A Gift for Paetri

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 4th June 2014

Characters: J'kri, Paetri
Description: Paetri and J'kri share something special
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 6 of Turn 7

As soon as the dragons started humming, J'kri raced to Paetri's weyr.
He hadn't given her the dress yet so she wouldn't have time to fret
and decide to wear something else instead. He knocked on the door,
unable to hold back a smile.

The door was opened by a frazzled looking Paetri. Her hair was half
unbraided and folds of material were folded over her arm.
"Hello..oh.." She gave a smile and opened the door wider. "Come in
J'kri. I'll be just a minute." She darted for the wardrobe and flipped
through the dresses. "I thought I'd have time..." She tugged on her
braid and sucked in her lower lip. "Sorry, J'kri...just a minute, I'm
trying to find something nice."

"I got you something." He bounced on his toes and held out the
package. The merchant had wrapped it up nicely.

She stopped and turned, brow furrowed and tilted her head. "A present?
But its not my birthingday." Thankful to be distracted from her
search, she took the package. "What is it?" Sucking her lower lip into
her mouth she opened it carefully, not tearing the paper. The blue
material showed and her brows shot up before she quickly opened it
further and her jaws dropped. "A dress..." The packaging was tossed
quickly aside as she held it up and gasped. "It's beautiful." She eyed
it, suddenly taking in the length and the size. "And it's...small."

"It'll fit, I promise. I got it for you to wear at the Hatching." He
held his breath, waiting for an argument.

Her eyes softened and she walked over to him to brush her lips over
his. "Thank you." She held it up, and looked at the neckline. It was
going to show, well, more than she was used to ever showing. She
glanced over at him and back at the dress. "You didn't have to do
this, J'kri." She took a deep breath and made a twirling motion with
her finger. "Turn around."

"Do you want to admire my rear?" he teased.

Paetri's face was the picture of innocence. "Well, yes, but I want you
to be surprised when the dress is on." She grabbed his shoulders and
turned him before quickly disrobing behind him and slipping the dress
on over her head. It was knee high, showing off calves toned by the
months of training and the neckline dipped low enough to reveal the
soft curves of her small breasts. She looked down at her self and
swallowed. She'd never worn something in public like this. It...clung.
She moved a little and the material moved with her, sliding over her
hips and thighs. "Okay...you can turn around."

His eyes widened as he took in the sight. "Oh... it's better than I
imagined. You look wonderful!"

Paetri blushed a little as she looked down at herself and shifted on
her feet. "It's not showing too much?" She tugged at the neckline just
a little. "It's beautiful, but I've never shown so much skin before."
She glanced up and gave a half smile. "Except to you." She unbraided
the rest of her hair and let it fall down her back, the hair in a
gentle wave from being kept in a braid. She took a deep breath and
gave J'kri a hug. "Thank you."

"I'm so glad you like it. I hope it makes you feel as beautiful as you
are." He gave her a quick, soft kiss. "Now I have to get dressed
myself. I'll see you in the Stands!" He hurried off with a smile still
on his face.

----

At the dance, Paetri almost decided to go back to her weyr and put on
something a little less...skin-showing. She felt positively exposed.
She had congratulated Genna on her Impression of the little gold, but
now as the dancing started and she looked at the other dresses, Paetri
was a bit more relieved. Some were showing far more than she. And
honestly, she felt beautiful in J'kri's gift.

She smoothed her hands down her skirt and took a deep breath. Maybe,
she could enjoy the dance this time!

J'kri smiled and bowed, his eyes bright with happiness. "May I have
this dance, my lady?" He was happy she wasn't trying to hide.

She turned at the sound of J'kri's voice and her face split into a
wide smile. "Of course." She took his hand and then leaned over to
whisper in his ear. "People are looking at me."

"Yes. People like to look at beautiful women." He kissed her cheek and
led her toward the dancing square. His first Hatching Feast had been a
blur, still caught up in the rush of Impression. He wanted to remember
every moment of this one.

She followed, glancing around. "Or they like the dress. " There was a
playful lilt to her voice, but a small degree of nervousness. "I
should warn you, J'kri...I'm not a very good dancer. Your toes may
curse me."

"I have a lot of sisters. My toes are used to being stepped on." He
settled a hand on her waist. "You should meet them. They would love
you." Especially Kis. She'd been so right when she said he'd be happy
at the Weyr.

"My brother told me that too." She laid her hand in his and another on
his shoulder near his neck. Her fingers lightly tickled his skin as
she touched him. "I told you that one of my brothers is a rider,
didn't I?" She smiled at the thought. "He'd like you." She paused and
gave a half smile. "Probably a little too much."

He chuckled. "I'd like to meet him. Things could get interesting." J'kri winked.

Paetri eyed him and arched a brow. "He'd either be the overly
protective big brother or he'd hit on you." She blinked and carefully
moved her feet as they danced, considering that for a moment. "I don't
know which would be more awkward, actually." She flashed him a smile,
more relaxed. "He rides a blue."

"_Definitely_ interesting." He laughed again and twirled her, loving
how the skirt flared out.

She tilted her head back and laughed, the sound coming easily from her
now. She swung back to face him and wrapped one arm firmly around his
neck while one finger poked at his chest playfully. "You are _not_
going to bed my brother, J'kri." She slid the other hand up to his
neck and tilted her head to the side. "And if I have to keep you
constantly occupied in order to make sure of that..." She blushed a
bit and pressed close. "I'll just have to do it."

"Mmm, and you're such a pleasant diversion." He bent to kiss her.

She smiled against his mouth as she pressed her lips to his. She laid
a hand against his cheek and slowly pulled away, looking up at him.
Her brown eyes were soft, very gentle. "You're so good to me, J'kri. "

"You deserve nothing less than the best." Then he chuckled. "Wait,
that sounded arrogant. You know what I mean." He took her hand and
kissed her palm.

There was a bit of a giggle as she laid her head on his shoulder and
then sighed softly with contentment. "It's not arrogant if its true."

"It's also true that you're wonderful. And beautiful. Don't ever
believe anyone that tells you otherwise." He smiled as they moved
slowly to the beat. J'kri wanted this moment to stretch on forever.

Paetri smiled against his chest and then slowly lifted her head.
"J'kri? Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything. Always."

She looked up at him, took a deep breath and spoke softly. "I love you."

His face lit up as his heart swelled and he kissed her. J'kri
considered how he felt, trying to figure out if he was just reacting
to her words. He didn't want to say anything that wasn't true. Love,
what was love? He loved Rademerth of course, and his sisters. His
brother, his parents. But that was different. Paetri made him happy,
made him feel warm inside. He wanted to spend time with her, make her
smile. He thought about her when she wasn't around. They were best
friends. Lovers. He had sex with others he considered friends, but it
wasn't the same, was it? The open ways of the Weyr made lines blurry.

J'kri pulled back to look at her. Paetri was different. She was
special. Only one other person made him feel like this. "I think... I
love you, too."

She immediately pressed her lips back to his and snuggled up, suddenly
uncaring what kind of vision they made on the dance floor. She met his
eyes and gave a beaming smile, her eyes shining as she murmured
softly. "Take me back to your weyr."

Last updated on the June 18th 2014

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A Gift for Paetri