Not the Usual Kinda Fun [Nine]

[Windra]

Plemeth was asleep. E'lis saw to it before he left, rubbing her sore shoulders in circles until her double eyelids slid shut. They were both worn out. Warm weather meant Thread, which meant harder drills and the obvious fighting. There was still an air of sulfur about him when he stepped out of the weyr. Night was speeding towards them. Brilliant golds and yellows bowed to deep indigo and violet.

It was pretty! Made him think of someone. E'lis felt the blood rush to his cheeks.

"Nope! Don't lose yer nerve now, boy," he scolded himself. Squaring his shoulders, E'lis cleared his throat. "I should prim up or somethin', huh? Or ... nah ... " Something told him she wouldn't mind. Man, he hoped not.

It took a little bit to get to her weyr, not thanks to the dragging of his feet as apprehension put a chokehold on his throat. He could barely swallow when he rapped his knuckles against her door.

His voice croaked out, barely a squeak. "Miss Roni, are you in?"

[nineofswords]

The sun was setting, which meant Ronnie's day was just about to begin. She was in a robe, her hair in a messy bun, several outfits laid out on her bed. Her riding leathers were on a chair nearby within easy reach. Obviously she'd be changing into those first, but she was preparing which outfit she wanted for the end of her work day. Ronica could take the socialite out of the Hold, but she could never shake the socialite off fully.

And then there came a knock at her door.

Ronnie had always been very comfortable in her body, and living at a Weyr had only made her more so. She wasn't naked, she was in a robe, but it wasn't something a proper Holder would open the door in. Ronica didn't care too much about that and opened the door anyway.

"Eli-kins!" Ronnie said, her eyes lighting up as she saw who was at the door. "Why I barely recognized you, your voice sounded strange. Are you alright? Would you perhaps like some tea? I don't have any handy, but if you give me but a moment I can make myself a bit more presentable and I'd be more than happy to have you escort me to the dining hall?" Was he embarrassed to be knocking on her door? Absolutely adorable.

[Windra]

Oh jeez oh jeez she was in robes and it was very hard not to look elsewhere. E'lis straightened a little, struggling to regain composure because Plemeth stirred and he didn't want his number # 1 gal in a foul mood because he sleep was disturbed.

E'lis wanted to reach for her hand and kiss the back of it, but this wasn't one of those kind of date nights. (Heck he wasn't even sure if she'd consider it so).

"Evenin', Ronnie," he choked out, positively beaming. His cheeks were flushed. "I was actually wonderin' if you n' yours'," he glanced about briefly, wondering at her wher's location, "would wanna get into a little backwoods fun, if'n you aren't on watch tonight. I wouldn't wanna pull you from your duties, y'know." He raised a brow sheepishly. "There'd, ah, be mud involved."

[nineofswords]

E'lis was simply adorable, stuttering and blushing like that. She let out a little giggle. "Good evening, Eli-kins," she responded. Clearly he had some thoughts on his mind, and she'd let him get them out.

She raised her eyebrows. "Backwoods fun?" she asked, curious. He was inviting Onisk along, so it wasn't going to be the kind of fun she would normally expect with that sort of offer, but that just made her more interested somehow. She raised her eyebrows when he said there'd be mud. "Well now I'm positively intrigued," Ronnie told him. "I could hardly refuse such an offer now, could I?" She went to her bed and knelt down, pulling the edge of her quilts and furs up to peer under it. "What do you think, darling?" Ronnie asked to the dark cave. "Would you like to go out into the woods with E'lis tonight and maybe get a little muddy?"

A white muzzle emerged from under the bed. Ronnie had long ago raised the height of the bed specifically so Onisk could make a little cave for herself under there. Who E'lis? the white asked.

A friend of mine, darling, Ronnie responded, not wanting to hurt E'lis's feelings by letting on that Onisk didn't remember him. It wasn't personal. She didn't tend to remember most people.

Is kissing friend? Onisk asked dubiously, clearly reluctant to tag along as a third wheel.

Not so far, Ronnie assured the white. And he invited you along specifically, so i don't think it'll be a kissing kind of night. He doesn't seem the sort who'd invite you along just to ignore you.

Oh! Onisk bellycrawled out from under the bed, shaking herself vigorously once she was out and back on her feet. Thank you, E'lis, Onisk said, finally speaking to the man. Sounds fun! Would like to come.

"I'll need a moment to get changed," she said, already trying to decide what she owned that she could possibly be fine getting coated in mud. "And I'll need to ask a friend to cover for my shift. They owe me a favor though, and this is too tantalizing a proposition to pass up." She'd have to go herself, because Onisk wouldn't remember which wherhandler it was she'd need to speak to about it. Ronnie was already beginning to coil her hair into a bun so she could pin it into place. "I think I have some older leathers I could wear," she said, thinking aloud. Where had she put them, though?

[Windra]

E'lis began to protest, waving his hands just a little. "Oh Ronnie, really you ain't gotta do th - " but she was already on her way to change and E'lis' attempt was half-assed anyway.

He looked forward to this venture - and really hoped she would be the sort to turn it down. Some holders were a bit stuffy but Ronnie wasn't like that. Maybe she could cut loose? And if so that'd be perfect!

The greenrider grinned brightly at Onisk. Hiding under the bed? Was she really that small? The white hadn't looked it before, but compared to Plemeth it was no wonder ... since the green was a little bitty anyhow! "Good evenin', Onisk!" There was that sparkle in his eye again. The wher would really enjoy this! Plemeth would too, but the poor girl was tuckered out and this was surre to wear him out as well. "S'a bit chilly out tonight," he added, tugging at his thick coat. "But it's jes' a short hike from the kitchen. Would you - ah - wanna grab some klah on the way?"

He said this all while standing in the doorway, taught mannerisms not allowing him to take advantage of the open door without an invitation.

[nineofswords]

Ronnie gave E'lis a slightly exasperated look. "Really, Eli-kins," she said. "If I absolutely couldn't manage it, I would say. I have a spine, you know. I'm not the sort of girl who'll bend over backwards just because someone asks something of her. But this sounds much more fun than anything else I would've been doing tonight, and now that I've been invited, I have no intention of standing for you trying to revoke said invitation. So no more trying to talk me out of it." If she had any anticipation than anything serious would happen, of course she wouldn't just skip off to go on a walk with a boy! And yes, sometimes unexpected issues happened, but that was why she was going to ask someone to cover for her. She was a responsible handler, after all.

Onisk finished emerging out from under the bed cautiously approaching E'lis to sniff at him and remind herself of who he was. He seemed nice enough, and he was inviting her to go along with Ronnie, and he didn't seem to be doing it just to get brownie points with her. It was so boring when they did that. Evening, she replied back in a quiet voice.

Ronnie didn't think to invite E'lis in, mostly because she didn't think she'd take that long. She quickly found the older set of leathers she'd been looking for and changed into them, not caring much what the greenrider did or didn't see as she did. That done, she turned back to the door, a ruefully annoyed expression on her face. "It's always cold at night," she said, pouting slightly. "I wouldn't give up being Onisk's handler for the world, but there's something about the night time that makes it impossible to shake the chill out of your bones." She shook her head. "Regardless, if mud is to be involved, perhaps it'll be for the best if I don't bring a jacket. My leathers should be warm enough."

Her smile brightened significantly when he suggested klah. "An excellent idea!" she said. "Let me call in that favor quickly, and then we can be on our way." She bustled out of the door, trotting off and calling over her shoulder "Onisk, stay there, love, I'll be right back." The white wher stared silently up at E'lis until Ronnie returned, which only took a few minutes. "Right. Klah then mud," she said. "Lead the way, good sir." Onisk got to her feet and went to stand by Ronnie's heels.

[Windra]

Left alone with the white wher, E'lis shifted from one boot to the other. He wasn't nervous being around Ronnie's little chaperone but the urge to reach down and stroke her muzzle was just so tempting. "Can I scratch yer eyeridge?" he asked, fumbling over his words. He couldn't get over how some of the critters at the Weyr were so different from one another. Even Wherries looked alike!

Watch for little sister, Plemeth suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Her voice was groggy. He could tell she'd barely cracked an outer lid. Whers are, well, sturdy but I don't know how fragile she is because, you know, white.

She looks tough and I'm sure the nugget can handle herself, he assured the green with a nod. I won't let anythin' happen to yer buddy.

E'lis felt the air of a threat from Plemeth but disregarded it. It was out of concern. She could be so full of hot air sometimes! As if he'd let something hurt a friend of a friend. Yeesh! Ronnie returned and E'lis was back to being the bashful little boy. He considered - no uh ... screw it - he did extend an arm, inviting her to loop her own around it as he led the way.

"Rrriiiight this way, ma'am," he flourished, all grins.

Anxiety was being steadily chipped away by excitement. This was gonna be a blast from the past! He remembered the old days of getting into trouble and nearly breaking some bones. Course he wouldn't let that happen to Ronnie or Onisk. They whisked past the kitchens, through the lower caverns and eventually out into the misty, cold night. Hang right, hit the hill, climb up soggy grass ... and at the top of the incline were several large, flat pieces of wood. Sleds, though crudely designed. E'lis was good at working with metal. Whittling? Not so much.

"Me an' Keith used to get into this back when I was younger. He busted a rib once when his sled split right down the middle and he rolled right into a ravine. Not me, though. I'm iron tough! Did get knocked on the head by a low-lyin' branch though ... " E'lis cleared his throat. "So whatcha think? We're a bit late fer snow but, y'know, mud'll be slicker'n wher spit. Even made sure to have a big enough skid for Onisk!"

He nodded a little further down. Indeed that slab was thicker and wider. The white should fit, no problem. He'd taken the added precaution of setting up glow-worm lamps along their ramp. Not as romantic as candles, but hey.

[nineofswords]

Onisk considered E'lis's question carefully. She liked that he'd asked. And she liked that he was talking to her even though Ronnie wasn't around. She didn't usually like being touched by strangers (or at least people she didn't remember) but...she could throw him a bone. Not eyeridges, she said. But behind headknobs okay.

"My my," Ronnie said in response to the arm offered to her. "You're quite the gentleman, aren't you, Eli-kins?" She looped her arm through his with a giggle.

Said WASN'T kissing friend, Onisk grumbled at this.

I said he wasn't one YET, Ronnie corrected. But he seems a sweet boy. He'll wait to kiss me until the end of the outing, if then. She hoped he'd kiss her. But for some, kissing women was a more frightening prospect than risking life and limb by fighting thread.

Ronnie was content to be lead along, Onisk at her heels. Ronnie made pleasant small talk as they went, but when they got to the top of the hill, she fell silent and blinked several times, unsure what she was supposed to be looking at for a long moment. But between the large slabs of wood and E'lis's excited explanation, she figured it out, clapping once and laughing with delgiht. "Well!" she said. "I must admit, I've never done anything quite like this before, though I've certainly been sledding. I'm certainly intrigued," she added, kneeling down to examine the crude sleds. "I would never have thought to do this on mud rather than snow, but it is rather slick, isn't it?" She beamed up at E'lis. "What a clever bit of fun! Oh I'm so pleased I decided to skip out on my shift and come spend the evening with you! And you even thought to light the hill! Eli-kins, you can't go to all this trouble and then tell me it's alright if I'm busy," she said, standing and giving him a playful shove. "All of this effort would've gone to waste, and that's no good at all!"

She knelt by Onisk. "Would you like to give this a try, my dear?" she asked, showing Onisk a memory of hers where she'd done this on snow, and then patiently explained that they were going to do this on mud instead. The wher cocked her head, thinking. Ronnie mean like this? The wher took off running for the edge of the hill and threw herself onto the mud, sliding down on her belly down the hill.

Ronica laughed. "Well, she seems keen enough," she said fondly. She shot E'lis a slightly apologetic expression. "I'm sorry she doesn't seem interested in using the sled you provided her," she said. "But it's probably for the best. I'm not sure how well she'd have kept her balance on it, and I think she'll have more fun doing it this way." Ronnie would be up until noon scrubbing the wher down after this, but it was definitely a fair price to pay as far as she was concerned. "Shall we go down together?" she asked. "Or are you the sort of man who'd prefer a race?" Either would be fun as far as she was concerned.

[Windra]

E'lis was all bright-eyes as Onisk went skidding down the hill on her belly. Hee-haw! That looked like fun! He might have to give that a roll before the evening was up! After all, he couldn't very well stay awake all night although he wasn't against trying. Ronnie's shove caused his face to turn red with flustered 'aww gwarsh', but a fit of giggles burst from his mouth.

"She's got the hang o' it already!" he laughed, clapping his hands together. "Ohh, Plemmy definitely needs to give that a shot." He thought he felt a gentle rousing but passed it off as Plemeth's dreaming. "Miss Ronnie, I'd be pleased as punch to have ya ride with me - but you'd have another thing comin' if you think ya'd beat me in a race." This came with a wink.

He clambered upon one, flagging Ronnie to grab the other. Was Onisk going to join them or were they going to meet her at the bottom?

"Unless yer scared of losin', o' course!" He was still young and not lacking in his boyish charm. Ronnie might be a lady - and a super pretty one - but a lady could ride a fightin' dragon and play just as much as any boy!

[nineofswords]

Ronnie's smile was very soft as she saw E'lis's eyes light up at Onisk going sledding on her belly. He didn't seem upset that she wasn't doing it as intended, only delighted that she was joining them in fun. It was a good quality, one she appreciated quite a bit. Her smile broadened when he started blushing and giggling, though. This was more in her usual comfort zone.

Ronica laughed. "Well of course!" she said. "No bond of mine would last very long if she didn't know how to let loose and have a bit of fun now and then." Her eyes lit up when E'lis said Plemeth had to try it. "You mean you haven't taken your green to do this yet? Oh you simply must let me join you when you do. Onisk won't be able to come, of course, as the sunlight is too much for her eyes, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind missing out if she knew Plemeth was getting a turn at it."

Ronnie grinned. "Perhaps I won't beat you, but that doesn't mean I'm one to be underestimated, my dear Eli-kins," she warned, though there was more teasing in her voice than anything else. She went to the sled E'lis gestered for her to take. There'd be plenty of time tonight to ride in tandum. "Onisk, love, come back up! We're going to race!"

Oh, okay!

As the white loped back up the muddy hill, Ronnie straightened herself up to her full height. It was made less impressive as she was sitting cross-legged on a sled, but she still managed to look imperious as anyone of the Blood. "Ronica of White Onisk is scared of nothing, my Eli-kins," she said haughtily. "But just for that, I'm afraid I'm going to have to win this race, just to show you I am not a woman to be trifled with." And then she shot him a wide grin, just to make it clear she was playing along with the bit.

[Windra]

"I thought 'bout pulling poor old Plemmy into this sorta thing. She likes takin' stuff apart to see how it works and well ... " The green would start talking about inertia and momentum and a whole lot of other big words that Ellis didn't totally understand sometimes. Just thinking about it sent their little connection to each others spazzing. Plemeth was definitely cracking an eye open right now. He was sure of it. "Y'know, I dun' think she's going to sit on the sidelines for very long."

Plemeth liked Onisk. And Ronnie wasn't so shabby either, for somebody her rider fancied. There weren't many of those around. Keep a sled warm for me, she called aloud, earning a haughty laugh from E'lis.

"Knowin' damn well you won't fit on one!"

We'll see.

E'lis glanced at the sky, taking a quick measure of the stars and fading light. "Thread kicked our tails today but it feels like she's still got some energy to thrash! Give her maybe ... ten minutes. Long enough for me to leave you in the dust!" He gave Onisk ample time to catch up, at least, before leaping onto the sled with all the beauty and grace of a wherry bellyflopping into a pool. "ThreetwooneGO!"

His weight kicked the thing into overdrive, and soon he was skidding over the edge and out of sight! Though his course was anything but straight, he still hooted and hollered as he went!

[nineofswords]

Ronnie giggled a little. "Aw, let her sleep," she said. "I'm sure she's worked more than hard enough to earn it. Sorry, I'm just imagining a dragon trying to take one of these sleds apart to see how it works, and I'm not terrible certain how much one can glean from pulling apart wooden boards."

Ronnie's eyes lit up when E'lis said Plemeth wasn't going to sit this adventure out. "Oh wonderful!" she said. "It'll be lovely to have her join in! She's such a delight, and I know Onisk will be pleased as anything to have a distant cousin to play with." She giggled again when E'lis obviously yelled at something Plemeth had said to him in his head.

"Please tell her for me that she shouldn't push herself. This is for fun, after all." And then when E'lis jumped on a sled and sped through a countdown, she gasped in indignation. "Oh you cheater!" she hollered after him, but she laughed as she said it. "Onisk, let me on your back!"

Oh? You want ride with me?

"Yes!" Ronnie said, scrambling up. "Hurry, we have to beat him down the hill!"

Okay. The white threw herself down the hill, her greater weight sending her rocketing down on the slick mud. Ronnie lay as flat as she could on her wher's back so she wouldn't create any additional wind resistance. "We're gonna catch you, Eli-kins!" she half taunted half yelled after the greenrider.

[Windra]

Oh for Faranth's sake! E'lis eyes widened with glee. Ronnie wasn't taking the sled, but Onisk became her steed instead! Try to ignore how her hair sparkles in the moonlight with mud flying all about -

There was a shadow passing over the moon and suddenly he knew that Plemeth arrived. Have you kissed her yet? asked the dragon cheekily, setting upon the hill's top.

"PLEMMY!"

The green bugled. Yes. That is my name. Also you might want to watch where you're going.

No taking his eyes off the hill! E'lis whipped his head around and jerked the sled's rope just in time to dodge a boulder stripped from the mud by heavy rain. "Rocks! Careful!" He didn't want to see Ronica and Onisk get hurt either! Still he had to be competitive and blow a raspberry at the pair.

What did I JUST say?

WHOMP! The sled was ripped from under him as it dragged another rock and sent E'lis sliding bareback down the incline. He saw stars - but only because he was looking right up at them! The rider pumped his fists into the air, still going but Ronnie was definitely going to pass him now. "WHOOO I definitely need a bath tonight!"

[nineofswords]

Ronnie let out a yell of glee as they went zooming down the hill. This was exhilarating, and she could feel her own glee compounding Onisk's, could feel the white's enjoyment compounding her own. Oh but this was a delight!

She looked up when a shadow crossed over the moon and laughed, waving to the green above them. Looks like Plemeth has come to visit us, she said privately to Onisk. You like Plemeth. You snuggled up with her while E'lis and I watched the stars.

Oh. That nice, Onisk said. Even when Ronnie showed her a mental picture of the green dragon, Onisk wasn't entirely sure she herself remembered that, but then she was terrible with names and faces. She was fine to just take Ronnie's word on it when it came to people.

Ronnie laughed when Plemeth bugled, pleased that the green was getting in on the fun even if she wasn't joining them in sliding down the hill just yet. "We see them!" Ronnie called when E'lis shouted about the rocks. The nice thing about sledding on a wher instead of a sled was that Onisk was much better at correcting their course than a sled was, and they veered around the rocks with plenty of room to spare. "Oh it is so on," Ronnie laughed at E'lis's raspberry, but the laugh immediately turned to a gasp as E'lis fell off his sled.

The the white wher - at Ronnie's prompting - dug her claws into the mud, slowing down significantly. The pair still overtook E'lis, but Onisk swerved in front of him, to stop their trajectory and give him something slightly less hard than a rock to bump into and safely stop his own descent. Ronnie looked down at him from Onisk's back, her face a mask of concern. "Are you alright?" she asked, a little breathless still from the exhilaration of it all. She wasn't too worried about him, between his triumphant shout and Plemeth's lack of panic, but she wanted to be certain. "I think this race down the hill is rather decided, don't you? With a clear pair of winners, I might add," she said with a teasing tone and a smile. "Why don't we collect your sled and make our way back up the hill for another go? If you're still up for it of course?" Concern crept back onto her face. He seemed sturdy, but she didn't want him to hurt himself unnecessarily.

[Windra]

Wherever he was going before suddenly became soft and warm and white. Onisk became his buffer and E'lis whumped into her soft hide. The mud caking her instantly became part of his face. E'lis drew back, laughing.

"Oh darlin', got no need to worry 'bout me." And he flashed her a grin, thrusting one of his scrawny arms up into a flex to show off his wiry muscles.

You called her 'darlin', Plemeth heartily notified her rider. Dragons couldn't really smile or frown - not distinctly, at least. But the whirl in her multi-faceted orbs was mischievous.

Flea - !

She's clearly affectionate of you. But the green directed her gaze towards Onisk and gave a happy little chuff. Little sister! Come, let's race together!

Plemeth regarding Onisk as kin was a thing that E'lis was sincerely giddy about. He secretly hated that wherhandlers and dragonriders had to work different shifts due to their bondeds' bedtimes, but there was always those golden few hours between ... Still, something about Plemeth's plain and confident interaction with her smaller cousin gave E'lis a boost of bravado. A little tentatively, he searched for Ronnie's hand to plant a kiss on her knuckles, mud and all, if she would let him.

"Night's not over yet! D'ya wanna race Onisk and Plemmy ... together, mebbeh?"

Though he looked over his shoulder. Where did his sled go?

"Thouuugggh we might hafta use your sled."