can you read my mind? [Onyx]

[Lauri]

Revanne laughed merrily as she spun, her heavy skirts billowing and twirling around her ankles as she danced with herself up in her weyr, her mood unusually chipper on this day. Maybe it was the fact that she had been relieved of her duties for the hour, or maybe it was because her mind was light and free. She had no troubles, even with the promise of heavier responsibilities that came with being the senior goldpair, and her composure was oddly relaxed. Usually she was as tense as a Southern Wildcat!

The sun feels delicious on my wings, Revanne. I do not see why you do not do this more often.

Anuklith called to her from the ledge, a brassy rumble that was accompanied by the stretching of her membraned appendages. Her serpentine neck arched and curled like a woman in the throes of her peak, faceted eyes whirling cerulean. Being so close to the equator meant that it was much more comfortable here than where she had been hatched, but it was also balanced by a large amount of rainstorms in the summer. The Gold was doing her personal best to enjoy the light while it lasted.

"You've about as much use as a smokeless weyrling. Why don't you go down to the Grounds and feed? Besides," she pouted, fists on either side of her waist as she came to a halt, "I always stumble on those obscene etchings you've engraved in the stone with your take-offs."

The queen gently reminded her that she was the one with the wings here and that if she thought that she could backwing and land without making a mark, why didn't she try it herself?

Ignoring the response, the child-size woman instead swept the table clear of dust, mounted her Gold, and made her way down to the Kitchens to get herself a bite to eat. It was well after breakfast, but she had yet to eat due to some Candidates asking her where exactly their barracks happened to be. Kindly showing the way, the act had taken a lot longer than she had expected due to some questions that were brought up about recent happenings. "Oh well," Revanne sighed, walking quickly into the cavern while Anuklith soared lazily towards the Feeding Grounds to go hunting for some bucks, "At least the Kitchens will have plenty of bread and klah."

[Onyxaeon]

Varanth lolled lazily on one side, one great black wing stretched out to catch the warmth of the lingering heat while the other made for his pillow to cushion the hard earth. His lids were closed, nostrils flaring faintly as he inhaled the sweet scent that was Talune's own. Moisture rode ont he air. Dry, perhaps a touch humid, but only lazily. There would be in for a light dusting of rain later tonight, but no upcoming storm for awhile. At least he would be able to enjoy this comforting heat for awhile longer before the rains came and, even though they brought life, drowned out the scorching comfort that came from lying out happily. His tail was twitching ever so gently, lightly stroking the edge of the feeding pens as if to reassure himself that his lounging had yet to tear the pens apart. For all simple aspects, he appeared to be a sleeping sunbather aside from his shifting tail tip. His gaze did not turn to the young Gold as her scent mixed in with teh humidity to the air, stirring up the dust softly as she no doubt came to feed. A faint grin tugged at the corners of his maw. She would be good for the Weyr, he was certain. If she would wait on his son, she'd have a loyal mate for many, many turns. Of that, he was certain. If circumstances changed, he would always be there. She was such a lovely, little Gold, after all. Just spirited enough to keep him on his toes but sedate enough to allow him to step up to take his due rights whenever that need arose. Yes, she would do the Weyr proud. She could keep the peace and protect the sands she had not been hatched to, and that was what mattered most. With Linnelyth's sterilization, she was free now. All the cruel remarks ever directed toward them were no longer important: they were the life, the survival, of the Weyr now, because the Gold on the sands would leave her birthWeyr to aide another in its time of need.

Good evening, fair Anuklith. I trust you find your tastes suited this evening with the bucks? I watched several new ones arrive as a tithe from Talune Hold earlier.-They're teh ones with the triangles cut into their ears for marking. They looked well enough. Do tell, should I coax myself up to taste them with you, or will you enjoy the aimless chatter of a lazy dolt such as myself without dinner company being needed?

In the Lower Caverns, D'ron had just finished his own small ration of food for the evening, his reward for having stuck it out through recording Linnelyth's last clutch and finally getting around to transfer matters with Crystal Caverns. Some bit of bread and a small touch of cheese would hold him over for the night, because he still had so much to go through. It was impossible, the necessary things needed to send one Goldpair to another Weyr. They had to bring their own queen candidates here to Impress upon the young Gold and whomever was left of those candidates was to remain at Talune after they Impressed to other dragons. After all, twenty-eight eggs do not just up and hatch and decide to be rogue. With a sigh, the Weyrleader shook his head, clearing the stray thoughts before filling himself up another cup of klah. The lukewarm liquid was nearly full to the brim, and that proved to be an unfortunate thing for both D'ron and Revanne as she entered the kitchens the precise moment he was leaving them. Half bumping into the woman, the cup stumbled from his hand and went tumbling down onto the floor. Thankfully, none splattered on either. What a mess that would have been! "I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming down or I wouldn't have-" The man paused, opened his mouth, and tried to say something to remedy the situation, but no words came to mind and, instead, he was left searching for a rag and later cleaning up the mess. "I suppose I should better watch where I'm going, eh?" he questioned, a silly grin playing the corners of his lips.

[Lauri]

Anuklith wheeled as she propelled herself upon one of the herdbeasts, using the momentum of her mass and speed to successfully break its back clean in two. Satisfied with the gurgling and the sickening popping she heard from the crumbled mass beneath her, she began to tear into its soft underbelly to get at some of the better meat. Soon enough the metallic pristine hide began to get stained with the bloody mess she had created, a brass bugle of triumph signaling that she would soon move on to her next of at least 4 more. But then Varanth contacted her. He wanted to join her? Well, she could at least give him the pleasure of her company.

Yes, they taste exceptionally good. This Hold does well in supporting the Weyr when it comes to the tithes. She raised her great head, wide equine-like nostrils flaring as her neck flexed to face him. And I don't mind what you chose to do Varanth, either way is more than acceptable for me.

Revanne, on the other hand, was dealing with said Onyx's rider, frowning slightly when he bumped into her. It seemed as if he had had the same thing on his mind that she did, klah spilled all over the floor between them. Had he been busy as well? She assumed so, the liquid feeling more cool than it should anyway when it seeped into the hide of her sandals.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming down or I wouldn't have-"

Bending down to pick up the cup as he went to go get a rag, she sighed at the primal growls her stomach was making and the delay this little incident had caused.

"It's fine, D'ron, really-"

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming down or I wouldn't have-"

Glaring at the silly grin he gave, she couldn't help but let the corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk and she let out a soft chuckle. Standing up to her full height of 5'2" she looked up at him and put her fists on her waist. "I suppose you should be more careful, Weyrleader. I might have to beat you up next time if you do this again." Sticking a finger at his chest, she grinned at him daringly.

[Onyxaeon]

The resounding laughter that echoed from D'ron as Revanne gave her "threat" showed just how afraid of the Goldrider he was.-Not very, if at all."Oh, bull. You getting me? What a load of wherry dung." The Weyrleader chuckled softly after his words, setting the now soiled rag upon the nearby counter and taking the cup from the Junior Weyrwoman's hands and placing it in an awaiting tub of soapy water with a few other such dishes for company. With his duties momentarily forgotten, the Onyxrider leaned against the doorframe just before Revanne, effectively blocking the passage unless she just reall wanted to be friendly and squeeze past him. Two could play her game, he thought smugly as his arms crossed over his chest. Eyes narrowed in a challenging light received hers, and he could only smirk at such a notion. She wouldn't dare. Or, would she?

"I think you're full of it, dear Revanne, but that might just be me. Of course, I have been told I'm an apt judge of people before in the past. I suppose it really doesn't help you out much then, does it?" What a perfectly mischievious look about his face! Why, he resembled a feline who had caught the canary and still had feathers in his mouth! With a slow action, he leaned over just enough to have his mouth resting just by her ear, a low purr of sound his taunt. "Am I right?" There was no harm in occasionally having fun, was there? Well, Varanth might think so, but he was other wise occupied at the moment, thankfully, and probably would be for a good deal longer seeing as Rukbat still had time to hold command over the sky, and he had declared this his "resting day".

Speaking of the Onyx brute, he was idling chatting with the rider's lovely Gold Anuklith, quite content to laze the day about, if he had anything to do with it, of course. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. And, I believe I'll just lie here.-I haven't had the chance to relax in such a long while. It's nice to finally get the chance to sun and not be interrupted by anything other than pleasent company. With slow movements, Varanth turned, rolling over so that he now faced the fence and his other side was currently sunning. Simple beast that he was, this was enough to keep him busy while His flirted in the caverns. I've yet to hear what you think on the matter, Anuklith. You're going to be Senior soon. How does that settle?

[Lauri]

"Oh, bull. You getting me? What a load of wherry dung."

Revanne watched with lifted brows as he laughed, removing the cup from her possession quite briskly as he more than tried the waters with his big toe. He was waist-deep now in an obsidian lagoon, and monsters slithered and snaked between appendages. Eyes welcomed and embraced a dangerous spark of mischievous darkness, lips pursing as a signal of challenge acceptance.

"I think you're full of it, dear Revanne, but that might just be me. Of course, I have been told I'm an apt judge of people before in the past. I suppose it really doesn't help you out much then, does it? Am I right?"

"You're ego seems to think so," she whispered against his skin as she leaned forward, turning and brushing her lips over his cheek in retaliation. The purring in her ear had activated that feeling between mind and heart, stirring something physical within her. It was a sensual tickle that she intended to give back, her hands dragging from his shoulders down to his chest and drumming her fingers on his abdomen near his navel.

"Two can play at this game."

Her dragon on the other hand was busy savagely severing the head of one particular large buck, various stained tubes such as the trachea, esophagus, and various arteries dangling deftly as her metallic neck contracted and twitched. Whirling oculars signaled pleasure as she chewed through the skull with sharpened molars, cracks and clicks of fangs meeting in sparks sickening and sharp as she played with her food. Oh feral queen, if only you knew how much you made the passersby want to wretch, to shit their hides with a cocktail of fear and an overpowering need to clean their stomach lining. She had looked too pristine, too clean to take her share of the kill, as if one spot of blood would ruin the whole image.

But... she was a priestess of blood and war, as magnified by her current appearance.

You are too kind, Varanth. He had fluffed her proverbial feathers the right way with the compliment, nearly making the raptor coo like a dove. She was fond of this one, it was true. And I don't think I could imagine such a responsibility just yet, despite the fact that Revanne and myself have some if not most of the tasks assigned to the leading pair already. It should be interesting.

[Onyxaeon]

D'ron let loose a dusty chuckle, shoulders shrugging under the weight of her treatment. An almost wolfish grin stole across his lips as her fingers trailed down his torso, a playful glint steal his eyes. "Game? Now, you've got to play fair. I wasn't even aware we were even playing a 'game'." A slw roll of sinew pulled him teasingly away from her and the doorframe, the man lifting a sole digit to lightly prod her nose before he found another place with which to lean upon that was the counter no more than two feet away from his previous spot. A little game of cat and mouse, but he was the cat, and he knew well how to win this game. Despite whatever the junior weyrwoman knew, he could best her. After all, charming people was both in his blood and a major part of his job. It helped to keep the peace that he had worked so hard to achieve, and that was all that truly mattered to the Onyxrider and his dragon. Speaking of his dragon...Varanth wouldn't approve of such behavior. Or, at least not now he wouldn't. Not with his mate being so recently disthroned and in such pain over what she had been through. True, she was still a queen, but a good portion of the Weyr now looked at her differently. They knew the sotry, that she had been tricked by a cruel Wildfire, but that didn't change much. She had been meant to bear clutches for many, many turns later, and the sudden loss cut deeply into the Weyr whose hope now was in the Gold Anuklith.
"My ego is such a delicate thing, my dear. Please don't hurt it too badly," teh Weyrleader teased, a coy smirk winning over his lips as he tried to keep a straight face and eventually failed miserably.

I speak only the truth, golden gem. The Weyr looks to you now, and they enjoy what they see. The ebony beast lifted one lazy lid, eyeing the junior queen as she severed through muscle and bone, tendens and tissues. It was such a vicious, yet oddly beautiful, sight. He could only wish his own eating tendencies were half as soothing to the eye, though he knew far better than to put himself up that highly. Interesting falls short to that concept, but I know you will do well for Talune. Both you and Yours. There is an air about you that seems to do wonders for the peace that can be found here. It is not an iron grip of command, but a mroe subtle one. Just enough without being overbearing. I rather like it, as no brute as big as I am or bigger, even, likes to be told what to do.

[Lauri]

"Game? Now, you've got to play fair. I wasn't even aware we were even playing a 'game'."

"How could you not, I mean you are the one who started it after all." Her mouth was void of laugh lines so her genuine smile was a rare sight and very odd on her features. She folded her arms under her breasts as he rolled oh so smoothly away from her, an eyebrow raising as the smile continued. So he wanted to play, huh? She followed like a cat to a string, taking the bait just for the hell of it. It wasn't like there was anything to do other than to banter a bit with him and mess around for a while.

Revanne was bored and it wasn't every day she had free time.

The Goldrider leaned against his arm, head against wherever she reached and her fingers drumming on the closest collarbone.

"My ego is such a delicate thing, my dear. Please don't hurt it too badly."

"Now, now, what do you think is going on here, Weyrleader?" she teased him, smirking dangerously as she saw his smile falter. A crack in his resolve already, huh? This was going to be easier than she thought. "That's exactly the point of this exercise."

This was a game of who breaks first.

On the other side of the Weyr, it was painfully obvious that the queen was susceptible to flattery, and Varanth's extense use of it only made her delicious crooning rear its ugly head. Ah, yes. You have always been very wise Varanth, and it is refreshing to have a conversation with you. A fiery snort as her eyes whirled emerald, cone-like teeth snagging below some bones as she snapped her neck backwards, taking a huge strip of meat with them. Revanne has never been good at them.

Which was a lie because the Gold was never fond of talking and, even though her rider wasn't either, was always more intent on immediate actions rather than Revanne's way of trying to talk it out first.

[Onyxaeon]

Varanth chortled deeply in the back of his throat, amused his words had fluffed her own ego. Of that I am not, my dear Gold queen. I merely know what to say in what occasion. A little bit of forked-tongue play, if you will. Mine is far better at such than I.-Perhaps Yours has met him? He needs a good thwack once in awhile to keep himself in order and, being that my littlest claw dwarfs him, I feel it'd be better someone his own size picked on him. Just enough, you know? His tail curled around his body, wings unfurling to spread across the grasses to catch more of Rukbat against his heat-absorbing hide.

It shall always be my pleasure to converse with you, Anuklith. I am at your service just as I am the Weyr's. Should you ever need, merely ask and I'll but be there to aid in any such manner needed. It is my duty to tend to those I allow rest beneath my wings. Was it considered charming an individual when one meant every word spoken but had never intended to sound so flattering?

His eyes whirled to catch sight of flits flying overhead, watching them swoop and dive. Some small greens performed acrobatic circles and dips while the larger males dared to impress the ladies and found themselves in spiraling dives that only just barely broke off before they crashed into the ground. Ah, such folly were their lives. They could rest, relax, and adore without fear of thread, sterilization, or loss of their queens. They had simple concerns with simple solutions. Oh, what would it be like to be such a creature? His mind began to wander and it was several minutes before he brought his attention back enough to catch what the Gold was saying in response to his unintentional flattery.

D'ron cracked another smile. By the Egg, she was being coy! He remained perched against the counter, her head resting against one pectoral muscle with his fingers gently tapping away at his left collarbone. "Well, I could tell you what I think it to be. For the sheer necessity of meanness, I would rather you impart upon me your intentions." Double meaning. He was nothing if not a man of words. "It appears to me that you're resting against my chest entertaining and, seemingly, enjoying yourself with one of my very few little bones. Be careful, dear Revanne. 'The tunnelsnake teased had a tendency to taste its tormentor.'" A cute little warning for drudges in the Lower Caverns to their children would suffice. As always, twas a game of who could outlast the other. Really, he knew himself to be the better and so was not concerned. Just as the teased tunnelsnake, he would taste his tormentor. Exactly how or when, well that was another story entirely.
"You know, to any bypasser this would appear quite distracting. What say you? Should I have walked by 'twould have been a rather interesting site. I couldn't help but stare."

[Lauri]

She is much too soft to deal any real blows, do not get your expectations up, Anuklith snorted coolly as she began to search for her next victim, the hunk of mass in front of her reduced to mostly bones as she wrapped up her first course in the meal. Talons raked the few scraps left, trying to get her bang for her buck so to say, and she nipped at the few pockets of good meat left. What a silly creature she is.

She could have warned him about the "under his wings" comment he had subtlety left up to interpretation had she really wanted to put in the effort, but, to be honest, she was feeling a little lazy today. Not too mention she was in such a good humor and scolding such a gold mine of praise was something she really did not want to do at the moment, lest the vein her ego was engorging itself on dry up and leave it dying. Oh no, we couldn't have that!

They've learned, she'd comment offhandedly, parted ruby maw glinting in Rukbat's light as she lifted the horned cranium from the steaming cavity that was once the beast's underside. How annoying the stupid things were, flittering about as if they had no cares in the world and without regard to her status. Oh how the stupid, petty, trivial creature's frivolities managed to worm their way under her skin! The thought would have put a frown on her face had she had the capability to, opting instead for a soft rumble no doubt of sadistic origins. They're becoming too fast for me to catch now.

"Intentions? I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea of what you mean." Tiptoed over his double meaning with an innocent smile, easily keeping in step with the black hole of a waltz they were both contributing to at this point. "I just came for the klah, but the proverbs are, I must say, an added bonus." Teasing grin as she bumped his arm with her shoulder, fingers retracting to play with the frayed edges of her tunic. She did not move from where she was however, choosing to lean against him as if she were suddenly dead weight. She doubted it would be enough to make him stumble, but it was an amusing thought. Was she actually having fun?

"And what exactly are you suggesting Weyrleader?"