You're Confusing Me (1 of 2)

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th August 2014

Characters: N'call, Ninaine
Description: N'call gets Ninaine to loosen up a bit
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 7

N'call

Ninaine

As the Harpers played and laughter sounded out around a bonfire,
Ninaine stood at the edges of the firelight listening. The impromptu
party on the lake beach had been unplanned, but in her effort to
socialize, she had decided to put on one of her prettier dresses and
make an appearance. Luneth was awake and nearby, stubbornly out of the
barracks, but at least not hovering. Ninaine wouldn't have minded her
warmth at the moment. The winter air was chill.

Ninaine had even left her hair unbound, though it felt very strange,
but at least it kept her ears warm. She tugged at the strands, then
resettled her jacket around her to keep her hair over her ears. As
other people laughed with each other and curled up near the fire,
Ninaine tucked her jacket a little tighter around her and wondered why
she had even bothered. She had studies to do, after all.

N'call had come down to the winterlake with the rest of the attendees
and brought a newly made gitar to present to his friend. So he'd been
playing with the harpers when he spotted a face he knew on the other
side of the fire. Putting down his instrument he picked up a couple of
drinks and walked slowly around the fire. Holding out one of the
drinks he offered it to her.

"You look very nice tonight Ninaine."

Ninaine had started stepping back when N'call approached, but stilled
herself with difficulty. Hesitantly, she took the drink. "Thank you."
She paused and frowned at him. "I thought you didn't like dresses."

"Ah," he winked at her. "You must have misunderstood me. I like them
very much on a pretty girl in the firelight. Not so much on a
dragonrider during the day." He took a sip from his drink and tapped
his toe to the lively music as several couples began to dance.

Abruptly, Ninaine felt a surge of annoyance. She knew full well she
wasn't pretty and he had thrown such a fit about her dresses before,
demanding she wear proper Weyr clothes. She really wished he would
make up his mind. She eyed him, then looked back at the fire, biting
the inside of her cheek to avoid letting her tongue run wild. She
didn't succeed.

Before she could stop herself, blurted her thoughts out. "I wish you'd
make up your mind on what I'm supposed to be. First you complain about
my dresses and then you compliment them. " She bit her lip,
embarrassed at her spurt of temper and quickly took another sip of the
drink.

"Why do you have to be one thing all the time," he twisted to look at
her. "Sometimes I'm a bronzerider, and sometimes I'm a crafter." He
reached into his pocket with a free hand. Pulling out a long wooden
pipe he handed it to her. "I make instruments."

"Because I'm just one person and you're confusing me." Frustration
bloomed on her face but she resisted the urge to stomp her foot. Her
brow knit as he handed her the pipe, her frustration fading as she
felt the smooth wood. Her fingers traced over the holes and a look of
wistful memory crossed her face for a brief moment. She blinked
rapidly, then cleared her throat and handed it back to him. "It's very
lovely." Her voice was softer, less agitated.

"You like it," he asked, pleased and smiling at her praise.

She looked up at him again and nodded. "Yes.I had one like it when I
was little, but it wasn't so nicely done. It was just a practice one
that my father gave me."

"Sooo..." he said with a rising inflection. "You should have it."

That made her blink. "What? But...you made it." She pushed it back at
him. "I can't take something that's yours."

"No no," he said pushing her hand back at her. "If I kept everything I
made, I wouldn't have a place to sleep. I just enjoy the making of
them. I give these to the Harpers for teaching the weyrbrats." He was
pushing it there he knew but she didn't have to know this one had
taken him longer than the practice ones he gave the children.

"We should dance," he said putting his glass down then plucking hers
and the flute to do the same. Before she could protest he had her
hands and began to move out into the circle of dancers with a wide
smile.

"But..I..wait..." She sputtered as N'call moved too quickly for her to
give him a reasonable excuse. Even tugging at her hands didn't work to
free them from his grip. What was he doing and why? As she was pulled
out into the lit circle around the fire, she glanced around, her eyes
wide. He didn't even like her and now he was giving her things and
wanting to dance with her. She could, of course, dance, but this
wasn't the refined dances she had been taught. It was far more loose
and carefree...a bit wilder. She stared up at him. "I don't know how
to dance like this."

"Don't worry," he smiled down at her, "I do." he pulled her in closer
and put a hand on her waist to help guide her into the positions.

Last updated on the September 7th 2014

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You're Confusing Me (1 of 2)