Monaco Bay Weyr - Cliffs
This is where Monaco's only permanent, rocky weyrs are. The cliff stands no more than a few dragonlengths high and all of the weyrs can be reached by foot as well as from the skies. No more than a dozen weyrs are available here and they're rarely occupied, but they have a forest-top view.
Night has fallen in this barely lit portion of the Weyr, leaving light only to fall from the few occupied cliff weyrs and from the natural light of the moons. Springtime has arrived on Monaco Bay Weyr, the flowers budding with wild abandon and all about new growth of the jungle seems to be the theme both in the animal and plant kingdoms
Kith snuggles between her two favourite Bronzes.
Marzoth noseboops Kith.Garouth rumbles, with a stretch and sprawl… and brush of his tail to Kith's.
Kith bops Marzoth on the nose and thwaps Garouth's tail with hers.
Marzoth hums and boops her again just for good measure.
Garouth sways his tail back, then… retaliatory-thwap. Tail-wrestling, he is doing it with Kith. With a rumble that's probably amusement and his head resting on his paws.
Kith entwines her tail with Garouth's in the game of wrestling but still seems happy to try and bite Marzoth's nose for the fun of it.
Marzoth will carefully work to try to avoid the bites, noses are sensitive doncha know. In the mean time he'll try to slurp her face.
Garouth flops to his side as his tail continues this wrestling with Kith's. He's waaatching as Marzoth gets nipped at. Waaaaaatching.
Kith moves on to trying to bite the other parts of Marzoth's face, crooning happily as her tail tugs on Garouth's. When his tail antics start to restrict her movements, she turns on Garouth and tries to pounce him instead.
Marzoth is now waaaatching Garouth, secretly hoping Kith will bite his face off, because thats what Marzoths do.
Garouth rolls further onto his back as he's pounced, with a rrrrumble and pawings up at Kith that o a remarkably poor job of actually fending her off. Probably because he's not actually attempting that. And gets his face bit, probably. Because doom!
Kith finds some satisfaction in gnawing on Garouth's neck, sprawled all over his bigger frame with her eyes still glinting in Marzoth's direction. She hasn't forgotten you either!
Marzoth continues to watch closely. Yeah. Bite him! Bite his neck! There will be blood! « If you wish to remove him. You have to bite harder. » he offers helpfully. Because Marzoth's are helpful like that.
Garouth curls his head in, bumping at Kith's head with his own closed muzzle. Boink. Bomf. He rumbles, a chuckle as she nips and gnaws in at his neck… and Marzoth makes ever so helpful suggestions. « My defeat will not be so simple. »
Kith finally contents with nibbling and gnawing on the tougher part of Garouth's hide, rumbling as she surveys Marzoth from her position atop of the younger bronze. « Remove him? Why? » She sinks her teeth into Garouth's neck a little harder, as if experimenting.
Marzoth pulls in closer, making no move to himself bite the other bronze yet, « Why not? » comes his quick response, « You can overpower him right now and show everyone that you are a queen. » The implication being, of course, that she would be /his/ queen.
Garouth rumbles, with an opening of his maw and a show of his own teeth as Kith bites harder. « A poor queen, if she's to have only one courtier. » He bends his neck, nipping down after Kith's head-knobs - though his bites, at least, remain light and playful.
Kith seems to consider the option of overpowering Garouth (what with her oh-so-impressive size!) and eventually she decides that, after a nibble from Garouth, she's gonna take advantage of Marzoth moving in closer. She releases herself from the younger bronze and tries to pounce on Marzoth instead, trying to bite at his headknobs. « I don't need to be a queen to show how strong I am! »
If Kith were any other dragon Marzoth would probably have responded by putting her in her place instantly. But Kith is not any dragon. She's Kith. He will let himself be pounced so that he can have her close and cuddly, « No you don't. But you are still a queen on the inside. »
Garouth lets his head lean back as Kith pounces away, muzzle remaining slightly open in a toothy grin as he once more watches Kith with Marzoth. « What makes a queen? » he asks, and his tone seems to have an earnest enough curiosity to it, actually inquiring rather than making it a challenge.
Kith spends a few moments gnawing away on various part of Marzoth's head and neck before eventually surrendering to her fatigue. She yawns and flops back down between the pair, curling up to nap in the same way an overexhausted kitten might after an hour of vigorous play.
Marzoth will let the green return to her place when she tires, though he'll pull in close to her side, « That you must determine for yourself Garouth. » he explains. Kith might not be a queen in another dragons eyes, but she is in his, and others might consider others queens that he wouldn't even look at, « It is personal. »
Garouth leans his head in to Marzoth's sphere of influence to give Kith a nuzzle as she curls to sleep, but then he withdraws, letting the elder bronze be the demanding one of her as he sprawls back to consider on those words. « Mmh. » he says, letting his gaze settle on the sky above. « I will consider on it. »
Marzoth inwardly smiles as Kith slips off to green dragon dreamland. She is so gosh darn cute when she sleeps, « One day you will find a green or gold that you find yourself drawn too. Then you will understand. » If he hasn't already.
Garouth turns his head, just a little, and looks toward Marzoth and the sleeping Kith. « … One day. » His head turns back again, regarding the skies, and he rumbles softly as he shifts a bit to settle back. « I shall understand many things, one day. » Like Marzoth, maybe! It's an ambitious goal, but hey. Bronzes gotta dream.
It is very difficult to understand everything like Marzoth, because Marzoth knows that Marzoth understands everything! One cannot expect lesser mortals to understand things on his life. « If you apply yourself to learning. You might. » he is willing to grant Garouth, « In the meantime though you will wait. »
Garouth rumbles softly, tilting his head a little further back to observe the Weyr out past them instead of just the sky. It looks a bit goofy, but he doesn't seem to care. One of the differences between him and Marzoth! « You told me once you liked Isanath. » It's a nearly complete change of topic, a leap to a different tack. « Is she also a queen, to you? »
Marzoth considers carefully his response to his fellow bronze. He'd hate to cause undue disruption, but the truth must win out in the end since there is no real reason to lie, « No. Isanath is just a gold. » he says definatively, « I find her physically alluring, but beyond that she is nothing to me. We do make fine eggs together, but that is all. » He huffs out a breath, « Most golds are just that you will find. Physically attractive but little soul underneath. I have yet to find one that did. »
Garouth takes that answer in among the shadowed forest, with a nod and a silence as he considers on it. « I will consider it. When I speak to golds… and when I catch one. » Which might have been a challenge, and he can't resist leaving it there for a moment, but then he follows it up. « I will visit Xanadu soon. My rider wishes to speak with them about their technology. Perhaps I will speak with the golds there, while we visit. » Because hey, what gold sitting with eggs /wouldn't/ want to chat with an upstart young bronze from another Weyr, right?
Since Marzoth is in 'sage advice' mode he can't resist giving some to Garouth, « You will catch one day. » And Marzoth then might be simultaniously proud and jealous. He doesn't hate Garouth after all. « You must be wary of Xanadu. There are few dragons there worthy of conversation. If you speak to a gold speak only to Luraoth. The others…I do not know very well. And the greens there are…» he trails off. Some part of him still remembers his old mate, «…complicated. »
Garouth nods his head slightly, back against the ground as it is. « One day. » When and with who he manages it may make a rather large difference in just how Marzoth responds to it! But that's yet to be discovered, and for now… he listens to the sage advice from the shadows of Marzoth. It makes him tilt his head a little to the side, curious. The one name given as worthwhile is tucked away, the rest… makes him consider. « Are they so different than dragons here? »
Marzoth has had several bad experiences in Xanadu and while the specifics have been forgotten the bad taste remains, « The golds there are ill I hear. I looked at the eggs. They are sickly looking. Your genetics are pure. Best not to mingle it with them. » Though honestly he only knows what he hears in rumors, « Some of them are ill tempered. » Pot meet kettle. « I would not advise spending too much time there. Though I tell you what. When Luraoth rises you and I will go and chase. She's worthy enough. We will see if you are lucky, though I sense many more greens will rise before then. » There is one in particular he is keeping marignal awareness of.
Garouth listens to Marzoth without argument. Whether he believes it, well. That's another and more complicated question. He certainly respects Marzoth's opinions, it's just… he's also got a sense of where the elder bronze's view of the world doesn't quite mesh with his. He's getting better about not always arguing that, though. « My rider has work, so I will go. It is not my intent to linger. » But there are duties, and those are important! « I will keep watch for this Luraoth, though. » He lets a certain amusement seep into his voice, something of a playful challenge. « I would know who I shall chase with you, after all. » Not that they may not also be in competition over some of those many greens who will surely be rising.
Worldviews seldom mesh. At least thats been Marzoth's experience, « She is polite and dignified. She would speak with you no doubt. » He has not great stake in Xanadu or anything that happens there. Directing the young bronzes attention away from where it matters most can only be useful, « I do not recall now if I have ever chased her or not. » Ahh well. « You may enjoy yourself there. »
Garouth certainly remembers their conversation from before, since he brought up Isanath… which means he probably also remembers the fact that Marzoth doesn't care who he chases outside of Monaco. It's safe! And it lets him get some advice from Marzoth without risk of confrontation. « I will seek her. » He's curious, after all! What /is/ life like elseWeyr? What are other golds and greens like? Not everything can be about competing for Kith, after all. « I am sure you have chased many… » he says to Marzoth. « And won many, as well. Do you remember all you have won? »
Marzoth ponders the question as he searches through his memory. Unaided he would probably remember some, but he can search through Syd's mind for more clear cut information, « I have sired clutches with Isanath, Ceresth, and Feyruth. My recommendation is not to fly Feyruth. She is insane. Worse than most. It was unpleasant. » he considers the greens he has caught, « I caught my first green down at Ierne and of course Kith. » who he looks down lovingly at, « There have been others. » He will not mention the name though.
Garouth considers on this. « Feyruth is my mother. » He says it without any particular emotion, merely noting it is as a fact. She's half his DNA! And that means… not much, apparently. As for the greens Marzoth's caught… there's a faint rumble at Kith's name, but Garouth keeps it mostly quiet, tilting his head further back to stare at the Weyr. When he speaks again, his tone sounds calm enough once more. « I have chased greens. » Kith among them, not that he speaks her name. « I have not caught yet, but I will. » One day! As with so many things in the young bronze's life.
Marzoth has not had much male company in his life. Perhaps some heroworship of older bronzes when he was younger, but no real interaction. So this is new to him. He knows that other males will talk with other males and gossip about this and that it is socially acceptable, but it is strange to him, « Fuerioth is your mother. » he corrects, though he can understand the confusion. « Feyruth is from Half Moon. » He'll look toward the bronze and ask, « Which have you chased? »
Garouth is silent a moment, the shadows darkening in his mind as he considers this distinction. « Ah. » The shadows lighten, and he understands. For once, the younger bronze simply /accepts/ the correction instead of arguing about it. « I have not been to Half Moon. » And maybe he won't, if they have crazy golds! Then again, maybe he will. A young bronze's curiosity can be a powerful thing! As for who he's chased… he's quiet for a moment, then rumbles softly. « Kith. » He might as well begin there! The rest, well. They hardly matter, but he's a few more names of greens about Monaco to list. Assuming Marzoth lets him get to them, anyhow!
Marzoth doesn't go to Half Moon much, « There are a few golds there that are reasonably attractive. Valigath is spunky. » The others names are lost on him. He'll politely ignore Kith's inclusion on the list since that outcome was already known to him. He will be kind enough to share what information he has, « There is a green in Xanadu name Kyramith or something like that. She is due to rise any time. I plan to chase. Who knows. You may win. » Outsider greens he has no connection too are safe after all.
Garouth flicks his tail, half curling it against his side. « I suppose there must be some bronze who desires every gold… » he muses. « That, or some golds are never caught by the same bronze twice. » He's amused, there, considering on golds who might drive away all their suitors… though really, once the mating lust's in place, many golds who might otherwise be spurned can seem at least attractive enough to pursue. He takes the information about Kyramith with a polite interest, a nod followed by a stretch. « I will watch for her. Perhaps she will be an interesting chase. » Because, hey, he's got to console himself with something if he doesn't win. Acting like it's all about the thrill of the chase is one way to look at it!
Garouth's thoughts are not all that far off and Marzoth affirms him, « Golds have an evil power. You have not yet chased one. It is nothing like a greenflight. They take ahold of you and force you. » he says with no small amount of distaste, « It is true. Some prefer to change it around. Others perfer stable mates. Females are strange and inconsistant. I personally prefer the best of both worlds. »
Garouth rumbles, low in his chest. « Even greens have a call. » Can he resist it? …yes, barely. He's tested that, when duties conflicted with the mating urge. And yet. « I believe you, that golds are… different. I do not yet understand, but I believe. » One day, he shall feel that call for himself, and he will know what it is to chase gold! And on that day… he will become a true bronze? Something like that, anyhow. As for mating preferences… he listens, but he has little enough to add. It's not like he has any victories of his own to give him a preference!