We can chase the dark together (M'kai)

[Avu]

Futh, tell Yours that A’emi wants a word. Kyrahth wasn’t quite pleasant, but at least she kept her voice neutral. At A’emi’s request, but whatever. The green dragon remained curled on her half of the weyrledge; her communication with Futh had ceased when A’emi’s had with M’kai, and unlike A’emi, she didn’t care. Actually, she sort of liked being allowed to dislike M’kai (and Futh, by proxy); it made up for the fact that she couldn’t hate Elysia and Onyth anymore. And if he’s busy, too bad; that’s not a message I care enough about to pass on to A’emi. And yeah, that part was entirely Kyrahth, even if she sincerely doubted A’emi would care if M’kai was busy either.

Different reasons, though.

Anyway, A’emi was thoroughly distracted, so it was unlikely that he’d even register Kyrahth trying to talk to him; he was making his way down the hallway and trying to simultaneously tie a note to Darkling’s forepaw, made difficult by her enthusiastic wriggling, and entertain Titania, who was curled against his collarbone. The Salamandyr nipped him whenever she suspected his attention wavered, which had left him a faint red spot on his neck, and was currently purring at him, And of these one and all I weave the song of myself; each death is mourned but it is just as lucky to die as to be born, my soul…

“I don’t care,” A’emi answered, and spread one hand over Darkling’s back to pin her wings, “You’re going anyway. Why are you even here, go help T’san with Svelte. How d’you plan on Chasing her if she dies? I reject necrophilia as a viable option. Hold still, Darkling.”

I have no mockings or arguments, Titania pointed out, I witness and wait. I expect Oberon will not like you much. She flicked her tail, nipped A’emi again to make her point, and then flung herself off of his shoulder in a smooth glide to M’kai’s door, scooting under without hesitation—ignoring A’emi’s stutter-step and his startled, “What? What did you—what’s his name?” Skittering across the weyr to M’kai, Titania leapt onto his foot and coiled around his ankle, nipping him lightly and commenting in a low purr to both man and Salamandyr, I have heard what the talkers were talking, of death and sorrow; my Love wishes to speak to you.

Darkling fluted amusement, eyes going bright green, as A’emi glared at the door like he could fry Titania through the solid wood, and then rapped his knuckles against it anyway. The note, half-tied to her forepaw, fluttered slightly as she shifted on his shoulder, tempted to try to scare M’kai just on principle when he opened the door. A’emi sort of ruined that, if unintentionally, by blurting, as soon as the door started to open, “Oberon? Really, Titania? Really?”

[Ruby]

I will tell him, and he isn't busy,[/i] Futh replied, enthusiastically warm and pleasant in reply to Kyrahth's not-angry tone. If the green wasn't snapping at him, and was talking to him again, Futh was basically thrilled. Instead of passing the message on, though, Futh curled up a bit tighter, tilting his head so he could look down and across at the ledge Kyrahth now shared with Dsoleth. Futh would be lying if he tried to claim he wasn't a bit jealous, but at least Kyrahth didn't cuddle with Dsoleth either. She did talk to the Brown, though, as far as Futh could tell. Why she and Hers had stopped talking to Futh and His was beyond the blue, but... it was all better now. Right?

Only once the knock sounded, and Oberon sang out a deceptively pleasant Who theeerreee? did Futh enlighten His. A'emi is here to see you,[/i] he offered, drawing a momentary raised eyebrow from M'kai, who was working on something Futh didn't care to know about at his desk. A'emi? Why? And when did you start calling him A'emi? I do not know, M'kaiMineLove. Kyrahth did not tell me. And it just seemed right? M'kai shook his head in bemused wonder, at least until he realized what A'emi being here really meant, and is face settled into all too familiar lines of general anger, expectation, and confusion. You know, the odd mix of expressions M'kai always got around A'emi, the one that made him look kind of pained. Or constipated.

Kami, perched up on a rafter with her wings slightly flared, was distracted by stalking the brown Salamandyr in an attempt to mother him to death, but Oberon had found a convenient crack in the wall that Kami couldn't get to, and it was from there that he murmured to A'emi (still outside), Titania, and M'kai, Who there 'deed? One come tell other bad things? Death and sorrow? News, p'raps? Always good plan shoot messenger...

"Oh, shut up," the Bluerider snapped, offering Titania a lift up to his shoulder before straightening and heading for the door, snagging Oberon on the way. He'd learned very quickly that it was better to know where the Brown was at all times when he had company. Attempting to fix his face into something bored and nonchalant (which actually worked better than you'd think), M'kai kept a firm grip on Oberon with one hand as he opened the door with the other.

And there he was. As Oberon's eyes flashed momentarily red before shading into a pleased (if vaguely suspicious) yellow-green, M'kai put the hand not holding his salamandyr up behind his neck, rubbing at it in vague embarrassment. "She named him, I was gonna call him What, or You, or something." With a little quirk of a smile, he added, "Maybe Something. He liked Oberon better. I think it's kinda fruity and nice for something so annoying, and I have no clue where she got it from, something about acorns and fairies, but there you have it." Oberon himself was momentarily - suspiciously - silent, so M'kai let the conversation hang for a moment before adding a self-conscious "Hi."

[Avu]

Well wasn’t that nice.

Kyrahth made no response to Futh—the green glanced up at the blue, flicking one wing in acknowledgment, and returned to her half-coiled position on the weyrledge. She didn’t have anything to say to him anyway, and being used as a messenger rarely had Kyrahth in a good mood on the best of days for the best of reasons. And it was moot; from what she could draw from A’emi he was already there.

And being annoyed by M’kai’s Salamandyr.

Not really what was being pushed into his mind (A’emi made an exception for being bespoken by Salamandyrs because it was necessary if he wanted to stay sane) but because he’d never appreciated Titania’s ability to use conjunctions and grammar properly before. He managed not to screw up his face in appropriate response, because hey, Oberon was still probably more eloquent than some other Salamandyrs or whatever, but he still wasn’t Titania. An automatic glance over M’kai when the bluerider appeared all the way in the door, catching on a very smug Titania’s perch on his shoulder and on Oberon in his hand. A’emi blinked, and then ignored M’kai’s tacked-on greeting to blurt, a little horrified and entirely awkward, “My Salamandyr’s more literate than you are. Is that even possible?”

It always seems impossible until it’s done, Titania commented, preening. A’emi rolled his eyes at her, and leaned forward, reached out to pick her up around the middle, plucking the green off of M’kai’s shoulder. Titania nipped his thumb reprovingly, sliding out of the lasso of forefinger and thumb and coiling her body around A’emi’s wrist instead with another scrape of teeth against his pulse point. A’emi continued, undeterred, “Titania. Like, queen of the fairies Titania?...pretend you know, at least. Oberon’s her king. Lord of the Third Race, Ruler of Avalon. Do you read?”

Darkling, who’d been pleasantly quiet, tacked on a pleasant, amused purr, eyes green as she peered at Oberon curiously, and chirruped at A’emi—remembered why they were even here, didn’t he? The firelizard added a half-hopeful croon at M’kai, blinking at him searchingly; he wouldn’t happen to have food on him, would he…

A’emi flicked her on the tip of her muzzle, and nodded at Oberon. “I came about your fairy king,” he told M’kai, less haughtily offended and more serious. “I want to send Darkling and Titania away until the plague’s over. T’san’s trying to see if Svelte’s going with, and I think K’sel’s fair’s going too, mostly Mojo because of Darkling.” Partners in crime, ha. Nabol was going to be scared spineless by the time they were done there. “The family I stayed with before, they know Darkling, so they’ll probably take them fine. Wanted to see if you’d be interested in sending Oberon with them, too.”

One troublemaker more or less couldn’t make a difference, after all. A’emi didn’t envy Nabol at all; Darkling was bad enough on her own—throw in Mojo and Titania and you already had a disaster in the making, and that wasn’t even counting on Svelte throwing fits or Oberon doing…whatever Oberon did.

[Ruby]

M’kai shrugged, glancing self-consciously at his desk where several books were in various states of being read. “I read, just not, like, fiction,” he said, then shrugged and mentally clamped down on Oberon. The brown had wanted to make a comment – something about M’kai being illiterate and A’emi being lost in a fantasy world, but M’kai had learned very quickly that Oberon did not respond well to training, reason, or commands. The only thing that kept him from saying whatever he wanted was M’kai basically cutting him off mentally, which took a lot of concentration.

Darkling’s trill distracted him, though, and M’kai went digging in his pocket for a snack as A’emi kept talking. Coming up empty, he shrugged at the flit, then carefully released Oberon onto his shoulder. When A’emi mentioned the plague, though, M’kai re-focused. “Plague? I didn’t know there was one.” Sure, he’d noticed some sick flits and stuff around, but he didn’t pay a lot of attention to pets beyond razorclaws. It reminded him too much of Bomb and Reina, and he knew he couldn’t bear to lose Oberon too. Grabbing the brown – Oberon had tried to launch himself away at the direction M’kai’s thoughts were going – he nodded. “I don’t think he’ll go quietly, but it can’t be a bad idea. Oberon?”

Yesss coward one, wants to send Oberon away? Yes ill’litrite one? the salamandyr sang, writhing in M’kai’s grip. “Look,” the Bluerider snapped, shaking the brown a bit (which only caused Oberon to coo in delight), “It’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows if you stay here. No fighting or anything, and I guess all the pets are sick. If you go, though, you’ll have a whole hold full of people to terrorize.” Or Oberon no go, I stay! Fight! “Fine,” M’kai said, letting go of the brown and doing a good show of giving in. “Stay.” I go! I gooo and coward be mad! Leaping into a half-useful glide, he clung to A’emi’s tunic at the waist, clawing his way up to the Greenrider’s shoulder. He wasn’t done yet, though. But before go, Greenone mad at coward. So mad. Cannot go with Coward in danger, though, yes?

Ignoring most of what Oberon said, M’kai leaned against his door frame – yes, it was rude to keep A’emi in the hall, but M’kai figured it was safer this way – he focused on the issue at hand. “So yeah, looks like Oberon’ll abandon me at a moment’s notice. If you see the holders, let them know they have my sincerest apologies.” With that taken care of, M’kai very nearly said ‘Thanks so much, is that all?’ or something similar to end the conversation. That was next, right? Something Oberon had said, though, niggled right at the back of his mind. Sure, M’kai knew that the brown was just trying to start trouble, but what if it was true? “Um. Are you really mad at me?”

[Avu]

Okay.

So it wasn’t that he didn’t know M’kai—and most people—didn’t read the same as he did, but still. M’kai didn’t even have an excuse; it wasn’t like A’emi hadn’t been quoting things at him since…forever. And his…not-girlfriend or whatever lie of the week it was for Sel’n, she read the same stuff. Or had, at some point. A’emi liked to think that she didn’t still read it, just for the sake of his own sanity. Maybe she just didn’t bring it up. Whatever. He was there for the plague, not a literary discussion. A’emi huffed, half a laugh. “Uh, yeah, there’s a plague. There’s…it’s got a pretty high death rate, from what I can tell.”

Not that he had been stalking the Healers’ process or anything (except that he totally had) but it didn’t seem like they were really making rapid progress, either. So, no, he was not letting Titania or Darkling get sick, and if it showed signs of spreading to dragons he’d be getting Kyrahth out, too, even if that meant leaving with her.

A’emi stayed quiet as M’kai…convinced Oberon, or whatever it was. He was starting to think Titania and Darkling were the only intelligent pets in the entire Weyr—first Svelte and now this; it wasn’t like they weren’t going to come back. Although—at least M’kai’s little spat with the Salamandyr was over quickly. A’emi blinked at the brown attached to his shirt, mildly bemused, pursing his lips at the Salamandyr’s addendum. Titania nipped his ear mischievously on his other shoulder, purring a privately amused, How transparent you are love…

“Great,” he answered absently. Which, fortunately, was vague enough to be applicable to either Titania or M’kai. He’d started to reach up for Darkling again to re-check the note when M’kai asked his question and yeah, okay, way to be awkward. A’emi blinked, fingers stuttering as he ran his thumbnail down the crease in the note again, like it wasn’t already folded perfectly. It was really ridiculously tempting to be a dick just on principle. Hm.

“Obviously not mad enough to let your pet die,” he said, instead, and took a step closer to M’kai because the bluerider evidently did not realize that the hallway was not a good place to have this conversation (he should just be grateful A’emi wasn’t feeling terribly vindictive because yes, hello public space, how many eavesdroppers are there today?) to add, lower, “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve been busy,” busy avoiding M’kai, but hey, these details were so easy to leave out, “and bitching at Els is a lot more therapeutic than trying to talk to you most days, so, no, of course I’m not mad at you, I’m fucking thrilled with you.”

…well, Kyrahth commented, sounding vaguely stunned and entirely too amused, I hope /that/ was therapeutic. Feeling lighter? Weight off your shoulders?

I could stand to lose more.

[Ruby]

M'kai, never the most mature of humans, got immediately defensive. "Look, I was just asking, ok?" he snapped back, crossing his arms but giving ground as A'emi pressed forward. It had been meant as a harmless comment - hell, in M'kai's head, it had practically sounded like a joke - but apparently he'd hit a nerve. Oberon swapped shoulders on A'emi so he could sit next Titania, humming in pleasure as the humans went at it. Yes, conflict, his favorite thing. Keep it up, please.

With a very dirty look at his Salamandyr (already proving to be more trouble than Bomb and Reina combined), M'kai swung the door open the rest of the way and made a sarcastic sort of gesture, inviting A'emi in. Into the foyer, anyway, or the small area that passed as an entry way in the weyrs. If the Greenrider chose to come in, M'kai was poised to close the door behind him and take up a spot against the wall next to it; if not, he'd be just as happy to return to his place blocking the door. Taking a deep breath, he thought back to Benden for the first time in ages, back to some of his conflict resolution training. Because, as much as he tried to tell himself that he didn't care if A'emi had some sort of misguided snit fit, he had noticed that the greenrider hadn't been around as much. And, when A'emi wasn't around, M'kai realized he was a bit low on friends. They kept dying off on him, and since he wasn't really allowed to spend time with Isori... yeah. As much as A'emi drove him crazy, it was worth at least trying to figure out what his deal was.

He released the breath he hadn't really been holding, trying not to sigh. "So. If you're not mad, and you've just been busy, why the hostility? I mean, it's not like I caused the council to schedule you for double drills or anything," he added, trying oh so hard to sound reasonable and not snarky. "Because honestly, something about the phrase 'fucking thrilled' doesn't make me think you're telling the truth, or if you are, you still need to talk about it. I thought Oberon was just messing with me, but apparently not, so spill. I'm not Elysia, but it might surprise you to know that talking to the person that's causing the problem is a lot more useful than bitching behind their back," If he was even the problem. Somehow, he got the idea that he was (or it could just be M'kai being arrogant, but he couldn't be bothered to sort out which was which at the moment).

An uncomfortable Futh watched the proceedings from his ledge, allowing Kami to perce between his headknobs with a worried trill. Should we leave you two... er, five alone, MineLove? Kyrahth looks pleased, and that's rarely a good thing...[/i]

[Avu]

It was really tempting to snipe back at M’kai that he was just answering the question, and the words were already in his throat when Titania, tilting her head in mild curiosity and amusement at Oberon, brushed her tail across the bare skin at the neckline of his shirt and murmured, private this time, Calm yourself, my love, Oberon is enjoying you far too much for my liking, because she was allowed to be a little bit possessive about that, wasn’t she, even if it didn’t make too much sense. And there was also the faint sound of feet moving down the corridor, so getting into a spat in the middle of the hallway, if it had ever been a good idea, was decidedly not anymore.

So A’emi stepped into the weyr after M’kai, stopping once he was inside and the door was closed, to turn back around to face the bluerider. And okay, maybe he should appreciate the diplomacy, or the attempt at it, but just…not in the mood for it. And it didn’t make him feel better that M’kai was evidently clueless, because it wasn’t even like it wasn’t glaringly obvious, thanks. Or maybe he was just less emotionally constipated than he thought he was and M’kai was the one with comprehension issues. Or something. But clearly he got along fine with Isori, and weren’t girls—pregnant ones at that—supposed to be all emotion?

“Right,” he said, not quite snapping, and only because of Titania—Darkling threw a sidelong glance at M’kai and promptly vanished from A’emi’s shoulder with a flutter of wings and paper. “I’m going to assume that was a really roundabout way of asking what the problem is, which case, fine, the reason I’d rather talk to Els or T’san or K’thay or K’sel is because none of them act like they’re bipolar, okay? Seriously, dude, when a self-proclaimed king of hobos is more consistent than you are, that’s saying something,” even though what would’ve been humor at some point was still sharp around the edges. “So yeah, if you care that everything isn’t sparkles and roses right now, then maybe you should act like you give a damn other times too.”

Well, Titania mused softly, tilting her head towards Oberon in vague anticipation of the brown’s amusement of the situation, and not bothering to hide her ‘voice’ from the others anymore, I must say that was not what I had in mind when I said ‘calm,’ love.

“Well tough luck,” A’emi blurted at her. Which, yes, he was pushing it, because no matter how patient Titania usually was with him, she had her limits too, and he knew that, but whatever. She was not the problem right now, even if her response was a faintly reproachful flick of her tail at him, eyes flashing faintly yellow before sliding back into calm greens as she flipped out her wings, casting another impassive glance towards Oberon.

[Ruby]

"Bipolar?" Oh, this was getting good. M'kai rarely fought with anyone - the reason he could deal with a pregnant Isori, after all, was because he was fairly easy going and not a lot made him mad - but accusing him of mental disorders he didn't have was a pretty great start. Not to mention that he was under an incredible amount of stress, with the baby and being suspended and all. A good screaming fight sounded great. Maybe he'd even get to punch the Greenrider.

And, go figure, M'kai still had no idea what A'emi was pissed about. Oberon was super pleased, quietly letting the fight play out. The only issue seemed to be Titania, who was apparently trying to calm her human. Titania, lovely, he sung, mostly private, Ever heard anger best med'cine? Drain th' wound, draw out the poiiiison? Fluttering see-through wings so they settled more neatly against his back, the white-striped salamandyr settled a little closer to Titania, not quite touching the green. She didn't seem like the cuddling type, and honestly neither was he. If she wanted him, she could just come to him.

Meanwhile, M'kai had pushed off the wall, stalking over to take a chair in the main room... only that was the table they'd played poker at, so instead or sitting in the armchair, M'kai leaned forward to rest his arms along the back of it, facing the Greenrider lurking by the door. If A'emi wanted a seat, he could take it (and if M'kai planned on using the chair as a thing to hang on to and dig his fingers in to, that was just fine with him. It needed re-upholstering anyway, and having something between him and the Greenrider seemed like a great idea.).

"So, now I'm bipolar," he snapped, not bothering to hide his anger. Care to tell me what your problem actually is? Because you still haven't really said, and the only problem I see is that I did something to piss you off and instead of handling it like a man, you talked about my business to everyone in the Weyr but me. I mean, I guess you said something about me not giving a damn, but I'm sorry; I'm grounded, have a pregnant girlfriend that isn't mine if I want to keep my job, and you're living with a dude. Did it ever cross your mind that someone like T'san makes me incredibly uncomfortable? Hell, you made me uncomfortable for a good few turns. You still make me a little uncomfortable, adding T'san to that seems like a terrible idea." Uh, that wasn't really what he meant to say, but now he'd said it, and he wasn't about to take it back. Let A'emi make of it what he would.

[Avu]

I believe the correct quote is ‘laughter is the best medicine,’ Titania corrected, although the statement lacked any real disapproval. It wasn’t Oberon she was upset with, after all, and unlike certain people she didn’t redirect her irritation. She flicked her tail down Oberon’s spine, a light meaningless touch, and threw another glance at A’emi’s face, And there are less destructive ways to healing a torn nail than pulling off the entire arm. Still, fair enough; even if A’emi decided in a spectacular fit that he never wanted to see M’kai again there was nothing stopping her from dropping in, so fine—he obviously didn’t want her interference anyway.

It was really vindictively satisfying to see M’kai getting angry, if not very surprising, since, hey, insult anybody and they’d either sulk or get mad or both. Still, the end result of M’kai’s snapped answer was unexpected. There was a split second of a wide-eyed stare before A’emi scowled at him, eyebrows knitting together, blurting an indignant, “What’re you, jealous? We’re roommates, it’s not—” He waved one hand, a sweeping incoherent gesture, and went on, “And I’m sorry, that’s not an excuse, okay? You’re not the only one with problems either, so yeah, some acknowledgment once in a while would be nice!”

He was grateful that he’d stayed near the door—A’emi had joked about punching M’kai to Elysia before, but he hadn’t ever actually particularly wanted to before.

But hey, things changed all the time.

He leaned one shoulder against the wall, indignant enough that sticking around felt like more of a deliberate insult to M’kai than a punishment to himself. Or at least, it balanced out. Whatever. The fact that it didn’t make sense was sort of a moot point. And anyway, it was surprisingly therapeutic to yell at M’kai. There was something you didn’t get by bitching to Els (never mind that he hadn’t addressed the particular accusation—Els wasn’t everyone in the Weyr so whatever).

“Well—fine.” Titania, on his shoulder, flicked a faintly yellow gaze at him. A’emi ignored her. “Since you’re so fucking busy, I’ll try not to screw up your schedule any more. I hope you have a great life. Has it always been your dream to knock some chick up and have spawn hanging off of your arms all the time, then, is that just not something you like to share with the peanut gallery? Does the idea of not having a social life or sleeping thrill you? You gonna marry her, be a proper gentleman?”

Because yes, scathing he could do.

Even with Titania slipping quiet disapproval into the back of his mind and her claws pricking his skin.

[Ruby]

Oh no, so wrong, Oberon sang back, unphased. He met her gentle touch with one of his own, wrapping his tail loosely under hers, not touching but resting close to her hindquarters. With so much anger in the room already, did he need to pick a fight with Titania? Absolutely not. Iffn you don't pull off whole arm, lose it to infection, the brown cooed absentmindedly. There were much more important things to do than argue semantics, after all. Like watch this fabulous altercation. From A'emi's shoulder, Oberon's head skipped back and forth from M'kai to A'emi, frill flicking and re-settling as each made a point. Lovely.

Oh, M'kai had seen that momentary surprise, and it thrilled him. A'emi pretended he was so calm and cool, but it was still possible to shock him, apparently. Without M'kai's input, his mouth turned up at one corner, somewhat wolfish. "Jealous?" He let out a bark of laughter, promptly sublimating any true feelings of jealously he actually had. Those didn't exist, obviously. "I don't care what's going on with you and T'san, you guys can fuck around - or - or whatever you do, it's none of my business. I don't know what you mean by acknowledgement, but if you want my attention, just ask for it. I don't like T'san, I don't want to be around him, I'm sorry if that bothers you. I wouldn't like you either, except Kyrahth's a sneaky bitch, and Futh is still mostly in love with her. Sentimental beast." On his ledge, Futh huffed and took off into the night. Kami accompanied him. He'd have words with His later, but for now the ledges outside sounded VERY comfy.

M'kai didn't pay attention to Futh's departure - he was too busy scoffing at A'emi. "Apparently you don't know me as well as I assumed. I hate kids, but I like Isori well enough, and yeah, I'm gonna do right by her if she'll let me. She's a rider, I'm a rider; it should be easy enough to foster the little beast out once it's born. That won't stop me from telling Isori I love her and asking her to move in. It's the right thing to do, and I've practically lost my job anyway. Might as well admit to it. It was never my dream to do that, but fuck, that's life, isn't it? I hate the idea of having a kid, but life doesn't sharding care what you want, you conform to it. I'll take the hand I was dealt like a man, which is more than I can say for you." Weak insult? Absolutely. But it was the only thing M'kai could think up on short notice, and it was better than nothing, especially better than breaking down.

M'kai was getting dangerously close to that breaking down point, too - he was under a lot of stress, and he'd been pushing it down for so long. Without wing drills, and without A'emi to wrestle, he'd been bottling this up for a while now. "So if you want to run away like a puff, just do it." Puff was Benden slang, but it had filtered through all the Weyrs at some point, and even as a Fortian A'emi would know how hurtful it was meant to be. That was the term Benden riders used to label men that liked other men, but it was a threat, too. Men who liked other men didn't last long at Benden, after all.

[Avu]

Titania was pretty sure that that comparison was not supposed to go that way, but she was equally pretty sure that A’emi was broadcasting enough distress at her that it was giving her a headache, and Salamandyrs weren’t even supposed to be able to get headaches, so it really wasn’t worth arguing. And anyway it wasn’t like Oberon was exactly the hinge of the argument; all he’d done was start it. A’emi at least was certainly running on his own steam, even if M’kai wasn’t. Titania slitted yellow eyes at M’kai, disgruntled and biased enough to look like a suitably threatening gargoyle in miniature.

He was just—not getting it, and A’emi wasn’t sure if he was being deliberately obtuse or if he was just actually that oblivious, and he wasn’t sure which he preferred because hey, you could punch someone for being stupid on purpose, couldn’t you. Lips pressed together, he glared at M’kai’s sharp smile, something decidedly unpleasant twisting in the pit of his stomach as the bluerider went on. He didn’t see anything remotely loveable about Isori, and with the opening M’kai gave him he almost just left, except for that stupid, stupid insult. And yeah, A’emi recognized it, and it triggered pretty much every last crappy thing he’d ever heard about Benden, and it was enough to make his expression turn dangerous.

“I’m sorry,” he said, softly venomous, stepping further into the room instead of out like he’d originally planned, until he was on the other side of the table from M’kai, “I don’t remember you being a pretentious prick when you were screwing me over your table, did you love Isori then, too, were you in love with her when you decided to cheat on her with a guy? Or wait, don’t tell me,” his hands flicked up mockingly, mouth twisting into a sharp slash of a smile, “It doesn’t count if it’s got a dick, is that it, or you’re so fucking in love that she’ll understand it was a one-time thing, you just slipped up, except for how it’s fucking not.”

Because of him, because of Kyrahth, but there were other times, too. And it wasn’t like A’emi was ever going to tell Isori that (she struck him as just irrational enough to blame him instead of her asshole boyfriend or weyrmate or whatever, and yeah, it’d be really vindictively thrilling to do it, but it just wasn’t worth it). But if M’kai thought that insults about his sexuality—and of all the hypocritical things he could possibly pick—were okay then fine, Isori was fair game too. Even if it made him sound like the other woman (and jealous at that) because shut up, he was not.