Colorful, explicit words filled the Healer's wing as a particular bluerider gripped the metal railing of the cot she lay on, eyes pinched shut as the needle hit a strip of flesh that still had some nerve left in it.

"Lay still now!" The old voice was sharp as she shoved Nako's face back in the pillow, working on her bare back to suture up a horrible gash that spanned from shoulder to buttocks. "I'm working with what was in the bottom of the jar... someone's bringing more numbweed up from storage soon... I swear, you dragonriders really go through the stuff during a Fall..."

Yes, the fall was just now ending, with very few injuries and no deaths. It was just Nako's luck that a particular green had to do a rather.. interesting move to duck thread just as Mellanoth came up to flame. Merrily, Marti continued to suture up the wound. "You're lucky Kaith only grazed you.... How is Mellanoth?"

Hah.. just a scratch... but a scratch from a dragon meant sutures. She had no ill feelings though, and luckily for both it was considered a blunderous tragedy with no fingers pointing to anyone in particular. It was a sure thing that they'd have extra vigorous drills in the coming sevendays because of this though. "If... there's anything I've learned by now, it's not to let him hear me when I'm hurting.." Nako uttered through grit teeth. "B'sides.. this is nothing near as bad as thread.... Oh -thank- you!" Nako sighed with relief as more numbweed was applied to the wound.


((Alrighty.. an rp to keep things going since everyone is getting fidgety DX ))

Footsteps that normally would echo hollowly through the empty infirmary were now swallowed by the groans and bitter mutters of riders who hadn't been quite so lucky as he had been in Threadfall. A self satisfied smile spread across L'gan's face as he recalled the Fall. A dangerous time, it was still the only time L'gan felt truly useful during these last few months. In the most modest sense possible of course, he and 'Math were the best, he reflected. This was after all what they had been bred to do. The mighty bronze was certainly not as agile as a lithe green, but he was a Master at his craft nonetheless.

Stopping briefly at each cot, he spoke a few words of praise and encouragement until the Healers shooed him away from their wards. As he continued down the row, a familiar voice reached his ears. He peeked around the curtain and was appalled to see the gash running down Nako's side. Behemath had given him a general overview of the injuries earlier, but had neglected to elaborate much about each instance. "Shards, Nako! Was this your first time in a Fall? You're very nearly split tip to tail." He grinned, but concern was evident in his eyes. This Pass was far from over, and from the looks of it, one of his more able fighters would be out of commission.

Nako made a rude noise, craning her neck to look toward the voice. She knew who it was just by sound, but she couldn't help but want to shoot him a look of challenge at his comment no matter how good natured it was. "Hey now! Unless your eyes are starting to fail you Weyrleader, this is obviously no threadscore-- Mmmpth!" Her sentence was garbled as Marti shoved her face back into the pillow.

"Quit moving, bluerider! Trying to sew you up, shard it.." Marti grumbled, shooting the Weyrleader a look. "A freak accident is right. Whether it was bad positioning or not, I don't know, but from what I gather, Kaith ducked just a little too low right when Mellanoth was coming up under her. Didn't get Mellanoth at all... and had the angle been different.. well... coulda been worse." Finally Marti let go of Nako's head and she pulled it out of the pillows, gasping for breath.

"Weyrleader, she's trying to kill me!" Nako cried plaintively, ever the dramatic.

Marti acted as if she heard nothing, clucking her tongue as she continued her work. "So odd.. This is the first of this kind of injury I've seen, and I'll tell you I've seen quite a few injuries. I'll have to make an entry in my medical logs for sure." The healer almost sounded.. pleased. Then again, many healers found some sort of way to become detached from their job.

L'gan stifled a guffaw as Nako's head was unceremoniously shoved back into the pillow. "If I were you, I'd say still lest she accidentally stitch my arm to my side. I've heard of it happening to unruly blueriders before." He said, his tone completely deadpan. Of course, the effect was somewhat ruined by the grin that kept trying to sneak back. "Well, accidents happen, I suppose, but I'll be sure to have a word with Kaith's rider later. Maybe with a few extra hours of drills a week, things like this can be avoided." Behemath snorted. And then we'll all be too tired to fly, much less flame.

Refocusing his attention on Marti, L'gan cocked his head, perplexed as to how she could stand stitching people up like rucksacks. Swallowing at the unpleasant image that conjured, he inquired, "How long do you figure she'll be confined to bed, Marti? And is she the worst of the injuries we have?"

"Hm..... a sevenday of complete rest. I'd even say to have someone else wash Mellanoth that the stitches don't pop. This is over an extensive area of skin, so she might be out of commission at least two sevendays before she can go back on active duty. We'll just have so see." Marti said matter of factly, ignoring Nako as she gave a muffled protest through the pillows. "I know it seems like a long time, but in the long run, it's better to let it heal completely than to risk it opening up again."

As she spoke, Marti's hands still worked expertly on Nako's back, her thin needle poking into the bleeding skin to bring it to the other open, gaping flap. She was about midback at that point. She wouldn't rush though. No, these had to be neat, small stitches that would get the dragonrider back in to the air as soon as possible. She could tell from his tone that it was a prime dragonrider out of the sky. Their numbers were few enough as it was.

"So you're going to give us more drills for a one in a million happening? What luck!" Nako then paused, and though it couldn't be seen, she grinned. "Too bad I have to miss em, eh? Oh no, don't you worry. I bet you're going to have those extra drills waiting for me when I'm well. I know better than to think you'll let me off scott free. Wouldn't be fair. People would talk." Nako trilled in a singsong manner

L'gan nodded mock solemnly. "Of course. Gossip spreads faster in this Weyr than burrowing Thread. I can't afford to let you off that easily. As a matter of fact, I think I'll give you triple duty, and maybe I'll team you and Kaith's rider up for some of the drills." His ever-present smile was evident in his tone, but he quickly grew serious again. "Do you have someone close to you that can wash Mellanoth while you laze about in the lap of luxury here?" Well, mostly serious at least. He hoped his comment wouldn't bring up painful remembrances of Ratina, but surely Nako knew someone else she could trust to take care of her blue.

Nako's snickering had abruptly turned into silence. It wasn't so much a reminder of Ratina as it was a reminder of how few friends she had acquired. Many of her better friends had been left in Tiazora. Absently, she picked at the lint on her pillow before answering. "I'm sure I can get someone from the wing to help me out."

It was quite likely someone would lend a hand. Technically there was no such thing as having 'no friends' to a dragonrider as every rider out there in the sky who is watching their wingmate's backs is considered a priceless ally. Shards, even two dragonriders in the same wing who didn't get along could sometimes be considered closer than two friends outside of the Weyr. Then again, most friendships didn't mean life or death.

"I'm pretty sure someone can do it." Nako babbled on. She was feeling self conscious, and that would often make her prattle on. "I mean... I can't think of anyone who is my 'bestest buddy' at the moment, but I hardly think everyone in the whole wing has something so important that they can't help a wingmate out."

He nodded, and as he opened his mouth to make his goodbyes, a quiet mental cough interrupted him. Behemath. What? L'gan asked, confused. She obviously doesn't have anyone in mind. You can't just leave. Ever the typical male, L'gan frowned. He was completely puzzled now. So you're suggesting...? Behemath sighed. Volunteer, egghead. Mellanoth likes you well enough.

A light went on in L'gan's mind. Of course, it was so obvious now! But why didn't she just say so? Shards but women were confusing sometimes! Well, most of the time, actually. Like when Alesia would always say she was fine, but she really wasn't. Women. They made no sense at all. Suddenly realizing he was babbling to himself, L'gan shook himself out of his reverie and prepared to offer his help, but he was once again interrupted. But don't be too obvious. She has her pride, too, you know. Behemath interjected. And where did you learn so much about women?? L'gan retorted, slightly insulted he had to be reminded of such a thing. I don't only talk to other bronzes, you know. Was the testy reply. L'gan sighed. Of course. My mistake, oh mighty one. How do you suggest I do this, then? His query was met with stubborn silence. Swearing silently to himself, L'gan returned his attention to Nako.

"You know, I'm pretty sure what with all these drills I'm gonna be giving, a lot of the riders are going to be too busy or tired. If that's the case, I've usually got some free time in the evenings I could use to help out. Just have Mellanoth bespeak 'Math and I'll come right over."

"You?" Nako's surprise was obvious, and her sudden movement to sit up was halted forcefully by a surprisingly strong shove back into the pillows.

"I'm not done yet, you wherry head!" Nearly done, but not quite. The old woman only had a few more inches to sew up, and was as eager to be done as her patient. Of course, that didn't men she was going to rush the job.

The Weyrleader? Help her with such a job as washing her dragon? Really, the only thing that made such a thing so preposterous was his rank. He was always such a friendly sort and she wouldn't have hesitated to ask him before Iolath's rising. I think it's an honor. I like to think that I'm an important enough part of the team to be given such attention. Mellanoth remarked rather impishly. Nako hadn't known he'd been listening in, but it probably wasn't hard to hear the surprise that had rattled her mind.

"You think they'd be talking before..." Nako murmured through the pillows, but it was questionable as to whether her words could be interpreted.

Nako would be happy for the help. Extend her and my thanks to your rider, Behemath. Mellanoth said pleasantly, allowing his rider to hear what he was saying to stamp any more protests out of her.

Finally she was allowed to sit up, and she grimaced as she did so, being able to feel the resistance of the sutures in her skin. Now one of the pillows would be used to discreetly cover her front, running a hand shakily through her hair. With the literal scrape with death only an hour ago and now having the Weyrleader offer his assistance, her normal resolve was jarred a bit. "Well... I suppose Mellanoth's girth has nothing on Behemath." She remarked sheepishly. Behind her, Marti was applying a bandage to cover the sutured wound.

Behemath obligingly passed on Mellanoth's reply which came rather quickly, as if he hadn't consulted with his rider. L'gan smiled wryly. So Math wasn't the only one to disregard his rider in certain situations. Glancing back to Nako, he shrugged. "It certainly will be no problem. It takes the better part of the day to deal with that beast when he's in a tricky mood." He nodded vaguely in the direction of his bronze who was out sunning in the Weyrbowl. "Mellanoth will be a welcome change. And I'm sure he won't 'accidentally' trip me or move things around."

Unable to suppress a wince, he watched Marti for a moment as she began to bandage Nako's wounds. Surely there was enough numbweed to block the bluerider's pain, but merely watching the procedure was enough to make his back ache in sympathy. He had had a few minor Threadscores before, but nothing quite as serious as this. An awkward silence lapsed for a few moments before L'gan endeavored to lighten the situation up a bit, grinning impishly. "Well, at least you took it like a man. I'm proud of you."

Though she blushed, Nako stood up a little straighter and grinned, giving a rather masculine fistpump and a comical grunt. "Well hey, that's what matters then. I bet B'litz would have wet his breeches if he'd went through the same thing."

Marti frowned at Nako's sudden movements, but said nothing as she instead decided to jerk a new, loose tunic over Nako's head. Quickly, the bluerider went to assist the movement, pulling it over herself and brushing her mousy brown hair back out of her face. The stuff was still crumpled from being bound beneath her riding helmet, the shoulder length strands flying here and there about her head. Her work done, Marti smartly made her exit.

She sobered a bit, still red in the face as she fiddled absently with her hair. "Well... I'm glad to be doing what I do. Wouldn't change it for the world."

L'gan had to laugh at the image of B'litz weeping. The brownrider was one of the last people he'd expect such a show of emotion from, although no one compared to Alesia in that regard. He didn't think she had ever cried a day in her life. He realized he was grinding his teeth and quickly stopped, working the knotted muscles in his jaw. Glancing back to Nako, he realized that somehow he had missed the brief flash of skin exposed when she donned her shirt, but tactfully refrained from making a lewd joke. He wasn't entirely sure why she was blushing so, and her nerves were beginning to get to him as well. He quickly sketched a bow as he turned to leave. "Yes, well, it's good to have you around. You.." He quickly changed what he had been about to say. "You're a great asset here. Rest up, now. Gotta get you back on that blue, after all." He beat a hasty retreat, utterly confused and not knowing exactly why.

((We can end this here and pick it up with Mellanoth washing time, if you wish.))

~*~*~*~*~*~

Yesterday had been far too busy for a bath; with threadscore injuries to care for and post thread debriefing, Mellanoth's cleanliness was put on the backburner till the next morning. Sure, the blue had soaked in the lake a while, but Nako could not deny that the Weyr smelled of firestone stink that night.

Grimacing, Nako eased herself into position against a rock next to the lake. Mellanoth though, would be in the feeding pens. The bluerider didn't have to physically be near the dragon like she had to in the earlier years of their life; having been nearly 10 turns since their Impression she like most riders could sense when her dragon was becoming full and knew when to tell him to stop. Then again, the blue rarely needed reminding nowadays as long as it hadn't been to long since he'd last fed.

In a flurry of dust and grit, Mellanoth landed by the lake, his dragon maw cracked in a happy grin and a bounce in his step. He had reason to be so giddy; he was covered from maw to chest with blood and gore. Nako was appalled. "Mellanoth! What are you, a weyrling? You know how to eat neater than that!"

The blue flicked his tongue over his chops, obviously not discontented by his rider's distress. I am getting a bath anyways! Besides, the bronzerider admitted my size would be a welcome change. Obviously this will not be a challenge for him. One could not miss the impish tone in his mindvoice.

"Sadistic wherry! Keep this blue pride of yours up and we'll end up with -no one- to wash your hide!" Nako groaned, the exertion of her yelling at her wherry brained dragon and sitting up suddenly causing her back to ache. It was such a pain to change her dressing that she usually only got it done twice a day, and the numbweed tended to wear off midday and in the middle of the night. Noticing his rider's distress, Mellanoth sobered and his eyes whirled yellows of worry. "Augh.. I'm fine.. I'm fine.. no thanks to you... NO I didn't mean that, don't you start worrying, you dimglow.."

A shadow overhead would be the only warning that Behemath was approaching. The bronze gilded through the sky silently, scanning for an empty spot on the lakeside large enough to accommodate him. Beginning his slow, lazy spiral, he settled down not too far from Mellanoth, rumbling a greeting as he folded his wings back. L'gan slid down easily, having not bothered with riding straps. He thumped his dragon's side, and Behemath lowered his neck obligingly so that L'gan could reach the bags strapped around his neckridges.

Striding towards Nako and Mellanoth, L'gan waved. "Ready for a bath, pal?" As the blue turned, L'gan narrowed his eyes and turned mock-accusingly to Nako. "Now you made him do that on purpose, didn't you?" He dropped the bags on the ground, stopping a pot of oil from rolling away with his foot. "Mmhmm, I dare say you may have even gone as far as to smear extra blood on him to make my life even harder." He sighed dramatically. "Let me see your hands, I bet you a mark there's blood under your nails!" But I've seen you messier at feastdays. Behemath remarked idly, intentionally allowing all present to hear.

Though normally she was as sarcastic as L'gan, but for a moment she took the bait. With her voice rising to a petulant wail, she thrust her hands out as if to allow him to have inspection of them. "I've done no such thing! The imp took it upon himself to give you a workout... serves you right for thinking Mellanoth would be an easy job!" She snorted at that, for Mellanoth gave a rather self-righteous sounding snort.

Then Behemath spoke, surprisingly allowing Nako to hear as well, and no sooner had she heard it had an accusatory finger rose to point in the bronzerider's direction. "Aha! Sold out by your dragon, Weyrleader!" There was something oddly thrilling about using his title... probably because it wasn't often one could talk so casually to their Weyrleader in most situations. Then again, L'gan wasn't really like most people who are in charge.. not when anything serious wasn't going on, anyways.

Mellanoth let loose a low rumble of amusement, slipping away from the two to wade into the waters. He couldn't get scrubbed until he soaked, of course. He is lucky this blood has not dried on me, or he truly would have a time on his hands.

"Mellanoth says you should be lucky he hadn't fed earlier... I wouldn't envy having to scrub that stuff off. Then again, I don't envy having to scrub off day old firestone stink." Nako made a show of pinching her nose. "I suffered enough having to sleep in the same weyr with him!"

L'gan nodded and began to strip off his shirt and roll his breeches up. "Phew, I can imagine. I made sure to bathe 'Math as soon as I could after Threadfall. I'm glad I didn't wait until today to bathe them both. I don't think I would have survived!" He bent down and rummaged through the bag for his pot of sweetsand and a few brushes, a tough-bristled one for scrubbing the worst of the gore away, and the soft other brush for the more sensitive areas around the face and belly. Lining his supplies up neatly on the ground, he settled down crosslegged for a few moments, allowing Mellanoth to soak.

"So, how are you feeling today? I brought some extra numbweed just in case." He nodded to the hidebag which still showed a few bulges from various containers and miscellany. He swatted an inquisitive fly away from his face. It was insect time again at the Weyr, and after nearly being eaten alive in his weyr last night by the tiny biters, he wished fervently that he had a hide like Behemath's. The bronze sat quietly, now and then stretching luxuriously in the sun, his claws scraping trenches in the ground.

"Actually.." She wasted no time turning her back to him, but when she tried to reach for her shirt, she winced in pain. The stitches made it difficult to stretch her arms back in such a way. "It's been wearing off for the past hour. There's no way I'm going to go to the infirmary five times in a day just for numbweed. Twice a day will keep me relatively sane."

She glanced in the direction of Behemath, smirking. "Reminds me of a feline I had when I was back in Tiazora. She tore up my good comforter doing that.. kneading thing cats do."

Mellanoth was content to wait in the water, snaking his head up into shallow water in such a way as he could rest with his nose sticking out of the water to breathe. Sure, he was filthy and in need of oiling, but his rider needed numbweed more.

Grabbing the pot of numbweed, L'gan carefully moved Nako's shirt aside and began to unwrap the bandages with care. "Relatively sane, huh? That's always good. Can't afford to have loony draognriders running about, after all. Wouldn't be good for Weyr publicity." He began to apply the numbweed gently, half afraid he would hurt her whiel doing it, and half afraid of something else entirely he refused to acknowledge that tickled at the back of his mind. Finishing, he nodded with satisfaction. "There. A Master Healer couldn't do better, if I do say so myself."

He straightened and grabbed his supplies as he waded into the water. "Now it's your turn, Mellanoth!" He dipped the brush into the lake and lathered up some sweet sand. He was grateful to see that most of the blood had been cleaned off while the blue soaked. Glancing back to the shore where Nako sat, he continued their conversation. "So you had a feline, huh? I've always been more of a canine person myself, but haven't had the time nor the space to get one. Plus, between "math and my firelizard, I've been kept on my toes anyways."

Nako gave a sigh of relief as the bandages were finally put back on, moving her arms just a touch to test the effectiveness of the treatment. "Well, I wont' be telling Marti you're better at what you do... but it's a fine job indeed. I almost feel well enough to wash Mellanoth myself!" Even as she joked, she merely leaned back lazily. Nope... don't expect too much extra from a bluerider outside of threadfall.

Mellanoth's nostrils flared excitedly as he clambered out of the water; the scent of the sweetsand seeming to lure him right out of the water. Without hesitation, he brought himself next to the bronzerider, lowering himself onto his belly so he could easily reach his wings and back.

"That's the good thing about felines; they're just as happy to ignore you and live their lives as they are in your lap, so unless the little brat was in heat, she was pretty self sufficient. You ever heard a female when she's in season? Awful stuff. Still, I suppose there's a reason I didn't get another one... Didn't really have much time to enjoy having a pet. Maybe once the Interval comes around, I can have one. That's another good... 25 or so turns though."

"So... are you really not going to try for Weyrleadership when Iolath flies?"

As Nako spoke, L'gan began to scrub Mellanoth, nodding occasionally to show he was listening. 25 Turns was quite a while before he could have a little peace and quiet, but there was little regret in him. Behemath had been born to fight Thread, and it had been L'gan's driving passion since he Impressed. He hated feeling useless, which was what he most certainly would be during the long Interval. He smiled slightly and continued to wash the blue in front of him until he was struck by Nako's question. He jerked, fumbling the brush into the water. He knelt down and pretended to look for it in the shin-deep water in order to give himself time to collect his thoughts.

This wasn't the first time he'd been asked that, certainly. With Iolath due to rise relatively soon, many wondered about the tumultuous relationship between their Weyrleaders. Clearing his throat, he retrieved the brush and turned, smoothing the stress lines that had formed around his eyes away. He managed a carefree laugh before he spoke. "Nah, she wouldn't want me back." That stung. For many long Turns he had always been L'gan the womanizer, the charming, charismatic bronzerider that had women swooning at a single smile. Alesia had been a rude awakening that his personality was not universally well-received. "Behemath and I will be away from the Weyr for a few days prior and after the flight, I think. It wouldn't be fair to him to keep him there and not let him chase, and if he did fly.. well, there would be no competition." He grinned cockily, throwing that last comment in with an affected breeziness.

The bronze rumbled, deep and long, obviously not pleased with the arrangement. His eyes whirled an uneasy, slightly angry yellow-orange as he stood and pushed off, soaring away to the distant fireheights. L'gan watched him go for a moment, and again those weary lines creased his face, making him look Turns older than he was. He knew Behemath had every right to be resentful, but it still hurt. He knew their weyr would be uncomfortably quiet for the next sevenday or so, and even more so as the flight approached. He stifled a sigh and turned back to Mellanoth. "Why? Have there been rumors you've heard?" It wouldn't do if the entire Weyr was already abuzz with speculation.

Curious, Mellanoth had lowered his head to watch what the Weyrleader was doing, jerking his head up with a snort just in time so he didn't clock him in the head a good one. His eyes whirled a bit faster even as the bronze dragon showed unease. I do not believe he liked that question... It was stating the obvious, but for it to bother the dragons.. well, it concerned her.

Then there was the issue about how obvious it was that he still had feelings for Alesia... if only a little bit. Nako didn't like this for some strange reason, and that in itself startled her. A frown knitted into her features, and she rested her chin on her fist in something almost akin to a pout. Her insides.. seemed to heave and give her an uneasy feeling.. a similar feeling that twisted her gut when she found out Ratina had been sleeping with another woman. Now -that- was inconvenient. "Well, everyone is wondering... I guess they're more curious about whether you are still interested in the job than they are wondering if you and Alesia are getting along. I don't know what firelizard tales you've been hearing, but it's not often Weyrleaders actually have a -relationship-."

Oddly, her voice was twisted with irritation, and though there seemed to be a little voice of common sense in the back of her head -screaming- for her to shut up, her mouth kept running off without her. "Why was she able to get up under your skin anyways? Goodness... I swear, people will go off wanting the impossible when there's someone already there in front of them.. it's so stupid." She'd thought she was spouting off about Ratina... but.. was she? Oh shaffit. Suddenly, she became quite busy with cleaning under her nails, chewing her lips mercilessly. Not the cute kind either.. but rather the kind that makes lips chapped and bloody.

L'gan snorted as he scrubbed. "I wasn't expecting a love to last the ages, but something a little less than open disdain would be welcome. I swear, the women is utterly without a sex drive. I'm faaar from inexp-" He coughed violently as as he suddenly realized what he had said, wheezing softly from panic as he glanced around as if Alesia would appear right there and smack him a good one. Of course she didn't, and of course they were still the only ones at the lake. He turned quickly to face Nako, eyes wide and slightly crazed. "You didn't hear that. I didn't say anything. I shouldn't have-" He trailed off as he noticed something funny about the bluerider. She was utterly fixated on her nails, and was chewing her lips viciously- two traits he hadn't yet noticed about her.

Puzzled, he cocked his head. Something in what she had said a moment ago was setting off triggers in his mind, but shardit if he could connect the dots. "I've got some lip balm in my bag there if you need it?" He offered hesitantly. "It's been dry out lately and my lips have been getting chapped, too." Ahh, wanting the impossible, that's what she said! Assuming she was referring to Ratina, he shrugged. "You ever want to talk to her anymore? Maybe things can be worked out? Nothing's impossible, really." He refrained from using the rider's name, but it was clear who he was referring to.

Nako looked up, obviously not noticing her lip was bleeding a touch as she gave the Weyrleader a most incredulous look. Had he just said what she thought he'd said? The corners of her mouth tweaked into a grin she was trying hard to contain as she licked her lips impulsively, only then tasting the iron of blood on her tongue.

"No.. It was about time I just admitted that it's not going to work. We're just not meant for each other. I decided to end both of our grief and cut it off completely. It's hard to let that go, you know.. that closeness and having someone there. But when it's like they're not even in the room with you when they're in the same bed as you... it's just not meant to be."

Then, her eyes became sharp and she looked leerily in L'gan's direction.. that look a woman gives when a man has done something wrong. "Did you ever stop to think she's just not -attracted- to you that way? I mean... you can't expect -every- girl to fall for your charms. Look at it this way; at least she's not just having sex with you just to appease you. That... never makes a girl feel great about themselves. She's probably suffering from not having a compatible sexual partner as much as you are."

Mellanoth snorted, leaning more into L'gan's scrubbing. they were talking so much that L'gan was getting distracted. You've been scrubbing there for the past minute, Weyrleader. It's beginning to feel sore.

L'gan started, surprised to hear Mellanoth's voice in his head. "Oh, I'm sorry, I beg your pardon." He patted the blue in apology and moved over to his flank. He was the picture of an abashed little boy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Willing his flush to go away, he nodded. It took an effort to wipe a sulky tone from his voice when he spoke. "Yeah, you're probably right." He fell silent and scrubbed for a few minutes, but the quietness was beginning to strike a nerve in him. Things were getting far too serious for his liking. Determined to lighten the mood, he glanced over his shoulder. "It's just hard to believe it is the way you say. I mean, look at me. Who -isn't- attracted to this? Come on!" He mock flexed. "All these rippling muscles and golden features! I'm the perfect specimen!"

The effect was somewhat ruined as his firelizard popped in from between, chattering wildly and landing on his bare shoulder. L'gan swore as sharp claws dug into his flesh, and wrenched the blue off with no little haste. "Shards, Eron! Look where you land! Off with you, I've got a dragon to clean!" The blue glanced from L'gan to Mellanoth, confused. This wasn't Behemath. This was a big him. At a glare from his bonded however, he was quick to fly back to the shore, landing near Nako. He chirped softly and inched forward, looking to see if she had any food. "There's a meatroll somewhere in the bag." L'gan called. "You're welcome to it, but only if you want to fight that one off for it." He nodded at Eron with a grin.

Nako snorted, rolling her eyes at his comment as she added a copious amount of lip balm to her bleeding lips. "I'd watch out if I were you.. someday someone's going to take you down a peg-oh!" She laughed as a blue popped into existence, clinging to L'gan and eliciting a rather angry reaction from the man. "See what I mean?"

"By the Egg, L'gan. Did you bring the bathing room sink with you too?" She frowned when she finally pulled out the meatroll in question, grimacing as she picked a few pieces of lint off of it before tearing a piece off and offering it to the little blue. She didn't think she'd be partaking of this particular morsel. Interestingly enough, he was deflecting the conversation with humor. No wonder the serious Alesia found him annoying. She'd.. keep that to herself though, opting instead to just press on with the conversation regardless of how uncomfortable he got. "But seriously.. why not just find someone else?"

He nodded, proud of his man-bag. "You can never be too prepared! If you look hard enough you might just find a flamethrower in there somewhere."At her last question, he frowned and moved around to Mellanoth's other side to give himself a few moments to think again. It was obvious she was bound and determined not to let him wriggle his way out of this conversation. He had to admit though, Nako had a good point- he had never let himself be this wrapped up in any one woman before. Being perfectly honest with himself, Alesia certainly wasn't his type anyways. He supposed it was the challenge she presented, but even a bronzerider had to get over his pride and admit when something was too much. He sighed in defeat. "I don't even know. My brain hasn't been working correctly ever since I came to Kharasi."

Relathering the brush, he began to work on the last unfinished area on Mellanoth's side. "Besides, I haven't really had time to look for anyone else. Ever since the flight I've either been mooning around like an idiot or readying the Weyr for Threadfall or dealing with those sharding Thyra morons." He scowled at the mention of the errant Hold. "No one tends to throw themselves at a Weyrleader anyways, and any move I did make could be considered manipulation of some sort." Weyr politics were tricky, and vicious rumors had brought down many an otherwise good leader in the past. "Some might even see shenanigans with us meeting up here, for Faranth's sake." He rolled his eyes. He had little doubt that if he tried to make a move, Nako would shut him down faster than Mellanoth would, but something tingled at the back of his mind as he considered doing so. She was far from unattractive, and she certainly didn't hate his personality... but he ruthlessly shut that train of thought down. He was treading dangerous ground!

"Well, how much do you think they'll end up talking when you decline to chase Iolath again, hmm?" She was surprised that he was this easily flustered. "People talk when there is -nothing- to talk about, so there is really no winning against the Weyr."

Then she shrugged dismissively, continuing to offer crusty, lint covered little morsels to the blue firelizard. Luckily she'd fed her own lizard that morning so she was safe from his harassments for now. "But hey, I'm in no situation to chastise you. You're the Weyrleader, after all."

"Last I heard.. Ratina's not with that greenrider any more. I hear -they- got in a fight because Ratina was sleeping around! Oh.. the hilarity!" Nako was genuinely amused by that. "I wonder what she was expecting from that woman, honestly."

He snorted in amusement. "Oh my, what a surprise. I bet that was the last thing she expected to happen." The dry humor in his tone was unmistakable. Tossing the brush back to the shore, L'gan stretched. "But really, feel free to lecture me. I need to know when I'm acting the fool. I trust you." He caught her eye for a moment before moving to dig through his bag for the oil pot. Eron, finally sated, firmly nudged Nako's hands aside and climbed into her lap. He curled into a small ball and quickly fell asleep, snoring quietly. L'gan smiled. "He's such a pest. Move him, if you want, his claws can't be comfy." Retrieving the oil and a rag, he returned to Mellanoth and began to rub him down from tip to tail. "Only about 20 minutes more and you're done, sir."