D is for Dangerous|Title is an Arctic Monkeys song

[Desert]

Dharth snorted scornfully, his head tilting just a bit as if to quirk an eyebrow. For all that you are aware, jaderider, I very well could. I will let this offense slide, just this once, but let it be a warning. If I discover that you plan on trying to deceive me or Mine again, I will not be so lenient.[/b][/color] A low growl rumbled up from the big black's throat to add emphasis to his words. Dharth lifted his head back up, swiveling it around to pin Rownith with his icy glare. And that includes you as well. Am I understood?[/b][/color]

Still standing against a nearby tree, K'dran rolled his eyes. He'd been bonded to the big black for too long to be particularly intimidated, unless that eerily calm wrath was directed at him. Still, he knew that dangerously polite tone well enough to know that the threats Dharth made were not idle. The temperamental king almost never referred to his rider as Mine or Own, unless he was feeling particularly possessive; it surprised K'dran that it would slip through. It was probably too bad that neither Accalia nor Rownith were aware of that little nuance of the black's manner.

I am not going to do this for you, K'dran,[/b][/color] Dharth snapped, the tip of his long tail shoving against the man's reclining figure. Go in there and confront the woman.[/b][/color]

What do you want me to say? K'dran demanded sourly, staggering off-balance for a few strides.

You figure that out, dimwit, it is your child she carries![/b][/color] Dharth growled, glaring in irate exasperation at his rider. Unless you wish me to get you into that weyr myself, which I assure you will not be pleasant, it would be wise of you to move. Promptly.[/b][/color]

K'dran's desire to keep himself in one piece overrode his aversion to having to talk to the jaderider. He slouched into the weyr reluctantly, only barely entering, leaning awkwardly against the doorframe. The blackrider didn't take it on himself to break the silence between them -- his jaws were clenched tight in suppressed irritation.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Accalia nodded her head again, but could not help the sarcastic reply that slipped out. In that case next time I end up pregnant with your rider's child, she could not bring herself to say K'dran's name, I will be sure to inform you both, although why he cares is beyond me. What was it about these two that brought out the absolute worst in her? None of her friends would recognise her if they saw her behaving like this, she was the awkward, stumbling girl who never had a harsh word for anyone. Until a few weeks ago, so it appeared.

Rownith however was intimidated as the Black's gaze met her fiery orange eyes. She had a better understanding of the Black's nature, but neither was she going to let him roughen up her Mine. I understand. But please don't take too much offense over what Accalia says at the moment. You don't know what she's going through. Rather wisely Rownith had refrained form any of the fliratatious behavious that had been a factor of their previous encounters. There was a time and a place and this was neither. But I won't tolerate you threatening her either. If it comes to it, I would rather between then have either of you hurt her again. You may be bigger and much stronger, but she's Mine. There is nothing I would not do for her.

Accalia's eyes lifted from the floor when she heard the approaching footfall. Her heart rate noticeable increased, her breathing quickened. And then K'dran appeared, although he did not seem game enough to enter the room. Her lips quirked humourlessly. Of course he was not brave enough to do so. That he had even come at all was a surprise, and no doubt more a result of Dharth than any noble gesture on K'dran's behalf. As the silence lengthened between them, Accalia got up gingerly and moved to the other side of the room, putting even more distance between them as she fiddled with the mug of herbal tea.

Accalia had already decided rather vindicatively that she was not going to make this easier on him. If K'dran wanted to show up when she had asked him not to, it would be he who had to ask the questions or do the explaining. Accalia had said all she had wanted to the black rider at their last encounter, and they had not left on the most amicable terms. Using the back of a chair for support, she looked at K'dran over the rim of the mug, "Can I help you? Or do you intend to support my doorway for an indefinite period of time. That could make things difficult if that's why you came." [/color]

[Desert]

Dharth's tail lashed violently a few times, like a feline's flickering tail when something agitated them. Nothing other than his errant tail betrayed the black's rising temper, besides his eyes. The color was an odd shade, a light blue that was similar to the hue of K'dran's eyes, only darker so that the blue was easily distinguishable. His eyes wheeled slowly, almost deliberately, with only a few wisps of red interrupting the bizarre, clear azure.

Dharth paused for a brief moment -- only a few seconds -- to be sure his temper was in check. When he replied, he chose to ignore Accalia's sarcasm. All right then,[/b][/color] he said, tilting his head to one side and gaping a malicious grin at the small jade. Do that. Try to your heart's content to arrest my vengeance, should things come to that. Take your rider and flee between to escape me -- I care not.[/b][/color] He chuckled sardonically, his eyes sliding closed as the black shook his massive head slowly. Your devotion would be admirable, had I the will to care. Blind devotion, I believe it is called -- such an apt term.[/b][/color] Dharth settled back on his haunches as he reopened his eyes, his long tail slithering serpentine to coil around his paws. But it will not come to that, because you will not make the same mistake again, correct? It would be such a shame, you know, to lose a useful wingmember to mere foolishness.[/b][/color]

K'dran, meanwhile, continued to glare sullenly at the far wall. "Quite frankly, I don't think anyone can help me. Unless you're willing to risk bringing Dharth's wrath down on yourself and do me the favor of slitting my throat or something along those lines." He snorted bitterly and shook his head. "If I'd had my way, I'd have been perfectly happy to leave you well alone. But since the lord of the universe out there won't budge...." K'dran shrugged eloquently.

The banter is fascinating to both of you, I am certain, but that is not why you are there,[/b][/color] Dharth reminded his rider bitingly.

Bite me, K'dran retorted mentally. he was sure he'd regret using that particular comeback, but it was too late to take it back now. "Fine," he growled, dropping his arms from where they had been folded across his chest. "I have to wonder; if you are actually keeping it, why?" he asked, frowning in frustrated perplexment at the jaderider. He couldn't fathom why, if Accalia hated him with such a passion, wouldn't she choose to abort a child he played a part in producing? It made no sense.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Accalia set the cup down, and hugged her arms around herself. "I would be more than happy to oblige you in your request, especially in my current condition, unfortunately for you I don't have a knife on me, and I would not risk Dharth's wrath on Rownith. Unlike some people, I don't really care about what happens to myself, but I do care what happens to my dragon." So far so good, Accalia told herself, keeping the trembling fear from her voice. She waited for her stomach to settle, it had started to churn alarmingly, before continuing. "Why not keep it? Saves me a trip between."Her voice was cold, but Accalia knew the conversation would get nowehere if she continued to remain so sarcastic. She sighed, her voice faltering, her legs starting to feel weak under her, and she caved in and sat down on the chair she had been resting against. "Despite what you think I did not intentionally fall pregnant. It was not as if I thought to myself, what can I do to make K'dran's life harder than it already is. And before you ask I am under no false delusions that by keeping your baby you are suddenly going to turn into the caring father I would wish for this child and we can all be one happy family. But neither could I kill something that is as much a part of me as it is you. It's not the baby's fault, so why should it be punished?" She placed a hand against her stomach. "In fact you would be my last choice as a potential father at this current moment in time. But it happened. I am not asking you for anything, I suppose I would have told you in my own time, but you are not obliged to me or this child in anyway. If you say you don't want a part in his or her life, fine, I won't hold it against you. Our child won't be the first or the last to not know it's father. I am even willing to lie for you. I can make up some story about some other man so no one need be the wiser. Just say the word, and then you'll be rid of all responsibility. But I won't abort my child." Her eyes were frosty, her stance protective of the small being that already grew within her.

Accalia bit her lip as waited for a response from K'dran, his silence as she spoke worrying her. Had she not just suggested a solution that would work for all concerned? Was he going to try to convince her to abort it? Because there was not a chance she was going to allow it.

Rownith nodded her head sharply. She had said enough and Dharth was truly beginning to scare her, he would not really kill her out of hand? Or Accalia? I am sorry for offending you. It won't happen again. I promise both for myself and Accalia. She shuffled her feet in the dirt, not wanting to see that particular gleam in the great Black's eyes.

[Desert]

The black behemoth's ire seemed cooled slightly by the fear that was plain in Rownith's tone and posture. The watery blue of his eyes drifted into a more greenish tinge, although if anything even more red blossomed in the swirling facets. That usually meant that the object of his anger was in sless danger; for with Dharth, the icier and calmer he seemed, the closer to snapping he was.

Like in the Flight when he'd pulled the jade into his clutches, Dharth dipped his head down to rasp his tongue sensuously over her head, sliding it over her left temple. His hot breath washed over her in swells as he rumbled a throaty chuckle. Be sure that it does not, Rownith. I do not make empty promises, as I have already demonstrated for you.[/b][/color] He pulled his head back, parting his jaws in a thin, malicious smirk. Now, I believe that it is slightly cramped with the both of us in this little clearing.[/b][/color] Dharth took a step back and fanned his wings, then launched himself into the air with a powerful shove from all paws. The leap carried his dark body high enough that when the big black made his first few wingstrokes, his wingtips didn't clip Rownith's head as they swung down. A few more beats of his broad wings, and Dharth was out of sight.

K'dran waited out Accalia's speech, unable to stop one eyebrow from curving very slightly up his forehead. He hadn't really expected this much vehemence from the jaderider; it was quite unnecessary, in his opinion. Granted she really didn't know him that well so she couldn't know, but K'dran wasn't a one to care about a lot of things. Once it looked like she was done talking, the blackrider shrugged. "Each to their own, I guess. Doesn't matter much to me, what you do with it or anything. Tell the kid what you will about me, I don't really care. If you feel like lying, that's your call," he said, one corner of his mouth pulling back in a noncommital half-grimace.

ooc; BAAH -facedesk-[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Accalia's brows met in the middle of her face, her lips drawn to a thin line. His response was less than satisfactory, why was the man so contrary, she wanted a yes or no answer, not some glibe response about not caring, although that was perhaps too much to expect from him. However to her, it was worse than being vehemantly against the pregnancy. At least then it showed he cared enough to have an opinion. She twisted her hands in her lap, trying to find the words to convey exactly what she felt, but it was so hard. They were locked in this stale mate and try as she could, Accalia could see no way out of it.Better he had never found out, especially for all he cared.

Finally she raised her head, "I'll do what I like then seeing as you don't care what happens one way or another. Now go away K'dran if you have nothing useful to say. There was no point you coming in the first place, and don't forget in doing so you broke a promise. See about not doing such again," her words were flat. "As far as I am concerned this is not your child any longer. Now go!" She said again, her voice breaking on the last words, ridiculous tears sliding down her cheeks as she truned her head head away, not looking to see whether he left or not. It was not for herself she cried, she had given up long ago hoping K'dran was more than he appeared or acted, but that he would care so little about the fate of his own child. She wiped them away cursing her over-emotional state. And this was just the beginning of it. For a fleeting moment she considered the option of going between again, she could be rid of any ties with K'dran. Forever. It was not too late, she still had time, but Accalia knew she could not go through with it, and she would not let K'dran of all people get her so worked up that she would even consider such a notion.

You have me, Mine. Your child does not need a father. I know that you can do this, and you will be all the parent he or she needs. Rownith crooned comfortingly.

Accalia gave a weak smile as she heard Rownith, and took a deep breath to calm herself. You're right of course. I am just being silly. We'll be just fine.

[Desert]

K'dran started to shrug again, but he was interrupted by Dharth's smoky, gravelly mind-voice. Of course; he'd been foolish to think Dharth wouldn't have the final say in things. The big black projected his words into the minds of both riders -- and, as if an afterthought, let Rownith hear his statement as well. K'dran's apathy nonwithstanding, the child is and will remain his as well. The circumstances of the meeting mitigated his deviation from your infantile promise; it is his business what happens to the life he helped to spawn. Because it is K'dran's business it is my business as well, and I will not tolerate anyone trying to cheat us out of something we have just as much of a stake in,[/b][/color] he growled. So if you are going to carry that child to term, Accalia, then you will have to swallow your pride a bit, because whether he particularly desires to or not, K'dran is going to be involved in this.[/b][/color]

K'dran's teeth audibly gritted togehter; the lanky blackrider stood ramrod straight, fists clenched at his sides, his eyes blazing as he glared venomously in Dharth's general direction, sunning on his couch. This is just about the last straw, Dharth, he grated. Impotent rage soured in his gut; if he tried rebelling, Dharth would wreak very painful punishments on him and force him to go through with it anyway. Still, it rankled to be used. By his dragon! The nerve of the giant wherry!

Oh? And what, pray, would you do about it?[/b][/color] Dharth retorted mockingly. The day you can get the better of me, K'dran, is the day I will cease to torment you.[/b][/color]

An enraged sneer crossed K'dran's face, and he took out his ire by viciously punching the wall with his bare fist. There was a sharp report, though whether from the wooden wall or from his fist was uncertain. A stream of profanities sizzled the air as they exited the blackrider's lips.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

And why do I want someone involved who will just as likely drop the child on its head, as look after it, Dharth? For unfortunately I would feel the need to constantly hover in the background should I be as stupid as to trust K'dran with a baby. I am not so proud that I would deny my child it's father, but neither am I an idiot. I am not willing to be subjected to your schemes and threats, and I don't want every conversation I have with K'dran end in an argument, but I am afraid that's what will happen if he keeps up his stupid I don't-care-what-happens attitude. I want someone who is willing to do this, not coerced into it by his dragon. I know you probaly have the most noble intentions, and your concern is touching, but I don't want K'dran around. I'd rather give the child to you to raise then leave it in the incapable hands of K'dran. Accalia finally finished her rant, her eyes flashing dangerously, and her own hands balled at the side of her.

It irked her that Dharth had to be the one of the Black pair to care, why could K'dran not share the slightest smattering of concern. No, instead he would rather attempt to pummel his fists against her walls, was he trying to bring her weyr down? With a frustrated sigh she walked over to K'dran and put a hand on his shoulder. "Can we at least try to be adult about this?" She glanced down at his fist and shook her head. "That was rather silly, although I suppose it was better than having you lash out at me. And look I am no happier about this than you are, but it seems with Dharth's interference we have no choice. You care too much about your own life, and I am not risking our child's. So..." her voice trailed off, her hand still resting lightly on K'dran. It was the only contact she had had with him since the rather tumltous flight.

[Desert]

Noble intentions? I doubt that,[/b][/color] Dharth remarked scornfully. And the child would undoubtedly be safer with K'dran, I would be just as likely to devour it if it annoyed me.[/b][/color]

K'dran rolled his eyes; Dharth had relayed Accalia's speech into his rider's mind. "He has a point. Incapable I may be, but Dharth's the dangerous one."

Precisely. K'dran will get over his apathy soon enough, mark my words. And he knows himself well enough to agree.[/b][/color]

"Yeah, pretty much," K'dran admitted, resignation tinging his voice.

So we have an agreement. Not every conversation has to end with an argument, unless you go into it looking for a confrontation,[/b][/color] Dharth said. Now his voice was reasonable, almost cajoling, as if he were chiding a pair of feuding children.

When Accalia's hand came to rest on his shoulder, K'dran sighed wearily. He rubbed his fist with the other hand absently; one or two of the knuckles were radiating stabbing pain, though it was hard to tell from the blackrider's expression. Turns of Dharth's abuse had given him an almost masochistic tolerance for pain. As he gingerly massaged the damaged limb, his fingers skimmed over the rippling pattern of the burn scars he still sported. Those might never fade, since it was his hands and arms that received the worst of the damage from that altercation.

"Heh, I'll try," he replied, half-chuckling at the jaderider's suggestion. His lips twitched up into an acerbic smirk. "Just our luck."

ooc; -facedesk- shoooort. craaaappy. TT^TT[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Accalia gave a sigh of relief. At least they could agree on one thing, it was a start. "Thank you K'dran, and I really do mean it. I guess you're the lesser of two evils then. Although there won't be much for you do the next few months, I doubt you're the typing to hold my hair or rub my back when I'm sick." She made the lame attempt at the joke, and gave a small smile, stepping back from him and allowing the hand to drop form his shoulder.

Noticing the way he rubbed the hand he had punched into the wall, she realised that perhaps the hand had done worse than the wall in the altercation. "I know you keep your own numbweed supply but I have some, rather than waste yours. Do you need it?" It had not gone beyond notice the other scars he had, how had she not noticed them before now, but remained silent. She seriously doubted that his were a result of poor balance, unlike the majority of her own bruises, and almost felt pity for the man when she came to the realisation they must have been inflicted by Dharth. No wonder he had no choice in all of this, she thought to herself. It was the first gleaming she had of the true relationship between rider and dragon and went a small way to explaining K'dran's rather selfish behaviour. What have I gotten myself into?

[Desert]

K'dran couldn't suppress a mild grimace. "Not really. That's a bit too awkward." Dharth seemed content enough with the accord the two riders had struck up, so the big black held his silence. K'dran was glad for it.

When Accalia offered numbweed, he chuckled ruefully. "That would be nice. I left mine in my weyr." He shook his hand out, frowning thoughtfully. "Well damn, I think I might've chipped or fractured my knuckle," he remarked in an almost incredulous tone.

Well done, K'dran,[/b][/color] Dharth commented mockingly.

You shut up.

Dharth, who had been unobtrusively eavesdropping on the jadepair, rumbled a chuckle when he overheard Accalia's thoughts. So you noticed some of K'dran's battle-scars, did you?[/b][/color] It was widely known that of Eden's unique mutants, cyans were the worst; that didn't mean that the riders of other similarly nasty dragons weren't spared some heartache as a result of their bondeds. K'dran hadn't always been a self-centered prick, despite the common misconception.

K'dran had heard Dharth's slightly mocking question and rolled his eyes. "Battle-scars my eye," he grumbled.

ooc; TT^TT -curls up in a corner- i'm sorry, that's all i can get. i fail epicly at life today. i'm just gonna go to bed now and hope catching up on some sleep improves my state of Muse.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

Stifling back the laugh that bubbled up as a result of the look on K'dran's face, she made her way to the side table on the right side of the bed and opened the draw. "Don't worry, I would never ask you to do anything like that. I have my pride and vainty, and while I will never be the most attractive woman, neither do I want you to see me when I'm ghastly ill." She shuddered at the thought, glad for the time being her stomach had settled, though she felt it was more a result of her being relaxed than that atrocious tea the Healer had foisted upon her.

Grabbing the pot of numbweed she crossed back over to the black rider, passing it over to K'dran, before resting her elbow on the adjacent wall. She looked down at the outstretched hand and nodded in agreeance on seeing his swollen knuckles. "I'd say you have, there was quite some force behind the punch," Accalia replied before resuming her position propped against the wall.

The Jade rider's face took on a quizzical expression as Dharth yet again spoke to her. For the benefit of K'dran she spoke out loud, sure that on some level the Black dragon would hear her. It seemed no matter what private thought she now had he was privy to it anyway. "You're quite the eavesdropper are you not Dharth? Or do I get special privelages because I now carry your rider's child. Funny I never heard about such a thing before," her lips twitched in amusement. "I suppose I will just have to get used to your velvety voice interrupting me from time to time. And to answer your question, I did notice them, though battle scars seems an inept phrase. That would imply K'dran actually attempted to inflict pain on you in retaliation and if I compare the two of you, the idea that he has even tried is laughable. No offense of course K'dran," she added as an aside to the Black rider.

However her jovial mood was quickly fading. How could Dharth find it so amusing that nearly every inch of K'dran's arms and hands were covered in burns or scars. And what of the rest of him, had she paid more attention to him after the flight, would she have found the rest of his body to be similarly marked? Accalia's cheeks blushed at the thought, well it was unlikely she would ever have the chance to see it again.

She shook her head thanking Faranth that the worst her dragon did was embarass her with outrageous flirations; in contrast Accalia had nothing on K'dran. What would K'dran have been like if he had not Impressed, or if still Impressed but a dagon of a much milder temparement? Her eyes flicked to K'dran, perhaps she had been right after all about him. Maybe there was something behind the sarcastic humor, and anti-social tendencies. What's you opinion Dharth, for I am sure you have been peering in somehow, is K'dran as callous as he would like everyone to think. Or is that your doing? This was said privately to the gigantic Black. And I think I should know, for if all four of us are going to associate on a regular basis, it is only fair I have an inkling of what to expect, to have an understanding of K'dran's constant indifference. After all Dharth was the one who had forced the issue of K'dran's and his own involvement in their lives.

[/color]

[Desert]

K'dran gratefully slathered the numbweed over his knuckles. "Dharth has no concept of privacy or personal space, as you will come to find out," he remarked bitingly. "At least, other people's privacy. He's good with double standards." And Dharth was far from disagreeing. The blackrider chuckled. "No offense taken -- it's completely true."

I will not eavesdrop on your every thought -- that would be ungentlemanly -- but every now and then I may listen in,[/b][/color] Dharth assured Accalia smoothly. He'd been listening right then mostly to make sure neither rider tried any funny business; and because he found some of Accalia's thoughts a bit entertaining.

Like the next one she directed privately at him. Dharth chuckled darkly. That is a very good question. I Impressed him for a reason -- in many ways, we are surprisingly similar, K'dran and I. The core personality traits he was born with have remained essentially unchanged by his bond with me, though it is true that he has changed since his Impression. It is difficult to say whether or not it is all my doing that has made him the apathetic sod he is. Personally, I believe that had I not chosen him to bond with, K'dran would likely be a considerably more pleasant person. Not entirely cured of his more irritating tendencies, but much improved.[/b][/color] The big black shrugged. Dharth found it hard to tell; after all, he'd only seen K'dran after Impression. Still, he was a much better reader of people in general than K'dran ever was.

ooc; meep. still short, but whatevs. -sigh-[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

"I see, and thank you Dharth, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I am glad I will only have to censor my thoughts, some of the time." Her mouth curved into a smile. In all honesty she did not care overly much whether the black dragon did listen or not. Accalia could not think of anything that would particular embarass or implicate her, and who knew? It may come in handy at some stage, although that was doubtful.

Accalia mulled over what Dharth told her privately, rather relieved the black dragon had not been offended by her question. I suppose if you'd never chosen him we would not be in this mess, but it was said lightly. And what did you mean before? When you said he would get over his apathy soon enough? Are you intending on threatneing him to show interest, because that's not really what I meant when I said I wanted someone that cared. It has to be of his own will, not because you forced him to feel something. Accalia carefully looked over at K'dran again, feeling a little bit guilty for discussing the man like this with his dragon. Still it had been Dharth who had chosen to answer the question, and the more she knew of the both, the better equipped she was to handle them.

"So K'dran, or perhaps I should be asking Dharth, as he seems to be the one making all the decisions. What exactly does your involvement entail? I tihnk it's best we sort this out now and a have a clear idea of each other's roles so there is no confusion later." Her voice took on a brisk, almost business like tone which made her wince. This was a baby she was talking about, not a comission for a belt or a piece of jewelery.

[Desert]

Dharth chuckled again, this time more ironically. Curiosity will get the better of him,[/b][/color] he explained wryly. I will not have to cajole him very much as time goes on. He may resent my forcing him to participate, but he will do it anyway, and after a time he will realize that it is not so bad. And when the child is born, who knows? He may even show genuine interest in it. K'dran is easy to read in some ways, but in others he is about as unpredictable as I am.[/b][/color] It could not be said that Dharth didn't know his rider inside and out, for all their antagonistic relationship.

When Accalia addressed him, K'dran shrugged slightly. "I'm not sure. I think at the moment there's not much for me to do. But later... I don't really know." Obviously, fatherhood was not something he'd had to think about before. His foster mother had been overtaxed, trying to care for too many adopted children, so the more independent Kadran had been left mostly to his own devices as a child. The only family he really had left was K'tal, who was half a planet away and similar enough in temperament that neither sibling really communicated much.

ooc; TT^TT i'm sorry it's so short. my Muse fails right now.[/size][/color][/font]