Deep in the Weyr, a door opened and a leanly muscular, leggy man entered, throwing himself ungracefully down onto a bed. Small puffs of dust arose and swirled through the air, making him sneeze. When it became clear that Iolath was soon to rise, he had begun surreptitiously having his few belongings removed from Alesia's weyr and brought to his own. A day ago, he had hastily grabbed a change of clothing and his riding gear and vanished from the Weyr only a handful of hours before Iolath had risen. To the non-observational Weyr inhabitant, it would appear to be simply an ill-timed meeting with an outlying Holder, but many knew full and well that L'gan was in seclusion, waiting out the flight.

Behemath was, of course, furious. And rightly so, if L'gan had to admit it. The bronze had been put into even more of a rage upon returning and finding out that Iolath had been flown by a brown. He hadn't spoken to L'gan in over a day now, and was spending most of his time away from his ledge, sunning and sulking in his customary spot on the Rim. A pang shot through L'gan's heart whenever he thought of Alesia with K'jin, but if he was truly honest with himself, if more more of a shot to his pride than an honest heartache. And although he tried to convince himself that the resulting clutch would be far less than what was needed, he also knew that most clutches were largely determined by the genes of the mother, and there was no doubt Iolath had strong genes. The chance of a much-needed queen egg would be small, but there was still a chance. So there was really no downside he could console himself with.

Realizing that lying in the dust feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to work, he stood up and shook his furs out disgustedly, wrinkling his nose against the tickling particles. He'd have to call in a drudge soon to clean the room from top to bottom- after a Turn of disuse, dust lay thick on the mantle and in nearly every possible crevice. Settling into the chair at his desk, he sighed, gazing around bleakly. The room certainly felt more like home than Alesia's weyr ever had, but something was lacking. He felt more alone than he had in Turns and right then he wished for nothing more than a friend to shake him from his gloom.

((I know I played ruthlessly for the Weyrleader part, but I ache all over for L'gan. He's this splendid tragic character and I'm so glad you rescued him from silence and cobwebs back at Tiazora, Wolfie.

You know ... I have a character or two I'd love to bring into this. Do you mind if I do, or is this RP pre-planned with someone else?))

((Aww! I try to make him as pathetic and lovable as possible, but sometimes I worry that I emasculate the poor guy!

Throw in whoever you wish, I just put this up so I could bring his post-flight perspective into view. :D))

( Oh! Oh! Could I grab this one? I think Nako would be stalking him like a hungry circling wherry for the moment he came back after Iolath's flight XD Fury, you can name any rp you want and I'll throw a character your way to compensate XD But I don't think Nako's gonna let any other woman get to L'gan before her X3 )

((All yours, dear Weyrwoman. I'm itching for two things: the chance to use Ywain and the chance to rp with Wolfie, but I can wait for another time if you'd rather this be a one-on-one with Nako and L'gan.))

((I've got lots of characters if you want to set something up Momma Fury! I've got Kiara floating around somewhere, and I haven't properly introduced my 2 new Candidate boys to the Weyr yet. And I've got Cailyn and Z'per all free. :) ))

He is back. Mellanoth informed his rider from his ledge, watching the bronze keenly as it flew down to where the former Weyrleader now stayed. His rider though, was not in her Weyr, but in the kitchens. One wineskin, a meal of meat, bread and cheese for two... and a good helping of bubbly pies guaranteed to make a day better where the wine could not. That was assuming L'gan liked sweets, anyways. The Weyrwoman was on her own picnic afar, but Nako had plans of her own as well.

Behemath is very unhappy. the blue noted as he watched the bronze take off abruptly one he was released from his straps, landing on the other side of the bowl.

Nako winced. If that were a reflection of his rider's mood then it would be harder to cheer him up than she thought. There was a distinct burn inside of the bluerider synonymous with jealousy... and anger. Why did he cling to that woman so? Alesia was her friend... but she couldn't help but feel a certain sting toward the woman who could keep men so wound up around themselves by doing nothing at all.

She had to force her steps to slow before she actually got to L'gan's weyr. It wouldn't do any good to go into the room with a suspicious and sour mood. "Yooohooo...." She called out into the darkness, slinking carefully into the open and somewhat messy room. She set her hand down on a table only to retract it quickly at the feeling of thick dust beneath her fingertips. "You'd think they would have dusted before you got back..." Those words weren't exactly supposed to be expressed out loud, and she smartly clamped her mouth shut before some other detrimental comment could come out. Met with silence, she spoke up again. "I know you're in here. Mellanoth saw your bronze land not long ago."

Right on cue a familiar voice rang through his weyr, making L'gan jump in surprise. He spun about, his heart leaping frantically into his throat, strangling his response to her quip about the dust. Swallowing, he moved more into the light to greet Nako, wondering absently why his heart still hadn't slowed down. "I suppose no one expected me to move back here, so they didn't keep up with the cleaning." He paused, regarding the basket in her hands as the smell of lunch wafted to his nose. "You sure got here fast. Did you sprint through the halls or did you hail a ride from a passing runnerbeast?" He forced a grin and then turned to light some glowbaskets.

Glancing over his shoulder, he raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to assume that whatever is in that basket is for me, and if it isn't, I'm commandeering it now. I'm starving." One long stride brought him to the bed where he seized hold of the furs. "Watch your nose," he cautioned as he tugged them to the floor. "They're a bit dusty, but not as bad as the table." He settled down crosslegged, looking up at the bluerider curiously. His heart still had barely slowed it frenetic pace, and he realized with a shock that the last time he had felt like that was back in his teen Turns at his Hold when he looked at he pretty weaver's daughter. He shoved that thought firmly away- Shards, Nako would probably die laughing if she knew! "Come on, sit down, feed me, and tell me why you're here. In that order, too." He settled back onto his elbows, forcing a lackadaisical attitude.

"Shards!" Nako choked out as the plume of dust went up into the air, waving her hand distastefully as she moved toward the bed. "I'd already been in the kitchen when you came back; it's a great deal closer to here than my Weyr for sure."

Nako wasted no time dropping herself onto the side of the bed, kicking off her slippers and sitting down at the headboard of the bed. "Selfish man, assuming it's -all- for you. I'll have you know I'm hungry too." Opening the basket, she carefully unwrapped the cloth covering a plate of meat, bread and cheese and handing it his way. Eating utensils soon followed and she began to unwrap her own meal.

"And if you've room after that, which I assume you will, I've wine and bubbly pies." And she grinned most mischievously. The fact the man was so anxious did not escape her though; why the confident and generally good natured bronzerider would be ill at ease was beyond her.

"Mellanoth mentioned Behemath wasn't in the best of moods." She started up conversationally. Surely it wasn't a necessarily happy topic.. but in most situations her curiosity overpowered common sense.

L'gan accepted the food gratefully and began to make small sandwiches with no little haste. Shoving a large bite into his mouth, he nearly choked as Nako's next pointed question caught him off guard. She always managed to do that, somehow. Swallowing his mouthful, his face contorted into a grimace of pain and regret that he quickly tried to smooth away. Losing contact with Behemath was more crippling than he'd ever thought possible. He felt like a part of him was missing, and his mind was constantly probing the wall the bronze had erected between their thoughts.

He set his plate down, suddenly not as hungry as before. "That's putting it mildly. He's blocked me off. He's furious I didn't let him chase.. her." He left out Iolath's name- it was too closely tied with Alesia's. "I can't blame him, of course, but I feel... empty without him." He sighed, absentmindedly taking another bite. The sandwiches tasted like ash. He shrugged, adding defensively around a mouth of food, "I don't think I even care much about her anymore, so don't even think of lecturing me. I just feel.. alone." He gazed bleakly around the room, as if suddenly realizing how many home-y touches it lacked. The starkness magnified his mood even more. "I'm lost, Nako." He said suddenly. "I don't even know what to do anymore." He looked at her, his eyes large and pleading for help. He felt like a complete ass for burdening her with his problems, but he had no clue who else to turn to. "How do you placate an angry dragon?"

Pausing, Nako looked up from the cheese she'd started eagerly gnawing on. Suddenly she felt somewhat uncomfortable at how exposed L'gan really was at that moment. "Shutting you out... shards man, I hadn't known it was that bad."

Sitting back on the headrest, she considered things. "Well, this is why we had those lessons in Weyrling training, about the connection between dragon and rider. You could break right through that wall to get to him.. but I'd see why you wouldn't want to do that. You could also count on the fact that he will eventually have to open up because 'he' will be terribly lonely. A dragon cannot live without his rider, and wouldn't want to. He's probably just trying to make his point now."

Sitting up again, she looked as if she had an idea. "The key to any relationship is that you talk to one another; even between dragon and rider. He's avoiding that now... probably to avoid being proven wrong if you and your dragon have anything in common." Nako snorted at that, obviously amused. "Call him here. Don't say he's shutting you out because I know you can get past it. If a goldrider can force their dragon to blood, then a bronzerider can call his dragon to him."

L'gan was quiet for a moment as he contemplated her advice. It was true, he could break through the shield with only a little effort, but doing so felt like a betrayal. He would be an unwelcome intruder in Behemath's mind, and he didn't think he would be able to stand that. He smiled thinly at her jest about the stubborn streak he shared with his bronze. "You're probably right. Shards, more than probably. I don't know how you women always manage to do that." He narrowed his eyes as if trying to see that particular trait in her.

Realizing he was only delaying the inevitable, he refocused on Behemath and was surprised to find that the block had... softened, was the only word he could use to describe it. Had he been listening in all this time? Prodding the shield gently, L'gan sent a tentative request. Come back, please? You've got to be getting warm from all that sun. It's cool in here on your couch. It's a little bit dusty, but.. He trailed off to prevent himself from babbling more. A long minute passed, and then another before he heard a welcome voice in his mind. I come.

A wide smile split L'gan's face and he jumped up, impulsively grabbing Nako to him in a bear hug. "You're a genius, woman. What would I do without you??" He laughed and then realized he was probably crushing the smaller bluerider. He let her go hastily just as a gust of wind stirred the dust and announced Behemath's arrival. He spun around and took a few hasty strides towards the waiting bronze. Bending his neck, Behemath wuffed a puff of warm air in L'gan's face. You're still the biggest wherrybrain in the Weyr. He stated gruffly. L'gan smiled. "I know."

Nako gave a helpless squeak, a piece of cheese still hanging out of her mouth as the bronzerider squeezed the life out of her. "mmgphf.." the muttered past her cheese, finally letting the food drop into her hands when he let her go. "Well, hopefully this'll be a lesson that you should always trust my unwavering wisdom.." Nako said with a sheepish grin, rubbing her tender back with her hand. "Marti removed the stitches two sevendays ago but shards if it isn't still sore. If all goes well though I should at least be able to go back to Drills by next sevenday."

Stretching out her back and going back to her cheese, she watched the tender moment between man and dragon with a smirk. "Maybe you should start trying to find mates with other halves that don't make your rider miserable, Behemath! You know L'gan wouldn't deny you unless it was important to him."

L'gan's mouth formed a wordless 'o' when Nako mentioned her back. "Oh shards, I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking! I'm sorry." He added contritely, for all the world looking like a scolded puppy. "You can hit me, if you want." He offered with a grin. "Not too hard, though. You'll bruise my ego, and that's already in fragile condition."

He quietly scoffed a moment later as Nako addressed Behemath. He had spent so much time twined around Alesia's finger, he had hardly even looked at another woman in the Weyr- highly unusual for him. He didn't even know where to begin. Although... His glance lingered on Nako as she lounged on his bed. That flash of emotion that had rushed in when she entered returned with a vengeance as his eyes surreptitiously roamed her body while she was focused on the bronze. She'd skin you alive if she knew you were looking like that. He told himself firmly. Behemath regarded him with a coolly impassive gaze. She is right. I will chase others more often. There was a quiet emphasis on the word will, as if he dared his rider to object. Although I trust you are aware I cannot fly Mellanoth. He added in a rare moment of cutting humor.

L'gan choked, goggling at his dragon for a moment before recovering his composure. "Well, I hope you're happy." He told Nako. "He says he'll chase just about anything that flies. What have you gotten me into?" He sank back onto the bed and wisely left out the last bit of Behemath's comment. He suspected it wouldn't be well-received.

Nako, ever the oblivious one, hardly noticed the scrutiny as she peeled off her boots to absently examine her feet. Picking little lint crusties out from between the toes and flicking them away, she looked curiously back to L'gan and his bronze.

"Well then! Consider it a personal favor from you to I. I can't imagine Alesia was hiking her skirts for you very often." Nako's grin was absolutely devilish before rolling over to all but stick the entire slab of sandwich meat into her mouth and attempt to eat it. Putting them all together in one concoction might have been a too 'obvious' thing to do... Faranth only knows; Nako was just weird.

((Ahaahahaha XD Nako is such a dumbass. The sad thing is she's based off of me XD))

((*gigglerolls around in trapezoids* Love it! XD))

L'gan narrowed his eyes, striving to look intimidating. "Low blow, bluerider." The effect was ruined by the twitching of his lips as he tried to keep them compressed and unsmiling. "You're lucky I'm not Weyrleader anymore or I might have been forced to assign you extra drills for that." He grabbed the basket and rummaged through it for a bubbly pie before continuing. "As it is, if you keep pressing my buttons, I may be forced to teach you a lesson."

He mock scowled, then used his tongue to catch a line of bubbly pie juice running down his chin. "Delicious!" He remarked. "I think I'll keep them all to myself." Grabbing for the basket, he held it just out of her reach as he dug into it for another pie.

(((OMG. Did Nako just pick out toejam and then start to eat with no utensils?))

((She's a classy lady!))

((Truly! I don't know whether to laugh or throw up!))

(*bows with quite the flourish* what doesn't kill you makes you stronger ;D That includes toejam.)

Barely able to swallow her own food before protesting, Nako gave a yelp when the basket was pulled out of her reach. "Hey, no fair!" Surely he wouldn't truly be holding them from her, but what would the fun of it be if she didn't play along? She was up and jumping at him rather quickly for one still healing from her wounds, throwing herself headlong into the bronzerider in order to grab the basket.

Nako was able to get a hold of it alright, but not without bowling the man over. Squirming, she sat up, perched on the man's chest and a good hold on the basket. "Don't mess with a girl and her bubbly pies, now! That's asking for a whole world of trouble." Nako was aware of their compromising position, their flirting. She was always the sort that just rushed... headlong into those situations; that was probably why she was in the situation she was in currently, and that situation was being on top of the former Weyrleader fighting over a basket of bubbly pies. She was no fool; their oddball behavior and flirtatious bickering had nothing to do with pies.

One moment he was upright and possessing a basket of delicious bubbly pies, and the next, he was bowled over, had the wind knocked out of him, and decidedly bubbly pie-less. But then again, what did he care? Now instead of bubbly pies, he had a pretty bluerider perched comfortably on his chest, and although his lungs were begging for mercy, he was pretty sure that wasn't the only reason he was breathless. Grinning up mischievously at Nako, L'gan tightened his grip on the basket. "Well, if this is the kind of trouble I'll be in, I think I'll take my chances." He raised a challenging eyebrow while Behemath watched the goings-on with draconic interest.

((*blushes furiously* Oh come now, we know what they're going to do! Fade out!!! XD We can do the whole 'after' posting.. but it's physically painful to put my most personal of characters through this situation XD))

((XD But of course! I'll hopefully get a post up after my boy leaves Thursday afternoon.))

((*skips through a bit of time*))

Rolling to his side, L'gan surveyed what was left of the contents of the basket now strewn across his floor. "I'd like to say I regret ruining those bubbly pies, but in the end, I think it was totally worth it." He rolled back to face Nako, a mischievous grin on his face. "And might I say, you're quite creative when it comes to cheering someone up. Have you done this before??" He mock glared at her, then kissed her neck.