Do You Mean That? (1 of 2)

Writers: Emma, Len
Date Posted: 9th August 2011

Characters: Teseada, Daran
Description: Things turn serious for Teseada and Daran
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 9 of Turn 6

Teseada

There was a touch of guilt around Teseada. You'd have to know her well to
see it, but it was there. She really wanted to tell Daran who she was, but
it was so nice being treated normally again. Daran seemed so nice, and he
gave every impression of enjoying her company, and she was loathe to let
that go.

Still, she walked along to the lake's edge to meet him as she'd promised.

Daran walked slowly as he watched her from afar. What was he going to
say? He liked her so much, but her da was on blue...He kicked himself
for being such a prejudice jerk. It was a nervous man that joined
her.

"Hi," she said, with a smile just for him. "I've been looking forward to
this all day."

"Me too." He leaned down to give her a caste kiss.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"Tes..." He dropped his head down in embarrassment. "That other
day..how I was with your friend...I'm really_really_sorry. I didn't
mean to be such an arse."

"G'wen just surprised you, but he's worth getting to know," she said gently.

"It wasn't him, that's why I'm apologizing. He didn't go anything
wrong, it's just..." How did he explain what Holders felt like with
boys like that greenrider...and her dad?

"Tell me," she said, taking his hand in hers. "I'm listening."

"It's..." He stroked her hand gently. "I'm...well, I'm from a Hold
and men...uh..they just like women...and your da..." He cringed,
feeling terrible.

"They think it's wrong, don't they," she said completing his sentence.

"They do," he all but whispered, hating himself.

"It isn't wrong,it's just a different way of looking at things. Imagine how
it would feel if you had someone, but could never tell people about them.
Here, well people understand."

"Yeah but...with another man? That's just...I dunno..." He put his
hand over his mouth, wishing he'd just shut up. "I mean...I_do_want
to get more open minded about how things are..here, but..." He sighed
and felt like crying. This poor girl, she obviously liked him and he
liked her, and here he was, crapping all over her way of life. What
the bloody shards did she think of him now?

"It's nothing like you've been taught. They love each other and want to be
together."

"Yes, this knows that." He tapped his head. "But this says it's
wrong." And he tapped his stomach. How was he going to work through
this?

"It'll take time, but when you get to know a few blue and green riders
you'll see that it doesn't matter. Believe me, it'll happen."

"Can you teach me?" He captured one of her hands. "I want to be more
open, I really do."

"Just spend some time in the dining cavern after meals, I'll introduce you
to a couple of people," after they had been warned first not to say
anything.

"I'd like that." He smiled at her, breathing out for the first time
since he had met her. "Maybe your da?"

"I know some people more our age that would probably be better. Da would be
round you like a canine turning a spit because I introduced you to him."

"Well, I could give that greenrider another go. Unless he just wants
to shove me /between/ that is."

"I think G'wen will be happy to talk to you. Just tell him how pretty you
think his Neath is."

"That won't be hard. Just so long as I don't have to tell him how
pretty_he_is!" He squeezed her hand.

"He knows a good few people as well, another weyrbrat like me."

"Okay, let's just go slow though." He looked down at her hand in his
and gently played with her fingers. "So you're not mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," she said, reaching up to give him a gentle kiss on the
cheek.

"Good." Her lips were soft on his face. Not quite meaning to, he
turned his head to catch those lips in his own.

She returned his kiss, enjoying the feeling. How long would this last, and
would he forgive her when he realised at last that she was a rider.

Not meaning to, he deepened the kiss, darting his tongue out to touch
her lips, asking. All the pent up feelings were slipping out.

Her lips parted, hoping they were answering his unasked questions.

At that he all but crushed their mouths together. His feelings for
her were getting a bit out of hand, a part of his brain thought,
trying to reel things back a bit, but failing.

After a long moment, when the kiss broke, Teseada said softly. "I enjoyed
that."

Daran flushed and grinned like a little boy. "I did too." Bringing a
hand up, he brushed a stray hair from her cheek. "You're going to
make it hard to leave in a few months."

"Maybe, maybe you could find a reason to stay?"

"It wouldn't be hard." He gave her hands a squeeze.

"We'll see what happens," she said. Then she just looked up at him. "Would
you please kiss me again?"

"I will. Is a kiss all you want?"

Her reply was to bring her lips to his again. While she did want more, there
was a little problem of finding somewhere to go. Her weyr was not an
option, it would become instantly obvious who she was. This would need some
thought.

He took that as a yes. Gently he wrapped his arms around her waist as
they kissed, wondering himself where they could go.

Last updated on the August 26th 2011

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Do You Mean That? (1 of 2)