Hello I like fire lizards!

[autumn]

It had been a long day at the Infirmary, and Synchella sighed as she walked around the dining hall. She didn't know a lot of the people there today, but she hated sitting alone. The way she unwound was by talking, and flirting just a little. A little nervous, she noticed one of the Riders sitting by himself.

She recognized the Sapphire rider, And'l. She'd spoken with him maybe in passing? She couldn't remember exactly, but she knew for a fact he has a fire lizard that regularly had Clutches...inside her, that intense desire to Impress, even the little flitters made her hands clench against the side of her plate. She looked down, then to the side, biting her lip. She didn't want to seem pushy but...maybe if she went over and spoke with him, he'd tell her when his little fire lizard would be clutching again?

Mind made up, her smile brightened and she walked over to him, and slid into the seat across from him. Her eyes flickered over to the fire lizard perched on his shoulder, and she was hard put not just to stare at her. She loved fire lizards! The only thing that made her feel more special than being able to help heal someone was being around anything draconic.

"Hi. I don't know if you recognize me, I'm Synchella, one of the Candidates,' she smiled at him and glanced up from under her lashes, then picked up her fork to prod her food. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here, maybe you want to be alone. I just don't see any of my friends here right now, bad timing I suppose. But you were sitting alone, so I thought maybe you wouldn't mind the company."

She paused, hoping he wouldn't tell her to shove off.

[Yamamoto]

And'l sat there in his chair indian style as he looked around the room. He was eating his dinner alone today, becuase he just wanted some peace and quite to think about what had been going on recently, and to let the moment that he had with his firelizards go unintupptred. Leaf sat there curled up on the table and would every now and then lean over and try to steal food form the table of her pet. The young man then just smiled at his pet as he began to feed her while saying, "Alright silly here you go. I hope you enjoy stealing my food because you are just going to make me starve." Leaf seemed to have that certian glow to her and he wondered if she was going to be rising soon, but that just could be becuase he gave her such good bath's...

It was then that his moment of peace was distrubed by the girl who he quickly figured out was a candidate. He looked her over for a moment with his eye noticably scanning her, though this was simply what he normally did to size people up. He could be looking at a future queen rider, or a fellow Sapphire rider, but he was not sure which one. That was why he was going this.... though he had one instance where it had been mistaken for him doing somthing else, but that was a while back...

He smiled softly at her saying, "Welcome Synchella... You are looking nice today. I don't think I remember I am sorry I am not very good with faces so I really don't remember to many people if I don't see them everyday, and talk to them every day. Which we can talk every day if you want to be friends...." Ok now that came out wrong, he was sure that Hexeth had gotten him over his nervousness a long time ago, but he was now sure that that was probably not the case. He would always be the same socially awkward And'l. "You may sit here, I don't really have anyone else to sit and talk to at the moment. Plus I am sure Leaf would enjoy having someone else to steal food form."

He looked at her for a moment as his eyes contiuned to roam and he did not seemed to be thinking about the fact they where doing this for the moment.... it was just a absent minded habit, "So what brings you over?" He contiuned that soft smile of his.

[autumn]

When he looked her over she almost blushed. He was a dragonrider after all. She was used to being looked over like that since she'd started blossoming as her foster mother said. But still, dragon riders were people she still held in awe. Oh not as much as when she first arrive of course. Working in the infirmary quickly dissolved any delusions of hero worship. Dragon riders were human of course, with human follies, but...still.

His fire lizard was so CUTE! She wondered if the adorable flitter would take food from her, but didn't want to be pushy. Then again...

"Really? She'd take food from me? I don't mind sharing, I love fire lizards,' her voice softened for a moment, then she looked at him again and smiled coyly. Was he just shy? He was babbling a bit. She was used to that sometimes.

"I just thought you looked like someone I'd like to share a meal with," she replied back, taking a quick bite of her meat, her eyes flickering back to the fire lizard. Truth be told she couldn't keep her eyes off the darlings when she was around them. But she had to share her attention between the two, because it would be rude otherwise.

Besides, And'l was beyond cute.

"I just got off working in the Infirmary. Its where I spend most of my time,' she continued, watching the dragon rider with interest.

[Yamamoto]

The young man sat there with his legs crossed in his seat and returned her coy smile with one of his own, though that was not really what he was trying to do. It was ceritanly the way it came out, "Wow really then you should meet my brother, the white rider. He has a huge fair of like 9 of them. I am trying to get as many as he has, but I know that it will take time. I just adore them also, though not as much as I love Hexeth, but still." His babbling came out again, though he really didn't mean it to.. He loved his dragon and his firelizards the same. He cared about all of them, becuase they where the most improtant things in his life after all.

The little green flit walked over and nuzzled up against the girls shoulder as she creeled at her for some food. The little green knew this one would feed her, but all one had to do was to look at Leaf to tell that she was one well taken care of and one well spoiled creature, plus the fact that she seemed a little on the fat side, but not by much really. And'l made sure that she got a good work out and was well exersised too. She didn't always get a free meal. He knew to make her hunt for food sometimes to make sure that she didn't get lazy... becuase a lazy firelizard is a fat firelizard.

And'l contiuned to look the female candidate over sinice she seemed to be acting strange... little did he know that he was the reason for it, sinice the young man has always been so dense when it came to the ladies. He found the comment that he would like to be someone she would like to share a meal with... to be a nice one, "Aww that is so sweet, I can tell you are a nice person to share meal's with too...." That came out in a babble becuase he said it in a way that made him feel stupid. He was just so nervous, plus he had only ment it as though in friendly manner, but it didn't come out that way... And'l had problems with his intent verus the impact of what he said.

[autumn]

Dragonrider And'l was cute. His nervous behavior was even cuter. But the cutest one at the table was, in Synchella's opinion, his fire lizard. Without a doubt, hands down, the little flitter stole her heart. When she actually deigned come close to Syn and nuzzled her, Synchella's heart melted and she immediately cut up a piece of meat to give...then realized she might be over reaching her bounds.

"Do you mind if I share some of my meal with your friend? It's wonderful that you love them so, I honestly hope to one day be able to Impress one to be honest. I haven't had the opportunity yet," she stopped and looked quickly at him again, feeling the happy little thrill she always did when she smiled at someone and they smiled back.

He'd called her sweet. She was used to compliments, but her dimples showed as she looked down, then back up at him with her chin tilted down at the words. He was a dragon rider after all, with a fire lizard and a compliment was special coming from a Sapphire rider.

"Thank you, but I don't think its sweetness. I just think I wanted to have the opportunity to get to know you," she took a sip of her drink, her eyes caught on the fire lizard yet again.

She should have sat next to him. Then maybe he'd have hugged her in a companionable manner and she'd perhaps have been able to learn more about how to obtain a fire lizard in the Weyr. Biting her lip, she wondered if she should just ASK. She liked flirting, but she wanted a fire lizard second only to wanting to Impress a dragon.

"I have to admit I'm jealous, nine fire lizards! How did he manage to obtain so many? I have never even seen a Hatching..." she trailed off, then nibbled on her food some, looking down and wondering if she was being rude.

[Yamamoto]

The rider wacthed his firelizard interact with the candidate, and the sight made him smile, becuae he could tell that that Leaf really liked this one. The green was always quite the friendly creature, but this time it was differnt. She just seemed like she was being more friendly than usal, but And'l couldn't really but his finger on the reason. Though he knew that he would eventually figure it out, maybe this girl was like him and his brother and just had a way with firelizard. Though it could simply be that she is a nice person. Leaf always seemed to act this way to people who where nice, or those whom she felt should be part of And'l's life in some manner or form.

He looked at Leaf who looked back at him with those eyes that just said 'please'. The young man simply grinned, "Sure you can feed her, she really seems to like you, and I have to admit that I do to..." The way he spoke was another mistake, becuase he had only ment as a friend, but it sounded differnt, especially becuase he sounded so nervous saying it. His smile seemed to widen as he realize that he had made a friend, becuase he really didn't hang around many females, unless it was Trylinna, though usally he just felt like a thrid wheel in those moments becuase his brother was around. Yet now that he had found another friend he had someone else to hang out with... it seemed really nice. He didn't noticed what his comment had caused with the way she blushed... plus he still seemed nervous, and his oblvious nature was diffently somthing that was cute.

He smiled at what seemed to be her humbleness, "Well whatever you call it, it was still a very nice thing for you to do. I think I would like to get to know you too." Of course he ment as friends, but in this state where he was not really paying much attention to what he was doing, it sounded a bit differnt form that. That was when she seemed to admit that was indeed jealous of his brother, "Well don't be, it is not esay to take care of that many flits, though Purth usally keeps them well in line. I think that is the reason that he has so many because the firelizards really seem to like the white dragon so they all kinda hang around him." That was the reason that most people figured, becuase And'l had just as much of a way with firelizards as his brother, but he didn't have all that help that Purth provided, but that wasn't going to stop the young man form getting his own large fair also. He seemed a little clueless to her asking about the hacthing, but was simply becuase he was never good unless someone came right out and ask.

[autumn]

Feeling a funny little thrill, as something almost like a crush developed at his words, Syn fidgeted. She fed the adorable fire lizard happily, loving the attention from the wonderful creature. She couldn't see how some people didn't want to be around them, or found them to be nuisances. They were second only to the great dragons. If And'l hadn't been so cute, she'd have been unable to tear her gaze from the little lizard. As it was...

Did he really like her? He hadn't said anything about her maybe Impressing a fire lizard. Well...she edged away from her seat and moved to sit on his side, smiling at him, and touching his arm with her hand. She felt herself slightly blush, even though she flirted...he was a dragon rider after all! But maybe he'd help her Impress a fire lizard...maybe?

"Are their any fire lizard eggs about? I'd really like to try to Impress one, but I don't know anyone who has them..." she looked down, then up at him from under her lashes.

He seemed so sweet, and he was handsome, AND a dragonrider, and he had a fire lizard. She wanted to cuddle up to him, but she really HAD just met him. There was no way she'd misinterpreted him, she thought, he had been so nice to her, and basically said he wanted to see more of her...

So if she wasn't misinterpreting him, it would be okay, she decided. Wrapping her arm around his she laid her head against his arm and smiled up at him.

"I like to get to know you better too," she said softly.

[Yamamoto]

He wacthed her a moment as he began to wonder about her actions and why she seemed to be staring at him in that manner which he had just now noticed. When she got up and moved he looked at her for a moment and wondered what she was doing. As she sat beside him and put her hand on his arm he tensed up and she would be able to feel it. He looked down into her eyes though in a curious manner, as he was coming to realization that she was flirting with... and probly had a crush on him. Didn't she know he had a weyrmate. How long had she been here at the weyr? Him and Uu'ian where known for the complete loyalty to each other having both never been with another person, plus there dragons being weyrmates helped with that. As she asked about the firelizard egg he hoped that maybe she was just a girl who used flirting to get things, and so a yes would make her stop, he spoke in a very nervous voice that again created the wrong meaning, "Yeah sure... whatever you want." He was able to force out a soft smile as he looked at her. Yet when she wrapped her arms around him and impled that she wanted even more than that form him... he had to use all his will power not to cringe.

And'l's reaction to her words and the now very unwelcome contact was that he tense up and seemed to go even more pale for a few mintues before he quickly slipped away form her and stood up while stepping back for a bit to cacth his breath and steady himself before saying. The look on his face showed obvious distress and confusion, "Wait what do you mean by that... Are you talking about? Do you want me too...." He couldn't even say it without the need to run off and take a bath. Plus he was so startled at the moment he didn't calm down to talk slow, "I have a weyrmate Synchella... plus the fact is.... I am gay. I don't even like girls..." He sounded so nervous and scared, but this was not like he was before... this sounded like the bad kind of fear and nervousness. The shappire rider couldn't beleive he had let her cuddle up that close to him and say those things, and he realized how stupid he had been. He shuddered in distresst as he felt dirty... though that really what was causing his problem. The idea that Uu'ian could have seen this and made a mistake... He felt like he was going to vomit as he collasped to sit down on the floor.

The rider did not like female contact at all. Unless he knew them really well. It was simply a phoiba of his, though it would not prevent him form trying to be friends with the candidate. He had not enjoyed the pyshical contact that had felt so... so... voilating. He knew that he had somthing to do with bringing on himself, but still the fact that it had happened was shaking him to his core. If he was this bad about it now... he worried about what would happen if his dragon got caught by the wrong dragon. That would just be even worse. He didn't say anything, becuase he couldn't plus the way he had spoken before gave off the impression that he had been very very unsettled.

[autumn]

It didn't take more than a moment for Synchella to realize she'd made a mistake. She was young, and had never had anyone turn her away before, or be upset by her flirting, so it did that that moment before she felt herself freeze and stare at him, his words slowly sinking in as her eyes widened. He looked so scared. Why was he scared? And nervous...she'd been working in the Infirmary long enough to know that someone paling that fast wasn't healthy. Cringing, she rushed forward, then stopped, biting her lip.

He was gay? Why had he...she thought back over the conversation. For the first time, in perhaps her life, she felt her skin flush, her face turning a soft pink as she tried to put the rider at ease.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry!" her words came out quick and rushed, her voice soft and husky as she tried to convey her very real contriteness for making him feel...upset. Upset seemed too light a word for it.

She was also rather horrified that an advance from her could make anyone practically collapse. She moved to sit by the floor, her expression somewhat pleading.

"Really, And'l, I didn't know. I'm sorry. I wouldn't have...I didn't know," Synchella couldn't believe she'd done something so stupid.

Was she so conceited she thought anyone who was nice to her liked her? She held her hands out in a soothing manner, not touching him. She was a HEALER, she didn't like hurting someone. Especially like this.

"You look, you look really upset. I...I...do you need to go to the Infirmary? And'l?" she asked quickly, trying console him, biting her lip in confusion.

Why had he got SO upset? He could have just told her to not...or he could have not...no, it was her fault. She hunched her shoulders in embarrassment. Well sitting here stammering wasn't going to help. Sighing, she looked him in the eye and tried for an embarrassed half smile.

"Look, I just misunderstood. It'll be okay, I'll leave you alone. Do you, well I mean, I can just leave," she suggested.

[Yamamoto]

As the rider slowly began to recover form the ecounter and began to think stright he looked at the candidate with still that hint of fear in his eyes. Yet as he heard her last words he did realize that he needed to say somthing or else lose a new friend, "No... wait... don't go." That was all that he was able to force out for the moment as he tried to regain himself and let what color he had, return to his pale body. And'l was normally kinda pale anyway, but you could still tell when he was back to normal. After a bit he realized though that she would want to know more, sinice form what he could he had realized just by her words and quick actions that she might have healer training and that he could probably couldn't get away with not telling her what was wrong. So he began to try and explian, taking a few moments before he did finally speak the young man first said to her, "Well... I will tell you, but you have to promise to never tell another soul." He expected that this one would keep the promise. He had always been a good jugde of people so he figured that she was a good person.

"I am sorry it seemed like I over reacted, but it was just that I got really scared." He knew that she would need more than that. He didn't want her to think that she was a scary person, "I did tell you that I have a weyrmate right... I am not sure you know him? His name is Uu'ian nad he is a bronzerider, and well we have been together practiclly sense early in our weyrlinghood." He found it odd to be giving such a long expliantion, but he figured that it would be the best one, sinice it would give her more info, and she would learn more about him, " I have always had this phoiba of female contact really, and I mean if we had known each other better, then it would have been ok, but you did kinda sneak up on me there. Sorry if it seemed like I was leading you on though." Yet he still felt the need to explian more of the reason he had collasped, sinice it had mostly other things which the unwelcome touch had always brought out.

"I don't know why it was that when you cuddled up to me like that. I became afarid and worried that what if Uu'ian walked in and saw me... what would happen then... we be... he might..." His thoughts where quickly intruppeted by his dragon, Now don't you even dare think like that... he loves you. You know for a fact that some silly misunderstanding like that would never seperate you two. And'l knew that she was right... yet again. So he continued, "I then began to think about flights... which the aftermath is another phobia of mine, becuase I worry that my weyrmates dragon Tombath might not cacth my Hexeth. He hasn't fail to cacth her yet, and those two are like peas in a pod so mostly don't worry, but I just panicked... I mean what if one of the girls with male dragon cacthes her and then I..." Shuddering at the thought he then paused to take a deep breath becuase it felt good to finally be able tp talk about it with someone other than Uu'ian. With a soft sigh he looked at her, "I am sorry... you must think me really stupid." He couldn't believe he was giving off a bad impression on how dragonriders where to this candidate. This made him feel kinda stupid.

Leaf landed on her bondeds lap and the little green soft crooned up to pet. And'l pulled her into his arms and held her close to his chest as she nuzzled into it. It was the way that he used to do all the time before he impressed Hexeth, and it was the way that he still did it when he was scared or nervous and he needed somthing to hold close and cuddle.

[autumn]

She couldn't believe how silly she'd been. Feeling ashamed, she twisted her hands in her lap as she listened to his explanation, nodding in encouragement. Morta was just so...used...to anyone being nice to her because they...well because they liked her. Especially at the Weyr, since everyone was so much more open about that kind of thing. It was an assumption that had sure landed her in a lot of trouble now. No matter what he said, she had kind of jumped on him, because of that assumption. She'd have to be more careful.

Truth be told, she'd gotten in trouble for this type of thing before. Because some males wouldn't tell her if they were in a relationship, and then she'd kissed them, and they STILL wouldn't tell her...and then their girlfriends or lovers would get seriously upset with her! She had never felt this bad before though. After all, it wasn't her fault their mates had let her kiss them, and still hadn't said anything. But she supposed she really did have to start paying attention now, and seeing first who it was she was flirting with and it they WANTED her to flirt with them. It was strange to think of someone NOT wanting to. She blushed. Well, obviously, there were people who didn't.

"No, you're not stupid at all. I'm just...I feel awful. I did kind of attack you there, I made assumptions about what you being so nice meant. I've never had a conversation really, where some guy has been THAT nice and not, well, wanted me to do that," she trailed off at the end, and felt her blush fade as she watched Leaf snuggle up to her human companion.

"I'm just...used to acting that way, and,' she sighed, and then half laughed at herself, scratching her head with one hand. 'I'm not going to do that again. And I don't think your weyrmate would be mad at you for a misunderstanding. I think he'd understand. You seem like a really nice person, and he probably knows you'd never do something like that to hurt him."

His color had returned, and she felt some of the tension leave her. Still, she felt a little nervous. He'd just told her one of his greatest fears. It was very different to her, she'd just thought all weyrfolk would be...open...to whomever their dragon flew. But apparently that wasn't the case. It was unfortunate, she hoped his fear was never realized.

Smiling hopefully, continued speaking, her voice indicating her hope.

"I...don't suppose you still want to be my friend after I scared you like that?"