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We should go and visit Cepheith and Hers, Pipith insisted. Again. Set'al had lost track of just how many times the bronze had said that or something similar recently. Pipith wanting to spend time with the gold was nothing new - and they often did - but this was different. She was proddy. That was awkward. Maybe not for the dragons, but for Set'al? So very awkward.

No. I don't want them to think we're visiting just because Ceph's going to Rise soon.

We visit all the time. Why should this be any different? he argued from his sunning spot, even as the Queen greeted him. He returned her greeting with a gentle swell of warm feelings, bolstered by a deep thrum. He deigned not to forewarn His that they had visitors - it would serve him right! Cepheith. Your company is as welcome as ever, my Queen. I trust that you and Yours are well? The little bronze shifted, tucking in his wings in a silent invitation for Cepheith to come close and join him.

It just i- Oh. Oh, crap. At the sound of the goldrider's voice, Set'al nearly jumped out of his skin...which, fortunately, was not all he was wearing: he had pants on! He was very glad he did.

Shaking off the surprise - and cursing his dragon mentally - he slapped on an easy grin. "And what if I'm not?"

Her bronze. He liked that, very much. Pipith thrummed with her, the color of his eyes shifting to match hers. Cepheith's company always made him happy, no matter the circumstances, but with the gold about to Ride, he derived a different sort of enjoyment from her affection. It gave him hope, confidence, being her bronze. Her favor could give him an advantage!

The bronze arched his neck proudly, and as always, agreed with the Queen. They are! They fuss so over Flights. I have never understood why.

"It's too warm for blankets," Set'al retorted with a snort. "But it's safe, anyway." Unless being shirtless coutned as being indecent, which he was sure it didn't...especially in a climate like Trine's.

"Never," he was quick to reassure his friend. It might be unexpected - and potentially awkward, given her dragon's state - but he would never be unhappy to see Narisa, or even bothered by her presence. Just...possibly made slightly uncomfortable. Something with which Cepheith was not helping. Going a bit red himself, he cleared his throat and didn't acknowledge the comment. There were some things he tried not to think about, and that was among them.

They do! Pipith chortled. He wouldn't usually describe His - or anyone or anything else - as 'adorable,' but he would go with the proddy gold on this one. And they get along very well, even when they are being funny about it.

"Wh- Oh. That." That. The dragon in the room, as it were. The bronzerider lost his cheerful tone and looked distinctly more nervous. "Uh. Anything in particular about...it?"

Oh, Faranth, this was going to be the most awkward conversation ever. He could tell already.

The inevitable answer to that question was, of course, 'no,' and he almost said it. If the situation hadn't been what it was, he probably would have done more than open his mouth only to snap it shut after thinking better of the innuendo. Normally, it would have been funny, but...with the reason for Narisa's visit, it was probably a bit too inappropriate. The last thing he needed to do was make things even more awkward.

"Oh. Um. You can just, uh, lock your door. If you want." Which she almost certainly knew already, since Flights were something that had to have been covered in whatever lessons it was that goldriders got, so that probably wasn't what she was actually worried about. So what part of it was she worried about? And why was she here? Wasn't this girl talk? Not that- not that he minded her coming to him to talk, per se, but the awkward. So much awkward. For so many reasons.

You should hear Mine thinking, Pipith shared cheerfully with his golden friend, keeping up his soft but steady thrum as he nuzzled her back. Trying to think, anyway. It is most amusing. Is Yours having the same trouble?

Stifling the urge to pace by sitting on the edge of his bed, Set'al sent his dragon a sharp mental jab. Are you going to help me out here, or are you just going to laugh at me?

I think you know exactly what I would suggest, Mine, and you would not approve. So I will merely observe.

Set'al wasn't sure what Narisa expected him to tell her either, though he wished he did. Thinking about his friend in the context of Flights - or any other more-than-friendly context- was something he had always tried very hard to avoid. Not that he always succeeded, but he tried! She was his friend, not to mention Junior Weyrwoman. That alone was enough to make it intimidatingly complicated. And it wasn't like he had a lot to offer; he was just the goofy, underachieving bronzerider.

And she was worried about choosing wrong. Yeah, pretty much anyone but him and she'd be fine. Most of the other bronzeriders were...what they were supposed to be. Not that he minded the way he was, usually, but this was different. "Oh, well, does it really matter this time? I mean, you're not Weyrwoman - um, yet? - so they wouldn't be Weyrleader, right?"

No, you are never ridiculous, though Ours clearly are! Pipith was enjoying himself immensely - he had the company of a proddy gold and he got to His flounder. Although he have felt a little bad for him. Only a little. I don't think Mine is sure what he wants to do. He will figure it out eventually. I hope. In the meantime, it is entertaining.

Had she really just said that? Set'al stared, dumbfound. Did she really think that was why he was uncomfortable, or was she just joking? He could quite tell. "I- That's not-" he stammered, "That- It's just weird to talk about! I mean, you know Pipith is going to try, and..."

Ugh, could this be going any worse?

Oh, Yours did very well with that one, Pipith admired. Just listen to him! The bronze flicked his banded tail and twined it with Cepheith's. His day was going much better than his rider's, that was for sure.

"Trade? Shards, at least it's only once a turn or so! Try having a dragon that chases everything that Rises." Fine, if she was going to tease, then he could tease, too. Although it was true; this particular tendency of Pipith's was not Set'al's favorite. "What would I do? Lock my door and let my dragon choose who they wanted. It doesn't really matter who it is, not this time, so she might as well have her way. And if it turns out to be someone you like, you can always unlock your door, I guess. You know, if...if there is someone you like."

I'm not, Pipith said merrily, shifting his position slightly to better accomodate his resting companion. This is good for him. He gets too comfortable, sometimes.

"Uh, well, I don't...usually bother, but-" But he wasn't a goldrider, which meant he didn't have to worry about tossing arrogant wingleaders out of his weyr if he didn't lock his door. Regardless, he was just going to stop now before he dug himself into a deeper hole of painful awkwardness.

...but it was a pointless effort, because then she said- did she say that, or was he hearing things? Or worse, was she just playing around? No, that would be mean, and Narisa wasn't mean, but she couldn't possibly- not him! He was just Set'al, former poor excuse for a Runner and current poor excuse for a bronzerider, and she was a goldrider. And the next Weyrwoman, if whoever was deciding it had a shred of sense. More importantly, she was the woman he might but refused to let himself be in love with.

So he just sort of...stared. And blinked once or twice. That was about all he could do while he scrambled to think of something, anything to say. He failed pretty miserably.

"I- You- Really? You...mean that?" Definitely not the charming or romantic response, but uncertain and pathetically hopeful, afraid she might think better of what she'd said and take it back.

That is a distinct possiblity, Pipith observed with a snort of laughter. If His wasn't careful, this would soon devolve from comical to pitiful. He would have to intervene before that happened.