Pride and Decency, part 2/2

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 14th January 2011

Characters: J'nev, Aileyan
Description: J'nev and Aileyan woke up after the Mating flight and it does not go well.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 10 of Turn 5
Notes: Follows "Selection of suitors",

Part 2/2

Mentions U'kaiah

He snatched his hand back, like he had been caught in the act of
something heinously wrong. J'nev averted his eyes, both out of habit
and shame. The way she shrieked his name was certainly a far cry from
the way she had purred their Wingleaders. "I won," he mumbled, feeling
that should justify anything she might accuse him of.

"Well, so it seems," Aileyan's voice was frosty.

"Your lifemate thought we were best." Better than U'kaiah. Better than
even the Weyrleader!

"She likes Ankioth," Aileyan said, and looked around for her clothes.

The way she just dismissed him like that was as good as a slap to his
face. "And you're not even going to give me a chance because I'm not
your womanizing Wingleader? What are you to him? Just another
conquest!"

"I might give you a chance if you stop acting like a jerk," she snapped
back.

"What? When was I _ever_ a jerk?" he protested. "Because I tripped the
bastard who threw a drink at me first? Because I pointed out the fact
that your oh-so-wonderful lover was banging another woman in his office?
How was I a jerk?"

"When we first met, all you wanted was to get me into your bed," she
sniffed a bit. "You never wanted to learn to know _me_."

He offered her a drink and she took it as a proposition? Oh she thought
so high of herself, didn't she! Why he ever thought she was any
different from every other greenrider he'd never know. "You screw
U'kaiah and suddenly you think every man on Pern wants a piece of you?
I'm sorry, I don't need to pick up his scraps!"

Aileyan stiffened. "Then don't, the door is there," she pointed.
Her face frozen immobile in attempt not to cry.

This was nothing like that perfect scenario his imagination had conjured
up, but there was no way to take it all back. He felt utterly rejected
by her. Though in his mind he liked to think of himself as wise to the
ways of the world, J'nev still had a lot to learn, especially about
women. There was nothing he could he think of to say to take it all
back, and figured apologizing would just make him look all the more
pathetic. This feeling of failure and disappointment threatened to
bring tears to his own eyes, but he would not let it get the better of
him. Anger was so much easier to bear.

She would reject him? Faranth, no! _He_ would reject _her_!

"You go. I never wanted you in the first place and I can think of a
dozen other girls I'd rather be with. Go crawl back to U'kaiah. He's
the only one who wants you anyway!"

His words were hitting awfully close her own fears and insecurities. Her
eyes flashed. "No one tolds me to go," she hissed and crossed her arms
across her chest. She was not going to move until he was gone.

"Fine, then lay down and spread your legs. That's all you're good for
anyway." The moment the words were out of his mouth, J'nev knew he had
gone too far. This was not the way he had been raised to speak to a
girl. Would he ever let a man talk to one of his sisters like that?
What would they think if they could see him now? And yet, despite the
stab of shame he felt, he would not let Aileyan know that he would take
those words back if he could. J'nev would not show himself to be that
weak in front of her.

Aileyan was too angry for words. Her eyes flashed dangerously, she let
out a low growl from her throat and then the palm of her hand connected
soundly with J'nev's cheek. She was petite but she was also a
dragonrider. It let very satisfying red mark.

He deserved that. J'nev knew that much, deep down, at least. And yet
just gathering his clothes and retreating without at least one more
parting shot would mean she won. He acted as if he couldn't feel the
sting of the hand-print forming on the side of his face, though it
almost brought tears to his eyes. "I should have known if you tumble
with U'kaiah you'd want it rough." He reached for his pants. "I
mistook you for a decent girl once. I won't make the same mistake
again."

Unfortunately, decency wasn't very high on Aileyan's list of virtues.
She snorted. "If you're example of decency, I don't want to be any where
near it," she said, pulling her clothes on with short, angry gestures.

"Don't worry, you won't be." He decided he wouldn't even bother with
his tunic as he thrust his feet angrily into his boots. "You deserve to
live in the Weyr. And you deserve to be U'kaiah's little loyal canine."

"I'm no one's canine," Aileyan retorted eyes flashing. "But You're right
about living in the Weyr, it's far better than abusive mother and
ignorant father."

J'nev didn't know what to say to that. He had never heard how, or why,
Aileyan had come to the Weyr. Or anything about her past. But he
didn't want to hear any more. He just wanted to get as far away from
her and this Flight room as possible. "Whatever," he shrugged as he
stood to fasten his pants. "I'm off to find someone worth my time."

"Good riddance," Aileyan murmured quietly.

Last updated on the January 23rd 2011

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Pride and Decency, part 2/2