Room Service(Menith, L'nuo(?))

[Rowen]

((E gave me her wonderful permission, let's have some fun.))

Rounding a corner Rekka couldn't help the gasp that slipped past her lips but muffled it by lifting a hand to her mouth to cut it off short as she spun around and ducked around the corner pressing her back to the wall. Her heart was racing, she'd seen L'nuo with another woman. Well of course, she chided herself it was what she'd told him to do, and dragon riders weren't known for their ardent natures for nothing. L'nuo least of all. A thought struck Rekka and she hurried down the hall toward her quarters. If L'nuo was here then he wasn't in his rooms..

She reached her rooms quickly and went inside moving to her chest she opened it and pulled out his neatly folded shirt and stood closing the chest again and moving for the door. She could return it to his rooms now and not have to worry about facing him when she did. It's what had made her hold onto his shirt for so long, instead of returning it right away, she just hadn't been able to bring herself to do it knowing he might be there, and he might be with a woman. Rekka pushed the thought away even as she neared his room she felt hesitant. Unless he had turned right around and headed straight for his rooms he wasn't there, and he had seemed completely busy at that moment so Rekka was more than sure he wasn't in the room.

Rekka knocked knowing he wasn't there, but it was still polite and she had a habit of knocking after walking in on a scene that was definitely something she had not needed to see. She pushed the door open and slid in, closing the door behind her. She stopped and looked around allowing her eyes to adjust and her mind to take in her surroundings. She'd been here before, not that L'nuo had ever known, or maybe he had? His dragon Menith had been there a time or two.

Rekka recalled the first time she'd walked into L'nuo's rooms when only Menith had been there, the dragon had been very protective and it had taken her several tries to have the dragon hear her out before he called for his rider or knocked her out of the room. Now she spotted him again and held up the folded shirt in her hands. "I brought L'nuo's shirt back Menith." Menith likely wouldn't be surprised, the only thing Rekka ever brought here was mended cloths, only this time it was washed clothes..

Rekka gave Menith a smile as she moved to deposit the shirt where it properly belonged, as she went she eyed the rooms. They didn't seem to ever quite change in Rekka's eyes, or maybe she wasn't being observant enough. Rekka set the shirt away then moved back toward Menith smiling again. "It is good to see you again Menith." She lifted a hand up toward him. "Would you like scratches today?"

It wasn't often Rekka was ever this close to a dragon, and even less often did she have the chance to touch the dragon. Menith was one of the few she had touched and she felt happy when she did. It seemed easy to please Menith, and in the little time she spent with him the world seemed so simple. She confided in Menith, though she doubted he ever told L'nuo, or he might have known she existed sooner. Or maybe it was that Menith tolerated her rambling while she scratched him?

It didn't matter to Rekka, to talk even if no one was really listening was a pleasure, especially when Rekka had been invisible to everyone else. "Will you warn me when L'nuo is returning today Menith? Or should I leave now?" She couldn't help the small curve of her lip at one side. Menith didn't really talk to her, so much as move in a way that told her without words what he wanted to be known. Menith didn't need to talk, he was as arrogant and confidant as his rider. Yet Rekka found comfort in Menith's presence when L'nuo's unnerved her.

[E]

Menith had recognized the feel of the women’s presence before she even knocked on the weyr’s back door. The brown truly did not enjoy having the back access to his weyr and would have much preferred one of the higher weyrs where his place would truly be his own. But L’nuo insisted on this one as it was closer to the rest of the population, and with Ponaa so under populated there were few enough weyr’s being used at all.

Hearing her enter and seeing the shirt in her hands he snorted. He didn’t really know if it was L’nuo’s or not as the smell of his rider had been washed out. But this particular woman had come enough times before, always holding a piece of mended clothing in front of her, he didn’t even bother getting off his couch.

At the offer of scratches, Menith let his gaze rest on her a long moment before moving his large head down and breathing in her scent. At his outward breath, her clothes and hair were blown slightly back. Finally laying his head down in reach, he let his eyelids droop slightly. While Menith was not fond of humans in general, this one was at least always courteous enough to offer such scratches and while Menith did not always allow it, he liked the idea today.

[Rowen]

Smiling slightly Rekka began scratching him. "I would have brought his shirt back sooner, but I.." Rekka paused and her eyebrows drew together as she watched Menith's eye. Her voice was a whisper when she finally spoke, admitting to herself and Menith right then the truth. "I was afraid Menith.." She lowered her gaze as if ashamed, though Rekka knew she should feel none. It wasn't easy for Rekka to always be so open, but having someone who listened but didn't criticize her had built a small bit of confidence in Menith's presence.

She looked up at Menith realizing that he might think she might have been afraid of him. "I was afraid to come here and find L'nuo here." Rekka bit down on her lower lip a unconscious sign of stress. "A few days ago, he had never noticed me, had likely not known I was in the weyr, and I did everything I could to make sure he didn't." Rekka shook her head almost sadly, "but.. I bumped into him, literally. I didn't mean to, and I apologized, but he saw me Menith. Then he followed me when I tried to leave."

Rekka looked into Menith's big eye as she continued her expression a mixture between confusion, fear, and if Menith looked back into her eyes, he saw, excitement. "One thing led to another, and I ended up having lunch with him. Then he touched me in a way I never have been before." Rekka tilted her head trying to think of a way to explain it in a way Menith might understand better, because she wasn't sure he understood what she was saying. "He made an attempt to fly me." Rekka finally said after a pause.

[E]

Feeling his eyeridges being scratched, Menith began allowing his eyelids to drop further. As the first of his many lids closed, she began to chatter. It wasn’t the first time she chattered at him, she was almost as bad as a green in that aspect. In fact, it wasn’t even the first time she chattered at him about his rider, L’nuo. He had found it amusing at times, but this time was the first she had mentioned him attempting to fly her.

It surprised the brown, to know that this was the silly green his rider had flown after and had not caught. L’nuo claimed that he liked the chase, even if it seemed to span over so many days. Menith thought it was silly all together, to get so excited and then just stop.

The brown could feel the confusion, fear and excitement emitting off the woman, he didn’t need to open his eyes to see it. Letting out a snort that sent warm wind around her legs, he opened his eye nearest to her. Really? If she was just as excited as his rider why didn’t they just fly already? It’s not like L’nuo only flew with the golds. That’s one thing Menith couldn’t stand about the bronzes, they were too good for the greens, but the greens were dragons too.

Feeling her pause in her administrations, he nudged her gently with his nose that could easily blow the woman over with a harsh sneeze. Honestly, was she going to be so silly? His rider was willing, from all of the energy emitting from her, it was what she wanted even if it scared her.

[Rowen]

Rekka quickly resumed her scratches as he nudged her. "Don't get me wrong Menith, I liked his touch. Maybe a little too much, but I refuse to simply be another that he flys." Rekka shook her head to stress how much she didn't like the idea. "You two are the same in the respect that you look for flights for the thrill, for it lasting only for so long, and never having any real connection with who you fly." Rekka looked at Menith expectantly, but didn't expect him to reply at all so instead added. "It might not matter to you, but it matters to me. I'm not making the same mistake my mother made."

"I.." Rekka paused again, her thoughts and feelings were speaking two different messages and confusing her. "I think what I really wanted all this time was him to notice me." Rekka let out a laugh that didn't seem completely real. "Aren't I pathetic Menith?" She stopped scratched to move and get a better angle to scratch him from. Rekka let out a small sigh filled with self pity.

"All this time I've just been an invisible shadow working in the lower caverns, waiting for someone to notice me." Rekka felt a pang of loneliness even though she stood scratching Menith, talking to him. The memory of never really being important, or friends with anyone had slowly been taking it's toll on Rekka, and now it was starting to show. Letting out a regretful sigh Rekka added, "If only I hadn't become head woman..."

[E]

Menith let out a rumble. It was not a rumble of pleasure, but rather a rumble of complaint. Was this woman truly chattering on about how she cannot make up her own mind? This was the most confusing green he had ever talked to, and what made it worse was that she was not even a dragon. Maybe that was why she was so confusing.

Deciding it was better to get her thinking straight than letting her give him a headache, he finally reach out and touched her mind. This was something Menith had not done since Ashni, but he was beginning to grow irritated at her indecisiveness and it showed in the reddening swirl of his eyes.

You are being stupid. You can’t have the feelings for L’nuo that I feel coming off you and still say you don’t want to fly him. Make up your mind before I make it up for you.

[Rowen]

Shock had Rekka frozen in place staring in complete surprise at Menith. She blinked several times noting the reddening of his swirling eyes. She lifted her hand away and stepped back carefully. She stared at Menith, her first instinct still being to run, but she'd fought it when she had faced L'nuo, now she would do it while facing Menith. She felt the shock wearing off quickly as she looked over Menith giving herself time to think, as her brain slowly registered exactly what he had said to her.

Her mind tripped over the middle sentence and she refused to acknowledge or even mention it for now instead her attention focusing on the other two sentences. Rekka was aware that she probably wasn't the smartest, but stupid? Maybe just when it came to a certain brown rider. Finally she managed, "How would you make up my mind for me?" She held her ground but had no doubts that if the dragon wanted to knock her over he easily could.

[E]

Menith bristled as the woman took a step back. Now what was the silly green doing? She had offered to scratch his eye ridges, and if she was going to continue to chatter at her he expected her to keep up her end of the bargain. Thanks to his size, the brown didn’t even have to get up, but just moved his neck to place his head next to her again.

First, you offered scratches, don’t stop till your done with your chatter. He waited, withholding any further information until she did as she was told. Once she began again, he continued, And second, it’s obvious you want to fly him and my rider is willing. He said so himself the afternoon you lunched together. I see nothing wrong with a good flight.

Giving a snort to show that what he said was obvious common sense, he added, So if I make up your mind for you, I would tell you to wait in his room and call him up immediately. My rider has never denied me.

[Rowen]

Rekka wanted to throw up her hands in exasperation but fought the urge to continue scratching as demanded instead. "For a dragon it may be that simple, but for me it's not! Weren't you listening? I'm not going to be like those others he flies." Rekka fought the urge to stomp her foot like a weyr brat. "Even if I did want to fly him I'm not going to! My mother didn't have a chance, she spent one night with my father and after that to him she didn't exist. I didn't exist!" Her emotions stressed her last sentence as she turned her face to the side away from Menith.

"I'm not going to be put in the same position as my mother, I'm not going to even risk it. L'nuo is one who will easily mimic my father, and has been from all the time I've watched him." Her free hand curled into a fist at her side. "I might like L'nuo's touch, his smile, but I'm not blind enough to repeat my mothers mistake. She died, with people whispering rumors about her around her. None of them were truly a friend to her, and she died hearing them talk about her as if she were already dead." Rekka looked back at Menith anger over riding her other emotions.

"If my father had cared he would have been there for her, but he didn't even seem to know she was there any more. For one flight she was a good chase, but after that she wasn't even real any more. You might not understand how I feel, why I refuse, but that changes nothing. I like L'nuo's touch, but I refuse it."

[E]

The color in Menith’s eyes visibly began to change from the angry red to a considerate green. Their swirling slowling, it showed him as thoughtful as he took in the information. While dragon’s did not do a lot of over thinking, a point came across very clear – she didn’t want to only be flown once then forgotten. A lot of greens fancied themselves special enough to warrant a dragon’s attention for more than a few flights, and while it was less common among dragons Menith knew it was a common thing among humans.

Blowing on her gently through his nose, he gave her a much softer rumble – closer to a purr really. Calm yourself, my little green. You are agitated. Slow, the brown unwrapped his limbs, stretching them and his back in a long process. Finally he looked down at her from a lofty height and sent her a feeling of calmness and warmth.

Come, I want you to sun with me. Hearing her question even before she realized she had thought it, he answered, And no, L’nuo is not coming back yet.

[Rowen]

Rekka relaxed slightly she followed him without questioning why he was asking her to join him. In truth she hadn't wanted to have an argument with Menith, and it had felt like an argument. She was hurt, but he had said he understood now. If he did then she was more than willing to do as he asked as long as she was sure she wouldn't be hurt. Menith had no reason to hurt her, so she calmly wiped the tears that had gathered away. "Thank you Menith for understanding me..."

Rekka didn't dare say anything else as she did as he instructed until he was satisfied. The sun felt good and had her relaxing even more. She closed her eyes against the bright sun and let out a long slow sigh. "I'm sorry too Menith, I shouldn't have said those things.. It's just.. I've never talked to anyone else. about this."

[E]

Don’t be silly, little green. I don’t understand you still. He said, but in a much kinder voice than he had been using previously. Reaching his ledge, he took his time getting comfortable before looking expectantly at the woman. When she closed her eyes to the sun an let out a sigh, he wondered if she was seriously going to stand in the sun rather than getting comfy.

Reaching out a gentle clawed arm, he nudged her closer to him. L’nuo likes the crook of my arm, sit on it and lean against the upper part. I won’t block your sun that way. Watching her as she decided weither to take the advice or not, he continued himself. Perhaps talking is what you need, though as a green you are already a chatter box from what I can tell.

Looking out over the Weyr, he let out a long yawn. While their ledge was not one of the higher ones that the brown would have preferred, it still had a great view of the whole bowl with the entrance to the hatching grounds directly below them. From their angle they could easily see the gold weyrs ledges as well as the Weyr Hall entrance and the entrances to the weyrling and candidate barracks. Up here he could watch the comings and goings of the whole Weyr while in the comfort of his own sunlight.

Letting out another purr-like rumble, he switched his tail to the other side and curled it around him. You do know that L’nuo often returns to those he’s flown before and often flys them again? He would not forget you unless you wished to be forgotten. He finally said, in attempts to put aside her worries.

[Rowen]

Rekka took Menith's advice sitting on his arm and leaning back against him waiting until she was comfy before thinking about what he'd said. Rekka let out a sigh, more sad then annoyed. "It's more than that Menith. I want.. to be different from the others." Rekka opened her eyes and sat up straight as she looked at Menith a thought occurring to her. "I think what I want... Is something you don't find often here in the weyr Menith." Rekka shook her head then and leaned back again relaxing.

"I'll never put that on someones plate." Closing her eyes again she let the heat from the sun start soaking into her. It was a short time before she spoke again. "You're right Menith I want to fly with L'nuo but I still won't. In the end he may only end up forgetting about me anyway, there's no way to say he will always look favorably upon me, and always wish to fly me." The heat from the sun, and her conversation with Menith removed for the time her responsibilities as head woman. She felt the familiar creeping sensation of sleep, but pushed it aside by opening on eye to look at Menith.

[E]

The silly little green had managed to confuse Menith again. For just a moment he had her thinking like a true dragon, letting everything melt away beneath the glory of the sun and she had to go and complicate it again with her cryptic confusion. Letting out a long, heavy sigh, he lifted his head again.

You confuse me, greenie. he said, straight to the point as always. What are you putting on L’nuo’s plate? Have you made him something to eat?

Giving her a mental shrug, he laid his head down on his forepaws, moving his tail once more to tap the end lightly on the stone. I don’t think I’ll ever understand humans. he finally said, admitting his own faults – sort of. L’nuo is the only one that thinks remotely like a dragon. You all worry about the future when it’s today and now that matters.

[Rowen]

Rekka smiled faintly and shook her head. "No Menith, I mean I would not put him in a position that may change what he does in future." Rekka kept that one eye open as she spoke but closed it as she continued. "The future is the next today, that is why we worry about it. If the next today comes and we aren't ready for it... Many bad things could happen to us." Rekka frowned at the thought. Her mother had died because she hadn't been prepared for the sickness that had destroyed her.

It was harder to force her eye open again when she felt the creeping sleepiness. She focused on Menith tiredly, wondering why he was letting her lay on him, lean on him even. No dragon before had done this for her, and certainly none had asked her to join them in sunning themselves. She understood completely why they slept in the sun, even now she was fighting a losing battle. She was tired, from stress, emotions, or just tired in general it made the heat of the sun that much more comforting to her.