Dragon Rider Play

Blade nodded and followed Blue. He only brought a short sword and his favorite knife with him this time. He played with the knife the whole time.

"I am afraid I will have to see the suit on you before I can show you where to place your blades," Blue said with honest regret as they walked. He opened the door, nodding politely to the tailor. The tailor didn't even look up, busy at work for all the guys who needed clothes. It was a lot of them. Blue when straight for the shoes, looking them over with great exactness.

Blade nodded and shifted uncertainly. He was not used to all this class. This was at least working class stuff, and he never had the money nor desire to get this kind of stuff the rare moments he had enough money.

At last, Blue found three pairs he was satisfied with. He indicated Blade sit, and the proud elf actually knelt to put them on, asking Blade to walk and try them out. They weren't top of the line fancy, still working shoes, but they were in perfect shape and looked great on Blade. Their style was extremely comfortable as long as the fit was right.

Blade settled on the middle pair he tried on. "These feel the best." He told Blue.

"Good. Then they will be your fancy shoes," Tithenor said, brushing off his knees as he stood. He turned to the tailor, but the man just waved them off, mumbling around his pins. As long as they did not abuse the privilege, whatever clothes the trainees needed was free. "Come. Now that we have head and feet, we must focus on hands. Back to the bunkhouse with you."

Blade looked down at his hands. "Hands? What's wrong with my hands?" He asked Blue as they walked back.

"Your nails are an absolute disgrace," the elf replied blandly, pointing to Blade's bunk. "You have trusted me this far. Just a little farther."

Blade looked at his nails and sat. He nodded and let Blue do his thing. Like he said, Blade had trusted the elf this far, why not trust him the rest of the way?

Tithenor used his own tiny blade to first trim back and shape Blade's ragged nails, then used the tip to delicately clean under them. The dull side he used to push back Blade's cuticles, and when he was done, Blade's hands looked brand new.

Blade examined his hands. Blue would have felt multiple calluses from a rougher life, and from using his hands to work a lot. "They look... nice." He said. He clearly meant well, it was just that he wasn't used to it.

"With your nails cut back, it will make your fingers more sensitive," Tithenor told him. "Just please do not use your improved sensitivity to steal from fellow riders. There will be plenty of oportunties to put your skills to use elsewhere."

Blade bit his lip some. "Hey Blue?" He said. His voice sounded young and vulnerable.

"Yes, Blade?" the elf asked patiently.

Blade looked down. "I... I never really... had anyone who cared for me. Not... not like you seem to, at least. Thank you..."

"It is an honor," Tithenor replied sincerely. "Thank you for allowing me to care."

Blade nodded and looked down awkwardly. Tithenor may have been able to sense that he never really had friends before either.

Tithenor reached out and clasped Blade's shoulder briefly before standing. "Now, then, you are cleaned up, you look like an honorable diamond. The clothes are just polish."

Pat sat under a tree, her nose in a book. She started in surprise when the book was yanked from her hands.
"What do we have here?" leered a tall, well muscled lad.
"Looks like a right lady lad," snickered one of the others.

Blade nodded a little. "O-okay. But, um, these are the only clothes I have..."

Mark was on his way to return a few books when he noticed a group of guys. He didn't pay much mind at first. Guys were allowed to stand under trees if they wanted, right? His walk would take him sort of by the tree, but not close enough to interfere.

"They will do for now. Soon we will get you new ones," Tithenor assured him. "Clothes do not make a man, but they do help tell his story. For now, I believe I shall go to visit my egg. Do you wish to come?"

"Hey! That's my book!" Pat yelped, her voice squeakier than she'd have liked. She scrambled o her feet and reached out for her book, but found her arm grabbed and yanked back by one of the bigger boys.
"Ooohhhh, the poor little eunich lost his toy!" one cackled.

Blade nodded. "I don't see why not. I could say hi to mine while we're there." He put his normal jacket and sharp pointy objects on.

Mark heard Pat cry out and took a closer look at what was going on. He casually walked over, seeming curious but not seeming to take sides. "Hey. What's going on over here?" He asked with curiosity.

Tithenor walked out, his gait long and flowing. He Headed for the hatchery, but paused when he saw the rambunctious group under the tree. What was going on here?

"Oh, not much," the ringleader said, flipping through Pat's book. "What's up, kid?" He was much taller than Mark and solid muscle.
Pat squirmed in the bully's grip, but one easily held her tight.

Blade noticed and grinned a psychotic grin. He recognized this could be trouble. "Hey Blue," he said in a cheery voice, "should we go over and say hi? I think I see Mark and Pat over there even!"

Mark's eyes shifted to Pat a moment. He smiled and looked down. "Oh," he chuckled, "You're those kind of guys, aren't you? Like picking on people because they look more helpless than you..." He grabbed the ringleader's junk in a tight and vise-like grip. The scarred breeder was not messing around, and his voice was a hiss. "Let me make this clear; I don't guys like you, so this is your one warning. Leave people like Pat be, or I will show you how we castrate dragons. Capiche?"

Seeing their leader in pain, a couple guys went to strike Mark down.

(I can't even feel down there and that has me crossing my legs. I thought junk-grabbing was a girl thing!)

The ringleader doubled over, mewling in pain. Then he struck out hard, his wild blow grazing Mark's chin. The one holding Pat, kept his grip, yelling at the others to get him.

Blue touched Blade's shoulder. "A moment. Do you see how they are all converging on Mark? Those three hang back, letting the others do the dirty work because they aren't confident. Let Mark have the leader, you take out that one with the sad attempt at a beard and the one kicking Mark's shins. With those three gone, the group crumbles."

(*shrugs* Maybe, but it sure as hell gets the point across either way. If a guy is Ticked enough, i mean, I think every one by now knows the jewels are a tender spot...)

Blade grinned. "I thought you'd never ask. Should I make a scene or no?" He asked as he drew out two combat knives with ease.

Mark grunted and bull rushed the leader, throwing him hard into the tree and winded him with a blow up into his chest, behind the ribs.