[Hatching] I'm a Puppeteer

[nineofswords]

Heiro - Aneesa

Heiro blinked rapidly when Aneesa started talking about scars. She was calling Heiro pretty again, and it was making her blush again, which was stupid, because Aneesa was just being nice, surely? But people didn't really use the word 'ravishing' when they were just being nice...but maybe that was just how Aneesa talked and she didn't really mean anything by it? After all, Heiro was hardly attractive, especially compared to some of the other girls around here. Yeah, she was probably (definitely) reading way too much into Aneesa's word choices (unless...? No, no she was. Surely. Probably.) She was so busy processing that that she couldn't quite think up a clever reply, so she offered up a polite smile, then lowered her head in an attempt to hide her blush. Dammit, why had she put her hair up for this?

"No, really," Heiro told Aneesa when she said she'd probably be fine company. "I'm not much of a conversationalist, unless you like doing critical analysis of the latest Harper ballads or discussing needlework. I'm really not at all interesting, and I'd imagine even less so on numbweed." She stated it as fact, because it was true. It didn't bother her - what made her happy made her happy, after all - but she knew it wasn't the most interesting for others. Faranth knew her family had reminded her of that fact often enough. "I'm just glad nobody else got hurt as badly as I did. I don't think I remember anyone else from our class in the infirmary when I woke up." Though she had been fairly groggy, so she could easily be misremembering. She hoped not, though. It would be bad enough if someone else got hurt like that, but it would be so much worse if they did and she had forgotten or not even realized.

Heiro winced in sympathy when Aneesa said her arm did still get sore sometimes. "That's so frustrating, but I'm the same. Takes more than some discomfort to make me sit something out. And hopefully, with just one egg, nobody has to get any injuries today." She remembered how Aneesa had offered to get between Heiro and any rampaging dragonets at the last hatching. She worried that if anyone got hurt today, it'd be Aneesa, and she definitely didn't want that.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Candidate Aneesa - Heiro

Aneesa found herself blushing along as Heiro's face turned red and she ducked her head to try and hide it. "You're cute when you're flustered," she said with a soft laugh.

"I mean, if you're passionate about something, I'm sure you'd be fun to talk to about it," Aneesa said, taking on an encouraging tone. "I don't know more than a few basic stitches when it comes to needlework, so I'm sure you could teach me a thing or two, even in a medical-induced stupor."

Aneesa shook her head. "No, no one else was hurt badly. I think I was the only one who was even close to being as bad off as you were, and once they patched me up, I was cleared for the feast." Once she had made it to the infirmary, getting her arm patched up had been quick work. She supposed that the healers had plenty of experience with broken bones and much worse injuries, so hers hadn't been anything they hadn't seen a hundred times before.

"I'm absolutely not going to miss a hatching just because my arm is a bit achy," Aneesa said with a grin. She looked over at the lone egg on the sands. "I do hope the dragon is calmer than the last batch. If it lashes out, that's all anyone will remember since there's no other eggs in the clutch. I'd hate to see the thing go through weyrlinghood with that reputation hanging over it." She truly hoped it would be an uneventful hatching, save for the excitement of it being a single egg. She was trying to keep half an eye on the shell, in case it was a wild child like the previous clutch, but Aneesa found herself spending more time looking at Heiro than the egg she was on the sands for.

[Tyto]

Candidate Asch - Open

Something had felt a bit strange all day, though he couldn't put his finger on what it was. What it could have been. He hummed to himself, thoughtful, rubbing his shoulder and stretching. He'd been hard at work cleaning his room from top to bottom after eating, so he wasn't entirely prepared for the call. It took him a bit longer than he'd like to to pull on his robes and join the others on the Sands, bowing to Kuzoth. If he'd had more time, he probably would have tried for a bath. He'd just have to... stand a bit further away from everyone and hope nobody noticed he was still a bit sweaty.

Kylan of Brown Logariuth - Waving at Kouichi

Kylan had been very surprised to hear about Kuzoth's clutch, but had stayed by Kouichi as often as he'd let them. Logariuth was the one to tell them of the egg, only a second or two before the hum began and the call went out. They had been on their way to snag some food to bring Kouichi, and stood hesitating in the hallway for a few seconds longer than they probably should have. It was probably more important to be there--they could get food together after. There was only one egg, after all. It wouldn't take a long time like a larger Hatching.

Hurrying back to the Sands, they waved at Kouichi as they reached the stands, a bit out of breath, and managed to sneak into a spot nearer to where the green's rider was sitting. It didn't have quite as nice of a view so nobody was clamoring for it.

[thefaeriesfyre]

Acxa of Green Kaniyath open

I don't think this is the sort of thing one can predict.

Acxa didn't particularly care to hear the very sensible logic from her dragon. A single egg from a weyrling green (or blue, if gossip was to be believed) was rare enough, but an egg from a fully grown, fighting green? Acxa had only ever heard of the possibility. The weyrlingmaster's first dragon had apparently had such a clutch. Fort was not so desperate for eggs as to allow green dragons to forgo chewing firestone in exchange for a chance to clutch, and Acxa had long ago accepted that she would never sit on these sands while her dragon presided over her own offspring.

(That the junior queen seemed amenable to unconventional mates was almost inconsequential. Or that a green was a fairly acceptable partner for a garnet. Kaniyath was not interested in Chasing, only in her own twice a Turn flights.)

She took a seat near enough to another spectator, nodding briefly as a greeting.

I don't always believe in luck, she replied to her dragon, but whatever luck presides over hatchings, let it go well.

How often would she get the chance to watch a green's egg hatch?

[Fel]

Candidate Kee

"You be good," Kee admonished Alexander, who responded by yawning and showing his rather large teeth, briefly kneading at the air with his massive forepaws. She patted the wildcat on the head, earning a headbutt. "Be. Good. No trying to hunt fire lizards."

Not that Alexander usually listened to her, but she could try. After all, just then it was time for something even more important than him: a hatching. Only a single egg perhaps, but it was still a dragon egg, and all dragons were great! Well, perhaps save for Lexien's dragon, but that was solely through association and no fault of his own save for having chosen her at all.

Still, she was more than a little excited when she arrived at the Sands. She was practically bouncing back and forth between her feet, eager to see whatever came of this.

---

Candidate Aydholin Tag: Siyanna

Finally. Finally he was a real Candidate again, not just one in name who couldn't even stand long enough to attend a Hatching. Not that this dragon, coming from a green as it did, was likely to be for him. He was meant for something far greater--a bronze, most likely. But this would be a good practice run. And it was good just to feel... normal. Nothing even hurt today.

He stretched, running a hand through his blonde hair to ensure it was only artfully messy, not truly messy, before changing into the required white robe. Hardly high fashion, but at least it marked him as something more than just the mere, boring Holder he'd once been. And something far more than the useless whatever it was he'd been for the past Turn. Not a real Candidate, not useful Weyrfolk, just sort of there.

It may have taken him a little longer to get to the Sands than some, his limp still pronounced and slowing him down, but he did make it on time, bowing to Kuzoth. Even if she was just a green, she was still a dragon. She was still worthy of respect. Besides, it looked better on him if he appeared to be gracious. He could play these games.

He gave Siyanna a wink, and then a quick grin. She was cute, though a bit on the young side. He was fairly certain he hadn't annoyed her with flirting yet either. Probably. Sometimes he lost track. It was hardly his fault, there were just so many girls at the Weyr. "An honor indeed. I wonder how many Candidates get to say they were lucky enough to stand at a green's clutch? And someone here is going to be even luckier than the rest, the only one of us to Impress."

---

Candidate Haukka Tag: Kaelin

Haukka wasn't really sure what to make of... well, all of this. A green clutching, when he'd always been taught that it was a thing only golds did. So many people gathered in the stands, just to watch some Candidates probably not Impress. So many expectations resting on people who couldn't possibly succeed, himself foremost among them.

What had he been thinking, allowing himself to accept being Searched? Why had he ever thought he could do this?

But those thoughts he kept well-hidden beneath a front of excitement and cheer. He could pretend. He was good at pretending. Pretending had been a necessity for so long that it was automatic by now. He moved a little closer to a young man on the quieter side; it was always easier to seem exuberant next to people who weren't. "Is it just me, or does this seem like a good day for all of us?" he asked with a ready smile, despite feeling the opposite. Because there was a knot of dread settling in his stomach, twisting and angry. He just couldn't let it show. Never. "Even if I don't Impress, there won't be lessons. And there will be a feast!"

[Arcane]

As the candidates waited, the clouds gathered, a sense of a storm coming hanging thick and heavy in the air. But before the first drop of rain fell, the egg cracked in two, neatly and precisely.

A green! An absolutely adorable little green, who looked among the candidates as she shook the hatching goop off her hide, with a gaze that was pure sweetness.



She was pretty in a more approachable sort of way than many dragons. Her features were sweet and warm and very welcoming. Her hide contained a myriad of greens, from a pale nearly white shade near her tale to the green of deepest shadow on her head. Delicate vine-like markings ran along her body.

And then she spoke- to every candidate and spectator in the halls- voice surprisingly deep and confident, for one so newly hatched, as she trotted over to a spot between the candidates and her mother, Oh you poor dears, in those flimsy robes, with no furs or dragonhide to keep you warm and dry! Don't worry- keep your minds nice and open and I'll be quick and we can get you inside before this rain starts. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

She never took her eyes off the candidates, even as she gave her mother an affectionate nuzzle. As she walked among them, looking them over, her body language and gaze showed nothing but a soft, kind dragon, even as she took her time to fully examine each candidate. An observant candidate might have noted the way she always kept herself between the candidates and Kuzoth.

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, she lashed out, snapping her teeth against Heiro's arm with a growl, as she tried to push her away from Aneesa.

Don't be afraid, Aneesa, her voice echoed in her new rider's head, I won't let them hurt you, like they hurt me. Listen- and I will tell you all of I have learned of your so-called peers. The final word dripped with distrust.

The first drops of rain started to fall.

[Dragon]

Siyanna - Aydholin, sort of Aneesa

The wink made Siyanna blush faintly, and she averted her gaze. She wasn't really sure why, and she cleared her throat and pulled herself back together as quickly as possible.

"It definitely is a fairly unique experience," she allowed, "although they actually let greens clutch at High Reaches. On purpose." That seemed entirely bizarre to her.

Then the egg hatched - a green. A lovely green, to be sure, but nothing unexpected. And Siyanna wasn't at all surprised when she didn't come to her - although she was thrilled for Aneesa! She grinned at the other candidate, a woman she considered a friend, but did not try to pull attention to herself when Aneesa should be paying attention to her new dragonet.

Then the first raindrops hit her head and face, and Siyanna's expression scrunched up as she peered at the sky. "I hope we'll be able to get inside before it really starts coming down ..."

Keir - Open

Keir's heart nearly stopped when the egg hatched neatly, dividing into two clean pieces and revealing a beautiful green. Maybe - but no, of course she wasn't his. His face fell slightly, but he hadn't really expected to Impress. Right? Of course he hadn't.

He shifted slightly as the rain started. Getting wet didn't sound particularly pleasant right now.

[nineofswords]

Heiro - Aneesa
CW: Violence

She was cute when she was flustered? Okay, surely that was flirting, right? Except why would Aneesa be flirting with her? So...no, no, this wasn't flirting. "I...thank you, I suppose," Heiro said, not really sure what else to say about that.

"Well, I'm no Weaver," Heiro said, hedging a bit. "While it's true that I enjoy embroidery, there's nothing I can say about it that wouldn't be better learned from someone who's actually studied it in an official capacity. You definitely shouldn't listen to me about when I'm drugged." She wasn't trying to disparage herself, but she was no teacher, and certainly no authority on anything the weaver crafthall handled.

Heiro gave a pleased smile and a sigh of relief. "Good, I'm glad no one was hurt any worse than you or I," she said. The odd scrape here or there wasn't something to worry too much about, even if it could be very scary to get it at the time.

Heiro laughed along when Aneesa said she wasn't going to miss a hatching because her arm hurt. "That's the spirit," she said. "A hatching is much more important than the odd, minor ache." Normally, she wouldn't encourage people pushing through the pain, but an old break acting up wasn't the worst thing in the world, and could often be ignored, she knew.

She nodded. "Yes, violence is never wanted during a hatching, but it's much harder to avoid the stigma of it when there's only one egg."

And then the egg hatched, procuding a beautiful green. She was adorable, and seemed very sweet, having a boldness about her that few dragonets did when she addressed everyone present. She smiled fondly. "She seems wonderful," Heiro sighed. "I'm sure anyone will be very lucky to have her." It was odd, though, how the dragonet seemed to be positioning herself between the candidates and her mother. It was almost a protective gesture? And she wasn't ever taking her eyes off the candidates. That was a bit strange, but that was surely her odd feeling talking again, making her on edge when there was no reason to be.

And then the dragonet lashed out. Heiro reacted fast this time, on edge from the odd feeling despite herself and was able to snatch her arm back before the green could actually clamp down on it fully. She backed away, since the green seemed to want that. "Everything's fine," she said aloud in what she hoped was a soothing tone, both to the new green and to let Aneesa know she was fine. She glanced up at the other woman, concern in her eyes. "Is she okay? Have I done something to set her off?" She'd been close enough that she could hardly miss the bond that had formed. She would hate to be the reason the dragonet had snapped, and wanted to correct it or apologize if at all possible.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Weyrling An'sa of Green Heliocireath - Heiro, Impression

The cracking of the egg finally drew Aneesa's attention away from her attempts to flirt with Heiro, her gaze darting over to the vibrant shell. It had neatly cracked in two, and a stunning green who radiated poise and warmth shook some of the goop off her.

"She's a green alright!" Aneesa said with a grin and a quick glance at Heiro. "Maybe I should have made a bet with you," she added with a lighthearted chuckle.

Her eyes quickly went back to the dragon, who was addressing the candidates and audience as a whole. Oh you poor dears, in those flimsy robes, with no furs or dragonhide to keep you warm and dry! Don't worry- keep your minds nice and open and I'll be quick and we can get you inside before this rain starts. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Aneesa beamed at the green. She wasn't as large as the brown or bronze Aneesa wanted, but she could like a green like this, so considerate and concerned for others. The candidate straightened herself a bit, watching carefully as the new hatchling made her way through the crowd of hopefuls, carefully inspecting them with a soft gaze. She was so nice and gentle! Aneesa found herself truly and deeply hoping that this was her future partner, but was steeling herself for disappointment in case she wasn't chosen.

Then the green approached Aneesa and Heiro. Aneesa smiled warmly at the dragon, trying to project her own love for others to try and resonate with it. The dragonet looked at her, then at Heiro, like it was thinking the choice over. Aneesa couldn't blame the green, if she couldn't be its partner, Heiro would be a fantastic choice too. She also cared deeply for others, Aneesa could tell.

Like a flash, the dragon's teeth flashed, and she was biting Heiro's arm, in a vision that was painfully familiar to Aneesa. The dragon was trying to push Heiro away from Aneesa. Aneesa yelped, reaching for the dragon to pull it off her friend.

Don't be afraid, Aneesa, the dragon's mindvoice echoed in Aneesa's head. I won't let them hurt you, like they hurt me. Listen- and I will tell you all of I have learned of your so-called peers. The last word hung heavy with obvious disgust.

Aneesa wrapped her arms around the dragon, trying to pry her jaws off of Heiro's arm. What was happening? How was this dragon, who was so sweet and docile just a moment before, already acting as if she had been scorned by the world?

"What do you mean they hurt you? You've just hatched! No one has done anything to you!" Aneesa cried as she unlatched the dragonet's mouth from her friend. "Heiro! I'm so sorry, are you alright? Do you need a healer?" Aneesa reached an arm out to comfort the other woman, but the green blocked Aneesa's hand from touching Heiro.

Do not fall for her tricks! The green said, pushing Aneesa back and placing herself between Aneesa and the rest of the candidates. She and the rest of this lot are nothing more than liars and scum who will hurt you as soon as you let your guard down. You can only trust me to protect you!

"What--" The dragon cut off Aneesa's question before it could be spoken.

Use your mind, mine! The green said, her eyes swirling rainbows. They cannot hear our thoughts, it is the only safe way to communicate.

What do you mean? Aneesa asked in her mind, following the dragon's instructions. She felt the pit of her stomach drop as the swirling rainbows and the feelings of the dragon rushed her psyche. A deep, powerful love, buried underneath a massive heap of distrust and scrutiny. Too much for a dragon so new to the world.

I, Heliocireath will be your sole protector. It is us against this cruel world. Look now, at your former classmates. Already they betray your goodwill with jealousy and hatred. They loathe that you have impressed before them. Their emotions are fickle, and will drive them to hurt you. But worry not, mine. I will keep you safe. As the dragon spoke, her tail curled around Aneesa's legs, pulling the two close.

"No, they're not like that!" Aneesa blurted out. Heliocireath glared at her, and Aneesa went back to mentally communicating. I don't know why you are so convinced they are terrible. These are my friends. Heiro is nothing but a sweet woman who wants to protect others, just like me. Like us.

Not at all like us. The dragon scoffed, even as she nuzzled Aneesa.

Aneesa, no, An'sa. She had decided she would elide when she impressed. An'sa placed a hand on Heliocireath's head, stroking the smooth hide that was still damp with egg goop. They still want to protect others. Protect Pern. We're just going to have to show you that. Do you want to go eat? She asked, hoping the delusion and negativity was hunger induced.

No, you'll see that people are not as good as they want you to think they are. The dragon looked up at the growing clouds. I do want to eat.

I have chosen my rider. She announced to the sands, shifting back to her sweet, soothing voice she had used for everyone. Please everyone, get inside before this rain starts coming down and soaks you all through. I apologize for my outburst, a hunger pang startled me and I lashed out inappropriately. I do hope you'll forgive me, I regret the harm I caused deeply.

As Heliocireath pulled An'sa towards the meat that had been prepared for the hatching, the newly minted rider's heart sunk. She could feel Heliocireath's apology. It was hollow, and she didn't mean a single word she had said.

[thefaeriesfyre]

Acxa of Green Kaniyath

A green! Yes, statistically most eggs would produce greens or blues, and an egg laid by a green would most logically contain a green, but Acxa was not a statistician or a genealogist. She appreciated each new life for what it brought to the weyr and the defense of her home. That was true, but seeing the sweet little green approach the candidates made her smile.

The attack took her by surprise. Blood on the sands was never a good sign. Fortunately the green's chosen rider was quick to react, and Acxa didn't actually see any blood - did she?

She decided she wasn't that curious, and turned to the spectator nearest her to check their reaction.