her man would help elevate her status. Who knows, perhaps one day he would be Weyrleader. She slowly took a step toward him each time he retreated. “That sounds like a dreadful way to learn how to swim.” She almost whimpered sympathetically. She crouched to let the water reach higher on her body, slightly wading – but letting the cool water encompass her up to her collar bone. Then she rose again, completely soaked, her clothes clinging to her lithe frame.

“A fisherman like you must know how to swim well.” She mused aloud, eyes glancing over the water. She didn’t not know how to swim, but her next request wasn’t completely a reason just to be close to him… “I know enough to not drown,” Cirene said with a teasing tone, “could you show me a few tips?” She took another step toward him, an innocent and curious expression on her face. Lying came second nature and while she wasn’t lying it just wasn’t… straight forward.

[kevna]

Tak'ril - Bronze Agureyth

'I am not rambling, I am responding.' 

Sure, mine, sure. Agureyth was growing bored and moved farther away, enjoying the coolness of the water and the weightlessness of his body. He went deeper, his bonded would join him when he was done ‘responding’ to Imperath’s rider.

Tak’ril shrugged in reply to her sympathy, “To my father, it was the only way to learn. Each of my siblings learned that way, it worked well enough I suppose.” He watched as she lowered herself in the water, and then slowly emerged again, soaked through. He averted his gaze, blushing, and wondering how he had gotten himself into a situation like this. He had never had this issue before. But then again, normally he was surrounded by a whole bunch of men on a boat, swearing, fishing, and talking about women.

“Err well enough I suppose.” He responded awkwardly, he could swim just fine, but he didn't think of himself as anything other than competent. He shrugged again taking another step back; the deeper the water, the safer he felt, although she seemed to be following him.

“I-I really don’t teach, I’m not sure I would know where to start.” He didn’t want to be rude, but he also didn’t feel comfortable. “Ca-can you float on your back? That’s a-a pretty easy way to start.” He didn’t offer his hands, nor did he show her how to float, just standing there, unsure what his next move should be. But he didn't take another step back, he really didn't want to offend her. For a moment, he wished another woman was standing before him, but he quickly brushed the thought away, worried his thoughts would attract more of Agureyth's attention.    

[tovaana]

Weyrling Cirene :: Blue Imperath

She could feel the light frustration coming from her Blue, who was actively trying to think of a way to annoy the bronze who seemed completely too relaxed for his liking. Cirene blocked out his feelings, trying to focus on the rider and her own thoughts. She caught the little things – like the slight coloring to his face that she assumed was a blush and the way he avoided her gaze. Well, she wasn’t stupid enough to push the man totally into discomfort, as fun as it was to watch him squirm. She’d probably enjoy it more if she had no reason to win him.

So, Cirene decided to tone it down, trying not to feel disappointed in the new tact. She stopped, letting the man have his distance about an arm to two lengths away. He also had stopped retreating. “Float? On my back?” She feigned slight confusion, as if thinking if she could or not. Whenever she had the treat of having a warm bath, or even being on the water on a hot day – she had let herself float. Well, while she was lying, she did want to draw him in with some sincerity. He seemed to be that type, a little more innocent and maybe shy. “Yes… I think so. Like this?” She turned so that she would fall into the water perpendicular to Tak’ril and tried letting herself float – she also tried not to get it right the first time… so she tried launching herself a little too roughly, her head falling back into the water an inch or two too deep and submerging herself completely. She twisted and stood up, coughing a little and laughing at herself as she rubbed the water from her eyes.

“My, I think I went into that too quickly – but uh, I think I understand how one floats…” She bit her lip, pushing wet hair back that had flooded around her face. “Do I need to hold my breath?”

kevna