Which Way is Up [Kekoa]

[roz]

Isme :: Blue Valienth

Valienth was lounging by the lake on the biggest rock he could find in an attempt to garner a little sun despite the winter chill in the air. Isme however was lost, well and truly lost. Sure it was winter but the weather didn’t matter when a dragon needed oiling they needed oiling. All Val had done the last two days was complain about one itchy spot or another. They were new here but she had been pretty sure she knew where to find the required oil. The last candlemark of roaming aimlessly made it very clear she didn’t know up from down or anything else for that matter.

She paused in the dim hallway and sighed, making her little blue flit Champion chitter softly in her ear. He could feel the frustration rolling off his person and he really didn’t like it at all. She shifted leaning against the wall and let herself slide to the ground. She wasn’t even sure she could find her way out at this point, that was sure. Still, Champion chittered encouragement until an idea popped into her head. “Oh Champion! I know what to do. Why don’t you go fetch someone and bring me here to help me before I get lost even more.” she suggested. With one more excited chitter the blue vanished into the between leaving Imse to wait rather embarrassingly for rescue.

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

Kekoa moved with the grace his mother had given him, his lithe built form moving at a leisurely pace towards the dining caverns. He hummed a toon, his strumming producing a nice counter to whatever random sounds emitted from his chest and throat. He smiled and waved to those he passed, he was getting to know people quickly, and really loving Mavros. The dark-haired man was also increasingly becoming better at shirking his normal duties.

Maybe that’s why he was moving so slowly toward the dining cavern, trying to avoid his candidate chore of working in the kitchens. He usually ended up playing for those actually working when the right cook was on duty. They loved the presence of a harper in their kitchen. But on the off chance he would actually have to work, he delayed as much as possible. Maybe that’s why the little blue firelizard appearing out of thin air was like a beautiful Faranth given reprieve.

The blue seemed to have a mind of it’s own, chittering and chattering quite emphatically, signaling that it should follow him. Kekoa loved a good mystery, and an adventure seemed far more important than kitchen duty. Without much thought of consequences, he motioned grandly towards the firelizard. “Well how can I refuse you, please, lead on!”

He followed the blue through the darker corridors, measuring each turn and twist of the hallways. His memory was that of a harper memory, he had wandered the halls to learn when he had first arrived and recognized them well enough. It was strange how far out though the little one was taking him. He played a haunting andante on his gitar as he followed the blue until he came around a corner to find a tall brunette. The dark couldn’t hide her beauty, the long luscious brown hair, the lithe tall height to her build, it all took his breath away.

“Well shards, I should follow incessant blue firelizards more often if it leads me to beauty! Kekoa at your service, to what do I owe this pleasure in such a strange place?”

He bowed to her grandly, giving her his best charming grin and slinging his gitar so it slung across his back. He offered his hand once straight and gitar in place, his intent to kiss the sun-kissed hand or wrist. He could only imagine it to be soft under his lips.

[roz]

Isme :: Blue Valienth

Isme sighed when Champion vanished and resigned herself to what could be a long wait. If the blue could bring someone to her one might assume that he could have led her out. That was not how Champion worked. If she was present the blue imagined her to be dominant and therefore the leader! He simply would not take the lead. Best to use the time as usefully as she could without going far. There was a room just off to her left she moved and stuck her head inside

Now Champion was somewhat excitable on a normal day but now he was on a mission to save his person. So he was rather insistent that the person he found would follow. There were flips and very much chatter at the young man he’d found that stopped only when it was vocalized that he would in fact follow. He was like a small blue dart pausing now and again to make sure he hadn’t lost the fellow behind him. He zipped this way and that only pausing at the sound of the guitar. The blue was almost tempted to just listen but then he remembered his Isme and darted ahead once more.

The sound reached Isme’s ears even as she tucked the desired oil in her bag. She might have gotten lost, needing to be rescued but by golly, she had what she came for! She walked back into the hallway. The light was dim but she could still tell that Champion had done a very good job fetching someone to save her. It didn’t hurt that said savior was attractive and apparently musically inclined. The young blue rider really did love music. Hmm, something she likely got from her unknown harper father. She smiled when he spoke, a soft flush finding her cheeks.

“Oh well you are too kind!” she said softly but made no move to stop him from taking her hand. Isme was a weyrbrat and not overly genteel, but she lacked experience with such talk. Ha, she had worked very hard to avoid attractive smooth talkers in fact. She was most pleased to see this one now, however. “I feel rather silly really. We’re new here and Valienth needed some oil. I was certain I could find it. In fact, I did but it seems I can’t find my way out.” she said, allowing him to retain her hand until he released it.

Up close she could see him better and he really was very attractive. All dark curly hair and sun-bronzed skin like her own. Even better, he was actually a bit taller than her. There were more than a few that were not. Champion interrupted then, a little jealous of the attention the male was getting. The chittering as he landed on her shoulder made her retrieve her hand. She reached up and rubbed the little blues head. “What a good boy you are, my Champion. I shall have to give you a treat,” she said then it hit her. She had not offered her name in return “My apologies, I am so rude Kekoa. I’m Isme of Blue Valienth and if you can get me out of here I will owe you a huge favor.” she said, giving him a gentle flutter of long lashes and a sidelong smile. Okay, she might have gotten a thing or two with her own wiles.

[kevna]

Kekoa - Candidate

He took her hand and kissed, allowing himself to caress the hand with his thumb. Her hand was just as he had hoped, silky to the touch. Or at least the back of it was. He looked at her with a glint in his eye. “Nay, lady, I am honest. The kindness is but a sweet addition as the twinkle in your eyes add to those blues breathtaking depth.” Indeed, she had blue eyes that drew in any surrounding her, he was sure. She certaintly had entrapped him.

He tilted his head as he listened to her explain her entrapment within the halls of this area, smiling at her perseverance, and even her wit in sending out her flit for help. He was lucky indeed to have been the one to intercept the little firelizard. “Ah, please! It distresses me to think you feel silly, when all I see before me is a woman full of moxie and wit. I would be honored to lead you back to where you need to go.” Maybe she would like to return to her own weyr, in which case he could always offer any other services she might be in need of.

The blue firelizard reminded them off his presence, and Isme pulled her warm hand out of his in order to calm the creature. He smiled indulgently at it, wondering if he, like some of his fellow firelizards sang. He would have complimented the little one, but as soon a Isme had calmed the blue, her attention and words were directed once more at him. “Ah, but a name is only yours to give and I am but grateful to have it. Indeed, it would be my pleasure,” He offered his arm to escort her watching the way her eyes fluttered prettily, “and your presence is all the favor I could ask for.” But shards, he wouldn't mind any favors she wished to bestow upon him. No not at all.

Blue Valienth, she had said. A bluerider indeed. Her knots confirmed her words, and his curiosity, as always, got the best of him. “If you are new to Mavros, from where do you hail, Isme of Blue Valienth? I hope you are settling well into Mavros?”

[roz]

Isme :: Blue Valienth

He kissed her hand and she simply couldn’t stop the pink flush of her cheeks. He really was too much but she found it adorable. She could lower her shields a bit right? She was of course beyond the point where she had to worry about such things interfering with her plans. She had to learn to deal with such charms now that she had a dragon. Or so it seemed. Back in Igen most left her be, female blue riders were not exactly smiled upon. She hardly cared about that, she loved Valienth and would not trade him for any other color, even gold. That it kept those of lower scruples away was a bonus really.

She was not the pariah here she had been there it seemed. What exactly this one's motives were was anyone's guess but she preferred to think he was just being nice. “Well I do like honesty.” She managed “So in that line of thinking you’re not so bad yourself. Quite dashing, really being my hero as it were.” she offered but her compliment lacked the polished luster of his words. It was likely easy to tell her words were genuine as she lacked the skill to lie well. Besides he really was handsome in that way young fresh faced men had a habit of being. She had no doubts this one had broken any number of hearts and probably would a few more before it was all said and done.

She was more than a little embarrassed to have gotten lost in her new home. These things happened right? Certainly to new people in new places. He listened to her talk and he really was driven to make her feel better about it. “No need to be too distressed, it's not such a big deal.” she said giving him a half smile and a coy look now, he was really hard selling it now. “Honestly you're going to give me a fat head with all the compliments, but thank you I feel better about it already.” she said softly. She was very pleased to hear he was going to show her the way out.


Mind you it wouldn’t have gone well for him if he thought to leave without doing so. Valienth was a sweet blue with a protective and honary streak. Something very embarrassing would be in the future of someone that left his rider to fender for herself. Not that she imagined that Kekoa would do such a thing. “I guess I will own you one for the favor.” she said pleased moments before Champion’s jealousy got the better of him. Kekoa was clearly a gentleman as he politely waited for her to dote on the little blue. “Sorry he gets jealous of attractive men.” she said taking the opportunity to flatter him for a moment. “I noted the music before though so I suspect you could win him over easily as long as you didn’t mind him joining in.” she said conversationally. Champion like his person loved music after all.

She caught herself then realizing she hadn’t shared her name and did so quickly. “Oh I don’t know about that, anyone that knows it could give it to you. Still, I will give you that it means more coming from the one it belongs to.” she added thoughtfully. His arm was offered and she took it surprised at just how much she was enjoying his company. It was nice not trying to avoid an overly confident flirty fellow like this one. She laughed softly when he said her company was all the favor he could ask for. “You say that now but give me some time.” she teased lightly as they moved down the hall.

“Igen, Champion, Valienth, and myself we hail from Igen.” she said simply. She imagined that her blue rider status had made things a little easier for her to transfer out then had she been a green rider but she couldn’t say for sure. “No need to be so formal. Just call me Isme and indeed we are settling in well thank you. In fact it is even better now that I have such a charming escort from these tunnels.” she said, giving his hand a little squeeze. “What about you Kekoa? Tell me how long you have been breaking hearts here in Mavros?” she asked with a hint of mirth in her voice.

[kevna]

Kekoa – Candidate

“Ah, lady your words are like the kiss of the sun, warming, bright, and desirable. Many thanks.” He gave her another smile that showed just how much her words had touched him. Dashing was more than he could hope for, but a hero? A child’s dream come true. His mother used to call him her hero, especially when she had gotten sick and he had cared for her. Women were to be cherished, and Isme had given the words that boosted his ego beyond any other.

His eyes widened in mock horror when she mentioned coyly that she would get a fat head. “Well, I should hope not, you head is perfect the way it is.” He muttered, his free hand on his heart. Everything about her was enchanting, from her lush hair, piercing eyes, and lithe form-still he would try to reign in the compliments as best he could, even if it went against everything within him. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

Still, she seemed quite capable of dealing out compliments herself, continually feeding his vanity as she apologized for the blue and calling him handsome in the same sentence. Smooth. Enticing. “Well, I can hardly blame him, nobody likes to share an enchanting woman.” Yes, it was a compliment, but he could hardly help it, she kept at it herself. He brightened at the idea that Champion very well could sing-or hum he supposed-along with him. “Ah, well I would love to win you over, a song is the least I can do for you sharing your bonded.” He addressed the small firelizard directly, nodding very solemnly. “I enjoy playing for all, my gitar is my constant companion, and music is in my blood.” He gave a half-quirked smile at Isme.

It didn’t bother him when she disagreed about her name-to each there own-and she made a well enough point. “Ah, well it is much sweeter coming from your lips.” He winked at her, and enjoyed her hand coming to rest on his arm, and he began leading her out of the maze she had placed her in, his sharp memory aiding him as he took turns. Her simple answer made him wonder at what had driven her from their to here. She was a blue rider, a quirky thing when it came to her being a female, and he knew traditionalists looked down on such oddities. Strange, as oddities, as he viewed it, made the world a much more beautiful place.

Again, a compliment from her lips, like honey dripping from her lips. He wondered if he would be allowed to taste those lips-but couldn’t quite get a feel for her. He could be patient, patience often rewarded him. “Isme, your compliments will feed me through any fast.” He smiled at her, tilting his head at her. “I hail mostly from the south, though no home do I claim except maybe the harper halls. Mavros is new to me as well, just a few months have I walked these halls now, but breaking hearts? I try to avoid that as much as possible.” The last he said more seriously. He really did try to avoid that aspect-yet women were strong, if emotional, and were more prone to make attachments. He didn’t do well with romantic attachments. Then to lighten the mood, “Unless it be my heart breaking.”