Wanting to Reach Out 1/2

Writers: Kaysea, Rochelle
Date Posted: 1st September 2007

Characters: M'nex, Badaral, Turoar, Vasco
Description: M'nex realises how deeply Badaral's feelings run for J'ritem.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 1 of Turn 4

"Hey Ari! Come and sit with us." Vasco called out, when he saw the other candidate drop into the chair at one of the alcove tables. "Don't sit on your own, mate."

Badaral looked across at the other table, the nickname becoming slowly familiar to him as more and more of the other candidates used it when drawing his attention. He shook his head, "No, I'm fine here." he called back, happy enough to sit on his own, quietly, in the corner - where he had ample opportunity to watch J'ritem, without being watched over in return.

"You want company Ari - or not?" Turoar walked up to the table a few moments later, a tray balanced in his hands with more food than Badaral had ever seen Turoar consume before.

"You hungry, Tu?" he asked back, his eyes widening as he took in just what Turoar had loaded onto his tray; neatly evading the other candidates question as he did so.

"Yeah, a little." Turoar laughed, in reply, before glancing around at the other tables. "If you want company, we'll have to move to a larger table."
he nodded across to a table set for four, instead of two.

"Umm..." Badaral couldn't meet Turoar's eyes as he searched for some excuse.

"Ohhhh! I get it. Look - say no more, I understand." Turoar backed away heading towards Vasco's table. "You only needed to say you were expecting company." he winked, before turning and continuing on his way.

Badaral shook his head, and was about to deny Turoar's assumption, but let it slide, it was the perfect excuse, until they all realised there was no one.

~*~

M'nex was nursing a warm mug of klah after drills as he drifted idly between a table of his wingmates and the table where his fosterbrother and most of the other disabled riders sat. There were good conversations at both, and they were used to his behavior, dipping in and out of conversations at both tables without ever really missing anything at either. He was floating back toward J'ritem when he noticed the candidate who had been so interested in helping clean Lecitrith sit down in an alcove.

Curious, he kept half an eye on the candidate as he answered some ribbing from his wingmates and argued in favor of using Hall-trained crafters at the other. He saw him exchange some comments with some boys at another table, and then another candidate with an overflowing tray stopped by before moving on. It wasn't until he had perched himself on the edge of his brother's table that he realized that the alcove had a perfect line of sight to J'ritem. Hmm.

~*~

Vasco and the other candidates good naturedly ribbed each other each time one of the female candidates entered the cavern, the occasional whistle attracting the girls attentions. Turoar was busy grazing across his laden tray of food, and didn't notice when the other boys attention returned to Badaral.

He didn't realise the sniggering that was slowly engulfing the table was directed at his friend, and it took him a few moments to comprehend what he was hearing as Vasco leaned from his chair and loudly whispered across to Ari, who was trying to disappear further into the alcove.

"You're not waiting for a girl - are you Ari?" the snide whisper was loud enough to be heard across the divide, and above the local tables.
"You're sitting there mooning over him, aren't you? AREN'T YOU?" Vasco's voice was getting louder, but not loud enough for the older riders and weyrfolk to pay attention.

The other candidates continued to snigger, "The one you'd bend over backwards for..." the double meaning wasn't lost on Turoar, and he looked up, his eyes meeting Ari's, "We've seen the way you are around him..."
Vasco continued.

"Hey - hang on!" Turoar nudged Vasco in the ribs. "What's going on?"

"He's one of _them_." Vasco said, not even trying to hide his contempt.

"One of them?" Turoar knew exactly what Vasco was getting at, but chose to ignore the sneer. "Oh! I know, you mean he's one who looks past outward appearances, and actually likes people for themselves?" Turoar stood up, lifting his tray. "Ari, hope you don't mind, but you're about to have company."

He could feel the heat rising all over his face, and slunk even further back in the shadows. So much for being inconspicuous. He nodded as Turoar made his way across, amidst cat calls from the other boys.

"So, you like him, huh?" Turoar asked, not waiting to be invited to sit down, nor holding his voice low.

Ari nodded his head, not willing to meet the other boys eyes.

"Does he know?" he asked, nodding towards the invalids table.

"Faranth no!"

"Can I ask what it is about him? I mean - well, its not as if he's even normal looking, is it?" He was about to raise his hands in defense, to show he meant nothing more than a simple fact, but it seemed to be the final straw.

Badaral stood up, his hands balled into fists, "Does it matter _what_ he looks like?" he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. "What does it matter to anyone what he looks like? Looks _aren't_ everything." His eyes burned hot with fire as he glared down at Turoar.

"Hey mate! Easy. Sit down before someone thinks you're going to hit me."
Turoar reached up and grabbed hold of Badaral's tunic and dragged him back into his seat. "I didn't mean any offence. I was just curious."

~*~

M'nex paused briefly before replying to a question, his attention caught by Badaral leaping to his feet after the other candidate joined his table.
The brownrider he was addressing followed his line of sight, watching as the other candidate pulled Ari down.

"Looks like trouble brewing." His wingmate remarked. "Do you know him?"

M'nex nodded distractedly, finally seeing the color suffusing the candidate's face in the shadows. "Met him the other day. Although he didn't really seem the type to be..." He trailed off with a groan. "No. He isn't. But he's holdbred, and I think the other candidates have just figured out that he's definitely blue -maybe green." He glanced apologetically at the other rider. "I should probably keep an eye on them.
Make sure it doesn't come to a fight. Mum hates brawls in her dining cavern."

The brownrider rolled his eyes. "Kids. You see why I think we should keep Search inside the weyr?"

"Not enough people, unfortunately." M'nex remarked as he started drifting toward the other end of the table.

~*~

"What does it matter what he looks like?" Vasco sneered from behind the pair. "Honestly Ari, if you were going to show your true colour before Impression, the least you could do would be find one that looks appealing."

Once more Ari's chair flew out behind him as he stood up to the heavier boy. "Shut Up!" his hands, balled into fists again, we now level with his waist, elbows bent ready. "You take that back now!"

Turoar stood up in front of Ari, "Vas, go, now." he said, hands held up in an attempt to placate the older and more heavily built boy. "Please go, you don't wanna end up shovelling dung - so just go." He glanced around hoping no one was really aware of what was going on in the alcove.

"No, no. I'm not leaving." Vasco nudged Turoar aside. "If this little _green_ thinks he can stand up to me, let him."

"Ari, please." Turoar tried to push past Vasco and confront his friend, "let it go. You don't want to be sent to Tatitem again, do you? Look what happened last time." He hoped that referring to the two sevendays of punishment in the dragon infirmary may help to ease the anger Ari was feeling.

"Look where it led me to." Ari replied, the words ground out from between clenched teeth. "Part of my punishment also led me to him. Helping him, watching him struggle daily, wanting to reach out and help, hold... "
Even though his words had been for Turoar - his eyes hadn't left the hold they had on Vasco's, he was ready for anything.

"Oh shards, he's in _love_." Vasco's voice rang out. "Hey fellas! He's in _LOVE_! D'you believe it?"

Ari twisted around from the waist, his right arm pulled back - just waiting for Vasco to turn back to him. He put all the power he could behind his arm, wanting to knock Vasco's head right off his shoulders, when he felt a hand grip him from behind.

"Hold it right there, you two." M'nex said sternly, having just reached the alcove. "And just what do think you're doing? This is a _weyr_, in case you've forgotten, not some backwater tavern."

Despite his stern words and authoritative manner, M'nex's heart was racing. Shards! These candidates were only a few turns younger than him, if not the same age. The only hold he had over them were his knots and his fostermother, if they knew about her. And he wasn't sure how much authority his bluerider knots were going to be since Vasco had already demonstrated his opinion on the matter.

"Sorry M'nex, didn't mean to cause a stir." Turoar stepped forward, "Things just got a little out of hand."

"Badaral here just got a little upset at my teasing." Vasco nodded. "No offense meant, Ari." It wouldn't do to be seen by one of the riders as an unworthy candidate. "No need to mention this to the Headwoman, is there, er, M'nex?" he held out his hand in friendship and appeasement.

Badaral's lips were a straight white line as he clenched his teeth and mouth closed. He could feel a tremble throughout his body, and the urge to punch someone - anyone right now, coloured his vision. He breathed deeply his nostrils flaring, realising that M'nex still had a hold of him, "It's okay M'nex. You can let go. He's right," Ari nodded at Vasco, "I just got a little carried away. Sorry."

Vasco realised the bluerider wasn't going to shake his hand, and backed away slowly, "Sorry for the disturbance." he said again, before turning and walking back to his table. He didn't stop - but kept right on walking to the exit, a small following of other candidates in his wake.

"You 'right, Ari?" Turoar asked Badaral again.

Ari gave a nod, but couldn't meet Turoar's eyes.

"Alright, I'll catch you later, 'k?"

Badaral gave an answering nod and muttered an unintelligible reply, still refusing to meet Turoar's eyes.

Last updated on the September 2nd 2007

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Wanting to Reach Out 1/2