an ichor spattered ego [open]

[tovaana]

Day after Claiming The Throne

Lo’qui :: Bronze Jarath

The muscles in his strong jawline tightened, trying not to let his dragon’s continued simmering anger breach into his own thoughts. It was late morning, almost afternoon, he’d spent the morning making sure the rider he’d taken his… frustrations… out on was alright. He’d offered to take her between, but she’d almost rolled her eyes, and kindly told him that she could take herself between. It was habit in asking, as much as he loved his children, it was hard to juggle them all and their mothers. He could see the appeal of a holder’s life, one wife, one family – still dramatic, but seemingly less complicated than the multiplicity that many weyr families had. Once he’d gotten her breakfast and done the gentlemanly things a man should do to make sure of a woman’s comfort after a flight, he had left and prepared to clean Jarath.

I’m fine. I don’t need to be cleaned. A shadow passed over him and then the large dragon landed heavier than normal. Jarath had perfected taking off and especially landing as gently as he could – he was obviously in a mood. Jarath was known to sulk momentarily after green flights, more so after golds – but he’d never been this… vehement about a loss.

“Have you seen yourself?” He responded, trying to keep his thoughts to himself, especially the relieved ones, about how he was glad he hadn’t woken up with numerous responsibilities of a Weyr he hardly understood.

The dragon growled, a deep guttural noise that would probably have had any other stranger fleeing with terror. Lo’qui smiled, Jarath wouldn’t hurt a fly, though his own heart rate picked up with a thrill of the power behind his dragon. It was the same pride he felt every time they flew against Thread, the grandeur of his flame as it turned walls of it into ash.

“Come on buddy, you’ll get her next time.”

She chose me, this time. I won.

His hurt pride was underlined with something else, a fleeting image of Sularenth with Gamath and a feeling of hurt. It was fleeting, mostly coated in the anger that swelled up to cover it.

He sighed, glancing at the crusted ichor that splattered his dragon’s face and chest. Usually he would have advertised that he was cleaning his dragon to his children and sister to get more hands to cover surface area, but the ichor seemed a bit gruesome for his younger children, and he’d felt the mood that Jarath was in…and Riasu was good with Jarath, but he wasn’t even sure how she felt about him at the moment.

“You could have taken a dip in the ocean after…” He winced, his dragon remembering vividly through his rider’s memories what had happened. This… would be a torturous seven-days until his dragon could forget and Lo’qui could repress his own strong emotions that were still vivid as well. The dragon reacted physically to the words and the memory and was suddenly turning away and back in the air. “Ah, come on…” he groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.

I’m going to ‘take a dip’. The dragon said rather tartly, since it was easier to do that in the ocean than the lake, he had lifted and gone off.

Lo’qui sighed, missing his optimistic dragon, hoping that his dragon’s ego would heal sooner than later. Maybe Sularenth had rubbed off too much on his dragon. He rolled his eyes, walking over to a tree and leaning on it while he waited for his dragon to return so they could start the cleaning that would take hours. Maybe he should have asked for Lounessa… But he couldn’t imagine Jarath being a very good message relayer and he didn’t want to bother her. He hadn’t cleaned his mammoth dragon alone in a long time, usually he’d always have some help of some sort, except for when he’d wanted to be alone. Lo’qui sighed as Jarath was winging his way back. Did he want to be alone?

[Taxx]

Candidate Lounessa

The Flight of Sularenth had been a surprise; it had been an event of excitement marred by sorrow. The death of a queen was always sad news, but from what she heard, most blamed the deceased Karredy for the demise of both. She should have been more careful; a goldrider should have been aware of her dragon’s reaction to another’s flight and should have acted in time to avoid it. The fight had been terrible to see, the Flight itself a short affair due to Sularenth’s injuries as a result. But she had been caught, and in so doing the Leadership had changed. Firmly at the top sat Sularenth and Melana; as her Weyrleader, replacing A’zael and Fath, were B’rax and Gamath.

Lounessa had been well aware of Jarath’s participation in the Flight, but she hadn’t managed to find a moment, until now, to visit her father. Buttons, surprisingly reliable when he wanted to be, popped into view and sent an image of the coppery bronze taking off for the shore, leaving Lo’qui waiting for his return. The greenish splatter against his bright hide was ichor, she was certain, and concern for the bronze spurred her down to the lake where Lo’qui stood.

She approached, making sure he’d see her soon enough to shoo her away again if he chose to; her steps slowed as she spotted the massive bronze heading back, damp hide glistening now. She turned back to Lo’qui and gestured to herself and then toward him, a silent question on him and Jarath accepting her company, or if they’d rather be alone at this point in time.
tovaana

[tovaana]

Lo’qui :: Bronze Jarath

It was as if his thoughts had summoned her, perhaps he should not have thought so loudly. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to send her away, a quiet smile passing his face as his confident and capable daughter approached. She wasn’t a child – she was getting older, reaching womanhood, or perhaps she already had. She and Cionessan were his oldest children and he was having a hard time seeing them as ‘all grown up’, and perhaps his mind resisted it. He had been young when the twins had been born, too young to appreciate being a father.

He made an obvious nod and reached out with a long arm and gestured for the girl to come over. He made a movement and pushed himself off the tree with his shoulder, stretching some of his muscles that had stiffened in the awkward position against the tree.

Jarath landed less heavily as he had the first time, but still didn’t try and be careful. Lo’qui sighed, remembering that it wasn’t necessarily the ichor that was still crusted on his dragon that had stopped him from inviting his children, but his dragon’s mood. He had to remind himself that Lounessa could handle herself if Jarath made some snarky remark, though he’d probably be quieter than Lounessa was used to. Jarath didn’t ‘talk’ to many people, except for family members on occasion.

‘Behave yourself’, Lo’qui warned his dragon as he took a few steps to approach Lounessa, opening his arms to offer a welcoming hug. There were stages of growing up that had made Lo’qui appreciate hugs from his children, the stages where hugs were too childish or sweet – Rhuquin was entering this phase, and though Lo’qui would never force hugs on any of his children, it didn’t mean he didn’t feel the loss when they refused.

Jarath didn't acknowledge his rider's warning, but felt the mental sigh that felt more sad than angry now that he'd had a moment to 'cool off'. 

“Hey Nessa. Kind of you to come help clean my mammoth of a dragon.” He coupled his words with a playful smile, at the same time trying not to let yesterday’s events weigh too much on how he interacted with his daughter.

Taxx

[Taxx]

Lounessa :: Candidate

Jarath didn't look pleased at all. Not surprising, considering that he wasn't currently wrapped up with a gold, but such was life. Sometimes, disappointment was inevitable no matter how hard you tried. Jarath would forget in a sevenday- the bronze would be fine. Lo'qui, spotting her and the silent question she asked, replied by waving her over and she did so. Her eyes traveled over the bronze as she approached, noticing the ichor that stained his bright hide, wondering if any of it was his... or if it was from the queens. Probably not a question to ask, but in helping to bathe him, she could make sure there were no wounds marring him.

Her eyes flicked back to Lo'qui as he stepped toward her, arms outstretched for a hug; she hesitated for a moment, uncertain whether to allow it or not; he was her father and she'd come to spend time with him, but another part of her shrank from the embrace. But if he was expecting it, maybe it'd be rude to refuse, given that they were already going to be spending time together. She compromised, somewhat; she leaned a shoulder into him- let him wrap his arms around her if he wished to- and then stepped back after a few seconds.

"Of course," she replied, smiling up at the bronze. "Hi, Jarath. It's nice to see you." No mention of the Flight- he didn't need the reminder. "I hope you don't mind me helping bathe you?"
tovaana

[tovaana]

Lo’qui :: Bronze Jarath

He saw the hesitation, but his grin stretched a little further. Children should not be allowed to grow up, he decided, but somehow felt she was growing up perfectly - not that he had much say on either matter. He’d had more time with Lounessa than Cionessan, and though he would never admit it (not even to himself), felt a stronger connection to his daughter – whether or not it was reciprocated. His long arms wrapped around his daughter who had positioned her body perpendicular to him, and he gave her a quick affection squeeze anyways. He let go of her quickly though, for he knew better than to smother – it was more of a tease than anything, acknowledging the awkward hesitance in his own charming way.

Jarath glanced down at the girl, a candidate, and also his rider’s kin. It was one of the ones he had spent more time with, creating a longer term memory for the bronze, and he was able to easily find the numerous occasions the girl had been there… yes, she had been there in their life for quite a bit. Still, Jarath assessed the girl’s polite nature with a large whirling eye, considering her… he wanted to be clean, he wanted attention, it just wasn’t the attention he wanted. Still, the bronze relented after a long torturous moment, Lo’qui almost holding his breath. He didn’t have to worry about his dragon being physically aggressive, and just as rare to say something negative- but Jarath had never been so upset about losing before.

I don’t mind it, of course. The bronze finally said stiffly to both, and Lo’qui glanced at Lounessa with the undercurrents of relief. But the bronze kept quiet after that, resting in a way that made it easier for the pair to clean his large body. The bronze closed his eyes, his face twitching every now and then in vivid anger.

“How… are you?” Lo’qui ventured, realizing that Lounessa was getting to an age where she’d be influenced by something like gold flights, if she hadn’t already in Ierne. He didn’t like to think about it, but the protective side of him felt like he’d like to know if she was alright.

He tossed her a few cleaning supplies and sighed as he began working. “He’s… never reacted so…” He paused, at a loss, and he felt a bit depleted from the recent events(as much as he didn’t want to sound like it. “Crazy?” He grinned, trying to keep it lighthearted. Jarath rumbled under their fingers as they scrubbed away the grime, the vibration going from his hand to his toes. Lo’qui patted the dragon, sending affection his way.