A queenly tea party (Tag: Lithle)

[S'yal]

Z was oiling Zalmask, and not very happy about it. The wher didn't need to be oiled- it was generally something left to when she had an abraision or rash that needed to be cared for. But tonight she practically insisted on being oiled, on looking her best. A harness adorned with a single red lay beside the wher, and Z grunted at he looked at it. "So, why are you forcing me to oil you again?" He questioned the wher with a chagrined sigh. Zalmask regarded him with an irritated orange eye, with just the faintest touch of yellow anxiety.

Visiting Semith tonight. Look good for visit with Semith. Zalmask's bring shiny thing? She questioned, and Z rolled his eyes and bared the shimmering rock he'd retrieved from the river. Not go into other queens territory with no gift, looking bad. Very rude. Zalmask polite, Zalmask go ask queen if she want company, then Zalmask give queen present. You bring present for Semith's? She asked the last bit with a sense of imperious demand, like a queen going to visit another in a foreign court. To her, this had all the importance of a diplomatic mission.

"I don't see the point, Semith isn't exa-" He was cut off when Zalmask's tail thudded into his belly, knocking him on his back and making him wheeze. "Shard it!"

Semith queen, Zalmask's remember that. Zalmask's treat queen with respect, or else. Now, present? She asked, huffing. Zalmask done being oiled. Harness now. She turned to regard him as he huffed and buckled the harness onto her. He almost reached for the leash, but she snapped at his hand and snarled loudly.

"I don't know what to give her! I have some wine from my stash that i'm bringing, because I heard that she had trouble with the dragonguard, but that might just offend her. Shard it, Zalmask, I don't even -know- Leshta." Z grumbled even as he finished Zalmask's harness. He had to give the large wher one thing- she looked good. Zalmask stood quickly, the gold looking over Z's clothes to determine if he was fit to be shown to the weyrwoman. Even Warden-flit and the other girls looked nice- Cally wasn't coming, but she'd insisted on a brushing. The two flits had both been oiled... and Alina had been strictly ordered to stay behind. Z knew the weyrwoman didn't like flits much, and he didn't think Alina was well behaved enough to come. Warden was on his best behavior, though. He even had a little bow tie.

"Alright, alright. Tell Semith we're coming to visit." Z sighed, rubbing his face. "You should have told her sooner, Zalmask." Zalmask sniffed, not dignifying that statement with a response. Stupid Z, didn't he know that would just make her look bad? Besides, it wasn't too late... it was only a few candlemarks past sunset and Zalmask was SURE the queen would be awake.

Semith awake? Zalmask brings her human for visit, talk about babies and annoying dragonmen. Zalmask paused before grumbling a bit, hesitating. Brought shiny for Semith, if she wants. Zalmask polite. The last part was directed at her handler as well as Semith. She was already trotting towards the dragon weyrs, locating the one that belonged to the queen quickly. She hung back and waited for both an invitation... and for her slower handler to keep up.

Zalmask's not know what to bring for Semith's, so he brought wine he got. Semith's like wine? Zalmask's tail twitched with anxious impatience. She wanted to see the queen, and she would! Even if she had to go out in day light and blind herself. Zalmask sorry for coming late at night. Zalmask not go out at day.

"I can't believe you're dragging me out to talk to Leshta. She's going to eat me."

Zalmask not see problem. Shush.

[lithle]

They were flying. It was something that Leshta had always loved, from that first breathless flight on dragonback. She even liked the cold rush of between. She loved the thrill of it. The height. The freedom. They could exist untouched, above it all. They never had to come down. Just her and Semith. Always.

Wake, mine. The voice from the sky but not in the sky. Leshta fought the call but it was no use. She was coming awake. Coming back to the world. Coming back to Semith. Semith who would never fly. And they would never be free, not really.

They would always be here.

It was not a good mood to waken into, not a good thought to find oneself locked within. Blinking in the darkness of her hut, Leshta felt around and flipped open the glow basket. She yawned, stretched, and took a slow breath trying to calm herself.

What is it, sweet? she kept her own mindvoice free of irritation, despite her feelings. Whatever else she might do, Leshta never snapped at Semith.

We are to have visitors! Nevermind the hour, Semith was full of glee at the idea, all hope and excitement and joyous energy.

What? And yes, there was irritation now, just not directed at Semith. More of the Dragon Watch? At this hour?

Zalmask and Zalmask's.

Ahh. The wherleader. Well, that explained the hour. Still. She couldn't say she was happy about the idea. She didn't know Z in more than passing, dealing with the whers wasn't in her duties. But now he wanted to talk. Taking her away from dreams of freedom and flight.

Oh, Leshta was thrilled at the idea.

Zalmask, you and yours are welcome! Mine is getting dressed. Please, come meet me at my weyr. We will speak! She sounded very pleased, though her tone lacked any sense of formality that might be appropriate in a meeting between queens. You are welcome anytime and mine enjoys good wine.

Leshta stepped out of her hut then, going to stand beside the gold's head. "Oh, lovely. The things you have me do."

[S'yal]

{Okay.} A short and sweet reply to all of Semith’s talking, but Zalmask was obviously excited. The wher was walking with a spring in her step, even despite her handler following her with a scowl on his face. {Stand straight, Zalmask’s. You embarrassing.} Zalmask scolded him, her tail lightly hitting his side. Z merely grumbled, displeased with spending some of his valuable time bothering the weyrwoman.

Though, from the looks of things, Leshta wasn’t that happy either. Z waved to her, offering the wineskin he was holding with a smirk. “Wine? I figure you could use some.” The watch was never fun to have around, even if Z had a fairly alright experience with his… despite Zalmask’s huffing and puffing the entire time. One day she was going to blow a house down, Z swore. “It’s good, promise. I keep it for meetings with pretty women.” He wasn’t flirting, just joking. “Right, Semith? I’ve never met a prettier dragon then you.”

{Zalmask want to talk to Semith about babies.} Zalmask announced briskly, seating herself near the other gold. {Heard Semith had lots of babies. Zalmask has lots of babies too. Ridermen angry about Semith’s babies, but Zalmask think they cute.} Amusingly enough, she’d been calling them ugly at the hatching. But she knew better then to ever call a child ugly in front of it’s mother. {Humans talk about boring things. Zalmask and Semith talk about babies, yes?}

“Zalmask was beside herself about having a talk with Semith, but I didn’t want to bother you during the interviews.” Z tilted his head to one side. “I actually wanted to talk to you about that. I figured we could talk about something important while the lovely ladies chatter.”

{Babies important. Shut up, human.} Zalmask swiped at Z, who side stepped to avoid it.

“Besides, we haven’t had a chance to get to know each other and I thought it’d be prudent.” Z shrugged, despite not knowing what prudent meant. He was going to use it anyway, shard it all. “Zalmask wants to get to know Semith. But if you want me to shut up, I can.”