Welcome to Gaia! ::

He'd found it again. Funny how he managed to keep losing it, misplacing it here or there. This time, it had somehow found its way to the very bottom of his - admittedly not large - clothes chest. Not the best place for a semi-valuable piece of jewelry to be, but that was where he'd found it, tiny sapphire eyes glittering up at him. All he'd wanted was his spare boots, not...that. That stupid brooch that he'd bought at the last Gather, because he was stupid.

Just a stupid, unambitious wingrider who'd gone and fallen in love with a goldrider. Forming a relationship with a Junior Weyrwoman had never been a goal of his (goals were really not his thing), and that was sort of the problem. There was no shortage of bronze- or even brownriders who wouldn't jump at the chance to be with a goldrider, any goldrider, and he was all too aware of that. The color of her dragon had nothing to do with Set'al's interest in Narisa, but he was worried that that was or would be the assumption. She was a candidate to be Senior Weyrwoman, after all; who wouldn't want the advantage of her affections if that came to pass, feelings that might sway Cepheith in Flight?

He didn't. Sweet Faranth, he didn't, and he didn't want anyone to think that, least of all her. What was he even doing? Why had he even bought this thing, only to keep misplacing it?

Set'al groaned and leaned back in his chair, pressing his empty hand over his eyes.

This again? Just give it to her already.

"Shut it, Pipith." His dragon was sunning outside, but Set'al spoke aloud to the empty hut anyway.

Very well. Obediently, Pipith said no more to His, but he did reach out to his most favorite Queen. Cepheith myQueen, is Yours free? If she is, I think that she should come and see Mine. There was a definite undertone to his words, heavy implication that he was up to something, and she was very much invited.

Excellent. You will like this one, it is very good, Pipith assured her, posing himself handsomely while he awaited her arrival - a chance he was not giving his rider, although he was at least fully-clothed. Well, minus boots.

A trill from outside startled him, and he barely managed to keep himself from tipping over backwards in his chair. Who could- no. That was very definitely a gold passing by his window. Pipith, just so we're very clear: I hate you.

I know, the bronze responded cheerfully to his rider, all the while thrumming happily for Cepheith and returning her nuzzles.

Set'al grumbled something inappropriate and stood, shoving the brooch in his pocket and going to open the door. "Narisa!" He smiled, he couldn't help it when he saw her, but shards, he was nervous. "Pipith didn't tell me you were coming."

Wherry.

And I will do my best to always live up to that! The bronze crooned, shifting position slightly to better accomodate his golden conspirator and friend.

"Do I ever not have free time?" he answered, grinning. The truth was, he could have wing drills right now and would gladly be late to them. He didn't, fortunately, so he wouldn't have any uncomfortable explaining to do later. Well, he might, actually, but not to his wingleader. Shaff.

"Come on in! Those two look like they need their privacy," he said with a roll of his eyes, though he had to admit he was actually a bit jealous. But not nearly as jealous as he was nervous. Stupid brooch.

He is, but he isn't. He confuses himself, Pipith snickered, all but purring as he cuddled closer. Calling Cepheith had been a wonderful idea.

"Memorized? I'm surprised you have time to stalk a lowly wingrider like me," he quipped, his gaze wandering as she walked past before he caught himself. Eyes up, Faranth help him.

"I haven't done anything to him! At least, if I have, he hasn't told me yet." Set'al shut the door and leaned against, combing a hand through his hair. One of his favorite nervous habits. "As far as punishments go, though, I wouldn't mind if he used this sort more often."

Minus the looming terror, preferably. Better get this over with quickly, before Pipith did something more drastic. "It's, um, probably because I have something for you, actually, and he's a nosy b*****d."

"Depends on the goldrider," he answered, laughing with her. Narisa could harass him anytime she wanted, and he wouldn't mind, even taking into account occasional moments of awkwardness. Kind of like this one. The wave of amusement he caught from his dragon didn't help matters at all, the bronze twitching his tail in anticipation and urging for Set'al and Cepheith to hear, Come on, we're waiting!

So help me, dragon... The sentiment was stopped in its tracks by the teasing but also slightly suggestive question. He opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't quite wrap his mind around how. Or if. He could just gloss over it. It might even be safer, as she may or may not have meant for it to sound quite the way he'd heard it.

Finally, he made up his mind, and the lost look was replaced by a grin. "I was just going to give it to you, but now that you put it that way..."

Oh, please let this not end with him getting himself slapped.

You're awful. You're both awful. Please tell Cepheith that for me. And, after thinking about it for a moment, Pipith actually did relay Set'al's thoughts to the gold, albeit with great amusement. His rider was always saying such things, but it was very rare that he ever actually meant them.

"I don't think a list is really necessary. There's not exactly a line or anything." That wasn't completely true, he supposed, as some people did find bronzeriders particularly...appealing, but he didn't find that particularly appealing. Significantly less so than it had been ten turns ago, or even just a few turns ago.

"Of course it would have been easy. I'm always-" Wait, no, there had to be a better way to say that, which became extremely difficult to find when Narisa asked what she had to do, but announced outright that stripping naked was not an option. It was impressive how consistently good she was at making it difficult for him to think. What was he supposed to say to that? His own face quickly turned red as he opened his mouth and shut it again.

Alright, fine. Two could play at this game of awkward! He crossed his arms and gave her a look of his own. "No fair! How did you know what I was going to lead with? Well, that was all I had, so you'll just have to figure something out on your own."

Because persuasion is his strong suit, clearly, Pipith pointed out with a snort.

When she proclaimed that it wasn't fair, his only response was to grin. And wait, because she went quiet for a worryingly long stretch of time, or at least what seemed like a long time. For all he knew, it could have been as little as a few seconds, but it felt like forever, just leaning against his door with a goofy grin that began to waver, until finally she made up her mind. He was expecting her to do something silly, to keep playing this little game of theirs - this awkward, drawn-out, intoxicating, frustrating game.

He wasn't expecting the kiss. Had he hoped for it? Yes. Faranth, yes. But he hadn't dared to think that she would actually do it. There was a brief hesitation rooted in disbelief before he returned it, uncrossing his arms to wrap one around her and pull her closer. (This was so, so much better than getting slapped.)

When it was over, he surrendered and whispered into her ear, honest but well aware of how it sounded and trying to suppress a laugh, "It's in my pocket."

This is even better than I was expecting. It was endlessly entertaining, but also going rather well! A most excellent combination.

It only took them half of forever! Pipith laid his head by Cepheith's, letting out a contented sigh. Maybe now His would fuss less! It had been getting rather old.

Set'al was definitely not fussing now. She could have pulled away after the kiss, but she hadn't, so he took that as a good sign. He was still a little nervous, yes, because she was about to find the brooch, but the sensation of her hands sliding down his sides went a long way towards offsetting that nervousness.

"I know," he said, though the cheerful tone came out a little more hoarsely than usual. And then she had it. Moment of truth. "Do you like it?"