[PRP] This Is Awkward (Ellifrin/I'lux)

[Meepfur]

After the latest bout of Threadfighting two days earlier, Harth was due a new set of straps. Though her precious green hadn't been too badly hurt, and Ellifrin had come through with little more than a fine coating of ash, their straps had been damaged; they'd held, but neither rider or dragon was willing to trust them again. They still had a set in good condition, but just one set wasn't enough. So, at the first opportunity, Ellifrin procured the leather for a new set, after carefully taking her dragon's measurements despite some offense from Harth - as if they would have changed!

Wisely, Ellifrin had told her she just couldn't quite remember them exactly, and wanted to be absolutely sure that everything would be perfect. Harth had been mollified by that explanation, and was now waiting for Hers to return to their weyr and begin the work. Much as she was tempted to go recline on the fireheights and socialize, she found it necessary to observe such an important task. Not that she didn't trust her rider's skills, but she was entirely too much of a busybody not to watch, even if it was a bit boring.

Feeling a tinge of impatience across their bond, Ellifrin picked up her pace, although the armful of supplies didn't make it easy, especially with all the sharding stairs she had to climb to get to their weyr! Halfway up a flight, her foot caught on a step and she tripped, unable to correct and catch herself because of her burden. It all went spilling down the steps, but luckily, as she'd fallen forward instead of backward, she didn't do the same, though she was sure to be quite sore soon enough.

x Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

I'lux's own thoughts were elsewhere as he strode up the stairs to return to his own weyr, ignoring the slight ache of his thighs as he climbed higher and higher. Fansith had particularly stubborn dry patch on her wings that he was keeping a close eye on, and he wanted to give it another good oiling tonight. He nearly stepped on something, his arms pinwheeling wildly to catch his balance. I'lux glared ferociously, wondering who was stupid enough to....

Oh.

It took him only an instant to take in all of the fallen supplies, the woman who'd clearly tripped on the stairs with her arms laden with them. "Are you alright?" He asked curtly, stooping to begin gathering the dropped supplies. She was lucky she hadn't taken a worse fall--stone steps were hardly kind to flesh and bone.

Fansith's concern quietly grazed his mind, but he'd already decided that the woman likely didn't need any medical attention.

Meepfur

 

[Meepfur]

Ellifrin had at least managed to get her hands in front of her, so she didn't smash her face into the steps, but it had been an awkward catch at best, and her left wrist and forearm in particular were smarting quite loudly, not to mention her poor knees and shins! While her dragon was as resilient as they came, Ellifrin was not, and had a sorry excuse for a pain tolerance. Even as she took stock, assuring both herself and Harth that she hadn't been truly injured, she whimpered a bit. That had hurt! And oh, what a mess...!

Just as she sighed and moved to carefully turn herself to sit on the steps for a bit to recover - fully prepared to sulk about everything she'd dropped and would now have to pick up - someone came along, but she noticed too late to warn him, and he very nearly fell as well. She flinched in both guilt and sympathy, and at the look on his face, but then he asked after her and began picking things up.

"I-I'm fine, I think," she sniffed, and reached to gingerly gather up anything that hadn't fallen too far. She didn't feel quite ready to stand again just yet, and since help had arrived in the form of someone strong and handsome, she knew she didn't have to scramble to get everything cleaned up on her own. "I'm sorry for the mess."

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

He internally softened an inch at her obvious distress, shrugging off her apology without a second thought. "It was an accident." It wasn't like she'd just left the things strewn about carelessly, after all. The little whimpers he caught had him reassessing his earlier opinion, though. If she'd caught herself at an awkward angle, it would be easy to sprain a wrist. He glanced up as though to assess how many stairs were left, then shook his head again.

"Is your weyr far?" I'lux assumed that's where she'd been headed. "I'll accompany you." It never even occurred to him that she might not want the help nor his presence--he'd already decided it was happening, and that was that.

He paused to look her over briefly without much expression, hand extended to help her to her feet.

Meepfur

 

[Meepfur]

Reassured that he wasn't cross with her for almost causing him an accident, however unintentional it might have been, the redhead looked up to give him a small smile, even as she rubbed at her tender wrist. At least she hadn't fallen on a lower flight of stairs - then her mess might well have tripped up a bronze- or brownrider, and there was no telling how that might have gone. Some were the chivalrous gentleman they really ought to be, others...well, there were a few who wouldn't have taken so kindly to a greenrider's moment of clumsiness. This far up, though, any riders climbing the stairs were most likely green- or blueriders, as they were the ones most often assigned to such high weyrs. Still, it was better than the very highest weyrs, reachable only on dragonback.

...then again, she wouldn't have tripped up the stairs if that were the case, so there was also that.

Ellifrin was quietly pleased that not only was her fellow rider not cross, he was helpful; he'd picked up all but the few things that had been within her own reach from her spot on the steps, and now he was offering a hand and to escort her to her weyr. Her soft green eyes wide with a look that practically sighed 'my hero!' she accepted the hand up, wobbling a bit for a moment but soon steady enough. "Thank you. It's just another flight after this one."

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

A flicker of approval passed through his steely gaze, and Il'ux gently pulled the young woman to her feet. Only when she seemed stable did he release her, assessing her once more to make certain she was alright. Those who refused to accept help due to wounded pride were an endless source of frustration to him. As dragonriders, their entire structure was based upon relying on teamwork to work together efficiently. Of course, High Reaches had its own problems when it came to the system's hierarchy, but nothing he couldn't work with.

"Let's go." He nodded shortly, shifting the supplies in his arms so he had a steady grip on them. He'd allow her to set their pace, not minding that his plans had been slightly derailed. Better to see her to her weyr safely than, Faranth forbid, she fall down the stairs and injure herself further. Fansith was of a similar mindset, and would rather he help a fellow rider before coming to dote upon her.

Meepfur