Egg Touching

[fauxfox]

If truth be told Aimry wasn’t any more intolerant of women than he was most other people; not so much chauvinistic as sceptical of everything and everyone. That, and it was entertaining to mess with people that took themselves entirely too seriously, push their buttons and watch the fireworks ensue. Strange that it was usually the women who ended up rising to the bait. The haughty woman – Crescentia, if he’d heard her introduce herself correctly – was no exception to expectations. Shards, he hadn’t even directed the wisecrack at her and she latched on to it like a personal affront, or a canine with a bone. He smirked mildly through the initial verbal lashing, much amused by the defensive overreaction. Who was she trying to prove herself to; the Queen, the Weyrleader, or perhaps her competition?

“You mean earn myself enough rank that I’m worth sucking up—” He managed, just, before the slap interrupted him more effectively than any ‘shut up, Aimry’. Not expecting the violent turn the young man looked puzzled for a moment, before the pain of the smack brought the reality home. “—to.” Putting a hand to his reddening cheek he laughed shortly, a mirthless and sardonic sound, and looked up to where the girl had primly returned herself. “See, I thought the problem women-folk have with the world is the fact no man cares what you think. If I’ve got to be a Master or a Weyrleader to make my opinion worth anything, what does that say about you? Double standards are rarely appreciated in a dragon rider, I fear.”

He tilted the corner of his lips in a mockingly rueful smile, dropping his hand back to his crossed arms. Crescentia hadn’t softened her blow by any means, and the strike had sent his heat frazzled nerves reeling with a feeling of dizziness that made him want to sit down. Of course, he didn’t; that would have meant admitting weakness. “I especially liked the use of aggression to punctuate your point. Very masculine of you.” Sharding women and their sharding self-importance. Worse, surrounded by her cohorts, Aimry wouldn’t have been at all surprised if they all leapt to her defense – such was the female herding instinct. He just prayed to Faranth that it didn’t involve any more blows to the head.

[stolenhart]

However Aimry did not anticipate one thing, at least not from Alowiha. Unlike Crescentia, who was most likely hold bred and brought up with different rules, Alowiha had been born in the college and raised a little differently. She understood the rules, the facts of life, and while she might complain, she wasn't going to create waves until she had a place of power. And truthfully, she wasn't sure if she wanted that power, she hadn't decided what she wanted yet. So when Aimry replied to Cresce's slap she merely said, "You only give them evidence to support their arguements", she told Cresce gently. And it was true, how many of the masters had told Alowiha that she wasn't level-headed enough to advance yet, that she needed another turn or two to mature emotionally.

T'ran turned as the sound of the smack reverberated across the Sands. He stood up but since no further violence was ensuing turned back to watching the rest of the Candidates walk across the Sands. He was nearly ready to pull the plug on the whole affair, how many eggs did they need to touch anyway? He adjusted his shirt where it had gotten skewed and walked across the Sands towards the dragons, maybe he could get Vandyith moved so the girls could have a go.

[shouriko]

He was making his rounds and by now he had gone through all the eggs and was right back where he had started. Daevon was nothing if not efficient with his work and having done as directed, he stepped away from the clutch. It was his intention at this point to meet the girls and join Aimry in the stands. This was for two reasons: first, it was rude not to introduce yourself formally to your peers and though they did not reside in the Weyr, they were still candidates like himself. Secondly, Aimry was his friend at least on his side of thinking and he wanted to foster that friendship as best he could. At least Aimry didn't outright call him an idiot whether he thought it or not. That was why when he saw how the girl just went right out and slapped Aimry, he was already jogging over with ease to the stands. Besides, he did owe Aimry for helping him out in the tunnels and this was one way to do it.

"You a'righ' Aimry?" Daevon asked as he got there, not even at a loss for breath considering how easily he had loped across the sands with his long legs. He pushed the blonde hairs out of his face and climbed into the stands and looked over at the girls. "Yer mean very unladylike, righ'?" He added to Aimry's words.

Even if Aimry had said something rude and unbecoming, it was not a woman's place to just outright rebuke him. Besides, Daevon already knew that Aimry did not mean everything he said. His speech had a habit of outrightly dripping with sarcasm and unless a person truly listened, they would not acknowledge the truth there. He decided to try to assuage the situation for both Aimry's sake and to attempt to keep the Weyrleader from needing to worry about more than the remaining candidates who were out amongst the eggs still.

"Pardon teh interruption. M'name's Daevon, I've no' teh pleasure of meetin' yer all." He said with an honest smile and he gave a half-bow to them all. Daevon continued cautiously, but he knew that he could be on the wrong end of the receiving end just as Aimry, granted he could take a hit much easier than Aimry was likely to and he'd prefer to be hit rather than his friend. "Yer migh' need to forgive Aimry, he don't mean all he says, jus' half o' it an' only if it were true would anyone act on his words, eh ladies?"

[Femisis]

For some odd reason, Crescentia found that aggressive acts calmed her, the more violent the better. In any case, the slap had done the trick and she felt much more level-headed than before, even if she was still angry as hell at the boy. A dragon now would have been rather convenient even if it was just to eat him. “They don’t HAVE an argument. We’re just as good as they are.” She snorted at Alowiha, though it wasn’t meant to offend. She rather liked this girl, even if she wasn’t as much of a go-getter as the blond was. At least she wasn’t a complete wimp.

“Can you do us all a favor? Shut your mouth, the sands are warm enough without you spewing a ton of hot air in here.” She told Aimry with a roll of her eyes and a dismissive gesture. She made a half-turn to go before Daevon began speaking and she let a half smirk cross her face. This one seemed alright. At any rate, he was smart enough to diffuse the situation rather than making it worse. “You have a point, though I had a feeling someone hadn’t given him a good smack in a while. His mother was remiss in her duties.” She laughed before going to sit down, feeling as though she’d scored a victory for womankind even if she wanted to kick Aimry in the head rather badly. It was a shame she couldn’t, her riding boots were rather heavy.

[stolenhart]

"Vandyith, lovely", T'ran crooned to the gold dragon. She shook her head at him, but did not pay him anymore attention. "Vandyith, can I see the egg?", he asked. Knymawth gently nudged the gold and only received a quiet growl from her in return. "I'll take that as a no", T'ran sighed, giving up for the day. Maybe he could sneak back on later tonight, Knymawth would let him know when she fell asleep. If he was lucky he could check the gold egg for any flaws, not that he doubted there were any but no one had gotten a look at it in since it was laid.

As he crossed the Sands he heard the beginning of a fight and sighed inwardly. Time to get them off the Sands, if tension was that high, "Alright ladies leave the man alone", T'ran told them, fists on his hips. "You can discuss the merits of Southern Manners in the dining cavern if you wish but not on my Sands", he pointed towards the exit, "Let's go, all of you as well, boys", he nodded for the boys to go as well. "And there will be no touching of the eggs now", he added. Knymawth had already slithered away from Vandyith and the gold was slowly making her way towards her eggs, tongue lashing out as she eyed the departing candidates.

[shouriko]

Fakir hadn't touched many eggs, but he had been very pleased with those he had. He wanted to do his best to remember how they felt for he was quite certain he'd not get to touch them again. He also wanted to share these with Ahiru since she had not been able to come with him. It was a good thing, though, she would have been annoying and a liability to them all. They'd not be able to touch the eggs at all if she had been there and someone could have gotten hurt with the ill behavior of Vandyith.

He left the eggs and though he saw others in the stands, he preferred not to join them. That was where the girls were and where the argument and slaps came from. Fakir had an inkling of thought that they were a source of agitation and they too compromised the situation. Ah well, he did get to touch the eggs and that was enough for him. He quietly walked off the sands, pleased enough for today.

"Goodbye, T'ran." Fakir said quietly as he walked past the Weyrleader who had searched him.

[icefire]

Mirrium had arrived late and had wondered what had been going on with the other girls. She slide slightly into the shadows wondering if maybe her and the rest of the girls would get the chance to touch the queen egg. She remembered the talk she had earlier with the weyrleader and smiled. He was quite smart to get at least the other candidates a chance to touch the eggs. She tilted her head to the side in hope to see the egg that was eluding all the girls on the sands. She shook her head when one of the females slapped a male candidate. She was going to say something to the girl but thought better of it.

When the weyrleader came over she knew that there wouldn't be a chance to touch or look at the egg that the queen was protecting. She sighed inwardly and starting walking out of the sands at his words. Perhaps that gave each girl a chance at that egg she thought to herself. Shruging she headed towards the kitchen to offer her help.

[fauxfox]

The sound of heavy footfalls announced Daevon’s approach, with that calm, ground-eating lope of his. He half turned, cheek still pink from the slap, and raised an eyebrow at the enquiry as to his wellbeing. “Fine,” shrugged the younger man, as if he got smacked all the time. He probably did. Still it was benevolent of the guy to defend him, even if he did almost immediately start playing nice with ‘the enemy’ in the awfully well-meaning manner that the young had come to associate with him. ‘Peacemaker’ was evidently going to be Daevon’s role in life, a conversational wet-blanket to the fires people like Aimry tended to start. Perhaps he ought to start setting down a trail for the guy to follow, cleaning up the damaged egos he tended to leave in his wake.

However he did rather take offense when people started apologising on his behalf. Especially when the person he was, by extension, apologising to remained blithely oblivious of any point he was trying to make. He was not sorry – indeed, it only reaffirmed his belief that the woman dearly needed taking down a few pegs. “I assure you my mother provided adequate influence without resorting to violence. Apparently, a trait you’ve yet to realise.” He smirked mockingly, and turned his head to spare the Weyrleader a glance of acknowledgement as the egg touching was called to a close. Turning back to the candidate group he was surprised to find that Josef had joined them, a restraining hand placed on his trouble. Shaffit.

“I hope my apprentice has not been causing undue trouble. I fear the excitement has got to him,” The middle-aged Harper was not unattractive, and demonstrated the fact with a congenial smile. Aimry kept obediently silent, determined not to let his annoyance on. “We really must be returning to our duties, though, if you’ll excuse us. Weyrleader.” The Weyrsinger inclined his head respectfully in the bronzeriders direction, and waited for his apprentice to do likewise. Aimry did so, also turning to the candidates with a nod. “Ladies, Daevon. Always a pleasure.” And, having made his farewell, allowed himself to be steered off the Hatching Grounds.

Well, that hadn’t exactly gone to plan.

[headwoman]

Arosia intently watched what happened around her. She wasn't one to step into anything that didn't have anything to do with her. She observed the girl next to her and felt a little bit left out, and more deeply alone. She stood quickly and left. Didn't seem like the girl wanted her friendship, she didn't need to be friends with someone like her then. Once she was off the sands she called her green firelizard to her. "I missed you, Sivia. It was boring in there," she whispered to the green.

Sivia chirped in response and crooned to her pet, sending her the feeling of loneliness as well. And then, hunger permeated into her feelings, and then into Arosia's stomach.

Arosia chuckled. "Alright, lets go and get you fed." She headed off to the Dining Cavers. She grabbed a plate and loaded it down with tubers, roast wherry, and meatrolls for Sivia. She turned around and found a good table. Good table meaning an empty table. She sat down and began to eat and feed Sivia. As she did so, her thoughts wondered to the eggs on the sands again.

[Edward]

As Murtur went from one egg to yet another, Murtur would smile. He couldn't help but do so. All these eggs made him happy. The fact that he was a candidate made him happy as well. All he had to do now was get here when the eggs hatched. Thinking a bit into the future, he would be interrupted. He could hear the females getting mad at the males, and soon after the weyrleader would tell them all that it was time to exit.

As Murtur saw some people exit, he would follow behind them for a bit. If they had to go anywhere in particular he didn't want to get lost. If not, however, then Murtur would just go around searching to see what is around. There was so much that he could still do since he hadn't been here for too long.

---

Beyral would continue to go to the same eggs, not the same as in same ones vistited, but eggs that had the same volume in general. Seeing as he thought he would impress one way, he decided to focus on those the most. After a while he could hear what he would presume to be bickering coming from the bleachers. Listening closer he would notice that it was the females complaining about the positions of women and that they have a harder time doing what they want.

Rolling his eyes, Beyral would listen to the weyrleader once he said they all had to leave. Walking off the sands Beyral would head to where he was asked to go to. He would make sure to be everywhere else on time now. He couldn't afford to mess anything up.