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 Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:51 pm
"You haven't been a terrible friend. You were the one trying to help beforehand, remember?" She speared a piece of roast tuber with her fork, letting them eat for a moment before everything got cold. This was an awkward conversation for them and Cetalese didn't like it. "You don't feel guilty that you didn't win, do you?" She met his gaze as she mixed up the small salad on her plate. "I know, Plexith, but... you were worried when I was. Before." She didn't have to elaborate on it more than that. "I'm sorry we had that conversation. I don't want you to feel like you let me down or were unable to save me from the Flight or... well, something silly. It was fine, D'lin. Now that I know what to expect it doesn't bother me anymore. I don't want--" Ceta frowned and then pulled her hair behind her ear to distract from it as her face smoothed out. She wanted to reflect confidence, not doubt. "You're always trying to save people. I don't want you to think of losing the Flight as letting me down, or think of winning just as a way to save me."
There. Less than elegant, but she hadn't let herself settle her thoughts first either, which always meant she was a bit less coherent than when she did.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:09 pm
D'lin smiled slightly to let her know he appreciated her attempt to make him feel better about avoiding her but the truth of the matter was that he had been a terrible friend - he'd been all worried about how she would react and then disappeared afterwards rather then making sure she'd been alright..well that wasn't entirely true, he hadn't gone to talk with her sure but he had kept an eye on her and he liked to think he knew Ceta well enough to have known if she'd been in trouble. Of course he'd also kept an eye on that M'lan fellow too...just to make sure the guy wasn't going around bragging or anything. He hadn't been..or if he was he was smart enough to keep it to close friends and out of D'lin's hearing.
"I'm not, sorry that is...sure it was awkward but I couldn't stand the thought of watching you grow ever more worried until it happened without saying something. I didn't want you to be afraid and I'm glad someone..nice?" He looked at her questioningly as though to make sure that his idea of the guy was right. "Won." Which wasn't to say that he hadn't been disappointed for not winning himself though he tried awful hard to keep that jealousy from his voice. It was hard to say how successful he was in that however. "I don't think I'm nearly as noble as your are making me sound" He added with a slight laugh "I don't try to save everyone..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:23 pm
"And I think you're too modest," Ceta teased back with a small smile of her own. "You at least save those you know and I don't want you to view me as a woman in distress that you need to protect." That wasn't exactly what she meant, but she couldn't think of a way to phrase it that didn't make it sound as if she meant she considered them something more personal than they were. Topic change time.
"M'lan is very nice. He was one of the other Weyrlings from my group, though we never got to talk as much as I would have liked. Asoth is from Halith's Clutch. It's nice for her to actually know some of the other dragons from her batch, excepting Velath of course."
Ceta applied herself to her food, a familiar but mysterious tension starting in her chest. She thought about an odd comment M'lan had made the day after the Flight, when they were having lunch together. Something about D'lin. She supposed the way it was phrased it could have just been him being concerned that her Wingleader would check in on her, but Ceta had felt that odd tension then and thinking about the comment made her feel it now, too.
She glanced up at D'lin, dark green eyes catching on his, but found herself at a loss for words.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:37 pm
"I know your not a delicate flower that needs saving..." He told her sincerely "I'm afraid I'm just the type to watch out for those I care about" He admit with a slight smile. "Your just going to have to live it I suppose. Or kick me onto the streets friend wise." He added while he was looking down and paying more attention to his food. It wasn't until he looked up that he caught her eye and saw the look on her face. His hand stilled slightly.
"What...your not thinking about kicking me to the streets are you? This isn't some sort of 'I think we should just be wing-mates' type of a lunch is it?" He asked in a half worried half joking voice.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:59 pm
"We are wingmates, and friends. And I hope that never changes," she replied. "I'm not one of those silly girls that throws her friends away dramatically every time they do something. I wouldn't ever just leave you behind."
And she meant that, though it made the constriction in her chest worse. He was also misunderstanding her thanks to her extremely poor communications skills today, and she debated leaving it, she really did. However, the delicate flower comment made her seem silly and the reason he gave was exactly the point she was trying to make.
"Yes, you do watch out for those you care about, and I wouldn't want you to want to win just for that reason." She took a careful bite of greens, feeling her chest tighten again. Yes, that definitely sounded more personal than she had thought. Why did she feel like she was about to have an anxiety attack? She didn't have those and there was certainly no reason to feel that way about D'lin. Who was her friend and companion and friend. What on Pern was she doing? The time to change topic had come once again, though she didn't miss that he had ignored her comments about M'lan.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:06 pm
D'lin had indeed ignored her comments about M'lan..he'd called him 'nice' wasn't that enough? It was about as far as he was willing to go on the subject in any case. Nice was enough to mean he wouldn't go looking to break the guys nose for winning, this time or next.
Ceta's next remark however had his brows furrowing slightly and he set his fork down abruptly and look at her, really looked at her. She didn't want him to win just to save her..meaning that perhaps she'd want him to win..for another reason? Was he reading her wrong? Was it worth taking the risk to admit things? Scrutinizing her carefully for several long moment's he finally let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and asked point blank and seriously "...And if I wanted to win for a different reason?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:19 pm
Oh.
Cetalese looked up again and met D'lin's gaze, but this time he looked much more serious than he had the last. He had caught on to the same thing she had heard in her words and she felt a brief flare of panic, though her facial expression stayed stoically still. Did she mean that? Was that what she meant? What this meant? She hadn't ever really liked someone romantically before, so she really had no idea what that felt like. Girls spoke of certainty and swooning passion, not comfort and anxiety and friendship close enough that she couldn't imagine the pair of them not openly working on everything together.
Oh.
Say something, Cetalesemine! Halith demanded suddenly while Ceta was still getting her bearings. Or I will have Plexith say it for you.
Cetalese felt herself flush at Halith's sudden interference. Her dragon was always there to push her just when she got quiet; because, she had to face it, Halith was never quiet. Before her dragon could blurt something that came out entirely the wrong way, Cetalese stepped up and tried to formulate a sentence that didn't end up making either of the entirely uncomfortable.
"Um. I would hope that if you encouraged Plexith to pursue Halith... it would only be for a different reason." She slipped her hands in to her lap and clasped them nervously together, not letting it show otherwise. She swallowed hard, though. "I would want her to be caught by someone interested, not someone who felt obligated."
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:42 pm
"Plexith flew on his own, I didn't ask him too,nor encouraged him...at least consciously. He might have picked up on things but I didn't do it on purpose. I had actually been afraid the he wouldn't try...and yes I was disappointed when we lost, but not because I was trying to save you...I wanted to win because I wanted you...." He admit and although he blushed when he said it he forced himself to keep eye contact, partially so that he could see her reaction, partially so that she would know that he meant what he said.
"I wasn't going to tell you any of this. I was afraid to ruin our friendship if you didn't feel the same way but I was never any good at keeping secrets...so there you are." Now that he'd said it out loud it sounded kind of foolish to him, probably with a bit more thought he could have phrased it a lot better..or picked a more romantic way to do it them blurting it out over a half eaten lunch like this. Then again he might have chickened out completely and not said anything at all. Plexith brushed his mind slightly, with all the confidence of a bronze to back it up and his nerve while not gone..were certainly watered down some. Enough so that he could keep looking at her anyways. He wasn't sure when he had garnered the Bronzes attention, that he had been silent this long was a surprise really.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:15 pm
D'lin was almost babbling at first, it seemed to Ceta. She didn't have time to feel awkward about his initial sentence because he barreled right into his confession afterward, which was probably a good thing. She was still feeling a bit off-balanced from her own revelation as it was, but she tried to rein that in.
There, Cetalesemine, you see? Now everything is all right again and you can both go back to being friends. With a little extra, if you know what--
Halith.
The sparkling good humor Cetalese felt from her Green almost made her want to smile, but the bawdy comment only worsened the deep blush on her cheeks.
"I think you were doing fine at keeping the secret before today." She certainly hadn't noticed, but then again she hadn't noticed her own attachment to him as anything unusual either. "I really didn't think... that you considered me anything more than a friend."
She couldn't blame him for being scared to ruin their friendship. She was considering the very same thing right now and it was a heavy topic to consider with him sitting right there. "I don't want to lose you as a friend, though, so if pursuing this is going to lead to that I would rather we made the conscious decision not to become anything more than we are."
Oh, she doesn't mean that, Halith blustered at Plexith. Of course them being all grabby claws with each other isn't going to make him stop being friends with her. How silly. He likes her, doesn't he? And she likes him. I don't see what the big deal is. Cetalesemine, you are more silly than I am. He clearly wants to Fly you as humans do, that doesn't mean you aren't going to be friends anymore.
Cetalese blinked, her eyes unfocused as her dragon bespoke her, and then dropped her gaze, lifting a hand to her face. Halith, don't help. I know what he meant.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:09 am
So he had probably said more then he intended but he was fairly sure that if he'd tried to hold back he would have ended up saying nothing at all. However her response wasn't exactly what he had been hoping for. He wasn't sure what he had expected..he wasn't vain enough to think she'd leap out of her chair and embrace him...but stoically sitting there and telling him he's done a good job at keeping things from her wasn't precisely what he'd had in mind either. And then she went further and cautioned that they should maybe just forget about the whole thing.
Well..that wasn't exactly what she'd said, but it was what it felt like she said and it was what he heard accompanied by a sharp pang in his chest. D'lin didn't think he could forget about it, and now he feared that he'd done exactly what he hadn't wanted to do. How could they remain friends with this between them now if she wasn't interested? Plexith relaying some of Halith's comments wasn't helping any either.
'She's right, your jumping to the wrong conclusions.' Plexith cautioned privately, advising his rider to remain steady.'Humans always make this so complicated when it doesn't have to be' The bronze continued, this time including Halith in his remarks.
'Let is be Plexith' D'lin stated to his dragon, as he turned away, using the excuse of cleaning up their lunch to do so. "If that's what you want, of course..I shouldn't have said anything." He responded to Ceta while he had his back to her as he didn't think he could say it to her face.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:30 am
Cetalese rose as well once D'lin began cleaning up, though her lunch was hardly half eaten. She felt discomforted with his response, more awkward than when she had walked in. This was not what she had expected them to discuss (likely because it hadn't even been an option in her mind before five minutes ago).
However, regardless of what she had expected this was what she had to deal with now and it was clear that D'lin was about to fall into one of his moods. Hesitantly, she reached out a hand and rested it against his back. "D'lin." She took a deep breath to steady herself and ran her hand down his back, waiting for him to turn and acknowledge her. "That wasn't what I meant. Look at me."
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:40 pm
'Stop being a wherry brain and listen to her' Plexith stated in his mind. "Your being utterly bull headed' The bronze went on and D'lin's eyes narrowed slightly, about to respond to his dragon in kind as he shoved trash into a container to be thrown out. He was probably being a temperamental a** and no doubt Ceta was feeling badly now too - which he certainly didn't want but on the verge of being rejected was a rather new experiences and he was apparently not going to take it gracefully. Much as he wished to do so, and it wasn't so much that he was angry at her as he was angry with himself. He'd done this all wrong.
He stilled suddenly when she touched him, any thoughts of responding to Plexith gone in an instant. The tension he'd been carrying within suddenly to much to bare and still he might have been able to rein himself in if she hadn't gone and moved her hand, bid him to look at her. He'd already gone about this the wrong way...he might as well go ahead and finish the job. Whirling more then turning, his eyes fierce with determination he trapped her against the wall with a hand to either side of her and moved forward to kiss her her, kiss her like he'd been wanting to since he realized someone else was going to get the chance to do it first and he fully expected her to shove him away, or slap him...and he'd let her because he wasn't an uncouth heathen, he even gave her just enough time to really stop him if she wanted to..but for the few seconds she let him get away with it...it'd be worth it. Plexith was more then pleased with his riders bold actions...
'Now if only he'd be that determined about advancement'
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:54 am
"D'lin," Ceta tried to exclaim in surprise, but it came out much more softly than she intended. It didn't occur to her in the brief moment given to her to hinder him in any way, so when his hesitation ended and his warm lips met hers her eyes were about the size of saucers. Although D'lin could be emotional, it wasn't usually like this. Anger, sometimes, determination that led to the barking of orders, but not this and not outside of battle situations.
Cetalese had been kissed before, but outside of M'lan the case was singular and it was the act of a pair of silly 13-Turn-Olds on the eve of Cetalese's leaving her old home for the new. It wasn't like this at all. Her hands rested on his sides and she almost hesitantly kissed him back (if one could be hesitant when the other person was so insistent). She almost thought D'lin didn't notice. Though her eyes didn't close and her actions were mostly conscious choice, she was instinctively aware of what she was supposed to be doing at a time like this and put 'later' aside for later. The thrill that ran through her reminded her that she didn't mind letting someone else take the control in these situations and so she let D'lin keep it, kissing back with force but trying to ease him down from desperation to controllable lust.
Well that's going straight to the bedroom! Halith leered from outside, snorting with amusement. She liked it when Cetalese both felt good and was distracted.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:32 am
It was worth it, just as he'd known it would be and while bit of surprise seeped into him when she didn't push him away it, when she said his name so softly it was quickly followed and surpassed by smug satisfaction. Perhaps he wasn't the only one who been feeling things after all and that thought only intensified when she started to respond and be more then just a shocked if not unwilling participant.
Unfortunately it also started to intensify other thoughts within his mind and while D'lin was becoming convinced he could press his luck and take things farther, he just wasn't that sort of guy...even if he wanted to be right now. It took a great deal of inner strength however for him to stop and it was with a half muttered oath that he finally did so, pulling away, from where he had pressed them into the the wall to look at her with unapologetic eyes before dropping one of his arms so that she was no longer penned in. "That." He told her, with clear smug satisfaction "I am not sorry for."
Plexith rumbled in amusement at the green's comment, even as D'lin tried to get him to hush with a mental chastisement.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:26 pm
His wasn't the only heavy breathing in the room when he finally released her. She wasn't deaf to his muttered oath and she smiled at him as he looked at her almost possessively, her amusement reflected in her entire expression.
Apparently, her reaction had settled whatever had triggered D'lin's sudden emotional outburst and Cetalese thought it wasn't likely he would be overtaken with it again. His confident statement flooded her cheeks with heat and she was reminded that lust was not confined to Flights and post-Flights alone. In a way, D'lin had a right to be smug every now and again, since it wasn't his usual personality. Ceta certainly didn't begrudge it to him now. It was... rather attractive in this instance.
Go on, Cetalese, Halith said privately. You have both finished with your duties for the day, haven't you? And Plexith's rider is likely keen to take you to bed. Ooh, you could compare it to your Flight experience!
Enough from you, thanks. No one will be getting compared to anything. "I wouldn't want you to be sorry for it," Cetalese replied quietly, but without embarrassment. "It certainly was one way to clear up our misunderstanding. You're welcome to clear it up again, if you'd like." Ceta rubbed a thumb against the shirt fabric beneath her hand. "Or if you'd rather not we could always take a day trip somewhere." Picnics and shore visits away from the weyr seemed to be popular with weyrmates and those who were in the midst of dating. Besides, D'lin was a Wingleader. She didn't want their relationship to undermine his authority-- or cause her to be reassigned somewhere where she couldn't watch her friend's back.
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