Tubers and Talk {Jill/Dal}

[Zirin]

Yufa sighed as she made her way to the dining hall, her stomach protesting much more loudly than she would have liked. The weyrling lesson had gone on long today, much longer than she had anticipated, and it had left her regretting not having a decent breakfast. The smells of the kitchen were teasing her with every step she took and she couldn't help but pick up her pace. Finally, the food set out for lunch was in sight and Yufa made a beeline for it.

After taking a generous helping of grilled wherry and tubers, she found a seat off to the side and tucked in for her first real meal of the day. Despite her hunger, her bites were slow and lady-like. After all, it was still ingrained into her mind to be proper at all times, no matter how much she wanted to scarf the food down.

[Jilli]

Dalrian had another day to himself, Eliitra and Nevinth had said they had some things to do after the weyrling lesson so he'd helped with the candidates for most of the morning and into the afternoon. He wandered by the weyrbowl in case they had let out early, but it looked as if his past classmates were still working so he'd gone back to the weyr and finished up a few chairs he had been putting off. The work was slow, concentrated so that the order was perfect. It helped cool down his racing mind a lot.

He'd meant to wait for Eliitra to come back to go to the kitchens for dinner. He had had plenty of practice denying himself the luxury of food, but soon, his stomache was talking more than Neviinth. And that was saying something. Grumbling about demanding body parts, he made his way to the kitchens, resolving to only get a small snack instead of a meal so that he could still have time with Eliitra later on.

There werent many in the dining hall when he passed by it the first time, and he shrugged thinking he may take his meal back to his weyr. Once in the kitchens he grinned. They had some of the white tubers his mom used to cut thin and eat raw for snacktimes. That was perfect. Once he had his snack he made his way back through and this time he saw at least one familliar face. Yufa of Garnet Braymoth.

He guessed stopping and saying hello wouldnt hurt, considering Eliitra would probably still be a while. Wandering over, he smiled slightly. "Hey Yufa, long time no see."

[Zirin]

Yufa glanced up at the sound of a voice, and was quick to grab her napkin in order to make sure she was presentable. "D'r - Dalrian?" She was a little shocked to see him in truth. After that Threadfall... that horrid, horrid threadfall... she had only ever seen him at a distance with Eliitra. She couldn't remember ever truly speaking to the man. Since Braymoth had disliked his bronze, Yufa had tended to keep her distance.

"It's a pleasure to see you," She smiled softly with a dip of her head. "Please, I would be honoured if you would join me." Manners first! She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before continuing. "How have you been, if you don't mind me asking?" She still had a hard time actually speaking to men, since she had always been used to stay silent in their presence, but Dalrian was an old classmate and a friendly man.

[Jilli]

He sighed. It was always like that. The stutter an stumble over his name. The flicker in their eyes. He could always tell almost exactly what they were playing through in their minds. She offered him a seat and for a moment he contemplated turning her down.

He chose to stay. He was going to have to force himself to become open to friends again. If something didn't change he'd... He could almost feel himself slipping back into the way he used to be. After all he and Kelath had become together he couldn't become what he had been, so he gave her a small smile and took the seat she offerred.

"Thank you, I think I will join you for a bit. And please, the pleasure is all mine."

He popped one of the sweet fiberychips in his mouth and made a soft almost Inaudible mm sound. His smile turned a bit rueful and he dragged a hand through his hair. Such a simple question with so many answers. Should he lie and say things were getting better? Tell her the brutal truth or soften it to the lesser sin of omission...?

"It's been tough, still is. Just making it day to day is all I can do. Other than the obvious, things are okay. How about you yufa? Bray moth growin out of that rider abuse stage all garnets seemed to have?"

[Zirin]

Yufa winced as she realized Dalrian had her her slip up, feeling immensly guilty for even bringing the thought of Kelath to his mind. She almost sighed in relief as he sat down but instead gave him a warm smile. It was the better option.

"I am glad to hear, Dalrian." She spoke softly. She envied Dalrian sometimes. He had a strength within him that she didn't think she could ever manage. To still be able to smile after losing his other half... for all the pain Braymoth had caused, she knew losing him would be too much for her to bear. "I am quite well, thank you for asking." She gave him an innocent smile as he referenced the garnet's initial behaviour however.

"Braymoth has always cared for me," She answered dutifully. A proper lady did not complain about painful things, and Yufa would be no different. There were some scars that would never disappear, but as Braymoth grew more tame and the newer wounds faded, Yufa was finding it easier and easier to pretend nothing had ever gone wrong.

[Jilli]

Dalrian grinned at the innocent smile as she defended Braymoth. So it seemed the two were finally meeting in the middle somewhere along the line. He should have gone to every lesson, kept up with his classmates, even after losing kelath. If for nothing else than to support them.

"Well I'm definitely glad you two worked things out. I'm not insinuating that he didnt care for you Yufa, not at all. Garnet care is a little different than other color's caring is all." He gave her a small smile Before moving his tuber chips around on his plate.

"I should have stayed and helped all of you guys. I could have done so much more to help..."

[Zirin]

Meeting in the middle perhaps, or Braymoth had simply grown so large that he couldn't attack his rider without causing serious damage. For all that Braymoth enjoyed pain, he knew an injured rider was useless. Of course, that didn't mean they always get along either.

"I would never accuse you of such a thing, Dalrian." She smiled warmly, touched that he had cared at all about her and her garnet, especially since Braymoth had never exactly been kind to the man's bronze. She reached out, tentatively, to rest her hand on his in what she hoped Dal would recognise as an attempt to comfort.

"Oh Dalrian, you already do so much for Miss Eliitra. Just seeing her happy helps us all." How could any of them expect the ex-weyrling to stick around and watch the lessons he would never again participate in. He was alive. That was all that mattered.

[Jilli]

He shrugged. It seemed to him like that was a bit messed up. Eliitra was always trying to keep him happy, not the other way around. She and Neviinth tried their best to support him, but they were too perceptive to not pick up the almost constant pain he tried to cover up.

"I'm more of a burden to her honestly. If I had any decency at all I'd go back to one of the holds and start another shop. She shouldn't have to be concerned with my happiness..."

(sorry its such crap:( )

[Zirin]

"Oh really, Dalrian." She sounded somewhat, annoeyd with him. "Pardon my boldness... I mean no offense, but you really must live for yourself. If you think you'll be happier back at a Hold then go and be done with it. To leave because you don't want someone to worry? That simply doesn't sound right to me." She gave him a hard, calculating stare; brief, but enough to get her point across.

Face it my Lamb, he's a broken man. He's got nothing to live for without that idiot bronzer. Come on boy. COme out back and see me. I'd be glad to sharpen my claws on you. I'm even feeling nice today, so I may drop you between when I'm done. Yufa flushed in embarassment as she realized Braymoth was speaking to Dalrian as well.

"Braymoth! Dalrian, I am so sorry. Please ignore him," She looked almost frantic as she tried to make up for the red dragon's words.

[Jilli]

There was a light in dal's eyes when braymoth's malicious taunting voice oiled it's way into his mind. Until he spoke he'd had let rather ashamed. He should have kept to himself. Shouldn't have burdened other people. But that challenge... His fists clenched and he wasnt sure how yufa would take it, but it seemed her dragon's bloodthirst embarrassed her and a dark smile snaked its way across his face.

"I'd give you the chance at any time braymoth if you think you can. Dragon or not it won't be as easy to dispatch me as you might think. And we could possibly give you a few scars since you're so find of them. I haven't been idle little prince..." his fingers caressed the hilt of the sword at his waist.

After a moment or two he sighed. Though a good fight would be a welcom distraction, he couldn't do that. It was yufa. No matter how much kelath's memory demanded some kind of reaction for the Garnett's mention of him.

Sorry yufa. I shouldn't have allowed him to bait me. Dont worry."

[Zirin]

A look of fear flashed through her eyes as Dalrian rose to the garnet's taunts and placed a hand on his sword. She wasn't afraid for Braymoth or herself really, but what if Dal followed through and actually tried to fight her dragon? A human against a bloodthirsty creature like Braymoth? The results wouldn't be pretty...

"Oh no Dalrian... He shouldn't have said that." She had risen to place a hand on his shoulder in worry. Stay out of this Braymoth. She growled mentally at the dragon, receiving only amusement back. "Please don't heed him Dalrian... he just wants to cause trouble..."

Oh look, he's broken AND a wimp. I never thought Kelath's 'brave little human' would have to be protected by a girl. Outside the garnet was almost leaning off his ledge, his tail swishing in amusement and his eyes whirling with reds and blues. I suppose I should be terrified, shouldn't I? After all, you were so successful at killing Kelath.

[Jilli]

That was IT! There was no just letting that one slide. Dal's eyes went dark and his jaw set. "I'm sorry Yufa, but that one begs for an answer." His fist clenched around his sword and he stormed out of kitchen without another word to anyone. The bloodling wanted to play?

He'd show him just how dangerous he WAS. And he knew none of them had even known what he got up to when he went out for a few days training. Nests of wyverns had been dispatched, felines dead, it was not going to be an easy win for braymoth.

While he wouldn't injure the bloodling seriously for yufa's sake, he'd do his damndest to leave a mark or two for the garnet to remember he would keep his mouth shut if he knew what was good for him.

Making it out to an almost completely empty feild outside the weyr, he unbound his sword and screamed.

"BRAYMOTH! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME YOU SACK OF RED HIDE! GET DOWN HERE AND SEE IF YOU CAN BACK UP YOUR WORDS! OR ARE YOU TO AFRAID OF ONE LITTLE HUMAN?!"

He taunted the garnet with the same words Kelath had used in their confrontations when the garnet had backed off, switching bronze for human. He wanted the fight by god. If for nothing else than to stop the pity in yufa and the other's eyes. He was NOT useless!

[Zirin]

"Dalrian? Dalrian no!" She called out, though Dal was already storming out of the kitchen and she had no choice but to run after him in worry. He wouldn't... Braymoth was so large compared to him. What did he hope to accomplish with this foolish jest? Yufa stepped out into the bowl, her hand clenched over her heart as he called out to her dragon.

Braymoth was amused. He looked down from his ledge, sizing up the little man. Oh yes, little boy. You terrify me. I'm shaking in my boots. His words were heavily laced with sarcasm, and he was tempted to simply roll over and ignore Dalrian. However, he knew if he failed to show he would lose face and that was simply unacceptable. Very well, I suppose I'll play with you.[/i] He landed not far from Dalrian, his haws hanging open and saliva dripping down his fangs.

I shall enjoy tasting your blood, runt. His tail swished in amusement and he ignored the threats his rider was sending his way.

[Jilli]

The smile on Dalrian's face was almost insane. Anyone looking on the scene would say that the smile fit the situation. Then they would run for fear of seeing a human ripped in half. Dal may come out of this with some scars, but he would make it out of it. He had no doubt.

He swept his sword out of the sheathe and nodded.

" Come try to taste my blood then Braymoth.... I will dance in yours."

The light of challenge in his eyes danced and he wondered if taunting him with the fact that Izanycorth preferred thor to him, and even the bronze Mearath to him would help make the garnet even angrier, all the same, his muscles tensed, ready for the garnet to make his move.

[Zirin]

To say Braymoth was entertained was an understatement. That Dalrian would have the guts to stand up to him was impressive - impressive, but foolish. THe man was tall, but he would barely reach up to the garnet's stomach. Did he not realize he was picking a fight with a dragon that could just step on him and end his life?

Oh dear, how would that idiot bronze feel to know you're trying to end the life he worked so very hard to protect? He taunted, his posture showing indifference despite how interested he was in Dalrian at the moment. Well, he wasn't going to simply wait for the boy to attack him. Braymoth shifted with a light, but dangerous, purr and sent his tail whipping towards the ex-rider. It wasn't as strong as he could make it, but if it connected it would be more than enough to knock the boy back a fair bit.

Yufa took a deep breath and stepped back, knowing there would be no reasoning with the two of them for now. Braymoth, with enough mental argument, would back off if he had to, but... Yufa couldn't help but think this was something Dalrian needed to do. She would step in if things went too far.