TANGLED up in you (Aki/Ra)

[Lark]

Her sleep was filled with nightmares, terrors big and small, memories that she would rather be kept deep within in her mind. Cringing uncomfortably, Rikula finally snapped her eyes open, her breath catching as she blinked rapidly to see clearly. What...Majoriith? The Queens upset keen was response enough. So she had flown, and Amiith had been killed. Closing her eyes in a pained memorial of the event, Rikula opened them up again with a new determination.

Despite going through her first mating flight she didn't feel that bad, but perhaps that was more on account of her mind being focused on other things. Stretching, body going to its full length as she ignored the fact that she was probably waking the other in her bed, Rikula looked over to be reminded just who it was who had won. Ah, you chose Guarximuth then. Pandora was an interesting woman, she certainly seemed like a good choice as a second. It would not go unnoticed by the other Weyrs, or even the riders in Trelis, though that it would be two females ruling beneath the Weyrleaders.

No doubt it would cause just as much commotion as it did when J'dol had been Weyr"lord" under Iirla. What mattered though was that Pandora would be able to handle the job, and Rikula was not entirely sure of that. Was she capable of learning and doing somewhat well at least? Probably. Maybe she would be surprised and she would get a perfect partner in this though? It was too much to simply hope for however. Sighing and curling up somewhat before reaching out a tentative foot, glad that it was still summer and warm, Rikula placed that foot on the ground lightly as she whispered softly to herself.

"Time to get up..."

[Akira]

Pandora groaned slight when she felt movement in the bed beside her, and rolled over so that her head was face down in the pillow. Guarximuth lifted his large brown head and crooned softly as Majoriith keened, and gently nuzzled the side of her neck. Come now mine Ra! You should be used to getting up in the morning. There was a slight growl that accompanied his words to his rider. Just because I’m used to getting up in the morning doesn’t mean I have to like it Guarximuth. But now that she had spoken there was no way that she was going to fall back asleep. Not with an awake Guarximuth inside her head. She slowly lifted her head from the pillow she had buried it in, groaning at the headache that had weaseled its way in.

Guarximuth shook his large head at his rider. I must apologize for mine rider Rikula, she is not normally this lazy. His gruff voice was open for everyone present to hear. Which Pandora thought was rather unfair. I am not lazy Guarximuth. Ra’s voice was full of sleep, and held a little bit of the pain she felt in her head. She slowly swung her legs off the bed, and sat up, letting herself adjust to the motion of her body as it woke, and just as she was about to stand back up, the events of the previous night came flooding back to the forefront of her mind. She groaned and grabbed her painful head, wishing all of this had taken it’s time invading her mind. She took a few deep breaths to fight against the pain, wishing that last night had never happened, or at least had gone differently.

[Lark]

This was certainly an interesting way to wake up. She had not expected Pandora to be quite so awake, or to be talking out loud to her dragon as she was. Perking up an eyebrow curiously, she tilted her head and then smiled lightly. "Nothing wrong with sleeping in once in a while either. We certainly deserve to have a bit of quiet this morning I think...it would be good for the Weyr to have some peace and ability to digest what happened yesterday." What started out as almost jovial ended saddened and near to a mutter. Eyes dropping to the ground Rikula shook her head and got to her feet, stretching upward to the ceiling.

How are you feeling Majoriith, physically I mean.

Not terrible...my wings ache, and I am tired. It does not matter though Rikula, we lost Amiith. Warbling and shaking her head, the young queen curled up into her not-so-little ball tighter, looking up at Guarximuth through a gap in a wing she used to cover her head. I failed him. It was my flight, with my dragons Guarximuth. Thormyth is one of us, he should not have treated Amiith so....I should have been a better leader of our family. Taking in a deep and shuddering breath, the gold unwound herself after a moment and crept over to the ledge.

I hunger....can I go eat now? The question was directed at Rikula who simply shrugged her shoulders. It was asked mainly because Majoriith didn't quite know if it were proper, or even something she could consider at a time like this. Jaws gaping in a yawn, the dragoness looked over her shoulder at her rider who was walking to the cave and then back at the feeding pens. Will you come with me...if you're not busy that is Guarximuth....you don't have to. Shrinking slightly as she lowered her head uncertainly, the gold looked back over quickly to the feeding pens, a growl of hunger coming from her stomach.

"I can send down for food if you're hungry too...Pandora, is it? I'm sorry, I'm not quite as good with names as I should be right now. My head's still fuzzy." Truth be told Rikula did remember Pandora's name, she knew when she and her brown had graduated as well, and she knew their skills and where in their class they had graduated. She knew all of this, but that was a bit much she thought to let on so soon. Rikula just took her time knowing the riders that rode the Kings and Sub-Kings seeing as she would work with them most. As for the food, even though she asked for it Riku didn't think she could stomach anything, not even bread. The very thought of it made her stomach tie in knots and make her want to empty whatever contents it had left. What she wanted was a long soak in a bath, and then to go out to her training grounds and be alone for a while.

[Akira]

Pandora looked over at Guarximuth triumphantly when she heard Rikula agreeing that there was nothing wrong with sleeping in once in a while, but then her triumphant look left her face and she looked down at her feet when she heard the rest of what Rikula was saying. Guarximuth crooned softly to his rider when he felt the defeated feeling that had invaded the young woman. It was a new day, and there were plenty of things to be happy for, like having such a caring young golden mate. You’re hopeless Guar. The dragon’s turn in his train of thought had made Ra roll her eyes in exasperation. Sometimes there was just no understanding the mind of an adult male dragon after winning a mating flight.

Guarximuth looked down at the little golden ball that Majoriith had managed to turn herself into, not really understand how such a large female could become such a small ball of golden hide. It is not your fault mine Queen, Thormyth killed Amiith because he was able to take him by surprise, and because he was angry because he was unable to force your decision mine Queen. Even though his voice was gruff, and deep, it was gentle and caring as he spoke to Majoriith. His eyes were a quickly swirling mixture of happiness and concern for Majoriith. He wanted to make her feel better, he wanted to make her happy. I will gladly join you for a meal mine Queen, it would be mine honor. There was a new sense of pride in his voice as he accepted Majoriith’s offer.

Pandora turned to look at Rikula, a calm assessing look in her eyes as she debated what her answer should be. As it usually will be after a mating flight, but yes, that is my name. Ra had a feeling that this gold rider knew more than she was letting on, but for now she couldn’t wrap her mind around what that was. She was still half-asleep, and a little hungry, truth-be-told. And I think I’ll wait on the food, eating after waking up after a night full of flightlust isn’t always the best thing to do. The only reason Ra knew this for certain was from personal experience. Pandora turned back around, stretched herself to her limit, some of her joints cracking loudly in the process, and then stood up so she could start looking for her clothes, momentarily forgetting to hide all the scars on her body.

[Lark]

"Eating after any day, flight or none, like that would be difficult....still..."

Trailing off, Rikula got to her feet and crossed the room in a few steps. Absentmindedly she called down for a few small things to nibble on, something to tempt her appetite and perhaps that of her...what did she call Pandora exactly? They were by no means weyrmates. They were not friends truly either. They were acquaintances now, but that word did not truly fit the other woman's position. Partner? Did that work? Yes, she thought perhaps partner fit well enough, at least until she could find one that was better.

Taking the food that was rolled up on the pulley system, she carried the light tray with one hand, the other hand holding a small cube of cheese to her lips as she nibbled on it. The flavor was good, savory, and soon enough it seemed to do the trick and got her stomach growling for more. Still, Rikula took great care to take small portions, partially to leave some for her...partner, and to also not over indulge before she was ready to really eat, and keep what she ate down.

It would be poor of her to puke it all up, or so she told herself. It would make her look weak, incapable, young and immature. She could not have anyone, especially the one she was supposed to work closely with, thinking she could not handle her job and the repercussions of it. Now more than ever she needed that steely exterior she had formed so well throughout these past turns. Eating a piece of fruit next slowly, Rikula finally looked up at the brownrider again, legs crossing under her body as she sat on the bed with the tray between them.

"I think before we discuss what happened during the flight we need to know a small bit about each other first. Two people cannot work together efficiently if they do not trust, or even do fear, each other."

She spoke matter-of-factly, as if stating some long learned lesson. Which, would not entirely be untrue. Rikula didn't even bat an eyelash at the idea of sharing a small part of who she was, though personal details and life events were not a part of that little monologue she would give in exchange. No, things like that were so far dismissed from "important for others to know" that she didn't even consider that others may find the information not just useful, but necessary.

[Akira]

Pandora was starting to get frustrated with her clothes. Where did she put them? Ok, that was probably the dumbest question she could have asked herself, but what else was she to do? She stood up, crossing her arms over her chest as she scanned the room for her missing clothing. She heard Rikula calling down for food, but it didn’t really register in her mind just yet that the other woman had spoken to her. She turned and walked to the end of the bed. And believe it or not, she found her clothes. Ha! She exclaimed triumphantly as she bent down to gather up her clothing, the scars on her body stretching white as she moved. She grumbled to herself as she picked up the miscreant clothing, wondering why something like this happened every time her brown joined a mating flight.

Then Pandora smelt the food that Rikula had called up. That actually smells rather tasty… As much as Ra didn’t want to eat, she couldn’t stop her stomach from growling at the smell of the food. She walked back over and sat back on the other side of the bed from Rikula. She took a small piece of cheese and chewed on it slowly so as not to upset her stomach, it would be very professional of her to throw up in front of the woman that would now be her work partner now would it? She sat with one leg hanging off the side of the bed, and the other ben at the knee beneath her. You have a point…I guess…what did you have in mind exactly? She turned to look at Rikula as she spoke, though she kept an eye on the food as she did so, trying to decide what to eat next.

[Lark]

"I'm thinking we'll play a game. The guards back..well, I've played it before."

She paused for a moment, biting her lip before she could give too much of herself away. After all, that would do little good for the game. Settling herself more comfortably on the bed, she propped herself up on the wall it was on and grabbed a pillow to make herself comfortable. Yawning at the same time for good measure, Riku finally relaxed and took another piece of food from the plate.

"Basically you tell the other person three things, two truths and a lie. The person who is listening must say which are true and which is the lie. For instance..."

Thinking for a moment, Rikula finally decided on something to say and nodded her head subtly. Yes, that would be a good start. It would not be too much, nor too little. Just right. That was the name of the game, little bits at a time. Eventually you ended up being left with the larger things, and either you ended the game then or you finally let them come to light. Looking at Pandora, the goldrider swallowed the bite of food she was chewing and continued.

"For instance, I am a goldrider. I was weyrborn. I love children."