.:L'den and Jailla:. - Timath's Second Flight
an AIM RP after first fall
an AIM RP after first fall
L'den wasn't quite sure what he was doing. He knew he didn't want to leave her alone, but why? It wasn't like she was that badly hurt. Oveth said he liked her. Did he? He didn't know. He'd never really been emotionally attached to anyone before. He'd had flings with girls that were rather attractive, or spicey, but never been emotionally attached. Still, he was escorting her to her weyr, arm genly around her waist in case she needed his support.
Why was he so nervous about the smallest actions with her? He'd had more than his fair share of women in his bed, and he was always a bold character with them. But with this girl, this small, firey green rider, he was as green as a weyrling. With his arm around her waist, it felt like more of a privilidge than with any other woman ever before. He stopped before the entrance to her weyr, feeling awkward, and rather annoyed with himself for acting so green.
Here you are. Do you.....need anything? he asked, suddenly unsure of himself. It wasn't like he was asking for an invitation in. Or was he? Shards, he didn't know a dang thing when it came to Jailla, and this disturbed him.
"Need anything?" Jailla repeated, blinking. She had expected something like this... After all, Timath and Oveth had been close since their flight, last turn... And Timath was due to rise again soon... She instinctively glanced at her beloved green, and swore under her breath. Shardin' shards, how could she not have realized? Timath was practically glowing!
"Will Oveth hunt well, today?" Timath wondered, directing the question at both her rider, and to the brown in question. Would he?
"You can come in," she said, glancing almost guiltily at L'den. "I'll make some klah, if you like..."
The voice in his head surprised him, and he glanced through the open door at the green, who was a very healthy color, bordering on glowing. In his scattered state of mind, he figured she was just trying to be polite, though he wasn't sure why she had spoken to him. Uh, if we don't get orders to go anywhere else, yeah, I guess so. He ate two days ago, so he's starting to get there. Yourself? he replied, feeling foolish as he broadcasted his thoughts probably way too loudly in his effort to reach a mind that wasn't his. His eyes refocusing, he smiled at Jailla. Yeah, that would be nice. I had a rather....rude....awakening today. Haven't eaten a thing, myself. Some klah would be welcome he said, following her in and trying to remember to act natural. Since when did he have to "act" anything around a woman? He muttered under his breath, but took a seat, eyes glassing again slightly as Oveth answered Timath.
Yes, I shall go now he replied shortly, and L'den could sense him leaving. What? Oveth always had L'den go with him. What in shards was going on? Was the old brown just trying to give him some privacy? He doubted it. Something else was going on here. Slowly, things started clicking in his mind. He looked at Timath, an accusatory glare on his face. Uh, Jailla.....I do believe Timath's teasing Oveth he said, trying to get a warning into his voice. He shouldn't be here....
Timath was extremely amused by L'den's response. He hadn't understood her at all. Hers, had though. Her young rider had gone pale under her tan that so matched her copper hair. "Oh no, Timath, not now--" she moaned. Not right after threadfall. There were no dragons around; none except... Oh no. Now the young greenrider realized what her green was up to. She turned away from L'den quickly, on the pretense of making the man a mug of klah, and muttered, "Timath's teasing him because she's preparing to rise. I'm sorry, L'den... You should go."
Before things got out of hand. Before she lost control, and fell for the man, again. "Maybe we'll have klah another time?"
Struck by some rare urge that had nothing to do with the dragons, as Oveth was still eating, he came up behind her, a hand hesistantly at her waist. His face was conflicted, but earnest, as he slowly turned her around to face him. You don't want me to go..... he asked as much as stated. This was wrong! Or.....was it that it was actually right for the first time that had him wanting to run and hide in his weyr?
"But you want to go," Jailla said, blue eyes looking into his. He seemed conflicted, but she couldn't have gathered what he was conflicted about. He had never shown interest in her before... She didn't understand why he had been so kind today. Maybe Oveth was influencing him? If so, she certainly didn't want to take advantage of that.
She slowly shook her head. "However much I would...appreciate it if you stayed, I think you should go."
I don't know what I want he admitted, staring into her blue eyes, trying to convince her of the truth in his own. I've always thought about you, but seeing you hurt today, something snapped and..... he trailed off, lost. Maybe he should go. But she'd appreciate it if he stayed? Shards, what was the point? Erebeth was off with Z'iv, collecting survivors, Pryth was out with M'nie, and there was no way the bronzes would catch her, she was too quick. He'd just end up right back here, or her with him. He groaned, turning from her. Oveth was done eating and was returning with great speed. I....I didn't want it to be like this. I wanted to do this....right, once I had figured everything out. Seems Oveth knows my heart better than I he said, eyes slightly tortured, though he didn't doubt his dragon's observations, not now.
Jailla stared at the brownrider, vaguely confused. He was always thinking about her? She hadn't figured on that; if he'd been thinking about her, why did Timath tell her about a new girl every couple sevendays? Or perhaps her beloved dragon was being kind, and he saw more. "I always think about you, too," she confessed.
Timath bugled a challenge. Oveth would never catch her. She was too fast. She was too skilled. A bulky brown like him would never be able to catch her, the master of the skies. She pushed off the ground and flew; taking Jailla's mind away from her thoughts of why L'den would have behaved the way he had been, especially since he was apparently claiming to like her--the girl doubted it. He had seen too many girls... Too many. What interest would he have in a plain former weyrbrat like Jailla?
Oveth had been just about to land and had to move quickly to even start chasing the green. He settled back, patient, waiting for her to tire herself out so he could swoop in and catch her with ease. Six years in the sky had taught him that it was easier to follow a darting target from a distance. He'd only blooded his kills, trying to keep himself as light as possible. But by the First Egg, was she beautiful. He sped up almost unconsciously, instinct taking over where tactics had once reigned.
L'den staggered under the impact of Oveth's chase, having to hold on to the table just to remain upright. He fought to get his mind back; would Jailla even hear him? She didn't seem to believe him, that he could care for her. He vaguely cursed his woman-loving ways. That had to be the crux of the problem. If they had meant anything, they'd have been in my bed more than once he murmurred in her ear, not voicing the unspoken thought that this would be their second time together as his eyes glassed over once again.
This would be their second time... But Jailla was no longer the fiesty green rider. She was Timath. She was soaring, teasing and taunting Oveth. The brown had dared to give chase? He wouldn't catch her, not this time! Her first flight had been a fluke; it meant nothing that Oveth had caught her then. She hadn't been as skilled as she was now. She gloated at the brown--but slowly, instinct became desire. Timath wanted Oveth to catch her. Still, she would not slow down! He needed to prove his worth. Was he fast enough? Was he strong enough to catch her?
Oveth caught the almost imperceptible change in Timath's flying, all but drooling as she shimmered in the skies, twisting languidly to tease him. Oh, she was his, there was no doubt. Another blue rose from the ground, giving chase. Oveth trumpeted out a challenge, all but roaring that another would dare to chase her. He hit an updraft and rode it expertly, filling his wings with wind and pumping faster, gaining ground on the elusive green. He was leaving the blue behind ever so slowly, but he knew that was good; blues were normally faster than browns. If it had been any other green, he might not have bothered, but it was his Timath! He was a few dragonlengths from her now; what tricks would she pull now? She seemed overcome with desire, and he hesitated no longer. He swooped down on her from above, tangling their wings until he had her, diving straight for the ground until his strong wings caught the air, parachuting them towards the ground gracefully as he trumpeted his triumph.
L'den gave up fighting; he'd have to talk to her later. But, he could try being as tender and passionate as possible, not rough like dragon-induced love normally was. He slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her to him, kissing her softly on the lips as his other hand lost itself in her hair, not even minding it's shortened length. Then, he was gone, lost to Oveth's victory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L'den had kind of dozed after the flight, but was awake now. Jailla appeared to be asleep beside him. The poor girl; she'd had a rough day. Thankfully, their union had evened out quite a few things in L'den's mind. Dragons or no, he had never been so tender with a woman, and as men's minds are so closely tied to their bodies, it cleared up a lot of his confusion. He was amazed, but pleasantly so, that his heart had finally found someone to love. He was scared, because he had never done this before, and worried that she wouldn't accept him, but overall, he was hopeful.
Oveth was smug. I told you you liked her. And Timath is mine he added, wrapping his neck with that of the green and thrumming happily. L'den just shook his head, a hand reaching out to brush the shortened locks out of Jailla's face. His eyes were tender as he looked at her, wondering how he'd ever seen her as simply plain, if a bit spunky. She was beautiful, and amazingly so.
Jailla woke, expecting to find herself alone. This really was only the second time she had ever experienced dragon-lust first hand. She slowly sat up, looking startled when she noticed L'den was still there. Blue eyes widened in surprise, and then she gave him a shy smile. She had expected him to flee. To have hurried back to his weyr as soon as he awoke. "You're still here," she breathed, putting a hand to his cheek. "I thought you would have left... Duties and all."
L'den gave a slight shrug, still laying on his side lazily. Oveth would have told me if I was needed. They still must be arguing about the tithes. I figure anyone caught outside will be.... he paused, swallowing nervously, beyond help. He held her hand to his cheek, smiling warmly and starting to pull her towards him, though gently enough that she could resist if she wanted to. He wasn't after her again, but he wanted to talk to her, and he'd be more relaxed if he stayed laying down. Everything was her choice now; he was doting on her.
Jailla laid back down, blinking at L'den. She supposed he was right, but she didn't like to think about that. She allowed herself to be pulled closer to him, and smiled. "What is it?" she asked. What did he want? Their dragons were asleep, she assumed (Timath hadn't replied to any of her questioning), so it couldn't have been dragonlust. "Do you want klah now?"
L'den chuckled. True, he was ravenous, but klah was the last thing on his mind at the moment. No, just you he said with grin, his confidence returning. He didn't expect a positive response from that one, but at least Orveth seemed to find it entertaining. But really....I figure we should probably talk he adds, nerves starting on him again, wearing only his trousers, so his scarred chest was visible. He wondered if he should cover up, and had no idea. He had thrown on his trousers while she had slept, trying to be polite.
"Talk?" Jailla repeated. "Alright, about what?" She put a gentle hand on his chest, having noticed his scars. She traced them with a finger, frowning slightly in concern. "Is something wrong, L'den?" He didn't like her. He wanted to tell her now so she wouldn't be heartbroken later. That must have been it. But hadn't he said he wanted her? She wondered what that meant, before she narrowed her eyes.
Where his boldness had come from, he wasn't sure, but he wasn't having as much trouble talking to her now. Just, that this is obviously more than just our dragons, but we need to figure out what we're going to do about it. To listen to Oveth talk.... he stopped with a grin, wondering of Tamith was feeling the same way.
Jailla smirked suddenly. "They've been Weyrmates for a turn," she said. "If Oveth wants to talk to me, he can. Timath can, to you, too. When she wants to. She liked telling me what you were up to, you know... So I always knew what you were doing and seeing." She shrugged, eyes glassing over. "Timath says Oveth is hers," she added. "She's almost asleep."
L'den flushed, embarrassed. So she'd been pining after him for a year, and he'd been messing around, oblivious, the entire time. Well, don't I feel like a tunnel snake he remarked under his breath, shaking his head. Could he have been any more dumb? He could hear R'yn now - dimglow! And wasn't he? He chuckled, still trying to get used to everything. So, she's been spying on me, huh? he teased good-naturedly. And here I was worried that Oveth was gonna rat me out, and you've known the entire time he said, blowing out his breath as the impact of that statement hit him. How badly had he hurt her? He looked at her now, as if any amount of worry now could take back the past year.
Jailla kissed L'den's cheek gently. "She makes a fairly good spy," she agreed. "I was always grateful to know what you were up to, so I knew where to be to capture your attention. Now that I have it, expect me to keep it." She raised her hand to stroke his hair. "Our dragons chose first, we should follow their example."
L'den paused for a moment, having lost track of the conversation for a moment, before realizing that she meant they should be weyrmates. And to think, this morning he didn't even know he liked her. He smiled, then nodded. So, weyrmate, who's moving where? he asked rather facetiously, stretching as he rose from her bed. They were bound to have duties soon, and any moving about had better be accomplished quickly.
