Celebrations have been in order, the weyrlings graduated and tapped, the break between the time Cirrus duties end and Snowdrift's begins is the perfect time to live it up before the real work begins. Edyis is already into cups, the loose crimson chemise and black satin ribbon lacing it up to her collarbone, flutters loosely about her hips. Seated at a table with a half empty glass of something dark and spicy smelling, her curls let to fall loose for the evening. The bar isn't a particularly upscale one, though the drinks are quite good. A group of card players laughs while the dealer deals, and there's a few games of darts near the back.
Perhaps Jo had gotten the coordinates through Akluseth, for she comes striding into the bar in her usual black leathers with the airs of someone that owns the place. She visits the counter first to collect up a huge mug of something red-amber colored, and then makes a beeline for Edyis's table with a loud, "Gotta a fully-fledged brownrider in our midsts! I do believe congratulations are in order," and Jo leans close to her hair and the side of her face as if she could smell her before she adds, "'N I see ya started without me," with open laughter.
"I can't stay sober for new ink, sorry. I did try." The last word emphasised by her sing-song soprano. "But impatience is one of my better virtues." Lifting her mug and taking a long pull. "I probably should have 'stopped' drinking a while ago but." She shrugs it off, grinning. "Feels good though, to wash my hands of weyrlinghood."
"Brow lifting as she moves to take a seat at the table, "Rek convinced ya or...?" Jo had to go there when ink was mentioned, her brows waggling comically as she takes a long drink from her mug. "Where'dya put this one?" Hopefully nowhere embarrassing! She raises her mug to the last, though, nodding and calling out a hearty, "Hear, hear! Shit, I remember the day I graduated. Got so wasted with Kait'n M'ron that our dragons had to leave us passed out on the beach down in Boll until we sobered up. Even think I got into a brawl that night! Well, here's to new found freedom," and she raises her mug up towards hers to clink against.
That she smiles the kind of smile that lights up a person's entire face is probably telling. After the toast, Edyis states with something of a pout; "He didn't have to convince me of anything, I was planning on this one long before I laid eyes on him." Something decadent in her expression at the thought of the Telgari brownrider. "Though he did go with me, and did suggest the artist." Without a thought to decency, the hem of the fluttery shirt is lifted, not quite to the point of indecency, but the bandage covering the length of her side from the top of her hip up, stopping just under her breasts is plainly in view. That it draws a few stares is probably to be expected. The shirt is let to flutter back into it's proper position. "Fuck sobriety!" She states in a cheer in response to Jo's story.
Jo's not missing much. One can see it in the way the convict rider props her chin on one propped hand, staring at the younger woman with a little smirk on her face. "How much ya fucked him already?" she's bold enough to ask her now, even if it's unrelated to graduation questions. When Edyis lifts as high as she does, she turns to look around to spot the onlookers before that smirk turns into a full-fledged smile. "Why Ed, yer dead drunk?" she asks in addition now, seeming pleased. "Ya almost flashed this here proper establishment! If yer gonna show some tit, show the whole thing I'd say." Yeah, being drunk around Jo is corruption waiting to happen. "So!" and she knocks her fist against the table surface. "What ya got tapped into? Do ya know yet?"
She is drunk, since without missing a beat she answer's Jo's rather private inquiry with a beaming, "As much as he lets me, and as we have time for." Hopefully she doesn't remember this in the morning, otherwise she will probably be blushing for months. "Fuck showing tits. People will get the wrong sorts of ideas, and even drunk this thing hurts like a bitch." She states of the fresh ink. "Snowdrift. I can't complain, gives me just a breath of freedom and well, I'm relieved anyone wanted us." her hand absently drifting to the new knife at her hip, fingers absently brushing the orange brown stone set in the otherwise plain hilt.
"Is that so?" Jo is looking to dish, clearly, since Edyis is being unnaturally forthcoming. To the tit situation, the woman purse her lips as she takes a drink before saying, "Folks already got the wrong sorts of ideas just from the lil' they saw. Since yer in pain though, as much as I can tell anyway...." she'll let it slide. She nods her approval over the chosen wing with a whistle. "Nice," she gives with a chuckle. "Search'n rescue's part of that one. Think it's somethin' ya'll do?" Dark eyes fall to what she can on that knife hilt before she nods, "Where'dja get that?" Much to see and catch up on, clearly!
Her sigh is a rather contented one, "Yes. It is." So she must mean, leaning in Jo's direction to murmur, "It's liberating, and exciting and... really I'd do it more often if I could." She orders another round, having polished off her drink. "Well save those ideas for after it's healed enough." Her tongue sticking out, "Besides I hear you left quite the impression on a particular greenrider." Since Jo's dishing, it will go both ways. "I imagine so, Akluseth is excited about it, he likes the complicated stuff." The comment on knife earns a softer smile, "Gift from R'hin, for graduation I think."
"Liberatin'....excitin'....I think I've used those same words in yer presence 'bout the joys of pleasure'n ya scoffed at me," Jo's clearly enjoying this, leaning back in her seat with her mug with a smirk lingering around her lips. "Though admittedly, Rek does have that effect on women. It interests me that he's stickin' around, though. Does he talk to ya? Like, really talk?" since he's apparently not a talker. She snorts on those ideas with a look giving promises on that front (yes, she's going to remember every minute of this), before her brows twitch together upon hearing about a certain greenrider. Some of her joviality falls in favor of just the faintest of blush, even though she snorts again and drains half her mug as she says, "What're ya talkin' 'bout, woman? There's plenty of greenriders I've left impressions on. I'm glad to hear Akluseth's pleased by the choice of wing. It's useful to have'em like where they're hangin' the most, ya know?" She peers at the knife again, and hearing who's it from, "R'hin? Yeah, that's his style," she drawls that with a chuckle. "Reckon yer both on the mend, then? Oh! I've got somethin' for ya too!" She's patting her black leathers down before she gestures out the bar towards her blue as she says, "It's in the bag. When we head out, I'll give it to ya. Probably not as fancy as what R'hin gave ya, though, but, it's practical."
"If I recall correctly, you were also trying to get into my pants at the time." Edyis replies jovially, conceding the point with a wicked smile. It's the talk of the Telgari brownrider and his 'effect' on women, (plural) tints the younger brownrider's expression the queerest shade, though the effect dissolves quickly as soon as Edyis becomes aware of it, not entirely out of control of her faculties it would seem. Instead; "I don't know, maybe? Probably not, depends on your definition of talk I suppose. His wing, his sisters...stealing trees?" Edyis shrugs, glad that her drink's arrival saves her from further thought on the matter. "He'll get bored eventually I'm sure." Lips pursing with the thought, thinking while drunk is a dangerous thing, especially about things that one shouldn't over think. So instead she latches on to that blush of Jo's grinning like a shark scenting blood. Jo blushing? "Yes, well, the one I'm thinking of is a redhead and built like the proverbial brick house." She smiles, of things being on the mend? "Seems like it." And at Jo's revelation of a present of her own, the former scribe grins wide. "I like practical." Her eyes lighting up as Jo pats her leathers, brimming with curiosity. "And it is the thought, effort, or memory behind a thing that makes it meaningful."
"I figured it was a choice way to get to know ya," Jo is bold enough to admit on the first with a quick winsome smile. She catches that shade, as brief as it is with a soft snicker before she takes a lingering drink and notes rather soberly, "Ah. So ya like him." It's not even a question, and the convict rider seems entertained by it. "It happens to the best of us, right?" she goes on to say. "Does he know?" But the topics Ed gives that the Telgari brownrider has talked of to her earns a few nods and a wry (or observing), "That's interestin'. He's good with his hands. Can build real fancy shit. Have ya seen his stuff? I've been tryin' to get him to let me sell it. I thought it was you that was to get bored of him?" Each thing the brownrider says, the convict rider turns it right back on her with casual ease. Besides, goading Edyis was way better than goading her, and so the grunt sent on Yesia is her response. "Talkin' 'bout the maiden flight, are ya? Did she talk to ya 'bout it?" On gifts and things, she nods before she drains her mug and is lifting fingers to try and capture the bartender as she says, "It's a worthy enough gift. Do ya know who else got tapped with ya?"
A bark of throaty laughter escapes at Jo's opinion on the best ways of getting to know people. It's the sober observation however, that has the former scribe's expression cycling through something akin to realization before looking like she bit into a raw lemon. "It's just sex." She seemingly tries to convince Jo, or perhaps herself. Her response seems limited to his woodworking. "Yeah, at least, l I've seen what he has in his weyr anyway. I managed to convince an old family friend to part with one of their hardwoods, but that is a surprise." She waggles a finger. "And shut up." Since she really doesn't have anything to say on the jab of being the one to leave the man hanging. Sulkiness is assayed with the topic shift to Yesia. Payback being what it is and all. "She had a Turnday and my sister had a few new tunics finished so I was dropping them by and we talked. I think," She trails as though considering, "That she likes you, judging from all the contradictions." The brownrider takes a long pull from her mug, watching Jo all too keenly.
"It's more than," Jo's clearly not buying it, watching Ed closely from where she nurses the remaining drops of her drink. "Shit, woman. I know what that looks like. 'Just sex' don' have ya lookin'n actin' like that." Takes one to know one, maybe. She grins on the brownrider having seen N'rek's weyr, and the teasing gets a blow-kiss from her as the bar tender arrives with her refill. She's laughing, really, exchanging the empty mug for the filled one until the talk of Yesia. Lips press together as she falls silent - unusual for her - regarding the other as she speaks, breaking it with a carefully blithe "Turnday, huh? Well, good ya got her somethin'. She really should make an effort to make more friends. Thought ya didn' like her so much, anyway?" But, then that last. Eyes sharpen on the younger woman, but she's quick to look towards the card games being played at the table nearby - as though, suddenly, something there was interesting to her. For awhile there, it looks like she's not going to respond or say anything, the older woman taking a long and leisurely drink from her mug before she says, "Mm. Whatcha think?" It's oddly sober, that question. It's delivered like she doesn't care about the answer one way or another, but, she does at the same time.
She had been about to protest, from the shape her parting lips take, but the observation and indirect admission has her face pressed against the table eyes squeezed shut. "Fuck." She breathes looking back up to the bluerider with dark eyes, "I do, don't I? Why do I feel like that's not a good thing?" Edyis wonders of like and dislike. Yesia is an easier topic, a safer topic. One that doesn't threaten to make her brain cells scream at her further, she orders something non-alcoholic when the bartender bring's Jo's drink, staving off the impending hangover and headache. "Even Yesia, deserves to get something for her turnday. She isn't quite so bad, could use a lesson or two on tact, but then again so can I so I can't judge on that front." That too sudden interest in the card game has Ed's lips twisting. "So you like her." Those dark eyes are glittering, "Since just sex doesn't have you looking like that." To the last, there's a soft sigh, "I think, you should tread lightly. She's holdbred, and unlike me didn't have turns to get used to the more colorful aspects of Weyr life before Aeaeth chose her. I think you should probably be gentle in whatever manner you decide to pursue her."
It's a quiet chuckle. "It's not that it's not a good thing," Jo says with a half-shrug. "Just. Those of us don' like what comes with that. All of that 'starin' into yer eyes', talkin' 'bout yer feelins' sort of shit. Folks in my sort of position, bein' vulnerable like that ain' so good." At least she seems to think so. She snorts on the comparisons between the former weyrlings, taking a drink and saying, "Y'all ain' all that bad. That Farideh, though..." though, by the little lift of her lips, she must think the goldrider's behavior is approval-worthy despite her comment. Still, Ed coming to conclusions has the convict rider immediately cutting a look her way. "Wait, now, I wouldn' be sayin' all that," as she tries to recover her bravado in open vain. "I'm a sucker for amazin' tits'n attitude. I dunno all 'bout..." Her lips press together and she just stares at Edyis. But she did ask, and so the answer to it has some of that brash ego ebbing, letting an unusual sort of reluctance come in its wake. She grunts again and drinks, seeming at a loss for a words for a moment before there's a very sober and quiet, "Aye, I know, darlin'. We....talked."
Edyis rubs at her face, another Fuck echoed softly in begrudging acceptance. "Nothing good ever comes of that moony-eyed harper shit, why do you think half the songs end in tragedy?" Jo gets a very dirty look, almost accusing in its sharpness. "This, is your fault you know." The words lack the barb of real anger, yet they contain a touch of anxiety about them all the same. "Nothing good comes of talking about feelings; I've a pack of old love letters my mother and stepmother wrote that proves that point." Jo seems to be getting all sorts of things out of the scribe today Of Farideh she lifts a shoulder, "She isn't a bad sort, she's some growing to do, but don't we all?" The once-scribe muses. "You are a sucker for a pretty face and an hourglass figure, true enough, but Jo," Edyis says leaning in then. "I've never, seen you blush about anybody before." It's the admission of talking that earns an expectant look from the young brownrider. "And?"
"Ugh, used to be one of those holdbred girls into those harper songs," Jo admits with a screwed up frown. "I'm glad I've learned what's what outside of that place." The dirty look gets a wide-eyed one in return as she says, quite innocently, "Well, I didn' know ya were gonna fall for the man. Thought ya just wanna get yet rocks off. Y'know, I could say the same for you." Presumably in how Yesia came into her life. On the easier topic of Farideh, "She needs more than one trip to a dirty bar," is her version of learning lessons. "Have ya met the man she's with?" It's clear she'd rather talk about about anything than the last, of course, that uncertain frown growing slow but prominently. The look Edyis gets is sharp when blushing is mentioned. "I don' blush," is her retort. "Haven' in turns, woman. It's the drink." Of course. "'N anyway, she doesn' know what she wants'n she's young'n awfully holdbred. Like ya said. Maybe I shouldn've avoided her afterwards'n I'll make that up to her. I just....." She looks away, then back, "I dunno. We're 'bout as opposite as water'n oil. But we talked. She's got some things to work out." So does she, apparently, but the stubborn look on her face shows she's not willing to admit it. Looking around, "Ain' this 'spose to be a party?" she notes with a look.
"I just wanted to make sure I took care of the whole virginity thing, I didn't expect anything else." And at Jo's accusation in return, there's a crooked little smile slowly spreading, "Then that makes us even." She shrugs at talk of Drex, "Sailor. Beyond that don't rightly know much about him." Of blushing? "Lies. You did and it was well before you were into your drinks." The last, she merely listens to, with a shrug, "She will figure it out or she won't, just don't get yourself hurt in the crossfire. She fucks H'vier, which can't be good for anyone's self-esteem. Unless there's a side of him, I haven't seen where he isn't a chauvinistic asshole." Ed looks around, "N'rek had something come up, and Akluseth was the one sending out visuals." « She's way too drunk to be around normal people. She's flashing people in a public place and probably will do so several times. At least she isn't dancing on the table. The thought keeps running through her head and I keep washing it out. » Is Akluseth's dirty little confession to the fellow Reachian dragon.
"How it sometimes starts," Jo notes wryly on the first with a sip of her mug. Glares on the even comment but addresses the one about Drex with, "Yeah, Drex is his name. Apparently he sounds as shady as I am. I intend to hunt'em down as a bluerider duty to the weyrwomen of our Weyr. See for myself." Yeah, right. Jo's never been patriotic. On getting hurt, "I don' get hurt. H'vier ain' all that bad," she admits on the bronzerider with an amused snort to the woman. "He's rough around the edges, sure, but so am I. I'm the last to fault a man for how he hustles, darlin'. Heard he fell for the Fortian weyrwoman over there, er, Lilah. Haven' seen him 'round since she got lost."
There's a brow on the comment about N'rek as she downs her drink, but she seems to be considering the answer on blushing despite her silence on it before she finally says, "Yer enjoyin' this way too much." « Mine thinks that's part of a good party, » Tacuseth is wise to deliver to Akluseth, his amusement bare. « Don' really know why they need to cover themselves, anyway. She wants to....dance on a table? » It's an odd concept to a dragon. Even an older one. « Does this dancin' suppose to do something? What's wrong with it? » It's also clear he's likely rifling through Jo's extensive memory bank on table dancing.
"Farideh's love life is the weyr's duty?" Incredulous at best, Edyis snorts. "You are a damn sight more nosey than I am, and that is saying something." Of enjoyment or over indulgence in this new aspect of Jo's personality; "Of course I am, it is a very rare treat to see you caught off your guard. A pleasant reminder that you aren't all gristle and bravado." « Maybe, but not something she should do in the sole company of strangers. Especially when she is being irritated by clothing. » Akluseth shares the burning sensation along her ribcage, and the feeling of wearing entirely too many clothes, over warm as the steady flow of drinks has made her.
"It oughta be," Jo remarks on Farideh's love life. "This man could be a ruffian. Or someone like me." The look she sends is dramatically scandalous. Clearly she's joking. "Can't have ruffians stealin' up our weyrwomen, 'less they're ruffians from our own fine Weyr. Nosiness ain' got nothin' to do with it." There's a frown for rare treats of Jo, the convict rider grumblin', "I'd rather be all gristle. Never liked feelin' like this. Wanted to outrun it, this time." She's not really looking at Edyis, adding on a different topic, "Want me to check on him for ya? See what he's up to? I think he should be here to see this." By this, one probably thinks it means Ed's current state.
As for their dragons, « She does this in privacy? » Tacuseth is bold to ask.
"And if he is? That gold of hers is ample protection. He seemed a ruffian, but what would I know." Edyis states blandly. It isn't sympathy that colors her expression at the idea of out running emotions, but there is a softness there just the same. "You can't run away forever." The words apologetic, but finite. "Eventually something catches up." Of Rek her eyes narrow in suspicion, a slight slur slipping into her speech. "You just want vengeance for me teasing you about being sweet on Yesia." « She sings and dances half naked in the weyr all the time during summer. She's favored the mop as a dance partner lately. »
"Nah, this is somethin' beyond Roszadyth," Jo waves that away easily. "She's gonna need me. An alleged criminal can recognize another one." She sees that softness in Edyis's words and she shakes her head a bit as she drinks. "Yer startin' to sound like Tacuseth, Ed," she drawls on that score, giving her a pointed look. "Got enough on my plate than....that. But I ain' a coward, either." Pause. "I oughta get my vengeance," she notes on N'rek and Yesia. "'Bout me bein' sweet....He can't be that busy. I can have Tac call on Largath'n..." « Is this normal? » Tacuseth wonders at the visuals. « Mine never does that, but, she's always naked. Do ya like yer wing? » he asks then. He must be listening somewhat to their riders' conversation.
Criminal types, Edyis lifts a shoulder then to that. "So, it's a public service then, vetting out the ones that land in the goldrider's beds?" She still seems quite dubious. "Well that blue of yours has more sense than you do about some things," Edyis replies softly, lips curling wryly. Of Rek, there's a vague hand wave, "I'm sure he's got other more important, pressing things to do than sit here and watch me get further into my cups than I ought." Blushing a little as she stands suddenly. "I, need to piss. Order another round would you, maybe we can drag a couple chairs out to the beach?" Edyis wobbles a little but makes her way to the ladies room, not without flashing a grin and a finger wave at the occupants eyeing her as she makes her way to the bathroom. All tease of course. While she is away outside Akluseth stretches lazily in the sand. « Dunno about normal, she does it though. When she thinks no one is around to notice. I like Snowdrift. Lots of buddies to do stuff with, lots of of new challenging maneuvers. » He stretches again half listening to the conversation inside, his tail twitching through the sand. « Should we make up their minds for them? » Akluseth seems amused by the thought, « Our own guest list? »
"Ya sound awfully surprised that I care 'bout the welfare of our weyrwomen," Jo notes with openly fake sarcasm. "Which, I do. In a sense. In my own way. 'N my blue doesn' have that much sense. He just lives to torture me sometimes. Too bad he always conveniently forgets when he does." Still, torturing Edyis seems to be open for debate since the convict rider doesn't look one bit convinced with her excuse for their mutual Telgari friend to be there. Eyeing that blush, "Nah, I think he should learn what he's gettin' up to with ya," she muses, nursing her drink with a little smirk. "Maybe he'll get a lap dance outta it. Ya were almost willin' to rip off yer top earlier," even if that was not what the brownrider was doing at all. Jo will twist any situation. She ticks off a nod when Ed heads off, waving down the bartender as Tacuseth sends to the brown, « 'Lives to torture HER', she says. Yeah, bet we could make our own list. I'd ask Aeaeth, but I think she's busy. Too bad. Whatcha reckon? Ilicaeth? Largath? Roszadyth? » He's in the water, as usual, rolling over on his back with his wings spread out.
"Has very little to do with the welfare of our weyrwoman and much more to do with the idea of butting in where attention is not wanted." She states, "She's going to have little enough privacy as it is. If she wants that sort of looking after it is one thing." But the rest has to wait until after the brownrider is back, though the words lapdance earn more pink eared confusion. "No. He really very much shouldn't." Her brows knitting together now when she returns and despite that coppery complexion of hers the blush has spread to her cheeks. "Ignorance is bliss." For herself or N'rek is vague enough. The stretch that she does reveals that the bandage was removed in the bathroom, smokey flames in black and grey coiling and dancing "Wouldn't have flashed anyone anyhow, I am wearing something underneath. Or do you think I flashed everyone in the parlor? " Akluseth thinks, « I like your plan. »
"Lil' privacy came with the dragon," is Jo's counter. "Too late for'em to whine about it now. Have ya given him a lapdance already?" It's obviously her aim to make Edyis as red in the face as possible. "Anyway, our round comes now. Ya still wanna go out to the beach? I can give ya yer gift out there," ands he uses her head to gesture towards the entrance. She does tilt her head at an angle to capture what she could see of the new ink on the brownrider's tanned skin, slowly getting to her feet as she answers on that last, "They're still starin', Ed." The smile is knowing. As for their equally nosy dragons, Tacuseth seems to be rifling through his (or Jo's) database of names as he sends to Akluseth, « I know Hiyudath and Jormunth would come, » in continuation. « They're good fun. That whole lot, really, though they all might start trouble. »
"True enough I suppose, still..." Edyis states mildly. At the question, she blushes more. "I am not entirely sure what that entails so I'm going to go with no." Mission accomplished Jo. "Yeah," Throwing a glance at the ones staring. "Let 'em." She says of staring, with a frown. "That would be perfect, I think I've got a blanket in Akluseth's gear too." She all but purrs, grabbing her drink and sauntering out without waiting for Jo to follow. On his part, Akluseth seems to consider trouble diplomatically. « I think mine would welcome trouble. I could call Ishikath's? » His tail flicks then as Edyis fumbles to free him from his straps, freeing a blanket and spreading it out near the water.
"Ya've never seen a lapdance?" Jo is staring at Edyis in a way to suggest that one answer is probably not going to be good for the brownrider. Blushing would be the least of her troubles. She goes to collect up the drinks as she follows Ed out, her arms and hands full. Once outside, she eyes where their dragons are at - Tacuseth, in particular, with a glare - before heading to where the other has approached Akluseth. "Didn' think ya were an exhibitionist," she notes wryly as Tacuseth considers the brown's suggestion. « Ishikath, hmmm, » he sends. « Are ya friends with many from that wing? I could ask Leiventh. » Jo meanwhile, with Edyis setting down the blanket, lays the drinks carefully nearby in the sand before going for the carrysack set aside from Tacuseth.
"I am assuming it involves a lap, unless it's a misnomer." Edyis replies blithely, "But no, not something I've seen and if I haven't seen it I am pretty confident that it's not something I've done. Unless it's like that belly dancing stuff Z'kiel does." She might glaze over at the thought of the Igenite dancers and their fluid movements, just a touch. "I'm not an exhibitionist." At least not particularly while sober, but she's stripping, which doesn't help that claim. The new tattoo can be seen in full now, as well as the swimming suit Ed had on underneath that tunic. Flames, roaring and consuming rolling up around her hip and ribcage. The tunic set aside for the moment. « She is, I get to meet them more now. She was sort of sad that the old dude was so dead set against her being part of his wing, but she figures he has his reasons and doesn't want to push the matter. » Akluseth it would seem, doesn't much see the difference one way or the other. « I don't think Leiventh wants to be buddies with anybody, but no harm in asking. »
"Oh, Ed," is all Jo seems to want to say for now on lap dances, the laughter that accompanies it saying so much else. "Ya've got much to learn." Once outside, she pulls a medium-shaped wrapped package from the carrysack as she idly asks, "Ya close to this Z'kiel? Ya've mentioned him to me more than once." Dark eyes take in the new ink revealed when Edyis strips, nodding her approval of the design. "Showed Rek?" she asks with a knowing grin on her face, not even looking in her direction when she asks. Once the package is free, she straightens up and approaches her with it before holding it out and saying, "Don' say I never get ya anythin'." « She can always transfer in later, » Tacuseth lazily suggests as he continues to lol in the water. He doesn't look to be coming out anytime soon. « We like Glacier, » he goes on to say. « We've been asked for other wings, though. She might consider. »
"Zak's a friend." She answers with an affectionate smile, "Bit strange, but a friend just the same. Think he might have you beat on scars though." Of the tattoo, there's a wry smile as Edyis admits, "He hasn't seen the finished product, no." Cheeks heating as the package is freed and Jo brings it over. She all but squeals with glee, eagerly accepting the parcel, and settling on the blanket. Unable to contain her bursting curiosity. "You didn't have to Jo," the words laced with gratitude and anticipation. Akluseth seems to accept Tacuseth's opinion as law. « We go where we go. Make new buddies. Have adventures. She'll figure out that she can be happy anywhere. Eventually.» Something however has him flicking his tail through the water. « What is this lapdance thing they keep talking about?»
"Really," Jo's interest is piqued by what she hears about Z'kiel, nodding. "Strange how?" Once the packaged gift is passed over, "Ya should have me call him over so that he can see it," she now notes on N'rek and the new ink she's sporting. "I'm sure he'd be appreciative, darlin'." Should Edyis opens the gift at this point, what gets revealed is folded leather of a deep dark brown hue. It's a riding jacket with a sleek cut like Jo's, with pockets felt at the bottom and within, hidden away. It smells new with clean stitching. Custom made. "Hope I've gotten yer measurements right," she will say about it, looking the brownrider over. "Ya used to study my leathers so much. Figured ya'd want one of yer own." Tacuseth, meanwhile, rolls over to float on his belly as he sends to Akluseth, « Exactly. The wing can be home, though. We like Glacier, but there's Savannah'n Iceberg. » The question, though, draws thinning shadows of laughter from the older blue before he answers with « From what I've seen, it's a lot of moving on someone else's lap. Mine enjoys them. »
The brownrider thinks on it as fingers carefully unwrap the package, clearly of two minds on Jo calling N'rek, instead it's easier to talk about Z'kiel. "He's sort of stoic, like H'kon, a traditionalist, but there's a stubborn streak in him. He isn't cold though. He can seem that way, but if you can get him to laugh and enjoy himself," She smiles. "Though that is a challenge in its own right -" She stops as the leather is revealed, staring at it silently for several minutes before picking it up and running a finger along the stitching. Dark eyes are a little wide as they peer up at the blue rider, the thing tried on immediately over her swimsuit. Pulling to her feet to spin around still touching the leather. "It's perfect Jo. I don't know what to say." Other than a careful hug offered casually, with great caution given her tattooed side. « I'm gonna call Largath, this is getting ridiculous. » Akluseth intones to his blue brother a with a puff of bubbles. « Or if you think the invitation would be better from yours...» But Akluseth's invitation is shared with Tac inviting the blue to throw in as well. It's a rather colorful one, the beach in question, the sensation of clothing disappearing, and that bubbly light headed sensation of over drunkenness. « Hey, Treeman. Yours might wanna pop by. » There's a pause and added as an afterthought, « Also, mine has managed to get a tree for you. »
"The way his name keeps poppin' up, seems like I should go see this stoic one for myself," Jo muses lightly, watching her with the package. When the riding jacket gets revealed, there's a pleased grin from the convict rider and a nod from her. As she's careful in accepting the hug, "That ya like it's good enough for me," she says, gripping her arm as she looks the jacket over on her. "Looks good on ya. Figured ya'd look better in this color. Hope it's not too tight, though, that's not really a bad thing." Tacuseth is totally not going to stop Akluseth from calling Largath. Nope. « This oughta be interestin',» is all he says, as the brown sends for the Telgari brown.
Largath's mind seem distracted, if only for a moment. Akluseth's a familiar presence now, and the older brown greets the younger with the same ease of his rider. « Might, huh? » he seems to consider the summons, the scent of wet leaves and nature growing. « Yeah, we'll come by. You got a tree, really? » Yep, that seals it. He's coming!
Normally silver, his bubbles take on shadows, the laughter deep and rich from the young brown. « Sometimes you gotta do what's best for 'em even if they don't know it. Um... If she gets mad, yours can blame it on me. » Akluseth adds as an afterthought, still thoroughly pleased with himself. "He's fairly clean cut, but has ties to tradestock, and knows his way around the tools of his trade. Good friend to have really." She admits of the bronzerider. She grins, "You figured right, though... there's a little extra room through the chest, but that's perfect too since Pyrite has a habit of using me as a space heater sometimes." She twirls again, the jacket and bikini perhaps a slightly odd combination together but she seems too pleased with it to take it off just yet. In fact there's something of a little dance thrown in, with a giggle, to test the movement in it. She reaches for her drink and takes a long contented pull eyes going out to the water. "You figured right, I look ok in black but, browns are much better." She eyes her lifemate suspiciously then, shaking the silliness of the thought from her mind. « Should we call the others too while we are at it? What do you say Tac? » Akluseth has made his impulsive decision for the day, the rest is up to his buddies. For Largath, « Yes, a tree. We get to go pick it out from the grove and everything, when you two get some time to do a thing like that. Hope you got a place to put it though, she bargained for the whole thing. »
« Would she get mad? I thought she liked him, » Tacuseth muses back idly, diving deeper into the water. On Z'kiel, "Seems a bit too stiff for me," Jo comments on all that Edyis says on the bronzerider with a shrug. "'N I'll be too loose for him to deal with. I'm sure I'll rub him the wrong way. I usually tend to with traditionalists." She's still checking Ed out in her gift, nodding at the verbal observations in agreement as she slowly paces around her. "It really does look good on ya," she admits genuinely with an inclined head. "It should last ya a long time. Did'ja really call Rek?" Why she's asking? Because there's a brown dragon wheeling in for a landing several paces away from the ladies, lined with Tacuseth's grunted greeting and a « Who did we agree on to call? Come take a dive, Largath! »
Indeed, it's N'rek and Largath. It's takes them awhile to land, and once they do the inked Telgari dismounts and heads towards them. "You called?" is Rek's easy greeting while his brown heads towards Akluseth with « Yeah, we'll take care of the tree. He'll be pleased. » There's a familiar grunt towards Tacuseth; a kinship in silence.
« And it took yours telling her for her to realize that. Honestly for someone as smart as she is, sometimes? She can be incredibly stupid. » The brown confesses, with a tail twitch as he too swims deeper to avoid wrath. The cause is clear when Edyis's answer to Jo is a befuddled one. "Ummm, I didn't call anybody." Very flushed now, and rather confused. « My bad. » Akluseth chimes to his buddies, feigning innocence as his tail is swishing through the water behind him. She turns to look at Rek more fully, cheeks flushed, and suddenly aware of the fact that she's only wearing a very fitted flight jacket and an Istan styled swimsuit. She recovers enough to try for a proper greeting, involving an attempt at a kiss and a lot of wobbling. Edyis is suddenly very awkward and shooting a dirty accusatory look at Jo, before it is suddenly redirected to the water where her brown is swimming. "Oh." Realizing then what must have happened. "I'm sorry he bothered you." Even redder now, though notably, not the least bit unhappy to see him. "Mel finished it today." She adds, shrugging off the flight jacket so the flames can be seen clearly.
« They don' always see what's in front of them, » Tacuseth seems knowledgeable on that subject, the dragon only straightening up from his swimming once Largath has arrived. « Mine doesn' want to look at what she feels. » Jo watches as N'rek and Largath approaches, a brow lifting at their arrival before she seeks out Ed's facial expression. That she's bending to finally collect up her drink? She's expecting something to pop off. N'rek walks up to Edyis first, her kiss allowed as he carefully draws her close into an embrace with one arm wrapping about her middle. His eyes find Jo and nods her way as he says to Ed, "It's not a bother. I had managed to finish up right when he called. Everything alright?" He releases her long enough to look her over, now taking in the fact that she's not sober. His eyes fall on the new ink as she speaks, nodding his approval. "Mel's good at what he does," he states, nodding as he bends close and draws a thick thumb softly over the healing ink. It's only after that intimate gesture that he turns to acknowledge the convict rider with a, "Isn't it too early to be causing trouble?" - "Ask yer lady that," is Jo's immediate retort, walking up and slapping him on the back. "Haven' seen ya in a while. Might have some shit ya'll be interested in later. It's with Dov. Ya might as well stick around'n get drunk with us."
« I see. » Except he doesn't. But Akluseth isn't one to question the madness of humans, he just pokes his in the right, or at the very least the most interesting, direction. As for Edyis, that Jo watches makes her all the more self conscious. Still, as he draws her close, she can't help but giggle, that slight slur dancing through her words. "Everything is fine."Content to let that arm balance her. His caress of the healing skin draws out a small, sharp sound. Something caught between discomfort and pleasure. Her breath comes quicker then, and Jo gets a strange look at the utterance of the word lady. She listens to the interaction, carefully putting the jacket with the rest of her clothing with great care. She locates her drink "Trouble? No trouble, lots to celebrate. We got tapped, Mel finished the tattoo, rum running again, trees procured." There's a an almost pout as she settles onto the blanket no longer fully trusting herself to stand. "Just whatever she accuses me of, you should know, it is all lies." Falling quiet and nursing her drink as she listens to the two catch up.
Of course Jo is watching the exchange between the Telgari and Ed, the small smirk evidently visible even though she eventually covers it with her recovered drink. Once that strange look is sent her way, there's slight innocent shrug. She didn't say anything wrong. For the moment, it looks like N'rek misses at least some of the non-verbal since he's busy checking out Ed's new ink with a studying eye. He doesn't fully let go of her yet but he does remove the thumb at her gasp. "Just got it, huh?" he muses, brows lifting before he meets her gaze, and then Jo's. To trouble and celebration, "What did you get tapped into? You're running rum again?" Well, once she sits, so does he as he looks for something to drink. One thing at a time, he's only just got here. He acknowledges Jo's remark once all of them settle with a few nods and a, "Dov? Sure, I can look into it. I could warn you that it's dangerous going out drinking with Jo," this is for Edyis, though there's some ready amusement in his tone as he reaches for one of the glasses. "Last few times, we got kicked out." Jo's flapping an overly exaggerated hand to what he says, adding behind it, "Aw, like yer innocent. I didn' start those brawls all by myself. 'Sides, Ed invited me. She ain' a weyrlin' anymore."
For a moment Jo's smirk earns a glare, but the pleasant buzz of alcohol and the arm around her still all but negate any sharpness it might have had. A small nod given to his question, meeting that look with an easy smile. "Snowdrift." And as for the rum there's a chuckle, "My business partner figured that since I have my own wings now, I could take over a good chunk of the work." When she's on the blanket though she lifts a single dark brow incredulously at Jo's hand waving, and then it's a sharkish smirk as those dark eyes fix onto Rek with the revelation, hiding it behind her mug which is now held firmly between two hands. "No brawls, or public indecency yet. You are still safe." She teases both of them, wiggling to make plenty of room on the blanket. "Should have ordered a couple of pitchers though." She seems to decide looking at her mug with a befuddled frown.
And glares get that winsome smile of Jo's, but for the most part she's content to watch Edyis and N'rek in their element while she drinks. "Was that one of the wings you were hoping for?" Rek is asking, keeping close to the brownrider even while sitting. He's slow in drinking his alcohol, more into keeping watch about them - and the woman he's sitting next to. On running the rum business, there's snicker from him and a, "What does all of that entail? Where's the rum really coming from?" - "Good question," is Jo's only contribution to that topic, seeming perfectly happy being nosy. The Telgari doesn't seem at all phased by what Jo reveals about his past, the man leaning back on an elbow as he counters with, "It was only to save your scrawny ass." To Ed, "One time, she was hitting up some barmaid right in front of her man. You can imagine how that only went. Hey, let me get the next round." Before any of them could protest, though, he's up and making swift headway towards the bar.
Edyis is all blithe smiles after that leaning a little against him as he sits. "Yeah, one of the ones that will give a little breathing room. Yesia and T'mic were tapped there too." She adds with a glance at Jo, and a coiled smile. "If I share all my secrets, I'd be out of business, not to mention Alida would kill me. Mostly though It involves simple redistribution." To Jo's exploits she laughs, "I imagine he only got pissy when he realized he wasn't invited too." But then he is up and heading in, leaving her to frown faintly watching after him. She glances at Jo then. "Go on get it out of your system, but remember payback is a bitch."
"Does search'n rescue," Jo pipes in about Snowdrift to N'rek as Edyis explains where she got tapped. "Mine does some of that, too," Rek is telling Ed as Jo shoots a glare her way when Yesia's name is brought up. Since the names don't seem to sound familiar to N'rek, it's Jo that comments on that with a dry, "Interestin'." - "No secrets," the Telgari responds to the answer on the rum business secrets, to which Jo replies behind him, "Sounds like an evasive answer to me. They're more than likely stealin' it, Rek. Yer lady's a thief." Teeth are shown in a smile and N'rek is now looking from one woman to the other before he's off to get another round. Of course Jo waits until the man is out of earshot, calmly sipping her drink and making a big show of it as well to Ed's last. "Whatcha gonna do to me?" she chooses to ask right then and there, looking unconcerned. "Gonna tease me 'bout Yesia infront of him? He don' care. What else?" Challenge thrown, her glance to her eager.
If there's any credence to Jo's assertion Edyis seems disinclined to confirm or deny. Rek's comment earns a girlish smile, "You'll have to show me some of your maneuvers sometime." She eyes Rek at the no secrets comment, and laughs. "Fine I don't have many and I'm a walking contradiction." To Jo's interesting, it's a chain of giggles; "You have no idea. If only, that girl is a living test of patience. One minute she's being sweet and the next she spits out insults, I never can decide if I want to be nice to her, or just punch her in the face." And when Jo asks her question in the absence of the man's presence, Edyis sighs. "No Jo, I would just rather you got it over with 'before he gets back."
The bluerider retains her innocent comments on N'rek despite Edyis giving her the opportunity to tease her to no end. As in, she just makes a show of sipping from her mug and watching her. Ed's comment to N'rek has her choking into her mug, though. It could be a deliberate move, really. One never knows with this one. "Come by and I will," is N'rek's somewhat suggestive answers on maneuvers (he certainly doesn't deliver it the way Jo would, so, there's that), but he's shooting a look at Jo for her choking once he arrives with a new round of drinks. He passes one to Ed first and then Jo before settling back down on the blanket. "Who's Yesia?" he's now asking them, and it's clear the convict rider is not going to answer that one since she suddenly has a strong thirst for her drink. "She makes you want to fight?"
There's a smile, and that Edyis's head rests against his shoulder and her free hand just happens to brace against his thigh, it's totally just to keep from falling over. "You free the rest of the night then?" She choses to ask in response. Dark eyes drifting at the choking Jo, apologetic. "Yesia is one of my clutch mates, and a rather pretty thing at that. It's ... her personality that seems to be the issue most of the time. She sort of made everyone miserable during candidacy and as this thing against girls who like girls. The sad part of it all? I don't think she is aware that she has a touch of the tendency herself." That she tries to crawl in his lap and sit there then, is probably Jo's fault somehow, or possibly a defense against any angry looks or punches the bluerider might throw her way. "Tacuseth caught her green."
Jo's currently occupied with draining her mug while N'rek shifts to bring Edyis closer to him. He slings an arm about her shoulders when she rests her head, slow to drink from his own mug as he watches their fellow blueriding friend recover from her choking episode. When she looks his way afterwards, she finds him looking pointedly at her. Still staring at Jo, "I'm free," he answers Edyis, tightening his hold. "Thought we could celebrate you becoming a rider ourselves, if you're free. Don't want to cut any plans you have with her wing or friends later." Catching something going on between the women, he falls silent and watches them as Ed speaks about Yesia. Jo is now trying to work the last drop into her mouth with one long finger. It's only towards the last reveal that he turns towards Jo with a raised brow. "You're quiet," he just makes it worse. Once the mug is cleaned on the inside, Jo sends Edyis a glare as she breaks her silence with, "She had walked in on me and Ed in bed. That's how I met her." In case N'rek didn't know that they slept together. Clearly, Rek knew already since he doesn't bat an eyelid as he simply says, "Well I figured." Beat. "So you like this Yesia then." Not a question. The Telgari doesn't miss much after all. "You. That's interesting."
Edyis doesn't seem to mind that hold tightening, Relaxing against him in a way that involves a lot of shifting until she's comfortable. "Mm, so far you and Jo are the only ones that showed." It's possible that a particular brown didn't send out the visuals correctly, but who knows at this point. Nothing in her demeanor changes, except the arch of one dark brow at Jo's little reveal.
"Sounds like there's more to this than just catching some girls in bed," N'rek is blithe in his observations, taking a drink as he eyes a Jo that looks less comfortable than she's been. "If this one's managed to get your attention, and it's a woman at that, then maybe I should me-" Yep, Jo's suddenly up on her feet. It looks like the convict rider really doesn't want N'rek to finish that sentence since her voice is much louder than it's been. "Oh wow, is the sun over that way already?" She looks towards the shore, a hand shielding her eyes. "Man. Tacuseth just reminded me that I'm needed in Tillek. Can't believe I forgot...." « I totally didn't say anything, » comes from Tacuseth to Akluseth and Largath, but the blue is already dragging himself out of the water anyway. Jo's picking up her things and straightening herself, talking all the while. "I'm goin' to be late. Damnit! Ed," and she turns towards Edyis, looking decidedly exasperated, "enjoyed seein' ya sloshed. We'll do it again away from other folks. Rek, take care of yerself!" She's snatching things up (probably some things there that don't even belong to her) and is stuffing them hurriedly into the carrysack that's to be attached to her dragon.
The look that Rek starts to get gets when he starts to suggest meeting Yesia, is fleeting though probably easily recognizable to the astute. Edyis's expression immediately shifting to confusion. "Akluseth says Tac didn't say anything." As far as the away, Edyis frowns, "I don't think I'd want you meeting Yesia, she'd probably be all over you and I'd want to kill her for it. Also, unless you are expecting me to go home naked Jo, do you mind leaving my shirt?" It takes a minute for Ed to register she's said these things out loud. No one noticed right?
Oh, Jo's heard every single word from Edyis's mouth, even though she's working on her hasty getaway. "That's cuz he's forgotten that quickly," she shoots that back at Ed as she moves about them. "Dragons'n their memories. Tac forgets many things...." « Fairly sure I would remember if we were to be in Tillek today, » Tacuseth is just busting her. Still, while N'rek is laughing at both Edyis's revelation and Jo's uncharacteristic retreat, he's likely the only one here entertained right now. "Protective of me?" is his gentle tease, to which case they both just might hear a disgruntled, "Oh, go getta room!" from Jo's direction as she hightails it towards her waiting blue. If Ed and Rek are laughing at her right now? She's not even listening. There's business to be done. At least she tosses Ed back her shirt in her wake.
« Is this one of those crazy female things we will never understand? » Akluseth's tenor drifts on the tides. At least Edyis isn't laughing, and she might give Rek a nudge if he carries on a little too long. At protective she laughs a little, "I think I might just be a little bit territorial, yes." And Jo's entreaty to get a room. Well, the fact that they don't stay long after the bluerider leaves might suggest that they were listening, and chuckling all the way.
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