Smitten by Shyness

Writers: JR, DL
Date Posted: 16th September 2011

Characters: Pelome, S'bryn
Description: Pelome harbors a crush on S'bryn
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 6

From across the Dining Hall, Pelome, quiet and withdrawn, spotted her
bronzerider crush entering and hunkered down into her meal. She had always
found S'bryn handsome and though she had never said more than a greeting to
him, she chalked that up to her gathering courage to one day have a polite
conversation with him.

So, with distance and people between them, Pelome was able to observe S'bryn
without notice. Well, without notice from S'bryn anyway.

}: Why haven't you talked to him yet? :{ her green asked.

**Because I doubt he'd want to talk to someone as plain as me,** Pelome
thought back quickly, and that ended her observation of S'bryn, as her
thoughts turned towards her lack of this attractive feature, or inability to
perform that interesting skill.

}: I think you're interesting, :{ Nystroth said, }: And pretty. :{

Pelome sighed and loved her dragon. **Thank you, sweetheart. But he's a
bronzerider. Maybe he's out of my league. Maybe I should just settle for one
of the sweet blueriders instead.** She was hoping that maybe, as a
bronzerider, he would be more steady, a more...monogamous lover.

Of course, she lived in a Weyr so monogamy was a fluid thing that Pelome
maintained a slippery grasp on. True, every time Nystroth rose, she found
herself in bed with a different rider but between those times, she knew she
could be utterly faithful to one weyrmate. And hopefully forgiven for that
quarterly trangression.

Pelome chided herself. It wasn't wrong to love, even if fleeting. But, and
her eyes turned again to S'bryn, she wanted more than just a lover's touch
every few months. She loosed a longing sigh.

}: I'm going to say hello to Zaharath, :{ Nystroth announced. }: One of us
has to make the first move. :{

**Nystroth, please don't!** Pelome thought quickly, caught swallowing her
latest bite and unable to cry out.

}: Too late, :{ Nystroth said, }: Hello Zaharath. I'm Nystroth. :{

The coppery-colored bronze was startled by the appearance of an unfamiliar
green on his ledge. He wasn't known for being sociable and some of the
females gave him a wide berth after word got around he wasn't obliging when
they wanted to flirt and preen. This one didn't appear to be angling for
attention and wasn't looking particularly glowy, so he rumbled a hesitant
greeting, }: Hello Nystroth. Can I help you? :{

To his rider, Zaharath sent an image of the dragon, }: Any idea why this
green is on my ledge, mine? :{

Baffled, S'bryn shook his head before remembering that his dragon wasn't
around to see it. Thankfully the people he was sharing a meal with were all
riders as well and knew how conversing with an absent dragon could be. They
talked around him as he racked his brain to put the face of a rider with the
dragon - and failed. There wasn't even a hint of an idea, and that was
pretty rare. He wasn't outgoing by any means, but he tended to people-watch
so he knew more than anyone ever expected. **Not a clue,** he finally
admitted to Zaharath, **But if she's polite, then you behave. If she bothers
you too much, let me know and I'll come shoo her off.**

}: No, I just wanted to say hello, :{ Nystroth said, preening her wings
momentarily. }: My rider seems to think yours is handsome but she's too shy
to say hello so I thought I would come say hello for her. :{

Meanwhile, Pelome, not hearing the conversation, began to quickly eat,
fearing the worst - that her dragon would be telling S'bryn to come sit with
her and force her to have a conversation with the bronzerider long before
she was ready.

}: And who is your rider? :{ The bronze asked curiously, knowing S'bryn
would want to know.

}: Pelome, :{ Nystroth said proudly, showing a mental image of her rider to
Zaharath.

When Zaharath passed the image along to him, S'bryn realized who the rider
was - the very quiet greenrider in K'hetah's wing. In fact... he glanced
around the dining hall, and sure enough, she was in the same spot he'd seen
her in before, her back against the wall, face tilted down at her plate. He
casually went back to his meal, but kept an eye on her while his dragon
talked to hers.

Zaharath was pleased. His rider was happier with someone in his life, but
most women at the weyr were too outgoing or bold for S'bryn's taste. Perhaps
this one would be better? He passed that idea on to Nystroth.

}: She's _very_ shy, :{ Nystroth said. }: But I'm sure yours would be a good
match for her. If he likes shy, quiet girls. :{

S'bryn was clueless as to why someone might have a crush on him, but if the
woman's dragon was saying it, he guessed it must be true. Dragons didn't
have it in them to lie, especially not about something like this. Since he
was still watching Pelome, he caught it this time when she tried to sneak in
a look at him and gave her a quiet smile.

**He's looking at me!** Pelome thought with an excited thump-thump of her
heart. She felt horribly self-conscious. Did her hair look okay? Of course
it didn't. It was pulled back in that wispy braid she always confined it to.
She looked so plain!

}: Smile back, :{ Nystroth said. Pelome, mechanically, did so and felt a
flush of heat in her cheeks. Oh, he was going to think her an idiot!

Actually, he thought she was adorable - how many women at the weyr actually
blushed anymore? S'bryn could easily see he was making her uncomfortable
though, and debated what to do. He glanced away and excused himself from the
table, intending to join her.

**He's coming this way!** Pelome thought, panicking. No, no, no, this would
not do! She quickly packed up her utensils and grabbed her cup, spilling it
with her clumsy fingers. She let out a small cry of embarrassment.

}: What's wrong? Why are you upset? :{ Nystroth asked, no longer concerned
with flirting.

**Because he's coming over here!** Pelome thought back, quickly wiping up
the mess. Oh, he was nearly here! She had to leave. Quick!

The bronzerider was startled by her instant panic and stopped in the middle
of the aisle between the long tables. He wanted to talk to her, but he
wasn't close enough and from the looks of things she'd be gone before he
ever got there. He sighed and turned to hand his things to a passing drudge.
}: Zaharath, I think I scared her. Can you have Nystroth apologize on my
behalf? :{

}: Wait! :{ Nystroth cried to her rider. }: Don't run off like that. He says
he's sorry for startling you. :{ Pelome looked up at him but still appeared
like she was going to bolt at any second. }: See? She really is shy. :{ The
last part was directed to Zaharath.

}: So we see, :{ the bronze responded, as S'bryn slowly approached the
greenrider and sat across from the seat she'd occupied before. He gave
Pelome a hesitant smile. "So it sounds like your Nystroth has decided to
befriend my Zaharath," the bronzerider said, testing to see what she'd do.

"I'm s-sorry," Pelome apologized, certain that she had done something wrong
or was going to. "I'll tell her to leave right now. Sorry to bother you."
She scooped up her things and hurried off, leaving S'bryn at the table
alone.

"But-" S'bryn tried to stop her, but she was already gone. Swearing under
his breath, he put his things aside and followed her out.

**Why is he following me??** Pelome said, hastening her pace to reach her
green. She could escape on Nystroth. Her dragon landed lightly nearby, her
eyes whirling a quick pace at her rider's distress.

}: Oh, Pelome, just say hi! Will it really be so bad? I was just trying to
help! :{ Pelome hauled herself up on Nystroth quickly but before the dragon
could clear the ground, S'bryn was in her wingspace.

The bronzerider looked up at her, perplexed. What was he supposed to do?
He'd caused her panic and it wouldn't sit well with him to not at least
attempt to put it right. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Can we talk
for a minute?"

Pelome felt her stomach flip-flop. He wanted to talk? **What do I talk
_about_??** she wailed to Nystroth.

}: Just say okay, :{ Nystroth replied.

"Um...oh...okay," Pelome said softly, wrapping her fingers intricately into
Nystroth's straps like her life depended upon it.

"Pelome, and this is Nystroth, right?" He started off with something simple,
reaching to scratch the green that was peering at him. "I guess you already
know that I'm S'bryn, and Zaharath is my bronze."

"I um...I'm...I'm Pelome," she said, and her voice dropped to barely audible
levels as she introduced herself. "This is Nystroth." Again that whisper of
a voice. Nystroth though had extended her nose to investigate S'bryn.

S'bryn had a soft spot for dragons - it was part of why he'd ended up at the
weyr - and was charmed by the green, even if her rider was setting his
nerves on edge. The bronzerider scratched an eyeridge as he spoke with her
rider, sticking to casual conversation, "A pleasure to meet you, Pelome. How
are you and Nystroth today?"

"We're um...we're good," Pelome said shyly. Shells, he was so _cute_! And
this close! Pelome keenly wondered what he smelled like. "How are you...you
and Zaharath?" she asked, feeling a little brave. Her hands twisted again
the staps and she felt like her heart was going to leap from her chest.
Could he hear it?

"Great!" The bronzerider enthused, "Zaharath and I tend to get along well
enough no matter where we are." He unconsciously cocked his head, studying
her. She was adorably shy and Faranth knew that was far too attractive to
him.

His bright tone brought out a very nervous laugh from her. "They um...they
do tend to get along with us, don't they?" she said, looking down at
Nystroth fondly.

He pulled a face, realizing he'd overdone it with the enthusiasm. Toning it
down, S'bryn nodded, "They do. I don't know how this lug tolerates me
sometimes, though." The bronze made an affronted noise and butted his rider
with his muzzle, knocking the tall man off-balance.

Pelome let out a nervous giggle at the bronze's antics. "He um...he's a
pretty...color," she said shyly. Aside from green, Pelome had always thought
bronze was a gorgeous metallic and no two bronzes were the same shade.

"He thanks you, as do I," S'bryn passed along as the bronze reached to
nuzzle at the reticent greenrider. "Want to take a walk with me? Zaharath
and I are headed back to our weyr for a bit."

Now she panicked. "No!" she said, faster than she intended, "No...um...no
thank you. I uh...I..." Pelome grappled for a valid excuse out of anything
remotely intimate. "I um...I have to oil Nystroth's straps...for practice
tomorrow. Morning. Tomorrow morning."

"No, wait!" He tried to stop her. "Not a walk then. What would you be doing
right now if I hadn't stopped to talk to you?"

"Um...um..." she stammered, fumbling for a coherent thought. Oh, this wasn't
good. This wasn't good at all. "I have to go!" she cried, urging Nystroth
skyward. The dainty green sidestepped S'bryn and launched up.

The bronzerider watched them go, letting out a deep breath of frustration.
Shardit, she'd intrigued him but he didn't think he'd ever dealt with anyone
quite _that_ shy before. He had a thought and grinned, spinning on his heel
and heading for his weyr. He'd get to know her one way or another.

Last updated on the October 26th 2011

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Smitten by Shyness