All That Glitters Is Bronze [Shin/Esko]

[Zen]

Kisoraz

A Lord Holder’s wedding was quite a major event. All the most important people on Pern were likely to be in attendance. That meant his mother and father would very likely be at Jask today. Since his arrival at Mavros, Kisoraz had been keeping a careful journal of anything and everything he could about Mavros. His mother would send her flit to him on the first day each month to retrieve his report, and so he kept the journal to pour over and decide which information to send back to Mirran and which was hardly relevant. But he needn’t send a report this month, not if he could see his parents in person at the wedding. He could even take his journal along for them to read themselves.

He couldn’t help but wonder if they had heard of the white that resided at Mavros. It had certainly not been known when he’d left Mirran, but that had been two sevendays ago. He was eager to attend the gather, to see his parents and offer what he’d found of Mavros so far. Between the existence of a white dragon and Mavros’s venture back in time, there was more to tell about than he’d imagined there would be after two sevendays. But first he needed to find a ride.

S’bol had told the candidates that several weyrlings from the two older classes would be giving rides to any candidates interested in attending the gather and the weyrlings in question had landed on the beach for ease of access to the candidates. Kisoraz did not stop to consider any greens or blues waiting to be approached, and though he would have been content to ask a brownrider, he spotted a rather striking dark bronze first. Dressed in gather finery with his journal and purse of marks tucked away in an ornate leather bag hanging at his side, he headed for the bronze and his rider.

“Well met, bronzerider. I am Kisoraz, a new candidate here at Mavros. I would be most honored by the chance to attend today’s gather on the back of your fine dragon.” His gaze shifted up to the bronze in question. He really was a handsome creature. Not for the first time in many turns of standing did he wonder what his own bronze might look like. Would he be dark like this one? Bright like the Weyrleader’s? He pushed away any thought of Impressing brown. If he left his home only to Impress brown after waiting for so long, he could only imagine his parents’ disappointment. How was he meant to accomplish what they wished of him on the back of a brown?

Esko

[Esko]

Flourish! Shin straightened out his collar as he admired himself in the mirror. Nothing but his Telgar best would do. Though, he did ponder if he could secure a lovely outfit in Mavrosi colors. It would only be proper to represent his Weyrhold, no? He had a keen eye for what looked good on himself, though he knew he made every outfit shine. His boots freshly cleaned and marks a-plenty, ready for him to display his wealth to whoever would watch. He wondered if his father would wish to attend; he was important in Telgar, though not the Weyrleader...and yet his mother would've been more likely to attend as a queenrider. Shin's smirk vanished temporarily. No, he would not count on it. He did have a duty to perform, and that was ferrying any regular people to the Gather.

He strode out to his dragon's ledge, where Ramacuth waited. The bronze was freshly oiled, bringing out the subtle flecks of shine in his dark hide. S'goi quickly mounted and they were off, winging down to the beaches where other members of their class awaited. Ramacuth called to Serenth, who was lifting off with a passenger in tow. The green chirruped back before going between. It is a lovely day for a Gather. Ramacuth remarked, holding his head high and taking in the breeze. Shin leaned on his back impatiently, absentmindedly fingering a few marks. Until a call caught his attention.

Shin turned his head downward. A very finely-dressed man with wealth dripping off his person. 'Guy's got a lot of manners. And he's a candidate?' That detail stuck out to him. He didn't look like a candidate- it clued Shin into the potential importance of this stranger.

A well-spoken young man. Ramacuth rumbled, turning his head to get a gander. It had fluffed up Shin's ego and importance; it felt like a relief to hear a candidate address him properly. S'goi's smirk was wide. "Well met, Candidate Kisoraz. I am S'goi, and this is my bronze Ramacuth. You are most certainly welcome to ride with us." And a rare courtesy; he reached out his arm to potentially help the young man up. He supposed that he should reward such good manners.

Zen

[Zen]

Kisoraz

When the bronze turned an eye to him, Kisoraz dipped his head to the dragon in a slight bow on instinct, pleased to be acknowledged but careful to show him proper respect. A genuine smile settled on his lips as the rider spoke, introducing himself and his dragon. S’goi and Ramacuth. Perhaps he would find a friend in the young rider. His father had said he would need friends, support, if he was to make much of himself at Mavros, not that he had really needed to be told that. Of course S’goi would also end up being a rival for leadership, but that didn’t mean he needed to be an enemy. Perhaps they could help each other and rise together. Only time would tell. He needed to Impress before any of that would come into play.

“Thank you,” he reached for the hand S’goi offered to help him up. Though he was decently practiced in mounting and dismounting dragons, it would be rude not to accept the help so generously offered. Pulling himself up and settling behind S’goi, he felt the same familiar thrill, the almost desperate hope, that he felt any time he mounted a bronze. His two younger brothers were bronzeriders, L’zor had barely even begun to stand and his bronze had already found him. What was wrong with him that he did not have his dragon yet? None of his siblings had stood for half as long as he had. He shook his head slightly, as if to shake away the doubts trying to creep in.

“Ah, and thank you, Ramacuth,” he spoke to the bronze, trying to distract himself, one hand daring to stroke over the warm, dark hide beneath him. He was absolutely jealous of S’goi in this moment, but that didn’t mean he had any ill will for him. Soon, soon he would have his dragon, and all would be right at last. Just a little more patience on his part was all that was required. “What are you most looking forward to at the gather today, S’goi? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, would you mind if I accompanied you? I have yet to make many acquaintances here.” And if he could use the gather as a means to start building a friendship with S’goi, all the better.

Esko

[Esko]

Well, this young man is very admiring. Ramacuth remarked to his rider, as the man slightly bowed. A genuine reverence for bronze dragons? Even in Telgar, such formal respect was not outwardly shown. They had manners, yes, and one was expected to offer respect to bronzeriders. But that was a constant in most of proper Pern. And though amongst each other riders held different levels of rank and respect, the commonfolk of Pern held even greenriders in high regards.

Kisoraz accepted Shin's aid up, and thanked both rider and dragon. S'goi would've expected the smalltalk to occur after they'd arrived to Jask, but perhaps this young man was nervous. What was he looking forward to most? "Well, I suppose I look forward to whatever wear vendors might offer. My wardrobe does need some updating, and for what it's worth, Mavros chose colors for itself that work beautifully together. Perhaps, though, I just look forward to a day of ease." He wasn't shocked at Kisoraz asking for the chance to accompany him -I mean, have you seen S'goi?- and thought about it. Yes, this guy was certainly strange, but he would find out more. S'goi smiled upon Kisoraz, and nodded. "I would certainly hope such a respectful young man would choose his first acquaintances well. Well, brace yourself." And he patted Ramacuth's hide.

You are getting much too used to this young man's formality. Ramacuth commented as he lifted into the air, reaching a certain height before S'goi relayed the coordinated image of Jask. For all the genius and intellect he held, the weyrling admitted that he was not a well-traveled man. Jask had, theoretically, been developed for much longer than Mavros, so he hoped that he would not witness a travesty this day.

And then Ramacuth blinked between. S'goi was used to the journey, but no man could ever truly not be unsettled by the sheer blackness of it all. Three coughs later and they were out in the air over Jask Hold, a bustling hubbub down below. The bronze slowly circled downwards, and Shin had to admit, the steadily wafting smell of fancy foods teased his stomach. Hopefully he could remember how to eat with dignity around his probably-finely-mannered guest. He smiled as Ramacuth's talons touched down on the ground. Now, where to first?

[Zen]

Kisoraz

S’goi’s mention of updating his wardrobe with Mavros colors had Kisoraz wondering if he shouldn’t do the same. While he was proud of his Mirrish lineage, if he was to do as his father wanted, he would need to become Mavrosi. The people here would hardly want a leader who owed his allegiance to another Weyr. The deception didn’t sit well with him, but it would be necessary. He shifted a bit and reached out to grasp the straps securing him to the bronze as they lifted into the air.

It was so hard not to wonder why he was not yet flying on his own dragon, despite his best efforts. Those thoughts crept in every time he flew. He closed his eyes in preparation for between. It was an easier transition, just a little, when the world was already darkened before jumping into that vast nothingness. As they appeared over Jask, he couldn’t help but look down on the Hold. Before coming to Mavros he had never left Mirran, so coming to yet another new place was exciting. He was eager to explore the gather, and grateful S’goi had agreed to let him accompany him as well. He’d be a bit lost on his own.

Dismounting after Ramacuth had settled to the ground, he glanced toward the gather grounds. Some people still milled about the area, watching the dragons land as close as they dared, but it would be far more crowded once they were away. Gathers in Mirran were always rich with art and music and delicacies saved for special occasions and he could only imagine it was the same anywhere else on Pern. Though… perhaps the delicacies would be different. This land locked Hold would hardly be able to get its hands on fresh caught Azovite fish for the sweet iced fish rolls that were so popular in Mirran, and he doubted very much that the elusive Southern Frost Wherry could be found to pickle either, as well as a number of other foods he always looked forward to at gathers and celebrations.

Well, eager as he was to sample the local food, S’goi had mentioned updating his wardrobe. Glancing at the bronze weyrling he gestured for him to lead the way, “Did you want to check out the vendors’ wares to see about some decent cloth and hide first?” He wasn’t sure where S’goi might plan to commission the making of his new clothes. All of Kisoraz’s own clothing had always been tailored by Mirran’s best artisans and he knew little of the reputation of Mavros’s own crafters. Of course, S’goi had a dragon and could between wherever he liked so he had more options. He supposed there was the option to buy already made clothing as well but he didn’t imagine a bronzerider would do so. While anything could be tailored to fit better, it was no substitute for having your garments made to fit you. He considered the merits of buying some material for himself, unsure if his mother would send him anything from Mirran if he asked.

Esko