Awkward

Writers: Anika, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 6th April 2015

Characters: Ilyssia, A'kua
Description: Aluka and Ilyssia experience a novel awkwardness toward one another following their realization in the baths.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 6 of Turn 7

Ilyssia

Food in hand, Ilyssia made her way toward a table, initially pleased
to see Aluka there, though her face flushed as she remembered seeing
him in the baths. She actually paused and considered sitting
elsewhere. What was sharding wrong with her?

Resolutely she moved to take a seat across from him. "Well, it's
official. As of three days ago I am actually a dragonrider," she said
though her enthusiasm was a bit forced and the ease she always felt in
his presence was absent.

Aluka had been lost in thought (some would say it was unfamiliar
territory), but he came back to himself pretty quickly when he
realized he was being spoken to. He almost choked on his sandwich as a
result, and his cheeks flamed also as he remembered seeing Lys in the
bath. (That was a problem with being a redhead; he wasn't as
fair-skinned as some of his ginger counterparts, but when he blushed,
it was still quite noticeable.) It was only because the water had been
covering her chest (and that he hoped she hadn't seen him flash half
the bathers) that he was able to rally at all. "Congratulations! Does
this mean ya get your own weyr now?"

"Sometime next sevenday," she answered brightly, trying desperately
hard not to think about how he'd looked with water sliding off his
chest and arms or Jorimi's comments. Feeling her own cheeks flush,
she looked down at her food, belatedly wondering at her friend's
reddened cheeks as she did so.

"Well look at ya, movin' up in the world." Without thinking, Aluka
reached across the table to muss her hair. It had a nice texture.
Wait, he shouldn't be pawing her. He moved his hand and rested it on
the table. "Got any plans on how you're gonna decorate? I'm sure
there're tapestries in the storerooms that ya could have. They might
need some mendin', admittedly, but there's no reason they wouldn' be
serviceable."

Actually, the physical contact was somehow comforting to Ilyssia and
she chided herself for the umpteenth time. She and Aluka were friends
and any other ridiculous notions needed to be taken and left
/between/. Sharding Jorimi for getting those thoughts started anyway.
Which reminded her, the other weyrling had continued to ask for an
introduction.

"I hadn't given it much thought yet but that's sorta exciting. I'm a
fair hand at mending. I guess I'll have to see the weyr and then
what's available in stores. I'm looking forward to Gwynnyth and I
having our own space.".

See, that was why he liked this girl. (As a friend.) She was sensible
and mature, and thought about her actions. "After all those months in
the barracks, the solitude will be very refreshing," Aluka said. "Ya
can do whatever ya want." Like invite certain redheads up to- no, no,
not going there. Not going there at all. Not in the least. No.

"Oh, yes! I can't wait! And you'll have to come see me," she said
enthusiastically before considering her words. She tried to hide the
flush in her cheeks by looking down at her food and taking several
bites. Once again she was being ridiculous! Aluka was a very good
friend who had been there for her since she'd come to the Weyr. Of
course she would invite him to come visit! It didn't mean she wanted
him there for _other_ reasons.

"Oh, um, I ah, was supposed to check with you about something. There's
this other weyrling whose real keen on meeting you, " she shrugged,
trying to be as nonchalant as possible, though she couldn't quite meet
his eye. "She asked if you were _courting_ anyone."

"I'd love to come visit," Aluka said. "I'll bring my gitar and we can
have a tiny party." Wait, was that sending the wrong signal? The
question about courting seemed to indicate it might. Or perhaps it
might not. "Well, at least someone doesn' believe the rumors," he
sighed. "But no, I'm not. I've not found anyone who'd be interested in
me. But then, I haven' been lookin'."

"That sounds like great fun! You know I just love to listen to you
play and so does Gwynnyth! And _believe_ me there's plenty of
interest if you are so inclined, though here in the Weyr I don't think
it's really so much traditional courting...it's different, ya know?"

"Very," Aluka succinctly agreed, and had another bite of his sandwich.
"If I did look, though, I'd wanna be picky. Can't just choose any
woman in the Weyr," he added after swallowing.

"Yeah, that's for sure. So what would you look for, if you were of a mind to?"

The Candidate thought about that. "Someone strong," he said. "Strong
enough to stand up to me when I'm wrong and handle my problems, and
strong enough to admit when she's wrong also. A kind personality,
intelligence, and a good sense of humor are essential, and so's the
ability to be independent and take care of herself. It wouldn' hurt if
she liked my music, too, and could temper me when I get angry or just
too stubborn for my own good. Most importantly, I have to be able to
trust her. Long hair would be a plus."

A beat later, he realized, to his horror, he had pretty much described Lys.

"Well, there's lots of people here in the Weyr," she said, "So it
could be you might just find the woman you're looking for." Ilyssia
tried to keep her voice light and carefree, but it was a struggle. The
Weyr was full of strong and intelligent women. It was only a matter
of time until Aluka found just the right one and though the thought
shouldn't bother her it really did. Fight it as she might, _she_
really wanted to be that woman.

"Aye. It's not as if I'm goin' anywhere," Aluka said even as the
traitorous side of his mind whispered **What if I've already found
her?** (He promptly tossed that voice off a metaphorical cliff.) "But
if this other weyrlin' ya know is nothin' like that, then I'm not
interested."

Ilyssia considered Jorimi. Would she fit the bill? It was hard to be
objective, but honestly Ilyssia didn't think she would. Of course
that's what Aluka was looking for in someone he wanted a relationship
with. Ilyssia wasn't so naive as to think guys - or gals for that
matter - didn't get together for a little fun without long term plans.
Casual encounters had never seemed Aluka's style, though. With a
shake of her he'd Ilyssia tried to banish all of these thoughts. None
of this mattered because Aluka was her _friend_.

"It's hard to say," she finally answered with an indifferent shrug, "I
don't really know her all that well." As she took another bite of her
food, her eyes darted to Aluka and then back down. For the first time
ever with him she was at a loss for words, and the silence was
uncomfortable.

"If ya don' know for sure, then I'm not takin' chances," Aluka said
with finality. "I'm sorry to ask ya to carry messages, but next time
ya see her, could ya please say I'm too busy? If she asks, ya can
honestly say I'm practicin' my arse off for the hatchin' feast."

"No problem," she replied rather brightly. "Oh, the Hatching! I'd
almost forgotten. What if your lifemate is on he sands this time?"
Ilyssia was genuinely excited by the prospect and it showed on her
face.

If it was anyone else, Aluka would have been briefly annoyed by the
assumption. But Lys really did seem pleased by the idea. It made his
heart a little gooey, which was mildly disconcerting. Despite that, he
was still honest. "He's not," he denied, shaking his head and getting
his bangs in one eye. "I'm not dragonrider material yet." And not
weyrmate material either, come to think of it. _Ouch._ "Maybe later,
but not right now. If the dragonets are smart, they'll pick someone
else."

Ilyssia looked at him seriously for several moments, meeting his blue
eyes for the first time this afternoon and then smiled. "You know
your own heart, and if you're not ready" she shrugged, "You're not.
You will be someday, though, and keep in mind dragons see
potential...they make us better, help complete us. You don't have to
have all the kinks worked out - thank Faranth! Gwynnyth never would
have chosen me otherwise."

That was surprising. "But there's nothin' wrong with ya up there,"
Aluka found himself saying as he motioned to Lys' head.

She laughed at that, "Says you. I'm sure there's a few that'd
disagree. Parts of my past," she looked around, and then shook her
head, "Sometime, when it's just you and me, we'll talk. Anyway, the
point is there's nuthin wrong with you up here," she tapped her head.
"You just have some things to sort out is all and anyway, I suspect
much of what you're dealin' with is actually coming from in here.".
This time she tapped his chest. "You try to hide it, but you have a
lot of heart, Luka. I hear it when you play or sing and I see it when
you're defending your friends. I just think maybe, maybe your heart
has some healing to do or, or something.". Ilyssia wondered if she'd
said too much. Aluka might not appreciate that observation and
Faranth knew she might not be correct, but he was her friend and she
was inclined to share the truth as she saw it.

The Candidate wanted to catch Lys' hand and hold it when she tapped
his chest. Why was he telling himself she was just his friend when she
understood him so damn well? (Oh, right. Her age, and the fact he
wasn't like his stupid whoring sire.) "Ya may be right," was all he
said. "And just let me know when ya wanna talk. I'll listen." She had
listened to him. He was more than willing to see if he could somehow
help her unburden herself.

"I know," she replied and just like that the ease returned because she
did know. Aluka was her friend and since the moment they'd met she
had felt a connection. Whatever else she may or may not feel about
him, that was the simple truth and when she wanted to talk about her
past, he was the one she would seek out.

Aluka nodded and returned to his own meal. That was what Lys needed; a
friend, not a total idiot trying to court her while she had yet to fly
Thread. That was more important, and distractions were not an option.

His chest hurt at that thought, but he told himself it was just heartburn.

Last updated on the April 10th 2015

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Awkward