Seaside Stroll

[Kaya]

| 78.06.01 | Beach | a sunny afternoon | @Shoki |

"Everyone keeps making a fuss about them, though. Are they really so different from the other colors?" Kh'sol asked Cyan. He had left his shoes up the beach to walk in the surf with toes in the sand. And while he was excited to have her attention, he couldn't focus on it too much. Then he'd be sure to say something dumb.

Instead of only likely... Ornoth intruded.

Oh, ha ha, the droll words stretched out in reply.

One on each shoulder clung the firelizards, whose colors were the topic of discussion. The Purple-Sunset and the Starlight-Sunset, both a stunning combination of sky changing colors. Kh'sol hadn't grown up around dragons and just trying to learn enough to take care of one had taken up most of his lesson time. Details like colors and what they were didn't seem as important as how to oil hide and get them fed. So while the firelizards were certainly colorful, Kh'sol didn't quite grasp just what it was about them that made them different.

[Shoki]

Cyan walked by Kh’sol, letting Dawn and Breaker flit about near the surf. While she knew more about nets and fish, living so close to RMW mean that she did know her dragons. Plus, songs about dragons were always popular.

“Well no one’s seen any quite like them before. I don’t know if I would call them strange, not here, but I know why they would.” Admittedly, both she and Kh’sol rode some of the most common dragons over the whole world, but common was relative. So was strange, she supposed.

“Usually the more complicated colors don’t mix. I’ve seen a Silver have Pink on her, but nothing like your two cute gals.” Cyan didn’t mind ‘odd’ colors, but that probably came from hanging around ‘Wings so much. Of course Lifewings didn’t have turns on turns of tradition to be breaking. They were making their own traditions turn by turn.

[Kaya]

"Huh," Kh'sol grunted. It was still a bit much, but he got the concept at least. "So, least half of them supposed to look like Dawn over there," he gestured at the Sunset flitt. The attention would die down soon enough, he hoped. He didn't like the extra eyes on him. "I'm more concerned with when they'll decide they're big enough to follow like your two, instead of hitching a ride on my arms," Kh'sol reached around to move the tiny Purple-Sunset into his hands. She squawked at him for moving her.

"Hush, it's not that scary," he scolded, but ran a finger along the side of her head to soothe her.

"Hm. Well explain to me this: what're those same folk on to when they're talking about Greens?" he asked, still tending to the little flitt in his cupped hand.

[Shoki]

Cyan gave a single nod, giving a smile when he mentioned what his firelizards might get up to when they started being more independent. Breaker was named after the ocean term, but his name could be taken rather literally. She only found that out after he started to do stuff on his own. But he was better now.

Probably. Ziggy would say he just got better at not being caught.

“Well, um, I guess there were no Greens in that last firelizard hatching. They were some of the most common dragons and there weren’t any. But one hatching shouldn’t be a surprise, we have a lot of other colors that show up a lot. Though there weren’t any at the last dragon hatching either. Hmm. I don’t think there was a green in the hatching before that either.” Cyan thought about it. She didn’t care as much about colors, but she didn’t have a Green Weyrling in her class. When was the last time a Green had hatched?

“I don’t know. I think they just wanted to fuss about a ‘dark’ color having a clutch. Even if it was only flitters.”

[Kaya]

"But that mother firelizard didn't do anything to them," Kh'sol frowned. "Not right to judge based on any actions but your own." People were impossible. Just because some dragon a long time ago happened to do something, now all the ones that looked like him were suspicious.

"Colors is just colors! Doesn't anybody care what's on the inside?" he asked, hands shook open in front of him. Had he not run into this so far because Ornoth was not only normal looking but also big? He was used to lucking into things, not asking too many questions to avoid being naive, but goodness did it hurt to be out of the know so often. Weyrs. Humans. Ug. "It's- It's not like there not being Greens is gunna summon some evil spirits to cause mischief." He pouted. He felt his foot steps in the sand. "Or is that to domain of some other color portent?

[Shoki]

Cyan gave a nod to Kh’sol. She agreed. Didn’t mean she didn’t know the dragon colors, all the things ordinary folk said of them. She let Kh’sol’s passionate words continue, until he finally got to the point of there being no Greens not going to be bad luck. His question though, that gave he a sheepish smile. Well, it was true.

“They say,” Cyan’s words caught the tone of sailors on the shore, gossiping about things ill omened. “that there is a color of dragons that carry curse on their heels. That they and their rider are to end in the most violent fashion. That the dragon themself will go on a rampage following their rider’s death before they are slain.” Her voice flipped from sailor gossip back to casual and airy. “At least that’s what they say about Azures. Haven’t heard it actually happen in our time.” She paused and then said lightly, “But there are Weyrs were I would be a bit odd for having Zigbrieth. Girls impressing mostly impressing Greens and Pinks and the like.” She looked thoughtful. “Just how dragons are different places.”

[Kaya]

"But. But Zigbrieth picked you," Kh'sol protested. Superstitions were supposed to have some utility, keep young ones from wandering in the dark off cliffs, promote traditions that kept the peace. But this? All these rumors and omens and signs based on color, and Riders? Why was Cyan's pair with Zigbrieth even anything to comment about? He was a Blue. Certainly that wasn't anything to notice. But apparently not. If he learned anything here it was to keep his mouth shut in these discussions, save those questions for Cyanee later. If he would even ask then. He had wound up in this place for something new to try and master, but the more he heard about Weyr culture the more he felt like he'd just have to keep lucking his way through. And, and! it wasn't even the same set of weird beliefs in all the Weyrs.

[Shoki]

Of course. Zigbrieth’s voice in Cyan’s mind was perfectly confident. Cyan’s smile flickered into a somber sort, though she didn’t sound more than quiet as she spoke.

“Yes. But it happens, people will look at thing oddly because thing are supposed to go a particular way. Not that we have to deal with it much if you don’t go to other Weyrs.” She looked thoughtful, before Ziggy himself broke in.

It’s like this. People expect dragons to behave a certain way. What if I told you that there was a dragon that didn’t impress anyone at all? Would you think that was odd? Zigbrieth’s mindvoice was way more aggressive than anything Cyan could manage, though he held back somewhat.

[Kaya]

Kh'sol staggered at the Blue's voice. Catching his balance he wobbled back to upright. Should he just reply? Others' dragons didn't really talk to him.

"Uhm...?" Kh'sol filled the quiet air. "I mean, isn't that usually bad because the dragon dies?" Query hesitant, Kh'sol was uncertain of all his meager knowledge of dragons in the face of Zigbrieth's imposing voice.

[Shoki]

No. I mean didn’t die. Just didn’t have a rider. Flew or rose without a human at all. Lived without people at all. Zigbrieth’s voice was perfectly normal to Cyan, at least as far as she went, and didn’t seem to have a problem with her Blue talking. It was sort of different though. He mostly kept his words directed at her or other dragons. The former was by far the safest option to keep people from getting berated.

Well?

[Kaya]

"Well, uh, I don't know, Zig. If it's usually bad 'cause they die, but this 'un didn't die, then I suppose that's fine," Kh'sol replied to the air. The Blue heard him somehow. It felt different than talking with Ornoth. With his Brown he knew if his dragon was listening- well, usually.

Did that really happen, Zigbrieth? Ornoth chimed in to the group.

[Shoki]

Hmph. Cyan sighed. Zigbrieth’s thoughts were quite clear now about Kh’sol which was going be a problem. ‘Course it didn’t help that the Blue was thinking the Brown pair was very usable for things.

“Well that aside, that’s just what people think. I think your firelizards will be great.” She circled back around neatly, continuing along the beach. She left Zigbrieth to follow up with the Brown dragon.

Hmm? Oh not happened. Happens. Spent Turnover at Ice Stone and the dragons were telling their history. They lived generations without people. Some of them continue to. Zigbrieth’s tone suggested he didn’t care about that much, he wasn’t and icy dragon sort and didn’t find use for trying to leverage anyone who wasn’t at his Weyr. Although, it wouldn’t be terrible in case of war issues, though he had been trying to make nice with some of the lifewings for reasons of recovery if required. He preferred to keep things close to home if he needed someone to keep the defense of his rider and him. Good candidates for that being so close notwithstanding.

[Kaya]

Kh'sol wrinkled his mouth, trying to think if he should say something but decided to drop the questioning. Unusual questions from Cyan's Blue, to be sure, but they had just been talking about unusual customs or whatever it was that the Weyrs did. So, fair enough. He was thankful Cyan brought the topic back to his little firelizards.

"Me too!" Kh'sol eagerly agreed. He turned to give Spirit a pet. "Trainable helpers, and I got some experience working with animals, so it'll be great." Something he actually was qualified to do, for once. He looked up as a noisy wave crashed onto the shore far ahead, spitting spray up to the sky. On the whole, a nice day.

Huh, you don't say. Maybe he'd go see that for himself one of these days. He liked his life with Kh'sol, a balance of agreement and conflicts. It would be eerily quiet to have his mind all to itself. Things were good as they were. He didn't want them any different. Except perhaps some ladies in their lives. He checked in with Kh'sol and felt the still bubbling thoughts trying to sort out thoughts he'd never had, thought by people he didn't quite understand. Maybe another time then to bring that particular topic up. Hey you, Brown, a voice butt in. We got some LifeWings that need transport. You don't look too busy. Lunch break over. Come on.

"So what else do you-?" Ornoth cut in to relay the message. "Oh. Work to do. Afternoon break over sooner than I thought," Kh'sol said. "Dinner? Or see ya some other time?" Kh'sol asked, gearing up to leave. Best not to leave demanding dragons waiting.

[Shoki]

Cyan smiled. She hadn’t really been able to train Dawn and Breaker, more like they just mellowed out with age. Probably. Zigbrieth was certainly confident in the fact that Breaker had just gotten quieter in his exploits, but that was his opinion. Still, Kh’sol seemed confident so that was good.

Zigbrieth felt the conversation had halted, so he went back to eavesdropping on Cyan and continuing to plan what he could do to keep him and his rider in good standing. Seemed like Ornoth got suddenly busy as well. Good, since the Blue had expended his sociability on the Brown’s rider.

“Oh, sure, see you at dinner.” Cyan responded automatically. It was in her nature to go with the flow. She gave a little wave as farewell as he got ready to go. “Good luck.”

[Kaya]

"Don't need it!" Kh'sol called back. He hoped he got to sit with her at dinner. But until then, off to work.