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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 21:14:44 GMT -5
The water's a little cool today, but Kharouth doesn't seem to mind. The enormous bronze rolls about in the shallows, thoroughly soaking his hide, as R'lar stands at a safe distance. Finally, when the beast is done playing, R'lar is able to start scrubbing him.
It's not an easy task. Kharouth is big, and it takes a long time to clean his entire hide. He doesn't exactly cooperate, either. Luckily, there are candidates about. R'lar looks around, trying to find one who he can corral into helping with Kharouth.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 21:20:41 GMT -5
It just so happens that Aleiph is close. She pushes her hair out of her eyes, then notices the bronze. She freezes, staring at the massive green-brown creature. Though it looks like she's staring in awe, really she's more of a deer in the headlights, hoping that she isn't picked--
But the Candidate Master notices her staring and puts his hand on Aleiph's shoulder. "R'lar," he calls. "R'lar, you'll take Aleiph's help, won't you?"
And inwardly, Aleiph dies.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 21:30:57 GMT -5
He’d prefer a man, someone with a little more size and strength to him, but she’ll do. R’lar tosses her an oil-soaked cloth, and indicates for her to start scrubbing. He’s working on Kharouth’s back, but someone’s got to take care of his wings and haunches. “Try to put some pressure into it. Kharouth doesn’t like when it’s too light, says it tickles.”
He doesn’t bother to ask her name, though he does at least concede to the small nicety of introducing himself, giving both his name and wing assignment.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 21:37:16 GMT -5
The Candidate Master pushes her over and she has no time to ask if she can ask for a green or orange rider instead. Now she's looking a dragon in the face. With a deep breath, she steps into the water and walks over to the bronze, bowing her head to the great bronze.
"I'll do my best, sir."
Then she lifts the rag and starts scrubbing, pressing with as much force as her little arms can muster.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 21:52:16 GMT -5
Well, at least she's respectful. They work in silence for a little while, R'lar unwilling to complain too much about her shoddy work in front of the candidatemaster. Besides, she's using enough force that Kharouth hasn't complained. As he works his way down his dragon's back towards his tail, R'lar keeps watch, stealing not-so-subtle glances at Aleiph to make sure she isn't slacking.
Kharouth shifts himself once R'lar is off his back, swinging his tail around. The water splashes towards both R'lar and Aleiph. Used to Kharouth's antics, R'lar doesn't so much as flinch, he simply closes his eyes and mouth as the little wave drenches him. "Kharouth," he says firmly, slapping the rag down against his side lightly, "behave." And he starts in on the dragon's tail.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:02:58 GMT -5
Aleiph has to admit, it's not unlike grooming Runnerbeasts with her brother. Except it's several hundred times the size and weight of a Runnerbeast. Her arms ache, but she keeps scrubbing. She's so absorbed in her work that she doesn't notice the looks. It's almost relaxing, and she wonders if maybe this beautiful Bronze isn't as bad as he looks--
"Aaargh!"
And suddenly she's all wet. She's sopping from head to toe, her dark hair absorbing most of it and becoming unbearably heavy. But she doesn't stop for long. The rider chastises the dragon and she returns, shivering, to work, scrubbing his hips.
She glances up only once. "Do you wash his wings as well?"
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 22:11:17 GMT -5
R'lar has to bite back a laugh at the girl's reaction, though Kharouth is unmoved. The dragon doesn't react at all, aside from a slight snort of impatience as she momentarily stops rubbing him down.
"Of course you do," R'lar replies impatiently, as he nudges Kharouth's side. The dragon moves his tail so R'lar can get to the other side of it, though he moves more sedately this time. "Anything you don't oil will dry out and crack between. Haven't they taught you anything?" He doesn't recall seeing her around, but then, he doesn't bother with the female candidates. Not unless something about their look catches his eye.... "Did N'rel search you? I swear, every turn, there's more and more candidates without an ounce of sense in their heads," he mutters.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:17:56 GMT -5
That's not quite what she meant, but Aleiph has never been one to phrase things clearly. "I-I didn't mean it like that," she says sheepishly. "I meant if you wanted me to actually help with them. They look so... so delicate. I should have... Said it clearer..."
She's regretting it now. Face burning, she keeps scrubbing. She'll just finish it out and then leave as soon as possible, because she's not sure if she likes the way he speaks. He frightens her.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 22:21:29 GMT -5
"If you can't manage to wash a grown dragon, how do you expect to care for a weyrling?" He takes hold of one of Kharouth's wings, because the bronze is going impatient. Carefully, he rubs the wing down, making sure to hit all the spots that tend to get particularly dry. Kharouth lets out a soft rumble, closing his eyes. "Weyrlings are delicate- a torn membrane and they'll never fly again. But a big dragon like Kharouth, he can take a little more pressure." He's almost being helpful, but that sneer on his face belies any good intentions. Also, he's staring. The wet clothes clinging to her probably aren't helping matters.
"Just give me the rag and get out of here, if you aren't going to help." And he extends a hand towards her so quickly it the water soaking his sleeve splatters everywhere. He's actually nearly hit her, as well, with how close his hand comes.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 22:28:13 GMT -5
She can barely stand it. Really, the way he looks at her, the way he acts-- she no longer cares that he's a rider and that she was told to help out. She really didn't want to offend him, she was just asking questions and trying to see if it would offend him, because L'ei didn't like her touching Truath's wings, fearing that she might hurt them. Some riders were fine-- but she wasn't going to explain herself now, because his hand comes close and she drops the rag and steps back, eyes welling up with tears of anger and hurt and fear and frustration.
And she turns and begins to wade back to shore, face burning with humiliation, because she had to go and cry in front of that bastard.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:01:19 GMT -5
And she leaves, just as he'd told her too- but he didn't expect her to actually do it. He stands there, for a moment, as the wave she dropped falls into the shallows. Kharouth's eyes are moving quickly, their colors whirling, and R'lar doesn't stop to stare for long. The girl can't be allowed to run off like a flighty wherry- one must have responsibility and perseverance to be a rider. This is ridiculous.
"Girl!" His tone is a brusque bark, not unlike how one might call for a disobedient dog. And he actually stops oiling Kharouth long enough to charge after her. When he catches up, he grabs for her wrist, and leans over to speak to her without disturbing anyone else. "I don't know what they teach you at that sharding Hold of yours, but at Cat's paw, you finish the tasks you're assigned. If you impress, you can't just decide you're bored and walk away when your dragon's only half bathed."
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 23:05:05 GMT -5
"Let go of me!"
It's one of her trademark shrilly screams, and she's really crying now. His tone is scaring the life out of her and she's not quite sure what to do, but she doesn't want him touching her. She tries to pull her wrist from his grasp, but to no avail.
"You-- You told me to leave-- let go!"
And now a few people are staring. This just makes Aleiph cry harder, because now people are seeing her tear up, and that's just humiliating.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:14:35 GMT -5
He's taken aback as she screams, and he actually does let go of her arm. He's certainly had candidates disrespect him before, argue with him even, but never burst into tears, not over one scolding. It's loud, and it's awkward. People are staring, though, so he can't just back away like he otherwise might.
"If you don't know what you're doing, you need to ask before you start. You could have hurt my Kharouth- and to run off in the middle- you have no sense of responsibility at all, do you? Don't think tears will get you out of this- I'll be having a talk with the candidate master!" He thunders. He's looming over her, taking advantage of the almost full foot of height between them. "Apologize to Kharouth, and then go back to your barracks," he demands.
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Post by ASTROLOGICAL!! on Oct 24, 2012 23:24:14 GMT -5
"But I did ask!" Oh dear, his height-- he towers over her and his shouting is catching her off-guard and she's going to get in trouble for this for sure. She can barely protest, to say that he misunderstood her, that he should be more patient because she's so utterly terrified of him-- but she is terrified and so her tongue is tied.
She wipes her nose on her sleeve, then glances at the dragon, bowing to him. "I-I'm s-s-sorry, Kharouth," she says, shivering from the cold and the fear and the humiliation. Then she steps back, but not before (she surprises herself) returning R'lar's leers with a glare of her own. Like she won't ever forgive him for his behavior, for scaring and humiliating her like this, even if it may have been her own fault.
And she was just beginning to tolerate him, too.
She turns, then begins to run back to the Weyr before more people can comment on her expression.
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Post by moonchilde on Oct 24, 2012 23:32:54 GMT -5
He wasn’t actually going to go to the candidatemaster, but oh, now he is. With a scowl, R’lar retrieves the fallen rag- the one that hasn’t washed away- and works on finishing cleaning Kharouth. For once, the dragon has no sarcastic comments to voice. He merely sits silently among the waves as his rider finishes wiping him down.
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