Luke liked the sound of having a family, even if it did sound a bit like a Navy pep-talk.
He'd been very surprised when he'd been approached to be a candidate but after it had gotten around there'd been some whispers about his appearing on the hatching Sands and how that might have unfairly prejudiced his selection.
In the days after his arrival he'd managed to settle in and do what he did best, adapt. It turned out people were people even if they were people from a weirdo planet where telepathic dragons ruled the sky.
The telepathic part still wigged him out big time. He hated telepaths back home but it helped that it was only dragons who could read this thoughts and not humans; dragons really didn't give a shit about most of the stuff that went on in his head.
Pesky firelizards, on the other hand, constantly came by to check him out and bug him when he was trying to work. At first he came up with distracting little games to keep them out of his way but now he seemed to be the 'game guy' and more of the little buggers would come around to see what silly thing he'd do next.
The only thing that'd make them bugger off is if he thought about the horrible, terrifying things he'd seen and survived but seeing as he wanted to avoid thinking about those things he was reluctant to do it very often.
Plus firelizards, he'd learned, were horrible little gossips and he didn't want too much being known about his past here.
Luke was half-listening to Z'lan but perked up when he mentioned 'less chores' if a candidate Impressed. He liked the sound of that!
He also coveted some of the respect the dragon riders got from the Weyr. Being an Outsider was impressive for only so long before he was just another drudge changing glow lights or shoveling runner beast crap.
Bring on the telepathic dragons!
"What happens if you don't Impress?" Luke suddenly asked.
Well, he hadn't come from the Hold or Crafthall so staying with the Weyr seemed like the best option. Ugh, but staying where everyone knew he'd been rejected...
It wasn't like he could run away. Apparently there were aliens that fell from the sky and ate everything they could.
"You're welcome." Z'lan didn't miss the little frown but figured it was nerves. All the candidates were nervous about things. He had been when he was a candidate.
Luke examined some of the other candidates and tried to figure out who might beat him out for a dragon.
The thought DID cross his mind that maybe someone could have an 'accident' but, honestly, he was trying to be a good person now. Prison had taught him a few lessons and the biggest one was, don't fuck with people... unless you have the power to protect yourself.
And he had zero idea how things worked here. Maybe they didn't have jails and just let the dragons eat them. Or dropped criminals off of cliffs.
"What happens if a dragonet injures you? Like, badly injures you. Does that ever happen? Would the, um, queen hurt a candidate?" Especially a candidate who had already invaded her nest once...
"If we went on the Sands right now, the Queen would probably chase us off. The eggs aren't hard enough for people to be around them. At the time of the hatching though, she'll let people stand on the Sands."
"As I said, there will be Healer's standing by if a candidate gets injured but that's rare these days."
"Huh. I guess that's what she did before to me, then. Chased me off." Luke looked up at Evreth. He was HUGE but the queen was even BIGGER! It still blew his mind there were real dragons!
"Why would a dragonet attack someone?" You know, just in case. Luke liked to be prepared.
He shrugged. "Most pairs get along, even if the dragon and rider have different personalities. Your dragon is your other half, the piece of yourself you've been missing."
"Huh." Luke looked up at Evreth and wondered how something that big could be the piece of him he was missing. Although, it would be nice to have someone to love him unconditionally?!
He'd been very surprised when he'd been approached to be a candidate but after it had gotten around there'd been some whispers about his appearing on the hatching Sands and how that might have unfairly prejudiced his selection.
In the days after his arrival he'd managed to settle in and do what he did best, adapt. It turned out people were people even if they were people from a weirdo planet where telepathic dragons ruled the sky.
The telepathic part still wigged him out big time. He hated telepaths back home but it helped that it was only dragons who could read this thoughts and not humans; dragons really didn't give a shit about most of the stuff that went on in his head.
Pesky firelizards, on the other hand, constantly came by to check him out and bug him when he was trying to work. At first he came up with distracting little games to keep them out of his way but now he seemed to be the 'game guy' and more of the little buggers would come around to see what silly thing he'd do next.
The only thing that'd make them bugger off is if he thought about the horrible, terrifying things he'd seen and survived but seeing as he wanted to avoid thinking about those things he was reluctant to do it very often.
Plus firelizards, he'd learned, were horrible little gossips and he didn't want too much being known about his past here.
Luke was half-listening to Z'lan but perked up when he mentioned 'less chores' if a candidate Impressed. He liked the sound of that!
He also coveted some of the respect the dragon riders got from the Weyr. Being an Outsider was impressive for only so long before he was just another drudge changing glow lights or shoveling runner beast crap.
Bring on the telepathic dragons!
"What happens if you don't Impress?" Luke suddenly asked.
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It wasn't like he could run away. Apparently there were aliens that fell from the sky and ate everything they could.
"Thanks," he said with a little frown.
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The thought DID cross his mind that maybe someone could have an 'accident' but, honestly, he was trying to be a good person now. Prison had taught him a few lessons and the biggest one was, don't fuck with people... unless you have the power to protect yourself.
And he had zero idea how things worked here. Maybe they didn't have jails and just let the dragons eat them. Or dropped criminals off of cliffs.
"What happens if a dragonet injures you? Like, badly injures you. Does that ever happen? Would the, um, queen hurt a candidate?" Especially a candidate who had already invaded her nest once...
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"As I said, there will be Healer's standing by if a candidate gets injured but that's rare these days."
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"Why would a dragonet attack someone?" You know, just in case. Luke liked to be prepared.
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"Um, like true love or something?"
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