Name: R'yat (formerly Riyat)
Age: 23
Nameday: 3552.12.27
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: ...yes? (pan)
Weyr: Western Weyr
Rider Rank: Wingrider
Previous Rank/Craft: Courtesan-trained dancer
Physical Description: At 6'3", R'yat has a dancer's build, long and lean with a naturally casual grace to his movements even when he's just walking. Blue-black, sleek and straight, R'yat's hair is thick and long, down to his butt. He wears it parted on the right side with heavy shaggy chin-length fringe hanging halfway in his face. When he's dancing, he ties it back in a long tail or braid and/or pins it all up. His face is spade-shaped with a fairly strong chin and jawline, a strong nose and a full-lipped mouth that has a natural tendency toward pouting. He has deep green eyes, almond-shaped and narrow, with thick dark lashes and moderate brows. His skin is fair to medium with olive undertones, and his ears have multiple piercings. R'yat was scored badly during the return of Thread; his right calf got fairly chewed up and bears a dreadful scar. He's overcome the damage and walks perfectly normally, but can no longer do a number of dance moves he used to be able to.
R'yat enjoys dressing to impress, a skill he learned at the Courtesan Hall. Everything he wears is close-fitting, with a fondness for rich, dark jewel tones or white. He always looks sharp, even when he's doing chores. Boots extending at least to his knees are his preferred footwear, both to hide and support his damaged right calf.
Personality: Anyone who has been sucked in by the cyclone-on-two-legs that is R'yat will tell you that he's a good person to have at your back, even if he does often come off a raging a*****e. Volatile and unpredictable, he's not afraid of a physical confrontation, and while he generally doesn't throw the first punch, he'll make sure he throws the last. Dance is actually the best outlet for his volatility, and much healthier than beating people up or mouthing off at them. He still dances for people on a regular basis, even though there are some dances he can no longer perform to his satisfaction because of his Thread injury.
While he won't back down from a physical fight, R'yat's preferred weapons are his smart mouth and sharp tongue. He never ever backs down from an argument, and lives to engage in a battle of words, often playing deliberate contrarian in heated debates with his wingmates just for the sake of arguing. He has a direct brain-to-mouth connection and no governor on his tongue, and will speak his mind even if it hurts people he cares about. He would rather be honest with you than have you believing a falsehood.
He's not a complete tunnelsnake, though. If you are his friend (and yes, he does have friends), he will defend you to the ends of Pern, no matter what the reason, even if you are in the wrong. R'yat loves Western Weyr with all his heart and would do anything to protect his fellow Weyrfolk. He's a devoted dragonrider and wants nothing more than to destroy Thread, like it nearly destroyed him. He will protect and defend anyone in danger, especially during Threadfall, putting himself on the line to do so. The risk to his own safety is worth it.
R'yat is a clever man and fairly intelligent. He enjoys being challenged, and will often go about deliberately doing something the hard way because it's more of a challenge that way. He throws himself at life and dance with a fierce, determined abandon. Once he is challenged with something he wants to achieve, he goes after it with astonishing single-mindedness. He is the absolute best at what he does. Just ask him. Self-confident and egocentric, he is possessed of a sense of self-worth as big as all outdoors. R'yat's competitive nature reflects most strongly in his dance. He attacks all forms of dance with the same fierceness as he attacks everything else, and this gives a wild passion and power to his performances
Positive Trait List clever, protective, devoted, dedicated to fighting Thread, honest
Negative Trait List mercurial, volatile, sharp-tongued, arrogant, risk taker
History:
Riyat was a foundling, taken in as an infant by one of the members of Courtesan Hall in Western Hold. It's unknown who his parents were. He was raised in the Hall by whomever had the time and desire to care for him, usually the staff, but sometimes one of the residents of the Hall. Luckily he was a little charmer, so he had a lot of willing aunties and uncles to take care of him. He learned dance at an early age, and loved to perform for the members of the Hall, who thought he was just the most delightful little thing. Encouraged, young Riyat learned all styles of dance, from pure classical interpretive dance to partner dances to seductive solo dance. At 14 he officially became an apprentice of the Hall and began performing publically with them, proving to be a star attraction at feasts and Gathers as well as during more private performances.
The return of Thread virtually destroyed his dreams of becoming a Master Courtesan. Caught outside, he got badly scored on his right calf and was nearly crippled. He quickly forced himself to walk again, but there were some dance moves he was no longer capable of doing, and it broke his heart and made him seethingly angry at Thread for ruining his life.
Shortly after that first Threadfall, a rider from Western Weyr came through on Search. Riyat found himself Searched by the rider's dragon, and had a difficult choice to make: stay at the Courtesan Hall, or go to the Weyr and learn to become a dragonrider? Ultimately it was his hatred of what Thread did to him that spurred him to accept the invitation to the Weyr. It didn't take long either, as he Impressed bronze Odunith his second try on the sands. R'yat immediately threw himself into his studies, proving to be an apt (if temperamental) Weyrling. He has since proven himself an apt (if temperamental) dragonrider who pursues Thread with a fury and hatred only a few can relate to.
Other: He has a little gold flit named Precious, hatched from an egg given to him by one of the residents of the Courtesan Hall. A clever girl, she often performs with him while he dances, doing acrobatics in the air around him.
Proof of flit ownership:
DRAGON
Name: Odunith
Age: 3
Color: Bronze
Size: 41'
Physical Description: An elegant, handsome beast of average size, built long and slender with heavy, powerful wings. His hide is a rich deep bronze that glitters along the trailing edges of his wings..
Personality: Vanity, thy name is Odunith! This dragon is as convinced of his own awesomeness as his rider is. He feels he is the most handsome bronze ever shelled and is meticulous about keeping his hide well-oiled and clean, the better to show off his elegant build and glittering hide. For all he's a vain creature, Odunith adores his wingmates, as well as his clutchmates, especially his brother brown Teth, whom he feels a particularly fierce protectiveness toward. He is just as confident in the air fighting Thread, and while he doesn't have the tight turning radius of some of the smaller dragons, he is still pretty quick on the wing, with long powerful wing strokes and a massive flame. This bronze is fierce in general, not just fighting Thread; during gold flights (and he only pursues golds -- they're the only ones worthy of his awesomeness) he gives no quarter to his competition, occasionally snarling at them or cutting them off during the pursuit. He's determined to win one day!
Odunith adores His and believes that R'yat is the most amazing talented dragonrider that ever lived. It was R'yat's boldness and belief in himself that drew him to the man, as well as his hatred of Thread. His love and belief help temper some of R'yat's worst tendencies and keep the man's volatility in check. He also brings out the best in his rider, the confidence and cleverness and devotion to his wingmates. The dragon's love is returned in equal measure by R'yat.
Dragon Art or Proof of Obtainment:
