[past] 10.5.12 / 1:34 AM / Waterfall Lake

[Jay Kitten]

(First I'd like to state that although the title says Open RP, I would like no more than 2 people to join and then I will remove the label. This is because in my experience when there are more than 3 people in one roleplay when it's not a major event, I lose track of things very easily. Anyway.)

Why did he do this to himself?

R'nos... are you beating yourself up again? came the soft voice of reason behind him, followed by a gentle nudge of that loving nose against the midst of his shoulder blades. It moved up to the base of his head, that small crook at the end of the neck followed by an upward curve of his skull. It was warm and comforting to him.

"You know as well as I that I get like this each time I see these waters," he responded in kind, reaching a hand over to brush that loving nose. His fingers played a gentle rhythm against his Tiger's soft hide. He pressed down and watched the small divots disappear as he lifted his hand away.

You are more and more the curious individual I know every day, Mine-Love. Regganith's adoration leaked into his words. It pervaded each word and clung to his voice like raindrops in a cloud. It was so easy to see the silver lining with such a loyal companion around. But then why did he feel this way? It had been Turns since he had had anybody, maybe? Kaya was still just as busy as ever and he was now letting his thoughts race a mile a minute over every person he had lost. It was difficult to remember names, sometimes. Sakura, was that it? The old woman who had become his first friend at the Weyr... He had watched her die, right there in front of him, and he had felt that same helplessness countless times afterward. Safiya... K'rale... He clenched his fist, and pounded it into the silty, malleable mud near his feet. It caked his blue glove and left a crater in the ground.

He lifted those emerald eyes to gaze over the waters of the lake. The sound of the waterfall did much to calm him. His agonizing heart slowly filled to the brim with tears until they spouted from his eyes, dripping down to his coat. Regganith enveloped him then, spreading his warmth into the shivering body of his Rider.

I know it hurts. I feel it to, and if I could cry I would. But you know as much as I do that it gets us nowhere, to feel like this. It has been so long in this slump that I'm not sure I feel like you will ever come out of it. Nobody even knows who you are anymore, R'nos, I am not sure even you do.

He spoke the truth, and R'nos dried his eyes, gasping for a breath before he held it in, until the fire in his lungs threatened to engulf the rest of him. Sulking wasn't what he wanted to do. But he didn't know what else to do.

[Simile]

Shiana was thinking deeply as her dragoness spiraled downward towards the Waterfall Lake and the ground around it. Already, below, Black Shard and Citrine Rise flittered about, flying low over the water and twittering at each other.

Ebonaeth landed, back pedaling her wings quickly, slowing her decent as to make the landing easier. Shiana sat for a moment, breathing in, a small smile growing on her features as she looked at the beauty around her.

After a moment, she slid down, using her dragoness' leg as a step toward the ground. She ran a hand through her short cropped blonde hair, tousling it and making it even more of a mess. She didn't really seem to notice as she walked over to the water, looking down into it, contemplating. She hummed some tune she had heard at some point. She wasn't really thinking about that though.

She started to walk in an almost gliding step around the Lake... And that is when she saw them. R'nos and his large Tiger dragon, Regganith. She didn't really know them... but she had seen them before and heard of them. She bit her lip for a moment, then made up her mind, jogging towards the pair. "Hey!" she called, waving, smiling a large, white smile on her narrow, fine featured face.

[Jay Kitten]

The first indication R'nos got of somebody else in the area was the hair on his neck standing on end. Being the cautious individual he usually was this late at night, he assumed it was the dastardly S'nire back for another revenge attempt, and so his hand flew straight for his knife, however it was caught by Regganith's tail in a move to intercept.

Remain calm, R'nos, it is only another dragon from our Weyr. he cautioned, and the male let his hand return to Regganith's flank as the massive Tiger uncoiled himself from about him.

R'nos's face immediately changed to that of a flat, neutral expression, away from the sad one he had been wearing a moment ago. "Hello," he called back, his voice monotonic for the time being. He didn't recognize these two, just another pair of dragon and rider to him.

"What brings you out here this late?" he asked, then, his own curiosity as well as Regganith's edging him to ask that question. The Tiger was curious like a cat, ironically enough. He stuck his head towards the pair and tilted it, eyes whirling as he examined them.

Hello,[/i] he said to the dragoness who was accompanying Shiana. He was a bit more receptive than his rider.

[Simile]

Shiana smiled and stopped a few feet from R'nos. "I came out here to think... I do that a lot, actually. I try to imagine.... What my family was like, I guess." She became somber. "Where my siblings are..." She shrugged and turned back towards the water, humming again, her hands clasped behind her. Her thoughts were lost again. She, for whatever reason, didn't feel that bad. She had to remind herself, though, that when she said siblings, she didn't mean her blood relatives. Not in that sense were they her siblings.

She turned back around and focused her bright, jade geen eyes on him. "What about you, R'nos?" she asked, using his name simply for the fact that she knew it from around the Weyr. This man... He was a bit of a legend, it would seem.

Ebonaeth responded, her mental voice, as per usual kind, Hello. I am Ebonaeth. And that is ShianaMine. And the two flittering bugs are hers. Ebonaeth turned her gaze towards the playing flitters. How bothersome they could be...

[Jay Kitten]

His eyes lit up, and Regganith's switched from a shade of blue to a bright yellow of cautious unease at the mention of family. She didn't understand just yet how much of a touchy subject that might be with R'nos, but he comforted his Tiger and patted his eye-ridges.

"I often find myself wondering the exact same thing," he said softly, before he swung himself up to sit on Regganith's haunch. For a moment he looked over the girl to adore the moonlight's touch upon Regganith's wingtip, which was folded just above his head. A beam came from the disk of Bellior to graze along the surface of the pool of water, sending it upwards to touch upon the bright, vibrant orange of that one little fold.

As she turned back to him, he smiled, and his dragon crooned to see him do so again. "So are you one of those autograph-seekers?" he asked, trying to make himself seem a bigger man than he was. He wasn't famous, simply respected. "I'm kidding, of course. It's just weird for people I don't know to use my name all the time. Might I ask your own?"

I am Regganith, and this is R'nos. Aiyr might be about somewhere, but she is a free spirit,[/color] he replied to Ebonaeth. His eyes flicked to a vibrant emerald.

[Simile]

Shiana gave a slow smile, then couldn't help the laugh that moved its way through her lips, breathy and soft. "Afraid not, brave Rider. But I do know your name." She grinned, her eyes sparking, "I am Shiana, Rider of Black Ebonaeth. Well met. We are from Fort originally..." She felt a little... awkward? What a weird feeling. Shiana rarely felt as such. She took a gliding step and turned 360 degrees before stopping and sighing, a little bit further from R'nos that before. Shiana was just... Shiana...

Free spirits are not exactly bad things, the dragoness said in response, her eyes swirling shades of happiness and amusement. She looked toward Hers and watched her twirl. She laughed draconicly. Mine is a bit of a free spirit too... Or so it would seem.

Shiana was shortly joined by Rise and Shard who flew around her in a circle for a moment before taking off once more. Shiana was quiet for the moment, still smiling.

[Jay Kitten]

"Fort, huh? I've been there once and good thing at that. Not a very wet place at all, I like the water. I'm from Lemos, rain is the best." He lifted a hand to feel the mists coming from the falls and he felt almost relieved. He had just spent some time releasing his stressful feelings, and now he was in a state of a lull, and talking to somebody new. It was nice.

He watched her spin, and he smiled wider, before Regganith huffed and sent him rolling along his side, before he fell in between his leg and his arm, nestled nicely. With a chuckle, R'nos looked back to the girl.

No, of course not. My little sister is a happy one.[/color] He huffed again, and watched the girl as well. With a small nod back at Ebonaeth, he then turned his attention to R'nos, who was clambering up to sit on his neck.

"Well, if you're curious about me, I can sum it up for you. I-" and here he stood, one foot upward on the dragon's neck and his other resting at the base as he pointed towards the moon, Bellior's light framing his deep blue wherhide riding jacket. "am R'nos, and this is Regganith, and together, we are the Tiger of Pern!" He flourished his arm, and the real Tiger dislodged him with a simple rolling of his shoulders, causing him to fall backward directly into the mud.

Mine gets carried away easily.[/color]

[Simile]

Shiana grinned, watching him. She didn't say anything about it, but she, had grown up in a Fisher Craft Hall before she had been searched. But... She had... issues with the sea.

Shiana could not help but crack up laughing, almost doubling over. "Well, Tiger of Pern... I think the Tiger has something to say about what you are saying," she spit out between bouts of laughter, one hand covering her mouth, trying to stifle it.

Ebonaeth could not help but break into draconic laughter, though she was more quick to compose herself than Shiana was. I would say so... But, that, also can be both good and bad. Good when it brings a relief... Bad when... well.../i] Ebonaeth stopped there, watching the two Riders for a moment before turning her attention once more to the Tiger.

Shiana was still laughing, though she was making a great effort to stop. Her cheeks were flushed and her sides were hurting a little bit.

[Jay Kitten]

He got up, brushed himself off, and leaned against his dragon, arms crossed. "Ah, he's just being polite, doesn't want to show off. He knows just as well as I do that we're nothing without eachother."

Yes, but you're not orange and black.[/color]

"Shhh, we don't mention that part!" he said, slapping his shoulder affectionately. He turned his attentions back to Shiana. "Anyway, fair maiden, is there something I can help you with? If not, I was about to break out the klah and have myself a drink, if you don't mind?"

There he went again with his klah. Heavy on the klah, spare the everything else. He went nuts for the stuff, as anyone who knew him would attest to. It was barely an hour in between cups for him. Turns and Turns of drinking it and he still never tired. He always had room for it. And so, R'nos fetched his wherhide skin, full of the hot, delicious liquid, though by now it was likely cooled to a warmer temperature as opposed to scalding. He poured himself a cup, knocked it back in one swig, refilled it, then took out a second one and offered it towards his company.

"Go on, I promise you'll like it. It's my own special brew, I've worked it up in my spare time." He had a lot of that lately. His own klah was sweeter than most, and a bit more spicy as well, just the way he liked it.

[Simile]

Shiana grinned. She decided she rather liked R'nos. She was grinning from ear to ear. "You have quite the sense of humor, R'nos," she told him, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. "Are you certain?" she asked, though her expression would easily tell him that she trusted him. She wasn't a suspicious person. Not in the least.

Shiana reached out and took it from him and drank it, though she didn't quite knock it back. She blinked in surprise as she swallowed and her face lit up again. She was surprised. Pleasantly surprised. She grinned, looking at him. "That's amazing!"

Yours is definitely full of surprises! Ebonaeth said to him.

Rise and Shard came over and, seemingly without thinking, took up perches on Ebonaeth and Regganith. They were both in rather playful mood.

[Jay Kitten]

"Well, not to be narcissistic, but I am rather amazing," he stated, and grinned, throwing her a small wink. He had almost forgotten about the lamentations he had been holding over his own head not ten minutes ago. Company always did clear the mind of outside problems, he supposed, it was the best way to forget things, to be actively involved in conversation. About irrelevant topics.

Surprises aren't the only thing he is full of,[/color] Regganith replied, though a stern look from R'nos told him to knock off the teasing for five minutes at least. Both dragon and Rider turned at the exclamation coming from Shiana, though, and Regganith crooned loudly in pleasure.

"He helped me make it, so he's proud. As am I, I'm glad you like it. Reminds me of sugarized ginger, somewhat. Bit less painful, though." He finished off his cup, and placed it and the waterskin back into the pack strapped about Regganith's torso.

As one of the flitters alighted upon his body, Regganith sneezed loudly, an action that caused his whole frame to shake violently, possibly dislodging the small creature.

Excuse me.

"That's disgusting, cover your nose next time, you oversized kitten."

[Simile]

Shiana smiled, but felt her cheeks warm as she blushed. She had to admit... She found R'nos rather attractive. "I'm afraid that did come across a little narcissistic," she said, grinning at him, obviously just going with the flow of things.

"You should both be proud of it then!" she said, grinning. She had to admit that she hadn't had anything quite that good before. She laughed, thinking about that. "I suppose so."


Shard was quite easily dislodged by the dragon's sneeze, but he spread his wings, catching himself in the air. He looked back at Regganith, chittering for a moment, both in surprise and mild chastisement.

Ebonaeth rumbled in draconic laughter. These two were quite humorous as well as being rather good conversationalists. The definitely worked quite well together.

Shiana grinned. She had to say, she was really having fun spending time with these two.

"Come, come, Shard," Shiana crooned to her black flitter, sending soothing feelings his way.

[Jay Kitten]

(Alas, I do not know the answer to the riddle that you propose.)

R'nos and Regganith were well known for their rather lighthearted approach to life, however it usually did mask up their true feelings in the way one would cover their face at a masquerade ball. They might have a glimpse on the surface if you knew where to look. But R'nos was used to this, used to dealing with his feelings alone, those Turns of thought lost to the inside of his mind. In a way, he was more like a turtle than a Tiger.

"I apologize for my friend here. He doesn't like flitters he doesn't know crawling on him. He can't stand the things on him at all, to be honest, so he fakes being allergic. Aiyr took four Turns to get him to let her sleep on him. They love each other like siblings now though, you know how it goes. That little rat with wings is always off somewhere doing something crazy, however. She might make an appearance tonight if we're lucky."

Just as he said that, a shooting star buzzed over them, drawing his eye. He smirked, then nearly spun around completely when he heard Nai speak. He lit up with another one of his quirky smiles, his braid having rolled about him with the roundabout motion, it now rested over his left shoulder. "Well well, if it isn't Lady Nai." He gave her a respectful bow, flourishing one arm downwards and following it with a bend of his body. He straightened up after a second.

"To what do we owe this pleasure?" He had met Nai before, to be certain. She was quite remarkable, as was her famous White. Quite the duo, if he did say so himself. It seemed like Rainbow Mists bred many a great person.

"We were simply enjoying a cup of klah, Lady Nai," he continued, waving towards his companion and the cup she held still. "As a matter of fac-"

R'nos was cut off when abruptly, the shooting star from before collided with his head. With a loud squawk and a cry of pain from the Tigerrider, a tiny moonlight fire-lizard scurried away from him on the ground, crawling up Regganith's arm and taking shelter behind one of the ridges on his shoulder. R'nos rubbed his ear.

"SHARDS, that hurt, eight Turns of life and she still can't see straight in the dark," he swore, taking a look over to Aiyr, who was cowering behind her bigger brother's body.

I believe she is more afraid of everyone else than she is you, R'nos. The dragon rolled his shoulder to dislodge the Moonlight, who tumbled down his back and off of one of his haunches. She chirped innocently, and fluttered to her Bonded's shoulder, crawling up his braid and onto the top of his head where she could curl up into a small ball of black and shining gold swirls. "Such a beautiful creature, really," he said sarcastically, but pet her neck none the less.

"I digress, however, the lake is lovely, as well as the moons. If you were planning on leaving, I would ask of you only one thing, and that is to stay. I haven't spoken to you in awhile, after all. And we were merely talking." His eyes flashed a shine of emerald in the dark, what Nai might recognize as his mischievous grin being worn now. He was having replays of memories from his Weyrling training. That was such a long time ago...

"Would you like to join us for a cup of klah? It's my own blend," he said, gesturing towards his dragon's harness bag again. "Regganith might be offended if you decline. Speaking of, though, where is that rascal Chronos? I haven't seen him much lately either."

It was good to see old friends, but he felt like he was ignoring his other guest now, so he turned towards her and walked closer. "I hope you don't mind the company, Shiana, but Nai is an old friend. I haven't been very social lately." For a moment his smile faltered, falling back to a flat sort of expression, like his emotions died momentarily as he looked back toward Nai. Another memory was going through his mind this time, and should Nai have met his face right then, she would probably know it to be one from the war. He was sure she had her own nightmares over that subject. He shook the look from his face.

"I remember when I used to swim in this lake as a young one, until I was maybe twenty Turns old. I did go swimming a few months ago though." R'nos rubbed his chin.

[Simile]

((By now, Cuzzin, I'm sure you know that this one does not know comedians...))

Shard sat on Shiana's shoulder, his head pressed against the side of her face and his tail wrapped around her neck. Shiana laughed and smiled. "Well... she sounds like an interesting flitter, to say the least. These two rarely leave my sight. They're afraid I'll get myself into trouble if they aren't around. Shard and Rise have been with me since I was about twelve Turns..." She affectionately scatched the little Black's eyeridges.

Rise sat on Ebonaeth's head of all places, but the black did not seem bothered. She had grown up with Flitts, it seemed only natural to her to be family with these little ones... Besides, she had grown up with flitters and had come to love them.

Shiana blinked in surprise, her eyes following the shooting star that buzzed over them, startled by it's sudden appearance. "That must be her?" she said, but she didn't expect him to answer as Nai spoke first. Shiana blinked in surprise at the ISW Weyrwoman's appearance here. She would not have expected her. She nodded deeply in respect, still smiling, but let the two legends talk. She wouldn't interrupt.


Shiana remained quiet, but she watched the exchange with a pleasant smile on her face. Although outgoing, Shiana would never interrupt someone. Especially-

Shiana blinked in surprise and winced as R'nos was hit in the head by the blur of the shooting star that had just a moment before been flying above them. Shiana felt bad for the little flitter who cowered behind the tiger's wing. "Are you okay?" she said to the TigerRider, though he seemed a tad distracted at the moment.

"I don't mind at all. Old friends need to talk." She nodded in conviction. She watched the change in emotion on his face, feeling her heart twinge in concern, though she did her best to hide the fact that she had noticed it, thinking that he may not appreciate it if she had or if it was mentioned.

Shiana smiled again. "Swimming is fun and the water here at this lake looks quite nice." Shiana used to swim a lot, but not in this lake. She really wasn't sure what to say, though, for the moment, her thoughts wandering.

[Jay Kitten]

(Oh isn't this just smashing fun?)

The rider seemed to be cheering up, his usual glow and splendor coming back to his features for long enough that he was able to mount his dragon again, listening to everything Nai had to say, nodding occasionally.

He decided to comment on her joke. "Well, I'm sure he is all confused, after all, he's the same color of the egg he came out of. Shards and shells, I'd be hot and bothered myself if that were me. Midlife, frontlife, backlife, they'd all be messed up." He scratched his head, and his dragon growled ferociously. It actually sounded quite menacing, and for a moment R'nos thought something - or somebody - was close by. He looked around, and then leaned forward to look over the top of Regganith's head.

"What's up, buddy?" he questioned.

I was simply showing I was just as fierce as ever,[/i] he stated, and the man frowned. "Right. Well I'm sure wetting myself is a suitable thing to make me endure for the sake of your reputation?" R'nos shook his head and wagged a finger.

"Regardless, I'm almost partial to a swim on this nice of a night, however I don't have the proper attire. It would be quite nostalgic, it's been Turns since I used to swim in this lake as a child. Those were simpler times, of that I am certain." He accompanied his words by standing up on his large dragon, walking up to the top of his head, (Regganith kindly raised his neck at this point,) and waving an arm skyward, at the stars. His dragon was tempted to remove him again, but he didn't know why. Maybe he was just tired of getting walked on. Oh well, he was big enough. But he was getting some serious wrestling done later, when they were home. He would have Aiyr pin an arm for him and everything.

Finally R'nos got around to the klah, handing Nai a cup and pouring her some of the spicy, sweet concoction he and the Tiger had brewed. He was certain Nai would love it, as it was quite similar to Halk, though not nearly as potent. He didn't know how his cousin did it. "I'd believe it, if you're talking about K'cin," he mentioned to Nai, in reference of the swimsuit lake-dive. "He looks at anything with hips." With a shrug of his shoulders, he looked back to Shiana.

"If you're contemplating a swim, I highly recommend it. This is my favorite of all of the waterfalls of the Weyr. The water it deposits is cool and refreshing, especially at night. Never too warm, never too cold." Regganith humphed, excitedly, R'nos had him contemplating a swim. If R'nos loved this lake, Regganith loved it four times as much. His eyes immediately began to whirl blue-purple, and he shook himself off (to clear anything else that might be on his hide, like a fallen leaf) before bounding towards the water. If you have ever seen a fully grown Tiger do a cannonball, here is your cue to turn away.

The resulting wave easily reached R'nos, although where they were situated was advantageous; it was only R'nos who was hit by the wall of water. He grumbled furiously, though he did nothing about the act. Who could argue with that much raw power? Regganith knew what he could get away with. Not that Regganith wasn't just a big softy.

R'nos realized he hadn't really acknowledged Shiana over him being okay, but he was sure she could tell by now that he was. He wasn't used to having to explain to people who didn't know him very well. Truth was, Aiyr did that a lot. Inanimate objects feared her, especially those lurking on tables and desks, for they often found themselves on the floor, dislodged and unhappy. He was used to it by now, especially after the black eye he'd gotten after she had found the sugar in his pantry. He remembered a time when she was just a little baby, so peaceful and barely able to fly. She did learn to fly faster than other fire-lizards, but she sure as heck never had much skill at the sport.

"So what's it like having two of the buggers?" he finally did ask, turning to Shiana. "My one gives me great annoyance. Love her to death, too, though. I remember her eating an orange once, when she wasn't half the size of it. The whole thing, man, it was incredible."

Meanwhile, the Tiger lazily backstroked by, flapping his wings to send him in the right direction until he reached one side of the lake. He then slowly gained altitude until he was about twenty hands above the water, before performing a beautiful backflip and diving into the end right in front of the waterfall. The resulting jet stream from the waterfall pushed him further down and allowed him to angle back up with his wings, causing him to shoot out of the lake and over the trees, towards the ocean. He spread his wings out far, propelling himself higher over the sea and into the salting winds.

The ocean is nice tonight, R'nos. I'm glad to see you smiling again. It's nice, don't make me force you to do it more often.[/color]

Yeah, yeah...