Searching for something (Searching Open)

[jilli]

Dalrian looked around his home. It was a nice home as homes in Sollace went. After the storms and the cleanup a few turns back everyone had worked hard to rebuild. Sometimes he would see some of the piles of debris where people would just move it aside instead of actually getting rid of it. All in all though, Sollace was a good place to have settled.

He had friends.There were women, and men who didn't expect anything from him and were happy just to have the fleeting attention he did give them. He didn't have to care too much. His art and furniture were good enough that he'd made a bit of a name for himself in Sollace, he'd even received some orders from Apolla a week or two ago that were almost complete.

Movement in the corner beside the window caught his eye and he grinned. His topaz firelizzard always liked to look and act like a little queen, but if she could see herself now, Hisame would be embarrassed for a week. The topaz was upside down on her massive pillow with her back legs sprawled into the air and her wings relaxed haphazardly. her tail curled around one of the pillow's tassels and her mouth hung open as she started a little flit snore.

Shaking his head still grinning he walked outside. It was definitely summer weather. Hot sticky and humid. He pulled his shirt off and sat at his workbench beginning to break down a large round of tree trunk for the last bit of the appolla order. They had wanted a table with a musical motiff carved into the top. He rolled his eyes. Harper's and their music.

With a sigh he got to work. With any luck the peices would all be finished by tomorrow

[Seven]

This really wasn't her idea of a day off or a day away from her kids and her mate. Searching. Going to Sollace to Search. Ugh. What a drag. It always seemed to take much longer than necessary to find anyone that her dragoness felt was worthy. She had to be amongst the worst Search Riders the Weyr had to offer and yet here she was going out on search again. She was so often sent these days. She wondered if they just didn't want her around. She was flying over the hold, taking her own sweet time in landing. Aerio was to her right and her Forest Massai was to her left as they circled around Sollace.

Oh! Oh! Daedra! Daedra! There is a someone down there! He is a good candidate! He will be perfect! Now which one is he?!

Daedra gave a sigh. Why can't yo uever just know? her dragoness ignored her and started to spiral down to land.

Come everyone! To the edge o the village! All those of age to stand! I am Mrith and Mine Rider is Daedra! We are here on search! The green's anouncement only made Daedra groan inwardly again even as they landed.

Daedra slid down from her dragons back, Aerior and Massai taking up perches on either shoulder, looking for all the world like they were the most regal things in the world.

[jilli]

There was a crash from inside the house as the dragon Mrith's voice rang out. Dal looked up having just carved the last lyre into the tabletop and grabbed a towel wiping the sweat from his chest, shoulders, and face. It really was hotter than normal today.

Tossing the towel aside again he looked in the window to see what the crash was and chuckled. Hisame had started at the sudden voice and snapped awake. Thing was, she was so large that when she had, she had knocked some things off the edge of his nightstand and now looked distressed as she tried to find her way out of them. He got up and went inside to sort her out. After a moment or two hisa decided to stop trying to help, her efforts only having made it worse. She sat there with a dejected and sad look until he'd fully extracted her from the mess.

He got up and sat on the bed, relaxing again. His work was done and he could take it easy until he got a new order. At least that's what he thought. Hisa nudged his knee with her head. He cracked one eye open at her and then shut it again and laid back. She was not to be ignored, however and she jumped on the bed and proceded to hit him with her tail. That got his attention.

"Oh for Frenath's sake. What is it Hisame?" Hisa made a show of flapping her wings, then gave up. Obviously games of charades were hard for firelizzards. She suddenly remembered a small statuette he had carved a few days earlier, of a dragon and rider, and she bounced over to it looking at him expectantly as if demanding 'Aren't you going to go to the searching?'

He watched unimpressed and closed his eyes again. Bad idea. Hisa came back to the bed and bit his knee. Hers was important right now yes. People from all over bought his crafts. But this was a chance to become a dragon rider! They were FAR more important! She would always be the most important one to Hers of course, but more importantly at a weyr there were loads more of her kind that could appreciate her for the beautiful queen she was.

As his topaz thought all of this, Dal was very aware of what was going on. He sighed and looked at Hisa.

"You're not letting me take a nap until I go see who the dragon picks are you?"

Hisa sat back on her haunches and arched her neck, pleased with herself for winning the round as he got up and grabbed his shirt.

"Well come on then you. I know you only want me to go because you're a busybody..."

Hisame gave the back of his legs a swat with her tail and grumbled in that cute flit way of hers and he smiled. They made their way out to the edge of the village where a few people had already gathered and he smilled. A lovely specimin of a green stood there accompanied by their rider and two huntyres. He nodded to the rider in respectful welcome and stood amongst the other young men and women, some of who blushed and looked away when they looked at him until he pulled the shirt on. Ah fond fun memories. He winked at the girl closest to him and she let out a nervous giggle and blushed brighter.

At the sight of the Huntyres, Hisame preened a bit and climbed up to sit on one of dal's shoulders. Given her size, it was a bit akward and she curled her tail around his opposit arm and shoulder to keep her balance, but she managed to do it looking like every inch the queen she thought she was. She knew as far as pets went she was much better than any bird.Dal rolled his eyes at the satisfaction he felt from the flit on his shoulder as he waited for the rider to go about her business.

[Seven]

Eir

Two canines guarded a young woman as she walked through the Hold, looking at things here and there, a small knot of three little girls prancing about her feet and between her two canines. On her shoulder with his tail winding around her back and her waist was Freyr. Her little lordling was definitely not in the best of moods today. He was hissing up a storm and everyone who passed them got a quick flash of his teeth and snap of his jaws. The young woman seemed to be serene - especially in comparison with her feisty little companion. her peircing blue eyes held a smile as she looked at he younger girl who spoke to her.

"Yes that is a very beautiful flower," she said, bowing down and taking it. Freyr didn't dare move to snap at the little pests. He knew that it would make his truly unhappy. He didn't care about others. But he didn't want anyone to make his maiden unhappy. Anyone who made her unhappy was a toy for his claws to tear into. The bloody colored garnet was decidedly protective and possessive. The young woman kept walking Brynhildr, her red, tan, white, and gray canine walked on her left and on her right, her birndled orange and black canine Vidar stalked along, his large body a rather imposing and intimidating figure when set against someone like Eir and the children. He bared his fangs at a man who got to close, but the man continues on his way, looking rather disconcerted by the canine. But nothing came of the encounter and Eir continued on her way, hold ing the hand of the young girl who had handed her the blue flower that she put behind her ear grinning as the girl giggled. "Oh! Oh! I want one!" another little girl says and Eir bent down, plucking another blue flower from teh grass and placing it in the blonde's hair.

That was when she heard it. The dragon's voice as it touched the minds of the people below and she looked up to see it. "Come on girls! Let's go see who the dragon picks this time!" she says. She had honestly never been out on th day of a dragon Search to Sollace. She headed that direction now, picking up her skirts and running with the little girls to the field where the dragon landed. She stopped, out of breath. She raised her eyes to the green, her hair caught in the dragon's back winging. It would have been a nice cool breeze if not for the dirt that it kicked up and made a mess of the dust. She was grateful to not be one of the ones hit by it, spared by the edge of a wall. she checked to make sure the children and her three pets were alright before watching as people came. She slowly stepped forward, walking along the edge of the line, looking at those who were gathered there until she walked right into an approaching Dalrian. Her canines growling a bit. "Hush." Her voice was unrelenting and serious. She took a step back. "Forgive me," she said, giving him a slight bow, Bryn and Vidar moving a bit closer to her and Freyr hissing slightly in irritation. EH didn't like being disturbed to say the very least.

He was a good looking young man. His features were perfect. But that didn't make her feel any more comfortable with him than any other man. She had a slight frown affixed to her face though she didn't realize it. She was just thinking bout the things she feared. She was thinking about what could happen. Her last and distant experience. And the times he father hit her and lost his temper. But.... she wasn't sure about him yet. he was an idividual, right... he had hd the right to be judged for who he was. Not her biases she supposed. "my name is Eir. This is Brynhildr, Vidar, and, the red menace, is Freyr." she said, introducing each of her pets respectively. She looked back at the green rider as she was surveying the lines, her green looking them over. Most were waiting tersely to either be rejected or be chosen. Eir... wasn't expecting to be a candidate.

[jilli]

Dalrian watched as the green and her rider made their slow progress through the potentials. There was a no here, a sigh and a shake of the head there. He was relaxing back against a wall when he was jolted. He wasnt sure which was more uncomfortable, the impact, or the deathgrip Hisame employed to keep her seat as she chirped in alarm and clung to his shoulders. The growling of the dogs gained a reproachful growl from the little topaz.

If Dal could give words to the feeling that he was getting from her,they would be something along the lines of : Stupid animals! She bumped into US. We should be growling at you! Not the other way around! He reached up and patted Hisame's neck gently.

"Easy there little love. You're just fine."

Hisame leaned into the petting settling down until she heard the hiss of the little subking and narrowned her eyes at him. He was sure she was about to chatter irritatedly at the garnet, but she suprised him. She sat up straighter and tried to look as regal and unflapped as possible. In otherwords, as far as reactions went, it seemed like she completely ignored him. Dal knew better though and his eyes twinkled in amusement.

He turned his gaze to the person who had almost run him over and would have reached out to steady her if she hadn't already taken a step back. She gave him a little bow and at that he almost tilted his head sideways. It wasn't every day in Sollace smeone bowed to him. His ownly discernable reaction was to lift one of his eyebrows curiously.

Dar studied the girl without seeming to leer. He was good at that, absorbing small details in a quick glance. Long dark brown hair, almost black, framed her face in curling waves. Her skin was light, pale and soft looking. She had a nice body, he absently wondered why he'd never seen her before. He was sure if he'd met her he'd have remembered her. But her most stunning feature were the eyes she was now using to study him as he was doing to her. They were a clear cold blue, almost as if they could look past your body and into your mind and soul. Beautiful.

He didn't miss her pretty lips turning down at the corners and he smiled despite himself. That wasn't the reaction he usually got.

"It's not a problem really. Not every day such a beautiful woman runs into me."

"I'm Dalrian, and this is Hisame. I'm pleased to meet all of you."He replied cutting his eyes at the topaz who was still trying to look like the queen who is above everything. "As is she, she's just trying to act all queenly right now." He winced with a slight chuckle as hisame's claws dug into his shoulder again in retaliation for embarrassing her.

The girl was looking over at the green rider now, still with that slight frown on her face. "Have you ever been to any of the searches here?" He asked in a conversational tone. This girl was interesting. He wasn't used to being frowned at until he put a stop to things, and he was definitely not used to being dismissed so quickly. How interesting...

[Seven]

Eir

Eir watched the green dragon pass by one... and another, and another. Man and woman alike. None of them were worth her time it seemed. What with just how dismissive the look she gave them was andthe way she moved further and further out of the lines. One young girl even burst out into tears and Eir frowned and sighed. The poor thing must have had her hopes set on it. she would have no doubt if the girl had had her heart set on being a Candidate and probably on Impressing. She wondered what she had her heart set on Impressing, if anything?

She really didn't like the idea of being a candidate. Well... she did... just there wer certain things she had heard about being a dragon rider that she wasn't so sure about... She looked back at D'rian and he spoke and blinked. He was curious about her, huh?

"No. I've never been to a search before. This is the first time." She looked back. She had completely missed his earlier statement - or seemed to. she was hoping that he would jsut ignore her if she ignored him. "Hisame is a very pretty queen." She looked at her Garnet who was eying the Topaz. "Freyr thinks so too." The garnet gave a hiss. He did not! She was too high and mighty and trying to look the part of a queen did not Impress him! He would rather see her get her claws dirty!

Eir smiled slightly. "Now you be nice and polite to our little queen." She told him and the firelizard hissed at her. Don't tell me what to do! he seemed to tell her, though he quieted and hunkered down on her shoulder. "I never go out very much." She said after that, as way of explaining how she might jsut be a total stranger to him. She turned her eyes back on the search then. His curiousity, admittedly, although it stirred her fears, made her curious as well. "Do you have a craft, Dalrian?"she asked him.

The green passed by another person - this time a young man. This didn't look liek ti was turning out to be a very productive search.

[jilli]

Dalrian turned his attention backk to the crowd as he heard crying. It didn't take long to find her, and he winced. It was the girl who had blushed at him earlier. Cora? He thought that was her name. She'd been a sweet girl with a good outlook on her life. She must have really wanted to be a dragon rider though. He wanted to comfort her, he may not have feelings for her but who could stand seeing a past partner that was so pleasant cry right? He took a step toward her, but Eir's voice reached his ears and he couldn't exactly be rude and dismiss her, but he looked back and by the time he had turned his gaze back to Cora the young woman had gone. He supposed he would find her later. They'd parted on good terms and he'd just have to cheer her up.

Well that would be later and he was still going to see who the green would pick. It was usually over by now, half the crowd had been studied and dismissed.

He turned his attention back to Eir. Rolling waves of pleasure smacked into him from Hisame as she relaxed. She liked this girl. She didn't even have to try hard to be recognized as a queen. She gave a little chirp of pleasure and ruffled her wings happily. Until, that is, Freyr hissed in disagreement. Before Eir was able to scold him into what appeared to be a rather sullen position, Dal's eyes widened. Hisame's muscles had bunched and tensed. She was about to..! Before he could finish the thought she let out a growl and had launched herself toward the garnet.

Fortunately Dal was quick with his hands and he grabbed the topaz around the waist tucking her against his chest where she struggled and glared at the garnet before finally quieting down.

"Hisame. Enough."

His voice was strong and deep and would brook no argument. Finally she started to relax but she was still angry. How dare he not think she was beautiful. She was a queen shard it!

Crisis averted. He sighed and nodded as she explained that she didn't get out too much. That would explain it. If she didn't generally mix with the crowds he supposed he wouldn't have seen her. It took him off guard when she asked about his craft.

"I do actually. I'm a carpenter, and an artist." He smiled good naturedly at her. "And what about you Eir?"

[Seven]

Eir grabbed hold of her little garnet and gave him a very strong displeased feeling. The Garnet hissed. "Hush you." He hissed more ,but she continued with this battle of wills until the garnet was quiet. which was not easy. HE calmed down and she let him climb back up on her shoulder. "Sorry Hisame." she said to the little subqueen, pulling some dried meat from the puch at her side and offered it tohe little subqueen, causing her garnet to hiss. "Freyr. You can earn some. But she deserves it more than you." SHe was trying ot get Hisame to liek her, admittedly. She really liked animals. Especially canines. SPeaking of her canines...

Eir bent down and gave both Bidar and Brynhildr a piece of the meet as well, showering them with affection. "I hope that girl will be alright." Her words were a bit distant. She smiled at Dalrian. "You should show me your work some time. I am a the daughter of the Lord Holder. I don't have a craft." She shrugged.

A voice gently reached out to Dalrian then. There you are! Come! You will be a candidate. The green stood in front of him. And how could I forget the beautiful young lady. Such potential in both of you. You will both be wonderful candidates. You will come to the Weyr! Oh... but I may need help carrying all of you.... The green was speaking of the canines and the two now candidates.

Eir looked shocked. She.... she couldn't go though. But she wanted to. So badly. "I..." her parents would never allow it... but... if she just packed her htings and went... and they had to come fetch her... perhaps she could hide. She wanted to. She would. She had to. And she was the youngest! It wasn't like they could get anything from keeping here! After all.... being the youngest ,she had the lowest prospects of bringing anythign to the Hold or her parents.

[jilli]

Hisame crooned in pleasure and took the offered meat nibbling on the edge. It was good, she thought, she would make it last. She didnt regain her position on Dal's shoulder, instead staying in his arms nestled against his chest with her tail wrapped around his upper arm. The feeling she passed to dal was happy and warm and pleased.

He rolled his eyes.

"Bribery always works with this one." He chuckled and felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl's flit. He looked at her canines and decided they were both rather beautiful. He'd actually like to carve their likeness sometime. He was studying Brynhildr thinking about doing just that when her comment distracted him.

"Cora? She's a good sort. Lots of friends, the little darling, but she has the attention span of a day. She'll likely cry for a few hours, mope for the rest of it, then go to sleep and be her normal cheery self in the morning. At least that's what she does most of the time when she isnt chosen."

He purposefully left out the spot where the girl would drink heavily in the later hours and take home whoever could make her smile, then she'd be right as rain after the lucky man left. He didn't think letting her in on how he knew that would be a very good idea unless she was that type herself, which he doubted. Those tended to be the more social butterfly types.

"Well since you don't tend to get out of the hold very often, and you're already here, you could come back to my place and take a look." He gave her a friendly boyishly charming and innocent smile. She didn't seem like the type to respond to an overly confident pass, so he was trying a new approach. "I never say no to showing off my art for a beautiful woman. If you like it and you're interested I could even show you some of the basics if you wanted?" He offered before growing quiet. The green was surveying very close to them now. His eyes widened with her voice. Him? Well, he supposed. who was he to argue with a dragon? His smile grew wider when Eir was chosen as well.

"What luck! You see, now we'll both be away from home, but we wont have to worry about being alone!"