Surprisingly Responsible

Writers: Jelena, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 9th September 2016

Characters: Naton, L'exan
Description: Naton's looking for advice and has a surprisingly adult conversation with his poker buddy L'exan.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 4 of Turn 8

"L'exan!" Naton greeted the bluerider cheerfully, giving the rider a friendly tap on the back as he sat down beside him. "Just the man I was looking for, do you mind if I pick your brain for a moment?" Naton had been considering getting himself a firelizard for a while now and he decided he needed more information before he spent his marks on one. So he headed off to the Weyr to find one of his dragonriding acquaintances, since he knew some who owned a firelizard themselves.

"Some might say I don't have one to pick," L'exan joked, but he moved his plate of so far untouched nibbles closer to Naton in case he wanted something. The bluerider enjoyed being a fine host, even when he wasn't hosting a party in his weyr. "Whatcha need?"

"You have enough of a mind for some impressive bluffing," Naton laughed. "So I disagree with those claims. What I was hoping to ask you about, is your firelizard. I've been thinking about getting one, but I'd want more information on the critters before I spend my marks."

L'exan thought back to the game, and realized he had brought up Demos in the middle of it, commenting what a little grouch he was, yet somehow still adorable and fun to have as a pet. "Whatcha need to know?"

"Well, mostly, how sure are you to end up with a firelizard capable of carrying messages? Are their chances you end up with one who can't be properly trained?" That was Naton's biggest concern. He didn't want a firelizard who'd perhaps unintentionally pose a danger to the kids.

"No one's ever really sure," L'exan said honestly. "The best ones for that are golds, bronzes, and browns. Blues and greens are harder to train 'cause they have shorter attention spans. It took a lotta time and effort and consistency to get Demos to the point he could give and receive messages. But it's still possible to teach any fire-lizard manners and all that. It's just not for anyone who doesn't wanna put in any effort."

"But there's no telling whether an egg contains anything but gold or not gold, right?" Naton asked, vaguely remembering it was just like with dragon eggs. "Have there ever been firelizards who hurt humans? Intentionally or unintentionally?"

"Who's been telling you these horror stories?" L'exan asked in confusion. "Fire-lizards attack to defend their Impressed. They don't just suddenly go insane and randomly cause injury."

"Well, I never heard any such stories, but I'd rather check before I bring one in to my home," Naton said with a shrug. "I have no experience whatsoever and I don't want to expose my children to hurt just because I think having a flit will be convenient."

The bluerider snorted. "Shoulda mentioned kids in the first place," he chided, but not rudely. "If a fire-lizard is agitated or afraid, they can get flappy and flail, so yes, if someone gets to close, there could be injury, but that's completely accidental and they shouldn't be blamed. It's up to the human to keep them calm. So technically, the fault would be on the human for not controlling the lizard, and kids should be taught not to taunt the fire-lizards. But they do not attack with serious intent to hurt unless their person is in trouble."

"Right," Naton looked doubtful at that, feeling it was indeed a risk he'd be bringing in to his home. "So you'd be better off with a brown or metallic, because you'd have more chance of controlling them." That wasn't exactly what he'd been hoping to hear, but he was glad he had asked before taking any steps.

"And you haveta teach your kids to not pick on 'em," L'exan added. "And it's easy to _control_ any fire-lizard. It's not so easy to _teach_ any fire-lizard."

"Hmm," Naton seemed thoughtful. "And is there any way to tell anything other than that an egg is gold or not?"

"'Fraid not," the dragonrider stated with a shrug. "But some experienced merchants can make pretty good educated guesses."

"Hmmmm," Naton repeated himself. "Shards, this is a tough decision. I'd like a flit to be able to send messages to my family when I'm off on seaduty, but I'm not sure I have the time it takes to train one properly. And I wouldn't want the kids to get hurt if it turns out I hatch a little rascal."

"If you're that worried about the kids, you shouldn't have pets," L'exan said. "Are they not old enough to know how to treat fire-lizards?"

"Well, one certainly is, but the other is far from a turn old. When she gets to the stage of crawling and grabbing for things, I guess a firelizard might get annoyed for a while." He'd had a friend who'd raised a canine pup back at the Northern Hall once, but the young thing had soon proven too rambunctious to be around little kids. Firelizards had even sharper teeth.

"Ohhh, we're talking the crumb-grabber stage," L'exan said with surprise. No wonder Naton was worried. He imagined a tot trying to put the tips of a fire-lizard's tail in their mouth, as Neia had said little ones were wont to do. It was both comical and a little sobering. "Sorry to say it, Naton, but you'll have to wait until the youngest understands the meaning of 'No, don't touch that,'" he added with a measure of sympathy.

"Well, I'm glad to have checked, then," Naton said. He was a little disappointed, he had to admit. He had always been prone to over-excitement and making hasty decisions when in such a stare, but he was glad he had enough sense to temper this impulse now he had a family to take into account. "And glad you're being honest and not praising your flit to the skies and back."

"Why would I? He's the grouchiest little blue on the Southern Continent," L'exan chuckled, but it was obvious he meant it fondly. "With any luck, maybe your shipmates will have fire-lizards you can borrow from time to time."

"Yeah, that's how I've always done it so far. It would just be easier with my own, you know," Naton shrugged. "Maybe in the future. Did you hear from Gallee on what she thought of that wine she won from me?"

"Oh, she can't stop singing its praises," the bluerider stated with a grin. "Who would've thought wine made from quince and pears could be so good?"

Last updated on the December 17th 2016

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Surprisingly Responsible