No Accounting For Taste

Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 14th February 2007
Series: Saving Each Other

Characters: Kenza, N'vanik
Description: Kenza interrupts N'vanik's reading of the book he stole from Talryne in order to see how he's doing with his weyr to himself.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 20 of Turn 4

N'vanik

'L'shal reached out one of his large, strong hands and brushed Minoa's face tenderly. "How I love to see you smile," he told her.

Minoa placed her soft hand over his. "You're the one that makes me smile, L'shal. If you hadn't--"' N'vanik was brought back to reality by a knock on his door. Lowering the book, he called, "Who is it?" If it was Talryne, he was ready to shove the book under a couch cushion. "Kenza." The reply was followed by the greenrider herself, who as usual wasn't waiting for an invitation. "Don't throw me out. I've got baked goods."

N'vanik set the book down on his table. "No gloom and doom this time?"

"Not unless you miss it." Kenza kicked the door shut behind her and carried the rather large basket she'd brought over to his table. "You have to take all of this. If I eat any more of it, they won't be able to get me on my dragon."

"I've got no problem taking it all." He eyed the basket but didn't reach for anything yet.

Kenza set the basket down and took a seat in a chair opposite N'vanik.
"You know that accepting baked goods from me signals your willingness to let me ask personal questions, right?" He lifted an eyebrow. "What kind of personal questions?"

"The kind that make you want to punch me in the face," Kenza replied cheerfully, leaning forward to sneak a sweetroll from the basket. "Of course, you're _much_ too much of a gentleman to beat up on an old, decrepit lady like me, aren't you?"

"I'll punch anybody if they deserve it," N'vanik said. "Just ask your questions and get it over with."

"I hear Talryne's got her own weyr now." Kenza said it casually as she stretched her legs out in front of her. "Yeah. Not dead like you expected her to be." N'vanik was still angry about the last conversation they'd had about Talryne.

"Don't be an idiot," Kenza snapped. "I didn't say that, and you know it. And I'm not going to let you play with me, young man. I was worried about you and worried about her, and you know that."

"Whatever." He picked up a sweetroll and took a bite. Kenza settled back and watched him for a moment. "So how are you doing with your weyr to yourself again?"

"I'm . . . doing fine." N'vanik answered.

"And Talryne?" She was almost afraid to ask, but she tried not to show it. "She's doing good. I got her to laugh the other day." He took another bite to keep from smiling at the memory.

Kenza smiled and relaxed back into the chair. "That's good. That's wonderful." "She's gonna make it."

"You did well, N'vanik."

He tilted his head. "You really think so?" Last time she had been full of warnings, and now she was complimenting him?

"You weren't listening to me before." She leaned forward and snagged another roll from the basket. "I never said you shouldn't help her, N'vanik. I just... I was worried. About both of you. But you managed what I couldn't. You were strong enough."

"Nah," he said, feeling slightly embarrassed. "It wasn't me. Tal's the strong one."

"Don't sell yourself short, my boy." Kenza reached out to pat him on the knee. "You did a good thing. A hard thing. But you're the only person I know who might be as stubborn an old ass as I am, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

He sighed. "Yeah. It isn't . . . it's not easy."

"But you're doing all right?"

"Yeah." Aside from the confusion, guilt, and sexual tension, that was.

Silence fell between them for a few moments, and then Kenza snorted. "Your a sharding rotten liar, N'vanik."

He rolled his eyes. "What? You don't believe I'm ok?" Kenza was too good at seeing through him.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" She tore off another piece of her roll and chewed on it thoughtfully. "You don't have to be all right, you know. I know that your manly ego gets in the way of admitting it sometimes, but you could be tired or scared or confused or any number of things. Maybe just saying it out loud would make it better."

N'vanik set his roll on the table. He wasn't eating it anyway. "Fine." He leaned back with a sigh and crossed his arms. "I'm confused."

"I should hope so." Shards, _she_ was confused, and obviously a good bit more detached from the situation than he was. "Do you want me to start guessing why, or do you want to keep talking?" Kenza's eyes glinted with amusement. "I might guess all sorts of really horrible things to wear you down if you don't tell me."

"Threats like that aren't helping." Alcohol would have helped, but he'd stashed it all away to make sure Tal didn't get into it. "Fine, here it goes... Are you confused because you want my body with a lusty desire that keeps you up at night?" She waggled her eyebrows at him in such an absurd fashion she could barely keep a straight face.

"Ugh." N'vanik made a face. "I think you just killed my libido for the day."

"Ouch. That stings." She reached out and prodded his leg with one boot. "Come on, N'vanik. Just tell me."

He sighed. "I think I'm too attached to her."

It was hardly a surprise, all things considered, but Kenza simply nodded. "It would be hard to put that much time and energy into someone without feeling some sort of strong emotion."

"I used to tell myself it would go away after a while, but now . . . I don't know." He stared at the basket on the table, not seeing it.

"Do you want it to go away?" she asked quietly.

It sure would make things easier. "No."

Kenza managed a smile. "And I bet that's the most confusing part of all."

He snorted. "Yeah."

"I wish I had an easy answer," she said after a few moments. "But I've only got one thing to say to you. And if you don't listen to me, I'll kick you so hard your voice will go up an octave." She leaned forward and braced her arms on her knees as she stared at him. "You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else."

His gaze dropped to the floor. "She does, too."

"Maybe you make her happy." She reached out and mussed his hair with a smile. "Faranth knows why, but there's no accounting for taste, I suppose. Smile, N'vanik, and go take Talryne a basket full of sweets."

He tried not to smile, but it happened anyway. "Thanks, Kenza."

Last updated on the February 17th 2007

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No Accounting For Taste