Making It Clear

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 20th July 2016

Characters: J'kri, Paetri
Description: J'kri remembers an important day.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 12 of Turn 8

~*~
J'kri walked into the weyr, noticing all the little differences:
another chair, a few different knickknacks on the mantle, books on
dragonhealing filling a new shelf. A smile spread across his face and
he thought of the day when things had changed.

~flashback~

As they sat together on Paetri's couch, J'kri dug in his pocket. "I
wanted to give you something." He pressed a braided string into her
hand, green and blue threads woven together. "My sisters and I used to
make these and give them to people who were special to us."

Paetri's brow furrowed as she looked at the braided string. "It's very
pretty." She smiled as she fingered it, then looked back up. "Did you
make it?"

"Yes. I know it's a silly kid thing, but... it felt more personal than
jewelry." He reached up to trace her cheek. "I made it while thinking
about how much I love you."

Her eyes immediately softened and she tilted her head towards J'kri's
fingers. "I love it." She leaned to press her lips to his in thanks.
"And I love you." She held it out. "Can you help me put it on?"

"Sure." His fingers brushed along the soft skin on the inside of her
wrist as he bound the ends of the bracelet together. "R'axe told me
you talked to him."

She looked up at him and then down at their hands. "Oh. He did?" She
fingered the woven bracelet with her free hand. "I guess you're pretty
upset at me, then."

"No! I feel terrible that I hurt you." He took her hands. "Maybe I...
embrace weyrlife a little too much but I didn't know it bothered you."

"I didn't want you to think I was trying to change who you were." Her
voice was soft as she looked at their hands. "But...there was so many
that I started to feel like maybe I was just one of a whole bunch of
people." She sighed. "And I got a little jealous too, I suppose."

"You're _not_ just one of many. I love you. I care about most of the
people I sleep with because I like people, but it's not the same.
They're acquaintances and friends, but you're _more_." If she didn't
see that, he'd keep trying until she did.

She finally lifted her eyes to look at him and her fingers curled into
his. "Just maybe...don't sleep over with them? I don't mind R'axe, but
I want to be the one that wakes up next to you, whether it's in your
weyr or mine. Can we do that?"

J'kri relaxed. "Yeah, absolutely. And speaking of R'axe, I made one of
those bracelets for him, too." He waited to see her reaction.

That simply made Paetri smile and she nodded. "He loves you too."

A relieved, happy grin spread across his face. "I know." J'kri pulled
her closer for a kiss.

At his relief, Paetri smiled and kissed him back. "Did you think I'd be upset?"

"I worried you might think you were less special to me because he's
special to me, too." J'kri loved both of them.

She shook her head. "No. I know how special he is to you. He's special
to me to, you know." Paetri offered a soft smile, then laid her hand
on his cheek. "I know you love me, J'kri. Sometimes I just want other
people to know it too."

"Oh." That hadn't occurred to him. "Is there a way you'd like me to
make that clear?"

That made her blink and she tugged at her braid. "Well...I don't
know." She admitted.

"If you think of something, tell me." He'd to practically anything to
make her happy.

She chewed on her bottom lip, then flushed a little as she stared down
at the bracelet on her wrist. "Well...I uhm..." She cleared her throat
and shifted in her seat, then glanced up at J'kri through her lashes.
"I don't really know how to say it."

"Give it a try." He smiled encouragingly.

She took a breath and then met his eyes. "Share a weyr with me."

J'kri's eyebrows went up. "You want to weyrmate?" Not that he was
opposed, he was just surprised. "Can I talk to R'axe first? I don't
want him to get the wrong idea."

Paetri's face flushed immediately. "Well, I...I thought we might just
share a weyr or something. I know that you don't want to be pinned
down or anything and it might just be easier for us both..." her voice
trailed off. "To you know...share a bed at night..."

"That's pretty much what weyrmating is." J'kri smiled. "It's not like
marriage. It can be whatever we want."

She nodded. "Then I guess that's what I'm asking for." She shifted a
little on her seat. "Of course talk to R'axe. I'm sure he'd like
to..." She blushed and cleared her throat. "Join in sometimes."

"Mmm, yeah..." J'kri had vivid, fond memories of their time together.
''That's why I want to talk to him. Er, I mean, I want him to
understand weyrmating with you doesn't mean I'm cutting him out."

Her brows rose and then a wider, more mischievous smile played on her
mouth. "I wouldn't want to cut him out either, you know."

J'kri pulled her close and bent to press kisses along her neck. "I
think he'll be happy to hear that. I know I am."

Snuggling close to J'kri she sighed. "I love you, J'kri."

~end flashback~
Out on the ledge, Rademerth rumbled a greeting. J'kri hurried out to
say hello to his weyrmate.

Weyrmate. Yes, he liked that.

Last updated on the July 25th 2016

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Making It Clear