The Prankster [MadB]

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The light had faded some time ago, but that was all to the advantage for the slinking shape that ascended the cliffs with a grace and silence all out of proportion to its size. If anyone knew what they were looking at the shape would resolve into a slinking wher, holding his powerful form low to the ground, the better to sneak up on his hapless victim.

The blue wher paused for a moment and eyed both his intended target, a human female who was doing something that involved putting colours on some kind of blank sheet. It looked a bit like writing, the wher decided, but messier. His blunt muzzle turned toward the young green dragon, she didn’t seem inclined to do anything about him right now so he ignored her and slunk forward, delicately winding his tongue around one of the brushes the human was using to apply her colours and removing it, a second and a third found their way into his jaws before he moved off a few feet and sat down innocently with his prizes hanging out of his mouth to await the results, and think up something else to do later.

Vivano knew his wher was up to something, that pretty much categorised Vivansk when he wasn’t on duty, he also knew that he wasn’t going to be able to stop whatever Vivansk had set in motion, the wher was much faster than his handler, and he’d probably rushed off ahead just because he’d found someone to play one of his famous, or infamous, tricks on. The wherhandler sighed, then shrugged, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d have to apologise for Vivansk with the blue standing beside him and making a mockery of his words somehow.

[madb]

Liesol hummed cheerfully under her breath, resting the handle of her brush against her chin for a moment, pressing against her skin, as she examined the work she'd done. The faded purple in the sky had been fun to do, though by the time she'd finished the backdrop, the sky had gone pitch-black. Picking up her palate, she began to blend drops of yellow paint with orange to create that faded light color for her stars...

Unnoticed by her rider, Hawedith's head raised a tad from where she'd been resting on her foreleg. She titled her head, eyes whirling with curiosity, as a blue wher showed up. For a moment, they both looked at each other, then the wher returned his attentions back to Liesol and her things.

Deciding that he didn't feel like a threat and, besides, she could nip at his sides if he did anything too bad, Hawey rested her head back on her forelegs and let out a puff of frustrated air. She was booored. Liesol liked this kind of thing, but it was booooring. Flying would be exciting! Lie said she was afraid to try and, besides, they weren't allowed to do it together yet anyway, so Hawey didn't push her but it was so much fun.

Oh! But the wher was doing something fun!

Hawedith's tail thumped a bit behind her, watching him with amusement as he started sneaking away all of Liesol's things. How funny! He was funny! She decided not to tell hers at all. It would be so amusing to watch Lie's reaction. The little green could just tell, just feel, the clever playfulness radiating out from the wher's mind. Oh, she liked him.

The dragon's eyes danced as Lie reached around for a fresh paintbrush. Lie's fingers grasped at empty air. For a few moments, she just continued focusing on the painting, figuring she just wasn't aiming right, but soon the weyrling rider realized that there was nothing there.

"What..." Liesol questioned, voice soft. She turned around.

"EEEEK!!!!"

The startled squeak was loud enough to be heard from several floors down, surely. Liesol jumped up to her feet, hands going straight to her mouth, eyes about as wide as saucers. After talking a couple of moments to calm down her heart, some of the startlement went away, and her shoulders relaxed. Her eyes were still wide, however.

"Oh. Um..." Hawey was doing nothing. Liesol felt equal parts comforted, because that meant this wher wasn't a danger, and a slight twinge of anger because she could've warned her! Her voice was still squeaky, but she tried to soften it so she wouldn't make the wher seem like he was in trouble. Then he might run off with her things! "Um. Mister wher, those are my things? Could you maybe give me my things back?"

How do I talk to a wher? Could you talk to him for me, Hawey?

My human wants to know if you are going to eat her brushes or take them? I have to warn you, they aren't very tasty! the green made a 'yuck' expression, quite impressive feat as a dragon.

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"EEEEK!!!!"

Vivansk flinched slightly at the volume of that sound and sprang to his feet again shuffling them in a gesture that clearly showed he was ready to run off and stay just out of reach all night if he had to. It was clear from his swiftly moving blue/green eye colours that he wasn’t at all worried about possible consequenses, and clear from the sound that emerged from his throat (something between a chuckle and a dragon’s rumble) and the emotional projection he was making that the blue was both amused and delighted by the young human’s reaction.

Mister? The wher repeated, both amused and incredulous at the title he was given. Vivansk. He corrected shaking his muzzle from side to side in an imitation of human gestures as he did so. No, he would not give her things back yet.

Vivansk shot a sidelong look at the dragon as she spoke to him and drew himself up in mock offense and flared his tiny wings, knowing it made him look silly instead of mad just because they were so small compared to the rest of him. Not fool, take maybe. Fun be? The wher snorted, having made one of his longest verbalisations ever. Speaking like a human hatchling made him look sillier than he wanted.

Vivano had picked up the pace a little when he heard a distinctly feminine shriek, but as he felt only amusement from Vivansk he knew it was only the results of the blue’s passion for practical jokes and he wasn’t about to go running headlong over an unfamiliar cliff path in the dark for anything less than wild felines. As a result he ended up on the scene looking a little winded from the brisk walk but still able to talk.

‘Vivansk!’ The wher’s name was uttered reproachfully as it didn’t take a genius to figure out why the blue had three paintbrushes hanging out of his jaws. Vivansk, naturally, was unrepentant and the slight shift of his weight showed that he’d play keep away with his handler as happily as he would with his new friends. Vivano tried a charming smile on the dragon and rider and gave them an awkward wave. ‘Er, sorry about that ladies. Vivansk’s been a joker since he hatched.’

[madb]

Liesol wondered if she’d offended the wher. Regardless, she must not have pleased him, as her paintbrushes were not given back to her. She sighed.

Hawedith tilted her head. I do not know. Mine seems to have fun with them, but they do not dance or make silly noises. I think they are boring! She said, though she made no real move to convince the wher to give her rider the ‘things’ back yet. Instead she stayed in place, tail twitching idly behind her, curious eyes fixated on the blue.

Liesol glanced up at Vivano’s arrival. She did not know the man, though she supposed that was only to be expected, wherfolk living on a different time schedule and all.

“Oh no! It’s fine, it’s… is he your partner?” she asked, polite regardless of situation, though the answer was as clear as the nose on her face. “He seems…” Lie looked at the wher with her stuff, and hesitated, trying to find the right word, “charming! But could you possibly convince him to return my things? I would be loathe to lose them.” She ducked her head and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, trying to avoid eye-contact. How embarrassing... She probably should’ve kept a closer watch on them… it certainly wasn’t a curious wher’s fault if he found them interesting, it must have been her own.

Liesolmine, Hawey soothed, I think he will return them, once he has found they are no fun. She encouraged, brightly, the unintended insult barely making Lie blink.

Oh, do you? Oh, I hope he thinks so. Liesol glanced at the blue, trying not to look upset, and probably failing completely.

“I don’t mean to make a fuss, Mr.—I mean, Vivansk,” she tried, again, “but surely my paintbrushes aren’t fun at all? I mean, unless you like to paint,” was it elitist to think a wher would not like to paint? Oh, she hoped she had not offended him… “In which case, I do have paper, and would be honored if you would join me! Just… if you could… don’t eat them…” her voice faded into another squeak.

Hawedith had, once, out of boredom and curiosity. It had been an adventure destined never to be repeated—brushes, go figure, tasted like wood and herdbeast hair. Yucky.

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Vivansk noted the sigh, but kept his attention on the green dragon, she seemed to be far more interesting than her human partner. The wher made a sound of agreement. Humans liked the silliest things really; he projected both the idea and an image of Vivano using an ink pen to take notes. They were for doing things like this yes? In that case they were very boring, and the green’s human clearly needed her life brightened up. What a good thing Vivansk was here to help! The last part of that projected idea was accompanied by a prancing motion and a flutter of his comically small wings.

Vivano chuckled softly, more at himself and Vivansk than at the young greenrider. ‘I have to say that’s the time anyone’s called Vivansk charming on their first meeting.’ He said with a bright smile. ‘Normally I hear words like “pest” and “menace” associated with him.’ The wherhandler’s relaxed tone showed that he didn’t really mind these first impressions. ‘I would have to agree with “pest”,’ Vivano admitted, casting a sideways glance at his wher, ‘I’m afraid he stole your brushes as a prank.’

Vivansk snorted softly at the human’s attempt to persuade him into returning her belongings. The wher wavered a little with indecision, it was clear that with Vivano around she wasn’t going to play a fun game of keep away with him, his human had already spoiled the joke. On the other hand, it wasn’t very likely he’d get to steal anything else now she’d been warned.

Paint? Vivansk inquired in a tone that suggested the concept was not only alien but entirely incomprehensible to boot. Make marks on paper? No thank you, that was just silly. Boring time. You I help. Not so boring then. Vivansk barked sharply to emphasis his point, letting the paint brushes scatter on the ground. The wher’s head swung over to point directly at Hawedith. You help?

Vivano shrugged and gave Liesol a sidelong look. ‘This might not be what you want to hear, but I think he likes you two. I don’t think I’ve heard Vivansk with so much to say in ages.’