The Morning After (2/2)

Writers: Anaria, JR
Date Posted: 26th November 2010

Characters: J'klin, Roana
Description: J'klin and Roana have a morning picnic, and discuss future plans.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 19 of Turn 5
Notes: Part 2 of 2

"It wasn't that you didn't mean anything to me, quite the opposite in
fact. Arilanna _knew_ that you were important to me and she felt
threatened. In the end, there were ultimatums made, and I was so
afraid that I would lose her that I did whatever she said." He sighed
heavily. "If I'd have known then what I do now, I would have dropped
her like hot stone. I hope that someday you'll be able to fully
forgive me for being such a dimglow."

Roana resisted sighing. It was plausible. Granted, she hadn't known
Arilanna at all, other than to recognize her by sight, but everyone in
their group of friends had known how close Roana was to the
brownrider. And it wouldn't have been hard to get the wrong idea -
J'klin had always been rather hands-on with her, not that she'd ever
complained.

J'klin shook his head, forcing the negative thoughts away. If he
continued down that path of thinking he would be unable to keep his
promise to Roana about staying alcohol free. Instead, he bit into a
pastry, glad simply to be in Roana's presence. Even when they weren't
talking, or hugging, he still enjoyed just simply being near her. He
smiled to himself.

"So, since you've been leading a spectacularly uneventful life here at
River Bluff, what's it going to take to get you out and about to
mingle with me?" She figured a change of subject was probably a good
idea right then.

"Hmmm," J'klin said, pondering what leverage he could use in the
matter. "Well, if you keep sleeping next to me, I'd probably be hard
pressed to tell you no to anything!" He said jokingly. "But more
seriously, I would gladly get out and about if it means I can spend
time with you, Roana."

"_J'klin_," Roana groaned, "I'm being serious. As much as I enjoyed
last night, I'm not using that as a bribe. I'd like some company,
going to wing parties and things. But are you going to be alright if
people are drinking around you?"

"Oh. I didn't even think about that." Rule number one on the list of
guidelines that his mindhealer had given him was to avoid places where
he'd be tempted to drink, and people that would encourage him. "Well,
I am sure that if you are there with me that I can behave myself." He
couldn't see something as silly as a drink provoking him to risk
losing Roana.

Her head tilted, watching him. "I'll be with you the whole time. Stay
busy enough and I bet you won't even think about it."

"Yeah, that should be fine. If you don't leave my side, I can't
exactly grab a drink, you know?" J'klin said, thinking. "And it would
be nice to hang out with some of my wingmates and such that I have
been neglecting lately."

Roana nodded, "And you can do the honors of introducing me around,
save me from stumbling through conversations with a bunch of random
people." She looked out over the water, considering. "I bet with the
weather here being what it is, people have parties pretty often. I
wonder when the next one is?"

"I'll have a chat with a few of my wingmates at our meeting this
afternoon and get back to you," J'klin said, taking a swig of redfruit
juice. "I know there's a group that runs a pretty frequent dragon
poker night, and another group that hangs out at the Dining Caverns
dancing to the harper's songs at night."

"Are you still as awful of a dancer as you used to be?" She grinned
over at him. "I might drag you down there for pure entertainment
value. And I haven't played dragon poker in ages."

"I don't think there's anything I could do that would make me a decent
dancer," J'klin said, "But I would gladly dance with you. I have,
however, gotten quite good at dragon poker in the past few turns here.
It's pretty much been my only outlet other than drinking. Well, in
addition to drinking, I suppose."

Roana smirked, "It'll have to be a slow dance, so you don't break any
of my poor toes, darling. You'll have to let me know what you find
out, but I think we need to head back. I'd like to change clothes
before I go to drills."

"Sure thing," J'klin said, gathering their things and packing them
onto Nimyth's back. "So we'll head down to the Dining Caverns tonight
after our drills for a bit of dancing?" He asked, shaking his head. He
couldn't believe he consented to dancing with Roana, but it was too
late to turn back now.

"Sounds like a plan," She nodded. Once he was done, she hooked a foot
into Nimyth's harness and pulled herself up, waiting on him so they
could head back to River Bluff. "Great," She smiled, "Now I'll have
that on my mind all day."

J'klin mounted Nimyth, sitting behind Roana, and strapped himself in.
He turned Roana around to face him and kissed her deeply. When he
finally pulled away several long moments later, he said, "No, now
you'll have _that_ on your mind all day!"

Her mouth worked silently for a moment. The kiss had been so
unexpected right then, that she'd barely had a chance to kiss him back
before he was turning away. Leaning up onto her knee and turning to
get enough height, she caught his jaw, pulling him down to give just
as good as she'd gotten. When she finally sat back, she had a naughty
twinkle to her expression. "As long as I'm not the only one, darling."

"Hey, you. I'm supposed to be focusing on my wing meetings, remember?
I was in a bad place because of my drinking, and I'm trying to be
responsible again? I can't be responsible if I can't sit comfortable
on my dragon!" J'klin protested.

"Then you shouldn't be giving me reason to be daydreaming about
kissing you while I'm in drills!" She shot back. "And besides..."
Roana wriggled herself closer against him, teasing. "Not my fault you
can't control yourself."

**Nimyth, I need the cold of /between/ please,** J'klin thought to his
dragon. "We're going up, so you'd better hold on tight!" he said to
Roana, wrapping his arms tight about her, as Nimyth leapt into the
air.

She tilted her head back onto his shoulder to look up at him,
"Depends. What do you want me to hold on _to_?"

J'klin stuck out his tongue playfully, "I think both of us need to
cool down a bit," he said, giving Nimyth the command to jump
/between/. They reappeared near J'klin's weyrledge, and Nimyth landed
easily. "Alright, as much as I enjoy your company, I need to hurry or
I am not making it to my drill." He was already going to have to
forsake his bathing time to do so.

"Yeah, me too." Quickly giving him a peck on the cheek, she slipped
off the ledge and down the steps toward her own, two levels down.
She'd have just enough time to change and get Phiralith harnessed up,
but Faranth help her... Focusing on drills would be interesting.

Last updated on the January 21st 2011

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The Morning After (2/2)