Wine, Women, and Kaith [Twitch/Ooma]

[Kitsuneko]

R'hard watched his trio of fire lizards as they played in his weyr. Hari and Sahar seemed to get along well with the little blue hatchling, fortunately. Viggo tended to follow on Sahar's heels whenever he could, and the motherly green didn't seem to mind. He smiled and took another sip of wine. It was a restday, and with no wing drills that day, he had taken the opportunity to find a good bottle of wine and have a drink. Even if he didn't have anyone to share it with, it still put him in a better mood than usual.

You know what? Kaith chimed in from his side of the weyr. Now would be a great time for you to take my advice finally. Find a pretty girl and brush up on your romance and charm. I'm getting sick of you moping, anyway. R'hard scowled, but the brown continued unbothered. Maybe you could have some fun with one of the candidates before the hatching. Ooh! That Ooma girl was pretty, right? Kaith's tail twitched with excitement as he warmed to his idea. I don't know much about human females, but she seemed interested in you to me. And you liked talking to her, anyway.

R'hard was about to decline, until he actually thought about it. He had had just enough of the wine to give him a comfortable buzz and an extra bit of confidence. Maybe Kaith had a point after all--he had been pretty morose overall, lately. Besides, he knew his dragon well enough to know that he wouldn't shut up about it until R'hard at least gave it a shot. "All right, Kaith," he said as he stood up, grinning, "Mind the flits. I suppose I'm off to find Ooma."

As if they need it, Kaith replied, but he was pleased all the same.

By the time he made it down to the Lower Caverns, R'hard was starting to wonder if this was such a great idea after all. He'd enjoy a good conversation with Ooma (okay, and maybe some flirting as well), but that didn't mean he knew where to find her. He'd only really met her that one time outside the weyr, after all. It was early enough in the evening that nobody was asleep yet, but he didn't know where Ooma spent her free time. He went towards the candidate barracks, figuring it was as good a place as any, hoping he'd see her along the way.

[twitchie]

Ooma was actually headed to her room, walking almost jogging down the hallways.

She spied a familiar figure up ahead... a...a..a certain brownrider...
What was his name again? R....R'hard!

A smile graced her lips as she approuched him. What was a rider doing down here? This was, after all, the Candidate Barracks.....

"Are you lost, R'hard?"

She teased, eyes sparkling with a glad warmness that was rarely seen from Ooma. She touched his shoulder lightly, almost having to go up on tip-toes since the dragonrider was taller than she.

Ooma sort of skipped around R'hard, like an excited flit dancing after a friend. She felt silly but happy.
Luckily, Gretchen was off playing in the fields where Ooma'd left her. The dog was happier outside sometimes since it was a trait of her breed...

"If you aren't busy, my room is just down a door or two......"
Ooma tried to hide the hopeful note in her voice, but it was fairly obvious. She didn't mind spending time with R'hard. In fact, she rather enjoyed the brownrider's company.....

[Kitsuneko]

R'hard turned around when he heard Ooma's voice, and mentally sighed in relief at having found her so quickly. He smiled at her as he answered, "Not exactly...I was kind of looking for you."

There were two things in his favor tonight: one, the canine wasn't around. He'd gotten the feeling that Gretchen didn't like him much the last time they'd met, so he was sort of glad to see she was elsewhere now. Two, Ooma seemed to be in a good mood as well. She even invited him into her room, and R'hard agreed without stopping to think about it.

"Drinking by yourself gets kind of lonely, even when it's good wine," he said. He realized with a start that he'd carried the half-full bottle of wine all the way from his weyr, and winced at what he imagined he'd looked like, wandering through the Lower Caverns towards the candidate barracks with alcohol. "I swear I'm not a drunk, though."

[twitchie]

Ooma covered her mouth trying not to giggle. She noticed R'hard's drink and his comment made it all the more amusing.

"Isn't that what a drunk man claims?"

Her eyes shimmered mischievously and she took his free hand loosely. She pulled him toward her room. It was not forceful, a slight tug really.

"Lucky for you I'm disappointingly free this evening. You aren't took buzzed to have a glass or two more, I hope?"

She twirled around, letting go of his hand as she pushed open her room door. It wasn't much special, her busy closet was closed, a table and two chairs were to the left, her bed was atleast made....

"I'll fetch us cups... Make yourself at home?"

Her last sentance was a more hopeful request than the questioning command many might take it as... Ooma disappeared a moment to return with two glasses.

"Candidates don't really have much to decorate with... Its sort of plain... But I've got chairs and, now that you are here, good company..."
Ooma blushed and sat in one of the chairs, hoping R'hard would take the other..

[Kitsuneko]

He grimaced. She had a point. "Well, yes, but...I'm not. I mean, I don't make a habit of this." This was not starting off the way he'd planned. He'd meant to be charming, not look like an idiot. He wasn't that drunk, after all.

He smiled though as she took his hand and led him to her room. He made a note of which one it was, just in case. She'd probably be moving into the weyrling barracks soon, if she managed to Impress, but you never knew what might be good to know.

When she told him to make himself at home, he grinned. "Thanks, I will." He set the wine bottle down on the table and then took a seat; he hadn't used cups earlier since he was alone, but he appreciated the gesture. He didn't really fancy the hangover that would have inevitably resulted if he'd tried to finish the whole bottle on his own, anyway.

"It's lovely; reminds me of my own days as a candidate." R'hard said. It did seem like ages now since he'd arrived at Trelis; sometimes he was amazed that it had been less than three turns since then. He started to pour the wine, starting with Ooma's glass. "So, how are the lessons going? Having any problems with the other candidates?"

[twitchie]

"Hush, I'm just messing with you R'hard. I know you aren't drunk..."

She said softly, glad when he sat down. If he was trying to be charming, Ooma certainly thought he was... and it wasn't because he was the first guy who seemed to enjoy the candidate's company as well...

"T-trouble you say?"

Ooma's smile faultered and she flushed.

"O-oh.... Well.. I got in a fight with... Liam... but...um..."

She swallowed then smirked almost to herself.

"I won."

Without really meaning to, Ooma was studying R'hard's strong body, sort of going glassy eyed for a moment
When she realized what had happened she blushed harder..

[Kitsuneko]

He was relieved that Ooma didn't seem to think badly of him, so he relaxed a bit, even slouching in his chair slightly. He couldn't help but eye her speculatively, though, when she faltered over what had seemed like such a simple question to him. Oh ho, apparently the friendly Ooma wasn't so friendly after all with her fellow candidates.

He quirked an eyebrow as he took a sip from his glass. "Congratulations...I think. I take it he deserved it?" He made a mental note to try not to get on her bad side. She was pretty, but it was clear she was also pretty formidable. He sort of vaguely noticed her blush, but could not for the life of him think of anything he'd said or done to set it off, so figured it must be unrelated to him.

[twitchie]

Ooma twirled her glass, trying to pretend her heart wasn't thundering in her ears...

"Yeah. He did."

She smiled again, but not from her victory. It was a friendly smile at R'hard.
He's cute... but what does he want with me? I'm not a soft-spoken maid.. not even a ranking rider.. what do I have to give him that he couldn't easily get elsewhere?

Ooma tucked her hair behind her ear, taking a sip of the wine. Ah. It was tart and it made her tingle.
Her olive eyes looked into R'hard's.

"So... you were looking for me? I... I can't imagine why.."

Why was she so unsure? Ooma was almost afriad to flirt with R'hard... scared of chasing him off.. this.. he was the one man she truely enjoyed being near... she didn't want to screw up..

[Kitsuneko]

R'hard took another sip of wine (alcohol apparently had a wonderful effect on his overall confidence) and then returned Ooma's smile with one of her own. "Well, it was sort of Kaith's idea, so blame him if you like," he said with a little shrug.

Ha, she should be thanking me, more like it, Kaith insisted on interjecting. He'd grown bored of the fire lizards and started listening in on his rider's conversation. R'hard couldn't say he was surprised.

"...Although Kaith says you should thank him. Don't mind his ego, he gets that way sometimes." He said with a grin. "But the truth is, I didn't have many other people to talk to, and they were all preoccupied tonight. Not to mention, none of them are as pleasant company as you, or as pretty." There, he thought, knowing Kaith was listening; he could be charming and flirtatious too, when he wanted to be.

[twitchie]

A blush crept on Ooma's cheeks.
"You flatter me."

She must look silly, blushing so much...

"You are great company... I don't seem to make many... friends... I'm glad you-"

She paused, trying to think of something good to say..

"I think you are rather... charming."
Now her smile turned flirtious, her eyes batting easily and swiftly.

"Tell Kaith I might owe him another bath."
Her tease was light-hearted but her features remained flirty. If R'hard was comfortable enough to flirt so could she.

[Kitsuneko]

She blushed again, and this time R'hard knew it was because of him. He held back a grin of his own. "I only flatter those who deserve it," he said, flashing his teeth in a smile.

In the wake of hearing how she'd beaten up another candidate, the fact that she didn't have many friends didn't really surprise R'hard. She seemed to like him well enough, but perhaps he was lucky. Either way, she seemed interested in flirting with him as well, and he wasn't going to complain.

"Charming, eh? That's something I haven't been called in a long time," he said in a joking tone of voice. "I try my best, though. And be careful, Kaith will probably try to hold you to that. He has a big enough head as it is." No doubt helped by the fact that R'hard had finally done what Kaith wanted, and was clearly enjoying himself. No wonder the dragon was pleased with himself!

[twitchie]

"Deserve it?"
She lifted an eyebrow at the brownrider.
"Haven't heard that one yet..."

Ooma shifted her chair nearer to R'hard, looking at him with a mixture of happiness and sly, flirty eyes.

"I'm....I'm... glad you are here.....I mean... It gets lonely sometimes and yeah my flits and dog are nice but... It isn't the same as when you are here.."

Ooma couldn't tell if it was the wine that made her pulse increase and her head tingly... but.. this strange feelings.. she liked it..

"Do... do you think I'll impress? I mean.. none of the eggs gave me the greatest of feelings... I'm... I'm worried.. I don't want to disappoint my father again.. but..."

Ooma frowned and sit back against her chair. She didn't mean to ask that outloud...

[Kitsuneko]

Perhaps he was being cliche? Ooma didn't seem to mind, though...He took another gulp from his glass, and found it was nearly empty. He took the wine bottle and filled it again, and then offered it to Ooma questioningly. He then sat back again, smiling. "I'm glad to be here, too. I've been spending more time by myself than usual, and yeah, it does get lonely. Pets--or dragons, for that matter--aren't the same as human company."

He reached over to pat her hand reassuringly when she started talking about the hatching. "I'm sure you'll do fine. I didn't necessarily pick up the right emotions from the eggs on my Touching day, either, but Kaith still found me, and it didn't take him very long, either. I don't know your father...but if he was a rider, he should know that the dragons always know, and sometimes it just takes a while."

[twitchie]

Ooma looked up at R'hard, olive eyes brightening.

"Thank you..."

She blushed again, cheeks warming.
R'hard was.... amazing.. she'd like to peer into his mind.. he wasn't lieing.. this wasn't a game or a show...

Her hand was shaky as she reached for her glass.. when R'hard passed the bottle to her she hesitated. She didn't feel drunk but she wasn't clear-headed.. but she filled her glass half-way anyway.

R'hard... I'm a different person around you...."
Her eyes dropped, her heart pounding. She wanted to curl up in her bed and hide. Oh! Could R'hard really enjoy her company? Maybe... he would be a friend...

[Kitsuneko]

He smiled again, staring at her and thinking he quite liked her olive-green eyes, though that might have partially been the wine's doing. He did give a little grin as he answered, "Different...in a good way, I hope?"

Soon he got serious again, though. The wine was really going to his head, now, but he didn't really mind. It made him feel excited, and daring. "I like being around you, too. I like it a lot." He kinda wanted to kiss her now, especially if she was going to Impress soon and it might be his last chance for a while, but he wasn't quite sure how she'd feel about that. The good thing about being drunk was that he could blame all his feelings on the wine. In fact, he took another sip, just to steel his nerves. "So, would you mind terribly if I kissed you?"