Turnover Class B Race 3

[Zen]

M’kal :: Bronze Draveth

M’kal remembered well the last race they’d participated in. Between the trundlebugs and Draveth’s intense rivalry with Codrath, it hadn’t exactly had an ideal ending. Being beaten by both a brown and a blue was irksome. At least this time only browns and bronzes would be in their race… unfortunately the only other bronze was Codrath. Do not let yourself get too caught up with Codrath to pay attention to the others this time. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, he is the only real competition. I’ll not be bested by a brown. M’kal growled, You were last time, and a blue too, because Codrath was all you paid attention to! Draveth lifted his head and flared his wings, I do not believe you. I would never be bested by a blue. Stubborn beast, you’re going to lose us the race again. And I will only tell you that I told you so.

B’ram went over the rules and it was rather different from the Jask race. They would fly a proper circuit rather than straight to and from a point. There were height restrictions and they weren’t supposed to get too close or too far away from the cliffs. M’kal tugged at his straps to double check them quickly before the race began, Today marks our graduation, let’s win to celebrate, hm? Of course we will win. If you actually listen to me this time, maybe. I don’t know what you mean by ‘this time’. I do not lose. With a displeased grunt, M’kal ran his hand over his face in exasperation for the bronze. I have memories of it, you know, he shoved said memories at his dragon, but the bronze dismissed them without paying any attention. You chose me to be your partner, you know. So let me help you, you overgrown wher. Again he was ignored as Draveth turn an eye toward Codrath while the racers lined up, waiting for Ganth to give the signal to start, Good luck Codrath. You’ll need it. You’re impossible.

No’va :: Brown Alduntulath

In their last race, he and Aldy had come in dead last, and No’va remembered rather well how they’d gotten themselves boxed in, unable to safely make a good move to take the lead. He had shared the memory with Aldy before the race, So we need to NOT do that again. The brown rumbled in amusement, I agree. It is good you remembered. No’va had a moment to feel a bit pleased with himself for it. He glanced over at Codrath and L’rey. There had been a fairly recent shift in living quarters, for a reason he didn’t know, and he now shared his weyr with the younger bronzerider. Most of the others in their race were from their class, so it sort of left No’va with a more friendly sort of competition feeling. He liked Zi’lor well enough too, from when the man had assisted with their weyrling lessons, but the other bronzerider was unknown to him. Draveth and M’kal, Alduntulath supplied, They are part of today’s graduating class. Draveth is… very competitive. No’va laughed softly, Aren’t most bronzes? Aldy rumbled agreement.

Good luck, everyone, Aldy offered the others dragons in the race as they waited for the signal to start. No’va shifted impatiently, and then Ganth bugled to begin the race and every dragon surged forward. Remember, don’t get boxed in. I’d prefer if we didn’t come in last this time. Aldy laughed as he powered forward, As would I.

OOC: Thus begins Round 1 of posting! There is no posting order (other than that I will begin each new round) and you can feel free to have your character take the lead or whatever. The winners will be randomized and after Round 3 is over, I will make a post to end the race. Everyone will be free to make a final post if they wish. Only RACERS should be posting here!

Racers
V'than of Brown Saruth tovaana
M'kal of Bronze Draveth Zen
No'va of Brown Alduntulath Zen
E'san of Brown Norioth Alyx
L'rey of Bronze Codrath Taxx
Zi'lor of Brown Asriath Taxx

[tovaana]

V’than :: Brown Saruth

Saruth was a simple brown – two toned in hue and with a calm temperament, still, V'than could feel his brown shift under him in anticipation. Perhaps he was reflecting V’than’s anticipation. He assumed somewhere on the cliffs Riasu was watching and with a glance it wasn’t hard to pick out Jarath… yet, he had a hunch she wouldn’t be with her brother. So his eyes continued to scan, as if he would find her in the dotted cliffside or beaches below. Ah, well, either way- it would be fun to coax his brown to high speeds.

He glanced at Codrath, but controlled his memories, not wanting his brown to have any reason for his unreasonable behavior many lessons ago. Still, any time Codrath was involved, made him nervous that his own brown would repeat his random aggression that had seemed to have been stemmed from a protective instinct… He sighed, glancing at the other racers, nodding if he caught any of their glances. It would be a good race – he enjoyed any reason to fly really. V’than wanted to win, of course, but not obsessively. He couldn’t say he didn’t have some pride involved, like most men, wanting to prove themselves. His lips quirked as they pulled in a half smile, thinking he wouldn’t mind a victor’s kiss from Riasu… not that he wouldn’t get one anyways, but would it be that much sweeter if he won?

And yet, thoughts of Riasu reminded him of the recent trip back home and the things his father had said to him… He grimaced and sighed, rolling his neck to stretch it and release the memory. He leaned forward as the racers got ready – all tense in preparation of launching into the race. Everything else fell away as Ganth bugled, and Saruth wasn’t so simple to not understand it meant he could go. V’than’s hair was wound in a bun on his head so it wouldn’t get in the way, still – a few strands tugged free as Saruth’s giant wings thrust them forward into movement.

[Alyx]

E'san and Brown Norioth

So were you shopping for anyone special? E’san knew that tone. He tossed a frown at the star blanketed Brown as he passed the edge of the crowd to meet his dragon. ‘I was simply browsing and no, I didn’t have anyone in mind other than myself while I was doing it.’ Norioth gave a dramatic huff at his rider. Honestly, what am I doing to do with you? E’san didn’t rise to the bait, taking the chance to go over the Brown’s straps quickly before they had to be at the line for the start.

I’m sure there were some lovely gifts you could get for any number of lovely ladies that might look your way. ‘I’m not spending marks to charm some girl that is only interested in the gifts, Nori.’ Well of course, but at the same time, a gift or two wouldn’t hurt? Joia adores her colors, maybe something bright, like a scarf? Or Muze, what does Muze like… well, other than her brother… E’san took the Dragon’s moment of distraction to swing up into his seat, flipping the straps into place and buckling them. ‘How would I know what Muze likes, Nori? I don’t exactly chat with her regularly.’

You should!! She’s lovely!! ‘Could you not? Please?’ E’san had never been so happy that this race was literally all male. Fine. Not Muze, what about…. ‘Norioth..’ Siorreya! ‘Nori, no.’ Aw, but why not, E’san? ‘Because between her and her Green, there is more trouble than I want to try to handle!’ Another huff, more dramatic, as Norioth moved to join the racers. E’san lifted a hand, waving to No’va as his own brown settled in near Alduntulath.

Aleni!‘Huh?’ Norioth turned his head to glare back at his rider. What about Aleni? ‘The goldrider? What about her?’ You could shop for a gift for her! E’san was sure the Brown was grasping at grass blades now. ‘Why on the name of the salt in the seas would I do that?’ Because you are nice, and she should be graduating soon, correct? ‘I.. think so.’ Wonderful! Best to start looking for a gift now then! ‘Norioth, I don’t even know her except for in passing!’ Well, no time like the present then, and with a present! ‘Faranth help me…’

E’san was more than a little relieved when the starting bellow sounded. What an awkward conversation. Norioth’s attention instantly snapped away, the speckled Brown throwing himself and his rider smoothly into the air with the others. So, gifts… ‘Focus on the race, we’ll take about your weird plans later.’ I will hold you to that.

(I am so, so sorry. :P)

[Taxx]

L'rey of bronze Codrath

There was no question about them not racing; Codrath was more than ready to pit himself against others- especially when he learned that Draveth was participating too. The rest? Not important. But even Draveth, he ignored, as he jumped skyward and hovered at the starting line. Until the other bronze spoke up, at least and then he pinned Draveth with a glare. That was a taunt, and even though he knew he was being goaded, he couldn't help a retort, claws flexing as he growled.

We don't need luck. Speed and skill are what we'll need, and what we have. Mind yourself and yours; leave us be.

L'rey glanced over at the other bronze pair, one hand rubbing Codrath's broad neck. Ignore him, yeah? Focus on the race, not him.

Obviously, Codrath replied with a heavy snort, and pointedly turned away from them, braced and ready, when Ganth gave the bugle to begin, to lunge forward in a bid to take the early lead.



Zi'lor of brown Asriath

Racing wasn't something they typically did, but when Zi'lor had asked, Asriath had left the choice to his rider. He'd decided to, more to pass the time than anything. A bit of fun on a Gather day. Four browns and two bronzes- a fair field and fine competitors.

Are you sure you're well enough? Asriath asked, a gentle nudge of the arm that still carried a trace of healing herbs of the scoring from the last Threadfall.

I'm fine. You were hurt too, and you've recovered. This isn't something to risk ourselves over.

Another gentle nudge, but Asriath trusted Zi'lor to know when to limit himself, and he said nothing else as his rider slid the straps into place and checked their soundness with a few tugs. Then he swung up to mount and settled himself. Asriath glanced at Alduntulath as he passed on luck and rumbled approval. Yourself as well, young brown.

Springing upward, the older brown held his place in the line until the signal to go, and he needed no instruction from Zi'lor to know to pace himself. Not overly competitive, he didn't feel the need to rush to the front, but coasted along behind, conserving strength and letting the headstrong bronzes to burn through their stamina.

Zen

[Zen]

M’kal :: Bronze Draveth

Leave you be? Where’s the fun in that? Draveth rumbled, amused, at Codrath’s response as the race began, keeping pace with the other bronze and paying little mind to the four browns around them. Draveth! He is not our only competition! He is the only other bronze in the race, of course he is. M’kal hissed out a breath in frustration, When we are beaten by browns it will be entirely your fault! Draveth ignored him. As if a brown would ever defeat him in anything. What’s the matter, Codrath? Are you so simple that your mind can only focus on one thing at a time? Is flying and having a conversation too much for you? Try not to fly into the cliffs, that would be such a shame.

No’va :: Brown Alduntulath

Alduntulath sighed lightly, eyeing the bronzes in the race, At least Asriath is friendly. No’va had a moment of confusion and Aldy explained, Draveth is making a nuisance of himself, as usual. As usual? Yes. You are fortunate you do not have to listen to his constant boasting and insults. It is hardly becoming of a bronze who may lead one day. The brown’s disapproval was clear and No’va glanced ahead at both bronzes, Is he worse than Codrath? Codrath is entitled, but he is a bronze… leadership is natural for him. Draveth is… grating, for no reason. No’va laughed lightly, not really sure what to make of Aldy’s estimation of the bronzes. You know I was hoping for a bronze… but now I’m so glad you’re brown. Bronzes seem like… a lot. Aldy rumbled his own amusement at that, Not all of them are. You’re still better. I think you are biased, but I’ll take it. Focus now, so we don’t get boxed in again.

OOC: round 2 begins!

[tovaana]

V’than :: Brown Saruth

The large dragons created quite a stir in the air and for a moment V’than felt a bit breathless from the wind and adrenalin of flying. He chuckled and glanced around, not needing to push Saruth for him to at least keep pace with the other dragons. He frowned a moment, thinking of some of the things they had learned when it came to flying. Saruth saw his rider's thoughts and made a rumbling agreement in his chest – his rider surely knew best. Before he could confirm or deny the idea, the duo-toned brown hovered for a moment to let the bronzes next to him (who were paying no heed to them anyways) get a wingbeat or two ahead and then winged behind them to ride on their breeze and they both felt the wind resistance lessen significantly behind the larger bronzes.

‘Well, that’s good for now…’ Are you unhappy with this? ‘I just wasn’t sure if the distance was going to be worth trying to figure out how to get back in front.’ The brown thought about this quietly as he winged on. We have some distance to figure it out… The brown hummed and V’than sighed, thinking that he had time to figure it out. Not that his brown was incapable of simple strategy, he just wasn’t sure how simple it would be to make it past the large bronzes, he’d have to wait to see if an opening happened or if he’d have to make his way around.

[Alyx]

E'san and Brown Norioth

E’san thought that Norioth flew much, much better without the distraction of female company in the racing lineup. The Brown dipped to keep with the group, giving the pair of Bronzes a wider breath as they settled into the pack. They aren’t a distraction, they are… incentive. ‘To what? Lose?’ We didn’t lose last time. E’san hated that smug tone. ‘And how would you know that?’ Because you are very proud of that victory, and you were thinking about it before this one. ‘Shard it.’

As you would say, the children are acting up. E’san blinked, leaning over Norioth’s neck as the Brown darted wide around the Bronzes and pushed alongside. ‘What? Children?’ Draveth and Codrath are being themselves. ‘Ooooh.’ That made more sense. E’san risked a glance at the Bronzes, hoping that whatever was going on between them wouldn’t spill over onto the Browns around them. ‘Who started it?’ He couldn’t help it, both were generally... well, themselves.

This time, Draveth. Codrath is just, well… being him. ‘Can’t be anything else I suppose. Okay, focus on the race.’ I am doing both. AND I am thinking of gift ideas…. ‘Race first.’ He thought about it for a moment, then snorted. ‘Okay, Bronzes first, race second. I don’t want to get bit.’ I am paying attention, E’san, you just look the part. ‘Hey!’

[Taxx]

L'rey of bronze Codrath

Codrath snarled, lip pulling back to flash sharp, gleaming fangs. He didn’t look at Draveth, but his attention was pulled two ways now. I am not simple! The insult stung and it didn’t matter what L’rey was saying, that the bronze was just trying to get under his skin. It isn’t true.

Of course it isn’t. You’re as intelligent as any dragon.

Appeased- somewhat- by the ready agreement from his rider, Codrath was still unwilling to let it go that easily. I should bite his wings for the lie.

You really shouldn’t. Yell at him if you want, but they’ll get mad at you if you bite him.

They? Codrath asked; his attention was briefly pulled toward Norioth as the brown swept alongside him, and another growl rumbled in his chest as he pushed himself harder to keep the brown from taking the lead.

Gamath? Sularenth?

For a moment Codrath was quiet, daunted at the thought of his queen’s anger at his lashing out, and then he grumbled reluctant acknowledgement. Gamath was one thing- Sularenth another entirely, and he had no desire to invite her wrath. Instead, he focused on the race: on going faster in hopes of leaving behind all the others. L’rey turned to glance at M’kal, wishing he’d get his bronze under control and stop poking at Codrath.


Zi'lor of brown Asriath

It must be their youth, Asriath mused, and Zi’lor snorted.

Or their ego? Not every hot-headed bronze is a youngster.

True. Shall I push ahead? Codrath was gaining speed, striving to take the lead and distance himself from Draveth and Norioth, who had gone to match the bronzes’ speed.

Not yet. Let them wear themselves out a bit more. Steady at the rear with Saruth and Alduntulath, Asriath gave a single bob of his head in understanding and kept the pace. Winning would be nice, certainly, but in truth Asriath cared little whether he finished first or last. The race and the fun of it was why he was here, not the thrill of winning- not that he’d particularly mind coming in first ahead of a couple of bronzes.
Zen

[Zen]

M’kal :: Bronze Draveth

It was fortunate for M’kal that Codrath did not seem to be rising to Draveth’s bait so easily. Draveth huffed, mildly annoyed, He is no fun at all today. Because he’s actually focusing on the race, unlike you. His bronze huffed again, Fine, if it will make you stop your nagging. You’re taking all enjoyment out of this. I’ve never known you to be so boring. I am NOT boring. I just want to WIN. And more importantly, not lose to browns. Draveth growled at the thought, even as Norioth was making his move to get ahead, and seemed to realize that his rider might have been right all along. Fine. I’ll leave him be. He isn’t amusing me anyway. M’kal rolled his eyes, Good, now let’s get the lead back!

No’va :: Brown Alduntulath

Shall we make a move? I can see the finish. The race had taken them away from the cliffs, out over open water, the final stretch. With no cliffs to worry about colliding with, it would be much easier to maneuver. No’va’s grip on his straps tightened a bit, No… not yet. Just make sure you’re keeping up. Stay on their tails. He grinned, and Aldy’s curiosity had him poking into his rider’s mind to see just what he was planning. No’va shared his plan freely and Aldy rumbled amusement, Dramatic. It would be great, right? If you are willing to take the risk of losing in favor of theatrics. Are you? If you’d rather not- It matters little to me. It would be nice to win… if you wish to be showy then we shall. But we have to time it perfectly. No’va gave a bounce of excitement before he caught himself, Let’s do it. Stay on their tails. Aldy’s amusement was his only response, but he made sure to keep hard on the leader’s tails, preparing himself for the final attempt to take the lead.

OOC: round 3 begins!

[tovaana]

V’than :: Brown Saruth

As the cliffs fell away, V’than felt better about tailing the bronzes. Going around their wide wingspans would take too long, and going under would risk them getting pushed down and using energy they would need to push to the finish line. V’than’s eyes narrowed glancing up and Saruth, who was constantly listening and feeling for his rider, saw the direction of his thoughts and used some of the saved energy to push up and over the bronzes, casting a shadow over Draveth – the bronze longer than his brown about the same length as the height of his sister. As large as Saruth was, he had nothing on these bronzes, especially Codrath. But size wasn’t what they needed at the moment. ‘Faster!’ He pushed his brown, who in turn pushed his wings in attempt to take the lead – and if they could just pass the bronzes, possibly cut them off. V'than felt his heart beat quicken with excitement, a smile touching his features as he leaned forward and down, as if he could in that small motion make them faster. 

[Alyx]

E'san and Brown Norioth

As they rounded the final bend in the course, the two Bronzes seemed to remember that there were others in the race besides them. Unfortunately. E’san glanced over his shoulder, cursing under his breath as Draveth and Codrath seemed to break off whatever spat was going on between them and turned their mutual attention back to the race. And the lead.

‘Here they come.’ Norioth rumbled, pulling on his reserves to power forward to try to keep ahead of the pair of Bronzes. If one of the Browns snatched the lead from him, he’d have been annoyed he lost, but he’d rather lose to a Brown than a snot-snouted Bronze! ‘Whoa!’ E’san felt his heart racing as the Brown dove a bit, just a little, to use the gravity of the motion to get a bit more speed.

Hold on. ‘I am!’ All the normal boasting and wordplay was gone for the moment – Norioth wanted to cross that line ahead of the Bronzes, and E’san was pretty much just along for the ride now. Tightening his grip on the straps, he pulled himself as flat as he could against the speckled Browns’ body and willed Norioth forward with everything he had.

[Zen]

No’va :: Brown Alduntulath

With the finish drawing ever closer, the anticipation to make their big move was growing, and it took all of No’va’s self control not to urge Aldy into it early. He trusted the brown’s knowledge of flying far more than his own, after all. Aldy would know when it was the right time. It really was risky. If they didn’t time it just right they might just come up short. But it would be, as Aldy had said, quite a dramatic end to the race. Particularly if they won. Aldy was steadily gaining, slowly, but steadily, lending more power into every beat of his wings. He managed to edge past Asriath before the cliffs of the finish began to draw in around them, and Norioth began to make his own final bid for the win. It was now or never. Hang on! It was all the warning No’va got, but he’d already been clinging to his straps in preparation. He had half a heartbeat to brace himself before Aldy flat out dove, giving one final long stroke of his wings to propel him into the fall before his wings snapped tight to his sides, legs tucked to reduce his drag as much as possible.

No’va let out a long woop of excitement. They’d never gone this fast before. If nothing else, it was worth it just for the experience. He didn’t have time to check what everyone else was doing, he didn’t even think about them, too consumed by the thrill of the dive. At what seemed to No’va to be the very last possible moment, Aldy flared his wings with a mighty downstroke, the brown’s claws breaking the water’s surface as they just managed to pull out of the dive before they took a freezing dip in the sea. It seemed at the same moment that Aldy’s claws had touched the water, No’va heard Ganth’s bugle, but it wasn’t until Aldy rose higher, rejoining their competition, that his dragon informed him of their victory, his tone edged with pride, Ganth offers us congratulations. We won.

M’kal :: Bronze Draveth

Annoyed that his antagonistic fun had ended so quickly, Draveth was at least a bit more focused on the browns now that Codrath wasn’t proving terribly entertaining, which M’kal was grateful for. He seemed to be taking them a bit more seriously, his irritation at the very possibility of losing to a brown growing the closer they got to the finish, especially with Norioth keeping up with them so well. What did I tell you? I will not allow it! Draveth snarled, his wings powering forward as he locked on to a new target: Norioth. Unfortunately his single mindedness made it easy for Saruth to slip by overhead as Norioth made a slight dive, keeping the bronze’s attention low. He made his own little dive and with a quick burst of speed swerved in front of the brown in attempt to stall him just enough to steal the lead. Only the lead had already been stolen.

Draveth! M’kal had seen Saruth pass over them, and Codrath had pulled ahead as well, but neither of them had passed the finish just yet when Ganth’s bugle sounded. It took another moment for M’kal to realize what had happened, as Alduntulath’s dark form suddenly rose from below them all. Draveth snarled once more, furious to have been bested by a brown. Two browns. His eyes whirling red, his gaze snapped to Saruth briefly before he tilted his wings and made quickly away, too angry to remain. I told you. Shut up! If you just listened to me from the beginning this wouldn’t have happened! I do not need you to tell me how to fly! Apparently you do! The bronze landed heavily at their weyr, jarring his rider on his back quite on purpose, Get off! He shook himself pointedly, jostling M’kal further to make sure he understood that if he remained on his back, it was not going to be at all comfortable for him. Annoyed, M’kal unclipped himself and jumped down, and Draveth wasted no time leaving his rider behind as he took to the air once more. Where are you going? I’ll need a ride- You have legs. Use them. At least his weyr had ground access.

Placements:
1. No'va of Brown Alduntulath
2. L'rey of Bronze Codrath
3. V'than of Brown Saruth
4. M'kal of Bronze Draveth
5. E'san of Brown Norioth
6. Zi'lor of Brown Asriath

[tovaana]

V’than :: Brown Saruth

He felt Saruth dip the smallest bit – and with a glance V'than noticed one of the bronzes giving way – vacuuming and allowing room for Saruth to slide easier over them. Huh, what luck. He wasn’t going to dwell long on it long, but there wasn’t much more for him to do, so he noticed Norioth as well when he had glanced down. As he looked up, the ‘line’ was practically there – and time seemed to slur as they all crossed and noises of dragons and the wind swirled around him. It took him a moment to realize they had placed and he punched the air. Not first, but besides something innate that stirred competitive instinct, he hadn’t put all his pride and desires in getting first.

‘Great job buddy.’ The brown rumbled under him. Good team work. V’than smiled and patted his hide. He felt out of breath, even if he hadn’t been the one to be actually flying. ‘You did great. So great, that I think I deserve a third place victory kiss, what do you think?’ The slow brown didn’t respond right away, poking at V’than’s mind to figure out who the kiss was from. V’than had to laugh. ‘I’ll take a kiss from you too, if you’d like.’ The brown blinked, glancing back at his rider a bit mystified, but carried his rider to the cliffs where he assumed to find Riasu where ever she’d been watching.

[Alyx]

E'san and Brown Norioth

Man, this race was looking so good! E’san couldn’t help the burst of pride as Norioth dropped down, sliding past the pair of Bronzes. Maybe he should be a bit more concerned about the lack of control their riders seemed to have over them, but honestly, he was more thrilled with the fact that his Brown was clearly smarter than the pair of them put together!

Why thank you, E’san. Norioth’s smug voice filtered over E’san’s thoughts, and the younger man smirked. ‘I speak only the truth, Nori. If you slept half the energy into other things that you do into flirting with everything female, you’d get more praise like it.’ Norioth chuckled, pushing them a bit more into the second place position. But what would be the run in that? Flirting is the best kind of challenge. The best chase with the very, very best rewards. You really should loosen up and try it sometime.

E’san didn’t get much chance to respond. Somewhere over them, the Bronzes were tipped off to the fact they were leaving them in the dust. In one moment, they hard a clear shot to the lead, and in the next? Norioth growled, swearing sharply and dropping back to avoid colliding with Draveth’s big Bronze hind end as the others shot past them across the line. Dimglow! Are you trying to get someone hurt? Norioth’s voice was sharp, an angry tone E’san rarely heard from the laid-back Brown.

‘Let it go. Race is over anyway.’ It was. Already, he could see several others landing. E’san could almost sense the star-sparkled Brown wanting to say more, but both knew it wasn’t worth it. It was rather satisfying to watch from a distance as Draveth all but dumped his rider, leaving M’kal standing with the other racers as the Bronze flew off. I would never do that to you. ‘Well you aren’t a bronze? And you are clearly better then Draveth.’ Norioth touched down, his ego only a little bruised by the loss. After all, it hadn’t been HIS fault, it had been Draveth’s fat rear tailfork getting in his way.

‘Who won? Clear not Codrath, or you’d be in a worse mood.’ Norioth shifted, letting E’san undo the straps as slip from his shoulders. No'va and Brown Alduntulath won. Codrath was second, unfortunately, but V'than of Brown Saruth. ‘Nice.’ E’san was thrilled for his friends, tossing a wave in No’va’s direction even though he wasn’t sure the other boy would see it. ‘Would you relay?’ Of course. Norioth turned, looking in the direction of the others. Excellent flying, Alduntulath. E’san says to say congratulations on the win. The Brown paused a moment, E’san feeling the humor. And congrats on the 3rd place, Saruth, nice last-minute moves.

‘You gonna congratulate Codrath too?’ Of course not, his head is already too far up his tailfork as it is, I do not plan to praise him and make it worse. E’san all but choked trying not to laugh. L’rey was an okay kid most of the time, but his dragon was a pain in the rump. So what now? E’san dusted his palms off against his breeches, then undid the buckles to the flight coat he wore. ‘Not sure? Hadn’t planned for much after the race, honestly. Maybe some shopping.’

Norioth’s interest peaked, and E’san instantly regretted saying anything. Shopping? For anyone special? E’san snorted. ‘Maybe family, or myself. You. Not sure if that counts as special or not.’ It doesn’t. Norioth’s tone was so flat, E’san gave a short snort of laughter. ‘And I assume you have a better idea?’ Of course I do. You never think about the long game, E’san. You should shop for pretty things to give the ladies. They like shiny things! ‘Oh, and you know this how?’ I just do!

E’san shook his head, looking up at the Brown. Normally, he’d have laughed Norioth’s notion off – but the Brown HAD tried his best in the race, and probably would have won first or second if not for Draveth’s stupidity. ‘Okay, fine. You figure something out, and who its for, and I’ll do my best to get it. And you can give it to whomever you want. Deal?’ You mean you will give it to them. ‘Why me?’ Because I have no problem being charming. You, on the other hand, need a massive amount of help. ‘Hey now. That hurts.’ Norioth rumbled, dropping his nose to nuzzle the boy before turning away. ‘Now were are you going?’ To ask some questions, silly. I need to pick the right gift, afterall.

E’san watched the brown take off, lifting a hand to shield his eyes. ‘And who are you going to ask?’ Did he really want the answer to that question? Green Rylath for sure. And possibly Gold Riyobith if I can find her. ‘Wait, Riyobith?’ Yes. ‘Wait, Norioth, No, leave Aleni and her gold out of this.’ Silence. ‘Nori? Norioth! You can’t just ignore me; I know you can hear me!’

Nothing. Shard it.

(Awesome thread, sorry for the late reply. Thanks for the opening to drop him back, Zen. Tags for tovaana and Taxx for mentions)