I'll Be Keeping My Eye On You

Writers: Bree, Dana
Date Posted: 21st October 2005

Characters: Traelyn, O'dan
Description: Traelyn meets the infamous ex-Weyrleader of Dolphin Cove, who wastes no time in complaining about J'darin to her.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 3

The healers had assured her that he was awake, but it was pretty sharding quiet on the other side of that curtain. Traelyn fingered the end of her loose braid, wondering if she should come back at a later time. But she was here now...

"I can hear you," a voice said from the other side of the curtain, suddenly. "You're making me nervous, hovering out there."

His voice startled her out of her thoughts and she shook herself, stepping forward to peer through the part in the curtains. "I wasn't sure if you were asleep." So this was O'dan...

O'dan spent a moment examining Traelyn from the top of her head to her boots and back. He caught sight of the knots on her shoulder and deduced that this must be the goldrider who had stolen the Weyr out from under everyone's noses. He grinned. "Wake me up any time, Traelyn."

One brow rose, and her eyes flickered. "The offer's tempting, O'dan...
But unfortunately, you're still cooped up here in the Infirmary." She studied him as she approached the chair at his bedside. The rumors had been true - he really was a sharding good-looking man.

The bronzerider snorted. "If I couldn't figure out a way around _that_, I'd be ashamed of myself. The men must be terribly uncreative where you come from, beautiful."

"Oh... I wouldn't say that... They can be plenty creative when they want to be." She slid onto the chair and crossed one leg over the other. "But to compare you to them... I don't think it would be fair to you." Her smile turned saucy.

O'dan laughed. "So what brings Dolphin Cove's newest Weyrwoman to see me?
Other than the rumours you've heard about my amazing good looks and overwhelming charm, that is."

She snorted. "Overwhelming charm? You have yet to prove _that_ little quirk of your character to me." Why Traelyn was speaking so very boldly to him she had no idea. Maybe it was their banter that was putting her at ease. She knew banter. She knew it very well.

"Oh, I'm doling it out a little bit at a time," O'dan replied easily, giving her a wink. "When you're bedridden and covered in Threadscore, you have to work extra hard to be charming."

Her eyes flickered down his body at the mention of his 'scorings...and wondered how extensive they really were. "But surely for you, it can't be _too_ difficult?"

He caught the direction of her eyes and grinned. "Some things are just natural ability."

One brow rose as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, propping her chin up in her hands. "You must be very grateful for this...natural ability of yours."

"One works with what one has." O'dan gave her a very innocent look. "It's just a pity for the other men that I have so much more than them to work with. But I thought if I got laid up in bed for a few months, it might give them a fighting chance."

At the mention of the Threadfall, her expression turned more serious. "How long did the healers say you need to stay in bed?"

"They're not entirely sure," O'dan replied, not much caring for the change in subject. Flirting was much more enjoyable than discussing the fact that he might never walk again. "It'll be a while before I'm back on my feet again, from what I understand."

Noticing the change in his tone, Trae nodded. "Then I guess I'll have to make it tradition to come and wake you up sometimes, hmm?" When he looked at her, she tilted her head and smiled sweetly at him.

"That might not make your new Weyrleader very happy," O'dan replied lightly. "How is J'darin doing, anyway?"

The look in her eyes became guarded as she leaned back in her chair. "He's doing well."

O'dan perked up at her expression. "That sounds... unconvincing. Tell me, beautiful... has J'darin given you his interesting views on a woman's place in the world yet?"

Trae hesitated for a brief moment before answering, her voice quiet, "I've gotten the basic drift, yes."

Snorting, the bronzerider rolled his eyes. "He's full of himself--and believe me. That's saying something coming from me, considering how full of myself I am!"

That brought a laugh out of her. "What bronzeriders _aren't_ full of themselves, O'dan? They wouldn't be riding bronze dragons if they weren't," she grinned, trying to steer him away from the topic of her Weyrleader.

O'dan had no intention of letting the subject change from J'darin's many faults. "Oh, come now... Maybe I think I'm irresistible to women, but I still credit them with having minds of their own!"

Shards. He really wasn't taking the hint, was he? Traelyn was quiet for a brief moment, studying him; his glinting eyes and his charming smile and that tone in his voice, baiting her to rise to question his comment.
"O'dan..."

"Yes, beautiful?"

"I don't want to start off on the wrong foot with my Weyrleader." **And _gossip_ factors into that.**

O'dan gave her a wry grin that said clearer than words that he knew _just_
what she was thinking. He'd just have to be more sneaky in the future.
"Well, then. Maybe we should spend some more time making sure you start off on the _right_ foot with me!"

A pale brow rose. "Oh? And how would I do that?"

"Promise to come back and visit me again, of course." O'dan gave her his most pathetic smile. "Please? You wouldn't leave me alone with no one to entertain me, would you?"

"I'm sure you have _plently_ of entertainment coming to see you everyday."
But the pathetic look on his face made her grin.

"Ahhh, plenty of company. Precious little entertainment." O'dan rolled his eyes again. "Have you met my brother out there? He thinks that it is his duty to make sure I have _no_ fun whatsoever while stuck here."

Trae shook her head. "What's his name?"

O'dan looked at her suspiciously. "Why do you want to know? You're not going to leave me stranded her and go make friends with my brother, are you?"

She grinned at him. "You know, if you _don't_ tell me, I just might have to leave you here stranded and find out..."

"Dantial!" O'dan said hastily. "His name is Dantial. He looks like me...
only with a less charmingly broken nose and not nearly as tough and manly."

The look in her eyes turned thoughtful. "I think I'll have to find him...especially if he looks like _you_," she told him, her tone rather coy.

"Traelyn!" O'dan shook his head and feigned a hurt look. "You're a heartbreaker, you are. I'll be keeping my eye on you."

"Likewise, O'dan," she grinned.

Last updated on the October 21st 2005

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I'll Be Keeping My Eye On You