Did You See...?

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 19th April 2019

Characters: Alina, J'ackt
Description: There's drama in the Weyrbowl, and Alina is very eager to talk about it
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 24 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, Cyradis, K'deren

Alina

J'ackt

"Did you see what happened today in the Weyrbowl?" Alina said in lieu of a proper greeting. Her hair was wet and tightly braided back, and her eyes were bright as she stepped into J'ackt's weyr. "I can't believe it!"

J'ackt looked up as Alina some walked into his weyr and put a hand out to stop his swinging bag. His brows rose as he unwrapped his hands, then pulled a shirt back over his head. "No. Should I have?"

"So. I was coming back after bathing Imairth when all of a sudden Yumath comes in from /between/ lands in the middle of the Weyrbowl." Alina sat on the edge of J'ackt's bed, clearly delighted that she had someone to tell the story to. "He's completely covered in char, like he's been fighting Thread-- but it's not a Threadfall day? I don't know why he's so dirty. My Wingleader looks _furious_. Cyradis comes marching out of the Hatching Cavern and screams at him for-- for 'taking a bronze in his prime to the final /between/'! Except obviously he didn't, D'hol is right there. And then she _slapped_ him!"

"Wait a sec...what?" J'ackt stared at Alina, confused by the rapid story and trying to visualize exactly what happened. "Cyradis was screaming? She doesn't scream at anyone. Ever. I've never heard her do that. " He eyed Alina. "Are you sure it was her and D'hol?

"Of course it was D'hol!" Alina rolled her eyes. "I know what my Wingleader looks like. Anyway, then he grabs her by the hand and drags her out of the Weyrbowl! And I have _no_ idea what that was about."

"That makes no sense at all." J'ackt sat beside her, brows knit. "I heard they have a history or something, but they're usually so shaffing formal with each other when I've seen them together." There hasn't been Threadfall today; it had been the day before, and Zith had been furious to be left out. "Final /between/, huh? Maybe he was trying to off himself or something. "

"I guess so, but _why_?! D'hol hasn't seemed any different than usual lately. He's still a beast at drills. And how on Pern did the Weyrwoman get wind of it?" Alina pulled her braid over her shoulder to run the end over her fingertips. "Maybe Yumath said something to Panitath."

"How am I supposed to know? I don't talk to D'hol, and I'm sure as bloody blazes not going to ask Cyradis about it." He peered at her and smirked. "Why don't you ask him? You're in his Wing. Maybe he'll just spill it for you."

She made a face. "He's my _Wingleader_, not my friend. But I do wonder... why would he want to try to kill himself?"

J'ackt considered the matter for a long moment, frowning. "Well, could be dying already. Maybe he just wanted to go sooner. I've heard riders do that if their dragons go before them." He shuddered at the thought.

"But nothing's wrong with Yumath. And letting yourself get eaten alive by Thread?" Alina wrinkled her nose. "That's awful."

"We don't know that either, you know." J'ackt shrugged. "It's his choice, ain't it? If that's what it is. We just don't know. I'm sure we'll find out eventually. Or at least hear more about it." It really didn't concern him too greatly; he barely knew D'hol, except by sight. "Doesn't really concern us."

"Oh, come on. You're not even a bit curious?" Alina asked.

"Not really," He admitted. "It really doesn't affect me, but it might you." He looked at her. "Does it worry you or something?"

The greenrider snorted. "No. Well... maybe a little. D'hol's my Wingleader. But it's also just interesting-- I'm curious about other people. Aren't you?"

He considered her question and then slowly shook his head. "Nope. Not unless it affects me or Zith, or someone I care about. Then I could really care less." It was easy to admit; he had little care for other people's troubles. "I guess I spent too much time on my own to really be curious about something that's not important to me."

"You should try it sometime." Alina smiled at him, unfazed by his admission. "You might surprise yourself."

"Why? What's the point?" He looked at her with an raised brows.

Alina grinned back at him. "Because you might find out that you like it. Or someone. Who knows? Worse case scenario is that you're mildly diverted for a short time."

"Eh." He shrugged, but smiled at her grin. "I'll let you do that and then tell me what you've heard." He bumped her shoulder with his own. "You seem to enjoy it more, anyway."

"That's because you haven't tried," Alina replied tartly. "Ooo... I bet this means that K'deren will be leading drills tomorrow."

He looked at her, arched a brow and then silently queried Zith. It only took a moment for Zith to ask a few well connected dragons and come back with an interesting answer. "Zith says that Yumath's is sick and needs to see the Healers, but he's refusing. And the other dragons have told him to mind his own business." J'ackt shrugged. "So maybe K'deren will and maybe he won't."

Alina was gazing at him with her mouth agape. "You _knew_ all this time!?"

He blinked. "Well, no, I just asked Zith to ask." He shrugged.

The greenrider shook her head. "Clearly a bronze dragon is wasted on you," she muttered, then leaned over to kiss him on the cheek anyway. It gave her a nervous little zip in her stomach when she touched him. "Maybe if I'm lucky we won't have drills tomorrow at all."

His eyes warmed at the light kiss, pleased that she was growing even more comfortable around him. Even a turn ago, that little kiss wouldn't have happened. "Have Imarith ask Donneth. Greens like to chatter. She can probably find out." He tilted his head. "If you don't or even if you do have drills, why don't you have dinner with me at the lake? Unless that's still too public for you." The last was said with a distinct challenge, not bitter or biting, but with a hint of humor.

She hesitated, trying to remember if she'd made any commitments to anyone else for that evening. "All right."

His brows shot up in mild surprise. "Really. Okay then. We'll have dinner."

The way he was looking at her made Alina nervous. "All right, then."

He studied her face for moment longer, then frowned at the sudden nervousness he saw. "Wish you'd stop acting like I was about to reach out and bite you. Besides, if I was going to, I'd do this. " He leaned over and before she could pull away, placed a soft open mouth kiss where her shoulder met her neck, then carefully nibbled at the soft skin before pulling away. "It's not so bad, you know. "

Gooseflesh raced down her back and she shivered in spite of herself. "I think you just proved your own point," she said, a little breathless.

"Hmmm. Maybe. But you liked it. But all you would ever have to do is tell me to stop, Alina, and I would." He rose from the bed; it would be far too easy to try to convince her for more, and she wasn't ready. "I'll see you for dinner, okay?"

She pulled the collar of her shirt back in place and stood as well. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He looked down at Alina. Waiting for her to be ready, after nearly two turns of wanting her was getting more and more difficult. There was so much he wanted to show her and sweet Faranth, he wanted to see her really relax in his arms. What was she waiting for? Why didn't he just seduce her properly? He knew he probably could; she was responsive to him. Maybe if he did they could stop dancing around each other like they were. But shells, he wanted her not to have regrets either. He couldn't help himself from asking. "After dinner tomorrow, " he stepped up to her and let his hands fall on her waist, "will you finally let me do more than kiss you?"

**_What_ else?** Her mind raced. What did he intend? And what about the ring that still sat in its box beside J'ackt's bed? Alina gathered
her scattered thoughts, but it felt like she was trying to catch sunbeams between her fingers. "I suppose-- I suppose that depends on what you bring for dinner."

His brows rose, catching a hint of her nerves. Shaffit. He sighed, but stroked his thumbs lightly over her waist. "Well, I'm not planning on getting you drunk or anything." His half-smile revealed the mild tease. Then he recalled another piece of advice Cyradis had shared and he wanted to groan aloud. Faranth, he had forgotten, but it made sense, especially now. "We can talk about it later, so don't worry, okay?"

She gave him a skeptical look. What sort of game was this? But she didn't voice any of it as she stepped away. J'ackt had also made it perfectly clear that this whole thing was on his terms, anyway. "I'll-- see you tomorrow, then. Let me know where I should meet you. By the lake."

"After you get cleaned up after drills." He bent to brush his lips over her cheek. "I'll see you there."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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