Who

Xia, M'noq

What

Peace negotiations at last… and one last prank.

When

It is afternoon of the nineteenth day of the fifth month of the eighth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Jungle, Southern Weyr

OOC Date 13 Jul 2016 05:00

 

xia_default.jpg m-noq_default.jpg

"Why in all of between," that's suddenly a common saying, okay? "would I owe you a favor?"


jungle.jpg

Jungle

As the clearing is left behind, a deep silence permeates and soaks into the very ground that towering trees grow out of, accompanied by the humid heat of the enclosed rainforest. The silence is broken by the chittering call of wild firelizards, the chirruping of distant avians, and the ominous rustling of large, feline predators that stalk the deeper, heart of the jungle. Vines drape from the trees, falling to the jungle floor, which carries the hint of decay. Water drips from the canopy above, the soft sound almost musical against the echoing call of the jungles denizens. Westward, with the tangled overgrowth and the shadows of the deeper rainforest, the forest looms dangerous. The area is thickly forested with many banyan and sandalwood trees.


It read simply, "M'noq. We have to meet. Outside the weyr by the lighting struck tree. Sunset, it's important. -Myziri" It looks like the greenrider's writing, the signature matching the Wingleader's.

M'noq gets a note from his wingleader, okay. Except Myziri really isn't in the habit of sending notes when she wants something, and "out by a dead tree" isn't a usual spot where they hold wing meetings. But note in hand, he shows up to the spot, wary but curious.

The birds chirp up in the trees and the burnt-out-tree sways back and forth in a low breeze. The air is scented with the autumn winds and rain, but here it's dry. Perhaps that's why Myziri wanted to meet out here? At the base of the tree a basket covered with a red and white blanket and a label which reads simply, "M'noq".

M'noq hums as he approaches the basket. Aloud, he says, "I've never known Myziri to set up a picnic lunch for a meeting, either." Though it's true sometimes she sets out food, so maybe… plausible? The brownrider cautiously tries to peek under the blanket to look in the basket. Hopefully nothing bites him.

Of COURSE there's something in the basket. Cleverly disguised springs send a bomb of glitter out, covering M'noq in the sparkles unless he moves very quickly. Off to one side Xia rises from behind a bush, laughing as she steps forward - though not close enough for the prank to reach out and grab onto her.

M'noq is decidedly cautious in lifting the blanket, and it isn't so much that he moves quickly as he is able to block most of the glitter from blasting him in the face. A dusting from the cloud of glitter does settle into his hair and onto his jacket, though. Great, he'll be wearing that for, like, ever. He doesn't even have to turn to know who's jumping out. "Xia. Figures."

"They weren't half bad, you know. Some of those letters." Xia leans against a tree and flicks a non-existent bit of dust off her shoulder. "Of course, it would have gone over better if you'd stuck to girls writing them. I might have even be tempted." Her gaze turns from the tree and fixes on the brownrider with a shit-eating smile on her face.

M'noq grins back, though his expression is more fierce than anything else. "Hey, both boys and girls can have crushes on you, you know. Some of them weren't specific who was writing them, so you might not have been right in your guesses." He looks thoughtful. "In any case, the weyrlings will graduate eventually, so you can ask around to see if any of the crushes have endured."

Xia waves her hand as if a vtol is breezing in front of him. "Aye, but I would have maybe made a fool of myself for a girl. You know the right eyes, a bit of a pretty tush…" She's still grinning as she uses her tone to exaggerate what she's looking for. "Like your girlfriend. I have to admit, Keelie is hot." Laughter dances in her eyes as she pushes off and moves towards him (though she does avoid the glitter on the ground) but, I'm thinking maybe we need to bury this. Especially with your wingsecond knot."

"Well, I can't blame you there. Keelie is pretty hot," M'noq says, amused. "But if she's not interested in you, it may be time to say enough. There are plenty of other hot girls out there, aren't there? I mean, I have eyes, and I know you do too." Since this conversation is just between the two of them. He nods with her last suggestion. "You're probably right. Though you still owe me a favor." A small amount of glitter has stuck to his hand from the glitterbomb, and he flicks it at her hair.

A dramatic sigh that is much more put out then real, "I know. It's a shame though, as cute as you are." Xia winks at M'noq as she bats away the glitter he flicks at her. "Why in all of between," that's suddenly a common saying, okay? "would I owe you a favor?" Looking the man up and down Xia shakes her head, "Unless it's a new wardrobe because you are looking very worn-down in the knees. And the color isn't anything to brag about either."

M'noq gives her a decidedly stern look. "I told you that you owed me a favor when you threw my machete in the lake. You think I've forgotten about that? Besides, you were the one who started all these pranks in the first place." He plucks at his tunic as she criticizes it. "Hey, you were the one who wrecked basically every piece of clothing I had. And then it was like I was pranked a second time because my sister sent me all kinds of crazy-color, weird outfits to replace them." Suddenly, he gives her a sharp look. "And don't you even think about trying to meet up with her. She's a good girl and doesn't need your influence."

Xia reaches up to put her hand on her chest, "You misjudge me!" A beat or two before, still grinning, "Is she older then you?" They'll get back to the favor issue in just a moment.

M'noq just laughs. "Does this look like the taste of an older woman?" he says, gesturing to his brightly colored outfit. "She's younger. A baby. So don't even think about it." And M'noq himself is pretty young, so this could get inappropriate fast.

"I figured sweetheart." A nice rock becomes the place for Xia to plant her but and she does it, carefully crossing her legs in front of her to show her long boots off to their best. Never mind that M'noq's the only person here to see it. "Alas, I don't prey on the young so she is safe enough from my perversions. Unless, of course, you decide to pursue this 'favor' idea." An eyebrow arches upwards.

M'noq gives Xia a wry look. "You owe me a favor. I may not call it in right away, but believe me, I'll keep it in my pocket. I just want you to know that I'm going to call it in one day, and you will very happily help me out." And this is how the whole prank war started—with Xia trying to avoid owing M'noq a favor.

"But, see, I just don't see it like that. I quite think that we're all even. This might just be the crux of this issue. See," Xia pushes herself to her feet and moves towards the brownrider. "If you had asked as a friend for said favor, I would, of course be there. But I simply don't take threats."

M'noq really does his best to keep his patience here. "Perhaps so. Because I don't think a friend would just toss another friend's knife into a lake, and then refuse to go after it." He tries to remember exactly what was said that day at the grotto, but he doesn't recall exact words. Did he make threats? It's possible. But she must have made a few of her own too.

"Of course they would." Xia says this firmly as she stops a few feet away and looks upwards at him. "You need a sense of humor M'noq, really."

"Is it my sense of humor that's really the problem?" M'noq says. "Because I thought freezing someone's underwear in a block of ice was pretty funny."

"Then drop the favor sweets. And when you need me, just have Ravaith reach out to Zafroxth and you'll see how quickly I'll be at your little ship." Some of the joking slips from Xia's face and she holds out a hand, almost like a little white flag of compromise.

M'noq considers this and then nods. He is getting to be a little tired of always looking over his shoulder, despite how interesting it has made the last few months. "Fine. No more pranks from you either, all right? And maybe… lay off talking about Keelie. If you want, we can have you over for dinner some night. You could even bring a date." He clasps her hand, pulling her close enough so that a little shake of his head knocks glitter from his hair and into hers.

Xia's laughter is clear of any angst as he gets some of the glitter into her hair. Releasing his hand she looks at a lock of her curly hair, "You know that is never coming out, right?" But she's not looking upset. "Very well, No more tweaking the redhead's nose - or yours either. And," she tosses in as an aside, "I'll see you get some properly made clothing. Maybe even something nice your next Turnday. As for bringing a date," Xia's expression fades into one of gentle acceptance for her next words, "I'm afraid that is out of the question. I prefer one-night-stands and casual hook-ups. Emotional entanglements end in sorrow for people like me."

M'noq arches a brow. "People like you? What's that supposed to mean? Girls who like girls? There's got to be other chicks around who are looking for a chick just as crazy as you." Hmm… maybe she needs a blind date? He'll just keep that to himself until he decides to spring the trap—er, spring the surprise. "Anyway, that's very kind of you to find me some proper clothes." Not that he completely trusts what she will come up with, but he'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now.

"You have a good heart M'noq." Xia reaches out and grasps his shoulder, squeezing gently before letting it drop as she turns away. "Don't worry, I was a weaver at one point in my life - GRANTED I did more female clothing then male, but I do know my way around fabric." And with that the bluerider moves her way off towards the weyr one hand brushing in her hair to see if some of the glitter might come out.

M'noq waves to her in farewell. "Take care, Xia. Dinner the next time the three of us are free, all right?" Watching her try to pick out the glitter, he begins trying to brush it off himself. Hopeless. Of course, now the two of them will be seen out and about, covered in the same glitter. That's not going to look suspicious at all. Those rumors just might be the last prank on both of them.

Add a New Comment