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Post by sorra on Jun 14, 2010 15:17:11 GMT -5
Rivi flitted around Arkysk's head as he watched the wher. He wasn't sure why the wher had stopped, but it was no fun playing if Arkysk didn't play back. ~Play?~ he asked hopefully of the wher, sending images of splashing around. Rivi squealed happily when Arkysk splashed back into the lake.
Kiyoni giggled as she watched her flit. Leave it to Rivi to cause a stir. Although Elliwodth was good at that too.
She nodded as she smiled at Arktos. "As long as you don't mind me bugging you," she said cheerily. It was obvious that she was a bit nervous, but she really did want to spend more time with Arktos. The Candidate Master seemed nice despite what she had heard from others. "Thank you for asking me," she said, turning to face him better. She wondered if he felt as awkward as she did at the moment.
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Post by Kit on Jun 14, 2010 23:32:55 GMT -5
"Oh, no, you aren't bothering me. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you to be here. In fact I..." he paused, wondering at himself for the way his thoughts were going and wondering if he was about to do something monumentally stupid.
"I would very much like to see you in the light. Because.....I think you have a lovely voice and I would like to clearly see the face that matches it." There, it was said. Arktos looked up at the sky studiously, pretending to watch the meteor shower that was gaining in intensity.
After all this time it seemed, there was a part of him that was beginning to heal. He felt like a child lost in the wilderness, afraid, but also excited. Emotions cooursed through him that he hadn't felt in so long, they felt completely new. He shivered slightly, wondering if he was at the start of something great and new or standing at the brink of an abyss of failure.
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Post by sorra on Jun 15, 2010 8:42:03 GMT -5
The young search rider smiled. "Then I look forward to spending more evenings like this watching the stars," she said softly. Her heart beat faster as she tried to keep a calm expression on her face.
Kiyoni's face flushed and she was thankful for the dark at the moment. "I-I'd like that too," she said softly, hoping her voice didn't give away her true feelings. "I don't have very good night vision," she teased. "So I would like to see you as well. I've never met someone so interesting before."
She flushed a deeper red. What was she doing? She shrugged a little. Who cared? If she was getting in over her head so be it. But she did want to get to know Arktos better. Who knows maybe... Kiyoni quickly put a stop to that thought before it could go any further. She had no right to be thinking that way when she had just met him.
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Post by Kit on Jun 16, 2010 15:32:26 GMT -5
"Well, good." Arkysk would be happy about that too. Arktos was not exactly social person on his best day and he tended to avoid the weyr lake even at night. Whers could go between from the ground, a very convenient skill. It wasn't quite the same as flying your dragon, but Arktos had taken many secret nighttime jaunts around Pern rather than stay at Nova. But tonight they had just wanted to rest, and it had turned out better than Arktos had planned.
He laughed suddenly. "I should say that if I'm the most interesting person you've ever met than you must've not met very many people. But I suppose I ought to just take the compliment in the spirit that it was given."
Mine. Are you coming back in? Arkysk suddenly asked, a piteous tone in his voice.
Aren't you having fun playing with the firelizard?
Yes, but I want you to come in.
All right. In a minute.
"Would you like to swim? Arkysk is whining for me."
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Post by sorra on Jun 16, 2010 15:55:18 GMT -5
"Then I look forward to more nights like this," Kiyoni smiled. The young rider had always enjoyed the night, but since T'mil's death she hadn't spent nearly as much time watching the stars as she used to. "Maybe Elli will join us next time. I'm sure she'd like to meet Arkysk."
Rivi cheeped happily as he dove in and out of the water. Kiyoni laughed as she watched. The green rider shrugged. "I have been known to be a loner from time to time," she answered, looking at him. "And I have met some interesting people, but none like you that I'd like to get to know better." Her face flushed beat red when she admitted that. Would he be offended or try to run now that he knew she was starting to like him?
Kiyoni looked at Arkysk. "I am sorry I kept him from you, Arkysk," she smiled. "And I would love to swim if you don't mind the company."
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Post by Kit on Jun 21, 2010 16:04:07 GMT -5
"I'd like to meet your dragon," he said, truthfully. Gone were the days when the mere sight of a dragon pained him. Now he found that he missed their company, even if Bjornth could never be replaced.
Arktos smiled and flushed a little at her comment, even as it gave him a thrill of fear. He could only hope that after she knew him better she would still like him.
No, is okay. You like Mine, I like you. Is good for Mine Arkysk replied to Kiyoni matter-of-factly.
Arktos grimaced at his wher's comments. Sometimes he could wish the beasts were a little smarter. "Ah, no, of course not. I enjoy your company." He tossed his damp towel ont the grassy shoreline and waded into the water. Arkysk bounded up to greet him and he scratched the creased earflaps with an unguarded smile.
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Post by sorra on Jun 21, 2010 20:49:23 GMT -5
She smiled. "Then the next time we spend an evening like this, which I hope is soon I'll make sure Elli comes with me." Rivi cheeped from her shoulder. "Or maybe even tomorrow I could see you. Elli's much more social during the day."
She couldn't believe what she was saying. But she didn't care. She had been alone too long and even if they just stayed friends at least she had a friend. Although she hoped it would become more.
Kiyoni looked at Arkysk in surprise and then up at Arktos. "He spoke to me," she said in awe. She didn't know enough about whers to know if that was normal. "Thank you, Arkysk. I like you and Arktos as well."
She hadn't noticed Arktos' frown. Of course she knew Elliwodth would have done the same thing. Kiyoni smiled, but flushed. "And I enjoy yours as well," she said, following him into the lake. She didn't even think about being in her night clothes. Rivi happily dove back into the water again.
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Post by Kit on Jun 22, 2010 21:15:29 GMT -5
"Actually, that gives me an idea. I've been meaning to have a dragonrider come to the class so they can learn how to wash and oil a fully grown dragon. If Eliwodth wouldn't mind that is. Then, once all the little miscreants go off to their afternoon lessons, we'll have until dinner to ourselves." Afternoon lessons were either in a craft or with a harper. Usually, that was time for Arktos to catch a nap, but this time he had no qualms about forgoing a little sleep.
"Oh, its just like a dragon. They speak to whom they will," he said lightly, though really, once he had got over his embarrassment he had been surprised. Arkysk was not normally very social. He was glad Kiyoni had his wher's approval. They could be stubborn creatures. Having been thoroughly scratched, Arkysk bounded off to play with his new friend. After an indulgent smile at his bondmate, Arktos ducked his head under the water, the night was humid so the lakewater felt good on his skin.
He was unsure what to do now. He had never been very good with women to begin with and now he was long out of practice. He wanted to kiss her...or something...but maybe that was too forward? How exactly did one go about it?
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Post by sorra on Jun 23, 2010 8:41:48 GMT -5
"Oh that would be great!" Kiyoni said cheerily. "Elli would love to have people fussing over her and helping to make her hide shine," she laughed. She could just picture her green laying there smugly as the candidates washed and oiled her hide. She smiled at Arktos. "And I really like the idea of spending time together afterward," she said softly.
She smiled at Arkysk. She hadn't realized whers would do that too, but she was glad to know that Arkysk liked her. At least there wouldn't be a problem getting to know Arktos better that way. Rivi darted back out after Arkysk when the wher came back into the water.
Kiyoni's stomach started to flutter as she watched Arktos disappear under water. What was she doing? She wasn't very good at this type of thing at all. She definitely liked Arktos, but had no idea what the next step should be. The young search rider stepped into the water after him, trying to decide what to do.
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Post by Kit on Jun 23, 2010 10:35:40 GMT -5
"Well, that's perfect then. The Candidates will enjoy a break from routine." Arktos was aware that some of the older Candidates were quite bored, having been through the same classes several times. "And then I will have the pleasure of your company to break up my routine."
Arkysk felt the nervousness in his bonded. The wher was not quite intelligent enough to guess the source, but he did know the remedy. With a powerful sweep of his tail, he sent a cascade of water over Arktos' head, causing him to sputter and spit water before laughing.
"You brute." he said, splashing Arkysk in the face in retaliation. And so the water war began.
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Post by sorra on Jun 23, 2010 15:05:07 GMT -5
"What time do you want Elli and I down there?" Kiyoni asked. She remembered her own lessons and she had always enjoyed being able to meet the different dragons. It was one part of the lessons she looked forward to. She smiled. "I look forward to being able to break up your routine a bit," she said cheerily.
Kiyoni hid a giggle as Arkysk splashed Arktos. She was glad Elliwodth wasn't down there at the moment. That would have been bad. Especially since Kiyoni couldn't get her feelings figured out anyhow. She hoped getting to spend more time with him the next day would help.
"You okay?" she asked as Rivi splashed into the water. Kiyoni shielded her face from the small splash from her blue.
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Post by Kit on Jun 24, 2010 13:19:13 GMT -5
"Class starts the third candlemark after dawn, if you wouldn't mind." Many dragonriders did not keep to the strict schedule that weyrling life supposedly instilled in them and became late risers. He didn't much like mornings himself, but his duties gave him little choice.
"Oh I'm fine. It's not as if I could get any wetter. But you look dry, it seems unfair." He aimed a splash in her direction, even as another wave from Arkysk washes over him.
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Post by sorra on Jun 24, 2010 13:27:42 GMT -5
"Third candlemark after dawn?" she repeated with a nod. "We'll be there." She had never minded mornings, so getting a slight bit earlier wouldn't be a big deal. Besides, she got to spend some time with Arktos afterward.
"Hey now!" she laughed as he managed to get her wet. "And I was doing so good too," she grinned. Not that she minded getting wet. She soon found herself splashing him back as Rivi darted in and out of the water excitedly.
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Post by Kit on Jun 25, 2010 17:08:14 GMT -5
"Argh!" he laughed as Kiyoni splashed him. "Now I'm getting it from both sides." He held a hand in front of his face while trying to splash both of his adversaries at once with his other hand. As Arkysk had planned, the lighthearted fun had loosened Arktos up somewhat. Now a plan formed in his mind.
He dove under the water and used his ears as well as his bond with the perceptive watch wher to pinpoint Kiyoni's location. He swam towards her as silently as he could manage and circled behind her, Arkysk's thermal senses painting a red shimmer over her form. He burst out of the water behind her and scooped her up in his arms like a child. "I win," he said, his blue-green eyes sparkling with mischief.
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Post by sorra on Jun 25, 2010 18:05:04 GMT -5
Kiyoni giggled as she helped Arkysk splash Arktos. The young search rider hadn't had so much fun a long time. She shielded her face as Arktos splashed her back. Rivi chittered loudly as he added his own tiny splashings to the fun.
Kiyoni looked around when Arktos disappeared. It was too dark to figure out where he had gone and she didn't have night vision. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark, but still, the water was even darker. She cried out in surprise when Arktos caught her up in his arms. "That was unfair!" she laughed as she tried to get loose.
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