Prowling About - Calling K'ji!

[Kitari]

The morning had dawned bright and full of promise. Brinne awoke as she had every day since her arrival at the Weyr, with a cunning smile on her lips and expectation in her eyes. After finishing her early chores, which included breakfast preparations and subsequent cleaning, she had decided to spend her free hour prowling about the Dining Cavern. After all, it was highly frequented by all Weyrfolk, and her pursuit of male dragonriders was neverending.

She had yet to have a meaningful conversation with any, but the girl was not panicking. She still had plenty of time to catch the eye of a bronzerider, securing herself a potentially powerful position in the Weyr until the time of the Hatching. Then, of course, she would have a higher rank than any bronzerider!

After scanning the room for any interesting prospects, the tall girl had settled on a position near the entrance, where she could view all new entries and pounce before any other girls had a chance. Brinne had failed to recognize that there were no other girls hunting today, but she was prepared nonetheless. Her green eyes drifted in a seemingly bored manner across the room, but every time they returned to the entrance, they flickered with anticipation. Any second now, he would walk through the door (any he would do!), and then he would be hers.

[Flamewolf]

Nearing the middle of the day, it was a wee bit late for breakfast, but having a late one was better than none at all. K'ji had been so rushed that he'd forgotten all about breakfast. He was outside, debating on what to do that would keep him out of trouble when...

K'ji, dear, you missed breakfast, Blancheurth's gentle voice whispered into his mind. The green weyrling froze and thought about it.

"I could have sworn that I did," he murmured in the silent way as well.

That was yesterday, love, the green responded with a rumble of amusement. Go on and eat. You have nothing more to do today.[/color]

K'ji smiled gently to himself, then turned and walked towards the Dining Cavern. Blancheurth always kept on top of him, even if she was half asleep. It was a wonder that green's heart didn't burst from her ribcage, it was so big.

So that's how the young rider ended up standing in the entrance of the Dining Cavern. He paused at the doorway, pausing, wondering if he should bother a drudge or just grab something. So there he was, a waiting victim for any hunter out there. Which there just so happened to be one...

[Kitari]

Brinne did not have to wait long before the first sign of movement appeared in the entranceway. Her green eyes snapped to the figure in anticipation, but her features narrowed in distaste as a silly girl strode through, flittering about before sitting at a table. The red-haired lass crossed her arms in disappointment and leaned back against the wall to wait once more. A tapping finger of impatience was the only sign of life as the hunter waited.

Another flicker of movement, and Brinne's eyes were once more on the doorway. This time, they met a much more pleasing sight, and her mouth quickly curved into a welcoming smile. In a few swift strides, the girl had approached. Not wanting to startle the prey, she ducked her head demurely in a mock-curtsey. This, of course, allowed her to gaze up at him through her thick lashes, an alluring image to be sure.

"Are you requiring food, dragonrider?" Brinne's voice was nearly a purr, but her gaze was calculating. She was tired of dancing around the subject, attempting to find out if the men in the Weyr were dragonriders or mere Weyrfolk, so she had settled on a more direct approach. If it turned out that the lad wasn't a dragonrider at all, she would leave for the food and never return. And if he was...well, everyone appreciated company while dining. "You must be exhausted from a morning of flying," she added, sympathy in her soft tone.

[Flamewolf]

The greenrider didn't have to wait long. Less than a minute he'd been hesitating at the doorway when suddenly a young girl was in front of him. He jumped slightly in startled surprise at her, including the fact that she got off his dragonrider status fairly quickly. Immediately, even. Poor K'ji stared at her for a moment, dumbstruck. Then he finally seemed to realize that just standing their like a dumbglow would be fairly embarrassing so he shifted and coughed.

"Um," he responded hesitantly. "I..." his voice trailed off. "How did you know I was a dragonrider?" he finally asked. He was utterly confused; the girl was being extremely courteous. Maybe she just liked to help people?

K'ji, I love you to death, but sometimes you're a little oblivious, Blancheurth said to him.

"What do you mean?" he asked silently. The green chuckled but ignored him, and he restrained himself from sighing in frustration. His green was his life, but sometimes she could dodge around the bush and become a wee bit...stubborn.

Dear, your manners,[/color] the green idly pointed out.

"Oh," he said aloud, then blushed slightly at the slip. "Erm, my name's K'ji," he offered. Inside, he squirmed. How he hated to be singled out! He just hoped the girl wouldn't realize that he wasn't...that he...that he was gay. There! He admitted it. But he was still tense. Faranth help him.

[Kitari]

Brinne's smile remained determined and firm, despite the fact that the lad nearly gaped at her for a full minute. Choosing to interpret this as surprise at the attentions of such a beautiful girl, for he looked like the type of lad to be surprised by such things, Brinne merely flaunted her womanliness more by tilting her form to better emphasize her curves. If he was speechless already, she was going to have an easier time at this than she could have hoped for!

Finally, the lad began to move and attempt speech, but the first few words faded into silence and did not complete a thought. Brinne, not one to be patient, began to worry that she was wasting her time on a non-dragonrider. After all, she could always be prowling around the Feeding Ground if she had to, or even offer to change the glows in personal weyrs if need be! However, her suspense was soon ended as he confirmed her hopes. He was a dragonrider!

"Oh!" she laughed, ensuring to sprinkle just the right amount of amusement and innocence in her tone. "I would only assume that one such as yourself, a handsome and strong young man, would be a dragonrider." Brinne batted her eyelashes teasingly, laying the flattery on thick. That usually left the lads stuttering like wherries, with her in complete control of the situation. So excited was she at this new prospect that Brinne failed to notice the distant look that appeared in his eyes even as she spoke.

His blushing introduction only assured her confidence, and Brinne took his arm to guide him into the Dining Cavern, bored of standing in the doorway. "K'ji! It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Brinne, a candidate here at Araelen Weyr. It is exciting, isn't it? I fancy I'll Impress straight away. Is that how it happened for you? Oh, I'd love to hear all about it. You did say you were hungry, right?" With that, she left him seated at a table and disappeared into the Kitchens, giving him both the opportunity to watch her figure as she slipped away as well as to gather himself before her return. When she did return, Brinne carried a bowl heaped with meatrolls, breads, and fruits, as well as a generous mug of klah. She sat across from K'ji and smiled warmly, waiting for his response.

[Flamewolf]

This girl was utterly confusing and was baffling K'ji. The subtle things she was doing to seduce him went right over his head, and suddenly, his true self vanished. The ghost that was Kerji swamped his mind, making his mouth snap shut as if connected by two powerful magnets. The dragonrider looked at this beautiful, innocent (well...in a different sense, he means), and unkowing girl with sudden fear tinging his now dull brown eyes. Blancheurth felt the difference like a blast, and she froze on the ledge where she was sunning herself. The last time K'ji had been like this was when he was still Kerji, the moment she had first brushed against his mind. Her head swung around towards the lower caverns, her eyes starting to whirl a tinge faster, worried.

The flattery and compliments thrown at him breezed past him as if he were in fact a ghost and was translucent. Though he was not as bad as he used to be, skittish and just running from any potential connection, nor was he right now breathing heavy or looking like a runnerbeast caught in a dragon's jaws, he definitely was looking like a shadow. Getting flirted by a girl was not something he'd ever dealt with before. It wasn't something he knew how to deal with. This would be interesting.

He almost- almost- flinched when Brinne took his arm and led him away from the doorway. His gaze flickered down to the ground even as the girl- a candidate, he realized as slowly he soaked up her words- led the greenrider to a table. She sat him down then disappeared. He blinked and watched her for a second before running a hand through his hair.

Love? Blancheurth whispered softly to him. He didn't flinch for her; she relaxed slightly, but her eyes still whirled, and they kept trained on the lower caverns so many dragonlengths away from her. Are you alright?

"I...I'm fine," his voice finally drifted to her, quiet, withdrawn. The gentle green wasn't convinced. But she remained where she was; she knew that the girl didn't mean any harm, but perhaps she would pick up that she was going a wee bit too far. Hopefully. The young green didn't feel like going over there and pulling him out of the situation.

K'ji looked up as the girl came back with food. His gaze flickered down to the plate, and quietly, he took the mug of klah and brought it to him. He took a sip, cautiously, and extremely conscious of Brinne, before he set it back down again. Reluctantly, the boy forced his gaze to lock to hers; he saw the drive there, but nothing was returned in his dull eyes. Though, he did realize that he would have to continue the conversation, for she just wasn't going to leave. With a lot of will power on his part, he forced the ghost of Kerji away and focused instead on the candidate.

"Yes, thank you," he responded finally, referring to the food. "You...can have some too...if you'd like," he added. He felt Blancheurth's concentration on him relax a little. He smiled slightly at the green's concern before reluctantly returning to the conversation. He remembered the last thing she mentioned before she'd briefly left; impression? Ah. Blancheurth. He smiled slightly at the warm memory before looking at her. "Hm. Impression is..." he fumbled. The spotlight wasn't a comfortable place for him to be stuck in. If only he could have dragon wings and fly away from it. "...hard to explain. It...might even be impossible." He frowned. "It has to be experienced to know...know what it truly feels like."

(I uh...kinda went overboard there xD)

[Kitari]

((lol, too funny Flamewolf))

So carried away was she by the enactment of her careful plans, Brinne failed to notice that the recipient of her attentions was somewhat less than grateful. His confused, almost fearful, expression went entirely unnoticed as she had guided him to the table, and by the time she had returned with the food, his own efforts to gather himself were enough to fool Brinne. He met her gaze, however briefly, and she smiled, pleased to have coaxed that much out of him. The dullness could easily be mistaken for weariness or boredom, and the girl was certainly ready to spark some excitement in them again.

K'ji's offer of food followed by his first smile finally gave Brinne a taste of the reward she had been working for. Her efforts were paying off; he was returning her interest! Her green eyes critically examined the food choices arrayed before her, but the girl knew she would inevitably choose the redfruit. After all, it was far more appealing to lick fruit juice from one's lip than to try to prevent crumbs from falling into one's lap. Thus, Brinne selected a particularly succulent one and took a small bite, waiting for K'ji to begin eating himself.

As the dragonrider began to describe Impression in what was almost painfully slow speech, Brinne's excitement began to dim somewhat. He was certainly much more work than she had expected. Most lads lit up in her presence by now, even if it was just to stumble over their words and brush madly. K'ji just looked...uncomfortable.

Frustrated by these thoughts, the girl brushed them aside. She decided to pursue him a little bit longer at least. Well, if he was a bronzerider she would. It was time to determine that. "So what is your dragon's name?" she queried, unsure if she should blurt straight out her question about its colour. Brinne tossed her head slightly, allowing her flowing red hair to flash in Rukbat's rays; a signature move for her. He was sure to respond to that!

[Flamewolf]

The green sighed. The girl didn't notice. She was so caught up in her game, she was failing to notice the change her K'ji was shifting through. Though the dragon couldn't necessarily blame her; candidate's had to go out a little ways to get attention from a dragonrider. Thank lord that K'ji wasn't straight, or the green would certainly be confused by any emotions he might've had to this otherwise attractive young girl.

The green weyrling's gaze watched her take a fruit but didn't notice the move given by the lick of her lips. He took one himself, taking a knife to cut off a piece and eating it that way instead of just biting down into the sweet flesh. One of his odd habits that he has, is all. As he cut off another piece, Brinne turned to a much more interesting and ready topic; his green. He had no idea what she was expecting him to say. How would she take it if she figured out he was a greenrider? Though, what did he care? A lot, actually. This was the third-or-so person to speak readily to him in his stay at the weyr. But these thoughts weren't fully his, for he didn't understand that the girl was flirting.

He looked up at her, putting another piece of fruit into his mouth, just as she flipped her hair at him. He guess that she must've had a few strands in her way, and didn't want to get her hair all sticky by using her hand to push it out of the way. He gazed at her for a second before taking another piece. He didn't really want to speak; but it was a very endearing subject. So, instead, his green took action, to save him of the embarrassment of his painful, anxious speech.

My name is Blancheurth, dear, the dragon said directly to Brinne. K'ji heard and blinked in surprise. Though his dragon knew mostly all of the people here, she rarely directly spoke to them if they weren't a dragon like herself.

K'ji smiled gently, a small one; was he gaining confidence, perhaps, that this girl was just as slow as he was and didn't realize that he was gay just as he didn't realize that she was flirting with him? Well, maybe, but whatever it was, it cooerced him into speaking up. "She, uh, rarely speaks to others...'Cept for maybe dragons," he offered, self-consciously.

Excuse my rider, Blancheurth continued privately to Brinne. He's not used to being approached at all. He likes to keep in the shadows.[/color] Hopefully Brinne would go easier on him now; and if he found out, she'd probably be complained to later by him. But she didn't really care. Her rider was uncomfortable, and she didn't want him to; though she did want him to speak with more people. Oy. This was confusing.

[Kitari]

Unconsciously, Brinne's foot began to tap. After all, K'ji was taking a very long time to warm up to her, and he had yet to declare himself the bronzerider of her dreams. Even now he was carefully and mechanically slicing redfruit, placing each piece in his mouth and chewing thoughtfully without speaking a word. His eyes drifted to her but moved away again quickly, so she couldn't get in a sweet smile, nor were his hands on the table dealing with a fork and knife, so she couldn't make physical contact that way. Grabbing that bowl full of random edibles had been an error in judgment for sure...

Just when the candidate's lip was starting to twitch in frustration (he still hadn't spoken!), a strange voice entered her thoughts, causing Brinne to freeze in surprise and fright. 'My name is Blancheurth, dear.' Brinne's mouth fell ajar as her eyes stared straight ahead, her posture erect and still. Then, her green eyes began to dart around the room, but even as they did so she knew that the voice had not come from a speaker who was present. Had she gone mad? Or, an even more unlikely possibility, was that a dragon speaking to her? The -th ending to the name clinched it; that must be K'ji's dragon! But the candidate had heard that dragons never spoke to anyone but their rider, except on extreme occasions...was this an extreme occasion? Or a particularly friendly dragon?

Whatever the reason, it seemed to cause K'ji to relax, for an unforced smile appeared on his face for the first time. As he spoke, informing Brinne of what she had already suspected about the frequency of dragons speaking to non-riders, the girl nodded in a jerky manner. "Then I am...honoured..." she replied, unsure what would be an appropriate message of thanks. Ought she to think it? Would the dragon hear that?

Once again, the voice entered her thoughts, and Brinne started with surprise. Her eyes widened slightly, for it seemed highly unusual to the girl that the dragon would be divulging such private details about K'ji. It made her wonder what would spark such an act, and she realized that the dragon was acting on the rider's behalf, saying what he could not, and explaining his fear and social awkwardness so that the candidate could respond accordingly.

It was then that the significance of K'ji's words finally registered for the girl. When speaking of his dragon, he had used the word 'she'. And Blancheurth was a distinctly feminine name, if dragon names could ever be considered masculine or feminine. And then it all clicked. Brinne was attempting to flirt with a male greenrider, who was obviously not interested in women at all.

This was such a relief that Brinne actually sighed out loud, shaking her head and grinning uncharacteristically at the lad. She had started to wonder for a moment there if she was losing her touch! But no; no matter her charm, grace, or beauty, he would never be interested in her womanly figure! It also explained his awkwardness, because it would be extremely difficult to tell a person that they were attracted to a different gender and that her advances were unwanted. But why would he stick to the shadows? That kind of thing was accepted in a Weyr. Or were there not many like him? Perhaps he felt isolated, unable to connect. Maybe he was heartsick without a man to love him...

"I had no idea," she whispered sympathetically, reaching across the table to touch his hand, though no longer in a flirtatious manner. In response to his potential confusion, she added, "Don't worry, your dragon explained everything. And I'm not upset. You just had me doubting myself there!" She laughed at the foolishness of that. Honestly! "And I don't have a problem with it at all." Brinne added as an afterthought, "I think it's...cute!" Yes, that was the word!

[Flamewolf]

The girl seemed astonished at the green's voice, and he had to stop himself from chuckling in amusement. Blancheurth, though very nice, normally spoke through him. It was quite surprising, actually, for her to speak directly to somebody. He wondered why, when suddenly she sighed, shook her head and followed up with a grin. K'ji blinked and looked at her, intrigued; had he missed something while immersed in his thoughts?

Her next words caught him totally and utterly off guard. She'd figured out that he was gay. But...how? Now it was his turn to be confused, more so than she had been earlier. And probably just a few seconds before, too. I told her, Blancheurth's mind brushed against his as she spoke. ...Well, not directly, but she got the point after a moment, the green corrected. Very smart girl.

He tensed for a second as she put her hand on his, suddenly expecting it to be grabbed and him to be thrown across the room. But as she continued to speak, he relaxed. She didn't care! She really didn't care. She even though it was cute. That was definitely the most positive- and welcoming- reaction he'd gotten out of that revelation. He gave his own sigh of relief. "You know," he mused, looking up at her with a sheepish look, "That's the first good reaction I've gotten from that. In my whole life." Wow, he felt so relieved, it wasn't even funny! He didn't feel so constrained with his words, though there was still just a tint of hesitancy there. Outside, on her ledge, Blancheurth's eyes whirled a sparkling green. Finally, K'ji felt comfortable with someone other than herself.

It was about time.