Too tired to fly [Tag: Jareth]

[ramba]

Ith's flight was laboured as he began to descend. L'ust, used to sometimes being thrown from his seat at landings, braced himself for impact as Ith landed in the Recreation area of the prison. Not ideal for a rest, but with Ith thinking all of the prisoner's here his friends, L'ust hadn't the heart to say so. The tall rider slid from the dragon, just as Ith lay down.

I am sorry, Mine, my scars aren't being very nice to me. Ith said. L'ust shook his head.

'Don't blame yourself, dear, it's this place. They work you too hard. Really they should have put you on ground patrol. Or better yet, left you be, and let me be a guard like the non-rider's instead.' L'ust replied fondly stroking the brown's head. Ith huffed.

You know as well as I do that they'd never allow that to happen. I think you're right though. Sending us here wasn't for our own protection at all. It's because I'm better than any bronze, and they don't like it. If it weren't for that blasted Raluth and his jealousy because I nearly caught the Queen, we wouldn't be in this mess, I wouldn't be injured, and neither would you be. Ith grumbled. Ith's voice was loud enough for L'ust to know that other people would have heard it. He glanced around somewhat anxiously hoping none of the prisoners would try to use this to their advantage.

The brownrider turned back to Ith. 'You better hope the Warden's dragon didn't hear that my dear.' L'ust said in a low voice. Ith snorted. What's he going to do, cripple me?[/b] The brown said. It was probably the first time that Ith wasn't his usual cuddly self. L'ust could tell the brown was frustrated, he could see it in his eyes. Faranth help anyone who tested the brown's patience today.

[Spiffy]

Jareth picked idly at his overalls as he made his way through the barracks corridors, pulling at the front of it to encourage a little air circulation. He detested the jumpsuits and their obnoxious colour. Even though it was one of the no sleeved numbers - not that that made much difference, seeing as he usually pulled up his long sleeves anyway, even when cold - it could still be stiflingly hot in the summer, especially when he got dragged into manual labour like today. He'd never been much of a builder, his experience ended at erecting tents, but it was a change from the fields at least. Sure, he liked being outdoors, if he wasn't locked in the barracks every night he'd probably sleep outside too, but he had worked up quite a distaste for weeding and distinctly felt the need for a change or duty that week. And it wasn't even like the fields were anything like a mountain range or forest, there was really no contest.

But shift was over, and he was once again free to do as he wished. He wasn't particularly hungry, and didn't fancy fighting his way through the queue that would undoubtedly form from all the others who'd also just got off, so he headed to the recreation area instead. Spotting the pool in the centre, he made a beeline for it, fully intent on splashing a load of it on his face to cool off. He was just making his way past a dragon and rider who'd just landed when an irate voice sounded in his head.

You know as well as I do that they'd never allow that to happen. I think you're right though. Sending us here wasn't for our own protection at all. It's because I'm better than any bronze, and they don't like it. If it weren't for that blasted Raluth and his jealousy because I nearly caught the Queen, we wouldn't be in this mess, I wouldn't be injured, and neither would you be.

Jareth visibly flinched, surprised, looking around for the speaker and, seeing none, looking at the dragon. Had it bee the brown speaking? He'd heard that dragons could speak to others not their riders, talked to people that claimed to have had a dragon speak with them, but he'd never heard one of them himself - until now that was. The long speech was shortly followed by a shorter sentence: What's he going to do, cripple me?

He continued walking again, drawing level with the dragon and rider with no trace of his surprise left on his face to betray him.

"Looks like somebody's got issues. Oh don't worry, you can tell me; I hate this place as much as you," he said, slowing his walk, loud enough for dragon and rider to hear him. He turned suddenly and gestured to the sky with his arms, "If you ever get the fancy to get out of here, I'll be more than happy to join you," he offered mockingly, letting his arms fall back to his sides as he made to turn back to the pool. He wasn't in the mood for being nice.

[ramba]

L'ust watched the prisoner walk over to them, and glared at his words. Why on Pern would HE want to talk about his problems with a prisoner? The man's next words cleared everything up - he was mocking them! For once Ith didn't shrug it off and try and make polite converstation. Instead the brown got back up on his feet and moved to block the man's way.

DON'T test me today, Prisoner, or this place will get a lot worse for you, very, very fast.[/b] Ith growled.

'Ith!' L'ust shouted, limping up and putting his hand on the brown's foreleg. Instantly L'usts mind was filled with less images of squished prisoners. Ith snorted and moved out of the prisoner's way again.

I'm sorry, little one, I didn't mean to lose my temper. I assure you that if me and L'ust ever decide to become fugatives, you'll be the first to know. Ith replied, before lying down again. The dragon suddenly felt exhausted. You a candidate? Ith asked.

L'ust sat down by the dragon. Do you think it's a good idea to be talking to him? L'ust asked. He did worry that Ith would get angry again.

[Spiffy]

Although he knew that his word would have caused some irritation, Jareth was a little unprepared for their exact reaction. The dragon had pretty much told Jareth about his problems anyway, intentionally or not, he'd heard them. They were probably having a bad day or something; he thought browns were supposed to be laid back?

He didn't run when the dragon got up and stood in his way, but he did tense up somewhat, ready to dash out of the way should the dragon do anything else, or even the rider, who he was keeping a spare corner of his eye on too.

DON'T test me today, Prisoner, or this place will get a lot worse for you, very, very fast.

"Whoa Faranth, ok. I get it. Bad timing. My fault," he countered, backing away a step or two with his hands half raised as if in surrender, then quickly lowered. Definitely a bad day then. Oh didn't he have good timing? he thought mockingly to himself. Trust him to jibe a dragonrider on the only day his dragon would take issue to it. He watched the rider limp up to his dragon to lay a cautioning hand on its leg, making a quick assessment of the pair. Ok, so no worries about running away then, neither of them looked like they were exactly up for the challenge of catching him. Not that he had any intention of it coming to that, he'd had enough exercise for one day.

Then the dragon snorted, moving back out of his way. Jareth started walking again, taking a slightly longer route around the dragon. When it spoke again though, he turned his head to give it a level look, stopping again.

I'm sorry, little one, I didn't mean to lose my temper. I assure you that if me and L'ust ever decide to become fugatives, you'll be the first to know.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. Little one? Only to you, dragon, he thought to himself. Even more surprising was that the dragon was apologising to him. Actually apologising! That would make for an interesting story later. But for now, he still wanted that water.

"Really?" he asked honestly, walking again. Well, somewhat honestly. "I very much doubt that. No-one ever tells us anything. We don't have the right to know what's going on. Oh no, we're all criminals. We all chose this life, one way or another, because we actually had that choice. Ha!" he said, mostly rambling to himself as he stepped up to the water.

You a candidate?

The question was completely unexpected, making Jareth pause as he knelt down next to the pool. He cupped some of the water into his hands and splashed it against his face, repeating and rubbing some of it onto the back of his neck as he did so, before answering, standing and beginning to walk back toward them.

"Yeah. What's it to you?" he said by way of answer. He had nothing better to do, and talking to a dragon was as good a conversation as any he was likely to get in this place.

[ramba]

To be perfectly honest, I'm sure everyone here has commited a crime or two in their lifetimes. The guards included. Me and L'ust are as much prisoners here as yourself. As will the prisoner-weyrlings be when graduated. The only difference is that me and L'ust, being dragon and rider, are treated better because of who we are.[/color][/b] Ith replied. He huffed and stretched a little almost knocking over L'ust.

He turned his head so he could examine the prisoner more closely. One of these candidate-prisoners then. To Ith, he didn't seem any different to some of the riders he knew. I ask because you'll be expected to give the Queen a gift, from what I've seen of her. You've probably been told this already of course. But to apologise fully, I'd like to give you something shiny.

WHAT?! Ith, he's a PRISONER! Besides, you don't own anything. L'ust growled turning his head and glaring at the large brown. Ith snorted quietly at his rider. Yes I do, or at least, you do. And what's mine is yours and vice versa. Besides, it doesn't have to be worth too many marks, it just has to be shiny. Ith said privately to his rider. L'ust glared at the brown, before shaking his head. The brown could always win an argument, so there wasn't much point in trying.

Well, I guess there is always that strange shiny purple rock we found this morning. L'ust mumbled. If the prisoner wanted it, which L'ust rather hoped he didn't. The only thing that this prisoner would be good for would be Impressing a dragon at the hatching and annoying the Warden.

[Spiffy]

I ask because you'll be expected to give the Queen a gift, from what I've seen of her. You've probably been told this already of course. But to apologise fully, I'd like to give you something shiny.

That news, at least, was not new. He'd already been warned, they all had, by the Weyrlingmaster of the things that were expected of them at the upcoming touching, as well as some of the more gruesome realities of becoming a prisoner Weyrling here at Warden's. Part of Jareth wished that he'd not been brought up in band of outlaws (something he wished frequently, but often dismissed) and that, if he were to get another chance at Impression, it may have been under more normal circumstances.

This wasn't normal.

But from Jareth's limited experience of dragons and hatchings (dragons were something to be wary of, if not fear, for they heralded the presence of the Watch) much of what the Weyrlingmaster seemed to think was odd about Warden's queen seemed to Jareth really quite feasible. Sure, if he were giving away his eggs (Faranth forbid that ever happen) he''s want payment for them, the same as he'd expected payment for the crackdust he dealt. And so far he'd never spoken to a dragon until now, so what constituted as 'simple' for a dragon was beyond him. He just wanted to get a dragon and get gone from here (though by the threats they'd received, he'd probably better stick out Weyrlinghood before he even thought of leaving Warden's).

But where on Pern was he going to get a present for the queen from? He was a prisoner! His options were somewhat limited. If he'd been allowed anywhere near a sharp knife (like that was going to happen) he might have carved something out of wood for her liked he used to do for his daughter, save the distinct lack of wood in the prison grounds. But that wouldn't be shiny, and he had no idea what he could use as a varnish to make it shiny, nor even how to varnish.

He needed all the help he could get, really.

Even if the rider didn't seem to keen on the idea. The pair looked as if they were silently arguing for a second, before the rider shook his head in apparent resignation. Ah, s the dragon had won then.

He shrugged. "Well, how shiny does it need to be? Flawlessly shiny or just shiny? 'Cause the places where I'm allowed I don't think I'm gonna be finding any priceless diamonds laying about."

[ramba]

'No, I doubt any prisoner will be handing in something quite that valuable.' L'ust said directly to the man, reaching into his jacket pocket. He pulled out the rock and threw it to the prisoner. 'It isn't a lot, but I'm afraid that the only other shiny thing that me and Ith own is my ceremonial dagger - and for obvious reasons we aren't allowed to give you that.' He said. The brown dragon rumbled in pleasure, proud of his rider for talking to the other man.

Forgive us for not introducing ourselves sooner, but we are L'ust and Ith. I presume that you are not colour blind so do not need me to add in my hide colour? Ith asked, his voice filled with mirth. He better not make fun of my name... L'ust said to the brown, who merely chuckled in response. L'ust turned and glared at Ith, before pulling a folded piece of parchment to read; Ith was likely to want to start a converstation with the prisoner.

And true to that thought, Ith patted the ground with a forepaw. Do join us, won't you? Unlike some of the guards and dragon Watch here, conversations with the inmates are so much more interesting than those self-styled goody two shoes creatures. Only true innocence leaves people crime free. Ith said. L'ust gave a small snort.

Only true innocence leaves people crime free? What kind of a line is that? Are you starting a conversation or trying to impress him should he Impress a green at this hatching. L'ust asked. The response from Ith was almost comical. There was a look on his face that showed he hadn't actually thought of that, followed by a silent rage that his rider thought him so shallow.

Now, L'ust, don't tempt me. The brown replied, teasing the brownrider.

[Spiffy]

Jareth was relieved at the rider's response. At least they weren't placing some kind of huge expectation on his head. He'd half expected it to be some sort of test that they'd have to pass to be allowed to stand, one that the prisoners were expected to fail, which would please everyone but the Weyrlingmaster, if rumour was to be believed, which he did.

Jareth caught the object that was tossed at him, having been put on guard for such a thing happening by the rider's reaching into his pocket. He hardly expected the man to throw a knife at him, but he was ready for it if he had. But there was no such danger. He looked down at the object in his hand, a small purple stone, shiny one one side but not so much, he discovered as he turned it over, on the other.

"Now I can't think why you would do that. Who knows what Semith might do with it," he commented idly as he examined the egg, not really thinking about what he was saying too much. "She might slice herself or something."

He looked up again as the dragon's voice again sounded in his head. His own thoughts reflected the mirth of the dragon, but for a whole different reason. L'ust? He had to fight extremely hard to stop himself laughing aloud at the rider's name, but even he couldn't keep a curl out of his lip. Instead he turned it to his advantage, introducing himself with a bow and an even wider smile.

"Jarethir," he straightened and indicated his jumpsuit with a sweeping hand, "ex-Dust dealer and prisoner candidate extraordinaire." He thought it better not to mention the accusation of murder, even though he'd been cleared of all charges.

He was confused and amused by the drago- Ith's next statement. If he'd expected anything of a dragon, philosophy wasn't on his list. He was also slightly wary. Though the pair did not seem to mean him any harm - on the contrary, L'ust was now ignoring him completely - he could still see little reason why he'd want to start a conversation with a convicted prisoner.

But part of him rebelled at the thought of refusing. He could use this to his advantage. He may have to work on L'ust a little more than his brown, but connections in high places were nearly always good to have, even if in the end they were never taken advantage of. And he may learn something from them. Faranth knew he knew little enough about dragons, to be signed up in the hopes of getting one was bordering on preposterous.

Relenting, he moved closer to the pair, but instead of taking up the offered place by the dragon, he chose a spot opposite them. That way, if he did put his foot in it he had a better chance of getting himself out of harm's way quickly.

"So," he said, making himself comfortable on the stony ground, "what chaos have I got to look forward to at this hatching then?"

[ramba]

Ith snorted and shook his head slightly. Semith may seem child-like, but she isn't stupid, little one. I doubt that she would harm herself with a dagger. He said. There was mirth in his voice - he wasn't reprimanding the man, at least it wasn't intended. The brown wrapped his tail around himself and L'ust, listening to the man's name before watching him sit down.

Quite a name you've got for yourself there, litt-Jarethir. He said, correcting himself. He had to admit that 'little one' probably wasn't suited to this man. An ex-Dust dealer? Those people tended to have interesting stories to tell, perhaps Ith could persuade Jarethir to tell him one? But then the Hatching was mentioned, and Ith forgot everything to do withstories and such, and his eyyes whirled faster with excitement.

Ooh, lots of things. The baby dragons will hatch randomly, and will each head off in different directions. It's the unbonded ones you have to watch out for. When we dragons first hatch, we've only got half a mind and are driven mad by hunger, and we only know that we have to find someone important to feed us. It has to be the right person, with the right kind of personality that we need. I would be surprised if no one gets hurt at this hatching, but usually it's just a few scratches.... Ith said before snorting and resting his head on his fore-paws.

It's feeding the dragon you want to watch out for. For the first few months of our lives, all we do is eat and sleep. However, unlike our firelizard counterparts, we shouldn't be fed until we fall asleep. I don't quite know why, but it's probably just because Ours would then have to carry us all the way to the barracks. The brown said. Then his expression turned thoughtful.

I don't quite know how this hatching will pan out. There has never been a clutch of dragons fathered by a blue dragon before, and with all this talk of a shiny...who knows? I just hope that if there are metallics in the clutch, a Prisoner Impresses to one, just to give the Warden and his dragon a headache. They won't injure a metallic unless the rider does something wrong. It would look bad. Especially to Semith. Ith mumbled. His expression changed again to one of a slightly distant happy look.

What're you expecting from the hatching? Looking forward to it? The dragon asked.

[Spiffy]

"Oh I'm sure she isn't. Still, I wouldn't give my child a knife." Well, that wasn't entirely true. If he'd still been with the band, he'd probably have introduced Arya to one by now, for her own safety. There were certainly enough of them about in the camp, and she was going to have to learn to defend herself eventually, seeing as he'd not managed to get her out...

He looked back up at the dragon, raising an eyebrow as the brown was about to call him little one again. "How so? As far as I'm concerned it's a name. Nothing that great about it."

It was just as well that Ith got distracted by thoughts of the hatching, for Jareth had no intentions of telling the pair anything about himself or his past, except what he was accused of, but it wouldn't take much ferreting for them to find that out anyway, he might as well give them no reason to. But for such a short question, he wasn't expecting the lecture that the dragon set off into.

He said nothing and listened in silence until the dragon finished. He wasn't too enamoured by the dragons comments on candidates getting injured at hatchings though. And he thought dragon's weren't means to be violent? Never been a clutch fathered by a blue? He chuckled at Ith's hope about a prisoner Impressing a metallic. "Well I'll try my best to attract it my way," he said with a smirk when the dragon had finished, but then straightened his face as he started on his questions, which he'd been saving up until the end.

"So... what's the deal with the shiny? What's so special about it? And why is a blue fathering a clutch unusual?"

He considered the brown's own thoughtful question. "I'm hoping that it will be something like a flitter hatching. I can do flitt hatchings. That way my luck may just hold out for this one too."

[ramba]

Ith blinked, before shrugging the first question off. The brown had only meant the whole introductary line, not the man's name! But, the dragons attention turned to what Jarethir said next, looking as if he were hanging on to every single word the man said. Faranth! Did the prisoner candidate not know that usually shiny eggs meant a Gold egg? Obviously not, and Ith began to wonder if the man had been taught anything about dragons as a child.

The deal with the shiny is that shiny eggs, if they have a golden sheen, are quite often Gold Dragon eggs. If a blue has fathered such a dragon, then it means that bronzes would lose a little bit of stature in the dragon hierachy. At least they would in my eyes. Ith said, before tilting his head, thinking up an appropriate answer to the next question.

A blue dragon has never even chased a Queen. So to catch one in itself is a miracle. Until now, everyone assumed that blue dragons were, like greens, infertile. Ith replied. Then he snorted. A dragons clutch like a flitter hatching? Hardly. Dragons were much bigger and could do more damage for a start, and unlike flitters, they didn't Impress to whoever had food in their hands. Of course, the man would find this out for himself, and hopefully not in the hard way.

Ith's eyes brightened as the man mentioned that he was used to flitter hatchings. And a slightly muffled groan revealed that Ith had never had a flitter friend, simply because L'ust didn't like them.

Do you have a flitter of your own? How many flitter hatchings have you been to? Ith questioned,

[Spiffy]

Jareth listened with interest to Ith's explanation about the shiny egg. So there may be a gold in the clutch, eh? He may know precious little about dragons (indeed, Ith had probably just doubled his knowledge of the subject) but even Jareth knew that gold dragons, and their eggs, were extremely rare. And most of the candidates were prisoners. Ahhhhhh this could be a precious hatching indeed! He knew he would never Impress a gold, then only chose women, but if one of the other prisoners did, and he got a bronze, that would be... well, that would just be too good. He may have high hopes for this hatching, but not high expectations. He wasn't too sure about the reputations of male green and blue riders, for there was no way he wanted people to think he was gay (Faranth no!) but he probably wouldn't end up with any better.

He had to chuckle at the brown's comment about bronzes. "So they think they're all that, do they, these bronzes?" He couldn't really say, he'd never met a bronze before. Shells, he'd never met a dragon before until today, other than getting arrested and taken to the prison by one, and both times those had been greens.

"I don't see any reason for them not to try. I mean, is their smaller size really that important? Can't they just nip between the bigger dragons and catch the queen that way?"

He was puzzled by the browns groan. What did that mean? He snorted, somewhat derisively, at Ith's question about him having a flitter. "Do I have one? No. Did I have one? Yes, I did. I've got the Warden to thank for killing him. He was a brown, like you, you know. As for hatchings, I got Riki from a clutch someone stole and they handed the eggs out randomly. Still managed to stop him flying away as soon as he hatched, if you can count that as a 'hatching.' I was there for a couple of green clutches he fathered, though I didn't get any more out of them. Riki was enough for me, more would have just gotten in the way," he said, all seriousness.