"What happened to you, Mouse?"

"You look awful."

"Like somebody told you your mother just died."

"She d-d-did that a long time ago, but thank you for b-bringing it up."

"Sorry, man, didn't mean to."

"So what's wrong?"

"Zionibosch."

"What, him? What's he got to do with anything?"

"Since when is that dragon down about anything, let alone able to get you down?"

"He wants to fly some d-d-dragoness."

"He... huh? What's that supposed to--"

"Fly. Chase. M-m-m-mate with in mid-air."

"So wha-- oh. Oh, yeah."

"Well, you kow, it's what dragons do, and you've been pretty lucky so far, anyway."

"I know. I just--"

"What?"

"You know. M-m-mating flights and... the emotions...."

"Oh, that's nothing."

"You know, if you can't manage to block it out, we could find you somebody."

"I d-d-don't need that, thank you."

"Oh, stop blushing, Mouse, it's hardly unusual. It happens all over the place around here."

"Lots of dragons flying unbonded ladies around here, you know."

"B-b-but she is bonded."

"Huh? Who is?"

"The d-d-dragoness. She's got a b-b-b-bond."

"Oooooh."

"Is she pretty?"

"Look at him blush, of course she is."

"Well, in the middle of flight passions, she'll hardly be caring about your looks."

"Thanks, Kang."

"What?"

"Real nice, Kang. Why don't you just shut up for a change?"

"What'd I say?"

"Never mind... I'm j-j-just nervous, that's all."

"Well, you wouldn't be nervous unless you said yes, so I guess 'Bosch must be happy."

"Oh, he is. Giddy, in fact. He keeps going on ab-b-bout how pretty she is, how much he l-l-loves her. It's just a crush; he's never even m-m-met her, just seen her flying around. But it's nerve-wracking."

"So which one is she, anyway?"

"Yeah, I know just about everyone--"

"You do not, Kang."

"--or know someone who knows whoever I don't, so maybe I could find out about the rider. See what she's like, and all."

"She's from off-world. Ignis, or something. I don't even know her rider's n-n-name."

"Huh. Well, we'll look for you, Mouse."

"There's gotta be some time left, right?"

"A few days, m-m-maybe...."

"Well, we can find out something for you in a few days."

"Better get started, actually..."

"Kang, you d-d-d-don't have to--"

"But I want to! Come on, Icelyn, Sans, let's get down to some investigating!"

"Kang--"

"No buts, Icelyn, this'll be fun! Bye, Mouse! We'll come back for those drinks later!"

Heironymous Everand, "Mouse" to his friends, watched the three hurry off, Icelyn and Sans in Kang's tow and looking less than enthusiastic about the whole thing. He sighed and sat back in the booth he'd reserved for the four of them, rubbing at his eyes tiredly.

:Heironymous....:

He sighed again, mostly at his bond's sorrowful, penitent tone. He really could lay on the emotion, when he wanted to. :What, 'Bosch? he asked, trying not to sound as anxious and annoyed as he really was. He wasn't completely successful-- he had a very difficult time hiding things from, and blocking out, his dragon.

:I'm sorry....:

This time, his sigh was one of fond exasperation as the annoyance faded in the face of Zionibosch's sincere affection and apology. He never could stay mad at the cheerful dragon, just as the cheerful dragon could never really stay sad for all that long. Just why 'Bosch-- easily-amused, light-hearted, socialite Zionibosch-- had decided to bond with boring, shy, stuttering Heironymous was a mystery neither could really understand, but as it was, they loved each other despite their differences.

:It's all right, 'Bosch,: Heironymous assured the physically absent dragon, though his emotions of forgiveness had already found him and brought a brightening of mood immediately.

:Oh, good! Because I think this will be good for you, too, you know. Get you out of your shell. Shake you up. Get you to meet new people and experience new things. Introduce you to the wonders of females, the joys of--:

:All right, all right!: Heironymous hurried to interrupt, knowing just where his dragon's mind was headed. Though 'Bosch was a virgin, his bonded was not-- though it had been years and years since his single experience, and it had hardly been pleasant. In fact, it still embarrassed him to remember.

:All sorts of people get drunk and seduce their friends,: 'Bosch cheerfully interrupted. Heironymous flushed.

:Rumi usually didn't,: he countered, :and it wasn't as if she was very pleased with me for giving in to temptation when she came to in the morning with that rotten hangover.:

:That's not your fault,: 'Bosch protested.

:Enough. I don't want to talk about that, all right?:

:We're not talking, we're thinking!: 'Bosch observed with a mental grin.

:Whatever....:

:Just drink up, Heironymous,: 'Bosch suggested impishly, directing his bond's attention to the hardly-touched shot of old-fashioned whiskey sitting in front of him. There was entirely too much mischief in the dragon's mind, and it made Heironymous suspicious. His unvoiced query brought the terrifying response, :Because Ignis is about to rise.:

Swearing aloud-- with that dreadful stutter, too-- Heironymous nearly spilled the glass. 'Bosch was laughing giddily, insisting that he hurry, so he downed the shot in one gulp, scrambled to his feet, and made haste to-- wherever he was supposed to be.

:Cheer up, Heironymous!: was the last thing he heard before 'Bosch started focusing on the dragoness he'd "fallen" for as soon as he'd seen her. :This will be fun!: