A Gift for Jarshan

[Marnark]

Jarshan shrugged slightly. "Once you acclimate to the heat of working in the heat and humidity, the nights can feel rather cool, actually. Or even just being still." She mentioned, before falling silent for a moment. "Do you mean you sleep in the buff?" she piped up, even though it wasn't exactly the politest of questions. His comment had just led her to wonder, was all. It wouldn't surprise her though ... a lot of people did. Granted, a lot of those people used other people as blankets, but that was beside the point.

Oh, right. He was Northern. Of course he would think it was ungodly hot. He probably thought he needed gills to breathe, too, some days.

"Thanks." Jarshan answered, actually blushing just a bit around the edges. When was the last time someone had complimented her on her appearance? Faranth, it had to have been ... ages ago. When she was still just a girl. Nowadays people were too terrified of her to talk to her hardly. Of course, it didn't help that she didn't often change from her work garb ... much as he said. "Well ... it does dominate what I spend my time at. Just like you, I dress for my work." She explained. And when she wasn't on duty? Usually by herself. Go figure.

Wait ... her ... her hair? It really was something she only ever gave thought to in so much as how to not get it yanked out of her head. Thus the typical bun. The only reason she didn't cut it off was when it was down, it made a dandy insulator at nighttime around her neck. "I'm glad you approve." she answered, not really quite sure what to say to that. In battle, she was quick and decisive. In social settings .... not so much!

He might be trying to not act like a silly kid on a date, but Jarshan did have an awkward moment as she let them out of her quarters again. He was young enough, and she was old enough ... almost far enough apart that he could be her son. Almost. Not quite. That was a tad awkward to think about, and here she was allowing him to escort her to dinner. Ah well, this was not a Hold. Weyrfolk might not even notice. What they would notice was that she was socializing with someone .... anyone. And that, she really didn't care. "So where are we going?"

[Ise]

D’ero opened his mouth, shut it again, pressed his lips tightly together before finally giving her a nod.
“Mostly. While I was in a room with a dozen other guys I at least kept something on. I had a bad habit of kicking blankets off when we first got here… Having a room to myself will be nice, I’ll be able to sleep a little more comfortably and won’t have to worry about random guys seeing too much.”
He tried hard to not look too embarrassed and only sort of failed. His face had turned a bright shade of red but he managed to keep a straight face and keep his voice steady.

At least he wasn’t the only one who started to blush. It was cute to see Jarshan’s cheeks go a little red. It was such a strange thing to see on the woman who was so serious most of the time.
“True, and you’re work clothes do look nice on you. Intimidating but nice.”
And he really did like seeing her get a little flustered, it made him feel a little more at ease, he wasn’t the only one. They were both awkward and lost when it came to things like this.

He looked slightly lost as she asked where they were going. He was suddenly thankful that Horuth was paying as much attention to this as he was.
Go to the mess hall and get some food. Something you can travel with.
A few quick images flashed in his mind and he smiled a little.
“Well, if you don’t mind a short little ride on a dragon I got a place in mind. Not the most public place but it’ll be nice. We can have a little picnic there. It’ll be quieter then the hall at least. And if you don’t want to do a small flight then I have some where else in mind, the view just isn’t quite as nice.”
You’re a life saver. Maybe I’ll just have to ask for romantic advice from you instead of going to a bronze rider

[Marnark]

He actually admitted to it! That was funny. Really funny. She didn't laugh, though, already aware that she'd managed to completely embarrass him and it would just be rude. She had to admit that his face and ears going cherry-red was adorable, though. She had to admit that he was quite smart to be a bit modest around the other guys. This was a Weyr after all ... not being modest might garner some unwanted attention. "You don't have your own weyr yet? Where in the world are you keeping that brown of yours, then? Surely he's too big for the barracks anymore."

At the comment on her work clothes, she couldn't help but snicker a little bit, grinning. "I know. That's part accident, and part intentional." She confessed, eyes twinkling mischievously. Though ... he might not be interested in knowing that. Or if he was he might regret it later. One never knew about these things. So she didn't elaborate on that topic, instead just walking down the hall linked arm-in-arm with him. It was a nice feeling, sortof. If unusual. To have someone to walk with. A walk that wasn't all business.

She was silent for a short time, contemplating what he said, or offered. A dragon ride? That, she had to think about. True, she didn't really care for dragonriders, but she didn't really have anything against the dragons themselves. They were just ... there. And they did, at least at one time, serve Pern proud. Shards, when was the last time she'd ridden a dragon? It had been almost twenty turns! Maybe it would be good to try it out again. Even better that it would be in the company of a Rider that wasn't so full of himself as to look down his nose at everyone around him that wasn't a Rider. "Sure, we can do that." The notion that they would be going someplace outside the Weyr made her glad of her unseen habit of never going anywhere unarmed. Even casually dressed as she was in her loose cloth clothing, there was still a blade concealed at the small of her back, and another one strapped to her calf. Anywhere outside the Weyr was a dangerous place to be. Rogues, holdless, predators of all types ...

But here she was fixing to go on a casual outing, and she was falling so fast back into Sheild mentality it was a tad alarming. Shards ... was she really that married to her job? Was that all there was to her anymore? Granted, it was all she'd had or done for a very long time, but still. That was sad. So she changed gears, and opted for a whole other thought train. "Your definition of public and mine must differ a whole lot." She teased.

[Ise]

“I’ll get my own weyr as soon I’m an actual rider. The dragons stay outside for now. I’m pretty sure they make us stay in the Barracks as a form of torture.”
He was excited to get his own room soon. It would be nice to have some privacy for once. Or as much privacy as one could have when they were connect to a dragon. Still, he didn’t think Horuth would care if he slept naked.
“My dragon is also the smallest brown in the Weyr, he’s more the size of a blue. So still big, just not big for a dragon.”

D’ero raised an eyebrow at Jarshan, chuckling slightly and shaking his head. Well, she had to take whatever advantages as she could. If someone got a little distracted by seeing her in tight leathers… well he had always enjoyed the view. He wasn’t the type that would get jealous or upset about such things, someone could look all they wanted so long as it didn’t bother Jarshan and they didn’t touch her.

He was happy that she would accept a ride on Horuth. It wouldn’t be much of a ride but it would be nice to get outside for a little bit. While he almost always had his knife on him, he never thought of it as a weapon, inside the Weyr he wasn’t worried about anyone attacking him and when he went outside his brown was normally near by and few things could really harm the dragon.

“Well for something to be public in my mind, someone would have to see it. Aside from Horuth I don’t think all that many people are going to see us. Maybe a rider doing patrols but other then that.”
He gave her a little shrug as they walked through the halls. It was silly but he did want someone to see this, at least then he would know for sure that he wasn’t just dreaming this. It all seemed much too good to be true.

[Marnark]

Jarshan flicked the fingers of her free hand in silence, clearly thinking. "Huh." She said, finally, descending into more silence for a moment more. "I didn't know you were considered a weyrling for this long." she admitted, and then shrugged. "I thought you were already a full rider." It had been nearly two turns, what were they waiting for? Maybe it was because so many of them were foreign. Trying to squeeze in extra lessons? Or just trying to keep them all under a firm thumb? She didn't know. She really didn't pay that close attention to the way dragons and their riders operated. It had never mattered to her, nor had she really cared. But it made her quite glad she had her own quarters ... she couldn't imagine spending turn after turn cooped up in a room with a lot of other people.

It might drive her batty.

That or she was just spoiled on the luxury of her own room. Often times not even Holders had that.

"There's no shame in his being a small brown." Jarshan commented. "All it means is he's faster and more agile than the heavy brutes, and you're safe from ever having to try and orchestrate the madness of a Weyr." Which could be a plus, if a body wasn't a rank-seeker. These days, Brownriders didn't lead very often. Not since the Weyrs had become so few, and so small. But it did happen from time to time throughout history. Or, at least, so the Records claimed they did. Records got rewritten so often it was rather hard to know what was truth, and what was stretched a bit.

"Ah hah." she said, enlightened. "So in your book, for something to be public, all that is required is for your dragon to see it?" Jarshan asked, poking a little bit of fun at him. Silly boy. But it didn't really matter either way. She didn't care. But it did make her more curious where it was he had in mind, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was a place she might have been to before. Though she usually got around on foot, over the turns she'd seen quite a lot of the countryside around the Weyr and Holds.

[Ise]

“We’re almost riders. I think it’s mostly down to just sorting out who will be going to what wings. But it’s got to be coming soon. It’ll be nice when I don’t fall asleep to someone’s snoring.”
He shuddered slightly. D’ero could get along with other people just fine but he liked having his solitude. And it was hard to get that at the Weyr at times. That was another reason he had always enjoyed the time he had spent with Jarshan.

He didn’t mind his dragon’s size. He would make sure that Horuth would be able to last the whole fall of Thread but other then that, his dragon was perfect for him.
“I have no interest in any sort of leadership position. I have no skill for that kind of stuff and I’m terrible at trying to be diplomatic and sucking up to people. I’m happy just being some peon.”
A secondary wingleader was about as far as D’ero would ever want to rise to in rank and even that he wasn’t much interested in.

D’ero thought about it for a moment before shrugging.
“No, this isn’t going to be much of a public thing. But at least someone else will see it and I’ll know I’m not just dreaming right now. And that just sounded corny. But I did think you’d actually say yes to this.”

[Marnark]

Jarshan didn't have a whole lot to say as she listened to his explanation of his current situation. She couldn't imagine them being stuck in weyrling barracks for so long, but it wasn't something she could do anything about either. Nor did she know enough about wing operation to really have anything to say about that either. So she just nodded once or twice. "I'm sure it'll get sorted out." was the best she had to offer.

On one hand his statements about himself fit right in with the image he produced. But on the other hand they did not. He was good enough at working his surroundings to get what he wanted. Most notably at the moment, getting her to go to a meal with him. When she had first met him, as a lost Northerner, there would have been no way she would have associated with him. Or even as a new rider. She just ... wasn't her thing. But he'd wiggled through anyway with lots of time and effort. All the way to today. He was selling himself short when he said he was no good at diplomacy. "I wouldn't go that far." she said, simply, not bothering to really argue the point. If he didn't want anything that was his business.

But she did laugh at his notion of being dreaming. "I can always pinch you if it would make you feel better." She offered teasingly. "But no, you're not dreaming. I do have to ask ... if you didn't see favorable chances, why did you ask?" That was a real getter. Especially since most people tippy toed around the Shield. Even riders seemed to respect what they represented, for the most part.

((assuming typo in last sentence?))

[Ise]

“It will soon enough. I’ve already heard that they’re starting to interview some of the riders to see what wing they’ll be best in. I’m patient, after all good things come to those who wait.”
He grinned a little to himself. He was a firm believer in that. And while it was annoying to never have a moment to himself it wasn’t too hard for him to ignore most things going on around him in the barracks.

The young man chuckled a little at the offer of a pinch and shrugged. It couldn’t hurt at least, but he liked hearing that wasn’t dreaming better. He looked a little surprised at Jarshan’s question though.
“Why wouldn’t I ask? I like you and since you hadn’t chased me off yet there was a chance that you might feel the same. And even if you didn’t, what was the worst that could come from asking you out? I no longer fear you stabbing me for no reason so the worst that could happen is that you’d say no. I’d take a blow to my ego and pout for a little but at least I wouldn’t be sitting around asking myself ‘what if.’ I’ve never seen the point in waiting around on matters like that. Only reason I haven’t done it sooner was because weyrlings aren’t allowed relationships like that.”

They walked into the Weyrhall and D’ero lead them to the kitchen. He spoke to one of the women working there, getting help from her in gathering up a picnic for the two of them. Sandwiches, fruit, bubbly pies and a thing of wine and two cups. Perfect in D’ero’s mind.
“You think of anything else we might want to take with us?”

[Marnark]

"Well ... not all good things. And you certainly have to do more than wait." Jarshan corrected. "But yes, in general. I suppose so." She listened to what he had to say about why he had bothered to ask her out when he didn't expect a favorable outcome. To that she could only sigh a little bit. "I can honestly say that I only sort of see the logic in that. I admit I don't move unless I'm sure of something. If I think a particular action is going to end badly, I won't do it. But I do have to say that as far as I'm aware, weyrlings are allowed relationships. You're just not allowed intimacy. But, again, I might be wrong." She laughed a little. "I was never a weyrling, obviously. I certainly haven't paid any attention to the politics of it."

Jarshan watched in silence as he arranged to have a whole picnic put together, eying the things that vanished into that basket. "Nope. Nothing except maybe some jackets. Since we'll be flying."

[Ise]

“Well I was sure you weren’t going to hurt me for saying something. But it’s not like I’ve never been turned down before. I’d rather take a risk then just let something pass by because I wasn’t sure about it.”
He paused and looked at Jarshan then looked at himself before letting out a little snort and a laugh.
“I hate to break this to you Jarshan but I am male. I always hope that every relationship will lead to intimacy. And they didn’t do a very good job explaining why we can’t have relationships, if it’s the intimacy part of the relationship or if making an emotional bond with another person just weakens the one that you’re forming with the dragon or what. They just made it clear that it was a bad idea. Horuth and I both decided that we were probably safe to forget about that rule now.”

D’ero took the basket, thanking the women from the kitchens for her help before nodding to Jarshan.
“We’ll grab a jacket just in case, don’t think we’ll need one though, we’re really not going far. But that does remind me that we’ll want a blanket to sit on. The barracks is close by, I’ll just stop there real quick and grab those for us.”
He carried the basket as he walked along side Jarshan, taking her hand in his as they walked to the barracks. Once at the door he murmured a quick ‘be right back’ and slipped in, giving Jarshan a small peek into the room that was slightly messy and even at this time had a handful of boys inside it. D’ero was in there for a minute before coming back out, a blanket folded on top of the basket and his jacket in his other hand. He handed the jacket to her, it would be big on her but at least she wouldn’t get cold.
“There, I think we have everything. Horuth is just waiting for us outside.”

[Marnark]

Jarshan grinned crookedly. Of course she knew he was male. That was rather hard to miss. That ... and she was no dragonrider. She wouldn't have accepted any of his advances if he hadn't been male. No ... she didn't swing that way. She had had a few lovers in her lifetime, but most assuredly ever last one had been male. "Is that a hint?" she asked. She had no idea why the rule was made, either, so she didn't bother to speculate on it. It really hadn't ever mattered to her, one way or the other. Though ... that rule sure hadn't stopped him from setting the stage, now had it? All those figurines and the endless supply of toothpicks ... though the toothpicks were probably her fault and he was making fun of her for that comment she had made so very long ago. Still. Jarshan wondered if she'd ever live it down. Long sighted little ... big ... bugger. That in and of itself painted him as capable, in her mind. Whether he said he was any good at it or not, the signs pointed otherwise in her mind. He was a long-sighted tactitian that was good at getting what he wanted.

After all; he'd set out to find dragons. He not only found them, he got one all his own. He set out to get her, apparently, and had spent two turns softening her up for it. How nuts was that? She'd never consorted with a dragonrider before. Ever. Even for something so benign as a picnic.

She only smiled slightly as his hurry to get the jacket she'd mentioned. He might be used to zooming around in the sky by now, but she wasn't. She almost never traveled faster than she could run. He sure was eager to fill her request though. Silly boy.

Jarshan waited at the door to the barracks, and wasn't terribly interested in what was going on inside; another realm she was not ever interested in. When D'ero returned, she accepted the jacket, laying it over one arm for the moment. Putting it on now would be a bit premature. She didn't fail to notice just how big it was, either. Kid he might be, but he was a big kid. Okay, so he was adult (unlike some weyrling brats), but he was still young. "Thanks." she said, following him back outside to where Horuth was waiting.

This was something that she was going to have to admit; she could walk tree limbs like a feline at ease. But mounting a dragon was definitely unfamiliar territory. Shards ... he was even skilled at tipping her out of her area, tipping the scales in his favor. Clever, clever boy. Showing off! Jarshan shrugged into the tent of a jacket, and looked at D'ero, waiting for him to decide how he was going to do this. One thing she did know was that it was not a simple matter to put two people on a dragon. Much less two people and a basket.

[Ise]

D’ero flushed a little before shrugging, trying his best to act some what natural.
“Well it’s not like I’m hoping for anything now but uh after some time I’d like to be able to move up to an intimate relationship.”
At least she was grinning about this. It was natural to want to be close and intimate with another person but D’ero was still embarrassed by this. Mostly because he wasn’t sure how Jarshan was going to react to it. While it was normal for riders to sleep around a bit due to flights, Jarshan wasn’t a rider. What if she was one of those people who only wanted to have one lover in their life? Oy, now wasn’t the time to worry about such things, it would only make him flustered. Hopefully his bumbling ways would be enduring to her and not annoying.

Getting outside made D’ero feel a little more comfortable, at least out here he was less likely to run into one of the other Weyrlings and have to explain why he was red in the face. Horuth was already waiting for them. The brown was sitting on the ground, his eyes whirling in shades of blues and greens as he waited for the two. The dragon let out a soft rumble before crouching down on the ground.

“Horuth says hello. And uh well I think there are two ways to do this. Either we can both try to squeeze into the saddle or um you’ll be kind of stuck on my lap.”
He bit his lower lip a bit, now regretting that he had ever brought up intimate stuff with Jarshan. Horuth made a snorting noise and a few wuffing sounds and D’ero gave him a little glare.
“Even my dragon is laughing at me now… But uh I think the best and safest and more comfortable way to do this would be to have you in my lap. Though if you feel more comfortable with the two of us on the saddle I won’t mind it and I’ll find a way to make it work.”
Horuth found this just as funny and made his laughing sound again.
If you have to do that, the saddle will be in uncomfortable places. You should do this date thing more often! Very amusing for me![/color]
D’ero could only let out a heavy sigh, letting his head hang down as he waited for Jarshan’s answer. At least she hadn’t run away just yet.

[Marnark]

He was blushing! Again! It was very very hard for her to not laugh at him, but she managed. It didn't stop her from grinning though. But she didn't laugh. She wouldn't laugh at him. "That's alright, D'ero. Most people are that way."

She took a moment to consider the situation with the dragon and saddle. Maybe it was because he was a small brown? Or ... something? She didn't know. She really didn't know much of anything when it came to the ways of dragons and riders. But somehow she'd always been under the impression that riders used harness and strap. Saddles were for runners. Maybe she was confused on that. Runners did use harnesses ... at least last she checked they did.

... and apparently he was really gunning for the getting his hands on her part. This time she couldn't help herself. She laughed. Only a little, but she laughed. "Hello to you too, Horuth." she started, keeping that fairly simple. "I don't think we've met before." Which was a strange thought, considering how often she had 'randomly' bumped into D'ero. Though she was pretty sure he'd orchestrated every one of those. Nothing random about them. For a moment she eyed the saddle and the dragon's ridges, before coming up with a solution. "How about you do your saddle thing, and I'll sit behind it. There's a little room between it and the ridge. I'll hang on, don't worry." That should help ease some of his awkwardness. Maybe a little.

[Ise]

Horuth dipped his head to Jarshan, stretching out a bit as he waited for them to figure out how to do things.
“No, you two haven’t really come across each other yet. At least not close enough to actually meet each other.”
D’ero had not orchestrated every random meeting between the two, just most of them. A few of them had happened by chance which had always made him happy. Mostly he had just made an effort to keep an ear open for when the Shield members were back in the Weyr.

He was unbothered by her laughing at him, he knew how foolish this currently looked. He was just grateful that she came up with a better way to do things.
“Yes! We’ll do that one! So long as you hold on everything will be fine.”
He was more then eager to jump at the chance to do this without embrassing himself any more then he already had. At least her and Horuth found the whole thing funny.
“I’ll get on first with the basket and then be able to pull you up. It’ll also give you a chance to see the best way to get on. Of course anyway that doesn’t have you falling off the dragon is a good way to do it.”

D’ero’s size gave him an advantage to getting on any dragon but Horuth was happy to help out. The brown stuck out his leg, letting D’ero climb on top of it one handed before lifting him up enough to climb onto of the brown’s back. He wasn’t worried about Jarshan getting up too much, she had good balance and once she made it to Horuth’s back she would have enough room to move around. He held the basket carefully in his lap with one hand before leaning over a bit to give Jarshan a hand up if she needed it.
“Your turn now.”

[Marnark]

Jarshan watched as D'ero mounted up, paying far more attention than she ever had to any other Rider. She didn't miss the places where he put his feet, what he hung onto, and how he placed it all, the way he shifted his weight. Though it was only merely a noticing, for she was well aware that men shifted their weight far differently from how women did it. Point of balance and all that.

She was happy that her suggestion had gone over so well, though. It was good he had some medium of confidence back, and wasn't blushing quite so red anymore. Once he reached down for her, she bounded forward and up with all of the strength, power and grace that came with being Sheild. Her feet bounced across dragonhide lifting almost as fast as they touched down. She reached up and took his hand, using him as a counter balance and levering point all without actually applying much weight to him. In the flash of an eye, she was astride Horuth and sliding down to sit behind D'ero. It was definitely not the traditional Rider-mounting movements she'd done, but it got her there. And without falling, as he said. "Like that?" She asked, sliding her arms around his middle and hanging on to him there.