Care to Swim? (Open)

[Missa]

You are in an awful mood. Maybe I should push you in the lake see if that fixes it? Thoth teased, his voice light and happy instead of questioning and curious as it usually was. His only care in the world was His, and making His happy. Not even a flirtatious creature he was certainly different to other low ranked males.

Swooping low over the lake, the blue twisted, unseating his rider and sending her into the lake, much to Beka’s annoyance as she surfaced and spluttered. Thoth landed on the edge of the lake, eyes whirling teasingly. It was good His had learnt to swim since coming to the weyr, he didn’t feel like rescuing her. Instead, he merely tapped his tail against the ground, watching as Beka swam closer, before finally stepping out of the water with a glare.
“You… You wherry-headed, dung-brained… watch-wher!”
That wasn’t very good. You’re usually much better. Am I hoping for a miracle in believing that small dunk doused your temper?

Unbidden, a smile formed as Beka wrung out her hair, there was rarely ever a use arguing with Thoth, either the Blue would win, or he'd grow bored and find something else to ask His about, which effectively distracted Beka, making her forget the whole argument. So in truth, she never actually won the arguments.
You wish. She told him affectionately, shaking her head to try and further dry her hair.
Not really. I like your temper. It's how I know you're you. Was that even a compliment? Honestly, Beka wasn't quite sure about that one.

Not that she really had to worry, Thoth would never knowingly insult someone, unless it was all in good fun, like now. Great, now she had to work that one out.
You… Are so dead.
I… Don’t think so. My heart is still beating, I’m rather warm and I do appear to be talking. What an amazing thing.
You know what I meant Thoth.
No Mine, I have absolutely no idea and have the intellect of a crawler. You really are slow when you’re wet. The sarcastic tones in the Blue’s voice brought a smile to Beka’s face, making her appear a little less foul tempered.

Oh dear, you’ve gone mute. I always hoped this day would come.
Shut up.

[Chaldais]

Chaldais trudged towards the Weyr's lake, his sea-crag of a shoulder laden with empty firestone sacks in various states of disrepair. Some of them were merely frayed, with whiskers of burlap thrust out at the corners, while others sported full-fledged rents like ugly wounds. The fisherman tightened his grip on the bobbin of pack-thread in his other fist, cradling a long needle carefully between the sides of his knuckles. In his ears echoed the words that had chased him from Sanctum Weyr's caverns, more galling than the burden he carried:

Mending sacks, candidate? That's... woman's work, isn't it? Mind you don't prick yourself with the needle!

And then laughter. Some dragonman, Chaldais supposed, having his fun with the white-knotted crew and their assigned chores. He hadn't paused, although every muscle in his back had strained to turn on that voice and see if its owner might fit into any of the firestone sacks. Probably he'd have to stuff him down a bit. Perhaps with the heel of his shoe. Chaldais smiled under his ruddy beard.

Approaching the shore of the lake, Chaldais was wondering idly whether there might be any fish in there when a blue dragon swooped and backwinged over the water's surface. The man had just time enough to look up before the creature contorted in air and-- quite unexpectedly-- pitched its rider into the lake with a slosh.

Good, Chaldais thought. Dunk him again for me.

Or... her. Chaldais watched, his brows snarled together in puzzlement, as the young woman splashed out of the water and commenced to glare-- and then to smile-- at the great, azure thing perched on the shore. For a moment he wondered if the two might be having some sort of staredown; only gradually did it dawn on him that they must be conversing, in that silent and alien way these people had. Not for the first time, the man drew back inwardly from the habits of his hosts.

There would be no physical retreat, though. He might be intruding, but he had as fair a right to this patch of gravel as any man, and let the bluerider take it as she would. Instead, Chaldais getured vaguely with the point of his needle at the space over the lake. "They... teach you that in weyrling training, do they?" he called, so mildly as to make his little jab seem an honest question.

[Missa]

Thoth hadn't realised there was someone else there, had he known, he probably would have pushed his rider back in the water, it was always amusing to watch her swearing and cursing, only to pause as she realised someone else was there. Beka was still trying to get as much water out of her shirt as possible thought, and didn't even notice the candidate until he spoke.

Startled, Beka's eyes went wide as she spun to face him, running her hands through her hair as he gestured at the water. Teach them that? They might of, though she doubted they'd be teaching the weyrlings how to dump their riders in the lake, Thoth seemed to pick that up on his own.
Good, now actually say that aloud. Nicely. Thoth rumbled in amusement, resting his head on his fore legs as Beka shot a glare over her shoulder.

"Stay out of it, I can answer myself thank-you." She told him huffily, before turning back to the... Candidate? He seemed to be, but she wasn't getting any closer,
"Well... They.." Pausing as she thought about her words and trying to keep the snappish tone out of her voice that so often crept in for no reason.
"Not really. They teach you the twists and stuff, like it's usually used in drills with the smaller colours. Like how to evade Thread. Thoth found his own uses for it though, as I'm sure your own dragon will." Shrugging as she wrung more water out of her shirt, shew pulled a face.

"Thoth thought I was in a bad mood - the lump of blue flesh over there is Thoth by the way - so he decided dumping in the lake would cheer me up. So you're a candidate?" What was this? Beka offering up a conversation without being nasty about it. Thoth rumbled again, soothingly as he raised his head and nodded to the young man, eyes whirling happily.