Injured Pride (2/2)

Writers: Aaron, Sia
Date Posted: 15th June 2025

Characters: E'kirim, J'ler
Description: E'kirim comes to check on J'ler after That Threadfall
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 20 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'mai
Follows Posts "DFW: Bragging Bluerider" and then "DFW: Fact Checking", and references injuries sustained from "DFW: To Fail, to Fall"

J'ler

J’ler’s eyes had rarely ever gotten so big. Was that what he said? Why would he have said something like that? What had they even been talking about?

Oh. Oh, Faranth. It was when K’mai had been bragging about bedding a bronze and gold at the same time.

“I-it was just talk. I didn't-- I mean, it wasn’t-- K’mai came to the table bragging, and I-- I just…” With this on top of everything else, J’ler overflowed, and his nervous shakes turned into tears. “I'm sorry.”

"I figured that you'd brag a bit because I broke the betting pool." E'kirim said. He reached for a handkerchief and passed it over. "But I don't think you should be suggesting that kind of stuff to your wingmates. What if I get tapped for Cyan Wing in a few months? I don't really want all my new wingmates thinking that I'm looking for a Daddy."

“No, of course, I didn't… I wasn't thinking… I just wanted them to think I was cool, and you're so… I mean, who wouldn't want to be like you?” J’ler could not stop shaking, but he wiped his face and bandages with the handkerchief.

"So you offered them a threesome?"

“No! I mean. Not exactly! I said… shells, I don't remember exactly what I said, E’kirim, but everything was _maybe_ or _might_, I never said anything was for sure, not anything!” J’ler wished he could stop shaking.

“I called him old.”

"Hah! I did too. I think Mama's only a few turns his senior." E'kirim said. It was probably closer to five turns difference, but it was hard to tell. "Hey, take some deep breaths, all right? I shouldn't have brought it up after you got 'scored, but it's been bothering me for a while now."

“I shouldn't have said it. I didn't think anything would ever come of it.” Considering that was essentially exactly how he and E’kirim ended up in bed together, J’ler should have kept his bragging and big talk to himself. “I'm sorry. I won't do it again.”

"Thank you." E'kirim said, though he still looked uncomfortable. "But I do think we should talk about this. Later, maybe, when you're feeling better? If you and I have different ideas about what's going on here…I shouldn't be stringing you along."

“You’re not! You’re not!” J’ler insisted, the panic rising again. “I was just bragging. Trying to look like… you know, like I'm better than K’mai. I didn't think he was going to look into it. Or that… you know, anybody was going to get upset about it. It was just talk. I get it. We’re friends, right?”

"You are _way_ better than K'mai." E'kirim agreed, though his tone turned a little skeptical. "We are friends, aren't we? I like where we are, I don't want to change it, but it's not fair to you if you want more than that."

E’kirim was going to feel differently when the bandages came off J’ler’s face-- he just knew it. But that was a problem for later J’ler. For now, at least, he could keep what they had, and for that, he finally relaxed.

“I’m happy with where we are. I don’t want to fuck that up.”

"Are you sure?"

“E’kirim, I didn't even realize I would enjoy having sex with a guy until I met you.” J’ler could do this. This was easy. He had a mask on. Which was actually bandages, but shut up. “I'm not just gonna turn around and fall in actual _love_ with a man. We’re friends. I want to be your friend. Who has amazing sex with you. But I don't need to, like. Adopt a bunch of kids with you and live happily ever after. Come on. We're not even twenty Turns old.”

Totally believable. Nailed it.

E'kirim watched him-- really watched him-- his eyes narrowed just enough to show he was suspicious of the performance. That was incredibly specific, and in the same blustering tone that E'kirim remembered. "You don't want to fall in love with a man." He repeated. "All right."

“That's… I didn't say… I don't _want_…?” J’ler felt trapped. “All I said was it hasn't happened yet. I never said I don't want to. Shit. I'm not some Lord Holder’s son. I'm weyrfolk. I _could_ fall in love with a man. If he loved me back.”

"We're getting all tangled up here." E'kirim said, exasperated. "You're right. I'm right. You owe me a pastry or something for every creep in Cyan Wing that tries to offer us a threesome, all right?"

“That is more than fair,” said J’ler. And he would honor it, even after E’kirim was repulsed by J’ler’s hideous face. “Thank you. And I'm sorry again.”

"That's all right." E'kirim said, even though it wasn't. "So what do you need done around here?"

Last updated on the June 17th 2025

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Injured Pride (2/2)