Can I Stay with You

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 23rd January 2010

Characters: Sorsha, Cosani
Description: Sorsha goes to Cosani to find a place to stay for the night.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 5

Cosani

Where to go? She couldn't go back, not tonight. She couldn't look at Ri'len right now, couldn't listen to him apologize. She couldn't wander the corridors all night either though. She thought briefly about just sleeping on the beach, she'd done it many times as a child, but when she'd poked her head out of the Weyr she'd seen the clouds covering the moon and knew it would probably rain during the night.

She wandered into the dining cavern, drawn by the voices of people talking, laughing. It was well past dinner, but there were always those that enjoyed a late night drink or card playing. She peered in the door and looked around. At first she didn't recognize anyone; then she saw him, playing cards with a few others. I'lan. He would
let her stay with him. She could sleep on his couch for the night and then have time to think about the rest tomorrow.

She pushed herself off the door edge, ready to enter the lighted cavern when she stopped herself. It was a bad idea. She was tired and she still knew it was a bad idea. He would get the wrong idea, or even if he didn't, she knew Ri'len would be furious. Ri'len had hurt her, and part of her wanted to hurt him back... I'lan was too easy of a way to do it.

~ ~ ~

Cosani opened the door, a small frown on her face. "Sorsha?"

"Can I ask you a favor?" Sorsha hoped that she didn't sound too desperate, but then again, maybe desperate would be what worked.

It was getting late, and Cosani wondered why Sorsha would be asking for a favor now. "Um ... ok."

"Can I stay here for the night?" Sorsha asked, not encouraged by the fact that she was still standing outside the girl's door. "I'll be happy with the couch, the floor, anything."

"What's wrong with your weyr? Oh ..." Cosani realized she and Ri'len must have had a fight. It was hard to imagine. They were always so mushy around each other. "Why didn't you ask Meledei?"

Sorsha thought about lying, but just for a moment, Cosani wouldn't buy anything but the truth. "I did. She told me to go back to my weyr and I don't want to. You were my second choice."

Cosani opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Come on." This was getting more confusing (and interesting). "Why didn't she let you stay?" Meledei was the nicest person she knew.

"She wants me to talk to Ri'len, and I don't want to." she said wearily as she walked in. "I need some time away."

After closing the door, Cosani asked, "What happened?"

"I just had a disagreement with Ri'len." Sorsha didn't want to talk about her private problems with Cosani. They were friends, but she was friends with Ri'len too. At least as much as she was friends with anyone.

"Sounds like more than a disagreement." If Sorsha didn't even want to talk to Ri'len, it must be bad.

Sorsha sighed, she supposed Cosani did deserve a bit of an explanation for interrupting her evening. "Ri'len kissed another girl after a chase. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but we made promises to each other, and I just need some space for awhile."

"Kissed her? That's it? He didn't have sex with her?" Cosani was holdbred herself and understood how different sexual morality was at the Weyr, but they'd been told over and over again that their dragon's emotions took over during a flight.

"He _said_ he didn't." Sorsha just wasn't sure. She wanted to believe him, but if he'd broke one promise...

"You think he did?" Cosani sat down on the couch.

She shrugged, tears stinging her eyes and threatening to break over. "No... maybe. I think I'm afraid he did. Or if he didn't this time, that next time he will. Or a turn from now or five turns. He said he wasn't himself. That he couldn't think."

"You're mad at him for what he did because of his dragon? How many times did they tell us how hard it is to stay in control, even when a male doesn't win?" She and Sorsha would never experience what that was like. They could only trust what others told them.

"I know." Sorsha cried. "But am I just supposed to accept that? It's so hard. You know how jealous I get when other girls just flirt with Ri'len. How am I supposed to accept that he'll sometimes kiss them, or more."

"Because he's a dragonrider," Cosani said. "His dragon comes first, even before you." It was easy for Cosani to accept. She'd do anything for Shalith, and being in love was just an abstract concept to her.

Sorsha nodded, resigned. "It's easy to say in theory. I didn't think it would hurt so much though."

"Maybe you'll feel better when Roseth rises. Then you'll know what a flight is like." Cosani was nervous about her own first flight, but much less than she had been before her night with the trader.

"Maybe." Sorsha replied uncomfortably. She didn't like to think about Roseth's mating flights. She knew Ri'len's chances weren't great, and expecting Monilath to out maneuver the blues forever just wasn't practical. Eventually, she would be with a man other than Ri'len, just like eventually, Monilath would win a green flight other than Roseth's and he would be with someone other than her. "So can I stay tonight?"

"Sure." Even though she thought Sorsha was overreacting, she wasn't going to throw her out.

Sorsha looked to the couch, relief apparent on her face. "Thank you Cosani. Just for tonight, I promise."

"I'll go get you a blanket." She started to walk to her sleeping chamber and paused. "Roseth can spend the night, too. I'm sure Shalith won't mind."

"She stayed with Monilath." Sorsha explained. She didn't mind that the green was a little traitor, it was good the two were bonded so tightly. She took the blanket from Cosani and kicked off her boots, setting them next to the couch before sitting down. "Thank you again Cosani."

"You're welcome." She thought, but didn't say, that's what friends are for.

Last updated on the January 25th 2010

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Can I Stay with You