What Do You Like?

Writers: Devin, Mirren
Date Posted: 3rd March 2016

Characters: K'mai, L'airev
Description: K'mai offers some help.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 6 of Turn 8

K'mai

L'airev shucked his riding jacket and draped it over his arm. Was
there a better time of the sevenday than just after the last drill,
the afternoon before a restday? He sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily.
Time to bathe and get a stiff drink or two.

K'mai turned from a laughing group of fellow wingriders. "L'airev!" He
clapped the man on the back. "Got plans for tonight?"

"Mmhm," L'airev replied. "Something with alcohol involved." The more the better.

"We were just talking about heading to a tavern. You want to join us?"

Did he? The bronzerider suspected they might cause a bit of trouble.
Then again, when did he get out and really enjoy himself? "Why the
shells not," he replied.

"Great! We're meeting in the Bowl in a candlemark. See you soon."
K'mai waved as he hurried off.

L'airev nodded and made his way off the other way, to where Jacdeth
was shaking off the last of the water from a rinse. The pair arrived a
little after the allotted time, rider dressed in clean trousers,
shirt, socks and underwear. He never knew when wearing dirty
underclothes might prove to be an especially bad idea, especially on a
night out.

The other riders were chatting and joking near their dragons. "There's
our bronzerider, fashionably late." K'mai said. "Come on."

One of the dragons passed the visual along to Jacdeth and soon the
group was circling over a tavern along one of the main trade routes. A
small river sparkled off to the west, catching the rays of the setting
sun.

The smallish building wasn't anything special but it was well
maintained and the workers were used to seeing dragonrider customers.
The serving drudge led the riders to the largest table and K'mai made
himself at home. "I do love the Weyr but shards it's good to get away
sometimes."

L'airev asked the drudge for an ale and flopped into a chair. "That it
is. It's too easy to forget there's a whole planet out there."

"And the whole beautiful thing is open to us." K'mai spread his arms.

"And we can go anywhere we want like _that_!" One of the younger
riders snapped his fingers.

"And do anything we like," said another.

"Maybe not anything," L'airev said, eyeing a woman who walked across
the room. Shards, those hips…

K'mai saw him looking. "Oh yeah. There's a few bronzeriders I'd like
to do, but alas, they don't agree." Several people laughed.

L'airev flushed. "I suppose you're just not their type." He certainly wasn't.

"Wrong bits between the legs, they say. Some people are so fussy." K'mai smiled.

"Some aren't fussy enough," L'airev retorted. He nodded his thanks as
an ale was placed in front of him. "But let's have a toast. To rest
day tomorrow."

"Always happy to toast a rest day!" K'mai raised his mug and the
others did the same.

"To Torrent Wing!" one of the greenriders added.

"I'll drink to that." L'airev raised his glass and downed a good sized
gulp. It would probably be the first of many tonight.

"So what's exciting in your life?" K'mai asked L'airev. The
bronzerider was a quiet sort and K'mai was a bit surprised he'd come
along.

L'airev shrugged. "Nothing much." 'Exciting' and 'his life' weren't
really things which went together.

"Of course not." K'mai shook his head in amusement and took a long drink.

The bronzerider frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a bit boring, L'airev." K'mai smiled to show he was teasing.

"I am not, I…" He must have done something exciting… he just couldn't
think of anything.

"If you need to spice your life up I have some suggestions." K'mai
wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh?" Did L'airev want to know?

K'mai rubbed his hands. "Is that an invitation to share? We could
start with your love life."

"What - ah…" L'airev had never been much of a ladies man. Apparently
women didn't like men who weren't big on talking. Or if they did they
chattered to fill the silence.

"That look says you do indeed need help. Now, most bronzeriders have
to fend off attention but I haven't seen women swarming about you."
K'mai studied him. "Hmm. Am I right in thinking you might prefer a
relationship instead of a string of enjoyable bedmates?"

"Somewhat." Was it so obvious that L'airev was holdbred? Of course he
didn't mind sex for the sake of sex, but he preferred to have some
meaning to it all eventually.

K'mai slid his chair closer. "What kind of women do you like?" He
enjoyed playing matchmaker.

L'airev shrugged. "Smart, sensible, loyal." His list sounded more like
a canine than a woman, but he didn't care about looks, he wanted
brains and trust. He'd been messed around enough in the past.

"Are you looking for a woman or a pet?" K'mai teased.

"I've heard pets are less trouble," L'airev replied drolly.

"Mmm, but there are certain activities they aren't good for... at
least without being severely frowned upon." K'mai winked.

The bronzerider snorted. "I'm sure it'd appeal to some, but not to me."

"Then a woman it is." K'mai took a swig of his drink. "I'll start looking."

L'airev raised an eyebrow but didn't reply except to join K'mai in
throwing back more alcohol.

Last updated on the March 4th 2016

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