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Post by anhydrous on Aug 3, 2008 17:59:25 GMT -8
Not exactly pleased with his revised answer, Althesia’s frown deepened. Was she happy now? “No,” she sulked quietly, pure apathy being the only reason she didn’t push the issue any further. Quite suddenly she didn’t care anymore, and she relaxed whatever tension had gripped her spine.
Content for now to continue watching the stars flash across the sky, Althesia settled into the curve of her bronzer’s side to listen to his heartbeat again. The steady sound pulsed against her temple, and any lingering irritation drained with each consecutive beat.
Chewing laconically on the end of her thumb, Althesia sighed as a bright streaker lit up the careful upturned features of her face. The frown was gone, replaced with indifference. The same couldn’t be said for J’rad’s stern expression.
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Post by dragon on Aug 3, 2008 18:17:26 GMT -8
J'rad simply huffed and rolled his eyes. Certainly she was hard to please. However, she did still seem content enough to rest against him so closely. He did seem to like it. For some reason it made him seem wanted, which was always a nice feeling. He shifted a bit just so he could try to find a way to be closer to her.
The hand that rested so tensely on the curve of her hip was now striding up and down, gently caressing her. He was irritated, but he still wasn't beyond showing her affection. Perhaps it was a sign that he truely did care.
"What would you have of me? I speak of the weyrleader in this situation and it's likely to become the weyr's next big gossip. Either one of us could get unwanted attention. I don't like how word spreads so easily around here", J'rad's tone was quiet, so as not to be heard but still held quick gruff. But was he really so concerned with Althesia being put in such a spot? Probably so, more so than he would admit.
"I agreed to this because I thought it would be nice...for the two of us", he added on after a short pause, letting her know he intended perhaps something intimate. Though likely not the intimate she was use to. His tone implied that he was trying for her.
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Post by blueaid on Aug 3, 2008 18:40:33 GMT -8
One of the boys, one who looked perfectly nerdy with his freckles and all, pointed out around a mouthful of cookie crumbs, "They don't land." He started to go further but Anayeli silenced him with a wave of her fingers and impatient sniff, saying something to the effect of "Please shut up, Neratel, we don't want another of your lectures." The girls, her cronies, snickered giddily and settled off in their own conversation about what a tremendous bore Neratel was.
Leaving Ana free to turn back to Genet, to cant her head prettily in the darkness and find an oh-really expression that was mostly lost in the moonless shadows. "An important... mission... for the Weyrleader," she repeated dubiously, trying to let the woman's kinship with an "important" person color a look of respect into her expression. It wasn't working.
"Well. That's good. Isn't it?"
Even vain, self-centered, spoiled Anayeli had reason to doubt the goodness of working for this unpopular young Weyrleader.
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Post by Invisible on Aug 3, 2008 19:00:45 GMT -8
In the darkness it was hard for Genet to make out who was speaking and with his mouth full of cookies it was impossible to recognize the voice herself. When the other girls spoke she squinted at the nerd a moment before laughing. “Really? Some stuff that falls from the sky lands. Like, rocks. That fall out of the sky. My brother told me he saw a hole left by one once.” And her brother never lies. G’tet had no better defender than his twin.
And since she’d brought him up she had to listen to what Anayeli said. “He was asked. Him and the others. I don’t know what it is, but I know it is really important. When they get back then we will know.” Genet had faith in her brother even if she had none for the young weyrleader. “He just needs to get back,” she mutters to herself.
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Post by anhydrous on Aug 3, 2008 23:30:04 GMT -8
Althesia listened vaguely, waving away mentions of the weyrleader with indefinite sounds. Something was nagging at concerning J’fel, and she would rather not come to terms if she didn’t have to. Denial was a wonderful thing. Besides, she understood. It was clear that her bronzer didn’t want to talk about the commission right now, so she just snuggled closer, trying to get him to stop talking so gruffly. Whatever he was doing to her side felt good. Too good.
“How can it be nice if you won’t talk to me about anything?” She asked unhappily. Well, as unhappily as someone could be while the dragonrider that they claimed as their own was rubbing at them. Mostly she was trying not to squirm, the brush of his fingertips calling forth pleasant memories.
J’rad might be trying to change, but Althesia wasn’t exactly sure that was what she wanted. Like her personality and mood, her desires had a tendency to shift. Regardless, she didn’t like it when someone else turned the tables. While there were certainly no shortages of frowns crossing her bronzer’s face at the moment, absently the woman feared that one day she might not be able to procure that endearing little wrinkle in his brow.
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Post by dragon on Aug 3, 2008 23:45:23 GMT -8
J'rad tried his best to stomp out the aggitation he was feeling, old habits dying hard. "Then let us talk about things that won't put us in the center of Telger's latest gossip. What do you expect from me? I didn't take weyrling classes on how many ways one can start a conversation", was J'rad's reply, gruff tone still standing but implying that he was open to suggestion. As long as the topic wasn't so touchy.
J'rad still offered to please her as his hand wandered a little farther up, trying to find that right curve that had caught her breath. It was done so simply and in rhythem with how his hand already moved. To sweeten things, he did kiss her on the side of her head. The kiss itself speaking volumes that he was trying to please her. However, J'rad wasn't going to go out of his way either. He would like Althesia happy, but he wasn't going to be enslaved either. His strong will wasn't going to simply allow him to be used or manipulated. This relationship they were trying for, whatever it may be, would be equal. J'rad wouldn't settle for anything less.
"You know. I am...glad that I could spend a night like this with you", were the bronzerider's words. He paused, however. As if he were looking for the word, then settled for glad. It was still honest, however. The bronzerider wasn't going to lie, there was no point in doing such a thing.
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Post by anhydrous on Aug 4, 2008 0:29:03 GMT -8
Trying to put the irritation behind them, Althesia attempted a joke. “That’s one of many lessons at the Harper Hall,” She confided lightly, good humor retuning with each soft caress. The kiss on the head didn’t hurt either, and she smiled at the warmth in the gesture. He might not want to be wound around her finger, but sometimes even the strongest of men fell prey to the women in their lives.
Althesia wasn’t really thinking of control, eyes still trained on the sky as flashes of light passed by overhead. She was considering the intricacies of her bronzer, laying a hand across his thigh absently. She found it a wonder that J’rad could be so gruff and stern yet captivatingly gentle, two completely men seeming to cohabit the same body. Althesia never would have thought such sweetness of the bronzerider when they first met, and even now it came as something of a shock.
Throughout her musings J’rad’s hand was still wandering, the conquest teasing and delicious even through the fabric of her shirt. As heat rose to color her cheeks with a flush, Althesia bit at her lip. “I’m glad too,” she agreed breathlessly, her reasons probably clouded by her bronzer’s soft touch. Turning her face up towards his for a kiss, she let the smallest of satisfied smiles tug at the corners of her lips. All details aside, Althesia liked being in J’rad’s company. Something about it just felt right.
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Post by dragon on Aug 4, 2008 0:42:46 GMT -8
"I did not go to harper hall", J'rad spoke roughly, but it implied he had been in something similiar. "So you will have to excuse my lack of conversational skills", he said bluntly to her but followed it with a kiss on the cheek. How easy it was to speak one way, yet act in another.
J'rad had noticed the breathless reply, knowing he found that sweet spot of hers. He was happy enough to hear her so pleased. If nothing else, this would save him the headache of yet another arguement. However J'rad did turn his head so that he could kiss the woman who was trying to kiss him.
Rather than simply pull away as he did before, he was content to hold the kiss out as he continued caressing her sweet spot, not pulling away until she would. The blanket of night, the distance from any other person, and the setting provided the couple something a bit romantic, so J'rad would try his hand at it. Hopefully, however, simple romance wouldn't turn to passion. J'rad had control, but Althesia was another person entirely.
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Post by Slim on Aug 4, 2008 15:34:20 GMT -8
A high-pitched squeal broke the air as one of the younger girls (about nine or nine turns old) clustered near Anayeli and Genet got lifted into the air. It was a startling sound, but the girl was not the least bit worried: as soon as she got her feet back on the ground, she whirled around and headbutted her assailant in the stomach. "You snuck up on me!"
"Oof!" was Emeni's only response, as she stumbled back with a hand over her stomach. "Yeah, I did, but ow."
"Well... now, you won't do it again!"
"Maaaybe. Maybe not." Planting a hand on the girl's hair, she noogied her mercilessly and then pushed her away to rejoin the other kids her age. Emeni herself was moving towards the larger shadows of her own age group, i.e. Genet and Anayeli. The former she recognized. "That you, Genet? Hullo. And uhm. Hi." The latter, she did not. But far be it from her not to butt in somebody else's conversation all the same.
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Post by blueaid on Aug 4, 2008 20:03:59 GMT -8
Where Genet hated them, Anayeli reveled in her sycophants, even while she rolled her eyes at them-- the typical love-hate relationship that defines teenage cliques. She was the boss, they were her minions, and it suited her just fine. So while her little friend was getting a tongue-lashing from Genet, Ana left her to fend for herself, contributing only, "She's right, Darly. Green really is not your color." A shrug of one shapely shoulder punctuated the remark, and poor Darly could be seen to look confused as the light from a falling star briefly illuminated her big eyes. She was already eager to get back into good graces and mumbled about how she had a red blouse, but it was missing a button, and maybe Anayeli could help her with it later?
Then, unrelated to the talk of fashion and flattering colors, Ana blinked at Genet and asked with a thingy of her head, "Do you think so?" She paused, another star falling in the interlude, then thought to clarify, "That your brother will come back soon, I mean. Not that he could find where a shooting star landed." A scoff colored the black-haired girl's tone; she wasn't exactly buying into Genet's little fantasy there, sorry.
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Post by anhydrous on Aug 5, 2008 1:18:50 GMT -8
Althesia was clueless when it came to romance. That much was clear by the way her hand slid up J’rad’s leg, creeping none-too subtly towards the inside of his thigh. Unlike her stern bronzer, the artist saw no point in unnecessary restraint, always one to embrace life’s bounteous pleasures.
Deepening their kiss despite the unnatural angle it required of her to bend her neck, Althesia enjoyed what the cover of night brought to her. J’rad’s touch felt good, and while she didn’t really want it to stop, she was hungry for more than what he would agree to outside on the rocks.
Making sure to end on a positive note, Althesia pulled away just when her bronzer seemed most eager for her to continue. With her lips barely an inch away from his, she proposed an idea. “Let’s go back to your weyr,” she said breathlessly. Neither of them were really focused on the stars anymore, but they could always ‘watch’ from the ledge.
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Post by Invisible on Aug 5, 2008 7:03:03 GMT -8
“Of course he will be back!” Genet told Anayeli with a scowl obscured by the evening. “He just has to finish his mission and he will return. And then I’ll show you. Next time there are shooting stars we will find where one lands.” G’tet, poor put upon brother, would find himself agreeing to this no matter what. He would have no choice. Besides, he would get his revenge demanding something of his own from his twin. It was the way they worked always with the give and take. Now she remembered why she had avoided Anayeli during candidacy. But, that was over and they were both on the same footing now. She made an effort to be nice.
“Oh, hi Emeni!” she said before that attempt at niceness began. Looking at the seamstress she said, “Anayeli, this is Emeni. Emeni is a steward’s assistant.” And the former weyrleader’s daughter. But if Ana didn’t know that herself she wasn’t hearing it from Genet. “Emeni, this is Anayeli. We stood together. She’s a seamstress.” Both jobs were announced with equal importance. After all, Genet’s work was no better than that of a drudge doing whatever she was told no matter where. There were a few cookies left and she held them out to Emeni. “Want one?”
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Post by dragon on Aug 5, 2008 9:59:28 GMT -8
J'rad did seem hesitant to pull back, but then noticed the hand on the inside of his leg that was inching up. One would have to wonder if this was all she could think about. J'rad decided not to complain though, as much as he wanted to huff.
When she asked to return to his weyr, J'rad only raised an eyebrow in question. He looked around him for a moment. He had to admit that being around all these people, even if they were secluded, wasn't favorable to him. Though the cool air of night was nice, this could all be seen and felt from the ledge. Also, it would give J'rad the opportunity to talk, for both of them to talk.
"Fine", he said finally, finished weighing the pros and cons. He looked over to her then stood up. He would wait for her to get up and leave with him.
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Post by Slim on Aug 5, 2008 10:10:43 GMT -8
"Want one what?" Emeni glanced down, for she hadn't noticed the cookies yet. As soon as she did, her glee spoke for itself. "Oh, yes!" she announced, after she'd already grabbed one. She stuffed it in her mouth she could offer a hand to Anayeli. "Pleased to meet ya," she said, mumbling since of course there was a cookie in the way. And it sprayed cookie crumbs when she spoke.
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Post by anhydrous on Aug 5, 2008 11:07:41 GMT -8
Althesia responded with a smile, gathering up the blanket and her bottle of bourbon. The former was wadded under her arm again; the latter clutched close to her other side as she led the way back to the towering stone wall of the weyr. She was pleased with his belated reply, more than one objective lingering in the back of her mind. They would have their talk, and later, Faraneth willing, maybe something else too.
Throughout their short walk Althesia made sure to keep a close proximity to her bronzer, the few eyes that turned to follow her deftly ignored. A harper’s business was a social one and many of the weyrfolk they passed expected at least a hello. She would apologize profusely later, calling up her best surprised expression and assuring whoever she had offended that she just hadn’t seen them.
After all, Althesia didn’t want J’rad to get the wrong idea. He’d probably assume she’d slept with every person she greeted, so instead she kept her eyes trained forward and made sure that her arm brushed past her bronzer’s occasionally. It could easily be mistaken for an accident, but Althesia sought to remind him, perhaps, of whatever commitment he desired. She was trying. Kinda. Subtle touching that didn't lead up to a passionate tangle of limbs was a new concept for her.
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