|
Post by D'gellin on Jan 28, 2009 23:18:57 GMT -5
Although he'd kept his focus primarily on his task, Fallen couldn't help steeling glances at the girl and his dragon. A strange sense of jealousy made him uncomfortably aware of how Vicroth's curious eyes were trained on Amika. Despite his initial prejudice against dragons, Vicroth was now a very special individual in his life. It pained him to see his Vicroth so enchanted by someone that wasn't Fallen. Was Vicroth's affection indiscriminate then? Of course I love you above all! The bronze suddenly announced, mind-voice appalled at the very idea of caring for anyone more than His. You are mine, Fallenmine, and no one will ever change that. Startled but assured, Fallen looked back up at his young bronze, feeling that inexplicable warmth he always felt when Vicroth said such emotion-touched things. However, he was surprised while glancing up to find Amika looking at him. Immediately he cast his eyes away, feeling like he'd just intruded on some kind of very private moment that wasn't for him. She'd looked so...grateful. If he wasn't mistaken there was even a little admiration in her expression, though he was probably imagining things. He'd done nothing but relay Vicroth's optimistic words...
With a thrum of content building in his chest, Vicroth leaned gratefully into Amika's hand. "He's only as soft as he's kept oiled." Fallen remarked, a smile playing at his lips as he recalled the incalculable amount of time spent in oiling Vicroth's patchwork hide. At Amika's thanks, however, Fallen's expression faltered. Although it probably took a lot of courage for the girl to express, the sentiments only made him feel out of place again. Consoling was by no means a comfortable field for him, and receiving such heart-felt gratitude seemed unwarranted. "Sure." He replied at long last, realizing he couldn't remain silent. His eyes locked on to the pitchfork. "I was here to check up on Kiris anyway." He added, as if that excused his decision to help. "And you can thank Vicroth for the encouragement."
The bronze, meanwhile, was quite content under Amika's hand, scarcely attending to Fallen and Amika's exchanges. She was very good at this scratching business, and as her hand moved across his eye ridge he really couldn't help himself. That is perfect, thank you. He replied to her, driven to speak on a whim despite his earlier misgivings. Imagine if she moved her hand away before Fallen could relay the message! That, by the way, was a very inconvenient way to carry on a conversation. Fallen rarely said things the way Vicroth wanted them to be heard. And it seemed as though Amika had misunderstood whom had given her the nice compliments!
|
|
|
Post by M'kel on Feb 19, 2009 0:31:36 GMT -5
Fallen had met her gaze briefly as she regarded him, but then he'd looked away immediately, steely eyes returning to the work at hand. Amika's gaze had returned to Vicroth just as quickly. Once again, she wondered what bothered him so about looking in her direction. Some dragonriders were known for their private natures, but he seemed almost...uncomfortable.
Instead, she focused more intently on scratching along Vicroth's eye ridge, her fingers becoming more sure as the dragonet leaned into her caresses. When Fallen mentioned oiling the bronze's hide, Amika nodded to herself, brown eyes drifting along the shining hide that attested to these attentions. He was very well oiled indeed, recently so it seemed, and the oil certainly added to the richness of colours in his patchwork of bronze shades. Absently, Amika remembered hearing that fire lizards required frequent oiling while growing and chided herself gently for not realizing dragons would require the same.
Finally, the awkward, seemingly forced statements from the dragonrider ceased, and silence settled, broken only by the sound of the pitchfork scooping and then tossing manure. Amika found it pleasant, however; quiet companionship filled the silence with more than the uncomfortable conversation had. It often seemed this way for her.
Until the silence was broken in a most unexpected way.
That is perfect, thank you.
Poor Vicroth...his hasty decision to stay her hand in a most enjoyable position was about to elicit the opposite reaction. Amika froze, but not before twitching her fingers upward, away from the dragonet. Her eyes swiveled, though her neck remained rigid, and her thoughts swirled maddeningly.
It wasn't Fallen's voice.
There was no one else in the stable.
She'd heard the voice, and yet not heard it.
Heard it not with her ears...but inside her head.
That meant...that meant...
With awe and a touch of fear, Amika stared downward at Vicroth.
"Vicroth?" she whispered, voice so soft she doubted the dragonet would even hear. Had the bronze truly just spoken to her? To Amika, the unlikely candidate, who couldn't even muck out a stall?
The fear vanished instantly, replaced by a flood of delight that she fought back fiercely. If it wasn't Vicroth, she really shouldn't get her hopes up. And yet who else could it be?
"But why?" Amika gasped, still barely above a whisper, unable to contain the question that mattered most.
|
|
|
Post by D'gellin on Feb 24, 2009 20:35:12 GMT -5
It had taken Fallen a moment to realize whom had been speaking to whom as well. Once understanding occurred, however, the young man was nearly plowed over by surprise. "Vicroth." He couldn't decide if he'd said the name to chide or to express the hurt he felt. With hardly any consideration, his bronze had spoken to another person, not even one Fallen knew. This girl was a nobody, so why...? If Amika had looked up, she would have seen the tight jawed expression, dark eyes burning like coal in a fire.
Vicroth, meanwhile, had made a small noise of unhappiness when Amika's had retreated away instead of continuing. Now why would she do a silly thing like that? Yes? He said just as hesitantly in reply, ducking his head a little as though caught doing something bad. He glanced over at Fallen, realizing too late that speaking might not have been such a wonderful idea after all. It certainly had not accomplished what he had hoped it would. He was not sure who to take queues from emotionally. Where Fallen was hurt and distressed, Amika was hopeful and glowing. Oh if only they could share a little emotional common ground...You are a very good scratcher. Was the eventual reply, faceted eyes wide and honest. And I believe that you are a good person, are you not? He added.
At that moment, Fallen dropped the pitchfork at Amika's side, expression dead-pan. "The stall's done." He said simply, sharp eyes locking on hers briefly before looking away. His throat was burning with the desire to question Vicroth, but he still refused to speak through their link and did not want to address this new development in front of the girl. His mind was reeling, uncertain what to think.
|
|
|
Post by M'kel on Feb 24, 2009 23:57:39 GMT -5
As the young bronze dipped his head, suddenly appearing as uncertain as she felt, Amika's hopes were confirmed, for the voice touched her mind once again. Although a part of her feared its invasiveness, having someone speak inside her mind, the warm thoughts were anything but unpleasant. Instead, she reveled in the feel, soaking up the kindness of this sweet dragonet. A smile spread across her face as he complimented her scratching, however hesitantly, and she realized with some disgruntlement that she had ceased in the very thing he'd been enjoying.
Her hand began to move forward, eager to continue the activity that had elicited such a response from the bronze, until his next question brushed her thoughts. And I believe that you are a good person, are you not?
The query gave her pause, and her features darkened slightly as she considered it. It was a very unexpected question, one she wished to answer with immediacy and affirmation, yet the memories it drew up held her tongue. Her father certainly hadn't considered her a good person...the Apprentice whose life she'd ruined didn't think so either.
"I try to be," Amika whispered softly, brown eyes reluctantly meeting Vicroth's. However, her attention was snatched away from the dragonet, as the pitch fork tumbled to the floor beside her, even as she spoke. Her gaze turned immediately upward, meeting Fallen's, and the look in his dark eyes sent a chill through her slight form. He was angry with her, and the force of it felt like a blow, even though his gaze shifted quickly away. That was worse, somehow. Like he couldn't even look at her.
It only took a moment's thought before she realized what had caused this, even if she didn't know exactly why he was so upset. Amika stood up quickly, gaze fixed on Fallen, although he refused to look at her.
"I'm sorry," she blurted, fumbling for words. "I didn't mean for that to happen." Her features had fallen easily from their momentary happiness, as if this worried expressionwas far more natural for her. "Your dragon is very sweet, and I do not deserve the kindness he has shown me. Not in the slightest..." After a pause, she drew a short, painful breath. "Please don't be angry with me..." The words were higher in pitch, though barely audible, and younger sounding, as if a voice from the past. Everyone was always so angry with her.
|
|
|
Post by D'gellin on Feb 27, 2009 14:10:07 GMT -5
Then you are a good person. A bad person would not try, correct? Vicroth replied simply, as if this were the answer to all life's problems. When Fallen approached however, Vicroth seemed to remember that he was still treading uneasy waters. Oh, Fallen was hurting. The realization elicited an unhappy sound in the back of his throat. He hadn't meant to make Fallen unhappy, and the more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
All at once it seemed, Fallen was bombarded with Vicroth's apologetic emotions, superimposed by Amika's vocal apologies. He furrowed his brows in uncertainty, looking back at Amika with new eyes. No it wasn't her fault that Vicroth talked, that was Vicroth's...no, it wasn't his fault either. Just as abruptly as Vicroth had realized his own blunder, Fallen seemed to understand his as well. He had become jealous, and he had hurt Vicroth with his reaction, Vicroth who he promised never to hurt again.
"I'm not mad at you." He said wearily, a reply to both of them. He looked away again and ran a hand over the back of his short hair. I'm mad at myself. It seemed like he was making a lot of mistakes lately. Vicroth, Thread, everything...But this: he could fix this. He owed Vicroth that much at least. He owed it to himself and this girl as well. Fallen sighed, forcing himself to meet her painfully guilty eyes to drive the point home. "You didn't do anything wrong. I was just...I was just surprised." He said at last, fingers splayed wide and hands out at his side. It felt like trying to reassure a herd beast, the way Amika and Vicroth seemed to shy away. "I'm sorry." He added suddenly, as though only just realizing that these might be the magic words to diffusing the situation, but he didn't know what to do after that, and instead stood there rather uselessly.
|
|
|
Post by M'kel on Mar 4, 2009 0:18:31 GMT -5
Amika had little time to contemplate Vicroth's reply, for she was watching Fallen closely, waiting for his response. A part of her wanted to leave the Stables, racing for the comfort of the Candidates' Quarters before his answer came, but she remained motionless instead. A strange, unreadable look flickered over his features as he regarded both her and his dragonet. By that, and the crease of his forehead, the girl was certain he was about to erupt.
Yet when he spoke, it was in a tone that almost sounded defeated, and the words were not what she expected. Amika couldn't restrain the brow that raised slightly in surprise, especially when he looked directly at her for what felt like the first time since he had entered the Stables.
And the apology...well, that nearly caused her jaw to drop. A dragonrider was apologizing to her? From what she'd heard of dragonriders under Sitareh's rule, they took what they wanted from ordinary Pernese and demanded respect and admiration all along. Yet there was something unexpectedly human about Fallen.
"You're not like other dragonriders are you?" she couldn't help but ask, turning her gaze downward upon realizing how bold such a question might be perceived.
"I mean...thank you. I could understand you being upset...but I'm glad that you're not." Amika's downward cast eyes fell upon the discarded pitch fork, and she bent to pick it up. "And thank you again for showing me how to clean the stalls. I better get back to it, now..." She glanced up quickly again before moving towards the next stall.
|
|