Vyly had left the clutch in Aedelian's care for an hour or so while she took a flight, a duty he most certainly did not mind. Curled around the fourteen eggs as best as he could, he listened contentedly to the lazy mental murmurs, dreams, and occasional actual-formed thought from the growing dragonets within them. He could, he thought, stay there for hours just listening in, marveling at how so many could have come from him and Vyly, and at how different they all were in their own ways, even so young.

That didn't mean, however, he wouldn't notice another mind approaching-- a mind that was thinking along the same lines his had been: about his children. In a manner of speaking, anyway, for this stranger was not thinking in a fatherly-- or motherly, given she was female-- manner, but in what Aedelian had come to recognize as "candidate-manner". A potential bonder was coming, it seemed. Since he could sense no malice in her, he dropped the wards that would have blocked the doors when she reached them, so they slid open when the motion sensor traced her movement, revealing the wide, softly-lined hatching bay, bronzed yellow Avengaean, and impressive clutch of fourteen.

"Welcome!" he called cheerfully. "Come on in!"

The poor young woman-- well, "young"... her mind had seen quite a few years-- looked quite flustered as she peered at him through a pair of reading glasses. At least, he assumed they were reading glasses, because she slipped them off and into a pocket as she did as invited and came in. "Err, um. Hello," she began, a bit awkwardly. Wasn't she just the sweetest thing, bewildered and even a little confused! He supposed most male dragons she knew of didn't care much about their offspring, certainly not while in the egg. "This is hatching bay two, yes?"

"It is indeed," he answered, smiling gently, without even showing a lot of teeth. Most humans took a typical Avengaean dragon's smile as threatening, so he'd learned how to tone it down to something less startling. "I assume you're looking for Vyly's clutch, then. I'm Aedelian, the father."

The young woman smirked just faintly, recognizing his "smile" for what it was and slipping up a notch in his estimation: she was familiar with dragons. Deciding it wouldn't work well to shake hands-- though he supposed if she really wanted to, he could just shift down to be of a size with her, but he thought that might startle the poor thing even more-- she bowed slightly, saying, "Oh, nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure," he answered, meaning it. As much as he loved his offspring, they were very easy to care for while in the egg. Once they hatched, he was well aware he'd never be able to keep track of them all! So, candidates-- well-meaning, responsible ones-- were a very welcome thing!

"The minister said you wanted to, eh, screen all possible... candidates for your children," she continued, flushing faintly. Aedelian followed her thoughts easily, and wasn't sure whether to be amused or to feel sorry for her. She'd been a candidate before, and doing it again made her feel ridiculous; she wanted to berate someone named Faith-- he got a flash of image, a white dragoness-- for putting her up to this. He somehow managed the good-natured pity alongside the even more good-natured amusement as she added, "I hope I'm not... disturbing you. I really don't mean to be a bother."

"Oh, of course you're not being a bother," he assured her, flipping his finned tail gently. "I do rather like company, and I like potential candidates even more. The thought of trying to raise fourteen precocious youngsters makes my head spin!" He chuckled lightly. "As for screening, I just want to make sure they're going off with responsible people, that's all. And get them acquainted with you and the rest, so they can think on who to pick, when the time comes. Come, come, no need to be so far away. Come see. What's your name?"

Obediently, thoughts full and deep-- he liked that-- and about previous dragon parents and children she knew from the past, she came closer. "Usually people call me Lani, there's not really any need for anything more formal." Only that wasn't her name-- it was what she thought of as her name, she she had another, an "original name". Oh, but this young woman was complex! He liked that, too. It at least made her interesting. He'd have to ask the minister Siche about this "original name" later.

"Well, if we're going for informal, please call me Aedel, or even Del, if you like," he told her. "What brings you to want to be a candidate, Lani?"

Aedelian waited patiently while she thought about that question. She'd been bonded before, and now waffled over whether she wanted that feeling again. Loneliness versus responsibility, a partner versus a liability. She told herself that she wanted it, she told herself that she didn't, but at least she thought about it. One or two candidates had come seeking his children without a thought in their heads for the consequences; those he had sent away without having to even think about it, himself. When her answer was, "Well, I... can't say that I rightfully know," he nodded simply. That was a good enough answer for him.

"Well, you've got time to think about it," he promised. "There's still a good month or two on these younglings, before they're ready to even think about breaking shell."

::Hey, I can think about it all I want!:: he heard from one.

::But you can't do it yet,:: he answered casually.

::Can so!::

::Oh, really? Please, give it a try. I dare you.::

With a moment of intense concentration and even more intense effort on the part of the hatchling, its egg twitched, but then it sighed mentally and gave up. Aedelian chuckled and gave it a stroke with one finger. "Why don't you come introduce yourself?" he suggested to Lani. "Just come touch them, they'll hear your mind there-- or not, I suppose, if they don't want to," he added with amusement at a stubborn negative from another one.

She hesitated-- trying not to laugh; apparently she'd picked up the little "conversation", a receptive mind to such things. He was tempted to point out that he did, indeed, know how to guard his sendings-- he just had no reason to, at the moment!-- though his offspring weren't old enough to be that skilled, yet. However, he figured that would probably not be wise; people tended to be annoyed when they found out he snooped around in unguarded thoughts, and he didn't want to ruin this perfectly lovely conversation.

Aedelian might have been patient, ready to let Lani approach the eggs in her own time, but the hatchlings, it seemed, were not. ::Is she just gonna stand there?:: one grumped.

::Hush, be polite,:: he scolded gently, and added privately-- because he could! hmph-- ::In her own time, child. Give her a moment.:: He received only a huffy little sigh in response, but at least the young one didn't say any more.

At least the young woman took it well. Hiding a smile, she came closer at last, glancing up at him before looking back down at the nearest egg-- not the ones who had spoken, so far, but a quieter one, who exuded a faint curiosity at the presence of a stranger near it. Still she hesitated, remembering other clutches in another place, where she'd never touched eggs before. "Take your time," Aedelian said reassuringly, then asked, in an attempt to half-distract and half-reassure, "What brought you to my family, in particular? Any reason?"

Again she paused to think, only briefly, but enough for him to get a sense of her thought process. A dragon had told her, that same white one from before-- Faith. Who, he realized, had been bonded to her before! How interesting! "Someone told me they thought it would be the best option," I think, she said and thought, carefully. Apparently she didn't understand the dragon's reasoning; Aedelian didn't, either, but he just dismissed them. They had to be sound, or at least they arrived at a sound conclusion, for he was more than willing to let her offer her mind to his children.

"Well," he chuckled, "I'm glad they did. --You know, they don't bite," he added, amused. "Not yet, anyway."

::Aw, we won't bite later, either!::

:: ... Much.::

Lani finally gave in and crouched, resting her palm on the top of the nearest egg. At her shy, ::Hello,:: the youngling inside gave a small jump of surprise, and an equally shy, ::...Hello,:: in return.

::Pardon me if I don't say a lot... I... don't do this much,:: the young woman answered after a moment of confusion as to what to do.

:: ... Neither do I,:: the hatchling admitted, then lapsed silent again. Aedelian recognized a "listening" mode, and suggested quietly, "Why not just keep your mind open? The point is just for them to get familiar with you, so no one will be entering this blind when the hatching comes. I can't imagine there's much need to talk, unless they decide to be chatty."

::Like me!:: another egg piped up cheerfully.

::Yes, dear one, like you.::

She nodded slowly, and anxiously, reluctantly, took down what barriers she did have up. The dragonets all-- or mostly, anyway-- perked up curiously, though Aedelian doubted Lani would notice them looking over her surface thoughts; she hadn't noticed him doing it, after all. "Sorry," she told him with a somewhat sheepish smile, "I... haven't done things like this very often."

"To be honest, neither have I," Aedelian admitted. "My kind only raise one or two hatchlings at a time, and I've only done that once, a very long time ago. This is my first time dealing with any more than that. If it makes you feel any better, I do have wards up around the bay. No one can get at your thoughts except the hatchlings and myself."

"Magical wards," Lani murmured, eyes glazing a moment as she thought of that. "I suppose they not only prevent entrance to the room by normal means, but by teleportation or any other self-telekinesis as well?" That her first thought was a question made Aedelian beam, pleased beyond measure.

"They do, indeed," he answered-- but felt obligated to admit, "unless by a mage more powerful than I am. I'm primarily a psionic, not a mage, but all Avengaeans have some ability with magic."

"More powerful mage...." As she mulled on that, another question came to mind: "Pardon me if I seem a bit nosey, but do female Avengaeans lay eggs like most other dragons, or do they give live birth?"

More questions! Oh, he liked this one, she would certainly be a good choice for one of his children. "It depends on the breed. Airs-- like me-- lay eggs, even though we are technically mammals. Fires, Waters, and Lights bear live young, and Earths-- well, they're just strange. They can actually lay seeds, instead of eggs, if they don't want to be inconvenienced by birthing." He chuckled at that, shaking his head. Such odd creatures, Earth dragons.

He let her mutter a moment as she thought on that, listening to her thoughts and those of his children: some had lost interest already, others were still trained on her curiously, and one was even trying, clumsily, to sift into her memories. ::Stop that,:: he scolded privately. ::She'll notice you.:: Obediently, that youngling stopped, but it pouted, too. He gave that particular egg a nuzzle in apology, rolling it over so that one of the heating tubes warmed its other side.

"Avengaeans are such interesting draconians, I must say," Lani finally said. "So few actual variants in a much smaller world, but just as many quirks and differences as in the whole realm of Fantasa." One long ear perked curiously: another realm? He wondered briefly if he could convince Vyly to explore it with him.... "I think I'll have to visit there sometime," Lani finished.

"I'm sure you'd be welcome to," he assured her. "I certainly wouldn't mind showing you and one of my younglings around my own home. They could meet their, heh, sister." Who was a good hundred and twenty years older than all of them... amusing.

He nearly said more, but he sensed a familiar presence turning her attention back to him and her eggs. "Aha, I do believe Vyly is on her way back-- oh dear," he said, taking a closer look, "and she's in a bit of a snit. You might want to come back another time."

"I really wish we could continue talking longer, though I wouldn't want to upset a brooding mother. They can be touchy, so I suppose I'll be on my way," she looked up at Aedel and gave him a warm smile. "It was really nice meeting you, and talking to you. I expect I'll be back again sometime or maybe see you around the station somewhere."

"I expect we will," he agreed with a smile of his own. "And I'll definitely be letting you know when they're ready to hatch." Meaning: she'd passed his "screening", as it were. "I'll look forward to seeing you again, my dear."

"And I, you," she answered, giving him a smile in thanks and farewell, then made haste for the doors, which slid shut behind her. The unborn hatchlings gave a corporate sigh of disappointment as their current object of interest disappeared down the hallway. Aedelian knew what was coming next, after already meeting with several candidates. 

::And let the bickering ensue,:: he intoned solemnly to them. They just answered him with laughs.

Chapter Seven

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