Experience with Whers doesn't come Easy [Iggent]

[yaoiwafflez]

Kye [Kyesk outside in Weyrbowl, Scout Sleeping]
Time: Approximately One AM, Week of March 27 2011

Kye dropped on to the long couch with a contented sigh, somehow managing to not spill his drink all over as he did so. He stretched out, not really caring if it seemed like he was hogging the couch. It was late anyway, and no one but possibly one of the night owls was going to be too bothered by his presence in the common room at this ungodly hour of the night.

Sipping at his drink (according to the Earth residents of the Weyr it was called 'Coffee') he checked in on Kyesk. The bronze was wandering the bowl, mostly just taking a stroll after his after-supper nap. The wher responded to his mental query with a wordless burst of affection that made Kye smile. He knew the next time he went out to smoke Kyesk would be there; the wher knew where he was all the time and had been shadowing him particularly closely recently after the bout that chest illness he'd just gotten over.

Actually, the wher was even now scolding him for even thinking of trying to smoke so soon after recovering- but it was an addiction. (Smoking was a bad habit he'd had before on Pern only made worse by the availability of a more concentrated and easily available commodity called 'ciagarettes' that were for whatever reason common on Earth.)

The redhead just mentally waved away the Wher's disapproval and sipped at the hot coffee. Kyesk could be such a bother sometimes, but he knew it was all out of affection. But if any of the healers caught him they'd have his ass... he'd been strictly warned away from too much physical exertion or anything that could exacerbate his so-called condition.

I tell healer you be bad?
Kye opened one eye and growled at the ceiling. Since when was Kyesk one for blackmail?
"Don't you even think about it, you lumpy traitor."

[Wesku]

Iggent stretched and yawned as he slowly walked down the halls. He was absolutely bored. Iggesk was off running through the woods for no apparent reason, and that left Iggent alone. Usually the ex-con enjoyed his solitude, but eight years of exposure to the large Bronze wher left him slightly used to the company.

Stopping at the common room, Iggent decided he could watch some of that addictive yet confusing talking box. At least that way he would have something mind-numbing to take up his extra free-time. When he entered the common room, however, Iggent's eyes weren't drawn to the tee-vee but rather the tall handler, Kye.

Iggent had never out-right met Kye, but he had heard enough about him and his Bronze. Iggent had even had to take over the candidate class for the elusive man. Curious, Iggent headed over towards the couch where Kye was sitting and chose a chair directly across from it.

"Nice night. Why aren't you with your wher?"

[yaoiwafflez]

Kye sat up as he heard someone speaking; the voice wasn't familiar, but it DID appear someone was talking to him. Ah, yes. The other bronze handler. Iggent, if he remembered correctly; huh. Kye figured he should probably thank the other man for that at some point. At this rate, he'd be good for absolutely nothing around the Weyr.

"Why am I holed up here alone?" He said, thinking on that one for a moment. "Because Kyesk wanted to explore, because it's really damn cold out, and mostly because I think Riley is still mad at me." He shrugged and gestured to any of the many available seats.

"Oh, before I forget; I owe you for taking over the lesson for me. Really, I appreciate it. It's good to know there's someone I can count on while I fail horribly at being the so-called wherlingmaster." He leaned back and sighed. "So Why are you alone, then?"

[Wesku]

Iggent sat in the chair he had chosen once he had been given permission from the other man to join him. Once he was situated in his chair, Iggent hooked a foot around a small tabel and dragged it towards the chair until he could comfortably rest his crossed ankles on. Usually Iggent didn't favor a position that he couldn't immediately leap out of, but his fight or flight instincts were starting to calm down in the quiet Weyr.

"Iggesk is off running through the woods. I don't why, but I do know that I would never be able to keep up with him. So here I am."

Shrugging, Iggent glanced at the glowing flat box for a moment. He didn't quite understand what was so fascinating about it. Sure there were moving pictures, but nothing was happening to you, so where was the excitement?

"It's kind of boring here sometimes. Sure I can walk around here without fear of getting stoned, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the thrill of Pern. Iggesk seems content enough. He never did like my previous life-style."

Chuckling, Iggent looked back to the other man in the room.

"Don't worry about the lesson. It was nothing. I talked. They listened. Wasn't hard."

[yaoiwafflez]

Kye tilted his head back to look at the other handler.
"Stoned? What were you up to back on Pern, then?" He asked abruptly, hardly bothering to cover his curiousity. Then he laughed.

"It's not like you actually have to tell me, but I will admit to being nosy. But I get what you're saying. Pern was...more open. I understand the need for secrecy but..." He sighed, and sipped at the coffee he'd temporarily forgotten. "I miss wandering around with Kyesk, just us two. It was nice, not being tied down anywhere."

Kye smiled when Iggent spoke about the lesson. "I'm still sure you were much more tactful than I would ever have been." He said with a wry laugh.

[Wesku]

Iggent shrugged. He wasn't ashamed of his life. He was the type of man who lived without regrets or second guesses.

"I was a thief and con man. Back in the day, it was said I could steal anything. Shards, I stole Iggesk."

Chuckling, Iggent thought back to that day. Sure he had been told to steal a dragon egg, but he had hardly known the difference at the time. It was a good thing the people who had dared him to steal the egg hadn't either. His reputation might have been in jeopardy.

"Tact? I just kinda spoke and then left. I'm not all that into teaching people or anything like that. I'm too restless."

[yaoiwafflez]

Kye couldn't help it; he grinned like an idiot and sprang up.
"You stole a wher egg? No way!" He cackled and fell back onto the couch, hardly able to breathe.
"I give you my utmost respect, Iggent. You've got guts. And apparently, no shame."

He sighed and shook his head. "Iggesk picked a clever guy, then. Restless? Maybe so. But ain' nothing wrong with that. I'd love to be able to explore this planet. Heh..." A wicked grin crossed his face.
"Can you imagine what the Earth people would say if they caught Iggesk or Kyesk running around the woods? I mean, they were freaked enough by the sharding dragons during the flood." He said. "I'm thinking it might be hilarious."

A mental nudge from Kyesk sobered him somewhat. The bronze was insisting he be polite, and that he try to keep his wanderlust under control for a while longer. Kye again ignored the chiding.

[Wesku]

Iggent readjusted his feet on his make-shift footstool as he listened to his fellow handler. It had been a long time since the Bronze handler had desired human companionship, but this Kye character hadn't bored him yet. Perhaps he could even stand to befriend this almost eccentric looking red-head.

"I would enjoy seeing their faces for a few moments, then I would become worried about the repercussions. From what I can tell from this tee-vee contraption, the Earthlings have very powerful weapons. I have been worried about the safety of Iggesk ever since the storm incident. Sure some of the kids turned candidates turned out to be fine with us, but I believe tham to be the exception not the rule. Are we in danger? Will the governments that willing send us their children back us up. I can never tell with those politicians. My mind's far to simple for complicated matters like polite back-stabbing and treachery carried out with flattery."

Grimacing at the sudden unpleasant turn in their conversation, Iggent tried to bring the conversation back to its previous light-hearted and fun feeling.

"But watching them run around like a couple of Earth 'chee-kins' with their heads cut off would prove amusing. I know I didn't stop watching that feathered thing until I was sure it had stopped moving for good. I was afraid I hadn't killed it at first, but apparently that's normal."

[yaoiwafflez]

IKye followed the rather grim train of thought that went with Iggent's first few statements and grimaced.
"Yes...I'm rather pleasantly surprised these Earth residents haven't blown themselves between yet. But they are who they are, so...." He gave a half-hearted shrug. "It's not our place to worry. If it were, we'd have impressed bronze dragons, and we'd be weyrleaders. Or something. Thank the first gold that whers ain't as inclined to politics."

And really, he was. Even with his current position as wherlingmaster, he didn't have half as many responsibilities as the Weyrleaders he'd met. Whers were far better at fending for themselves...and Kye was perfectly happy with that.

And then tried to not giggle. "You did what now? And...what?" He looked positively befuddled, but highly amused. "You mean those wherry-lookin' things, right? They keep movin' after you kill 'em?" He cast a sly grin at Iggent and shook his head. He was growing rather fond of the other wherhandler. "I think I shall be staying away from those things from now on."

[Wesku]

Iggent stretched his arms over his head lazily before bringing them back down to rest on his flat stomach. Chee-kins were interesting animals to talk about, but Iggent really wasn't interested in talking about all the different foods the strange birds were used in or what other animals tasted just like them. Instead Iggent wanted to change the subject to something he could relate with. He couldn't relate to the Earthlings odd fasination with their food birds.

"Why didn't Kyesk Run Samarsk a season ago? I thought for sure as the senior whermaster here, you would have your Bronze Running the Golds. Don't get me wrong. I'm not upset that you didn't."

At those last words, Iggent flashed a mischievous grin to show that he was joking and meant no hostility.

"I bet the wher hatchlings will be quite a bunch. Their dame with no depth perception and their sire with no nose."

[yaoiwafflez]

"Tell me about it." Kye answered, with a sigh. "Good luck there. And as for Kyesk not running Samarsk..." He shrugged and seemed a little unsure of how to answer.

"I...uh. Well, I kinda wasn't there." He said sheepishly. "I took Kyesk out of the Weyr for a bit, 'cause he wanted to stretch his legs, right? But we got a little lost, and didn't end up back in time..." He absolutely refused to make eye contact with Iggent now. "And don't you dare tell the Weyrwoman. I have no intention of getting flayed by that girl."

He abruptly shook his head, determined to try and get off the slightly uncomfortable subject. "But don't think we'll miss it the next time, right? Kyesk was really pissed at me when he found out... I think he's forgotten by now, but damn, he's a brat when he's angry."

[Wesku]

Iggent nodded sympathetically. Iggesk could get downright nasty when he was angry as well. Thankfully the wher wasn't apt to bursts of anger. Of course that lack of aggression towards his handler probably explained Iggesk's nasty habit of snarkiness and brutish displays of his unique humor.

"I won't tell a soul, especially not the Weyrwoman. Although having you flayed might limit the competition for the next run, eh?"

Chuckling, Iggent removed his feet from their perch and let them fall to the floor with a dull thud.

"How many Browns we got here? Any of them going to Run next time?"