Glimmer in the Dark [Egg Touching]

[lucidmaus]

Savitr considered the offered memory for a long, thoughtful moment. In the end, the gambler nodded, a small smile gracing his lips. "I reckon I understand. No need to fret, young one. I am certain you will find yours in this fine and motley lot," he drawled. He rubbed the shell gently, then pulled away to move on - as needs must be done, of course. Such was the nature of touchings, after all!

He stepped over to the next egg in his personal queue - to egg 10, yet another marvel that earned the by-now familiar murmured phrase. One hand was laid on the egg, fingers fully spread, while the Candidate's mind was laid open in a way that was getting easier and easier as he made these small contacts. A peculiar thing, truly, for a man who was otherwise so willing to hide, bluff, and obfuscate when it came to his fellow humans.

~~~

Shakti pushed her worry for egg 3 out of her mind for now. Egg 2's enthusiasm was infectious and she laughed softly. "Anything at all? Oh, jays. That's a big question, you know?" She tipped her head back in thought, lips pursed and brows furrowed for a few long seconds. "I guess- I mean, if you mean anything, I'd fly. Then I'd be able to go anywhere and meet anyone and do what I do best, yeah-yeah? I'd be able to make everyone pretty - or, at least, help them feel pretty, you know?" She was silent for a beat, then asked, "How about you? What would you do if you could do anything at all?"

~~~

Ulyana nodded once, a shallow and stiff sort of gesture. Up, down, center. "Understood," she intoned and kept her hand on the shell for some time longer. "There must be a lot of information to analyze," she observed. "Have you come to any conclusions so far?" Questions thusly posed, she waited for a response - though she neither expected nor anticipated anything. There was comfort to be found in shared silence, though she made no effort to pry into the egg's mood directly. She observed from afar, an alien onlooker.

[shapeshifter]

Taissa placed her hands on egg sixteen, closing her eyes and voiding her mind of any opinions or thoughts. She breathed in deeply and opened them to stare down at the egg as her fingertips caressed the top of the shell.

Lena bubbled over the first egg "Oh! I am Lena, I used to care for my siblings but now I hope to care for one of yours. Who are you? Are you ready to be free of your shell?" she asked, running her hands along it shell, almost having the odd urge to hug the egg.

[Shoki]

Savitr

Egg 11
There was a moment when a sense of contentment took over the egg, when the candidate spoke. It concentrated again and pulled one of his memories out again, the time a quick flash of Eloak giving him a clap on his shoulder. And that was all.

Egg 10
Once it was touched the main feeling weaving through this mind was worry. Once it noticed the candidate touching it, its attention shifted and it appeared hesitant before pushing forward its thoughts. What do you love? It waited, but was a bit anxious as it did so.

Shakti

Egg 2
There was a sense the egg was pleased as it listened and then said cheerfully. You’ll do it! I’m sure you can impress and then you can fly anywhere! Well, after we grow up. The egg seemed amused at the return question. I’d hatch right now if I could. I think I would also like to be human for a bit. It seems like it would be very interesting. Plus… It trailed off with amusement, but sunk into thought. Well, I’m sure I could answer better if I was…settled? Is that the right word? Could do things. That’s it!

Uylana

Egg 22
That my wish is at once the most common and most rare quality to find. The egg’s response didn’t carry any extra weight to it, though it was the sort of words that should have. Instead, it remained content in its silence. Have you found anything of interest among my siblings?

Taissa

Egg 16
The egg seemed puzzled. It had taken it a while to respond. When it did respond, it did so in full confidence. Hey, are you okay? You didn’t seem so good there. Feeling a bit better now? There was a brightness to the words, something hard to define emotionally speaking. It waited though.

Lena

Egg 1
The egg listened but at her second question had the most intensity ever put into a single word. YES! It seemed somewhat aware that was a bit intense so it continued, excitedly but not so pointed. I want to explore! I want to meet people! I want to find my path. It had a soup of longing and excitement mixed together that Lena could feel getting all mixed up.

[shirokage]

Seeing as the egg didn't respond to him in any intense way he assumed that the egg wasn't concerned with him, he gently caresses the egg and walked away moving onto others.

He went to visit egg 15 and placed his hand on the side of its shell gently, wondering what surprises awaited him from the mind inside.

Mestarian also visited the egg 16 next to him, he placed just the tips of his fingers on the egg shell.

[lucidmaus]

Savitr chuckled at that final memory from egg 11 and shook his head a bit. It as a pleasant thing, all around. But then he was at egg 10 and there was that strange sense of worry. The gambler offered up what reassurance he could, if in a wordless way. The anxiety, the hesitance- "Ah, now. Don't you worry. I would not dare to cause you harm," he explained. But there was the question and he laughed softly. "But there you are, asking a hard question. It is a fair question, though. There are all sorts of things a person can love. Food or gambling or spending- ah, quality time with lovely people. Freedom. Travel." He sucked his teeth in thought. "What do you love?"

~~~

Shakti smiled a tip-tilted sort of smile and gave egg 2 a warm caress. "So optimistic! I could practically fly with your thoughts alone, you know? I'm glad you're so enthusiastic." She fell silent while she listened, lips pursed all over again while the egg explained. "Oh, it is interesting being a human, I suppose. Though we can't fly or eat as much - but we can wear nice clothes and dance and make beautiful things." Her brow knitted a bit. "Though I don't see why a dragon couldn't do those things, honestly." It was a thought rife with potential for derailment and she quickly caught the thread of conversation again. "That seems right! Yes, I'm sure you'll do all sorts of amazing things once you've hatched and gotten settled. Take care, yeah-yeah?"

More eggs awaited!

Though Shakti took a bit of a break, fingers flexing just a touch. When she moved, it was to greet an egg further down the line - egg 17. Chosen on a whim, it would seem, but still approached with confidence.

~~~

Ulyana considered the egg's response. "This is not unusual. Many people wish for happiness, but it is a rare thing to find." The idea was offered as an example, of course; there was no sense of presumption in her words. The question is weighed and measured, but her reply was slow in coming. "I have found you. But, I have not acquainted myself with the others. I should do that." Matter-of-fact, but with a twinge of something else that was swiftly ground away under the wheels of her thought. "I will hope that your wish is granted." It was all the farewell that was offered.

She moved along, passing most of the eggs to come to the curious trio that Temperanth had pulled aside. Ulyana nodded a stiff sort of nod to the Ice Queen, then reached out to press her fingers to egg 12. Open, receptive, and present - but distant, as ever.

[Shoki]

Mestarian

Egg 15
The egg started when it was touched, a bright flare of surprise blooming in its mind. It seemed to regain its center, before reaching out tentatively. Hello! It waited with fear and hope mixed for something from the candidate.

Egg 16
Hey there. The egg examined Mestarian with interest and seemed smugly satisfied. Interesting. How far will you go? It was hard to tell if the question was posed to the candidate directly, or merely was meant for the egg’s own benefit.

Savitr

Egg 10
There was an intense examination of the candidate’s answer and the egg appeared to think deeply. When posed the question it got more worried before answering. That is just it, I do not know. So many minds with loves and desires and dreams and I feel…without. It languished in uncertainty for a moment before saying earnestly, Thank you for sharing with me. I appreciate it. You have some lovely loves.

Shakti

Egg 2
The egg seemed delighted at the conversation, though there was something else it appeared to be thinking of. A quick pang of regret fell when it was told farewell, but it pushed forward bright thoughts a moment later. I will! Thank you. It remained bright until the candidate removed her hand.

Egg 17
Shakti was mentally descended on, wrapped in a bright bit of curiosity and enthusiasm. Oh! The egg beamed bright joy. I like you too! How are all of you humans so fun? The egg didn’t seem any less then delighted for the candidate’s visit.

Ulyana

Egg 22
Thank you. May you fare well. The egg waited in its quiet for the candidate to go, watching all the while. A thread of gratitude wrapped around it, like a scarf, slightly warming the egg’s mood.

Egg 12
The ever-present haze of the mind inside hit Ulyana. The egg appeared to take notice of the candidate and a wave of amusement flooded the haze. Hello! Aren’t you an interesting one? Bright sparks of certainty flashed and the egg seemed like it would laugh in delight if it could. You have drawn the twin eyes, but is it your path to walk with either? Perhaps twin is the wrong word, but it does seem to fit us. It floated comfortably in the confusion of language, before pressing forward regardless. Take care, you are of interest to the one of us balanced. They will not accept stepping out of line, but I think you will be okay. Just take care on song day.

[shirokage]

He smiled and gently caresses egg 15, hello to you little one. "I do hope you enjoy my touch" He said to the egg.

After finishing with egg 15 and moving to 16 hearing its question he was unsure how to answer, slightly questioning where and how far he would go with his ability.

He walked away from the egg with lingering thoughts, his head filled with all of the questions and reactions from the eggs he found himself in front of another egg 5 he keeled down and slightly and hesitantly placed his hand on the egg.

[Cait]

This whole touching this was perplexing. She'd never thought eggs could be so diverse though she supposed it was the dragons within. Why shouldn't they be just as diverse as the people they would end up choosing? Giving egg 8 a soft pat, not really sure what to think about being "too good" for a dragon, Elle turned to look at the rest of the eggs, her eyes straying back to the smallest egg before looking for an unattended egg.

Eyeing the fourth egg warily, Briselle moved to EGG 5, making sure to stand as far from the golden egg as possible as she reached out to touch the larger egg. Compared to the first egg she'd touched, the size was a bit intimidating. "Hello." She greeted as her palm pressed flat against the warm surface.

[lucidmaus]

Savitr shook his head gently at egg 10's response. "Not to fret, young one! You will find what makes your hearts beat faster, I am absolutely certain of it. It might take time - but you are not even out of your shell." He tried his best to exude even more reassurance, all the way through the gentle stroking of the egg's shell. "You will have some lovelier loves over time, I do believe. You take care of yourself, you hear?" Farewell was not articulated precisely, but expressed all the same; there was a further press of his palm to the shell and then he pulled away.

Egg 9 was next on the gambler's mental list - though things did end up a touch jumbled, what with the eggs Temperanth pulled away. But he seemed to recall the order well enough, so it didn't matter terribly. "You are a marvel," and so what if they all were? The fact that they existed at all was something rare and special!

~~~

Shakti glanced back at egg 2 with just a fleeting moment of regret - was she stepping away too soon? She couldn't be sure. They were supposed to touch all of them, weren't they? And Faranth only knew how long the Candidates would be allowed to continue milling about, touching eggs. She had certainly heard stories of Queens that were temperamental about it, though Temperanth did not appear to be that kind of Queen.

All the same, she laid hands on egg 17 and burst into soft laughter at the sheer effervescence of it. "Oh! Jays. I don't know! Are we all fun? I don't think everyone is fun - but maybe we," her thoughts bound up the concepts of us, Candidates, this small grouping into that word, "are? I'm sure it must be hard for you," all the eggs, narrowing to just this one; a broad concept that she had trouble articulating, "to figure out which one you like best, yeah-yeah?"

~~~

Ulyana's neutral visage shifted slightly, a barely there crease forming between her brows. The line of her mouth flattened just a little. She listened to egg 12 and, to the egg, it would seem that her mental gears ratcheted down, working slowly - but smoothly - through the thoughts as they were relayed. "I do not feel that I am any more interesting than any of the others," she ultimately reasoned, some seconds after the egg had finished. It was a lengthy pause between parsing the egg's communication and expressing her own; but the pause was a purposeful one. Still. There was some strange disconnect between the egg's ambiguous phrasing and her own, more analytical processes.

Her head tilted to one side, a gesture that was strange and quick and oddly avian.

"I started on this path, but there are only two possible destinations. I made a choice. The next choice is not mine to make. If this other has taken an interest in me, then it has been decided and all I can do is wait until the situation is resolved." Unlike some of the other candidates, she did not seem especially concerned with it. She did not believe in fate or fortune; merely in objective truths. Her course was set, regardless - either the dragons would decide, or she would.

"I will take care," she concluded. "I wish you well. I appreciate your time."

Her fingers lingered for but a moment more before she moved on again. The line was surveyed, the eggs calculated, and she moved straight on to egg 2.

[Shoki]

Mestarian

Egg 15
Oh, yes. I do! Thank you for, um, coming over. The egg remained anxious, but it was happy even so.

Egg 5
Once Mestarian touched the egg, the mind inside immediately examined him. It was a close scrutiny and it seemed very critical. It pulled back before touching his mind again. Thank you, but no. It pulled away from him, attention now elsewhere.

Briselle

Egg 5
Huh. There was a confusion for the egg, once Briselle touched it. It examined the candidate as if it were something very strange indeed. Like the candidate was a new creature it had never encountered before. It drew closer and closer, examining the mind before it until it stopped, sinking into thought. Curious. Thank you for coming to greet me. There was a lingering curiousity, as it it hadn’t quite figured something out yet.

Savitr

Egg 10
There was a sense that the egg took the encouragement to heart, and a warmth radiated from it. Thank you. I will. It might not be completely free of its anxiousness, but it certainly seemed to feel better.

Egg 9
The mind inside slowly shifted toward the candidate and a touch of amusement filled it. Thanks. It seemed to look at him for a moment, and a sort of amiable calm filled it. You are not so bad yourself.

Shakti

Egg 17
It is! It is…like every one is a good choice, so how do you choose? The egg was pleasantly perplexed, but didn’t shy away from the confusion. It is awful exciting though! Such joy from the egg was hard to not be infected.

Ulyana

Egg 12
A wave of amusement rushed through the egg again, as it listened. I wonder. The egg’s thoughts were very enigmatic, like it was deliberately holding back something. To you good fortune as well, goodbye! The egg with the hazy mind continued to pay attention until the last moment her fingers departed from its shell. It had no human face, but if it had, it would have been smiling.

Egg 2
Oh? The egg seemed curious and in a rush of enthusiasm pushed forwards its thoughts. Hello! Can you grant my wish? Or would you even want to? Maybe not. It’s feelings did not wilt under the only so slight disappointment it appeared to have at something. Never mind, what will you do?


Hedara had been watching the candidates off to the side for some time. Everything seemed to have calmed down, but she didn’t relax. She glanced at the entrance to the sands, and a guard came int slightly, nodding to her after scanning for the Weyrwoman. Temperanth.

The Ice shifted slightly, sitting up very straight and flaring her wings a little as she prepared her announcement. [smear:33ccff]Thank you for coming, each of you. I must ask you to bid my children farewell for now.[/smear:3366ff] There was a touch of regret for the Queen. She did desire for everyone to have their fun. However, they were not out of the woods yet. Their safety was still the greatest thing to consider.

[lucidmaus]

Savitr smiled as egg 8 seemed to be in a better state than before. It was enough, for now. Egg 9's response was met with another smile, as the gambler considered the inhabitant's words. "Ah, now. You flatter me, my kind and ovoid friend. I do hope you have been enjoying the, ah, rather assorted company today."

There might have been more, of course, but Temperanth's announcement was just a bit jarring. It prickled the skin and made the small hairs at the back of his neck stand up. "Ah, of course. Thank you for permitting us the time to greet them, my Queen."

To egg 9: "I am ever so sorry to cut this conversation short, but perhaps we might have time again to converse." He stepped away and moved to leave, but after sketching out a quick bow to Temperanth and her rider, as well as any others of rank and note on the sands.

~~~

Shakti cursed herself for her thoughts. Of course, just as soon as she thought- ah! She kept that thought from the egg she was touching, focused instead on spending those last few moments centered on egg 17. "I'm sure you'll figure it out, you know? That's what you dragons are best at. Even if you don't think you can - I know you will. And it is! It's the most exciting thing! But-" Temperanth's words prompted a wrinkling of the cosmetologist-turned-Candidate's nose. "I guess we can talk about that another time, yeah-yeah? I'm sorry! Be good and be safe."

She reluctantly stepped away and bowed quickly to Temperanth, a fleeting look given to the vexatious egg from before.

~~~

Ulyana might well have perceived egg 12's restraint for what it was, despite its enigmatic cloak. There was no smile offered in return, merely the departure of one whose thoughts continued along logical processes.

Egg 2 was met with the same. The egg's disappointment elicited only: "I cannot grant a wish if I do not know what it is." A beat. Two. Then: "Not all wishes can be granted." The question of what she will do, however, is met with silence for a long time, long enough for Temperanth's announcement to fill the void.

To the egg: "I need more context to answer that." No apology offered; merely an observation. "I wish you well."

She moved away with a curt nod to the Ice. "Thank you, Queen Temperanth."

[Kaya]

Gil had spoken with a fair few eggs. He decided that the entire experience was one for a good long letter home. Still not entirely sure which eggs that second one had been referring to, he had spent his time much the same, wandering slowly amongst whatever egg drew his attention and letting the conversations unfold. When the Ice Queen alerted them that their time was drawing to a close, Gil looked down at his fingertips and marveled. His usual sense of self seemed subdued in the overwhelming presence of so many young souls. All the same he was glad to have met them. He bowed to Temperanth at his exit and set out to what the Weyr asked of him next, already penning the words home in the back of his mind.