First Impressions [Kev/Riasu]

[Zen]

Immediately following Orchestrated Beginnings

A'zael

Lo’qui and Jarath. A’zael repeated the names in his head after the introduction had been made, started considering which Wing could best utilize the big bronze, but he could think about that later. Already the man was asking Melana about where he could take supplies he’d brought with him. Meanwhile Riasu seemed entirely pleased with his offer, moving closer to offer him one of her bags to carry. He returned her smile with an easy grin of his own as he took it from her, “Of course, I’m happy to lend a hand.” Her comment to her brother meant little to him. He didn’t much care to know how Mavros’s supplies were come by, so long as they helped in the end.

A deep rumble from Sularenth drew his attention briefly, and he noted that the gold’s attention had shifted to him. He didn’t notice Melana’s choked back laughter, too caught up in considering what the gold might be thinking. He would much rather be ignored by Sularenth than have her eyeing him like that. She couldn’t remember as far back as that day he’d tried to barge into their weyr, did she? That’s about all he could think about while under the gold’s scrutinizing gaze, but that had been months ago. Surely she didn’t remember….

Melana’s voice had him tearing his gaze from her dragon as she addressed him. He was glad she had agreed, but wasn’t exactly expecting the warning that followed. “Do behave yourself. Mavros has enough wild rumors without you giving the gossips and kitchen drudges more fodder to add into them.” He glanced toward Riasu briefly, mildly concerned with just how she would take that, and laughed lightly in an attempt to play it off, “I’m always on my best behavior, I’ve no idea what she means.” But he still felt Sularenth’s gaze boring into him, another glance toward the gold confirming it even as Melana climbed onto her back. He had spent his whole life around dragons and never had one made him the slightest bit uncomfortable until Sularenth came along. He wasn’t entirely convinced she wouldn’t eat him if he ever angered her again.

Then the two were away, and Lo’qui and Jarath were following them, and it was just him and Riasu. Finally. He breathed a sigh of relief. Between her brother, Melana, and Sularenth, he could hardly be himself before they’d gone. He turned toward Riasu, gesturing toward Fath, “Shall we? After we drop off your things in the candidate barracks I’d be more than happy to give you a tour.” S’bol would normally do that, but A’zael would gladly use the excuse to spend more time with her. He climbed onto the bronze's back, settling the bag she'd given him in front of him, before reaching down to take the second from her so she could climb up herself, a grin tugging at his lips as he asked, "Do you prefer it in the front or the back?" And gesturing after a moment to indicate that she was free to sit in front of him or behind him, at her preference.

kevna (you can fly them to the candidate barracks in your post if you want, full permission xD)

[kevna]

Riasu - Candidate

Riasu looked at Sularenth, trying to keep the glance casual-it was so hard to ignore newer dragons voices-and it was easier to focus on one dragon’s voice then the new multitude that Mavros presented. Plus, the half of the conversation she could hear was interesting. Who was Danovelith’s rider? Was she the weyrwoman that hadn’t come to greet them?

Then the goldrider spoke, giving out her warning. Riasu raised an eyebrow and then turned it back to the weyrleader. What kind of trouble did this leader get into? She didn’t think she would mind finding out. But it did give her pause-who was Danovelith’s rider? She loved a little trouble now and then, but after D’min, she wasn’t so sure she wanted that trouble to be with another guy who was involved. Still, he was just so handsome… And if it is the Weyrwoman, that alone didn’t mean he was taken, right? She struggled within herself. She wasn’t flitter-brained. She would just have to be careful-not do anything impulsive. Which was hard because sometimes couldn’t help herself.

She gave a slight smile at his laid-back comment, and just gave a simple, “Uh huh, sure you don’t.” Finally, Melana and her gold led her brother off, and Riasu relaxed a little. She did not need a gold talking her out of anything she hadn’t made a decision about yet. “We shall.” The young woman lifted her jaw, a please smile overtaking her at his offer. “That would be so nice, I could use a little one on one time with you. I mean, you would know your weyr best.” She gave him an innocent gaze, and followed him to the bronze-Fath she reminded herself. Watching A’zael’s strong figure climb the smaller bronze was pleasing, she didn’t bother hiding her gaze.

Riasu handed the heavier of the bags up to the man, which was blocking her view of his face when her asked his question. She laughed, raising bother her eyebrows, thoroughly entertained. He had gumption, no doubt about it. She couldn’t help herself. “Front, definitely front, thank you for asking.” She didn’t wait for his reply, swinging herself into place, and grabbing the leathers. She lifted her elbows a bit so he could wrap his arms around her if he so chose.

“Okay handsome, if you don’t mind.” Riasu directed the comment to Fath, as always presumptuous, but again, she didn’t bother restraining herself. The bronze lifted up and away. Taking them farther into the Weyr. When he landed she gave him a hearty scratch of his neck ridges as a thank you. “Thank you Fath, what a ride.” She swung her leg over, and allowed herself to expertly dismount, then turned, lifting her arms up for her bag to be thrown down.

“So A’zael, how long have you been Weyrleader of Mavros? And when do I get to meet your Weyrwoman?” She was pointed in the question, no use not being. She would find out one way or the other, and her curiosity had a mind of it’s own.

[Zen]

A'zael :: Bronze Fath, S'bol

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her response to his question as she climbed up in front of him, and took the chance to wrap an arm around her when she presented it. The flight should be an easy one but there was no reason to risk her falling off if all it took was to hold onto her, now was there? He was amused when it took him a moment to realize she was talking to Fath rather than him, indicating her readiness to take off. Fath turned a whirling blue eye back at them, still unsure about the compliments Riasu was giving him, but A’zael urged him into the sky before he got too distracted with it.

It wasn’t a long flight to the candidate quarters, down on the beach, and Fath landed, blowing sand up into the air with a few downstrokes of his wings before they were on the ground once more. The bronze emitted pleased crooning at the scratches Riasu offered him, and huffed whens he stopped to dismount. Leave it Fath. You can visit the creche later and get all the scratches you want. The bronze perked at that. He loved the creche, letting the kids clamber all over him and offer him scratches. His A’zael’s hatchling always gave lots of good scratches. And they were all so tinycute. CanIgonow?

A’zael dismounted after Riasu, impressed with the woman’s ability. She seemed as comfortable with it as any rider. He eyed the bronze for a moment, considering if he might need him further today, but if he was going to show Riasu around it would be done on foot. It wasn’t as if Fath could fit in the lower caverns. Go ahead. Ever since Azora had come to Mavros, Fath had been a rather regular visitor to the creche, and the workers there all knew him well enough to know the children were safe around him at this point, whether his rider was there or not. The fact that he would willingly speak with anyone who would listen also helped in making everyone more comfortable with his presence. Don’t forget to say goodbye to our guest, Fath.

Fath turned an eye toward Riasu, tail flicking behind him impatiently, Goodbyegoodbye, Igonow! A’zael gave a short laugh as the bronze turned and half trotted half hopped down the beach toward the creche cavern. He turned back to Riasu as she asked her question, opened his mouth to answer her first, but she continued with a second that had him holding back a cringe. “Ah. Well. I’ve been Weyrleader for… heading toward three turns now,” he glanced back the way Fath had gone as he considered how to answer her question about the Weyrwoman, “As for the Weyrwoman… Karredy has been unwell for quite some time.” The answer slipped off his tongue easily at this point. It wasn’t a lie, there was something very wrong in that woman’s head. His gaze returned to Riasu, “She has recently been moved out of the Weyrwoman’s quarters. She is abdicating her position on account of her health, as the stresses of the position are hindering any sort of recovery. So, for now, our other goldriders are performing her duties, until our next gold rises and installs a new Weyrwoman.”

And hopefully a new Weyrleader as well, though he kept that thought to himself. As well, it was anyone’s guess which gold might rise next. Technically Danovelith and Sularenth had been expected to rise already, but neither of them had, and neither of them showed any signs of it yet either. A’zael took that to mean that going back in time had messed with them somehow in that regard, and now they had the nerve wracking future of having no idea when, or even if the two would rise again, to be honest. Srunae didn’t seem worried that they would rise again, as the tales of Lessa and Ramoth often spoke of the queen’s massive clutches, even after traveling some 400 turns into the past and returning again, not mention the queens that were brought forward as well continuing to clutch. But the when was completely up in the air at the moment, and if the timing was wrong and they rose at the same time as Zalmaranth or Aerroth then….

Well, he didn’t want or need to think about that right now. He gestured into the cavern, moving on to a new subject, “This is where you’ll be staying as a candidate. I’m afraid they aren’t the best quarters and tend toward dampness, but hopefully you won’t have to suffer them long once we have eggs on the sands.” He carried her second bag inside for her and S’bol met them before they could go too far.

“Weyrleader! What’s the occasion? Nesporth told me you and Fath had arrived outside.”

A’zael frowned briefly, exasperated, “I’ve told you, S’bol, please just call me A’zael.”

S’bol laughed, “Sorry, sorry. Habits.” He seemed to notice Riasu for the first time, “Oh, have you brought me a new candidate?”

“Indeed. This is Riasu. Riasu, this is S’bol of Blue Nesporth, our candidate master. If you ever need anything just let him know, he’ll do his best to accommodate you,” A’zael explained.

S’bol grinned, “That I will. Well met, Riasu. I hope you have the best of luck on our hatching sands.”

“If you could show her to an unoccupied cot, S’bol, so she can settle her belongings, I’ll be showing her around the Weyr once she’s ready,” A’zael handed the bag over to the other man and glanced at Riasu, “I’ll wait for you here.”

S’bol glanced between them, a bit surprised A’zael was going to be giving her a tour himself, “I can take care of that if you’re busy We- A’zael.”

“I have time today,” A’zael assured him, flashing a grin at Riasu, “Besides, she brought me the gift of another bronzerider for our Wings, I have to repay her somehow.”

S’bol only looked more confused at that, “Ah, I suppose…. This way, if you would, Riasu!”

OOC: I figure you can have her get settled and they can out in your post since mine got long enough as it was xD he'd take her toward the commons and dining hall first~

[kevna]

Riasu - Candidate

Three turns was not bad, not bad at all. He could have many turns ahead of him if he played his cards right. Briefly Riasu wondered if Jarath and Lo would disturb the peace of the weyr’s leadership, but decided it was too soon to know. Riasu’s eyebrows raised at the news of the weyrwoman, feeling sorry for the poor woman. So sick she couldn’t uphold her work. Riasu couldn’t imagine. But the news just meant that Mavros was just getting more and more interesting by the minute. “Poor thing, I hope she get’s well soon.” She made the decision that this woman did not have the weyrleader’s heart; this was based off the assumption that if she did the weyrleader would fight to keep her in position, rather then putting her aside. But the assumption didn’t make her feel relieved or happy that the handsome man was free… Just… guilty. Because she truly felt tender for the woman, but her mind kept turning. Was this Karredy Danovelith’s rider?

Her conscious and curiosity were given a break as A’zael led her into the cavern, and he apologized for the conditions of the quarters. She nodded slowly, casting her eyes about, taking it in. It was damp, and it was no Ierne. She also hadn’t had to share a room in Ierne with a whole bunch of people. When she wasn’t sleeping with D’min, she had shared her mother’s Weyr. She kept her face schooled, a polite interested look. She was not looking forward to sharing a room with others.

She was about to ask when eggs may be laid when another man joined them. Riasu smiled at the man’s obvious respect for A’zael, impressed. The tall woman allowed the weyrleader to introduce her, and reached out her hand for a hand clasp with the candidate master. “Well met, S’bol. I intend to, thank you.” She smiled. There was a dragon out there meant just for her, she knew it, she just hoped it was here on these Mavros sands where she would find it. And soon because she was getting older faster.

The young woman nodded to A’zael giving him another flirtatious smile, “Then I’ll be back.” She followed S’bol into her new quarters, taking in her surroundings again, scrunching her nose just the littlest bit. No one could see. She straightened her face when the candidate master turned toward a bed, and gestured to it.

“This’ll be your cot, there is a trunk here for your belongings. It’s small, but homey. If you need anything feel free to ask. There will be duties assigned for you, but we can go over that later when you get back from your tour. Mighty nice of the Weyr- uh A’zael to take you around.”

Riasu had started unpacking the basics, placing her blankets on the cot, and opening the trunk to take a look inside, so it kept her back mainly to him, hiding the pleased smile she bore. “Very kind. You have a very generous Weyrleader.” She placed the larger bag in the trunk, she could unpack later, and the smaller on her cot.

“It was very nice to meet you S’bol.” The dark skinned woman held out her hand for a hand clasp, and the candidate master took it.

“Oh I can show you back to-“”That’s unnecessary, I remember the way out.” She removed her hand from his grasp, “I look forward to the candidate orientation later.” The young woman stated in goodbye, and turned to back track the way she had come. It didn’t take long to find the door out where A’zael stood waiting.

“Okay, all settled. Where to next Weyrleader?” She smiled teasingly, moving to bump his shoulder ever so slightly. They moved out of the candidate section, and she followed him along. “So, tell me about you, what’s your story, how did you end up here A’zael? What are you deepest darkest secrets." She chuckled, she couldn't help but ask. Who knew, maybe one day someone would be honest. 

[Zen]

A'zael

Riasu wasn’t gone for too long, though while he waited, A’zael considered that it had been quite some time since he’d visited the candidate caverns. They were as damp as he remembered them being. Things had sure been simpler then. He shook his head at his musings as Riasu reappeared, ready to begin her tour properly. He grinned back at her as she emphasized his title, bumping him playfully. It was nice that she didn’t seem intimidated by his rank or feel the need to be too formal, as so many did, “I thought we’d start at the most important place in the Weyr, of course. The dining cavern.” After all the Weyr would hardly last long without the meals consumed there. “And normally I insist on being called by name, but you know, it has a nice sound coming from your lips.”

When she prompted him to tell her about himself, he laughed, “Deepest, darkest secrets? You don’t waste any time, do you?” He figured he would start with her more innocent questions, however. Perhaps she would be able to entice more from him before the day was over. It wasn’t as though she wouldn’t hear plenty about him soon enough. Perhaps it would be better to tell her his side of things before she heard the distorted rumors. Running stark naked through the feast indeed.

“I’m afraid my story isn’t terribly interesting, really. Up to a point,” he grinned again, because it had certainly been rather interesting since he’d become Weyrleader. “I was just a simple boy looking forward to riding a blue dragon one day and having fun with aerial acrobatics, but at 19 turns with several turns of standing behind me at Southern and no luck, opportunity at a new Weyr seemed a decent chance to take, so I came to Mavros with several other transfers from Southern. Unfortunately our Weyrwoman was poisoned before her gold could rise again, but to skip the boring parts, Mirran invited us to stand at one of their hatchings, and instead of a fun little blue, Fath found me, thus thrusting me into a position of responsibility I had never dreamed of for myself.”

It was a decent summary of events, “The bronze is absolutely gold obsessed. He was barely old enough to chase when Zalmaranth rose. We were only so many months out of weyrlinghood and then I was Weyrleader of Mavros. And here I am. Still.” He laughed again, shook his head, and glanced over at her, “So I hope you’ll have mercy on me when you hear the rumors still running about the Weyr, of which there are plenty. I’m afraid my deepest, darkest secrets have a tendency to run rampant through the Weyr and so you don’t have to dig terribly deep or travel far into the dark to find them.” A grin pulled at his lips again, “But if I just revealed everything now that would take all the fun out of it, now wouldn’t it?”

And then they had arrived at the dining cavern, which wasn’t terribly far from the candidate quarters, one of few perks of the damp cave that housed the Weyr’s dragonrider hopefuls. “And here is where the Weyr at large consumes their meals. I personally prefer to eat in the dining cavern and socialize. I don’t get a lot of downtime to do so otherwise. Through there is the kitchen,” he gestured to an open archway on the far side of the cavern, “As a candidate you might get to get up close and personal with it soon enough, so I don’t imagine we need to intrude on them now. Unless you’re hungry. We can see what we can pilfer.” He chuckled, “Otherwise we can move on and you can tell me a little about yourself now that I’ve given you my story. I’m rather curious why you chose to move to Mavros. I'm sure a woman as beautiful as you would be welcome anywhere.”

kevna

[kevna]

Riasu - Candidate

“Most important indeed.” Riasu nodded solemnly, but cracked a small smile soon after. She had a hard time staying subdued. Though she did believe a place of eating to be of import among a weyr. It’s where friends are made, families bond, energy is renewed, and cravings (at least most cravings) sated. She liked calling him Weyrleader, and decided in private she would continue to do so, though in public it would be better not to bring any undue attention to her. At least not till she was dragon made and rider born.

She followed him down easily enough and smiled archly. “No, no I really don’t.” It was a light flirtatious challenge, but she left it at that. She knew she could be rash, but she had to be careful this go around. Riasu listened avidly as he began telling his story, finding it most contrary to his previous statement of being dull. A Weyrwoman poisoned, a bronze finding an unambitious man-all very interesting indeed. The latter more so to her. She hadn’t met many men who lacked ambition, especially bronze riders, and it made her study the young man anew.

She laughed at the bronzerider’s description of his bonded. “I can’t blame the bronze; most are obsessed with golds.” Including she herself. She met his gaze but let him continue. Mercy? So it was that bad huh? She raised an eyebrow. She placed a hand to her heart and comically took an exaggerated intake of breath, “Well, are you implying that I will partake in gossip and believe it?” They were approaching an entryway which was clearly the dining room’s, and she tried to show more interest in the dining room then the man showing it to her. Riasu winked at the man, “But I do like a challenge.”

The tall woman was glad to know that A’zael liked to eat in the dining cavern, it was a helpful piece of information she would have to stow away for later. She looked toward the kitchen as he gestured, leaning toward him as if to get a better view, she looked at him and smiled, enjoying his chuckle. She liked a man with a sense of humor. “As much as I like to pilfer, I’m good for now, thanks. Please, lead the way.”

Riasu followed the Weyrleader out of the dining room, looking behind for one last look, though it only postponed the inevitable. As much as she loved the compliment, she hated talking about herself. “Well, I couldn’t very well leave my brother to wreak havoc on Mavros alone.” She gave a soft chuckle. “I’m afraid I’m as interesting as you claimed to be. Born in Ierne Weyr to a loving dragonrider pair, fell in love with the dragons, and knew I had to be a rider myself. I gave back to the Weyr, and myself really, by helping with the dragon healing, and it gave me plenty of opportunity to surround myself with the magnificent beasts. Though after my father died in a racing accident my mother tried her very best to limit my contact with them. Which is impossible because I am able-“ She came up short, realizing she had just about given away her secret already. “Because I am able to help during thread for dragon healing and so was constantly surrounded by them at work. And I’m a little obsessed myself.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “My mother didn’t want me to stand as a candidate, and well, I have a mind of my own. But being so near her and her fear was hard, and it was taking its toll. So, when Lo’qui asked me to come with him here to Mavros, I couldn’t very well turn down my favorite brother nor the opportunity to start out somewhere new but near some family. As possible it is to be welcomed anywhere, I’m a family gal, so having a brother near is nice.” She shrugged, giving a half smile and glancing at the young man.

It wasn’t all a lie. It definitely wasn’t all the truth. But the handsome young leader didn’t need to know the whole truth. Nobody did. “Plus, it seems like Mavros is on the up and up. I think I picked a good new home. You’ll have to convince me, I guess, show me all your favorite places.”