[ prp ] down with the sickness (dhawsn + ???)

[medigel]

Western Weyr had its perks. For one, it wasn't bitching cold in the winter. Two, they had rum. Lots and lots of rum.

The party had been banging, and Dhawsn had banged right along with it. It had been easy to forget how old he was when he chugged the magical drink. and also to forget that he was still somewhat sick. His trip to High Reaches for the recent double clutch had left him with a headcold that just did not want to leave. And then once he was over that? He got a regular, probably allergy-based cold. So it was nice to not worry about how loud he was sniffling and coughing, even though alcohol wasn't exactly the remedy. It tasted nice, which was what mattered.

Maybe a bit too nice. Now he was drunk and unable to breathe through his nose. His ruddy face and haphazard steps made him look a mess as he tried to make his way back to bed. Most gave him a wide berth--most had to anyway, given his roundness--but someone was unlucky enough to be there when he misjudged the elevation and stumbled over.

"Aw s**t--!"
 

[demon_pachabel]

If you aren't enjoying it, why are you there? Sobeth cut straight to the chase over her beloved Nua's choice to be part of the Turn's End festivities. She wasn't enjoying the dancing, she wasn't partaking in the drinks, and overall she mostly looked to be keeping an eye out on her wingmates. Because if I'm not, who will keep an eye on everybody? she inquired. Sobeth offered only silent, mild, judgement to her rider for such a bland train of thought.

Really, Sobeth was guilty of much of the same. Herding some of the smaller Weyrlings about (though truly, only one was smaller than her anymore, that beach clutch from so long ago was so big!) to keep them out of trouble, then turning such attentions to hers.

It had set a certain tone for their evening at least. While some familiar faces would stay later into the night than Nua was willing to, those who left earlier did catch Sobeth's attention, the mamagator singling out one in particular who looked to be having a bit of a time on his own. Nua, Sobeth summoned her rider to send her after the young man.

She'd barely reached out to put a hand on the larger man's shoulder when he fumbled, sending Nua scrambling to make sure he didn't simply find the floor without any trouble. "Woah! Woah!" shifting so she could plant a supporting hand on each of Dhawson's shoulders, Nua frowned. "You alright there?" He didn't look it.

medigel

 

[medigel]

Dhawsn flailed his other hand to balance himself and tried not to fall over even more onto her. "Uh, yeah, m'good," he said, sounding like he had gargled rocks more than anything. "I jes gotta...find m'bed..." Had he been more conscious, he would have hated to be mouthbreathing so much in the presence of a lady, but he was barely conscious to remember where his feet were supposed to go as it was.

This was...probably not a good sign for how tomorrow would go.

"You...water?" Dhawsn meant to phrase a coherent question, but instead out came this hopeful plea. Water would help. And sleep.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

And from somewhere deep in Nua it came rumbling - the fussy mother. Of course, it would have more aptly described someone who was actually a mother, but it was as close as she could get. "Really?" the greenrider gave him a serious look over, frowning the whole time. No, no, no. That wouldn't do.

Shooting a look off towards Sobeth, the green strode in no real rush across the Weyrbowl, settling into the sands and stretching her legs out in front of her. Truly the image of a makeshift seat, which Nua ushered the man to sit in. "Stay," she said firmly, making her retreat once she was certain he would. With her rider gone, Sobeth turned one whirling eye down at Dhawsn. I cannot see the fun in it, she didn't clarify what she meant, but there was some amusement at the expense of the mostly out of it young man.

Is it merely a flavor, or do you enjoy being like this? it was a genuine inquiry as she waited for her beloved to fetch the water the man had managed to communicate a desire for - as well as whatever else she was up to.

Medigel

Enjoy a chubby green

 

[medigel]

Much like a canine, he was happy to be directed while in this state and plopped against the green with a whumph. Oh no. Too fast. A wave of nausea hit him, and he bent over with a low moan. Faranth, he was stupid, but please don't punish someone else by making him vomit over their dragon. Please please please.

"Yeah," he replied after a few moments, taking deep breaths to try and alleviate his stomach. Keeping his head held down seemed to help, even as he felt his sinuses complain. "Uh. Tastes good." Pause. "I don'--drink like that normal, honest." Pause. "Just kinda felt like it this time."

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

As he bent forward, Sobeth leaned in to rest her snout against the back of his neck, exhaling warm breath over it as though somehow it would help in the moment. Enjoying the festivities, then. Would it not have felt better to take it slower? she thrummed, a low noise that vibrated her chest slightly. Certainly, it wasn't unusual behavior for a get together like this and she'd seen many stumbling off in their own right over the turns.

But being a dragon, she'd never really understood the appeal. Perhaps it was because Nua had no such enjoyment of alcohol.

Any further prying and questioning would be interrupted by Nua's hasty return, a canteen - Nua's threadfall canteen, Sobeth noted - in one hand, and a compress in the other. She offered both readily. "When you've drank enough, put the compress over your nose," Nua gestured with her own hand to the area she meant on her face, "and it should uh..help."

She'd clearly taken note of the mouth breathing.

medigel

 

[medigel]

Warm dragon breath did not help, but he didn't have the energy to tell her no. At least Dhawsn had something to sit against, as the bulk of his body felt like it would rather ooze into the nearest drainage opening than deal with his churning innards. He moaned along with the green's thrumming and closed his eyes. "Pro'bly," he mumbled.

Blindly groping for the offered items, Dhawsn slowly dribbled water down, afraid that going too fast would be the trigger for an awful night. "Tanks," he told the woman a few moments later, one eye creaking open. He felt chastised, like a boy caught in the middle of his mistake. It was a strange feeling. He was used to fussing, not being fussed over, but he couldn't say he didn't like it. It was definitely helping. The compress on his nose made his eyes burn briefly as a stinging ripple went through his nose, but it was soothed soon enough. "Gawsh, thid ain' a good frisd impression...Not dis bumblin' normally."

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Nua watched patiently and with far less judgement than Sobeth seemed to radiate still, even as the green continued huffed warm breath over the back of his head and nosed as delicately as a dragon could at his hair. "It isn't, but I certainly am not taking notes if it makes you feel better," she said, taking her own seat next to him so that perhaps Sobeth's needling could be directed instead onto her and not all over Dhawsn.

It only somewhat worked.

"It was certainly a good party, you're allowed to enjoy it even if it makes getting back to your room later a little difficult." He certainly would not be the first or last man on Pern having a good time at least.

Medigel

 

[medigel]

Dhawsn chuckled, which turned into a cough, as Sobeth mussed his hair. "Yeah, I guess. Turn's End wadn' so great, heck, last few months weren', so...figured a pick-me-up would help."

It wasn't the kindness that surprised him so much as the lack of judgement--well, from the rider anyway. He must have looked really pitiful.

"You, uh, won' tell the candidatemasters r' seconds r' anyone, will ya?" he asked.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

"It's been a rough few months for sure," Nua agreed. As a wingrider, she'd gotten a very similar lecture as the candidates likely did - if not doubly so. It had been a rider who had spoken up, and while she didn't know the circumstances, it was a rather large blemish on those who hadn't been able to attend at all.

"What is there to tell? It's Turn's End. There's no rule against enjoying yourself," only the Weyrlings weren't allowed the same type of revelry. Though maybe the new second was more stern than she knew? Nua had spent only a little time as a candidate and at the time, Danzik hadn't been anything more than an assistant.

medigel

 

[medigel]

"Yeah, well...Doesn' mean y'should go overboard."

Feeling his nose unclog, Dhawsn tried to clear it with a loud sniff and coughed. "Prolly should go mosey over to the kitchen n' fix me some tea, that'll help," he said as he pressed the compress harder to his skin. "You don' hafta babysit me, ma'am. I can make it."

Juuuuuust as soon as he got on his feet. Come on now. Listen to brain please. Right now. Riiiight now.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Leaning to rest her chin in her palm, Nua shrugged. "Also true. But if you had a good time, is it really going overboard? Is there such a thing as too much joy?"

Yes. Sobeth answered flatly so both could hear, but there was no annoyance or judgement in her tone. Simply fact. For her effort, however, Nua seemed to lose a certain casual edge to her playful fun. The previous smile deteriorated into a meek frown.

"You sure about that? You were nearly falling over just a bit ago," which was the same way one would describe both several seconds and several hours. "I don't mind going along if you'd prefer the company."

medigel

 

[medigel]

He did prefer company and knew that if their positions had been reversed, he would have insisted on sticking around, no if's and's or but's. Obviously he was having a rare moment of exception.

"M'sure's..." Dhawsn suddenly paled as he felt his stomach flip. A fresh sheen of sweat covered his face, and he shivered as he tilted forward and onto his knees. Aim away from the ladies, aim away from the ladies, man. Be cool.

One heave later and he was forcing his insides out like someone tossing the contents of a bucket. It smelled rank and had partially undigested food, but he took comfort in knowing that it was only going to get on him, his beard, and the ground.

"Awwww...shee-hit..."

And the compress he had failed to keep to his forehead.

xdemon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Nua gently rubbed her hand over Dhawsn's back, expression unchanging as more of the fun celebration came back to haunt him - and everybody else present, really. Sobeth's rumbling came to an abrupt halt as well, turning one concerned eye down at the man. "Definitely not as fun right now," Nua murmured sympathetically.

It was definitely not the most ideal way to be ending off such an exciting evening - or bringing in the next Turn.

Sobeth peered between the two thoughtfully, tail flicking in the sand behind her. Well. Nua thumped an open palm against the green's snout and frowning. No harm had been meant, it was just......yeah.

"When you think your head is clear enough for it, I'll go to the kitchens with you and get that tea."

medigel

 

[medigel]

Could he just die of embarrassment? Please? Maybe ooze into ground this time? Dhawsn's stomach rolled at the idea of having anything else go down his throat, even as he knew he needed to keep water nearby. It took him almost five minutes of closed-eyed, short breathed existence before he felt it was safe enough to sit up. At least his nostrils were partially opened now? That was cool. Now he could smell his disgrace if he wanted.

"Naw, thanks," he said, voice low and rough and apologetic. "Water's fine, jus'...gimme a bit." He almost wanted to cry, he felt so stupid. Instead, he sniffled and rubbed at his nose and mouth with the back of his sleeve. Screw being hygienic at this point. "Sawry I'm makin' ya deal with this, ma'am. Never was a smart man."

demon_pachabel