Dragon Rider Play

Blade nodded. Once there, he went right to his egg. He stroked the shell and talked to the little dragon again. "I'm back again. I'm looking forward to actually meeting you tomorrow. I hope you like me. Blue helped me so I should look nicer, and I hope that's okay. He's... he's a really good person."

Mark turned to Blue. "Tithenor, would you like me to accompany you, or would you mind if I visited my own dragon first?"

The hatchling purred softly, shifting in her shell. Good person. Good rider. She didn't care how he looked, only how he felt about himself.

"Go," the elf replied with a little wave of his hand. "Enjoy yourself."

Blade smiled and kept stroking the egg and talking to the little dragon. He felt happy with her. It was something he was used to feeling for so long, but it felt good.

Mark smiled a little and went to his egg. The egg looked well taken care of. That made him happy.

The hatchling sensed Mark's approach and tapped at his shell. Out time?

Tithenor went to his own egg and rested his finger tips on the shell.

Mark sensed the hatchling's question. "No no, not quite time yet. Tomorrow it will be time. I have faith you will be a strong and handsome dragon when the time comes. I am just here to say hello."

There was a small skritching sound as Tithenor's dragon moved in his shell, thinking it was about time to hatch. He made a small, questioning peeping sound, as if to ask if it was time to come out.

Mark's dragon settled down, pouting. He wanted out! It was cramped in here!

"/Now then, hush, little one,/" Tithenor soothed. "/Soon we will meet. I wished for you to know my voice before you hatched./"

Mark gently hummed for his little dragon a few moments before he softly sang. He wasn't the best singer, but his words sounded kind and full of affection.

The little dragon shifted and relaxed a little. He hoped his rider would keep talking like that. It sounded comforting, even though he didn't really understand the exact words yet.

Tithenor continued to talk to his dragon in his native tongue until the bell sounded for dinner. He left with a final stroke, meeting Mark and Blade at the door and going on until they met Pat at the mess hall.

Pat could bearly eat, her stomach in nervous knots. Soon, so soon, she'd be seeing her dragon!

Blade was super fidgety as well. The only one seeming calm out of Mark, Pat, and Blade was Mark. Blade was so nervous, he didn't absolutely devour everything for once. He still ate a healthy amount though. "Oh man. Tonight's it." Blade said nervously. "What if my dragon doesn't like me once she's hatched?"

"Then you will win her over," Tithenor replied calmly, sipping his tea. He appeared completely calm, though his heart pounded in his chest. "If she liked you before meeting you, she'll like you after."

"But what if she doesn't?" Blade whined. "I don't know how to talk to girls! How can I win one over if I can't talk to them?"

"First off, she is a dragon. I doubt knowing how to talk to a girl will help," Tithenor pointed out dryly.
"Be sincere."
Blue glanced at Pat in surprise. "Pardon?"
Pat glanced between Blue and Blade then down. "Flatter her, but be sincere. She'll trust you."

Blade nodded, still a little tense. "Thanks, Pat. I'll remember that." However, that was another odd thing Blade noted of Pat.

"A lot of dragon species like being scratched under the chin." Mark tried to offer as well. "I recognize both mine and Tithenor's dragons are some I know for sure like that. It wouldn't surprise me if yours does too, Blade."

"Not to mention, the fates have a sense of humor in their decision of placing you two together," Tithenor said. "Considering your dragon breed is called a Blade Dragon."

Blade shrugged. "Eh. I just hope she is as pretty and dangerous as my knives."

"She will be if she's anything like the book says," Pat said, poking at her food. Sighing, she sat back. "I'm going to bed. Midnight can't come fast enough."

"Sleep tight, Pat." Blade called out to her as she left. He looked at Mark, who was standing as well. "I think a little bit of shut eye will be good too. Wait up, Pat!" Blade looked at Blue. "What about you, big guy?"

Pat glanced back then slowed, though she was already slower than Mark naturally walked. Still, she appreciated the call.

A perfect eyebrow winged upward. "Big guy? No. As to your question, I intend to go see if the tailor has happened to finish your suit. Do you care to come?"

Mark caught up with Pat. "Are you excited?" He asked as they walked.

Blade shrugged. "Sure. And for the record, you're certainly taller than me, so that makes you bigger in my book."

"Yes, and scared," she admitted. "I have a million scenarios in my head, none of them happy."

"Taller is not the same as bigger," Tithenor replied, miffed as he led the way. Reaching the tailor's, he let himself inside. "Your pardon, sir."
The tailor glanced up. "What?"
"Did you happen to finish this one's suit," Tithenor said, his voice soothing.
The tailor calmed only a little that it wasn't a demanding brat. "Aye. Third one from the right hanging on the rack. I can use those measurements to make him more clothes later.'
"Thank you, sir," Tithenor said, nodding to Blade to fetch the suit.

"Why are you scared?" Mark asked. "Your dragon chose you for you. She decided that only you would be the one worthy of riding her and being her closest friend and companion. If you place your trust and faith in her, she will not let you down." He tried to say in comfort.

Blade grabbed the indicated suit. "Sorry I upset you. That's, uh, kind of just how I grew up." He apologized to Blue.

"I'm just... I've never gotten what I want out of life. Nothing meaningful, anyway. I'm just waiting for her to be taken away," she admitted softly. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Mark."

"All is well, Blade. Come, let us hide all your sharp, pointy pets," Blue said.

"She won't be taken away from you. Not without a serious fight, anyway." Mark assured Pat. "Good night, Pat. See you at the ceremony."

Blade smiled and followed Blue. "Other than your razor pockets, do you usually carry weapons on you?" He asked the elf curiously.

"Good night," Pat whispered again. She got ready for bed as quickly as she could, wishing she could cut her hair a little shorter. But she didn't have that choice. So she crawled into bed, worry gnawing her insides.

Blue glanced at him. "A couple of things, though they are more for show than actual fighting. I was never interested in close quarter combat, and a bow is difficult to hide."

Blade grinned. "You could at least make carrying one less conspicuous with a couple slight attire changes. For example, wearing a sash around your torso of a color matching your bow's color, and even if the sash is loose enough, using it to cover the bow a little."