A Good Night [Nicole/Elora]

[Shoki]

A rumble was felt on D’ziel’s chest as he carried Pounce outside. It was just getting dark, and the feline had been extra good recently so he didn’t think there would be a problem with going outside. The silver feline was purring, happy for attention and an opportunity to run around outside. He found a nice spot, something that he could watch the Feline from a lit spot, and let her down. She bounced away, before turning back to look at D’ziel, her eyes reflecting from the light behind him. She wouldn’t stray far, but it should be good for her none the less. She went a little distance off to menace a particularly vicious looking leaf and left D’ziel looking out into the looming night. Hocteth was there soon after, arriving right when Pounce had her attention elsewhere.

It’s a nice night. The dark dragon didn’t quite blend in with his whips of yellow on his hide, but he looked contented none the less. D’ziel nodded, looking contented. Are you worried D’ziel? The Moonlight watched the rider look at the sky, his mouth twisting into not quite a frown.

“Maybe a little. Seems like things have been all been a little more dangerous around over the last few turns. Or I’ve just been hearing about it more. I’m trying to figure out which is which.” He was still looking out to the sky, and his face relaxed. “But I don’t think it’s a problem yet. It’s a good night to be out, and you both are behaving, what more could I want?”

Hocteth’s tail twitched and he didn’t look super happy. But D’ziel smiled. It was a good night.

[Nicole]

D'ziel was below her. Elora didn't think that D'ziel necessarily realized that he was below her; after all, she wa sperched high on the nearby rocks, and Saphireth's dark hide - and her closed eyes - allowed her to camoflauge easily into the night.

She had been stargazing. She had been doing more and more of that lately, trying to figure out her future. She still wanted to tour the southern hemisphere and teach about dragons, something she would need to talk to N'kio about at some point.

Assuming they had mouths free to talk, Elora thought with a small smile.

And she had to figure that out, too. And Saphireth was closing in on her second birthday and would Fly soon - the little DarkBlue had yet to decide if she wanted to Clutch yet. Elora thought she might, at least once.

Elora had a lot on her mind. Still, she didn't want to scare the Rider below her. He was nice.

"D'ziel, do you always talk to-" There was a momentary pause as Elora's mind scrambled for his dragon's name. "-Hocteth aloud? People might start to think you're off in the head. Not me, of course, but people."

She flashed him a smile, one that lit up her face even in the dark night, as Saphireth rumbled a hello without opening her eyes.

[Shoki]

Hocteth and D’ziel looked up at the same time. They had an audience. D’ziel didn’t look perturbed at all, Hocteth looked slightly annoyed for a moment before smoothing over. So his eyes showed irritation for only a moment before cooling into calm again.

“Of course. Besides, I’m only one more Feline from being crazy, that’s how that works, right?” Pounce heard someone referring to her in some way and looked back, before sneaking around some more. D’ziel ignored that kept speaking.

“Not really. Hocteth always wants me to be proper you know. Rude to have a conversation in silence if one doesn’t have to.” The last few words took on a more serious, slight deeper voice, which Elora probably wouldn’t recognize. Hocteth scoffed.

I don’t sound like that. The Moonlight watched his rider turn to him and smile while raising an eyebrow. D’ziel certainly thought it was an impressive representation. The rider turned back, while Hocteth ignored the riders and left them to whatever conversation they would have. I hope the evening is treating you well Saphireth. Hocteth’s greetings were always more formal. D’ziel left it alone, it didn’t hurt anyone.

“Still, been having fun eavesdropping?” He was joking obviously. But D’ziel sounded pretty calm for joking.

[Nicole]

Elora’s mouth twitched upwards, trying to hide back the smile at his joke. She had met a few Riders who had just a few too many cats to be considered quite normal – and it seemed that D’ziel had seen the same.

“Oh, you’re quite a few away from being crazy, I think.” Eyes sparkling, she slid down from the top of the rock, moving over next to D’ziel.

Saphireth cracked open an eye, dropping her jaw in a small smile at the Moonlight. It is a good evening, Hocteth. You are well, I hope? The formal Moonlight amused her – in part because of how different he was from the Black she normally spoke to.

Elora ignored Saphireth, leaving her to the conversation with Hocteth. D’ziel’s jab about eavesdropping seemed to be a joke, at least in the way it was phrased, so Elora ran with it. “Hey, let’s be fair – I was here first. And it’s not really eavesdropping if you aren’t intentionally doing it.”

She twined a strand of loose hair back around her ear. “How have you been?”

[Shoki]

D’ziel’s mouth twitched into a smile. A few more Felines before he went crazy? Oh good. He watched her come over and let himself have an amused smile as she took his joke in stride.

“If you say so…” D’ziel did a little bit of the sing song voice but chuckled a minute later. “I’ve been good. Finally got a bit of time to hang out with my friends from D’gan’s wing. What about you?” D’ziel had to admit that for him the most interesting things in his life were friends and Wing practice. Pounce and Hocteth had settled into…something approaching a decent relationship, just dysfunctional enough to keep it interesting without really being a problem. So things seemed quiet.

I am well. It is indeed a fine evening and it gives me no reason to complain. Hocteth gave an eye to Pounce, who was slipping between some rocks. Well, mostly no reason to complain. That, and Hocteth would never want to be so rude as to bring the Feline up.

[Nicole]

"What about you?"

Elora could imagine how well the honest reply would pan over. Oh, yes, she's been great. Doing her chores, taking care of Saphireth, maniacally plotting a tour of the Southern hemisphere to teach the world about dragons, falling in love.

But she just smiled and shrugged. "You know, I'm okay. Keeping busy. Splitting a lot of my time between here and Cliffside."

And with quiet determination not to talk about N'kio - she already spent enough of her time thinking about him - she pushed onto a different topic. "So what do you think about the Azure?"

Saphireth didn't respond to the Moonlight, content with how that comment had ended, and content to stay curled up quiet.

[Shoki]

“That’s always good.” D’ziel didn’t frequent Cliffside, if only because his family was either at RMW or at other Holds. He did make a point of going if there was a gather though, like after he impressed Hocteth. But then Elora asked the question. It was a hot topic now, obviously. D’ziel considered for a moment before speaking his mind.

“That it’s kinda odd for another Azure to pop up so quickly.” Sure, he hadn’t been born when the other one had been around, but the point was that he knew people that were. Well, certainly there would be dragon riders from that time, assuming they didn’t get killed by thread or some of the other craziness from back then. He tended not to think about the past that he didn’t live through, though. He did know that they were something of a legend, and it was kinda a short time for them to pop up again. Although, it was a new Weyr...

“Not really about this one though, is it?” D’ziel smiled vaguely. “Which I can’t really talk about. Havn’t met them. Have you?” He looked at Elora, not sure which way she was leaning on the whole thing. It was probably why he avoided talking about the big question. A fairly obvious question too.

Hocteth as well seemed content to keep quiet, at least until he felt something try to climb on him. Pounce had made her way around and was trying to climb over Hocteth. The Moonlight looked annoyed, and shifted, pushing her away. Of course, that only made her more interested in trying to get up. The pair went back and forth now, getting into a mild fight.

[Nicole]

No, Elora hadn't met them. Still, anybody who was immediately hated by the Weyr - as these two tended to be, at least for those she had been listening to - were alright by her. They hadn't done anything besides be colorful and confident. And if that was a crime, well, Elora might have to arrest herself.

"I haven't met them. Seen the new junior Weyrwoman around a few times, but she's always flanked by guards - and I sense both her and I are too busy to stop to chat. Besides, I can't imagine we'd have much to talk about." Elora shrugged, reaching up to shake her hair down from its ponytail. It curled in soft waves around her face. "But I like that you didn't make up your mind before meeting them. Too many people judge before getting to know, y'know?"

[Shoki]

D’ziel shrugged. Well, he didn’t know what to think, about superstition or all that. Legends had them as terrors, at least in a way, but there were much more recent nightmares, he had learned the histories. However he DID know there were real, tangible things that were causing problems now. And he had always worried more about big things then little things.

“Well, no faster way of putting your foot in your mouth, right? Could be a psycho or a saint, and best figure out which before speaking in case they are the other. Doubt either are true. Probably somewhere in the middle, like the rest of us.” He shrugged again.

“Still, can’t say.” He smiled a little bit. “You know, they say that you can’t ever really know a person, but you can know a bit of them that they don’t know themselves? Not sure who said it, but it’s a weird thing when you think about it. I wonder if it’s really true.” He was looking at Elora then, now with her hair down. He didn’t think he could see any bit of her that she didn’t know herself, so he wondered what that could mean. He looked down a minute later when Pounce rubbed against his leg. Hocteth seemed to be eyeing her suspiciously. Oh shards what had he missed now?

[Nicole]

Elora, satisfied with his answer, diverted her attention to the cat curling around his feet.

"Is she okay?"

Saphireth cracked open one eye to stare at the little creature, sensing that Hocteth was watching it closely. It seemed normal to her - mildly pestlike, but otherwise fine. But what did she know of cats? She barely understood humans, and she was constantly linked to one. With a sigh, she closed her eyes again.

Elora knelt down, holding out her hand for Pounce to sniff.

[Shoki]

D’ziel raised an eyebrow watching Pounce in a response to Elora’s question. He looked toward the feline then back toward Hocteth. The Moonlight was still displeased but D’ziel knew Hocteth quite well, so he knew how he would act. Pounce was acting the victim, which meant the pair of them were basically just fighting for attention again. D’ziel sighed, but smiled just a little bit. They were always like this in some ways.

Pounce stepped forward gracefully and sniffed Elora’s outstretched hand briefly. Her reflective eyes observed the hand curiously before closing her eyes and rubbing her head against the hand. Yes, she would take this human too, she could always use more humans. She flicked her tail deliberately at Hocteth whose eyes were narrowing at the feline. D’ziel chuckled lightly.

“I’m pretty sure she’s just fine.” He turned back toward the Moonlight briefly. I know, Hocteth. She likes stealing the spotlight. I can give you a pet if you want.

Hocteth snorted, straightening up and trying to look dignified. No, he would take the high road and not be sucked into this. No thank you D’ziel. D’ziel suppressed the urge to point out how often he did get sucked in to these little fights. It was interesting how much Hocteth was willing to ignore in favor of saving his pride. D’ziel never wanted to bring the Moonlight down though, so he tended to leave it to mild ribbing later or just some rolled eyes. Still, he loved the Moonlight, and that was never going to change. At least they both knew that.