Flashback: A Summer Night

[neopanther]

"Hah, you'll always have part of me no one else does Sassie..." He smiled, warm forgiving, despite having nothing to forgive, "And yes, girl or guy, what ever happens, you'll always be special to me." He thought on that for a moment, special how? Special like a spurned lover? special like your one true love, special like a sister? or just special like an incredible friend. How? If he knew it would be a miracle.

"Nah, I'm to old for you. Two turns is a lot at our age." He smiled, getting slightly lost in her gaze. "we're in a bad time right now, hatchings not to far away, If we don't impress, I'll be back off to telgar, if one of us imprersses there'll be a big class difference between us, imagine, weyrwoman and a good for nothing holder boy." He smirked, the prospect would be scandalous. "the time isn't now. trust me, I'm usually fairly good with this sort of thing, maybe in a turn, two, when we're settled into what ever life we get." His smile faded, he'd really like to try, he cared for her a grerat deal, she was special to him, and he could never see him getting rid of the bangle she'd gotten him, he could see it being one of the things he would wear, day in, day out. he loked down at the crisp blue, scarred and scratched by her everyday use.

He looked into her eyes for a moment, and in a quick, deft movement, caught her lips into a kiss. He let it last for a few moments, he felt like a condemnded man. He knew he shouldn't but he did. Kissing her with a hesitent, and uncertain want, it was slow, gentle, and displayed everything he felt. He pulled away, now even more uncertain...

"See I'm no good, I say one thing and do another." He smirked, pulling away from her contact, bristling within himself, like a feral wherry cornerned, aggitated and unsure.

[Xinnai]

"Me too. Always." She watched him, eyes turning slightly sad as he spoke of the wrong timing, of age, of possible rank differences. She shook her head slightly. Two turns was nothing and he knew it. It wasn't really. Besides, they'd both admitted he was slightly immature and she more mature. Didn't that put that at the same level? And rank-well, why wonder about that? There were so many things about that that could change that it couldn't be handled to think about. The only thing that stuck was timing. That part was true.

Before she could even voice her thoughts, he dipped, catching at her mouth. The kiss was hesitant, brief and she could feel his confusion, his guilt, his want flowing through it. Could he feel her sadness, her epiphany, her want as well?

She smiled, laughing a bit as he pulled back and spoke. The sound was slightly watery. He was right. Their timing was off. Would it ever be right? He looked agitated, as if he wanted to kick himself if it were possible, maybe even pound himself into the ground. She hugged him, not feeling awkward at all. She felt comfortable, felt right with him.

"No, you're good. You're very, very good." Salina sighed, trying to hold her sadness within. She had thought, for a brief moment, that maybe it could be. But she saw now. "You're not bad, you're not...right. I think you were right about that." She smiled a little. "You're right and I'm right but it's...not." She hugged him again, whispering in his ear, "I think I love you, Ez."

[neopanther]

Placing his chin over her shoulder, he didn't have too look her in the eyes that way, drawing his hands about her, again he was hit by their rather enormous size difference. Yes, he cared for her, somehow, already, but, they both knew it wasn't like that, not that they knew why, or weren't attracted to each other, but, it just couldn't be that. He smiled, hand gently stroking down her back as though to calm her, though it was more for his sake than hers.

"I know." He smiled, retreating back, "I think I just had to erase a little piece of doubt." He felt slightly stupid. He smiled, he thought he knew, he thought he was certain, he loved her like he loved his little sister, he'd likely dote upon her like he did his little sister too.

"I love you to Sassie... it's just not that sort of love." He smiled, warmth returning as his mind began to weather the turmoiled waters that it was in before. "were right for each other, but, not in that respect." She was such a fantastic girl, and she understood more of thihs than he did most likely. Girls would never realise that their being emotionally mature than any guy of their age (and older occasionally) meant they could understand these situations far quicker.

Ezieki watched her for a moment, silence growing between them, smile tugging at his lips he draped an arm over he shoulder, "Not that I wouldn't" Devilish grin returning, "You're lovely and all, but that's not for us now is it?" He had regained his chirpy self, and was hoping that it would bring about hers once more. He looked up quickly, one of the drudges was stirring the embers in the fire, keeping them on a low glow. he realised that meant it was rather late, and that they were the only two remaining in the room save for staff. oh well. It wasn't like he had much else better to do.

[Xinnai]

She sank into his embrace willingly, chin going over his shoulder as his went over hers. She felt so small compared to him, she thought idly. A doll to a giant, a child to an adult. "I'm glad you erased that doubt," she murmured. "That way we'll never have to wonder." She sighed, feeling a bit better as he rubbed at her back, knowing it helped him too.

She pulled back as he did and smiled, nodding. "Yes, I know that now. It's an entirely different kind of love, but it's not going to be weaker because of it. Maybe even stronger. You know, because the sex bit is out."

She wanted to make him happy again, wanted to see him laugh and joke. Sadness had it's time and it wasn't now. She laughed, a long peal of hilarity, shrugging into his arm. "Oh, yes, you know. Me as well. You're very pretty for a man, you know that?" She noticed the drudge but didn't care to think about it. She had earned a sleep-in day tomorrow and she'd stay up as late as she could talking to Ez.

[neopanther]

He smirked, "Very pretty, huh?" He smiled, "I guess I am, but hopefully not pretty enough to be a green rider, hopefully there's atleast something masculine about me!" He laughed, not that he wouldn't adore a green, but as he'd saiad, he didn't really fancy the consequences of rising with a green bonded.

"MMM, that's a shame though..." he said, turning serirous again just for a moment, "I was hoping our friendship might just... you know have benefits?" He laughed, and braced himself for a hit, he could feel it coming, there'd be no way on Pern she'd ever put up with an arrangement like that. His laughter trailed off.

"So, is there anyone other than myself who you've either had, or have your eyes on then?" He asked, eyes glittering with that same old devilish charm, and curiousity.

[Xinnai]

"You've got some masculine in you, enough that some old greenrider might now want you." She laughed, winking, as things seemed to get back on track to normal fairly quickly. That was good. "

"Mmm, that's a shame though...I was hoping our friendship might just... you know have benefits?". She laughed, head shaking, and gave him a good hard slap on the chest. "Sorry, pretty boy. Dream on."

Head tilted, eyes gone smoky as she thought about it. "No, I can't say that I have. There have been flirtations, yes, but nothing really rather interesting. What about my Ez? Does he have a pretty girl back home waiting for him?"

[neopanther]

He smirked, winced hard as her slap hit his chest making a deeply hollow noise. He gave her a pained look, "Thanksk for that, I'm sure there's some thug bronzer jujst waiting to take you harshly." He smirked at the analogy. "Well," He shrugged, "it only hurt a little to ask," He Smiled broadly, cheeky and debonair as ever.

"Mmm... flirtations eh? No one I should be aware about? See as I do own part of you now." He smirked. He'd heard a few things, seen a few things, but he felt she definitely was hiding something from him, and he'd tease it out of her no matter what. He was pretty good like that.

Her question distracted him momentarily. "Pretty girl? A few, probably a few pretty boys too." He smirked, "no one special, a few casual, maybe one or two i'd actually stand a chance at being gserirous with, but there's none there that I want" He told her, "I don't know, I find people attractive, but usually, they don't comee as a mix you know? There's no interest they're just what you see, no more, superficial, nothing but that. Not like you and I Sassie..." He smiled.

"Anyway - flirtations? With who? I hope to god it's not that dastardley G'tet... Or I'dalyn..." He smirked, laughing at the though, "well it could be anyone couldn't it? For all I know it could be..." He trailed off. there must be someone that she was remaining vague about, someone he probably wouldn't approve of. And she knew it.

[Xinnai]

"Sorry." She shrugged, though her expression didn't look very contrite. "You were asking for it. Though, if I get some nasty brute of a bronze, at least it's not all intrusive or anything. And it is what's traditonally accepted, you know." The laughing was easy, the joking and cavorting about even more. She didn't feel like she'd only met Ez just this briefly-she felt like she'd known him all her life and it was a very, very gratifying feelin "Yes, yes. You do own some part of me so I guess I owe you something." A chuckle.

"Ahh, so you have the, "let's sneak out and neck behind the house" girls and these girls you'd love to be having some very serious sexual relations and a relationship with, but are otherwise incapacitated by their wherry-headed selves and can only stand for a tumble or two, is that it? And some boys I hear." She smirked, elbowing him lightly before her eyes went hesitant, went careful and cautious as he asked about her. She glanced down at the golden ring she wore, noting the way the light gleamed off of their twines, the way the sapphire seemed to glow dark.

"Well...There were flirtations of sorts, I suppose. We had our gather of course and..." A light shrug was interjected as she felt her way along hesitantly with her words. "I did flirt a bit with a very nice boy, you know. Very handsome, very kind..." She touched at the ring briefly with her thumb, remembering the night just a little while ago. "He's not G'net or I'dalyn, thank Faranth, he's a bronzerider actually." She stopped there, glancing up at him guiltily. What would Ezi think of her, falling for the charms of a bronzerider and not just any bronze, but the Weyrleader nonetheless? Not that he knew of course. She really didn't like the idea of telling him.

[neopanther]

He laughed, "You are forgiven my dear, besides, it didn't hurt that bad," He said with false bravado as he rubbed a hand across where she'd hit him with a rather piteous look. "Yes, yes don't worry, I wouldn't let some pigheaded bronzer get you anyway." He smiled, "You realise you are subject to my approval now, right?" He laughed, despite being partially serious.

At her next statement, his eyes widened, he found himself staring. "Mmm... perhaps." He knew her too well, but he felt he knew wher rather well, and her distraction with an incredibly pretty ring on her finger was a little too suspicious.

"mmm..." He hummed making the right noises as she spoke, his interest was piqued, as was his suspicions. "So, he's handsome, kind, can afford to buy you that trinket, which makes mine look a billion shades of inferior. A bronze rider, and one who can have you at his beck and call?" He listed his clues, and aloud, she would know also that they pointed to one man.

"Sassie, my dear, you aren't leaving me with very many choices here, you know this right? I've been here for just over 24 hours, and I know there aren't that many bronzer's here, most off them are over the age of 25, and theres only one who's 'pretty' and can afford to buy a ring that beautiful, as a token gift." He looked at her, golden eyes searching.

"You know you don't need to lie to me, I'm slightly hurt that you hesitate. It's not as though I'm going to go blathering to the entire weyr that you ..." He paused, leaned in towards her ear, and whispered softly so the non-existent crowd surrounding them couldn't hear, "have a rather wholesome crush on our weyrleader." He pulled back, gave her a rather penetrating stare. He knew why she didnt want to tell him, because over all it was an incredibly daft thing for one so level headed to do.

[Xinnai]

"Well, I'm glad, because I didn't even hit you hard at all." She grinned, though she touched his cheek with soft fingertips in apology. "Yes, I know. And you know you're a subject of mine?" She said it jokingly, though she was just as serious as he. He was hers now, and she his, and she'd be watching for him just as surely as she knew he'd be watching out for her.

She watched him for a moment, that guilt swimming in her eyes before she interjected quickly, "I am not at his beck and call!" But she subsided quietly, heart beating rather fast, thrumming against her collarbone as she listened to his conclusions. Shards, she'd known he was quick, but this quick? Oh no, this was not good, at all. She swallowed, feeling almost faint. "I don't have a crush," she hissed back. "Excuse me if I seem charmed. He is a charming person." She winced and then looked at him, eyes still containing vestiges of that guilt. "I know I can tell you, Ez, it's just...It almost seems like a covert operation. 'Hush!' and all that. And..." She shrugged. "I'm not exactly proud of it, you can understand that."

[neopanther]

"I know I am," He smiled, graciously at her comment he would freely allow her judgement on any partner he deemed serious enough.

He could see the guilt lining her face. She was rather transparent to him, atleast. but she seemed irkedd by his words, ah so she was still denying it? "Charming yes, but you look at that ring with eyes of the besotted." He looked at her meaningfully, lips pulled into a tearse line. "Don't try and fobb me off as you do with yourself Sassie..." He smirked, drapping an arm back over her shoulders. He could feel her heart racing.

"C'mon, calm yourself." Ezieki looked up to the drudge who was still lingering, "Sorry gorgeous, would you mind getting me and my friend here a mug of hot Klah each?" He called over to her with a charming voice and expression, the drudge looked up, flushed a little, took a quick glance at his knot, thought about denying him, Ezieki smiled, and she thought better off it and went off to fetch them something to drink.

"See, that's charm." He smirked, "She done that because she finds me charming, I hesitate to think what he has over you, that was a smile, for you he bought a ring, Faranth knows whaat he wants off of you." He said that with sarcasm. It was quite blatant what the weyrleader wanted. Probably something he was lacking in that spacey relationship of his wih the weyrwoman. Ezieki had heard the pair weren't as close as perhaps a weyr's leading couplel should be.

"Covert operation it may be, but, I wouldn't trust J'f - him a far as I could throw him." Ezieki paused, the drudge was approaching with two warm klahs. Ezieki smiled pleasantly, thanked her and watched for a while (as long as would make it seem he was a little interested). He let her rfall out of earsdrop then continued.

"You shouldn't be proud," He told her bluntly, "Aderes isn't a woman to be trifled with as far as I hear, and well She and he might not be close, but he's still the Weyrleader..." He paused, "I know, you can't help how you feel about him, but don't act rashly. You will regret it." Ezieki promised her, he was already promising himself that he would keep an eye on J'fel. Sassie was a smart girl, but he was a cunning man, short men always were... atleast to Ezieki's experiences. "Drink." He said as she nudged the klah over to her, as he lifted his own mug to his lips, drinking down a long draught.

[Xinnai]

"I'm not besotted." She sighed as Ez threw an arm about her shoulders, sagging under the weight slightly and pouting petulantly. She felt like some erring child and did not take kindly to it. "Ezi..." She began but he interceded, asking for klah from a drudge with a quick smile and honeyed voice. She frowned, shaking her head before he even started spoking. But at the "Faranth knows what he wants off of you" she stiffened, entire face burning red as she stared at her friend, all indignation.

She waited for the drudge to come and go again, teeth grinding and her eyes sparking with rage. She hardly ever got angry but she could feel one storm coming and frowned into her drink as he pushed it at her, with his warnings ringing in her ears. She took one short drink before slamming the mug onto the table, klah splattering everywhere as she wheeled out from under his arm to glare at him, face still burning red and her eyes incensed.

"Don't you think I know what I'm doing?" She barely restrained herself from shouting. Her words came out in venemous whisper. "I do know what I'm doing, Ezieki! I do. And for Faranth's sake, it's just a sharding ring! And he offered! There was flirting and such but for Faranth's sake, Ez, we're young and allowed to do it! I respect Aderes, I respect her as woman and Weyrwoman and do not think that anything that is going on here undermines that respect, do you? It was flirting! Nothing even happened!" She threw her hands up in the air and then slumped to the table with a giant sigh. "I know what I'm doing," she whispered, the impending tears making her voice tremble.

[neopanther]

He pulled here closer to him, into his embrace, she could vent her frustration on him as much as she liked, he would not bite back at her, "Come on... don't be silly, I know this isn't you." He said with a straigth face. "I know its not what you want, I know you respect Aderes, but, I haven't seen any of the other candidates walking around with as nice a ring on their finger as that, let alone one from the weyrleader." He pointed out, his tone soft, cautious, "I'm not saying this to tell you you're wrong, that you're being naive, or anything. I don't want to see you get hurt is all." Ezieki's words were thoughtful, and they showed that he cared, it was, too, written all over his face.

"I know you know what you're doing, but what he does can change that quickly.I know what guys like him are like - I'm pretty much one myself." He pointed out, a gentle smile returning to his lips, he let her go a little, "Nothing ha happened yet, Sassie. But I don't think you'd be acting like thihs unless there was implication, likely from him, of something more." He said sceptically, the last part spoken quietly, almost as though to himself, but it wasn't. It were as though saying it quieter made it seem less real, less likely. For he didn't want to believe what his mind was telling him. But there would be no way, a guy - and if memory served J'fel was about his age - like him would just flirt with a girl, and buy her a ring. Ezieki was a well off lad, but he'd never think of buying a girl a ring, it was like giving them false hope.

Then something dawned on him.

What if, what if it wasn't false hope, what if he wanted Salina to become twined around his little finger - as she denied- but obviously was already?

"I really hope for your sake you do Sassie... I don't want to have to get involved with J'fel..." He said shaking his head, "The man's got too much power behind him, too much influence." Ezieki might be a little silly at times regarding rank, but he knew when to leave some one the hell out of his affairs.

[Xinnai]

Salina wrapped her arms about him, hugging him tightly to her, head slowly shaking back and forth. "Ezieki, it's nothing at all like that, I promise, okay?" She pulled back to cup his face in her small hands, eyes staring seriously into his, trying to convince him of her very strong feelings upon the subject. Strong not because she liked J'fel as Ezi thought, but strong because there was nothing to be worried about.

"It was a trinket, darling, I promise. Just a little something for luck at the Hatching. There was no special meaning attached to it, no reason for giving it that I could discern. I didn't even ask for him to buy it, he just did. He insisted upon it." She hugged him again, feeling a whirl of emotions spinning inside her. She was happy and proud to have someone care so much over her, but it was really inconsequential.

"He has power, Ez, but he doesn't know quite what to do with it, I think. And besides," eyes glittered as her grim smile spread, "if what you think is going to happen happens. I'll have quite a bit of power too." Her smile spread then, bright and happy. "Thank you for worrying about me," she murmured, running fingers through his red hair.

[neopanther]

Mentally he cursed her, she was letting this slide, she was to weak to stand up to it, to realise and admit it. But he couldn't do anything now except to wait and watch things all fall into place. And be there for her when it did.

Maybe it was just the fact that she didn't know where she stood, and she didnt want to think about it. But with some one like him, you had to keep your gaurd if you were not going to be fooled by them. Ezieki knew only too well.

"Fine Sassie, but as I said, I don't see any other girl walking round with a trinket frorm him." He raised his eyebrows, his final point, he would leave it there.

I think he'd know how to use his powewr against some one like me... He thought cynically. She really does think in a naive manner... His thoughts were kept to himself, he would not voice them, she was obviously not comfortable talking about it, but he would be there for her if she wanted to talk, when ever. Her hands pllayed through his hair, his scalp tingled a little, pleasantly at the feeling.

"It's him I don't trust." He smiled, gently pulling frorm their embrace, "now you, I think we're meant to have a varius number of chores to do tomorrow - not that I'm certain, and I'm not, and not that I have large plans to do them, I plan to sleep, but, just incase, I think it's about time we leave." He smiled, Downed the last of his klah. He stood and offered her a hand. "You know I'll always listen, though. Don't you? No matter what, I want you to tell me..." He said softly.