Dragon Rider Play

Mellon was more than happy to cuddle, and soon fell asleep.

Jeremiah waved it off. "Nah, don't worry about it. He's not quite himself right now."

Pat stood.  "I'm going to go take a shower.  No one's in the showers this time of day, so I get all the hot water to myself."

"Greedy." Jeremiah teased. "After that, can you come back and watch Tithenor while I shower? I just don't want him alone is all. I'll spend the night here if you want to sleep in your bunk."

Pat was about to answer when 53 came in.  "Neither of you are spending the night.  I'll be here all night, as will my dragon.  Go on and shower, Pat.  You can go as well, Jeremiah.  I need to check Tithenor out again, anyway."

Blade frowned, but didn't argue with 53. "Okay. Let's go get cleaner, Pat."

"Right," Pat agreed a little less enthusiastically.  "Come on, Nightshade."

Nightshade followed at Pat's heels. What if Jeremiah found out? She got scared the whole awful episode that just ended would continue.

Jeremiah noted the change in mood, and tried to add it all up, but it still didn't quite add up and drove him up a mental wall once again.

Erika followed, shaking herself.  She looked up at her rider.  Could she shower with him?  Please?

Pat let herself fall behind Jeremiah.  Whispering, she told Nightshade, "We'll take the stall on the opposite side of him.  It should be fine."

Jeremiah laughed. "You can try, little lady." He told Erika.

Nightshade whined a little. But what if he found out?

Erika purred, fluttering her wings excitedly.  Yay!

"You can be my look out, besides, he's going to be distracted by Erika," Pat assured her.  "If I back out of a shower now, it'll be suspicious.  I'll be quick and get dressed before he's even out.  I've had a lot of practice with that."

(Do you want Jeremiah to find out this way Pat's a girl or wait a little longer?)

Jeremiah smiled at his dragon as they walked. He was glad Erika seemed happy, although he suspected his spoiled dragon may want to do this again in the future. If it became habit, it would get harder and harder the bigger she got, but Jeremiah had a hard time saying no to her.

(This way or wait, either way is fine)

Erika chose the shower stall. She went from one to the next, sniffing about curiously. Finding one almost in the corner, she turned to look at Jeremiah. This one!

Pat took the one closest to the door of the bunkhouse. This wouldn't be so bad!

Blade smiled. "That one it is, Erika." He started to take his shirt and leather chest piece off, revealing the mutilated skin on his back. The ridges and vallys created by the scar tissue almost looked like a 3D map of the mountains. He started to take his pants off in the hall space between shower stalls. He wasn't bashful; only a little self conscious about his scars on his back, but felt at ease around Pat.

Pat was actually starting to get used to this kind of behavior, but she was still uncomfortable around it. She gave Jeremiah a head start then started undressing herself. She stepped into the shower stall after removing her shoes and outer shirt and stripped down quickly, tossing her clothing into the hall before turning on the shower. "Keep look out, Nightshade," she told her dragon.

Erika stood in the shower stall investigating. She'd seen other riders come out wet, and she smelled water, but where was it?

Jeremiah turned the faucet on, and indoor rain cascaded down from the ceiling onto the dragon. The water was warm but not hot. He smiled. "Feels good, doesn't it."

Nightshade nodded. She would try. The warmth of being in here made her sleepy.

Erika jumped away at first then slowly crept back under the spray. Oh. This did feel nice! She hunkered down and spread her spines as far as they would go. Ah!! The he water was scratching every itch at the same time! And so warm.

Pat got to work soaping up and scrubbing down as fast as she could. She missed leisurely showers.

Nightshade yelped in surprise as Jeremiah unintentionally snuck up on them and poked his head in. "Hey, you have any extra soap......." He stared at Pat for a long moment. "I KNEW IT!" He exclaimed. He looked pleased he finally figured it out. Jeremiah averted his eyes from Pat in politeness. "Anyway, extra soap?"

Pat just stood.  Ater a moment, she handed over the soap.  "Please don't tell," she asked weakly.

Jeremiah looked confused. "Why would I? You're my friend, and a good rider. If anything, I'll do my best to help you keep it a secret. Although, I will warn you know, there's no way I can directly lie to Tithenor about it. Dude's like a lie detector, at least with me."

Pat nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Jeremiah. Now, um, do you mind?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." Jeremiah said before he retreated. He scrubbed himself clean and even scrubbed Erika clean too. "Need the soap back?" He called to Pat.

"No, thanks, I'm okay."  Pat felt a little numb as she finished cleaning up and headed for the bunkhouse.  She gave Nightshade a look.  "I'll talk to you later about the duties of a lookout, Belladonna Nightshade."

Erika was in heaven.  She stretched out her wings and neck, her body vibrating as she churred happily, keeping her eyes squeezed shut.  She loved this!

Nightshade wilted some under Pat's stern look. She was sleepy! The warmth made her sleepy, and Jeremiah was really, really quiet.

Jeremiah laughed. "Well, now that you and I are all cleaned off, we need to dry off, but I don't think I'll be well liked if I tried drying you with a towel and shredded them. Maybe you can shake most of the water off?"

Pat sighed and shook her head, wrapping a towel tightly around herself as she padded into the bunkhouse to get dressed.  She flew into her regular clothes, making sure the balled up socks were aligned correctly in her trousers before slowing down with putting on her overshirt and shoes and socks.

Erika shook herself hard, sending water flying.  She was still dripping, but some time spent splayed out on a warm rock under the sun would help that out.  She blinked up at Jeremiah contentedly.

Jeremiah sputtered as some water flew in his face and mouth, but smiled at Erika. "You look happy, little lady."

Nightshade nuzzled Pat's hand when she was done. The dragon was sorry she didn't give her adequate warning. But maybe it was good Jeremiah knew and would help?