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Writers: Heather, Clancey
Date Posted: 22nd March 2012

Characters: Devyn, J'darin
Description: J'darin takes Devyn away from snow and cold to sun and beach and a Gather in another territory.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 6, day 21 of Turn 6

Devyn

J'darin

The Restday dawned freezing cold, but despite the cold, he hopped
vigorously out of bed and began rattling around in his weyr to dress
and pack for the day's trip.

He had been 'not drinking' for nearly a month now, and it definitely
showed in his bright, alert blue eyes and the healthy flush to his
cheeks. His dragon was more than pleased with his rider's habits of
late, and ironically, so was his rider.

A big part of that pleasure had come from his few encounters with the
greenrider, Devyn.

And today, they were going to spend the entire day together.
Somehow, he'd convinced her to leave the Weyr with him for the day to
go to a Gather in Dream's End territory. The day not only promised

to be warmer than it was currently in Dragonsfall, but also full of
pleasing company.

With Thread and new Weyrlings, J'darin had not had as much time to
spend further getting to know Devyn as he might have wanted, but he
planned to remedy that today.

}:You are happy, mine. And without the drinking. It is well. :{

Chuckling at his dragon's mothering instinct, he grabbed a warm jacket
for /between/ and drew on one of his Gather tunics, the same blue as
his eyes, and his nicer boots. He enjoyed dressing in his finer
tunics and hoped Devyn would enjoy it. As a last thought, he grabbed
a small pouch of marks saved from selling his various carvings.
Oak, seeing the preparations, chittered happily. "Yes, you can come.
" He said aloud to his flit, rolling his eyes. Then he turned back
to Hasaarth.

**Send to Ellyth and see if they are ready, please?**

}:The Boys would like to know if we're ready.:{ Ellyth's bright tone
popped into Devyn's head. The green was very excited and eager to see
Hasaarth. After all, it wasn't every day that a green got to travel
with a bronze as handsome as the Weyrlingmaster's dragon.

Devyn smiled at the mention of 'the boys'. She knew without question
that Ellyth was referring to J'darin and Hasaarth. Just thinking about
the Weyrlingmaster left Devyn's stomach in a twist of knots- the good
kind. Even though Devyn had always been someone that was very
comfortable in her own skin, she still got the jitters when she
thought about being around J'darin.

Despite being someone who loved cold weather, Devyn did enjoy the
occasion to be able to dress for warmer weather. Donning her favorite
white tunic that was slashed at the sleeves to allow them to billow
gracefully around her biceps, the brunette glanced down at her brown
riding leathers, smoothed her hands over them and decided that she was
ready.

}:We'll meet you in the Weyrbowl.:{ Ellyth called to Hasaarth as her
rider vaulted to her neckridge.

Pleased the pair were ready to go despite the early candlemark,
J'darin grinned. It was early here, but it would be warmer - and
later - where they were going, and his Dolphin Cove memories sometimes
made his bones cry out for a little warmth in the colder parts of
winter.

He and Hasaarth arrived in the Weyrbowl and he smiled in Devyn's
direction as Hasaarth extended his neck toward Ellyth in greeting.
He couldn't extend his neck while they were adragonback, but he would
be sure to tell her how lovely she looked when they arrived.. and
greet her properly.

**Send her the visual, beloved. And tell Ellyth that we will greet
them properly when we arrive at our destination. Its too sharding
cold for long hellos this morning!**

Certain Hasaarth would send exactly those words, he waited for
confirmation they had the visual and then the bronze leaped into the
air, first of course, and they winked into the even colder environment
of /between/.

They come out over a beautiful cove with water the color of a happy
dragon's eyes and sand as white as snow laying along the beach. As
they coasted toward the sands, they could see a moderately sized Hold
laying just off the beach and the signs of a medium sized crowd and a
Gather were clear from the air. It was a minor hold, but they still
had a nice turnout and what looked like a promising market section.
Compared to the weather at Dragonsfall, the weather here was balmy and
warm, even if it was only in the 60s.

**Let the girls know that we will land on the beach first, so you
louts can play in the sand and the water while we enjoy the Gather. **
Now that they were here, he couldn't wait to get off Hasaarth - an odd
occurrence - and take his lovely date shopping. He wondered idly if
she liked shopping. Didn't all women like shopping?

When the green pair arrived just out of /between/ behind Hasaarth,
Devyn took in a deep, refreshing breath of the warmer air. Being near
the ocean, the greenrider could hardly get enough of the fresh, beachy
smell that pervaded the air.

Ellyth followed the Weyrlingmaster's dragon down to the beach,
back-winging expertly so as not to spray up a ton of sand. The green
was personally thrilled to have some time to simply enjoy the warmth
of the sand, and more importantly, time to enjoy the bronze dragon
beside her.

Shaking out her hair, Devyn smiled as she pulled her fingers through
the short tresses. She didn't understand why anyone dragonriding woman
wanted long hair. She could only imagine the mass of tangles her hair
would be if it were any longer. Hopping to the ground from Ellyth's
neckridge, the sand absorbed the woman's impact as she straightened,
her eyes brightened and her face cheeks flushed pink from flight.
Shards, she was lovely. Even without the long hair. He liked her
hair; it was practical and beautiful all at once. He thumped his
lifemate fondly on the shoulder in the same way dragonriders had been
doing for turns after hopping down from Hasaarth in much the same
fashion.

The sand was warm and the air was just the right amount of warmth.
Grinning at her, he extended his arm formally. "My Lady? May I
please escort you to the Gather?" His eyes twinkled in relief at
being away from the Weyr, away from the weyrlings, and away from well,
everything.

"Shall it be shopping... or food?" He paused to wink. "Or swimming?"
Even while her stomach told her that food was necessary, Devyn's brain
was picturing J'darin half-naked in the water.... Smiling at the
bronzerider, Devyn linked her arm with his as they began their small
trek away from the beach, "Maybe we can grab something to snack on
_while_ we walk around and shop?" She smiled, being very much the
traditional woman at heart. She loved seeing the new things that the
vendors had to put out.

He tucked her against his side as they walked, finding it not hardship
to moderate his strides to her's. He, too, was distracted by the
thought of swimming, but they could swim at Dragonsfall in the winter
lake if they wanted. Here, there was a Gather. He was curious to
walk with her and see what caught her eye. Often it told you some
interesting things about people as you learned their likes, dislikes,
and habits.

"A nice solution to our problem, Devyn. That sounds just right. "
As they walked toward the vendors, he decided to start getting to know
her better. "Is there anything special you'd like to shop for....or
anyone?" He didn't think he'd seen her more in the presence of one
rider over any others. He'd been watching, when he could. He said it
with a smile as he glanced sideways at her. He really didn't think
there was much for her to see in him....but he hoped he was wrong.

Devyn shook her head, even as her hazel-green eyes surveyed the
brightly arrayed vendors, "I'm just here to browse, really. I didn't
come with anything specific in mind." She lifted her shoulders. While
Devyn was friends with many people, she didn't claim to have any close
emotional relationships with anyone at the The dearest person in her
life was her father who lived in a smaller cothold on the outreaches
of the Dragonsfall territory.

"Of course I say that every time I come to a Gather and I always walk
away with something." She smiled at that confession, even as she
reached out to finger a colorful scarf.

J'darin chuckled dryly at her comment. "Indeed, we always seem to
walk away with things we don't need at
Gathers." He stepped to the side of her and pulled a pretty blue
scarf off its rack. "I do have a younger sister, though, and I often
like to bring her something back." Deciding to tweak her just a bit
he grinned at her. "And you also have a sister, aye? A 'perfect'
sister? Perhaps you should bring her something totally ugly that
would clash with her perfect blond hair?"

"Oh Evalyn," Devyn sighed her sister's name around a chuckle as she
shook her head at J'darin, "while the thought is amusing, I'm sure
she'd find some way to make the horribly ugly article a fashion
necessity. She's one of _those_ types that looks good no matter what."
She rolled her eyes a bit even as she turned and her eyes landed on
the harpers' stall. Even from a distance Devyn could see a couple of
gitars set up, their wood gleaming in the sunlight.

"Detour." She grinned, catching J'darin's hand in her own and leading
him towards the stall.

He left the blue scarf where it lay, marking the stall in case he
wanted to come back later and get it for Jarie.

He happily let himself be tugged along with Devyn. He was content to
go wherever she wished, intending to just enjoy the day, no matter
where it led.

"I think I might have to meet this famous sister, just so I can poke
holes in your theory that she is any more lovely than you. "
Grinning, he followed her to the Harper's stall and nodded sagely.
Gitars. His eyes flowed along her line of sight and landed on the
lovely wood of those gitars. His carver's mind started noticing the
fine lines and expert skill it would take to produce these lovely
pieces.

"Ahh, I see where your heart lies, lovely lady. Pulled away from
pretty scarves to look at gitars!" He smiled at her, then went on.
"See anything you like?"

"They're all beautiful." Devyn said, noting how the crafter running
the stall puffed up with pride at the compliments being paid to his
hard work. Running her finger along the smooth finish of one gitar,
Devyn studied it closely. The fretboard was inlayed with beautiful
dark wood that had been carved in a winding design that cascaded up
the neck and wrapped around the headstock. The sound hole as well was
embroidered with a flowery design that made the greenrider smile. She
also thought guiltily of her own gitar sitting back in her weyr, the
one she'd made herself as she worked her way through the ranks of the
Harpercraft.

There were other instruments in the vendor's stall as well, and
briefly Devyn looked at an array of pipes and flutes before stepping
back out in the main flow of people browsing the Gather.

"So what would you like to eat?" She asked.

Curious that she only paused a moment to browse - she meant what she
said about browsing, he guessed - he was caught off guard by her
question. He had enjoyed watching her admire the gitars, and had it
not been only their second... date... he might have offered to buy her
one. He suspected, though, that not only were the gitars very
expensive, but that it would be a bit offensive to even offer.

He remembered he'd promised to feed her and finally smiled. He could
buy her something to eat, anyway. "There are these fish pies here
that are supposed to be fantastic. " He tugged on her hand, now,
leading her among the market stalls to where the food vendors laid out
their wares.

Long before they got to their destination, they smelled it. "Do you
like fish? I do not eat it often, but I've heard these pies are worth
coming all the way here to sample."

He spared a moment of internal battle. Now that she saw how utterly
_boring_ he was, she surely would never want to see him again. He
was a bronzerider, for Faranth's sake, the legendary charmer of
greenriders. Only he wasn't all that charming, he thought, and he
sighed a bit - mentally. He had been alone far, far too long if he
had forgotten how to show a lady a good time!

Devyn eyed the fish pies warily and took a cautionary sniff to see
what the food smelled like, "I've had fish before, but never in a
pie." The look in her eyes was dubious as she watched other people
coming up and purchasing the fish pies.

"How about we get one to split?" Always up for trying anything Devyn
tilted her head up to J'darin with an adventurous smile.

It was like a meatroll, but with fish. Not a pie like a dessert, but
he didn't know what else to call it. A fish roll just sounded odd,
but that is really what it was. He purchased one for them to share,
a large one big enough for two, and he turned back just in time to
see that adventurous look and her lips curved in that smile.

Oh, he loved that smile.

Without thinking, he bent his head to kiss that smile lightly.

For a moment, he forgot the fish, of any kind. All that mattered was
the woman with him, and that was just a light kiss, really without
thought, almost a... question.

Even though Devyn was caught off guard by the kiss, she certainly
wasn't opposed to it. While the kiss had been a short brush of the
lips, it had still been enough to send a tingling rush through the
greenrider's bloodstream, and she had to remind herself to act normal
and not like some inexperienced youth.
"Well, if I had known I would have suggested we purchase some fish
sooner." She winked.

He grinned back at her, pleased to have 'stolen' a kiss, even a small,
light one such as that one had been.

"I simply could not resist, my fine fish-eater." He teased, offering
her some of the fish roll he'd purchased for them to share. His
blood was also pounding in his skull, reminded him just how long it'd
been since he'd slept with a woman. Even Flights were fewer for him,
though Hasaarth seemed to have developed much more interest in the
green ladies. Teseada's flight had really been the last he'd won...
and ... really it was the last time he'd been with a woman. Had it
been that long?

}:Too long. Ellyth is lovely. We are enjoying our time on the
beach:{ His dragon interrupted those thoughts with a warmth of his
own.

The warmth spread to him from Hasaarth, and a slow smile curved his
cheeks, his eyes darkening with the intent to kiss her again. But
maybe not in the middle of the crowds. Bronzerider he might be, but
he did not want to add to the Gather show with his intense interest in
the greenrider with him.

Instead of giving in to his baser nature, he tilted his head back
toward the beach. "Hasaarth says he is enjoying Ellyth's company
very much. As in so many things, his rider is just like him." He
winked at her, then finished off his half of the fish pie, except for
a piece of fish he pocketed to give to Oak later, and licked his
fingers. His brown flit had decided to stay with his bigger cousins,
and for once, J'darin was glad. Oak would have been very excited by
all the people and distracted him from his true purpose - get to know
Devyn. And as a person, not as someone to tumble into his furs.
Though, his body told him archly that a tumble in the furs would not
be so bad an idea.

"Delicious." He reached for her hand. "I think I saw a Tailor's stall.
Maybe they have dresses for my sister..." And maybe one for you, he
didn't say aloud, though he surely remembered how lovely she'd looked
in the dress she'd worn on their first date.

Having finished off her portion of the fish roll in a couple of bites-
and finding it more to her liking than she'd imagined- Devyn happily
slid her hand into J'darin's larger one. Not that she was taking
notes, but she couldn't help but notice simple things about the
Weyrlingmaster. Such as the way their hands fit together perfectly,
and there wasn't that awkward 'whose thumb's on top?' moment that
Devyn sometimes ran into with guys. No, J'darin was the perfect
gentleman, although, Devyn wasn't so innocent or naive that she
couldn't see the glint of lust in the bronzerider's eyes. Of course
she counted _that_ to be a compliment as well.

"You're taking a woman, and greenrider at that, to the Tailor's stall?
You're one brave man." Devyn chuckled a bit as she walked beside him,
her hazel eyes still scanning the crowd that was milling about.

He peered down at her, grinning in appreciation for her. It was easy
being with her, talking, or not talking.

He had been raised to be solicitous of women - caring for them
mentally, physically, emotionally - his entire life. Despite the
belief that women were only for having babies, his father had trained
him to put women on a pedestal. It was a different kind of oppression
- a gilded cage - but still oppression.

Hasaarth had changed him. Serving beside so many smart and talented
women had changed his mind about the fact that women were just for
babies. But, nothing could train him out of his gentlemanly ways.

And here was another smart, talented woman, and she hadn't run off at
the sight of his scars, or the fact that he was overly emotional about
the children in his charge - if she even knew that yet - and she
smiled when she saw him. She saw _him_.

So few people saw the _man_ behind the Weyrlingmaster, the
bronzerider, the former Weyrleader. She saw _him_.

And she didn't run away.

For that alone, she stood out to him. He found he wanted to give
something back to her. If it wasn't a dress or a "womanly" thing,
maybe it was just his company, and his trust. But _something_.
Everyone else ran away, or they just saw the bronze in his knots.
Not the man wearing them.

He grinned at her and said lightly, "I'm a brave man, Devyn. But
also a lucky one.... I have a chance to outfit not one but _two_ , if
you count my sister Jarie, lovely ladies. Lucky." He winked and led
her toward that Tailor's stall. "Besides.." he added as they arrived,
"...I only have so many marks and I have to work to make more. Surely
you will take pity on this poor crafting man."

Devyn went up on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to J'darin's
lips, "Say no more, I'll have no trouble picking something out."
Giving him a playful poke in the side, the greenrider turned to admire
the colorful array of material that dotted the inside of the Tailor's
stall. Dresses were hung from end to end in a rainbow of color and the
crafter in question was smiling at them, obviously encouraged by the
sight of a woman browsing the stall.

There were some colors that Devyn dismissed altogether, such as pink,
there were other colors, however, that drew her to them. Standing in
front of the teals, browns, and grey Devyn pressed a finger to her
lips, her brow drawn in concentration as she looked through the
dresses presented. Even though it was winter time back at Dragonsfall,
she could save one of these dresses for a warm day, or special evening
with J'darin.

Some of her friends didn't understand her attraction to J'darin, they
only saw him as their former Weyrlingmaster. Devyn saw him as someone
much more than that. Not only did she find him the most attractive man
in the Weyr, she also found him the most intriguing. He wasn't at all
what Devyn usually thought of when someone mentioned a bronzerider.
She still wasn't sure why he was interested in _her_, of all people,
but she couldn't be more glad now that she and J'darin had bumped into
each other while bathing dragons.

Last updated on the March 27th 2012

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