All at Once [Beth]

IC Time: Mid Spring (Month 11) of 11AL, a few days after the hatching
IC Setting: Late afternoon, getting close to dinnertime. It's starting to cool down, and the sun is showing signs of setting, though of course it's still warm right by the lake.

Everything was so different. It was amazing to Taminy that the place he had lived in for several years, a place so familiar, a place that was home, could seem so new and different. He didn't look at anything quite the same way anymore; everything was brighter, more vivid. Now that Cendiriuth was with him, the world had changed. Or maybe he was only him that was adapting. It was interesting to think about, that the reason everything looked now was because it was new to Cendiriuth, only a few days old and still absorbing everything. He was filled with endless questions, though the blue didn't seem to mind if Taminy couldn't answer everything. So curious and keen, and Taminy loved him for it. Loved him anyway, down to the very marrow in his bones.

The feeling, it seemed, was reciprocal; he was forever awarded with friendly nudges and affectionate nuzzles from his dragon. Taminy loved it. It was wonderful. Cendiriuth was wonderful. One of the loving croons came from his side now, as the hatchling shifted, rubbing his head along the bluerider's arm while his eyes gazed out at the lake. You are wonderful too, my Taminy. Taminy smiled, reaching down to scratch Cendiriuth between the headknobs where he particularly liked it. Are you hungry, Cen? It's about dinnertime. By now he'd rather gotten used to speaking in his mind, especially since Cendiriuth encouraged it; the blue thought it much more convenient and practical than speaking aloud, and he was right. Still, it was a large change for Taminy, who often spoke to himself anyway; sometimes during their conversations he spoke aloud anyway, just to hear his voice. The outside silence during the inner conversations were disconcerting.

No, Cendiriuth decided, breaking into the new rider's contemplations. Not yet. Can we stay here for a while? It's nice here. The only problem is that we are the only ones nearby. We can go in if you like, where there will be other people, Taminy offered; one of the differences between he and his blue was that he was perfectly fine with solitude, while Cendiriuth enjoyed the company of others. He didn't receive an answer to his question - and that happened, too. Sometimes Cendiriuth was disinclined to answer some of the questions Taminy asked - perfectly normal questions - which was also disconcerting, but something Taminy supposed he also had to get used to.

They sat by the edge of Therma Lake, watching the surface, and also feeling its heat; it was a cold spring, and now that the day was beginning to come to and end it was getting colder. Cendiriuth never seemed to mind the cold, though Taminy personally preferred warmth. For a few minutes the pair was silent, until - Look, Taminy! There's someone coming! Can we go say hi? Please?

Beth was finally getting a well earned break from the children and tying up her honey blonde hair she pulled on her swimsuit. Which now days was a thick material one; pretty and a two piece. In a simple natural green colour; she tied a loose skirt around her waist and decided to take a walk down to the lake for a swim.

She gave a shy little smile to the young man who already seemed to be down by the lake with his dragon. Removing her skirt and putting it down on a nice spot with her towel she made her way into the water; shivering a little at the sudden warmth; a nice difference from the cooling air of a spring night.

As Cendiriuth rightly pointed out, they were no longer alone. A girl that looked to be about his age walked down to the beach, wearing a pretty two-piece suit that Taminy tried very hard not to notice. This was hard to do, because she gave him a shy smile and he had to figure out how to be polite and return it without being impolite and, well, staring. The new bluerider compromised by offering her a shy smile in return before quickly looking down at Cendiriuth. This action, however, was misguided, because the blue had already jumped up and was running after her, eager to socialize.

Hi! I'm Cendiriuth, and that's my rider, Taminy. Is it okay if I talk to you? Are you swimming? Can I swim with you? Hey, Taminy, can I go swimming?

Mortified, Taminy was up and racing after his blue in an instant. Cendiriuth, you can't just got up to a stranger and...and... "I'm so sorry," he apologized to the woman, while Cendiriuth looked at him in confusion, clearly not understanding why the boy wouldn't want him to be friendly. "He's very...social, and...doesn't know better," the bluerider continued haplessly. Cen, just...don't run up and babble to people you don't know, okay? I'm sorry, Taminy, but...can I go swimming? Taminy shook his head in defeat. "Yes, you can swim."

Delighted, the young blue galloped into a water, splashing Taminy as he went. The young man sat down, gazing fondly at the blue, then realized he'd sort of forgotten about the woman. "Um, sorry...I guess Cen already told you, but I'm Taminy."