Away from it all (O'rion, L'dron)

[R'gant and Xanith]

The lust of Sivarith's flight was gradually fading, but it had yet to completely disappear. He had found companionship with a small brunette woman whose name he hadn't taken the time to learn. The girl had been willing and had easily moulded into his arms as he pressed her against the groves of the stone walls in an abandoned corridor. He had used her body for his own needs and when he had finished with her he had left her clinging to her torn gown, her body littered with faint bruises and bite marks.

Walking toward his Weyr he was almost there before he changed his mind. No, he would stay out a bit longer and find a way to release the last bit of pent up energy he hadn't yet expelled. Crossing his arms over his chest, his fingertips dug into the upper arms and he felt bits of dirt there. Drying sweat clung to his skin and as he walked he could feel specks of rock in his shoe. A bath would be good. He concluded. With that he made a beeline toward the hot springs.

Soon he was submerged in the water. Skin now washed of its dirt, his naked body lay wrapped in the spring's warmth. R'gant closed his eyes and let out a labored breath. His thoughts were with Xanith who lay in their Weyr. His thoughts were weighed down by the lost flight, his hopes dashed once again. What could he do better next time? Would there be a next time?

R'gant sucked in a deep breath and turned to rest his head against the stone. Laying his head atop his arm, he made every attempt to not think about their short comings...what he had done with the brunette moments ago...Ceinwen...

He rested as best he could and he didn't look up when he heard footsteps drawing near.

[O'rion and Serenith]

Serenith was asleep. It wasn’t often now that Serenith fell asleep. It seemed more and more often that Serenith found more and more things to keep him awake. But now the ‘growing boy’ (as O’rion’s mother said through a message) was finally sleeping and, last O’rion heard of him, snoring. That left the former Trader able to go do things other than wash the Bronze and oil his ever-growing itchy spots. Or maybe O’rion had to go feed Serenith or something; no one ever knew with him. Though he was incredibly capable of feeding himself… well, soon O’rion would watch his Bronze take to the sky. Everything he did now was worth it. He was a dragonrider now.

At this point in time he and the other Broznerider weyrling, L’dron, formarly Landron, were headed to the baths. But O’rion didn’t think of L’dron as Landron anymore. Oskar also didn’t think of himself as Oskarion anymore, though he felt perfectly fine with thinking of himself as Oskar. A bath sounded wonderful right now, and it was a bath Oskar would take. Even if it was with L’dron. Shards, though, L’dron was a good friend. His Bronze didn’t seem to get in as much trouble as Serenith did, but at least he had a Bronze.

Currently, the two were talking about how, together, their Bronzes would rule the Weyr… or at least become really good at whatever they were going to do. The two laughingly declared that their Bronzes would be the biggest and the best. Not even R’enh’s dragon could ever surpass theirs. Of course, the two were just joking because of the occasion. Okay, so there was no occasion, it was just two kids having fun when they were, technically, off-duty.

“I bet one day your Heroth will Chase beautifully.” Oskar ceded to L’dron, shrugging his shoulders, “But Serenith will Catch before Heroth.” Oskar was sarcastic and his tone of voice spoke that clearly. No one knew what the Gold (or Silver, now) dragon would choose. Female dragons… pheh!

“I guess our competition will be null!” Oskar continued as they walked into the bar, but his laughter quickly died as he noticed the only other man in there at the time. With a small gulp, O’rion nudged L’dron in the ribs before the boy could do what he just did: spoke badly of another rider, albeit through a roundabout way of things.

“Good afternoon, Bronzerider R’gant.” O’rion tried to reconcile, his stance instantly formal.

Tag L'dron, R'gant

[L'dron and Heroth]

L’dron rubbed his lifemate’s thick neck, tracing his hands along the neck ridges as Heroth drifted off into sleep. His bronze friend was huge: more than four times the size he was when the handsome hatchling had exploded from his egg, butting his slimy, beautiful head into his chest. Now he was just about sixteen meters in length…and L’dron was endlessly bathing and oiling his partner, yet luckily for L’dron, Heroth only needed to eat twice a day now, as opposed to the four or five required when he was but an infant. Yes, these past four months had been difficult…but they were the best four months of his life. Heroth had given him new hope for Dragon Weyr’s future…and for his own. He had become well acquainted with the rest of his weyrling class, and a few of them had become close friends. Realizing that Heroth had finally succumbed to sleep, L’dron slowly exited their cramped wery, on his way to meet one such friend- O’rion.

Out of the weyr, L’dron jogged over to where O’rion was already waiting, and they set off for the hotsprings. Both young men were faced with similar challenges ensuring their bronzes had all the care they deserved and required…but now was a time for them to de-stress and take a little time to relax. But not before they jousted a bit with each other. And what better thing to challenge each other over than whos bronze would be more successful on the Chase.

“I bet one day your Heroth will Chase beautifully.” Oskar ceded to L’dron, shrugging his shoulders, “But Serenith will Catch before Heroth.”

L’dron allowed himself to laugh sarcastically, his characteristic dryness ever-present. “Oh sure, Serenith may Catch first: but only because Heroth will not be too interested in the Greens!” he smiled at his friend, ensuring that O’rion did understand that their conversation was all in jest.

“I guess our competition will be null!”

“Haha! Indeed!” L’dron was just about to add more to their conversation when O’rion’s elbow smartly met his own ribcage in an attempt to quiet him. “Shards! Wha- ….”

“Good afternoon, Bronzerider R’gant.”

And then it made sense. O’rion had just saved his hide from a load of embarrassment. L’dron knew of R’gant very well…but had yet to ever come face-to-face with the Wingsecond. What a mess it would have been had O’rion not noticed him. With a small customary bow, L’dron remained silent but gained an air of respect now that he was around a much higher ranking rider.

Tag R’gant/ whoever else joins the bath

[R'gant and Xanith]

R'gant shifted on his stone seat and readjusted his head on his arm. His thoughts were of a smiling Ceinwen and the last time he had seen her. She had looked so happy with Drusillith out by the lake. He was pleased that he had searched her, that she had impressed a Gold and that she, out of them all, had captured his heart. Who would have known all of those months ago that she would do so well at Dragon Weyr. He had no way of knowing, but there had been something in her that had grabbed his attention and kept it. R'gant knew she was young, beautiful and would hold the gazes of many men, but he did pray that she would remember him every night before she went to sleep.

He had managed to ignore the scuffling footsteps, but when his name rang through the air he wouldn't play sleep any longer. Groaning softly at being interrupted, R'gant lifted his head and stared through his long dark hair at the intruders. Standing like ducks in a row were two boys, both of which he had seen around the Weyr on more than one occasion. L'dron and O'rion, both new bronzeriders. He wasn't altogether pleased with their arrival, nonetheless, they were fellow bronzeriders; he would push aside his discomfort for now.

"O'rion," he said, looking at the shorter of the two. He smiled warmly at the boy and then turned his gaze to the other. "L'dron. Have you come to join me?" he asked, his voice an amused drawl. He was very aware of other people and could tell that both boys were a bit hesitant to step any closer. Whether it be out of respect for him or sheer horror, they stood almost as stiff as a board. That would not do.

During his time as wingsecond both at Telgar and Dragon Weyr he had come to realize that one had to occasionally step off his high pedestal and learn to enjoy the company of other riders. He had been a weryling once so he knew the fear that coursed through the veins when faced with an older, respected rider. He hadn't had the luxury of befriending his leaders and had felt, a large majority of the time, that he hadn't fit in. That was not how he would treat anyone---not if he could help it.

Turning at the waist, he beckoned them forward. They had come to bathe and he would allow them too. "Come. The springs are large enough for all of us." He cast a glance over his shoulder at them and smirked. "I've been meaning to speak with you both. What better time than the present."

Tag: Both

[A'sh and Securth]

Walking upon the scene of a man, whom was only vaguely familiar to the boy, was a young man of nineteen. His name was A'sh... Absent from his side was his dragon. A pair of chocolate optics went to the man caled R'gant as he stripped down to nothing but skin, entering the waters. A'sh could feel his own sandy skin crawl at the sight.. He had yet to get used to the sight of naked men. One of the reasons his dragon Securth was not with him. It would scar his mind completly at this young age Securth is at.

"Whats that? You sound upset." Came a curious voice through the boys link. He replied quickly, Don't read my mind right now. Not now. A'sh seemed to be too harsh on his dragon, but in reality he was trying to shield him from the scene. A'sh turned his eyes away from the man, as more men approached the springs. If A'sh couldn't see it, A'sh had less of a chance of thinking of it. And so... Securth... He had less chance of seeing it in his link, or reading it in A'shs' mind.

"Alright.." Securth voiced back to him, his voice disappointed. "A'shmine, I will obey your wishes.. Where are you, by the way? Should I find you?" Securth was starting to sound worried, but then seemed to realize that his lifemate did not want to be found at the moment. "I'll just go take a bath."

Figures. Ash thought. "Why's that?" Asked Securth. "You don't happen to be sun bathing, do you?"

"I'll explain when you're older." A'sh said, his tones soft yet showing a hint of firmness. He sighed as he looked at the scene and approached, sitting with his feet in the water. Securth seemed to have stopped talking to him, and A'sh figured he was enjoying the sun.. The only thoughts he heard from him was "Mm.. that feels good..." and such.. A'sh smiled to himself. He knew how much Securth loved sun bathing.

A'sh looked at the men through dark brown optics, his equally chocolate strands of hair billowing in the wind. "I can't stay long. Securth will get too curious soon." He said to them, sighing gently. "I never knew a dragon could be so much work... Oh but I do love having him around."

[O'rion and Serenith]

It seemed that R'gant had not heard what O'rion had said about the Weyrling's two Broznes being better than the older Bronzes. With a nearly audible sigh of relief, O'rion sent a look at L'dron and then pulled forward, taking off his shirt and folding it nicely before dropping it on the ground. He had no qualms about undressing in front of men--women was a different story, but he'd gotten used to it a little since coming from Traderdom--and shed the rest of his clothes just as easily. He figured that, since R'gant hadn't noticed his remark, there was no need to be hesitant around the Bronzerider. There was, of course, the fact that R'gant needed to see them. That made O'rion think he and L'dron were in trouble.

But only for a moment.

See, O'rion and L'dron were 'good boys' ... mostly. At least, they were good boys. Their dragons (okay, let's just go ahead and say O'rion's Serenith) were the ones to be worried about. O'rion couldn't speak for L'dron, but O'rion knew that he hadn't drank any wine or alcohol at all and had not divulged in any sexual activity since Serenith's hatching. So R'gant couldn't have been scolding the duo... or at least not O'rion. And L'dron didn't seem the person to want to mess up his dragon, either.

Naked, O'rion stepped into the pool of water and submerged himself, relishing the fact that he would soon be squeaky clean. When he reemerged, he noticed another Weyrling, A'sh, had also come to join them. A'sh was rattling away about Securth getting too curious, and O'rion wondered what the boy meant. Hadn't he told Securth about bathing? Serenith had had no qualms about realizing that humans bathed just like dragons did.

Since A'sh had not specifically named anyone in his speech, O'rion felt it safe to acknowledge him but not fully speak to him. He did seem to be just speaking aloud to make sure everyone knew he was there, and O'rion did acknowledge that knowledge. But R'gant had wanted to speak to the two Bronzerider weyrlings, so O'rion, while grabbing a handful of sweetsand and beginning to lather it into his hair and upper body, nodded at R'gant.

"What was it that you wanted to speak to us about, Bronzerider?" He asked, curious, but with much respect.

Tag All

[R'gant and Xanith]

R'gant swiveled in the water at the sound of another man's voice from across the spring. He hadn't seen the man enter. Although he would never say he was aware of everything around him, he liked to think he was a bit more observative than to completely overlook another rider. Perhaps he was off his game today. Things like that occasionally happened.

R'gant acknowledged the man, smiling softly at his words about his dragon before turning his attention to O'rion and L'dron. He watched as the two boys undressed, well aware that he should have looked away. Honestly, he wasn't exactly looking at them, more like thinking while looking ahead. He turned where he sat and pressed his back into the soft contours of the stones as one by one the boys joined him in the water.

He looked between the young men and then spoke. "How are you? I can imagine you're up to your ears in duties while taking care of your life mates. Is everything going well with you both?" He was very curious to hear them share their thoughts. When he had impressed Xanith he would have loved to have someone to confide in, to know that he wasn't alone in his struggles to take care of such a needy creature. Xanith had been a handful and he was quite certain that Serenith and Heroth were the same.

He hoped the boys would share their tales. It would take his mind off his own problems and perhaps give him something other than his own issues to think about.

Tag: Anyone
OOC// Sorry for the long delay. I lost all inspiration for some reason. Maybe we can cut this thread short and get these guys together some other time? //

[O'rion and Serenith]

O'rion glanced at L'dron as R'gant asked the first question, uneasy about how to answer. He could answer truthfully, but then he could stretch the truth just as well. Shards, he could even lie. But O'rion was not the lying type and so did not lie to R'gant. "I'm fine. A little tired, Bronzerider, but fine nonetheless." He expressed his tiredness with a slump of the shoulders which consequently created ripples in the water.

O'rion moved over to where the sweetsand was and clumped some in his hand before dunking under all the way (his hand stayed out of the water). He reemerged and shampooed his hair with the stuff as he thought about the answer to R'gant's next questions. With a small 'hmmm,' he looked at the rock halfway to one side of R'gant, wondering how, exactly, he was supposed to answer the question of if everything was going well for the both of them.

With a shrug, O'rion ducked under the water to rinse off and came up with an 'aaah!' Then he began to answer: "Well, considering my Bronze is as arrogant as any Bronze should never be, I'm doing fine. He had an outburst the other day when my shoulder knots didn't exactly match the color of his hide. Frankly, he embarrassed me and didn't seem to mind, as long as everyone knew that those shoulder knots should have been his exact color."

O'rion began lathering his body with more sand, and he shrugged, "I mean, I love Sere with my heart, all of it, but there are some times when I just want to throttle the dragon... even if he's getting too large for that."

[R'gant and Xanith]

R'gant was shocked my O'rion's bluntness. He had come across many bronze riders in his day and none of them spoke of their lifemate as boldly as O'rion did. He had respected the boy simply because he was a fellow bronzerider, but now his respect for him rose significantly. He was still his own person and not some puppet with a dragon.

"Some days I feel the same way," he said, smiling easily at the boy. Yes, he liked this O'rion. "Take it one day at a time. It gets easier...well, actually you'll just get more tolerant of your dragon. Before you know it you'll be so connected that his quirks won't bother you as much...or at all."

R'gant leaned his head back and rested for a while. Closing his eyes, he thought back over his training with Xanith. He had given him hell too. His ego had been larger than his small body at that time, still was. He loved him all the same. They had only each other now.

After a moment, R'gant rose, his mind befuddled by his tasks as wingsecond again. Rest was a fleeting thing these days it seemed.

"I'll let you boys enjoy yourself. I'll be sure to check on you again in the future." He said, smiling fondly at O'rion. He left the water, dressed and returned to his office to get some work done.

End R'gant

[O'rion and Serenith]

O'rion listened intently to what R'gant had to say. Being a more experienced rider, R'gant's knowledge was better than talking smack about any Bronze being worse or better than any other Bronze. And R'gant's air certainly seemed to have changed around him as he told the older Bronzerider about Serenith. If Serenith was named after the word serenity, then whoever must have come up with that joke had had a sick, cruel mind.

"I think I will just take it all a day at a time." Oskar agreed as he washed off excess sand from his hands. Then he followed R'gant's ways as the man rested. Though Oskar had moved away from R'gant so he wouldn't be intruding so much. Finally, R'gant left, which left the place only for O'rion and L'dron. O'rion sighed as he lounged, happy to just relax.

"Wow, I hadn't noticed how amazingly wonderful sitting in one place was!" Oskar commented to L'dron as he stretched out.

In a way, O'rion didn't like the quiet, though. He was so used to hearing Serenith in his thoughts that the Weyrling had been at first quite taken aback the first time Sere had been asleep and all had been utterly silent. Now, though he was more used to it, the thought of Sere leaving him was unnerving. And Sere leaving him would mean only that the dragon had died.

After a while, O'rion found that he'd had enough of lounging in the water, and so bid L'dron a farewell, clothed himself, and headed back to his room. Sere would be waking soon, and would want one thing or another.

End Oskar