Post by Zane on Jul 3, 2012 12:00:50 GMT -8
Name: X'kel. (Xyakel.)
Pronunciation: Zuh-kel. (Xy-a-kel.)
Gender: Male.
Age: 21 Turns.
Turnday: 3073.8.6
Weyr: Ice Stone Weyr.
Rank: Wingleader/Crimsonrider.
Family:
Wingleader X'ran {Father} (38), rider of bronze Mevneth.
Wingrider X'ries {Brother} (18), rider of cloud Tath.
Weyrmate: N/A.
Friends: N/A.
Pets:
Flitts:
Tui (White flitt, female) -- Friendly, hyper, always ravenously hungry, intelligent.
La (Black flitt, male) -- Grumpy, begrudging, aggressive, picky, prefers to be alone.
Appearance: {Play-by: Ian Somerhalder.} X'kel's hair could best be described as a medium brown with lesser red highlights that are more so noticeable outdoors. His eyebrows are a thick, dark brown, standing out against his vibrant blue eyes. The man isn't exactly short, but he by no means towers over others, averaging at 5'10". He's not particularly made of muscle, but he does often brag about his abs. Okay, who is he kidding, he's rather lean and doesn't really give off the impression of physical strength. Not always clean-shaven, X'kel isn't bothered by a bit of fuzz. He's not looking to grow a beard, but he's of the state of mind that a bit of fuzz will at least show he has the potential to! What a stud.
He tans fairly well, usually seen with a bit of color. He tends to wear rather neutral colors. Grays, whites, blacks. Nothing too out there. He's not much of a flashy dresser, though he does have a taste for fashion.
Personality: It’s difficult to depict whether or not X'kel even has an ego. He’s a flirt, to the nth degree, flirting with every girl he finds to be even mildly attractive. He doesn't care about the personality of the women he's pursuing either, rather shallow in that he's only concerned about their looks. If they’re attractive then they’re candidates for his nonstop attention. He doesn’t take hints, and is oblivious to social cues. Some would think that he does it on purpose, pretending to be oblivious so that he doesn’t incur the full wrath of others. He comes across as incredibly vain, ruled by his desires rather than whatever excuse for a brain he has in his head. He tends to embarrass himself at what he considers to be his “prime” moments. For example: Finding something witty to say to a woman, and winding up not making any sense, or accidentally contradicting himself somehow. As much as he likes creating drama and being paid attention to, he doesn’t necessarily mean to create as much trouble as he does. He really needs to learn to control his impulsive behaviors. He isn’t very careful, and therein lies the majority of his problems.
He’s not rude, just brutally honest, never realizing when enough is enough. It often seems like he’s trying to one up someone when really... no, wait, that's exactly what he's trying to do. He is unaffected by virtually everything. Insults don’t faze him, and when people get angry at the young man he pulls a mass guilt-trip. Often this involves pulling out an invented sob story to take the heat away from the situation. When isn't he taking the opportunity to make things all about himself anyhow? He’s never truly disheartened by anything anyone says, not unless someone repeatedly points out that they’re upset with him and said someone so happens to be a person he’s very close to. Otherwise, he’s not at all bothered by people's emotional responses to his behavior. He tries to be positive concerning everything, so optimistic that it could easily become an annoyance. Whereas a normal person would realize that things can go wrong, X'kel never believes that they will. He encourages people with: ”Life is meant to be a mystery. Don’t stress. Everything will work out.” He says that “everything will work out,” far too much, even when a situation seems wholly impossible.
X'kel might not have it in him to bear a realistic view of the world, or it could be that he protects himself with his faux ignorance. He’s a fun guy to just chill with since he’s always got a listening ear, though he’ll state his opinion quite freely. He loves to joke around, and being a pervert is pretty much a given. Not every one tends to be impressed with his performance. No matter, he doesn’t bother to change who he is to suit any one, unless of course his behavior is extremely problematic and he's not being given much of a choice. People learn to live with him and adapt to his unique ways. Surprisingly enough he’s a hard worker, though he loves to shirk his responsibilities as much as the next guy, but he knows that he can’t always do so. X'kel feels awkward around kids, never wanting to be put in charge of them for any given reason. He doesn't take criticism from outsiders very well, whether it be on the way he's handling his wing, or even on the way he handles himself. He does his best, and in his mind, that's that.
He finds a way to laugh at everything, even if it’s just really not that funny… He’s quick to forgive, always letting things slide. He really loves animals, especially dragons. He’s always secretly wanted to be a dragonrider. He’d fight to defend any friend of his, even if the cost was his life. He’s impressively loyal and would never tell an untruth to a friend, though he can be found lying to others to get out of a messy situation (likely caused by him). He loves drinking wine, especially the refined Benden white; having quite a good control of himself even when he’s drunk. He doesn’t do relationships, but he sure doesn't mind a good romp in the furs.
Your typical young man.
History: Having been raised as a weyrbrat in the crèche at High Reaches, X’kel was always instructed to look after his little brother, X’ries. The boy was an uncommon klutz, and an even bigger troublemaker. He played pranks on everyone, and had little to no manners in the presence of those ranking above him. Usually the boy was made to stay at the creche because of this, with his actions being monitored. It was only when X'kel promised to keep an eye on him that he was every excused from his grounding. X'kel wished, time and time again, that the lectures his younger brother incurred would eventually bear some weight with him. (Where as X'ries was reckless and almost always got caught, X'kel was far more careful when choosing to misbehave.) Both boys were told they could stand once they were of age to do so, and both bet that they would impress to bronzes. X’kel never minded all that much, that he had to watch his brother. He cared about him far too much to let anything bad befall him, even if half of the time he was teasing him, or knocking some sense into his head. (It’s what brothers do, after all.) Their father was a well-respected rider, but after a time X’kel no longer felt like he had to live up to his father’s reputation. He realized that he truly could be his own man, based on the principles and standards he chose to live by. X’ries, unsurprisingly, took a different route than his older brother in that he wanted to be just like his father. X’kel never saw it, however, seeing as the boy really didn’t have a responsible bone in his body. X’ries loved to spend time with their father, yes, but the lessons that their father taught his youngest son never seemed to stick.
It wasn’t even that X’kel had much of an eye for women. Well, he could most certainly appreciate them, but… He was a bit of a late bloomer in that his pranks and games, and dreams of dragonriding, were much more important than girls. It wasn’t until right before he was made a candidate that he developed strong feelings for another weyrbrat whom had sometimes joined in on the fun he and his brother created. She was mischievous, and wild, and completely unruly, and he suspected that at the ripe age of fourteen he would’ve done anything for her. She was a Turn older, however, and what was more she was set to stand for the gold egg that the senior queen had recently laid. It wasn't even that the slight age difference bothered X'kel, but the girl, as high on her runner as she was, had an obvious preference for older men. X'kel's father had deemed him still unprepared to stand, and trusting his father’s judgment, he had planned to wait… The hatching rolled around, and he sat in the stands to watch, that day. When the beautiful gold dragonet made its way onto the sands, leaving the remains of its shell behind, it chose his special girl. His Rayya.
He vowed that he would impress a bronze because he had to, and the rest of the boys and young bronzerider’s, made fun of his conviction. They all had their eye on the new junior weyrwoman, and he knew that even if he did impress a bronze, it wasn’t likely that his dragon would be mature enough to chase come Feroth’s maiden flight. Even so, he convinced himself that there was a chance, though slim it was…
Hatching day rolled around for the eldest son but a mere six months later, and it was no surprise that his brother was jealous. The age difference between the two siblings was a solid three Turns. At fourteen Turns, X’kel stood, and that very day he impressed to crimson Varketh. He could not recall a time when he’d been more nervous. X’kelMine, I will never look to another, and neither shall you. We are one, and shall remain that way forevermore. Do not turn me away and I shall not disappoint you. Listen to me, as I will listen to you, and never shall either of us be in want of anything. He hadn’t at all expected the violent dragonet to choose him, in all reality he wasn’t sure that he’d wanted the crimson to choose him either. It seemed as if the boys whom were impressing bronzes had it so much easier, because their dragons were more in-control, and more level-headed. It was a special day for X’kel, nevertheless. He hoped that Varketh would give him an advantage, and if he willed it, his dragon would mature faster than the rest. Not only mature, but be stronger, and better, than all the rest. Varketh was confused by his rider’s strong-willed nature, mostly because it was due to another human. The words that Varketh spoke once the impression was made stuck with X’kel, and he did his best to remain true to his dragon despite his feelings for his goldrider girl.
Weyrling training wasn’t as easy as he’d anticipated, not that he was sure of what he’d anticipated, even. Either way, it was a trying time for both him and the stubborn crimson. Varketh was the type of dragon that figured he could do no wrong, and that everyone else ought to follow his lead. Well X’kel never minded being in a leadership position, he knew that he nor Varketh had yet earned it among their peers. The young crimson, however, figured that he was owed such an honour. Only X’kel’s reasoning could bring the crimson’s way of thinking around, and for that X’kel was grateful. There was never a moment when he felt that Varketh was causing him any trouble; he knew that the dragon only had his best interests at heart. From hatching day onward he had never felt closer to human nor beast, and the close bond he’d formed with his brother had never been the same since Varketh’s stepping into the world. Feroth’s maiden flight came about, and seeing as Varketh was a good six months younger than the queen, he was not at all ready. X’kel watched from the ledge of their newly assigned weyr as the dragons pursued the gold overhead. All he could do was imagine what it’d be like to have Rayya for his own. And all of a sudden, when Varketh’s mindspeech broke into his thoughts, he wondered why he’d been pursuing the goldrider at all. Clearly, it wasn’t his destiny. Disappointment coloured the weyrling for days on end, but just as his dragon had said, the time came when he got over it.
A Turn after the pair graduated, it was X’ries’ turn to stand. The boy was one of the first to impress. Cloud Tath. X’kel had never been prouder of his younger brother, though he could easily feel the disappointment that his brother had over his dreams of becoming a Wingleader, or Weyrleader even, vanishing. X’kel could tell, however, that the bond between Tath and X’ries would be enough for his younger sibling.
Time passed, as did flights, and both Varketh and X’kel weren’t happy. They'd been one of the most successful pairs in their weyrling class, and it was only a Turn later that they'd received Wingleader status. The opportunity to lead a wing of their own was invigorating! They wanted to go somewhere new, regardless, to experience new things, and meet new people. When they were informed of an open flight at the newly-formed Ice Stone Weyr, the pair jumped at the opportunity to be transferred for such an event. Full well planning to stay at the Weyr permanently, Varketh and X’kel excitedly entered Ice Temperanth’s flight.
Adoption?: No.
Dragon's Name: Varketh.
Dragon’s Gender: Male.
Dragon's Age: 6 Turns.
Dragon's Color: Crimson. [CD0000]
Dragon's Appearance: Varketh is a pure crimson shade, no other color marring his hide. He’s a dragon built on strength as opposed to speed. He has a mass of muscle that’s been well-developed with vigorous activity. The majority of the muscle can be seen in his chest, which is fairly broad. His claws are a jet black, contrasting nicely with the rest of his hide color. His movements are usually leisurely, though his body language details his aggressive nature. His emotions are difficult to depict since he gives nothing away. He is on the larger scale as far as crimson’s go, having reached 40 ft. at maturity.
Dragon's Personality: With an unparalleled pride, and an extreme lack of compassion, Varketh isn’t exactly the king that one’s would want to be in charge. His quick temper has caused many an argument, though thankfully arguments are all they’ve tended to be. The crimson isn’t foolish enough to start any real fights, and besides, his word is often final when it pertains to his wing. Seldom following orders, well readily demanding others obey him, Varketh is intent on only ever being a leader. He challenges those in power with a deep desire to overthrow them, never satisfied with leading the few. Thankfully the crimson is not impulsive, nor is he the type to be successfully baited. For the most part, he puts a lot of thought into his actions, and strives to make the best decisions for everyone as a whole. It’s not to say that the crimson doesn’t have his moments of selfishness.
He likes to think he’s honorable, and favors no one. In truth, he isn’t keen on making friends, or developing relationships. His rider is more than enough for him, and even their quarrellings have the crimson sometimes feeling alone. As peculiar as it is Varketh tends to embrace his feelings of loneliness, telling himself that he has a perspective many are unable to achieve. He prefers to have no bias amongst his kin, nor be prone to judgmental behaviors that could develop on account of his feelings regarding those around him. No, Varketh is very much like a stone wall. Serious, uncompromising, and relatively not talkative. The crimson really doesn’t fall under the realms of pleasurable company.
As was stated, Varketh’s relationship with his rider is more than enough for him. He tries his best to ignore his rider’s social endeavors, seeing as X’kel tends to assume he can charm just about anyone. Varketh would prefer that X’kel pay more attention to the tasks at hand rather than his bodily desires. Practically obsessed with the chase, however, the crimson doesn’t see his rider giving up on going after women anytime soon... The crimson doesn’t have much to say by way of his rider’s relationships with others, leaving X’kel to be alone in his social ventures. The dragon has no interest, unless the young man’s talk is pertaining to something of dire importance, like Thread, or wing duties. The pair does have one vital thing in common: Their hatred for the known threat of Thread. X’kel remembers when he was a mere child the threat that fell from the sky. He only has a single memory of it, but even so, the terror of it is permanently instilled in his mind. He believes that keeping the generations to come well-practiced is the most important job that he could ever hope to have. In that Varketh believes no different, even with Thread being unlikely to fall in their lifetime.
Dragon's History: In the 3 Turns that Varketh has been able to be active in flights; it’s become clear that the crimson only chases ranking females. He’s never bothered with the lower-ranking dragons, seeing no purpose in chasing them. Varketh’s purpose has always been to gain power, so therefore the queens have been the only dragons to receive his attention. In their time at High Reaches there have only ever been a couple of gold flights, and unfortunately it was the senior gold both times. The gold already had a preference for the one bronze, so Varketh stood no chance of winning her affections.
The bond between dragon and rider drove Varketh to be sensible during his days as a weyrling. He knew better than to go against X'kel, and at the same time knew that his rider could appreciate his efforts. In that, he felt that nothing he did, whether it was considered wrong or not, was in vain. The crimson dragon grew quickly, as did his rider, and their bond only continued to strengthen over time.
When the opportunity to transfer Weyr's came about, Varketh was eager to do so. There were too many memories, both bad and good, at High Reaches. Unable to, nor wanting to, stay any longer, both Varketh and X'kel came to the decision to leave. The crimson could not deny his amusement at entering the Ice queen's flight!
