The Forbidden Fruit {Wher Touching!}

[S'yal]

Z rubbed the side of his face with one hand, already dreading what was about to happen. The day of the touching had been advertised heavily already, and he was well aware that the only thing holding up the touching of the eggs was Zalmask herself. The golden queen was unusual among Whers in just how relaxed she could be when her eggs were involved, but at the moment it surely couldn't be told. She stood defensively in front of her eggs, head swung low and her jaws agape to show stained and yellow teeth. Z grimaced, noting that he'd have to start brushing her teeth or something.

Z growled low in his throat, as if he was the Wher and not the queen in front of him. Zalmask whimpered, shaking her head. She knew what it was her handler wanted, and while she trusted him she could not trust the candidates. However, a strong mental push had her stepping away from her eggs and approaching her suddenly stern handler. She was not used to Z demanding things from her, or ordering her. Mama was big and imperious, but the shock from her usually adoring handler bossing her around was enough to make her temporarily submissive. He laid a hand on her shoulder, gazing up at her with sympathetic eyes that made her snap at the air near his hand.

"Hey! You jerk! Quit acting like you've got a stick up your shiny ass and call the candidates and 'handlers." The dramatic tension was ruined as Z spoke, and Zalmask hissed at him. How dare he try to boss her around! She mulled over not doing it, and Z smirked with a sudden idea. "Unless you're too scared. You think the candidates are gonna hurt you, you big chicken?"

That did it.

CANDIDATES GET DOWN TO HATCHING SANDS. TOUCHING NOW. Zalmask's mindvoice shrieked into the minds of all who had volunteered for impression. And some who hadn't.

{BOLD THE NAME OF THE EGG YOU'RE TOUCHING. Also, you don't have to wait for Zalmask to ok you to touch the eggs. Just assume she does.}

[Filch]

CANDIDATES GET DOWN TO HATCHING SANDS. TOUCHING NOW. The woman was dragging her feet around with little purpose when the call came, her head darting up, something that caused a bit of unrest for Imp, the chubby Brown flit making a whine as the woman began to move towards the sands quickly. Imp...Imp wasn't a fan of whers. They were dangerous, after all.

However, Lucine's excitement greatly outweighed her companions dislike. Touching! Zalmask's eggs were having their touching! It was spectacular, and, she immediately brightened. Lucine liked whers. She wasn't sure if it was normal to prefer them over dragons, but, really, they were much more interesting. And violent. She quite liked that particular aspect, actually.

Skidding to a stop when she got close to the sands, the woman forced composure on herself. She had to be cool, calm, relaxed. Zalmask and Z would think she was stupid otherwise! Imp, meanwhile, looked a bit grumpy at the smell of wher, though, he certainly didn't plan on leaving. He had to be there to protect Luc from the creepy mini-dragons, after all...

Walking in to the handler and wher's line of sight, the guard bowed slightly, a somewhat awkward, unpracticed motion. She hated showing respect to most people, but, she wasn't so daft as to be impolite to the handler and wher. Plus, they were quite awesome. Seriously, how cool was it that they were like, in charge of all of the whers? It was really quite...well, awesome.

"Your eggs look beautiful, Zalmask." Glancing around, she found her eyes immediately stop on the Luxuria egg. What a pretty color. A bit feminine, but...Oh, look at that one! From the purple egg to the Gula egg to the Superbia and all of the others, she seemed to grow more interested with each glance. They all looked...well, wonderful! Glancing at Zalmask to make sure she wasn't stepping out of line, the woman would move to rest a hand on the one that had first caught her eye; the Luxuria egg.

[S'yal]

~Lucine and Luxuria~

Smug amusement curled from the effeminate egg as a soft hand rests against it. You chose Luxuria to touch first? Of course you would. The egg seems to mentally stroke Lucine's mind, an almost violating presence that casts a glance over her before pulling away. Soft laughter would echo throughout her mind, a promise of joy and pleasure that was held above Lucine's pretty head. Oh, a pretty one. How Luxuria loved the pretty ones.

[Filch]

Lucine frowned quite considerably at the reaction she drew from the egg. The intrusive feeling caused her touch to falter slightly, though, it was only after the laughter that she completely withdrew her hand. Uh. O-okay, that was...a bit more than she was ready for. She wasn't sure what she expected, but, it was far more innocent than the actual personality of the thing was, apparently. Shaking her head softly, she made her way over to the Gula egg before pausing, eye caught by the fire-like one. Ooh! Her course immediately changed while Imp glanced around before deciding it was decently safe and Betweening.

Crouching down, the woman brushed her hands gently over the Ira egg.

[S'yal]

~Lucine and Ira~

GET AWAY YOU FILTHY, DISGUSTING THING! Ira lashes out at Lucine, pure hate behind it's actions. Ira hates girls like her. Stupid, silly girls that fall in love with someone that never loved them! Ira screeches in her ear, get away go away Ira will KILL you. The angry little egg immediately after lets off on it's onslaught, falling into a silent, brooding hate that focused all of it's poison on Lucine. Poor girl isn't very lucky with eggs.

[nozomi]

Wonderful. Awesome. Fabulous.

Ah well, at least she wasn't covered in dirt and ash and fire at the time of Zalmask's 'request' they come and touch the eggs, oh, no! Siata somehow managed to get herself fresh into the bath the very moment Zalmask made her presence known, hot water and almost privacy. All that in mind, at least she had clothing on when arriving at the sands for the second time. Plastered hair and her dark tunic a bit clingy, Siata showed up with the same jaunty walk and grin, the rest of her body dry.

"One of these days you're going to see me with my hair done, all nice and made up," said Siata, her head tilted towards the Wher as opposed to Z. The large woman bowed to the Gold without the usual flourish - tossing ones hands around when eggs were in the vicinity. "I promise I'll treat your eggs with all respect due to the fine children of your fabulous self. Horribly honored you're letting me chat at them."

She approved! Fantastic. Z himself received a cheeky wink before Siata moved ever closed and pressed her hand, fingers flared and palm flat, against the Invidia Egg.

[S'yal]

~Siata and Invidia~

Invidia hesitates under Siata's touch, disbelief obvious in the egg. You... you touched Invidia first? Uh, Invidia means... Of COURSE you touched Invidia first! Invidia is GREAT. SUPER AWESOME, IN FACT! Like, the bestest bestest super awesome thing in existence! Invidia seems desperate for Siata to recognize that it is awesome, too surprised by actually being touched first to find something to be jealous of.

[nozomi]

Siata almost laughed outloud when Invidia reacted, reaching out to place her second hand on the egg as well. Her fingers wriggled, brushed against the shell before she started actually talking at the egg. Why not? Zalmask could snarl, of course, and luckily Siata already expected maulings in one way or the others. That's what Whers did - maul! (Secretly, she liked it.)

"You are completely and totally awesome, kiddlet," Siata nodded, eyes bright on the egg. "You can't see yourself but you're very pretty. Or handsome. Whichever you end up being, you're still in a very nice shell."

With that, Siata gave the egg a little four-fingered pat and took a step away. Next - Avaritia Egg. Using reason and practicality to go through the eggs? Of course not! Siata touched what she wanted to touch.

[S'yal]

~Siata and Avaritia~

Avaritia was not as desperate as it's sibling, and when it was touched it regarded Siata for a moment. Then, a sudden striking against her conscience as Avaritia tried to dig into her mind. It wanted to know everything! The wherlet inside eventually pulled back with a sense of smugness, images of many of the items Siata made projected to her. Avaritia will expect all of those at the hatching, thank you very much. No, there will not be any payment.

[Filch]

Lucine's eyes twitched narrower at the egg, shoulders stiffening slightly. It thought she was terrible? She the woman almost seemed to lash out in her own way, a snarl-like appearance on her face. Refusing to back down, the guard kept her hand on the egg, determined not to be the one to give in. Her own anger burned somewhat more silently, however, as she was keen not to let Zalmask realize she had angered one of the eggs. When the simmering hate came, she rose, immediately moving on to another egg, one that she was quite upset she hadn't chosen instead. Sitting down, the woman's fingers laid on the Gula egg gently.

[S'yal]

~Lucine and Gula~

Gula starts out shy, but the gentle touch quickly convinces it to be outgoing. It bursts in Lucine's mind like a firework, jabbering greetings and how it hopes Lucine is very happy! Oh, did Ira upset you? Don't mind Ira! Ira is just a big ol' teddy bear, honestly! Oh, do you have any food? No? Will you bring some at the hatching? Sure you will! Gula deserves it! Gula just switches from one subject to another.

[nozomi]

Siata flinched and as soon as she could pull her hand away without feeling like she'd be bitten, she did. Her fingers flexed into a tight squeeze, cracked nails against her deeply grooved palm. "Ugh, fuck, that was creepy."

Another shudder and the girl scooted away from the egg. Nope, nope. Wouldn't take that even if Zalmask threatened to eat her throat out. With a wrinkled nose, Siata put her hand onto the Superbia Egg.

[S'yal]

~Superbia and Siata~

Superbia is still for a second, before deep outrage flooded to Siata. How DARE you not bow before the queen before you touch her! However, all is forgiven. Siata recognizes Superbia's superiority to it's silly, greedy sibling. Superbia pauses before practically radiating smugness. Siata is right not to fear Zalmask. She's nothing. Or at least, she'll be nothing when Superbia is through with her... There's only room for one queen, sweetie.

[Lesa]

She was grateful Z had taken them off active guard duty for the time being - wher groups were always in threes, and as Z and Zalmask were busy with a little thing called 'eggs on the sand', she and Busk were off duty, unless they joined another trio to make a quartet, which had been done when Bujare (or Busk) got too bored. Not that Bujare was getting too bored, really. She had plenty to do, even on the nights that Z wasn't with her. The Traderclan woman hummed low in her throat, running a hand along the scandalously short red dress adorning her legs. The skirt required even shorter orange shorts so as to not show off her braies to the world, but Bujare could care less. She could easily kill anyone, guard or prisoner that tried anything (if Busk didn't rip their face off first), and besides, she was going onto the Sands. Yes, she was Trader. Didn't mean the sand was any less hot, even if her tough feet could go barefoot on it.

Dark hair was left to spill down her back as she stood with a slight wince that was more for sore muscles than Zalmask's voice reverberating through her mind. Hadn't been planning on going to the touching, at least not to touch... but it wouldn't hurt anything if she did. Bujare tugged at the long sleeves of her dress, assuring they were covering her Sigil, as was the high neck. Wouldn't do to let anyone else see it; Z already had, but that was Z, so it was okay. A darkling smile lit her features at the memory, she stooping down to pick up a canteen of lightly spiked juice. It had been chilling as best she could make it do so since she'd mixed the juice and spirits together. Wasn't enough alcohol to get Z drunk, just enough to add flavor and perhaps relax him a little... the relaxation should spread to Zalmask, which would be all for the good.

A steady lope, skirting around the certain things on the ground that would be particularly painful, brought her to the entrance to the Sands, Busk already pacing as he waited for her to join him. The softest of pressure on her forearms assured her that her blades were still present - though clearly she would have felt them if they'd fallen out. Perhaps slightly disrespectful for her to travel onto a Hatching Ground with blades on her, but Z (at the very least) wouldn't mind. She was the least likely to do anything to the eggs. To someone who abused the eggs, yes, she'd do something, but not to the eggs.

Busk walked onto the sand first, bowing elegantly to Zalmask before sitting beside her, nudging her gently. Pretty babies, he complemented, as he always did when he saw the eggs, attempting to bring her to good humor. Bujare herself walked over to Z, the heat not registering in her feet. The tall woman wrapped herself sinuously around her lover, kissing his neck where the pulse beat strongest before stepping back and handing him the canteen as if the previous action had never occurred. "I thought you might be thirsty," she said demurely, though her eyes told a different story.

She didn't sashay or add anything extra to her steps as she walked, there was no need for that; no, her normal near manly stride would do quite fine. Long, sitar-string and wher-handling roughened hands brushed along Acedia's shell, the bronzehandler looking at the most "plain" of the eggs with deep curiosity. How would Busk take it if she Impressed again? Another question - how would that alter her working with Z and Rishi? She certainly couldn't do certain, ah, activities for the length of time that the little one was too young, not to mention going out on duty... but they wouldn't replace her permanently, would they? They couldn't. She shook the thoughts away; too early to think about that now, the wherlings hadn't even begun to Hatch, were no where near Hatching. Worry about that when the time came, if she Impressed. Still she ran her hands over the bumpy shell, smiling softly.

[nemix]

Druen wasn't one for being late, however he also wasn't one for being early. He liked to be on time, so he usually planned his day accordingly. He had planned out his morning, feeding, mucking out, checking the newest arrivals again and preparing new stalls for a pair of runners that would help them shift some of the beasts about between the pens and fields. He'd showered, changed and had just sat down for his break, spoon halfway between the bowl of stew and his mouth that would be his lunch for the day.

CANDIDATES GET DOWN TO HATCHING SANDS. TOUCHING NOW.

The voice screamed in his head, making him drop his spoon and clap his hands to his ears in fright. Thankfully, there was only a soft 'plop' as spoon met bowl and was caught in the thickened liquid. His hands didn't stop the voice ringing in his head though, and it took a moment for him to recognise it as the voice of Zalmask, mother of the prisons latest wher clutch. Well, that was unexpected. Not wanting to be any later than necessary, he jumped up, lunch forgotten and sprinted to the wher complex.


Taking a few moments to adjust his clothes and catch his breath, Druen watched the handful of hopefuls drifting through the doors. Some were curious about second whers, others were new to the whole thing as he was. Still, he knew better than to make a bad impression on the clutch mother at this point. Clothing straightened, self generally respectable, Druen stepped into the room and bowed to Zalmask and smiled cheerfully. "I'm glad to see they're all progressing so well." He said, inclining his head to her handler as well. "Thank you both for the opportunity to meet them." He added before stepping back and eyeing the clutch thoughtfully. He'd never been able to touch a clutch before now, he didn't want to waste a moment of that opportunity.

The clutch was smaller than he'd expected, but that was fine, it meant he had a good chance at seeing them all. There were already a few eager people around, touching eggs and moving among them. Druen joined the crowd, passing among the eggs curiously. So many colours, the bumpy shells all had interesting qualities. Where to start?

Druen paused, standing by possibly the smallest egg in the clutch. Kneeling down, he placed his hand on the shell, wondering what on Pern could possibly be in such a small egg. It certainly had a lively green outside, would the wher inside be just as lively? Druen waited, hand on the Invidia Egg to find out.