A Friendly Game of Chess (2/2)

Writers: Jen, Jonathan
Date Posted: 30th September 2005

Characters: J'kyran, S'bryn
Description: J'kyran and S'bryn play a game of chess...with an interesting outcome. (Part 2)
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 3

J'kyran cursed under his breath as S'bryn moved a knight, and knocked on of his rooks off the board--another stupid mistake. It was well into the game, and J'kyran was a skilled enough player to tell that he was losing. Badly. Of course, not being able to look your opponent in the eye, thanks to embarassment, didn't help.

"Okay, okay..." he muttered, studying the board before sliding a pawn forwards a space. "Maybe I was a bit cocky, when the game started...."

"Oh, so now you admit to it," S'bryn smirked good-naturedly, "Although you could do me a favor and tell me what's got you so distracted. I've never seen you be this lax with strategy!" Which was true, the bronzerider thought. While J'kyran's methods may not always make sense from the start, he usually had _some_ idea what he wanted to do. This game was more like he was just moving whatever piece came to hand first.

The greenrider flushed, staring intently at the pieces to try and hide his discomfiture. Yeah, like hell he was gonna tell S'bryn what was going on..."I guess...I must just be having a bad day. A really, really bad day." The rider sighed--he was a good enough player to know that in this position--no, in this situation--that a loss was pretty much inevitable. He reached out, and flicked over his king.

"You got me. I resign."

S'bryn's jaw nearly hit the table. "J'kyran, in all the time we've been playing this game, nearly from the first week I transferred here, neither of us have _ever_ called it quits from a game, and I remember each of us losing pretty miserably at some point or another..." He sat back in his chair and studied the younger man worriedly. "What on Pern is _wrong_ with you this evening? I am not moving a single piece to reset this board, or getting up from this chair until you spill the beans, buddy."

"Well, um, you see..." J'kyran stammered, as he fiddled nervously with a couple of pawns. He couldn't _possibly_ tell S'bryn the truth--that he was getting rather attracted to his friend. No way. But he could lie. "I just haven't, ah, been feeling well. I think I, maybe, came down with something...the cold and all that..." The greenrider ducked his head, hoping the other man wouldn't notice how red in the face he was--and trying harder to ignore Karynth, who was staring at the back of his head.

"Uh huh," The bronzerider looked at his friend skeptically. "Have I ever mentioned that not only am I better at chess than you, but I'm also a much better liar?" He was starting to worry a bit - they were close enough friends that he wasn't expecting the rather obvious lie from J'kyran, and it had seriously thrown him. What in the world could the greenrider be hiding from him, of all people?

It never occured to S'bryn that it could be something about him - he tended to be rather dense sometimes when it came to emotions and romance - at least when it came to other men. He'd figured women out enough to know most of the right things to say and when. For now, he was fumbling, his voice quiet. "Come on buddy, what's going on that you don't want to talk to me about it?"

J'kyran flushed, opened his mouth, shut it again...and slumped in his chair. It was really no use trying to weasel his way out of this one anymore. Shards. "It's that some of the...comments you've made...could be interpreted somewhat, ah, suggestively," the greenrider said, his voice quiet. "And it ties into the fact that, against my own best efforts and interests...I'm somewhat, um, attracted to you."

One blink. Two. A long moment stretched in silence as S'bryn's mouth worked silently. Without realizing he did it, the bronzerider reached up and shut his own mouth, nearly biting his tongue as he tried to figure out what to say. How was he supposed to respond to this? It wasn't the first time another male had been... attracted... to him, but it was the first time it was a close friend. Unlike the other times when he could say, 'Sorry, you're not my type,' and move on with no harm and no foul, he could hardly do that to J'kyran. This was going to take tact... And that was something he had precious little of.

"Ahh, er, I..." He stuttered, "I, uh, don't quite, know what to say,"
S'bryn knew it was lame, as it would be obvious to anyone that he was struggling with this little revelation.

J'kyran shrugged, looking very miserable. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I tried to stuff it down. I never meant to let on. I know it's not...right. I'm sorry..." This was just great. Just awesome. First real friend he's ever had at the Weyr, and this happens. No wonder his family considered liking men something of an abomination.

"No, no, It's okay." S'bryn shook his head. "I'm flattered, J'kyran, really... You don't have to apologize." The tall bronzerider stood up, debating his next actions. "I'd apologize, but I don't know what I'd be apologizing for. If I... liked.... men, you'd be at the top of the list of people I've met here, but the fact remains that I'm not homosexual, or even bisexual. I just don't want to let it ruin a friendship that I've come to value."

"I know. I'm sure it's...just fine." J'kyran gave the other man a faint smile. Like it was possible for it not to be ruined now. Hah.
"S'bryn, no offense...but I'm truly not, ah, feeling that great.
Um...same time, next week, for the game?"

Stepping around the table, S'bryn cupped his fingers around the other man's chin and made him look up. "You don't believe me, do you?" At this, the bronzerider felt a small flare of temper and moved back with a frown before he did something stupid. "We've been friends for how long now, and I've never lied to you... But you don't believe me when I say I'm not going to ruin our friendship. Huh."

In a blink, J'kyran was on his feet, backhanding S'bryn's arm away.
"And why should I?" he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. "Why should I believe you? I visited my old home once--_once_--after I Impressed, and do you know how many of my friends would even _talk_ to me? Almost _noone_. My own sharding parents aren't sure whether or not to be proud, 'cause I'm a 'rider, or embarrassed, 'cause I ride a green dragon!" Behind him, Karynth's gaze was fixed on her rider, eyes whirling orange, her tenseness matching her rider's.

"So, you give me one good reason why I should believe you! I didn't do _anything_, not once, with any man, and they wouldn't even look at me.
And I'm supposed to think that you're not gonna be offended, not gonna be _embarrassed_?"

S'bryn shrugged, not even rising to the bait of J'kyran's anger. "It's holdlife. What could you expect? I've gotten too used to weyrlife to share hold prejudices." He moved around the fuming greenrider and headed for the door. Stopping for a moment, he turned and looked back at his friend. "I'll be back in a couple hours, after you've calmed down, and we can talk about this."

He headed for the ledge, where Zaharath's bulk was waiting, pulling his cold weather gear back on. S'bryn silently fumed at J'kyran for expecting that sort of reaction from him.

J'kyran stared at the chessboard for a long moment, his jaw working silently. Then, ignoring Karynth's worried gaze, he spun on his heel and strode quickly for the ledge, fists clenching. He was definitely angry...but it was no good to end something on this note.

"S'bryn!" he called out, hoping to catch the bronzerider before he left. It didn't work. Zaharath had already pushed off from the ledge, J'kyran's call lost in the rush of air accompanying takeoff.

He stared at the retreating dragonrider for a long rider, before turning and returning to the warmth of his weyr, still carefully avoiding Karynth's gaze. }: Are you alright? :{ she asked, her tone worried.

J'kyran looked at the chess pieces for a long moment--his fallen king, the disarray of his pieces--then spun, lashing out and throwing the chessboard across the room. It hit the wall and broke in two, the halves landing with a dull "thunk", as the pieces scattered across the room.

"I'm fine."

Last updated on the October 1st 2005

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A Friendly Game of Chess (2/2)