Is That Rejection I Smell?
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Francesca, Heather
Date Posted: 31st July 2024
Characters: L'rin, Casmari
Description: Lenorin attempts to flirt with Casmari.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 11, day 24 of Turn 11
Notes: Takes place before Impression
Since making the bet with Haysh and Rabain, Lenorin had been trying to find a way to approach Casmari. However, he either hadn't seen her at meals or she was surrounded by other female Candidates, making her hard to approach. But today he was in luck. When he reported to the dining hall for chores, she was there with another two Candidates. The assistant cook told them to clean and, when she went to wipe down tables, he quickly grabbed a rag and followed.
"Hey Casmari, let's work together. We can get through these tables quickly." He smiled widely.
"Oh," Casmari looked up and automatically returned Lenorin's smile. "You don't mind?" She wouldn't turn down the help because it would certainly make things go faster.
"Of course not." She was even prettier when she smiled. Lenorin was tempted to say something about cleaning being women's work, but he had been at the Weyr long enough (and suffered through some uncomfortable moments) to know she probably wouldn't appreciate the comment. Instead, he began cleaning. "This is easier than a lot of the chores."
"That's true," Casmari said as she scrubbed some more soap across the table top. "I certainly prefer seeing 'Dining Hall Cleaning' beside of my name than 'Latrine Duty'."
Lenorin scrunched up his nose in disgust at the thought of Latrine Duty. "That's true. This isn't so bad. I prefer being outside though; lifting things. You know, I helped with construction," he bragged. Then, he remembered he was flirting, and they said you were supposed to ask questions; show interest. It sounded stupid to him, but Casmari was weyrbred, so that made her different. He continued scrubbing. "Uhhh, do you have a favorite chore?"
"Not really," she shrugged, and then returned to something more interesting he'd said. "_You_ helped with construction? Here? What was it like?" Many things had already been completed when she and her mother came.
Lenorin practically preened at her interest. He should have just followed his instincts and talked about himself rather than second-guessing his approach. "It was pretty exciting. I was here from the beginning. I'm from Barrier Hills Hold, you know. We're known for the red clay that makes the tiles you see on roofs and pottery and things."
He thought back to how it had been at the start. "Well, at first there wasn't much here; the Hold, of course, and some temporary housing. I helped with everything, but mostly moving materials; you know, things you need muscles for." He wished he hadn't worn a shirt with sleeves so he could more easily show off his muscles. Girls liked that. "It didn't really feel like a Weyr until the dragons started arriving, and now they're everywhere." He didn't know if he'd ever get used to it.
"I wish I could have seen it back when it was empty like that," Casmari said wistfully. "I've always lived in a Weyr. You got to see something really special, Lenorin. This place before it was filled."
Lenorin shrugged. This was the only Weyr he had ever been to, so he had no means of comparison. "I guess so." Then, he remembered why he had started the conversation. "There's one place that's still pretty empty. It's a nice little cove not too far from here. Good swimming; nice views."
"Oh yeah?" Casmari asked, immediately interested. "Is it something you can walk to?"
Was it really going to be this easy? Weyrbred girls were up for anything. "It's rocky in places, but you can get there in maybe half a candlemark. Wanna go together?"
"Sure! And I bet some of the others would like to come along as well. We could make a party out of it," she said, liking the idea more and more.
Lenorin stopped scrubbing the table and tried not to let his face fall. In an attempt at a quick recovery, he said, "It's really more a place for romantic things. But, if you have a friend or two, I bet Haysh and Rabain would be interested." Maybe he could drag Arlin along too.
"Oh," she squeaked. A place for romantic things? Did that mean Lenorin had wanted to do romantic things with _her_? Casmari could feel her cheeks beginning to turn pink. She focused more intently on the next table that she had to scrub, keeping her eyes averted from Lenorin. **Has he been flirting with me this entire time?** Her mind was racing back through their conversation. It had all seemed platonic enough to her.
He didn't know what to make of her reaction. Was she interested or not? She was weyrbred. Wasn't she always finding quiet corners to do things with men? "Uhh, so do you want to go? Maybe on the next restday?"
"Um..." Now she felt awkward. She certainly didn't want to go _alone_ with Lenorin to an intimately secluded section of beach. "I, uh, I already promised Aydhara that I would let her help wash Mom's dragon next restday. So, er, maybe another time?" The lie wasn't a very good one, but she felt sure the other girl would back her up on it.
The bells chimed, signaling another meal time at the Weyr. "Oh, that's the bell. I'd better hurry on. Thanks for your help Lenorin!"
She left so abruptly, Lenorin didn't have a chance to respond. He stood there for a few seconds, not quite sure what had happened in the final moments of their conversation. However, he decided she hadn't turned him down. So, he'd try again in a few days. He still had time to win the bet.
Last updated on the August 18th 2024