...I hope you like cats (tag Rilora)

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

3073.12.17|Early morning

T'kar strode down the hall towards the Weyrwoman's quarters, trailed by his three flitts. The hallway was deserted, but the hour was still early. He hoped it wouldn't be too early.

A soft mewing broke the silence, and T'kar glanced down at the small bundle of silver-grey fur in his arms. The kitten met his gaze for a second, its green eyes staring at his amber ones, then it yawned and looked around the hallway in interest.

"Yes, with any luck you're going to live here soon," T'kar whispered to it, smiling. He liked felines, they reminded him a lot of firelizards. He'd gotten Weyrwoman Rilora's sister, Lithena of Black-Green Hrith, to tell him when Rilora's Turnday was. Later that same night the subject of pets had come up, and he'd discovered that Rilora liked felines. Hence, the kitten.

Smoothing his hair back, T'kar stopped in front of the Weyrwoman's door. He knocked, then stepped back slightly, so that he wasn't crowding the entrance, and shifted the kitten around so that it was hidden from view.

[Kaya]

It was indeed early. And for some reason Lithena had thought it was a good idea to have an all day Turnday celebration for her. And that included getting up early, for early breakfast. It was supposed to give the sisters a moment together, Lithena had said, since others would want to see Rilora for her celebrations too. Rilora thus had gotten up and was prepared for the day and was finishing with her hair. She had picked out a light blouse for the appropriately warm day of the current season. It was a pale green color and she had a white, long skirt to go with it. Fairly comfortable, as far as nice looking clothes for being presentable went.

When a knock came at the door Rilora ran the brush a few more times through her free, wavy hair and called "Coming!" Lithena was an impatient one and wouldn't stay content at the door for very long. She picked up one last touch, a hair trinket of a white flower, and set it in its place before heading for the door. Well, she did get to see her sister on her Turnday. The family visit would have to come later in the sevenday when she could find someone free the entire day to cover for her if things came up, which they always did.

Fully expecting to see her eager, blond haired and smiling sister Rilora was momentarily taken aback when she found someone else at her door. The dark haired man was quite a different person than her sister. "Ah,..." It was so early. Lithena had said no one would bother them. But how could she assure that? It was too early for complicated thinking. "Good morning, T'kar. ..." What to say? She didn't want to offer her time. She was supposed to be meeting Lithena. A small frown fought its way onto her face. "To what do I owe a visit?" Was that even the right way to say that sentence? Too early for formalities. This was supposed to be her morning (unofficially and quietly) off with Lithena. And now what?

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

No sooner had T’kar stepped back from the door and hidden the kitten, then he heard Rilora call out that she was coming. It seemed slightly odd, her tone of voice and word choice would normally be an indication that she was expecting someone. T’kar swallowed against an irrational burst of nervousness. He might not be a total expert on the female half of the species, but in his not-so-limited experience gifts were generally accepted, thus there was nothing to be nervous about.

The door opened to reveal Rilora, looking truly magnificent in every way. The blouse was a good color for her, pale green that was complemented nicely by the white skirt and the red-blonde of her hair. She was frowning slightly, and seemed impatient about something. If T’kar was at all perturbed by Rilora’s frown, he didn’t show it. Indeed, he only managed to hold a straight face with great difficulty.

“Well, I was going to bring you flowers,” he hesitated, trying to control his face to neutrality. It was an effort doomed to failure, and his grin spread across his face as he continued “but all of them had been picked. Do you like felines?” As he finished, he brought his arms around from behind his back, presenting the silver-grey kitten with a flourish.

[Kaya]

It was about all Rilora could do not to squeal at the sight of the little kit. It was silvery grey and so lovely and soft looking and maybe a little put off at being presented instead of cuddled. Archith! It's a kitten! she let her excitement out through her mind, though she knew some of it (okay, a lot of it) showed on her face.

A what? Archith asked immediately. It was still "too early" in her opinion and she refused to properly wake up before then.

Rilora promptly showed her what she was seeing. Archith huffed and went back to sleep. Rilora's excitement was dimmed slightly by her dragon's reaction, but she figured it a manner of timing rather than anything else.

She was still staring at the feline when she finally realized she'd been keeping all of her reactions internal. Ooops.

"It's adorable," she stated, reaching to touch it. It was being offered to her, so she hoped that would be okay. "...but why?"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar gave up hiding his smile at the excited look on Rilora’s face. He handed her the kitten with a slight bow, glad, and maybe a touch relieved, that Lithena’s information on her sister had been accurate.

“It’s for your Turnday, of course,” T’kar replied, still smiling.

T’kar, you are irrationally pleased about something, Ancalanath observed. He had woken up to find both his rider and all three of the little cousins gone. That was a fairly unusual occurrence, since T’kar usually ate in his room with the firelizards. It didn’t overly perturb the RR Flame however, since he’d been privy to T’kar’s plan for the fuzzball.

She appears to like it, T’kar replied, answering as to both why he was pleased and the unspoken question of what he was doing.

“And maybe this kitten will be able to make up for you not being able to see your family today.” He added the words based on a hunch, but he’d heard nothing about the Weyrwoman leaving, which likely meant that Rilora would indeed be spending her entire Turnday at the Weyr. Good for the Weyr and all, but probably a little depressing for the Weyrwoman.

[Kaya]

"T'kar..." she looked up from the kitten, trying to piece together something coherent to say. She felt Turns younger rather than one older with the little kitten in her hands. She was the most adorable, perfect little comforter. She hadn't come up with what to say yet and had her eyes back on the kitten. "Aa, the little precious one," she mumbled to it, watching the curious kit look around with wide eyes. She was taking this transition and abundance of strangeness rather well. She was a true inspiration. "Yes, my Bel."

Bel?

Bel Lin,

...they don't name themselves, do they?

No. But she is clearly my Bel. We had a feline at home. I've always wanted another, and when I came here, one of my own. I've had this talk with Lithena before.

She wanted to thank T'kar but she dared not let the kitten decide it wanted to wiggle free and escape. It was a hard task. She didn't have a lot of secure places in her weyr. "One moment," Rilora mumbled quickly and darted back into her room, leaving the door ajar. She pulled one of the drawers from her dresser out and moved the other items. She lined the box with a bed linen and placed the kit in it. "Do you like it, Bel Lin? ...good. Ok. Please stay."

Archith, make sure she doesn't dart out the side you're on, ok?

The Queen was a bit perturbed at having her rest further interrupted, but she could tell her Rider was taken with the little grey thing. Fine.

I'll be back in a minute to watch her myself. And she's silver, not grey.

Rilora made it back to the door. "She's perfect." A big smile had taken up residence on her face. She moved quickly to give T'kar a friendly hug. "Did Lithena invite you to breakfast too...?" she asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes and lowering her brows.

Wouldn't put it past her.

I thought you were asleep?

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar knew better than to waste an opportunity for hug-exchanges, so when Rilora gave him a friendly, hug, he promptly returned the favor. “I’m glad you like her,” he said, his smile answering Rilora’s. Immediately thereafter though, he was faced with a rather difficult decision: should he reveal Lithena’s role in this, or not? No, definitely not, that would spoil all the fun.

“No, she didn’t,” T’kar replied, forcing his face to remain straight. He didn’t think he was doing a very good job though. “Could I perhaps persuade you to do so?” he wheedled, giving Rilora the most winning smile he knew.

You’re pathetic, T’karMine.

Not as much as you Mr. Kingly King of Kingishness.

I, at least, only Chase during Flights

Maybe I just want to hang out.

Ancalanath’s reply was a feeling of faked disbelief. He and His engaged in this often, when they weren’t on duty, and the entire conversation was practically scripted.

T’kar gave no sign of the inner dialogue, besides a slight twitching of his mouth with suppressed mirth. He let his eyes get all hopeful looking, trying to convince Rilora to invite him officially. A part of him insisted that he was being needlessly silly, but he ignored it. Instead, his gaze rested on Rilora's face. Faranth, even when she was suspicious… and for another smile like that last one, he’d have given the world.

[Kaya]

"Ah," Rilora caught the look on his face and made one of her own to match it. "Could I be persuaded? And Lithena didn't invite you," she frowned for a moment before the smile broke back through. "Well,...I suppose you can come," she gave in, and then caught the end of her sentence with, "On one condition," her index finger raised in the air. "You owe me a favor," she added with a bit of slyness that surprised even her. Still, it was amusing. "And then I suppose you can come to breakfast with Lithena and I." she finished.

Sometimes...I can't believe you, Archith snipped.

Rilora brushed off her mocking with a loud, Ha!

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

There was that smile again. Faranth, he thought she probably owned his soul already, certainly his heart was hers; at least, that part of it that was willing to get attached was hers.

You’re ridiculous.

No more so than you.

T’kar started forwards, grinning broadly, when Rilora gave in, only to be brought up short by that upraised finger. “Your wish shall be my command,” T’kar replied, sweeping a bow over his extended right leg. He straightened with a grin, had he scripted this scene, he felt it couldn’t have turned out any better. He was going to get to hang out with Rilora all morning, having to share her only with her sister. He’d delivered the kitten, and Rilora appeared to adore the furry thing… Yes, everything was amazing.

[Kaya]

"Pity I only get one," she commended, amused by his bow. "And I shall have to endure your presence all through breakfast," she continued, with mock distress, "If we ever get something to eat, that is. Bel is with Archith, let's go," she grinned and grabbed at his forearm to give it a good tug. She let go and kept walking down the hallway towards the kitchens. She was hungry. At least Lithena probably wouldn't be. She wasn't one for inconveniencing herself. If she was hungry, she'd have already eaten something, though perhaps not her entire breakfast.

The walk wasn't too long and they made it to the kitchens in short order. Lithena popped up from her chair (breakfast half eaten) and gave her sister a big hug. "Happy Turnday, sis," she smiled, "Brought a man to breakfast did we? And where might you have found him? Not in your r-"

A shove and a glare, with a smile, from Rilora cut Lithena off. The Black-Green Rider just shrugged it off with a grin and bounced off to go get some food for the aforementioned man. Rilora turned to look at him and shrugged. Sisters.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar managed to avoid laughing aloud, but laughter was written plain in his eyes as Rilora tugged his forearm. “One wish for one breakfast invitation sounds like a fair deal to me,” he commented, following her down the hall. It wasn’t a long walk, which was a real shame, because before he could say anything more they had reached the kitchens and were entering them.

The first thing T’kar noticed when they reached the kitchens was his co-conspirator, already coming out of her chair to greet her sister. It was with no small amount of relief that he noticed that she didn’t reveal her own role either, he wasn’t sure if Rilora would be happy with having been maneuvered into having a breakfast guest.

T’kar answered Rilora’s shrug with a grin, and slid into one of the unoccupied chairs. Rather, he flopped into the chair, and had to resist the sudden urge to place his feet on the table; relaxation was all well and good, but it didn’t always reflect well.

“So, how’s life been lately?” T’kar asked, leaning back slightly into the chair. “Other than the typical crises, of course.” He was grinning once more as he finished speaking, obviously enjoying himself quite immensely.