Daynoren arrived precisely on time for the second bonding meeting, dressed in stark black which only accentuated the shine of his hair, flowing in a perfect wave down his back, and the color of his eyes, alert and bright. From the confident smile on his face, no one would have guessed that he came here with with mixed feelings. Very mixed feelings.

He'd been able to ignore the presence of his father and brother the night before during the meeting, though afterwards was awkward, with Darkil acting like he already had a bond in the making with Novitas, and Catame so cheerful it was almost annoying. Almost, because he could never actually be annoyed with Catame-- but if it had been anyone else, he would have said something quite unfriendly, and more than once. Catame, too, was certain that his brother's bondless days would be over soon. Even Tantra kept favoring him with shy smiles. It was enough to make anyone wish to be left alone with their own thoughts, let alone Daynoren, with all the thoughts he'd been left with after Novitas left him without so much as a good-bye, let alone a smile.

Now, faced with the dragonets again, he felt doubly stressed, because Darkil and Catame were both so certain, expecting him to bond the first half-breed to make that choice so far-- but he wasn't at all confident that Novitas was interested in bonding. Everyone he knew assumed she was there on her father's wishes, and once she passed her third bonding without making a choice, she'd be gone before anyone could blink. How she'd closed up on him so readily last night didn't make him feel any better about his chances.

On the other hand, he liked Novitas. She had a quick wit, a clever mind, and powerful enough magic to perhaps teach him a thing or two, though he expected he could do the same, given how impressed she'd been by Catame's healing. They could be equals, partners, even friends-- and even if she didn't want to bond, perhaps they still could be. Besides, he hadn't found anyone else he would so much as consider, this time around.

So while he struggled to accept that she probably wouldn't be interested in bonding, Daynoren still scanned the crowd of approaching dragons for the familiar blue-and-brown halfling's sullen face. He found it quickly enough, for Novitas was actually approaching him. She did, indeed, look sullen again-- but he really hadn't expected her not to. Hoped, maybe, but not expected. Ciano trailed in her wake, like the protective fellow he usually was, but he wasn't as focused on his protected as he was wont to be, instead looking around the room.

"Hey," she said by way of greeting, but as he was only just drawing breath to answer, she barreled on: "I talked to my tutor, he said he'd take you if you can take a crash-course in beginning magics with him and pass it in a week or so."

Daynoren blinked lightly, then inclined his head with a gracious smile. "I'm sure I'll be up to the challenge," he answered loftily. She made a face at his obvious airs, and he smiled with the kind of poisoned sweetness he'd given her the very first time he'd met her-- and she actually snickered.

"You'd better be," she countered with a sniff, her eyes glinting with acidic pleasure for, he assumed, the bantering, "because we'll be expecting you to be showing off some of that amazingly spectacular human magic of yours."

"Oh, of course, of course," Daynoren said flippantly, waving one hand as if in dismissal. "I'm sure I'll be able to dazzle all you advanced-sorts with my ability." Her answer was a snort that could have been a laugh, smothered for both of their sakes.

"I bet we'll cast circles around you," she taunted.

"Oh, do you, now!"

Eventually the teasing settled down into an engaging discussion of magic and how some of the more complex spells Daynoren hadn't been exposed to worked-- such as that spell for wings Novitas had shown off the night before. Though he'd been tempted to try some of it, Novitas had reluctantly given him the same warning she and the other dragonets had been given: no magic in the meeting room. Apparently one of the candidates was sensitive to it. Or something. Daynoren hadn't bothered to conceal his disappointment, and was pleased to realize that she shared it. At least they had love of magic in common. Neither one noticed when Ciano wandered off to hold his own conversation with someone else.

It felt like no time at all had gone by when Aloia's voice reminded them all that little dragons had bedtimes-- or at least times when they were supposed to leave the bonding potentials alone and supposed to go to bed. Given the energy level of the kits in the room, Daynoren doubted they'd actually be doing that, or if they were, they certainly weren't going to sleep.

Novitas snorted lightly at Aloia's interrupting voice, going sour again. This time, Daynoren figured it didn't have to do with him; she just got sour when she had to do something she didn't like. When not worried that she was sour towards him, he found it rather amusing-- but he knew her well enough to know not to chuckle at her, or then she would be sour towards him.

"Guess I've gotta go," the halfbreed grumped. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, fair lady," he responded, rising from where he'd sat to be closer to her level and proceeding to bow with a flourish. She snorted again, but didn't seem offended-- that little smirk she tried to hide might even have been pleased. She turned and trotted off with the rest of the kits, and this time Daynoren figured that even if he hadn't won himself a bond, he'd at least made a friend-- and that, right now, seemed good enough for him.