Cerdith's Inspiration

Reiko's Borrowed Talent Blue Cerdith


*Clutching Message*

Let's play! The next egg rattles out to land on its point, pirouetting gently as it settles into place. However, Cadgwith's attention span and effort are growing smaller and she finds more distraction in the gadgetry and gizmos of the egg which follows.

*Remote-Controlled Everything Egg*

Zip! Snap! Sizzling crimson swings up one side and down the other, sweeping along in convenient little lines, laziness licking up along the tinge of shadowy shades lingering at the bottom of the egg. Splotches of smokey gray make themselves apparent, rectangular shapes that want to make everything so simple and efficient. Streamlined plum gives the zest needed to make it an oh-so-appealing package, ready to be operated by a time-saving consumer.

*Hatching Message*

Remote-Controlled Everything Egg wiggles just a bit then waits patiently, a hairline fissure appearing with a sharp click. Then with a muted bump and an impulsive wriggle, miniature cracks begin to materialize along the little crimson lines etched into this smokey grey egg, the smooth surface taking on an increasingly grooved pattern as if the dragon inside has tired of the same boring diversions and wants out, wants something new! Suddenly it seems he can no longer tolerate that dark monotony of within, shattering that coldly efficient shell to reveal himself to the world.

*Borrowed Talent Dragonet*

Vibrant versatility trumpets its fanfare of sapphire and aquamarine to herald this dragon: a wiry grace made flesh with the lithe, efficient lines of a dancer. Brighter blue illuminates the well-formed headknobs: a spotlight for the scherzo of aqua that tumbles the length of his slender neck and back and masques his wedge-shaped head. Turquoise elegance plucks the cobalt that strings his glassy 'sails and echoes darker in the strokes of midnight that chime along graceful spars and talon tips. His starlit tail is no curtain call, however, but an encore that continues life's dance.

*Public Impression Message*

Borrowed Talent Dragonet is nearly desperate at this point, for the show must go on! Methodic twitching of starlit tail increases to a lively tempo, whirling facetted eyes scanning that eager crowd for the talent vital to complete his act. He suddenly skids to a halt, head whipping around to peer back towards the other end. Body pirouettes, inky talons gliding over the sand as he drifts closer... closer... until twirling gold-rimmed sapphire gaze meets that of tilted emerald. He takes a step, dipping down a bit as if bowing before his lady of choice. Will she accept his proposal to dance?

*Private Impression Message*

>> The subtle music of your life starts humming through your head as a still small presence makes itself known. As the volume and intensity of the notes gain momentum, the presence takes form and begins to surround your thoughts in a twirling dance of light. Suddenly as the arpeggios reach their peak, your mind explodes with the brilliant flash of a supernova, and when the peak of the concerto subsides, there is only warmth, love, and belonging. Then a tingle of energy, as if hovering on the point of laughter, enters your mind for the first time and announces calmly << I am Cerdith. >> and you know that you are his. <<




A modified version of the poem "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
(also put to music by the late John Denver)

"Oh! we have slipped the surly bonds of Pern
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward we've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, -- and done a hundred things
They have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
We've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
Our eager selves through footless halls of air . . . .

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
We've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never flit, or even wherry flew --
And then with silent, lifting minds we've flown
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
To discover dreams only you and I have known."




*Egg Inspiration*

It was easy enough to understand the logic in having remote controls for televisions, for VCRs, for stereos. Most electronics like that only became more convenient with the helpful new toy. But when remote controlled toasters, blenders, and doorstops seemed to pop suddenly into existence, things got very, very weird. The Remote-Controlled Everything Egg is based on the strange things that corporations try to make more convenient, and the thought of why anyone could /possibly/ need a remote control for their automatic-heating socks. Even this egg is remote-controlled in a way, with someone hatching it with the touch of a button and sending the dragonet your way with a few keystrokes. Creepy, huh?




*Name Inspiration*

Cerdith was taken from the Welsh word /Cerdd/ which literally stands for "art" but has come to signify all sorts of musical and poetic arts and other such written works. If you wanted to pronounce it following the Welsh it would be along the lines of 'Ker-dith, though I think a more common perception would be 'Ser-dith. But again, this is completely up to you.

Cerdith won't just be making music, he'll be living it, composing a devoted duet with his one and only. You! Not only that, but this lifetime of "art" will be whatever the two of you make of it, starting at that first gooey moment when a bright-hued mess decided to claim you for his own.




*Description Inspiration*

Which brings us to the theme of Cerdith's description which isn't too hard to figure out I hope! Music is not just notes on a page, it is a language. People can learn through music, express themselves through music, and let us not forget, enjoy themselves through music! What better foundation for a lifemate! Someone who is not afraid to dance in public, sing the praises of his rider, compose little morsels of poetry and song at just the right moment. The one who always knows just the right tune to hum to help you sleep, a lively beat to get your feet in motion. And let us not forget those wooer's ballads just waiting to be invented.




*Physicality Inspiration*

Physically, Cerdith is very much a performer with the lean, wiry body of a professional dancer. Not only can he use every part of his body, but use it precisely and efficiently whether it is a quick pirouette on his couch or twirling through the air. But of course even these things take practice. If your lifemate has a few awkward moments, just remember that he has to earn his wings. The rest will come with time, and does he ever have the energy to see it through. You just might need to remind him from time to time that sleeping can be a very good idea for him as well as you.

When Cerdith is fully grown he'll be almost as graceful on the ground as he is in the air, a bit uncommon for a dragon. He will possess that smooth, unconscious sensuality that comes from one who is used to having people watch, and not only does he not mind one bit, but at times rather enjoys it. Like the male model walking the catwalk, let them admire, for there is much worth seeing. He isn't arrogant about this really, he just knows it for fact and accepts it. However, this does not come without its disadvantages. That wee bit of an extrovert in him will sometimes push him a step too far. The central bowl may be a good place to woo his women, but sometimes he might just forget the mud that morning's rains produced. << Ah... my dear Issryuith. As I saw you from across the bowl the sun flared behind you, an almost divine light >> SLIP! Splash! << Oof! A divine light that seemed to call me to you, calling us towards the heavens to da- >> near sliding tumble to the ground << dance... oh... forget it. >>

Now as for proportions, Cerdith may appear at first glance to be a bit on the slender side, but that is pure, wiry strength, his wings and hindquarters more than capable of propelling him into the air as if it is merely the preamble to his airborne dance. He may not be as long as some of the other blues, and his wingspan may not be quite as wide, but all the better to execute those aerial maneuvers he fancies. << Let us see if they can do... /this/! >>

This brilliance in the air is only accentuated all the more by that dazzling hide of his, an underlying deep, crystal blue of the ocean deep, swathed in flashes of turquoise and silver to produce an effect that glitters almost metallically when well-oiled. Even when he remains in the background and simply watches from the shadows his hide could almost be called glowing, like the embers of a fire just waiting for that breath of air, that touch of light to make it blaze once more.




*Mindvoice Inspiration*

His mindvoice touches you like the cool side of a pillow on a warm summer night, refreshing, comforting, calling to you and sometimes even lulling you softly. It tingles with energy as if on the point of laughter, filled with the mirth of an ultimate optimist who can find something joyful or amusing in just about any situation, fragrant with a light hint of that first green, flowery scent of spring, promising sunny days ahead.

As for the actual tone of voice, I envision... Jude Law. It would be like that suave timbre just above a baritone but not quite tenor. It can be quite soft and mellow and yet more than capable of an authoritative quality. And I'll admit, the reason for this is most likely due to the movie /A.I./. I just kept coming back to that character and thinking, "That's perfect!" But my vision of Cerdith and yours might be quite different, so please, by all means feel free to change this.




*Personality and Mentality Inspiration*

"Drops of Jupiter" by the band Train

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there's time to grow, hey, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as plain ol' Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance, five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there


The song above just seemed to personify the relationship between you and Cerdith. He would see you as this amazing being who is just out there, chasing down the stars and just generally living her life... And yet, he hopes, or perhaps even knows, that there is just one thing missing. Him.

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken,
your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong. Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance, five-hour phone conversation,
the best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

There are no two ways about it. Cerdith adores you. Even those small things that may rub him the wrong way at times will just make you all that more precious in his eyes. Not that he would stop from mentioning the things that bug him sometimes, but hey, you two are partners, you can take it, right? Or at least, he'll believe you can. After all you are his rider; that one person he wants to live for, work for, play with and yes, even protect. That tough exterior may fool some, but he knows your thoughts, your dreams, and your fears. You are his and he is yours and for Cerdith that makes life complete.

Oh! we have slipped the surly bonds of Pern and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; sunward we've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things they have not dreamed of.

How he longs to share his dreams with you! To climb those heights only the two of you can, to see the things no one else sees, to dance along moonbeams and chase down sunny crystalline clouds that will never again be the same. And in return he simply wants to learn what it is you need. He wants to be there for you when you just need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen who won't feel the need to tell you what you should or should not do. And sometimes he /will/ be that person to tell you what you really should be doing. << Now Reiko, I am sure it feels good to sleep in like that, but if we are late for practice you just know Lyri will have us doing extra chores, and then we will have to skip our trip to the meadows. >>

It is this pure practicality with a dash of spontaneity that makes him want to suddenly leap into the air and kick his heels, to engage you in this lifelong dance called life. And do not be surprised if he does try to talk you into a dance from time to time, if /mostly/ (but not always) in the privacy of your own weyr. He knows full well that pent-up emotions can lead to trouble, so dance them away! He may even provide a tune from time to time, one he picked up from listening to the Harpers in the central bowl, or a bit of a bawdy melody he caught one of the passing Bakers singing, or better yet, one he made up just for you.

He might just try to get his clutchmates dancing as well, for that matter. Not that the one-person shows scare him, he'd just rather borrow a little bit of talent from everyone! Group effort is a good thing in his opinion whether it's just you and him or the whole wing. And he wouldn't really be teaching them one of his dances, but encouraging them to find their own, then maybe taking that inborn artist's ability of his and trying to combine all their dances into one. He would be the one trying to bolster the others during those grueling practices, offering support through success as well as failure and reminding his riders and clutchmates of their worth, especially when emotions grow tight as they sometimes do. << Reiko, /everyone/ is important. >> He might even be the one driving the others towards their goal. << Zylpheth, in order for the formation to work we must all /cooperate/. Ayamizureth, charging ahead like that will only leave your tail unprotected. >>




*Flight Inspiration*

Ah, the chase. Those brief periods of time when it's all you can do to hold on to a small part of yourself as Cerdith's mind almost consumes your own. When those greens take to the skies it will be a brand new opportunity to show them how to dance those silver lines of clouds, a challenge for him to see if those moves he thought of last time are really sly enough to slip past this green's detection or extravagant enough to win that one's heart... for one flight at least.

Unlike some dragons, however, if he doesn't happen to succeed with that last flight he'll be far from gloomy about it. To him it's just a sign that he needs to find some other method, some other element to add to that fundamental match of wits and prowess. When out on sweeps at times he may suddenly feel inspired to try a new move that would leave even the heartiest of riders a bit green around the edges. But with a quick reminder, I'm sure he'll remember to warn you the next couple times. Perhaps. And if you were to ask him why in Faranth's name he just did that, he'll more than likely respond quite simply, << It is what I do. >>




Credits:
Egg desc: Lylia
Name: G'deon; Tyara-tweak
Dragonet desc: G'deon, Saoirse-tweak
Messages: G'deon
Puppeteer: G'deon
Inspiration: Tyara, Tatia, and G'deon

Reiko's Blue Cerdith
Harper's Tale: 30th PC Clutch
High Reaches Weyr
Pyrene's gold Cadgwith and Z'in's bronze Orbyth
July 29, 2001

Clutchmates:
Hiza (Hiliza) and green Issryuith
Loe (Loren) and green Ayamizureth
Lorsalia and green Yajisarath
Chelle (Mechelle) and blue Rhajath
Cris (Cristen) and blue Qelketh
Kh'ryn (Khory) and blue Zylpheth
Rianne (Marianne) and blue Kearneth
Khena (Kinecha) and brown Mneoth
K'nex (Kezenex) and brown Shirasuth
Pae (Phea) and brown Uzasnyth
Sua (Surupa) and brown Skeseth
T'am (Tamber) and bronze Farleth
X'ner (Xaner) and bronze Nezdarvyth

Back to Home Page