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Post by Invisible on Jun 23, 2008 13:27:03 GMT -8
For his apology J’fel was awarded a slight inclination of her head. As if it were her due to receive such words from someone of so lofty a station. Then again, being sure of herself and then some was never her problem as her mother was fond of saying. Genet pretended to not understand what the chair meant. There was a slight advantage to standing when someone else sat if you knew how to do it. Not like an errant student before a harper, but like someone looking down at the other person. Only because of their relative places, of course.
It would have been rude to remain standing for too long. Not to mention it might have seemed as if Genet was standing just to gain an advantage. Which may have been the truth, but it was a lost advantage if the other person were aware of it. This was just like getting the upper hand with the other hold kids. You couldn’t let them see they bothered you. Surely, she thought, This was all politics was. No different than children determining who would be lord of the hill. And she couldn’t help but feel a little smug for knowing she was always lord of the hill at home.
Graciously then Genet took the offered chair with a murmured, “Thank you.” Because was not nearly as old a woman as she acted at twenty turns she grinned. “I’ve had enough of standing on my feet by now anyway.” As if it were her desire to sit and not his. Once she was seated she shook her head. “Nothing. He missed it and there’s nothing to be done for it. You can’t make it up to me because there’s no way to compensate for a once in a life time occurrence.” She was rather proud of that last sentence having worked several bigger words in to it and she had never been a good student when allowed lessons to begin with.
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 14:22:06 GMT -8
J'fel wasn't sure if he was meant to be impressed, but he had to admit he was somewhat impressed. His already-raised brows twitched in place, unable to slide higher, so instead he lifted back his shoulders and straightened his spine. Well, I've been told.
"Of course. How thoughtless of me," said J'fel. His wingriders, finding restraint increasingly complicated, took this moment to murmur something about watching the dancing, then turned their own chairs away from the table and reseat themselves with backs to weyrleader and candidate. This left them free to stifle snickers as ungracefully as they might wish.
J'fel meanwhile was offering Genet his hand, palm up and fingers loosely curled in supplication. "But perhaps it needn't be." His voice dipped lower, and at last so did his brows. "A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, I mean. Pelegaoth's clutched queens before. Perhaps she will again."
He sounded quite a bit more certain than 'perhaps,' but as the sire's rider who could blame him?
"Your brother could have another chance to see you in white."
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Post by Invisible on Jun 23, 2008 14:48:43 GMT -8
Just in time Genet kept from rolling her eyes at the Weyrleader. Barely, but perhaps the sudden blinking would be ignored. If not she would pass it off as sand or something. That was certainly believable. “I would lay my bets on her not doing it while I am still young enough to stand,” she told the Weyrleader and couldn’t keep the cheeky grin from turning her lips up. “Some of us aren’t so young after all.” She did have a whole turn on him. Perhaps plus a few months even. Shaking her head she pretended not to notice the others at the table turning away.
“Anyway, to be perfectly honest I just agreed to stand to get away from home.” Not being a dishonest person Genet grinned and added, “Not that I wasn’t hoping as hard as the others out there, but it’s no skin off my nose she picked someone else.” Peeking around she lowered her voice and confided, “To be honest by the time she appeared I was quite sick of the whole mess. How rude to keep people waiting. Who wants to deal with that forever?” Not Genet who didn’t even wait long enough for J’fel to answer before continuing on.
“So, there’s no other chance. And I don’t mean to take up your time or anything I just thought you should know it was poorly done is all. Family is important too.” Genet is more important than anything! Which is not even inferred. Well, maybe a little, but not much! Just a wee small bit. That’s all. “I should be going anyway. I was supposed to spend the night with G’tet and Kalpeth so didn’t even get a cot and now I need to sort that out.” Which is entirely your fault. I’ll remember this. But all the former candidate did was smile.
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 15:01:58 GMT -8
So much for the brows staying down: they shot right back up as Genet leaned forward, and stayed there through her sharing of confidence and the rest. Poorly done, thought J'fel and tried not to laugh, straightening from the forward lean he'd sunken into in order to meet Genet for the quieter words she'd shared. I should say.
It was because of that bit - not that Genet would have to know it - that J'fel's voice sounded so jovial, so pleasant when he raised his hand up as though to stay the girl from any abrupt departure she might have planned. "Genet, please. The least I can do is take care of that for you. I'm sure G'tet would have left instruction for it to be seen to if what I'd asked of him weren't so - important."
Charm was getting him little enough with this girl, and he wasn't getting the idea that her brother's honor and importance as a rider impressed her much, either. J'fel dropped his hand back to his knee and went for accommodating all the way.
"I can have a place made up for you in the caverns, of course. Or if you wanted to see what it's like to stay in a weyr with a dragon - " It wouldn't do to seem too smart about this. J'fel paused a moment to 'think', punctuating the process with a quiet "uh," before coming to the obvious conclusion with a sudden, bright and hopeful smile.
"I bet Jordeth would be willing!"
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Post by Invisible on Jun 23, 2008 15:33:47 GMT -8
“It’s no bother,” Genet said with a shrug of her shoulders. “I am quite capable of seeing to my own cot.” The subtext was that if he’d cared he’d not have sent her brother off. She was not quite daring enough to say so however. Politely she listened to his words and watched him have his oh so brilliant idea. Before coming to the Weyr she might have been outraged and thought of slapping a man who seemed to be suggesting what he was suggesting. Since arriving at the Weyr she had fended off an advance or two even being a candidate and knew better.
What she couldn’t do was suppress the splutter of laughter that erupted from her when he finished. He thought he was being so smart. She could just guess he thought he was being smart. Which was why Genet had to laugh and then slap a hand over her mouth to conceal a few last sniggers or amusement. Standing up she smoothed out a few non-existent wrinkles from her dress and adjusted the amber hanging around her neck. “It was a good try. Truly it was. But I’m not that naïve or dumb. Good evening, Weyrleader. Do please convey my congratulations to your Weyrwoman in case I do not get to myself.”
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 15:59:50 GMT -8
It was the hand over her mouth that really did it. J'fel laughed, too.
It was a good-natured enough laugh, and he rose to see her off. Worth a try, he thought, eyes drawn for a split-second to the pendant the candidate - well, candidate no longer, if she got her way - wore as her fingers traced it.
"I will, and thank you, Genet."
He was still chuckling under his breath after she'd gone, but by the time the weyrleader turned back to his table, his wingriders had turned themselves around and propped up elbows, chins in palms. Wide-eyed they regarded their fearless leader, expectant.
"Oh, mind your own business," laughed J'fel, and cast out his blue gaze toward the space he'd last seen Salina. Genet had told him to congratulate his weyrwoman, and he intended to do so; after all, she hadn't specified which weyrwoman.
Ah. The young weyrleader's glance was just barely too late to see Salina gesture that welcome to her fellow weyrling. To his eyes she was in a strange way isolated: for a moment that J'fel knew would be rare tonight, the girl was not being congratulated, asked for her thoughts about her dragon, or otherwise subjected to all the indignities of a brand-new weyrwoman on a feasting night.
It was, for his purposes, a perfect moment.
"You'll have to excuse me," J'fel grinned at his wingmates, who'd got their elbows off the table so they could better snicker at their weyrleader; but at this they paused and attended, twisting heads so they could catch sight of where the bronzerider's gaze was stuck. And stayed stuck, as J'fel got up from the table. "I need to give our new weyrwoman a message."
And off J'fel went to Salina's table, pausing just to pick up that drink he'd wanted along the way. He moved quickly enough that he didn't even have to hear the men behind him: "Did he say message, or massage?"
What he murmured to Salina, however, as he came up behind a chair at her table, was: "Looks like you've had some good luck."
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Post by Xinnai on Jun 23, 2008 18:45:13 GMT -8
Salina had just about finished the food on her plate by then. She glanced at the nearly clean plate and then over at the tables of food pressed against the side of the wall. She was rather full but the red fruit had been delicious. She was about to stand and got some of the delicacy when she caught a blur of motion and turned back to whoever was facing her, smile in place for whoever was approaching. She'd gotten thanks already and was wearily resigned to the fact that many people would be hoping to have a word with her tonight.
But the smile slipped and faltered before coming back into place as she saw who it was-J'fel. Well, he'd have wanted to come, wouldn't he? She nodded, pushing her plate aside and reaching for her klah, She eyed him over the rim, grey eyes dancing within her pale face. "Yes, I have, haven't I?" She took a sip and set the mug down, one fair brow cocked, her mouth twisting into a smile of different sorts-rather smokey, a little bit dark. "Shall I thank you, Weyrleader, or rather than Faranth for the good fortune that seems to have fallen upon me?"
She moved, fingers pushing through golden hair in an unconscious gesture, settling the thick swathe of it over her shoulder to spill down the brilliant blue dress she wore. Gold flashed about one finger, sapphire gleaming in the light of the glows with the gesture. How very well put together she was tonight. Dress, ring and feather were all matching. All different parts of different people, all who had a claim of sorts upon her. Herself, Ez'ki and J'fel. At thought, she glanced back towards where she had seen Ez, but the crowd had swallowed him up. She looked back at J'fel, smile still lingering as she looked over his clothes, a slow once-over before meeting blue eyes, smile unfurling, a bright and vivid thing.
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Post by Invisible on Jun 23, 2008 19:09:34 GMT -8
Once done with the Weyrleader she needed a drink rather badly. He had tried to be charming and anyone else might have fallen for it, but really. He stole her brother from her. She had just gotten him back. And he thought a tumble would make things better? Like I'm some weyrbred hussy who would just fall naked at the drop of a charming smile? “What an ass.”
Genet stopped at the table where she might find juice when it dawned on her she had spoken aloud. She craned her neck around to see if anyone had heard and then realized it’s not like they could prove she’d been thinking about the man she’d just spoken too. A quick glance back to where he’d been shown him gone and another look showed where he was. Figures. Struck out with me so he’s on to the next. Although I thought she couldn’t while a weyrling? Well, maybe he’s laying the groundwork although she doesn’t seem like much is needed. Genet wrinkled her nose up at the general level of improperness of weyrbred people. Well, she was not like that. She was better than that.
Now if she could just get a drink. She was dying of thirst still. Maybe it was the heat of so many bodies gathered together? Maybe she’d take her drink and go outside. The outside at least might have a breeze and there was really no one for her to talk to anyway. At the reoccurring thought of being alone she had to keep from sniffling or letting her eyes tear up. Really, it’s not as if he hadn’t been gone before. Only this was different. She didn’t know where he was or even when she’d see him again. And he’d broken a promise. They never broke promises to each other. Ever. It was a much more maudlin looking Genet who reached for a drink and she let people write it off to a failed attempt at becoming a weyrwoman.
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 20:11:45 GMT -8
"Thank Deoneth," murmured J'fel. The golden shirt - a match to Aderes' gown - made much advantage with hue and cut of his even skin and ever-tousled hair; black for slacks and boots made his legs seem long and played up his youthful figure. His voice was his best adornment, however; it contained a desire that lent his words a depth even greater than he'd addressed Salina with the day he bought her the ring, and such hunger made his eyes endless as oceans. "When she's wakened, anyway."
He drew back the chair with a pull of his hand and stepped around beside it, but instead of seating himself flattened a palm on the table and bent from the waist over his arm. From this angle the fact that he wore some kind of pendant tucked inside the shirt was apparent from glimpses of black cord along the collar. His gaze moved over her, taking in the details she was aware of and the rest as well: the feather and the dress, the drape of her hair and the glint of the ring.
"Congratulations," he said, and might just as well have been inviting her to bed for the tone he used. "I suppose we'll be seeing much more of each other, now."
J'fel put down his drink on the table, one more encroachment on the space without quite taking ownership of the chair. He glanced at her emptied plate and back to the weyrling's face and asked, "Can I get you anything?"
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Post by Xinnai on Jun 23, 2008 20:31:08 GMT -8
Salina nodded, eyes roving over his face, taking in those hunger-filled eyes, reflected within her own, the emotion reflected as well. She had to pause for a moment, the sound pregnant with their own tension and roiling emotions, the sounds from the jovial celebration about them occassionally popping in, but for the most part the newly made rider ignored them, instead watching her companion.
She sank back into her chair, body curving to its contours, her chin tilted as she watched him, grey eyes deepening before she spoke, voice rising with a slow nod. "Yes, I shall do that." One couldn't say her voice was sultry or even coy, but it carried its own heat as she watched him, eyes dropping to his neck, to shoulders and chest before rising, catching sight of the pendant. Hungry curiousity ate at her but she kept silent, just absorbing him. The sights, the sounds, the feelings. It was a much headier combination than any wine present.
"I suppose we shall," she echoed, watching him, almost like a cat, but not nearly as wary. She seemed languid, at ease, and it was a far outcry from her actions at their last meeting.
She would have chuckled at his question-it had so many hidden meanings that she could take-but she kept silent, lips curving into a soft smile. "I meant to go get some red fruit. It is rather delicious but it can wait for now. I need that escape route for later." Smile lengthened as she motioned towards the chair he seemed to so enjoy using as a prop. "Would you care to sit, J'fel?"
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 22:58:19 GMT -8
J'fel could feel the weight of the weyrling's gaze upon him. He felt exposed - but not in a way that could ever embarrass him. He was like a statue, unashamed, bared to her eyes. His smile grew and his breath deepened and when the young weyrleader straightened his back, he seemed to be just that much taller than he'd been before.
Now that's more like it.
With a lean animal grace, J'fel sank into the chair. "Escape route, huh?" Now that his seat had become furniture, the table and his drink would have to do for props; he bent his elbow up onto the former and lifted in his hand the latter. Head turned, he presented Salina his profile - all dark tangled locks straying every which way over his temple and ear, fine curves and planes of nose and forehead interrupted by long dark lashes - and took quick stock of the crowd.
After a second his eyes slunk to their corners, regarding the junior weyrwoman again. His voice held something wry and suggestive in asking, "Someone you need to avoid?"
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Post by Xinnai on Jun 23, 2008 23:12:17 GMT -8
Salina nodded, watching as J'fel took his chair. It was simple gesture, though it shifted at bright gold locks, making them sway and tumble with the movement. "Yes. You know how well wishers can get to be. It makes a person rather claustrophobic at points. It's always nice to have a reason for getting away for a bit of fresh air."
Now, as the feast was progressing, she could feel the eyes resting upon her with an almost physical weight. Was it because she was their new weyrwoman or was it because of present company? With a mental shrug, she decided it didn't matter, especially as she looked at J'fel, at the way he was so clearly presenting herself.
She smiled softly, hand unconsciously rising to rest upon her lap as she traced her lips in speculation, two fingers cirling round and round the skin as she watched him, that quiet light in her eyes. Was it pleasure? Was it amusement? Perhaps it was a bit of both, for when his eyes peered towards her, the weyrling was still smiling.
"Needing to avoid?" She chuckled softly, leaning towards him. She obviously felt much more comfortable now, in a space she knew, in an atmosphere and climate that was as soothing as a mother's lullaby. She could feel her solemn facade cracking away, just as it did with Ez. The affect some people have. "Well, only if you'd be the one to keep them away from me," she whispered in a conspiring whisper, eyes dancing with the game. "But only then."
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 24, 2008 10:28:46 GMT -8
Just when I was thinking I'd lost my touch, thought J'fel. He was quite aware of the gentling occurring in the weyrling weyrwoman, of the softening of her shoulders and the way she leaned toward him. His attention was leonine, perfectly conscious but absolutely aloof - the same as the slow grin that spread his pretty mouth for a glimpse of teeth.
"If you need to avoid them," murmured J'fel in equally conspiratorial reply, "then I'll have to keep them off if I want your company, won't I."
He waited a heartbeat's time, then let his brows do as they ached to do, flickering upward and back down in the least subtle of cocky waggles.
"And I do, Salina. There'll be no shortage of bronzeriders who'll say the same, of course; you'll have your choice of us." The young weyrleader was not above playing at humility; he sipped from his glass, miming a shrug as he did so, then put the drink down and bent his head down, dropping his gaze. It disguised somewhat the way he leaned into his propped elbow, closing as much space between them as the table that separated them would allow.
Then he raised his eyes once more to her, every bit a humble petitioner for the weyrling's affection. "But from me you know it's true."
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Post by Xinnai on Jun 24, 2008 10:42:38 GMT -8
Mouth twisted to one side, lifting into half a smirk. Now, this was a lovely game, a very lovely game that may or may not have been a game at all. "Yes, you would have to keep them off, I suppose." She reached for her klah, the movement making the light gild her silken dress, making the peacock blue turn into waves of darker, of black, by her arm as she took another sip of her drink, eyeing him all the while.
He was beautiful, it was true, but Ez had been right...He was slightly dangerous, in the way he could aim those eyes, that voice at a person, and move with unconscious feline grace. She felt a brief pang of envy-she'd never be able to achieve such grace-before she laughed softly, the sound muted and velvet but amused all the same.
"Yes my dear weyleader. I know it to be true-on both counts actually. No shortage of bronzes for the new weyrwoman but of course the weyrleader is in all earnestness very interested." She leaned slightly forward, setting her mug onto the table almost absentmindedly as her foot still kicked softly at skirts, nearly brushing the pants leg of the man seated by her. A golden brow was arched softly in soft questioning, at odds to the almost sarcastic words she'd put to him. "How am I to know your words are true? You are a bronzerider after all and you and I both have heard of their ways."
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 24, 2008 11:16:17 GMT -8
J'fel's agile brows arched and, this time, stayed up. She was caught, now, and the young weyrleader knew he couldn't have done it better himself. He leaned deeply into the bend of his elbow, making a platform of his hand and resting his chin atop it. His other hand counterbalanced him with careless drape across the back of his chair.
"You did say you already know it to be true," he said quietly, words deep and knowing, rich with warmth - no, with heat. "But I wanted your company before, and I put my bet on you - and look. I was right."
He should have been talking about Deoneth, but since the gold of dragon hide was not here to be seen, it was the twined-vine ring upon the weyrling's finger that the weyrleader's gaze sought before coming back to Salina's face.
"I've done more than heard of bronzerider ways, Salina." She'd used his name; he'd use hers. With gentle emphasis his voice took possession of the syllables, caressing them, an intrusion as intimate as any word could be. His eyes were similarly piercing now, suggestive as his words: "And they're nothing to turn your nose up at."
He was treading dangerous territory now. She was a weyrling now and would be for more than a turn, but J'fel felt smug in the certainty he could make I'dalyn see things his way if he needed to. Nothing risked, nothing gained.
He crooked a finger, begging the young woman to lean even closer so that he might whisper for her alone: "If you like, perhaps sometime I'll tell you about them."
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