Log: The Egg Touching
Apr. 26th, 2012 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
citlaliIt's currently late spring on the northern continent.
The Starsmiths say it is the 19th Turn, 5th month, and 25th day of the 10th Pass.
An assistant weyrlingmaster and U'rr did a quick pick up of all of the candidates available from the barracks (and maybe a few on the way here, Citlali) and walked them all to the Hatching Sands' edge. Ikaroth is missing, Orlaith is there but probably ignoring everything and everyone on the sands, and Talimoth hovers around the edges as the Sands' guardian. Rules and procedures have been given and U'rr then leads the candidates onto the sand with his typical stoic expression. "Do not forget to bow to Orlaith, it is traditional. Be wary of Talimoth." The brownrider then shifts to the side, after bowing to Orlaith, and motions for the candidates to follow.
Jedrek bumbles rather than makes easy progress onto the sands, following along behind some of the other, slower young people bearing white knots. Green eyes are wide as he stumbles about, avoiding eggs until he's fairly close to Orlaith, and bends at the waist in an awkward bowl. "Thank ya fer the privilage, ma'am," he tells the dam with a little nervous half-smile before rising, and taking a deep breath. "Things're a lot bigger n'person than from up there," he observes to whomever is closest, before reaching out tentatively with one hand to lay a hand on the Skeptic Egg, the one to his immediate left. Proximity is key.
Citlali's bow might be /the/ most awkward bow to clutchparents of all time, but for all that she's clearly bewildered having been suddenly thrown into the whole egg touching thing just because she happened to be near the sands in the first place -- she manages to acclimate herself as well as possible and not look too wide-eyed in the face of a queen dragon. In a nutshell: big. Way bigger than Citlali is used to. She has at least caught up on the directions, and so she attempts to confidently extend a hand and spread her palm across Out-of-Shell Experience Egg. Hello, small unborn dragon. I am not nervous. Really.
Only a moment's hesitation is given on the edge of the sands, before following the rest of her Candidate group to the sands. Coming in the same clothes she wore to lessons that day -- light green dress tied with a light yellow ribbon -- Naamiah opts for a curtsey-bow to Orlaith so as to not accidentally cause problematic wardrobe malfunctions. Her hair is twisted into two buns on either side of the crown of her head, though sloppily done that tendrils fall free to stick against her neck, already sweaty from the sand's heat. Once the courtesy is executed, the girl steps lightly around Jedrek and makes for the very first egg that draws her sight: By the Werelight Egg.
Saithon steps rather more quickly than he'd have liked across the sands, not expecting them to be so hot - hey, he's never been on sands before. Not that he wants to look stupid in front of everyone, but he does look a bit daft trying to hold his head high while also giving Orlaith a small but respectful bow. With that done, he steps away, trying to walk normally on the shifting, hot sands to the brilliant egg that naturally draws his attention: the Must Have Shiny Egg. What other egg could attract his attention so well? The ex-healer looks fleetingly uncertain what to /do/ with the thing, and settles for laying a hand on the shell.
Jedrek jerks his hand back from the Skeptic Egg, looking for a moment like the ovoid has just bit his hand. His other hand reaches up to scratch at his unkempt beard while his eyes narrow as he just /stares/ at the egg. "Well, you certainly ain't a friendly little guy, are ya?" he jokes to the stationary object, attempting humor as he scans for the presence of his peers (particularly noting Naamiah's position nearby). "Well, I'll leave ya be, I guess," he intones softly, before moving slowly to his next target -- one that looks much more colorful and friendly; the Sock Monster Egg.
At first there is nothing, just the smooth feel of the shell beneath your palm, and then the coppery stripes begin to warm. Something pulls seductively at the edge of your awareness, a whisper that is there and not quite there, and waves of drowsiness beginning to roll up your arm.
Naamiah's expression, at first, softens to one of sweetness. Quickly enough, though, a little furrow develops between her brows before her hand is lifted from the egg's shell. Frowning, she stares at the egg and shakes out her hand, turning clear green eyes to the palm of her hand. Hesitantly, she almost reaches out to touch the egg's shell again, but takes a step back. Shoulders square, and with a whirl of her skirt, she makes her way purposefully towards the next egg. This one, she approaches slowly with a glance to see how her brethren are faring, before ever-so-gently laying fingertips to the egg's shell. First fingertips, then the rest of her hand, until finally fully touching Cross My Palm with Silver Egg.
It's not quite an electric shock that knocks Citlali's hand from the egg; in fact, it's completely the opposite. She's very slow about removing her hand, thoughtful about the entire process. "Hi," she whispers to it, but forces herself to break contact; she can't be hogging this one all the time, even if it does seem friendly. And so she soldiers on, despite giving Out of Shell a smile over her shoulder -- and finds herself palm-to-shelltop with Soul for a Song Egg.
It begins with a beat in the back of your mind, a quiet thump thump so much like your own heartbeat, but soon enough it grows louder, and then louder yet, until you can think of nothing but the steady rhythm, the compulsion to tap your fingers, your toes, and the whole rest of the world is blotted out.
"Those're ma feet," is Jedrek's response to the colorful and warm egg which sits underneath his callused palm. "But s'okay, I dun' need them'sas much as I need ma hands. Ya kin tug at my feet all ya want." There's a smirk there, a little pat of the egg's shell, perhaps suggesting Jedrek's amusement if nothing else, before he's headed in the opposite direction, perhaps getting into this whole new experience of egg touching with a bit of childlike wonder. The next egg he arrives at is the It's a Gas! Egg, which he lays his palm on more confidently than the first.
At first dreamy, Naamiah's expression softens even more as a tug of what might be longing touches her expression for an unseen, almost-familiar face. Despite the brilliant blue that dazzles her eyes still, she manages to come back to herself. Slowly, her hand is lifted free of the egg's shell as sharp interest parts the veil of dreams from her vision. Clasping her hands together beneath her chin, the girl sneaks a look at the others, and the dragon momma. "Hmmm." The dream of a promise lingers in each step as she slowly backs away from the egg, and then steps forward to find herself in front of Supernatural Casualty Egg. "Can you believe this is happening?" is what's hissed at the closest Candidate or Candidates, whomever that might be. This time, both hands reach out to so-gently touch upon the egg's surface, eyes automatically closing, clearly relishing this experience. Excited. Anticipated.
Maybe Citlali has bad luck, but she seems to be picking the eggs that she's most easily caught up in. Pulled into. It takes hearing a familiar voice -- Naamiah's -- to break her from Soul of Song's reverie, and she almost starts, blinking once or twice, and after giving the egg a fond pat pulls her hand away. "It is pretty outrageously unbelievable," she agrees, giving the younger girl a smile before surveying the rest of the eggs to see where else she can go make friends. The winner is Jedrek's old friend: Skeptic Egg.
Oookay. Maybe not. Saithon's more eager to get away from the Queen of Air and Darkness Egg, giving it a strange second look as he goes off on his way. He's definitely not there to socialise, pointedly ignoring the others' words. The By the Werelight Egg is next to attract Saithon, the brightness of the egg easily catching his eye and seeing him head over to put one hand on it, feeling more confident about this one. Bring it on.
This egg has neither fiery enthusiasm nor icy scorn - it seems unconvinced, tapping here and there within your memories, giggling breathily just out of earshot and then leaving, as still as any rock once more.
There's a pause. A long pause. Jedrek almost looks confused. And then jumps. FAR. "WHERRY'S TEETH!" is his exclamation as he literally skitters across the sands to stand near Naamiah. "That.." Once he realizes that, perhaps, he's overreacting, the young man blushes a hearty red, laughing awkwardly as he brushes the hair out of his eyes. "S'okay. Jus'.. took me by surprise is all." Real smooth. Casually, he moves towards the next closest egg which is the A Wild Rumpus Egg.
The smile she sends Citlali's way just before her touch fades to a puzzled expresssion. Then, a quiver runs a-racin' up Naamiah's spine, even before the egg's released her from its imagery. Small beads of sweat pop out along the hairline of her forehead, before quickly drying as yet another shiver races through her frame. Green eyes pop open, unseeing, for a fraction of a second before she stumbles quickly back. And takes a deep breath. "Okay. Okay." Chafing her hands on her upper arms, she takes a step back, and another. Jedrek's exclaimation gets a jump out of her. Gulp! Turning, she finds herself face to shell with the Queen of Air and Darkness Egg. Resuming the one-hand-to-egg-shell, her touch is ever-so-gentle.
The Skeptic egg actually makes Citlali herself giggle, just a little bit -- did it tell her a joke? Or was it something else? She's evidently got all the luck this time around; everyone else's eggs are creeping them out, but for her it's only the experience itself so far that seems to be disturbing her. "/Faranth/!" she squawks, as Jedrek yelps. "Are you --" But her fellow candidate /seems/ fine, at least, and so she moves on to meet the Guardian in the Dark Egg.
Better. This one's...better. Saithon keeps his hand on the By the Werelight Egg a little longer before he steps away to work out which he's visiting next. The A Forest Grew Egg is next in line for some Saithon-interaction, the silent ex-healer moving between the other eggs to go and lay a hand on the primarily green surface.
There's a feathery tickle on your cheek, then another on the back of your neck, and then heat kindles in your toes and creeps up your legs until all of you is consumed by a comfortable, familiar sort of warmth that squeezes you tight like a mother's embrace.
Naamiah makes a choking sound, mouth dropping open to form a round 'O' of her lips while eyes remain as widely opened as possible. A whimper escapes. The hard work of her throat around a swallow before whatever has her in it's grasp releases her. Eyelids flutter, blinking away the feel of that creeping mist, and with this action the girl relaxes. Something about the way she views the sands, her fellow Candidates, and even Orlaith, speaks of a different perspective. As if seeing everything for the first time. With a smile, she steps towards Soul for a Song Egg, and places a gentle hand upon it's shell.
Oh, this egg has Naamiah's lips curving into a smile once the initial shock of where the sound was truly coming from. Despite the creepy-crawly way it makes her feel -- the egg whistling is rather creepy -- the experience is nonetheless positive. "I like you," Naami declares, once the moment has ended and she steps away from the egg. Giving it one last looksee, she turns and weaves around a few passing Candidates. Until she comes to Of Your Dreams Egg. Teeth nibble her lower lip as quick looks are cast about, then boldly, the palms of her hands connect to the egg's warm shell.
Yep, it's a fact now: Citlali gets all the nice eggs. She gives her newest friend a tiny hidden parting smile as well -- this one made her feel safe, after all, and anyone watching can tell that she's gained a bit more confidence as she goes. Unfortunately for her, she's lost track of who was where when, and so she missed what egg Jedrek was at when he let out the loud expletive. So the next one Citlali goes to is, of course, It's a Gas Egg. Isn't she in luck?
Saithon has to consider the A Forest Grows Egg for a while, feeling that odd sensation of sped-up time and unnatural growth. But he's done eventually, and it's time to move on - to the Sock Monster Egg, which even as he approaches, the slight look of distaste on his face implies it's a little too childish-lookinh got him. But oh well, he's there now, and he sets a hand on the shell to see what happens.
Ruchik has been here all along. You know. The one who's feeling the lack of knife at his side (presumably those were not okay on the Sands), and the one who's been skirting around the edges of the clutch, moving incrementally closer to the eggs... and who has yet to touch a one of them. But he's got to the point where he's all out of increments, and it's either touch, or wind up sitting on one. So that happens, with the backs of his fingers laid against Underneath the Blazing Sky's shell.
Jedrek seems to have recovered from his previous egg touching experience, because a slow smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he lets his fingers continue to brush at the shell. "Yer an interestin' one," he comments, shaking his head and letting random and rag taggle stands of his own slightly greasy hair trail into his eyes, obscuring his vision for a moment. There he remains for a moment, tapping his foot for an unknown reason. When he does pull his hand back, it's almost reluctantly, and with a little sigh. Throughout the rest of the touching, he meanders to egg after egg, touching and reacting in a purely visceral way to what he experiences there. When the touching is deemed to be over, he'll wander out with the others, and generally keep to himself for a bit before returning to the Kitchens and something familiar.
Lights flicker at the edge of your vision, there and gone again as soon as you turn your head. One dances just above the shell of the egg, threatening to burn you, but the shell remains cool to the touch.
A whimper. Another. It is these small sounds that finally frees Naamiah from the egg's endless wave of emptiness. Conflicted, she pulls shaking hands from the egg's shell to wipe inconspiciously beneath her eyes. A deep breath is taken, but slow steps are already carrying her away. Her head is given as shake, to clear the remembered dreams from her mind before fortifying herself for the next egg. The Wild Hunt Egg is touched.
"Oh," says Citlali, and only that: whatever this egg did to her, it certainly didn't cause her to explode verbally, but it was startling, still. Her hand is removed from the shell in the sort of hesitant-awkward way that makes it unclear as to whether or not she really wants to be taking that long -- or if she's afraid the egg might bite if she /does/ move away. Her traveling across the sands is slower now, more thoughtful; eventually, she finds her choice in A Message From Beyond Egg.
What jitters were left from the Egg Before have been soothed away from the touch of this one. Naamiah's tension leaves the muscles of her body, flowing out like water as a smile takes her expression once more. "The secrets of the hunt," she murmurs, unable to get the image of moon-silvered leaves from her mind's eye. So it is with considerable less trepedation that she lays a hand upon the next egg, reminiscent of the imagery she left behind: Bad Moon Rising Egg.
Saithon inclines his head just slightly at the feel of the Sock Monster Egg. Interesting. Different. Less threatening. As he takes his hand away, he jerks his head to stare down at his feet, frowning. Looks back at the egg. Frowns some more. And so he's off once again, and will continue to move round the eggs, not interacting with any other candidate, but making sure he gets his turn with as many eggs as possible - even the less attractive ones.
There's something here, a sleepy little something that murmurs secrets so quietly you can only hear the rise and fall of the voice - only one word in ten can be distinguished, a mishmash of nonsense that slips away as the awareness dims, turns over, and slumbers once more.
Ruchik was not weyrbred, was not on a dragon until he'd been searched, has never touched an egg - and by the quick pulling away of his hand, and the indignant glare fired upon the Blazing Sky egg, he may never, ever touch one again. But as he resumes his circuit (always looking over his shoulder to the shell), and starts flexing his fingers, the trader calms himself enough. Considers. Stops. Stands for about a two or three minutes, sweat running down. And then proceeds to the egg recently vacated by Naamiah: Wild Hunt.
Khrysta was here all along, making her bow to the parents, or so she'll claim - but it isn't until now that she does more than mince through the slumbering eggs. Finally drawn towards one, instead of leery on the whole matter, the blonde makes her way towards a single egg. After all, if one is going to make a leap into the unknown, what better way than to touch an egg Of Your Dreams?
If anything, that last egg seems to have made Citlali tired, lulling her to relax as she tries to piece together difficult-to-make-out words. Her eyes are drooping a little, and she has to force herself to open them up again. "Hm," she whispers, and it's not to anyone in particular -- or maybe it's to the egg? -- and once that's done? To find another. The one she chooses seems almost random, as she opens and closes her hands repeatedly until she holds still and finally settles in front of one in particular: The Demon Within Egg.
Something drips in slimy rivulets down your back, cold goo that raises goosebumbs as it goes and seems to change your skin from smooth to scaly - or perhaps it was scaly all along.
"Ohhh," the involuntary animal sound that comes from Naamiah is the first sign of things amiss. The tears that flow freely from eyes tightly closed is but another expression of whatever torment this egg has given the girl. Finally, through sheer force of will, Naami breaks free and stumbles back. With reddened, tear stained cheeks, she takes in deep, ragged gasps that quickly have turned to sobs. "I..." A harried glance away from the eggs and she turns to move, possibly touch another, when something -- or someone -- catches her eye. Then it's an almost about face in a blind walk towards the exit, and it's only a walk out of deference to the golden mother and the still, essentially fragile eggs. Tears flow freely, still, and perhaps this is why, at the last minute, she pauses to lay one last hand on Cross My Palm with Silver Egg. Perhaps, to help ease the last image set in her mind before she makes a beeline for the exit.
Ruchik does not, at the least, pull back from this one; his stance adjusts, he waits, narrows his eyes... and slowly withdraws his fingers. That same hand goes to rub at his right hip, and he takes a slow step back. Dry lips are moistened quickly with his tongue, just waiting to have that moisture crack away once more. Face forced into a scowly masked, he looks to the progress of the other candidates, watching Naamiah's tearful retreat a bit longer... and saying nothing. Even having the scowl lessen somewhat. It's another long wait before he moves on, to the Wild Rumpus.
Citlali is with Naamiah -- in that it's almost time to be done, as she makes a decidedly disquieted face at the last egg she's gotten a chance to pow-wow with. It's not scary. It's not gross. It's just -- weird, and she shivers a little bit involuntarily. Maybe she's not making the best choice to settle her nerves as she aims for a last one before returning to chores, but it's Underneath the Blazing Sky Egg that Citlali picks nonetheless.
Khrysta breaks the silence of the sands - just a little bit as she lets her eyes drift closed, then shivers. A bit of a murmur, "Interesting.. and maybe. Maybe not," she murmurs, opening her eyes back again and letting her fingers drift free. Despite that one egg being her first attempt at fondling the eggs, it is also her last, as she moves among the eggs and merely watches others, hands tucked around her upper sides.
It burns you up like a fever, melting you like gold until it can twist you this way and that and study your shape. Eventually it puts you back the way it found you - mostly.
Confusion is a sight better than Madness, and one in which Naamiah grasps, figuratively, with both hands. That so-brief touch is enough to leave her on two stable feet so that when she walks briskly towards Imogen, U'rr and the AWLM that got her here, she at least looks less like a sobbing mess. Ducking her head, it is a silent ask for permission, a clumsy bow to Orlaith, before Naamiah seeks the refuge of the bowl. The tears, have not stopped. But at least the sobs have.
Ruchik shakes his head, the way a man shakes his head when he's just passed the realm of comfortable with a drink of hard liquor, but hasn't yet got to the realm of numbed nerves. Hands withdraw, and this time, there's no wait. The eggs are going to be all weird and invasive into his brain? Bring it. He's going to touch them ALL. Quick steps, a set expression, and the trader is both scowling and laying his palm upon the Curse of the Lycan, waiting a count of two, and removing it again, ready for the next.
Citlali is /definitely/ with Naamiah. Her expressions go through a rainbow of variety while her hands are on this egg, and once she pulls away she looks a little sick. Cautious, and queasy, she pulls away and whispers something about feeling like she's inside out and upside down. With a bow to Orlaith and a salute to Talimoth, Citlali heads off after Naamiah -- perhaps to check in with her fellow candidate and make sure the younger girl's okay.
The Starsmiths say it is the 19th Turn, 5th month, and 25th day of the 10th Pass.
Hatching Sands
Breathless heat blurs the high gray contours of this gigantic cavern: intense, inexorable, it swallows the unaware in mirages of warped vision, sands-scorched feet, sounds that lose their origins in the echo and reecho of vaulting stone. Dim citrine light casts low shadows even when otherwise illuminated, the product of constellations of living, growing glows; they even limn the staircases winding high to the galleries that, like the dragons' ledges, center attention on this chosen home to generation after generation of Fort queens' clutches.
The single exit gapes to the southwest.
You see A Message From Beyond Egg, It's a Gas Egg, Sock Monster Egg, Skeptic Egg, The Demon Within Egg, A Forest Grew Egg, Aleph-Mem-Tav Egg, Supernatural Causality Egg, Mystic Mumbo Jumbo Egg, Cross My Palm with Silver Egg, Out-of-Shell Experience Egg, By the Werelight Egg, Underneath the Blazing Sky Egg, Queen of Air and Darkness Egg, Bad Moon Rising Egg, Guardian in the Dark Egg, Decaying Horrors Egg, Wild Hunt Egg, Soul for a Song Egg, A Wild Rumpus Egg, Of Your Dreams Egg, Must Have Shiny Egg, Curse of the Lycan Egg, Orlaith, and Talimoth here.
An assistant weyrlingmaster and U'rr did a quick pick up of all of the candidates available from the barracks (and maybe a few on the way here, Citlali) and walked them all to the Hatching Sands' edge. Ikaroth is missing, Orlaith is there but probably ignoring everything and everyone on the sands, and Talimoth hovers around the edges as the Sands' guardian. Rules and procedures have been given and U'rr then leads the candidates onto the sand with his typical stoic expression. "Do not forget to bow to Orlaith, it is traditional. Be wary of Talimoth." The brownrider then shifts to the side, after bowing to Orlaith, and motions for the candidates to follow.
Jedrek bumbles rather than makes easy progress onto the sands, following along behind some of the other, slower young people bearing white knots. Green eyes are wide as he stumbles about, avoiding eggs until he's fairly close to Orlaith, and bends at the waist in an awkward bowl. "Thank ya fer the privilage, ma'am," he tells the dam with a little nervous half-smile before rising, and taking a deep breath. "Things're a lot bigger n'person than from up there," he observes to whomever is closest, before reaching out tentatively with one hand to lay a hand on the Skeptic Egg, the one to his immediate left. Proximity is key.
Citlali's bow might be /the/ most awkward bow to clutchparents of all time, but for all that she's clearly bewildered having been suddenly thrown into the whole egg touching thing just because she happened to be near the sands in the first place -- she manages to acclimate herself as well as possible and not look too wide-eyed in the face of a queen dragon. In a nutshell: big. Way bigger than Citlali is used to. She has at least caught up on the directions, and so she attempts to confidently extend a hand and spread her palm across Out-of-Shell Experience Egg. Hello, small unborn dragon. I am not nervous. Really.
Only a moment's hesitation is given on the edge of the sands, before following the rest of her Candidate group to the sands. Coming in the same clothes she wore to lessons that day -- light green dress tied with a light yellow ribbon -- Naamiah opts for a curtsey-bow to Orlaith so as to not accidentally cause problematic wardrobe malfunctions. Her hair is twisted into two buns on either side of the crown of her head, though sloppily done that tendrils fall free to stick against her neck, already sweaty from the sand's heat. Once the courtesy is executed, the girl steps lightly around Jedrek and makes for the very first egg that draws her sight: By the Werelight Egg.
Saithon steps rather more quickly than he'd have liked across the sands, not expecting them to be so hot - hey, he's never been on sands before. Not that he wants to look stupid in front of everyone, but he does look a bit daft trying to hold his head high while also giving Orlaith a small but respectful bow. With that done, he steps away, trying to walk normally on the shifting, hot sands to the brilliant egg that naturally draws his attention: the Must Have Shiny Egg. What other egg could attract his attention so well? The ex-healer looks fleetingly uncertain what to /do/ with the thing, and settles for laying a hand on the shell.
Jedrek jerks his hand back from the Skeptic Egg, looking for a moment like the ovoid has just bit his hand. His other hand reaches up to scratch at his unkempt beard while his eyes narrow as he just /stares/ at the egg. "Well, you certainly ain't a friendly little guy, are ya?" he jokes to the stationary object, attempting humor as he scans for the presence of his peers (particularly noting Naamiah's position nearby). "Well, I'll leave ya be, I guess," he intones softly, before moving slowly to his next target -- one that looks much more colorful and friendly; the Sock Monster Egg.
At first there is nothing, just the smooth feel of the shell beneath your palm, and then the coppery stripes begin to warm. Something pulls seductively at the edge of your awareness, a whisper that is there and not quite there, and waves of drowsiness beginning to roll up your arm.
Naamiah's expression, at first, softens to one of sweetness. Quickly enough, though, a little furrow develops between her brows before her hand is lifted from the egg's shell. Frowning, she stares at the egg and shakes out her hand, turning clear green eyes to the palm of her hand. Hesitantly, she almost reaches out to touch the egg's shell again, but takes a step back. Shoulders square, and with a whirl of her skirt, she makes her way purposefully towards the next egg. This one, she approaches slowly with a glance to see how her brethren are faring, before ever-so-gently laying fingertips to the egg's shell. First fingertips, then the rest of her hand, until finally fully touching Cross My Palm with Silver Egg.
It's not quite an electric shock that knocks Citlali's hand from the egg; in fact, it's completely the opposite. She's very slow about removing her hand, thoughtful about the entire process. "Hi," she whispers to it, but forces herself to break contact; she can't be hogging this one all the time, even if it does seem friendly. And so she soldiers on, despite giving Out of Shell a smile over her shoulder -- and finds herself palm-to-shelltop with Soul for a Song Egg.
It begins with a beat in the back of your mind, a quiet thump thump so much like your own heartbeat, but soon enough it grows louder, and then louder yet, until you can think of nothing but the steady rhythm, the compulsion to tap your fingers, your toes, and the whole rest of the world is blotted out.
"Those're ma feet," is Jedrek's response to the colorful and warm egg which sits underneath his callused palm. "But s'okay, I dun' need them'sas much as I need ma hands. Ya kin tug at my feet all ya want." There's a smirk there, a little pat of the egg's shell, perhaps suggesting Jedrek's amusement if nothing else, before he's headed in the opposite direction, perhaps getting into this whole new experience of egg touching with a bit of childlike wonder. The next egg he arrives at is the It's a Gas! Egg, which he lays his palm on more confidently than the first.
At first dreamy, Naamiah's expression softens even more as a tug of what might be longing touches her expression for an unseen, almost-familiar face. Despite the brilliant blue that dazzles her eyes still, she manages to come back to herself. Slowly, her hand is lifted free of the egg's shell as sharp interest parts the veil of dreams from her vision. Clasping her hands together beneath her chin, the girl sneaks a look at the others, and the dragon momma. "Hmmm." The dream of a promise lingers in each step as she slowly backs away from the egg, and then steps forward to find herself in front of Supernatural Casualty Egg. "Can you believe this is happening?" is what's hissed at the closest Candidate or Candidates, whomever that might be. This time, both hands reach out to so-gently touch upon the egg's surface, eyes automatically closing, clearly relishing this experience. Excited. Anticipated.
Maybe Citlali has bad luck, but she seems to be picking the eggs that she's most easily caught up in. Pulled into. It takes hearing a familiar voice -- Naamiah's -- to break her from Soul of Song's reverie, and she almost starts, blinking once or twice, and after giving the egg a fond pat pulls her hand away. "It is pretty outrageously unbelievable," she agrees, giving the younger girl a smile before surveying the rest of the eggs to see where else she can go make friends. The winner is Jedrek's old friend: Skeptic Egg.
Oookay. Maybe not. Saithon's more eager to get away from the Queen of Air and Darkness Egg, giving it a strange second look as he goes off on his way. He's definitely not there to socialise, pointedly ignoring the others' words. The By the Werelight Egg is next to attract Saithon, the brightness of the egg easily catching his eye and seeing him head over to put one hand on it, feeling more confident about this one. Bring it on.
This egg has neither fiery enthusiasm nor icy scorn - it seems unconvinced, tapping here and there within your memories, giggling breathily just out of earshot and then leaving, as still as any rock once more.
There's a pause. A long pause. Jedrek almost looks confused. And then jumps. FAR. "WHERRY'S TEETH!" is his exclamation as he literally skitters across the sands to stand near Naamiah. "That.." Once he realizes that, perhaps, he's overreacting, the young man blushes a hearty red, laughing awkwardly as he brushes the hair out of his eyes. "S'okay. Jus'.. took me by surprise is all." Real smooth. Casually, he moves towards the next closest egg which is the A Wild Rumpus Egg.
The smile she sends Citlali's way just before her touch fades to a puzzled expresssion. Then, a quiver runs a-racin' up Naamiah's spine, even before the egg's released her from its imagery. Small beads of sweat pop out along the hairline of her forehead, before quickly drying as yet another shiver races through her frame. Green eyes pop open, unseeing, for a fraction of a second before she stumbles quickly back. And takes a deep breath. "Okay. Okay." Chafing her hands on her upper arms, she takes a step back, and another. Jedrek's exclaimation gets a jump out of her. Gulp! Turning, she finds herself face to shell with the Queen of Air and Darkness Egg. Resuming the one-hand-to-egg-shell, her touch is ever-so-gentle.
The Skeptic egg actually makes Citlali herself giggle, just a little bit -- did it tell her a joke? Or was it something else? She's evidently got all the luck this time around; everyone else's eggs are creeping them out, but for her it's only the experience itself so far that seems to be disturbing her. "/Faranth/!" she squawks, as Jedrek yelps. "Are you --" But her fellow candidate /seems/ fine, at least, and so she moves on to meet the Guardian in the Dark Egg.
Better. This one's...better. Saithon keeps his hand on the By the Werelight Egg a little longer before he steps away to work out which he's visiting next. The A Forest Grew Egg is next in line for some Saithon-interaction, the silent ex-healer moving between the other eggs to go and lay a hand on the primarily green surface.
There's a feathery tickle on your cheek, then another on the back of your neck, and then heat kindles in your toes and creeps up your legs until all of you is consumed by a comfortable, familiar sort of warmth that squeezes you tight like a mother's embrace.
Naamiah makes a choking sound, mouth dropping open to form a round 'O' of her lips while eyes remain as widely opened as possible. A whimper escapes. The hard work of her throat around a swallow before whatever has her in it's grasp releases her. Eyelids flutter, blinking away the feel of that creeping mist, and with this action the girl relaxes. Something about the way she views the sands, her fellow Candidates, and even Orlaith, speaks of a different perspective. As if seeing everything for the first time. With a smile, she steps towards Soul for a Song Egg, and places a gentle hand upon it's shell.
Oh, this egg has Naamiah's lips curving into a smile once the initial shock of where the sound was truly coming from. Despite the creepy-crawly way it makes her feel -- the egg whistling is rather creepy -- the experience is nonetheless positive. "I like you," Naami declares, once the moment has ended and she steps away from the egg. Giving it one last looksee, she turns and weaves around a few passing Candidates. Until she comes to Of Your Dreams Egg. Teeth nibble her lower lip as quick looks are cast about, then boldly, the palms of her hands connect to the egg's warm shell.
Yep, it's a fact now: Citlali gets all the nice eggs. She gives her newest friend a tiny hidden parting smile as well -- this one made her feel safe, after all, and anyone watching can tell that she's gained a bit more confidence as she goes. Unfortunately for her, she's lost track of who was where when, and so she missed what egg Jedrek was at when he let out the loud expletive. So the next one Citlali goes to is, of course, It's a Gas Egg. Isn't she in luck?
Saithon has to consider the A Forest Grows Egg for a while, feeling that odd sensation of sped-up time and unnatural growth. But he's done eventually, and it's time to move on - to the Sock Monster Egg, which even as he approaches, the slight look of distaste on his face implies it's a little too childish-lookinh got him. But oh well, he's there now, and he sets a hand on the shell to see what happens.
Ruchik has been here all along. You know. The one who's feeling the lack of knife at his side (presumably those were not okay on the Sands), and the one who's been skirting around the edges of the clutch, moving incrementally closer to the eggs... and who has yet to touch a one of them. But he's got to the point where he's all out of increments, and it's either touch, or wind up sitting on one. So that happens, with the backs of his fingers laid against Underneath the Blazing Sky's shell.
Jedrek seems to have recovered from his previous egg touching experience, because a slow smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he lets his fingers continue to brush at the shell. "Yer an interestin' one," he comments, shaking his head and letting random and rag taggle stands of his own slightly greasy hair trail into his eyes, obscuring his vision for a moment. There he remains for a moment, tapping his foot for an unknown reason. When he does pull his hand back, it's almost reluctantly, and with a little sigh. Throughout the rest of the touching, he meanders to egg after egg, touching and reacting in a purely visceral way to what he experiences there. When the touching is deemed to be over, he'll wander out with the others, and generally keep to himself for a bit before returning to the Kitchens and something familiar.
Lights flicker at the edge of your vision, there and gone again as soon as you turn your head. One dances just above the shell of the egg, threatening to burn you, but the shell remains cool to the touch.
A whimper. Another. It is these small sounds that finally frees Naamiah from the egg's endless wave of emptiness. Conflicted, she pulls shaking hands from the egg's shell to wipe inconspiciously beneath her eyes. A deep breath is taken, but slow steps are already carrying her away. Her head is given as shake, to clear the remembered dreams from her mind before fortifying herself for the next egg. The Wild Hunt Egg is touched.
"Oh," says Citlali, and only that: whatever this egg did to her, it certainly didn't cause her to explode verbally, but it was startling, still. Her hand is removed from the shell in the sort of hesitant-awkward way that makes it unclear as to whether or not she really wants to be taking that long -- or if she's afraid the egg might bite if she /does/ move away. Her traveling across the sands is slower now, more thoughtful; eventually, she finds her choice in A Message From Beyond Egg.
What jitters were left from the Egg Before have been soothed away from the touch of this one. Naamiah's tension leaves the muscles of her body, flowing out like water as a smile takes her expression once more. "The secrets of the hunt," she murmurs, unable to get the image of moon-silvered leaves from her mind's eye. So it is with considerable less trepedation that she lays a hand upon the next egg, reminiscent of the imagery she left behind: Bad Moon Rising Egg.
Saithon inclines his head just slightly at the feel of the Sock Monster Egg. Interesting. Different. Less threatening. As he takes his hand away, he jerks his head to stare down at his feet, frowning. Looks back at the egg. Frowns some more. And so he's off once again, and will continue to move round the eggs, not interacting with any other candidate, but making sure he gets his turn with as many eggs as possible - even the less attractive ones.
There's something here, a sleepy little something that murmurs secrets so quietly you can only hear the rise and fall of the voice - only one word in ten can be distinguished, a mishmash of nonsense that slips away as the awareness dims, turns over, and slumbers once more.
Ruchik was not weyrbred, was not on a dragon until he'd been searched, has never touched an egg - and by the quick pulling away of his hand, and the indignant glare fired upon the Blazing Sky egg, he may never, ever touch one again. But as he resumes his circuit (always looking over his shoulder to the shell), and starts flexing his fingers, the trader calms himself enough. Considers. Stops. Stands for about a two or three minutes, sweat running down. And then proceeds to the egg recently vacated by Naamiah: Wild Hunt.
Khrysta was here all along, making her bow to the parents, or so she'll claim - but it isn't until now that she does more than mince through the slumbering eggs. Finally drawn towards one, instead of leery on the whole matter, the blonde makes her way towards a single egg. After all, if one is going to make a leap into the unknown, what better way than to touch an egg Of Your Dreams?
If anything, that last egg seems to have made Citlali tired, lulling her to relax as she tries to piece together difficult-to-make-out words. Her eyes are drooping a little, and she has to force herself to open them up again. "Hm," she whispers, and it's not to anyone in particular -- or maybe it's to the egg? -- and once that's done? To find another. The one she chooses seems almost random, as she opens and closes her hands repeatedly until she holds still and finally settles in front of one in particular: The Demon Within Egg.
Something drips in slimy rivulets down your back, cold goo that raises goosebumbs as it goes and seems to change your skin from smooth to scaly - or perhaps it was scaly all along.
"Ohhh," the involuntary animal sound that comes from Naamiah is the first sign of things amiss. The tears that flow freely from eyes tightly closed is but another expression of whatever torment this egg has given the girl. Finally, through sheer force of will, Naami breaks free and stumbles back. With reddened, tear stained cheeks, she takes in deep, ragged gasps that quickly have turned to sobs. "I..." A harried glance away from the eggs and she turns to move, possibly touch another, when something -- or someone -- catches her eye. Then it's an almost about face in a blind walk towards the exit, and it's only a walk out of deference to the golden mother and the still, essentially fragile eggs. Tears flow freely, still, and perhaps this is why, at the last minute, she pauses to lay one last hand on Cross My Palm with Silver Egg. Perhaps, to help ease the last image set in her mind before she makes a beeline for the exit.
Ruchik does not, at the least, pull back from this one; his stance adjusts, he waits, narrows his eyes... and slowly withdraws his fingers. That same hand goes to rub at his right hip, and he takes a slow step back. Dry lips are moistened quickly with his tongue, just waiting to have that moisture crack away once more. Face forced into a scowly masked, he looks to the progress of the other candidates, watching Naamiah's tearful retreat a bit longer... and saying nothing. Even having the scowl lessen somewhat. It's another long wait before he moves on, to the Wild Rumpus.
Citlali is with Naamiah -- in that it's almost time to be done, as she makes a decidedly disquieted face at the last egg she's gotten a chance to pow-wow with. It's not scary. It's not gross. It's just -- weird, and she shivers a little bit involuntarily. Maybe she's not making the best choice to settle her nerves as she aims for a last one before returning to chores, but it's Underneath the Blazing Sky Egg that Citlali picks nonetheless.
Khrysta breaks the silence of the sands - just a little bit as she lets her eyes drift closed, then shivers. A bit of a murmur, "Interesting.. and maybe. Maybe not," she murmurs, opening her eyes back again and letting her fingers drift free. Despite that one egg being her first attempt at fondling the eggs, it is also her last, as she moves among the eggs and merely watches others, hands tucked around her upper sides.
It burns you up like a fever, melting you like gold until it can twist you this way and that and study your shape. Eventually it puts you back the way it found you - mostly.
Confusion is a sight better than Madness, and one in which Naamiah grasps, figuratively, with both hands. That so-brief touch is enough to leave her on two stable feet so that when she walks briskly towards Imogen, U'rr and the AWLM that got her here, she at least looks less like a sobbing mess. Ducking her head, it is a silent ask for permission, a clumsy bow to Orlaith, before Naamiah seeks the refuge of the bowl. The tears, have not stopped. But at least the sobs have.
Ruchik shakes his head, the way a man shakes his head when he's just passed the realm of comfortable with a drink of hard liquor, but hasn't yet got to the realm of numbed nerves. Hands withdraw, and this time, there's no wait. The eggs are going to be all weird and invasive into his brain? Bring it. He's going to touch them ALL. Quick steps, a set expression, and the trader is both scowling and laying his palm upon the Curse of the Lycan, waiting a count of two, and removing it again, ready for the next.
Citlali is /definitely/ with Naamiah. Her expressions go through a rainbow of variety while her hands are on this egg, and once she pulls away she looks a little sick. Cautious, and queasy, she pulls away and whispers something about feeling like she's inside out and upside down. With a bow to Orlaith and a salute to Talimoth, Citlali heads off after Naamiah -- perhaps to check in with her fellow candidate and make sure the younger girl's okay.
