To Talk of Many Things (Tag Alyx/ Melana & Sularenth)

[Taxx]

Aleni probably spent more time than was necessary preparing herself, but she wanted to look nice; this was supposed to be her first lesson of many about learning what it meant to be a goldrider, and she wanted to try to make a decent first impression. She didn't want to be late, either, and with a last frown, a last tug at her skirts and another nervous brush of her hair behind an ear, she turned to Riyo, who stood watching.

"What do you think? Passable?"

I think you look nice. And you smell good, not stinky. The rosy gold reached her head toward Aleni, careful not to brush against the fabric to keep from dirtying it, and then pulled back with a huff. But you should go! I'll be along soon, if Sularenth does not mind me attending. I will be with you one way or another, Mine.

"Okay." A pause, a deep breath, and a nod as she turned on a heel. "Okay. I'll see you there, I hope." She heard the young gold's rumble as she left the barracks, and the scrape of her claws as the gold went the other way, out to the courtyard where she could see the opening of the Weyrwoman's ledge. Sularenth and Hers had told Aleni to meet them there.

Before she flew there, Riyo sent out a call. Sularenth? Would you mind terribly if I joined my Aleni for her lesson today? I do enjoy being in her company, but I will stay away if you would rather.

Aleni, jogging up the steps toward the weyr, couldn't help a smile at the politeness of the request. Not that it was wrong- the gold had quite the temper and Riyo was right to ask permission before invading a bigger gold's space. She kept on, knowing that no matter what the gold answered changed nothing about her own visit, even if she hoped Riyobith would be allowed to accompany her. She reached the floor the Weyrwoman's weyr was on, took a moment to catch her breath and straighten her appearance once more, and then went on toward the door and knocked.

[Alyx]

Melana and Gold Sularenth

For once in a while, Sularenth wasn’t being a total annoyance. The Gold’s constant bitter muttering and snarky side shots had faded into a dull rumble, for which Melana was very grateful. And it had only taking let the blasted beast join her in the Senior’s weyr. Melana looked up from the table to glance in the direction of the Gold, Sularenth’s form draped over the stone bed that Zalmaranth had formerly occupied. It was a nice moment of peace for the day, but Melana wasn’t relishing shattering it when it came to time to get the creature moving again.

The little one wants to join me. ‘Hm?’ Melana watched Sularenth’s eye open slowly, unveiling a liquid color pool of blues, greens, and reds, reflecting the weird mood swings of the dragon. Was she ever not angry? The little one. Aleni’s gold. Riyobith. ‘Oh?’ Melana took a moment, shifting around the hides to set the mugs down by the chairs, and then frowning around at the weyr. Really, she should have some furniture shifted up here to replace what had gone with Karredy when she’s moved out. ‘Well, would having her here spoil your mood?’ Possibly. Melana gave a soft bark of laughter, looking in the direction of the Gold. ‘Sula…’

The Gold inhaled deep, then dwell the breath out like a rush of wind. Oh very well, I suppose as long as she doesn’t bother me with questions. Melana watched the Gold shift a little, resting her head back on her folded forelimbs. You make join me here as long as you don’t disturb the lesson, I suppose. ‘Very nice of you, grumpy.’ Do not get used to it. Melana gave a suffered sigh. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t. I know you better.’ Sularenth chuckled softly in her mind, making the woman feel very uneasy at how much the dragon’s behavior had been in flux as of late. Perhaps the timing had more side effects than predicted? She’d have to steal Srunae for a moment and see if she’d seen anything like with Danovelith.

Oh well, another thought for another time; she didn’t have time to focus on it now. Riyobith’s request meant that Aleni was most likely on her way, and Melana needed to focus on that rather than wool-gathering on other thoughts. Her personal interactions with Gold and her weyrling rider had been fairly limited; Melana hadn’t exactly been in the view of reaching out to the girl after the accusations and drama that surrounded Aleni’s impression – besides, both Srunae and Mollin had been tripping over each other to help the girl, Melana didn’t feel the want or need to get involved in the whole tangle. And after meeting the father? Shard, she was surprised any of the children escaped the man’s temper long enough to make it onto the Sands to Impress!

The knock on the door made Melana jump a little, mostly because she was wandering off in thoughts. Sularenth snorted at her, and she glared back at the dragon. ‘Hush.’ I didn’t say a word. ‘You didn’t need to.’ Good. The last word was a purr and Melana shook her head before turning toward the door. “Come in. It’s unbolted.” She turned back to the table as the door’s hinges sounded softly and motion at the chairs nearest to the table. “Grab a seat. I have some water and some Klah if you are interested.” Melana still thought Srunae was probably better suited for this, but they’d make due. How bad could this go, after all?

Taxx

[Taxx]

Waiting with her wings tucked to her sides, Riyo kept her unblinking gaze on the older gold’s ledge, not moving until she had her answer one way or the other. When it came, in an agreement when she had half expected refusal, she was quick to send a deep sense of gratitude as she sprang skyward and aimed for the empty ledge. She landed delicately, quick to locate Sularenth where she lay comfortably and gingerly padding to an empty space by the curve of the wall to settle down, her gaze trained on Aleni but keeping her distance from the two.

Pushing the door open at the invitation, Aleni offered a smile at Melana before closing the door and obeying the directive. She settled into a chair as she replied. “Water sounds nice. Thank you.” She glanced toward the bigger gold as she added, “Thank you for allowing Riyo to attend. And you, Melana, for agreeing to help me with these lessons. I hope to not take up too much of your time.”

She wasn’t quite sure what to expect from these special lessons, had been given no real hints of what she would be learning, and the best thing she could do was approach them with an open mind. She supposed there would be some lessons on control, given a gold’s ability to command any other color, though Riyobith had never yet shown any intent on demanding obedience from anyone- she wasn’t the sort. For a moment she wondered what she’d be taught, and then she brushed the thoughts aside, glancing up at Melana and waiting for her to begin.

[Alyx]

Melana and Gold Sularnth

Sularenth lifted her head, watching with an almost wary look as the younger Gold gained purchase on the ledge before her, just moments before her rider’s knuckles had rapped on the door outside. The larger gold dwarfed Riyobith, but Melana doubted the larger was any real danger to the younger gold; at least, at the moment anyway. Sularenth waited until Riyobith settled into a spot, then returned her head to her crossed forelimbs, rested her head down onto them, and closed her eyes. Hopefully, with luck, the Gold would just be… quiet for the rest of this encounter.

Melana left the last thought in the back of her mind, instead trying to focus on the girl as Aleni joined her. Best not to give Sularenth the ammo for attention and the weyrling did deserve at least Melana’s honest try at this Lessoning thing. She returned the girl’s smile casually, reaching for one of the clay mugs. She glanced over to the rose-gold dragon as Aleni thanked her for letting the dragon join, and gave a rough laugh. “I wasn’t me, that was Sularenth’s choice. I am glad she went along with it at least – she’d been in an off phase of moods since we returned.”

Collecting the pitcher, she filled the mug with the cool, clear water, then setting in within the girl’s reach. Girl… Aleni wasn’t really a ‘girl’ was she? The woman was right about the same age as Melana, but for some reason, Melana couldn’t help but think she was younger. Poor thing had has to field an ash-load of rumors, and she expected that K’ton wasn’t making Weyrlinghood any easier for them. Mel filled her own mug with water and then dropped into a chair.

“I had honestly forgotten you needed these lessons until you brought them up. I expected for some reason that Karredy would have at least started them, but…” Melana waved her hand as if to dismiss the very thought of the woman from the space around them. Their dethroned senior was the last thing on Melana’s mind, and she didn’t wish to take what had been a decent day by keeping the woman in the conversation. “It is what it is.”

“Before we start though...” Melana nodded toward Aleni’s dragon, and then looked back at the girl. “How has Riyobith been maturing? Sularenth was a vile, bossy creature from the start. Have you had any problems with controlling her? Has she attempted to order any of her clutchmates around?”

Taxx (I am sorry this took so long)

[Taxx]

As Aleni settled into her chair, her posture relaxing as she got comfortable for what could be a lengthy lesson, Riyobith did the same. She shuffled her elbows so they weren't pressed so hard into the stone, curled her tail to tuck at her belly, and rested her chin on the ground, eyes closing though she remained alert, her presence in her rider's mind light and unobtrusive. Aleni gave a nod of thanks at the water offered and reached to take the mug, her legs lifting to tuck beneath her and her hands now occupied to prevent her from fidgeting too much.

"I would have asked, but it hasn't really been a pressing matter. Riyobith hasn't done anything to make me think she needed it. But I thought it would be good to address it regardless." Her gold wasn't like what Melana described of Sularenth during her youth, far from it. Most golds had a motherly side, but it seemed far more pronounced in Riyo. "She worries about our class. Like, a lot. But she hasn't tried to order any of them around- she asks. Makes requests. And if they say no, she doesn't push until they agree."

Part of her couldn't help but wonder if that was normal- for a gold to be so undemanding. Or if it was within a normal scope; after all, personalities between colors varied over a huge range; some greens were timid and shy and others were so very not. Riyo probably had the ability, but had never seen a reason to use it, saw no point in exercising her control to take for herself what others had already claimed. Still- did it hurt to check? "That's not unheard of, is it?"
Alyx