[Wingrider] N'kin of Blue Koroth [Approved]

[Samuel Carlin]

Name: N'kin (Nalkin)
Age: 32
Nameday: 3544.06.22
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Weyr: Western Weyr
Rider Rank: Wingrider
Previous Rank/Craft: N/A
Physical Description: The man carries himself as though he's taller tan he is. Judging by the set of his shoulders and the length of his stride, he ought to be seven feet tall, not the inch or so over six foot he actually stands. He doesn't hesitate at all, there's no hitch in his stride, and it doesn't seem to phase him whether people glare or go glassy-eyed. He does tend to catch the eye though, by simple virtue of his presence, whether his looks appeal or not.

He is the sort of handsome that might start a ripple of whispering in a quiet room. He is square-jawed and sun-browned. Though he displays no visible scars above the collar, his nose has clearly been reshaped a time or two. Sandy brown hair has been bleached almost golden in places due to his time in the sun, some locks long enough to shadow eyes a startling shade of blue, but the rest cut close, just above the ear and to the nape of his neck. He smiles quite easily and for the most part makes it look friendly and sincere. There are moments, though, when he shows just a little too much
tooth and his upper lip curls instead of curving.

He is in excellent shape, not thick with muscle, but broad of both chest and shoulder and strong enough that he looks more than capable of handling himelf. His wardrobe doesn't vary much from the usual: well-worn brown leather pants and boots of the same material, clean but scuffed and worn. His shirt is very often white, though the color does sometimes vary. The cut, not so much; he prefers them loose on his frame, not binding or restrictive in any way. There is always a dagger sheathed at his right hip.

Personality: Some might call it arrogance and others self-confidence, but whatever the word, N'kin has it in spades. Outspoken and not at all shy about voicing his opinion, he's also outwardly unconcerned and unapologetic for any feelings he might hurt. If you don't like what he has to say, you're welcome to leave his company. He is quick-witted and sharp-tongued and he practices them both on his friends and enemies alike. He is proud, he is boastful, and not hesitant in the least to back up his threats with action.

He has, more-or-less, grown out of an overactive urge to start fights. Maturity, one supposes, has worn it out of him a bit. Perhaps it's security. Maybe it's his dragon's will. Whatever the reason, he's slower to be the first to take a swing than he used to be. When he does fight, particularly if it's a "friendly" brawl, he's also less inclined to fight dirty, which was his trademark once upon a time. No one should be fooled into thinking that the man can not be or is not dangerous, if pushed or taunted too far, but he's learned to control his whip-quick temper and knows better when and where too unleash, if it comes to that. In a simple disagreement, N'kin will let bygones be bygones once the moment's passed. If a grievance passes beyond a simple resolution, be warned that the man has a long memory and that he holds a grudge when he deems it warranted. He'll act on it, too. Maybe not right away but eventually, payback will come. N'kin may not be bright, but he is clever, resourceful and a schemer to boot. It make take weeks or months of planning, but he will find a way to make his rival pay.

He is a shameless flirt. N'kin can, and does, appreciate beauty in many forms. He can play the charmer if he thinks he'll get something out of it (and by something, he means more than a tumble in the furs). He knows how to flatter and he's not afraid to tease. He has gotten even less comfortable with anything resembling the romantic with other men than he was in his youth, however. In the case of a flight, rest assured that he will find a substitute for any man bonded to Koroth's catch. Outside of a flight, it is a forbidden topic. Joking or teasing might cost you a finger.

Those few people who get past his temper and quirks and get beneath the surface become his friends find him fiercely, unfailingly loyal to them. Though he cannot stomach the thought of coddling every person weaker than he is, occasionally he makes a project out of one of the softer-spoken people around. He challenges himself to be civil for an entire day, or to listen without complaint or bitter comment to stories told over supper.

And then there is the matter of his hidden heart. Flirting costs him nothing and a night shared together even less. True feeling, however, and the depths of real romance have always been a stumbling block for him. Despite Koroth's chivalrous leanings, N'kin is much more guarded with his honest heart. Peeling through the layers of solid defenses takes time and effort. Admitting to a tender feeling terrifies him, almost as much as the idea that someone might come to feel for him. It's a vulnerability he will never display accidentally and perhaps not at all.

Positive Trait List Loyal. Dependable. Charismatic.
Negative Trait List Hot-tempered. Arrogant. Scheming.

History: Nalkin was born in Zanoma Camp territory, to a bluerider with such an explosive temper he'd found life in Western Weyr hard to stomach, and a woman who lived a constant struggle to live up to the near-impossible task of keeping that man content. Needless to say, it was not an easy life.

Still, Nalkin made the best of it, pulling together a small group of friends. Well. A little band of rough-edged children, more to the point. Those who could be convinced, or bullied, into following rules he set for inclusion in their ragtag band. Those he accepted became a sort of second family to him. They were subected to his temper and the rough sort of kinshio he'd learned from his father, but also protected by his fierce loyalty and determination to see them thrive as much as possible on the plains.

When he was eighteen or thereabouts, a falling out between his father and the Camp council provided an opportunity he might not otherwise have had. N'dal was exiled from the camp temporarily and Nalkin took advantage, encouraging his mother to head for the safer and better for her climate of Western Weyr, There, she would find shelter and easier employment, working in the lower caverns. She made friends, she remembered how to smile and laugh, she stopped flinching at raised voices amd she was happy. The transition was harder for and on Nalkin, and many was the night he snuck away to rejoin his friends when they were close. He might disappear for days at a time, but he always went back to check on his mother, It was an unbreakable pact.

It was during one such return that he was corralled, more or less, by a watchrider of the Weyr who swore his dragon saw promise in the young man and more, vowed that if Nalkin would promise to stay in the Weyr and Stand for one of the clutches still hatching, he would personally see to it that his mother would always be safe.

Nalkin stayed. Not because of the promise. In spite of it. He did not trust Ar'len, the bluerider who swore to be his mother's champion. He stayed to keep his eye on the blue braggart, more than for any dream or hope that he might Impress.

Which meant, of course, that he was on the Sands when Koroth called his name and the two began their lifelong journey together.

He was not a perfect Candidate. He is not a flawless rider, but Western Weyr is their home.

Other: Anything else you want to add?

DRAGON
Name: Koroth
Age: 14
Color: Blue
Size: Average: 28'
Physical Description: Koroth is a handsome dragon, if you were wondering. Exceptionally welHe is leanly muscled and finely toned from all of the drills he flies, even when not on a duty rotation. This is one dragon who will never give in to the slight softness of age, should he reach any sort of seniority. He simply won't allow it of himself. He is the color of a twilight sky, his wings spattered with lighter spots of color that make them seem almost star-spangled. His underbelly and throat are lighter still, making him somewhat difficult to track from the ground when he flies against a clear sky.

Personality: Koroth, first and foremost, is a gentleman. There is no female dragon, be she the dark green of old forests or the radiant gold of the a sun itself, that is beneath his notice. He appreciates, admires and respects them all. If they have need of him, he is theirs to command. If they seek company he will provide it and if they need comfort, his wings are wide and strong and welcoming. He is a dedicated destroyer of Thread and absolutely One Of The Boys when it comes to his wingmates. Yes, of course, he expects them to perform well, but he understands if they don't do *quite* as well as he does himself. It's to be expected of those who are less than Perfect. It's not their fault. It's just the way of things. If they follow in his flight path, they might even learn a thing or two.

Dragon Art or Proof of Obtainment: Koroth  

[Samuel Carlin]

Bumping to make him visible.