Strangers

[Khaliall]

Hmph huffed Absinth, not sounding mad at him, just...miffed. And a touch puzzled by this bewildering fact about Whers that the oblivious Leaf had not been aware of.
Now why would they do something silly like that? That does not make sense to me

Very little makes sense to you Khaliall thought dryly, to which Absinth did not reply. It did not usually occur to her when she made herself look silly, but she did not think Khaliall's comment worthy of a response.
Perhaps Chrysanth had forgotten, but Absinth had never known in the first place. Or shown any interest in knowing.

"That would explain why I didn't recognize the name," Khaliall said softly, feeling awkward. Had it really been so long? She was home but...so much had changed! She had missed so much that she felt even more like a stranger, now that Fia's remarks had really driven in all the new people who were here. "Silly can be good. And here I was of the impression Psychopath was one of a kind...What is her dragon like?"
For a moment, she imagined 'wacky' girl with an insane dragon, and shivered convulsively. That would be...interesting. "You mentioned that it's Chameleon?
Khaliall folded her arms over her chest out of habit more than out of a defensive gesture, and sighed.
"Heh. How does your brother manage his little devil?"

Brothers. Ah, the wonderful subject returned. "Yes," she said softly, "I did."
That was, to her surprise, somewhat reassuring. Fia was right. She had just returned, and if T'vril was busy, perhaps he just didn't know that she had gotten back, yet. She could never be sure what Death would tell him, given that he and Absinth didn't get along. She could well be overreacting to his absence due to their quarrel before she had left.
A Turn was a long time. Surely he couldn't still be angry.
There was a touch of pink in her cheeks. "His name is T'vril," she said aloud, absently. "Perhaps you know him? You're right that I just got back...and I suppose I could always go find him..."

Absinth was, as usual, oblivious to his discomfort.
Perhaps she said thoughtfully. I have not really thought about it before. She can be rather annoying. She never wants to try anything! And she did not flirt with males which bewildered the Leaf, but she couldn't count that as a flaw.
I suppose she is nice...but she's so very boring...
Khaliall glared at her.
Nice to know I have SOME support! she said sarcastically.

[Fia]

Chrysanth barely managed to keep from flinching at the Leaf's tone; what had he said?! The Chicory wondered in dismay how he had annoyed her. He took a moment to scold himself furiously before replying timidly, I don't know. I just know that that's why they come out at night...

"Meh. I can't keep track of all the Weyrlings; or the Riders, for that matter," Fia said with an unconcerned shrug. "Silly... yes, it can," she chuckled. "Her dragon... is, thankfully, relatively sane. As far as I know, at least. She seemed nice the few times I met her." The girl grinned. "Heh. He doesn't, really. She basically does what she wants, and since she's just a pet rather than a messenger or something, he's alright with it. His dragon helps a lot, the creature is blessedly calm," she added with a dramatic sigh of relief.

Upon learning Khaliall's brother's name, her eyes widened slightly for a moment before she got her surprise under control. "I've heard of him," she replied carefully. "And I've seen him around the Weyr sometimes. I don't think we've ever spoken, except maybe a 'hello' once or twice. I only know who he is because one of my friends Impressed a Bark at the same Hatching. The one I missed," the Chicoryrider laughed. "Anyway, yeah, he shouldn't be too difficult to find." So, she mused, Khaliall was his sister. She wondered, with the intense interest that always accompanied thoughts of the Red Star dragons, how their dragons got along. Not too well, she assumed, considering what she had seen on the day of her own Impression.

What would that be? Chrysanth asked, puzzled.

Oh, nothing. Nothing important. A few silly flitters got into a fight and scared the hatchlings a bit.

Oh. The dragon turned his attention back to Absinth. Well... surely she's the right Rider for you? he said cautiously, not wishing to start an argument. That would be disastrous! You picked her, after all, and I don't doubt your judgment at all.

[Khaliall]

Absinth remained oblivious, but her brief flash of annoyance seemed to have faded as quickly as it had come.
Oh. Well, that's all right then she said, as if his words had made all the difference. To her, 'just because' was one of the most convincing arguments in the world.
Because this was Absinth, and one did not really want to know how her brain worked.

"Nor can I," Khaliall murmured. "Not that I know anyone to begin with."
And she nodded her agreement, thinking that the Weyr might not be able to cope if an insane dragon were to be paired with an insane rider. Would it stay intact or sane through Weyrlinghood? She hoped to Faranth that they would never have to know.
"Perhaps I'll meet her one day," she remarked meditatively. "That would be interesting. I'm sure she is very nice. And her dragon, too. Most dragons are decent sorts." She glared in Absinth's direction but the Leaf didn't notice.
"Well, that's convenient. " Khaliall sounded amused. "As long as he doesn't need her to do anything. And your brother and his dragon sound wonderful. But not the firelizard."

Khaliall bit her lower lip, thinking about T'vril. "Hmm," she said absently. "Probably not. He's always kept to himself." Especially since he'd Impressed. "Actually, I left not too long after...I almost missed that hatching."
Her smile was embarassed. "I'm glad I went though, to see him Impressed. Absinth was being contrary that day." And had reacted very poorly to the hatching of a Red Star dragonet, when she'd tried to kill the first on Pern...She almost shuddered at the memory.
Absinth's inability to stand Death had been part of the reason that they'd quarrelled.

With her blissfully short memory, Absinth was oblivious as to who she meant.
I suppose so she said uncertainly. I mean, I'm sure I chose her for SOME reason.
She couldn't remember why just then, though.
And that is good that you do not doubt. Because my judgement is always right. Despite what she'd just been saying.
Khaliall made a strangled sound as she tried not to laugh.

[Fia]

Chrysanth was getting more bemused by this conversation every moment; he didn't blame Absinth, of course. Rather, he considered himself too slow to keep up with... whatever they were talking about.

Um... good? was all he could think of to say. If dragon eyes were not faceted, Fia would have sworn that Chrysanth's was going cross-eyed with confusion. Oh great... I've forgotten what we were talking about, he admitted sheepishly, before realizing how silly he sounded and shutting up at once.

"Me either," Fia confessed, with a half grin, half resigned grimace. "I just know the Chameleonrider in question, a goofy, Chicoryriding Searchrider, the Barkrider who Impressed at the same hatching your brother did, my own brother, and a handful of other people. I've just got the one close friend, really," she added, eyes softening with affection for the first time that day. It was nice, having such a good friend.

"Yes, maybe you will," she replied hastily, bringing her thoughts back to the conversation. "She and her dragon really are nice. And yes, having managed to avoid corruption from that wretched little beast, my brother's a good kid." (Khaliall's glare at her dragoness was not commented on; even Fia possessed some concept of tact.) The Chicoryrider's gaze was proud as she spoke, but full of humor as she added, "Not always, though." She pointed to a scar on her left wrist, obviously made by teeth. "That was not made by a canine or firelizard. And I swear my head has never been the same shape since the frying pan incident... I think he was about a Turn old..." Fia winced at the memory. Ouch...

She stopped talking then, cocking her head to one side and listening quietly as Khaliall spoke of T'vril. "I know what you mean," she remarked. "It's great, seeing your brother Impress, and knowing what it's like." The special look that often passed between dragon and Rider was flashed at Chrysanth, who flicked the tip of his tail in response. Fia coughed with slightest possible trace of embarrassment, though it was partly to hide the shadow that flickered in her eyes, unknowingly following the Leafrider's train of thought and trying not to imagine how she would feel if Chrysanth had been among the dragonets who had -in Fia's mind, at least- murdered the baby Red Star dragon... or if her brother had Impressed one. She shoved the ideas out of her mind and tried in vain to stifle the reawakened interest in Red Stars.

I'm sure you did, Chrysanth agreed, relieved to have something to say again. And I'm sure it is. He refrained from asking Khaliall if she was okay, not wanting to draw attention to the odd sound, however much it unnerved him. Fia's left eyebrow twitched fractionally, as if about to rise along her forehead, but the Chicoryrider concealed her amusement as best she could.