Just for fun and nothing meant (Tags A’emi)

[Rei]

Crack, snap, swish. Elysia danced to the beat of the opponent in her head, her whip slashing out in the air. Perfectly balanced she was, but something was….off. Leaping forward she swung again, stepping sideways to avoid a back lash. It had been hard to find a partner willing to keep up with her. So she had continued to go it alone. Not for the first time she cursed Fort for her father’s death. If nothing else he had been a perfect sparing partner. She felt Onyth brush her mind with a loving touch. The dark green was perched upon a rocky outcropping a few yards away. Stopping to brush her sweat slicked bangs back the Benden woman smiled. Time for a bath love? The green swung her dark head towards her bonded in deliberation. No I am fine but if you want to wash I will join you.

Elysia didn’t even debate for a moment. Stripping off her leather fighting gear she dropped it to the sand and kicked it behind a rock. She kept the knife strapped to her thigh and discarded her other weapons. Never would she go without a weapon. Never. Onyth vacated her perch to glide to the river’s surface. She entered the water much like a waterfowl, back legs dragging at the surface before she lowered herself completely. In a few brisk strokes Elysia was at her dragon’s side. The water was cool to the southerners maybe, but she was used to colder. To her it felt more like bathwater. One thing she did /not/ like about Selenitas was the heat. Treading water the woman grabbed one of her dragon’s ridges and let the beast drag her for a few moments. It was peaceful here, deceivingly so. She was used to having to watch every move. It was weird talking to people here. They where all so blissfully oblivious. She almost envied it…almost.

Then Onyth’s head snapped up and whirled around. The green’s teeth bared in a silent growl. Her dragon didn’t have to elaborate. They where being watched. Perhaps a curious weyrling? Turning her head slowly the green rider examined the bank. “If you want to watch that’s fine but you run the risk of a mauling for hiding like you are.” Slowly she reached for the dagger at her thigh, unsheathing it and keeping it below the water line. Perhaps she wouldn’t need it but it was always better to stay armed.

[Avu]

“Ngh,” A’emi answered eloquently, rolling onto his stomach and batting at the wispy leaves clinging to his hair. Pfft, he’d been seen. By…the dragon, probably; he was more or less entirely invisible to human eyes. Or he’d assumed so. Maybe not. The rock in his way was big, but eh. Maybe in his rolling around he’d accidentally stuck a foot out or something? The greenrider sat up with an indignant sniff before he rolled his eyes playfully at Elysia, a smile already curling the corners of his lips upwards. Mm, lovely thing, she was. Her dragon…well, Kyrahth didn’t like Onyth. But Kyrahth didn’t really like anybody, so that could hardly be used as a judging point.

“If you weren’t as gorgeous as you are, I’d plead innocence, but as it is…” His smile widened faintly, A’emi pulling himself into a standing position and promptly sprawling on his stomach across the rock, folding his arms beneath his head and pillowing his chin. “Elysia, right? I actually wasn’t hiding, but, darling…I’m so not arguing with the watching part.” A suggestive quirk to the smile, and A’emi tilted his head playfully, one cheek resting along his forearm. His fingertips drummed against the sun-warmed stone, and he absently bent his knees, feet dangling over his back childishly.

Who are you talking to?
The – Elysia, I think, her name is? The green, the one you don’t like…
That doesn’t help me. I don’t remember the names of /people/ and I don’t like /any/ greens.
The one you /really/ don’t like.

The wave of Kyrahth’s frustration only widened A’emi’s smile. His eyes were half-closed, crinkling at the corners from his amusement. A pleasant (albeit lazy) day had just taken a very big upwards swing, mm. At first he’d just been pleased to lay flat on the ground on his back, gazing cross-eyed at the blade of grass that hovered in front of his nose and send occasional puffs of breath at it to make it move, not thinking, not caring, but this…oh, it was far more interesting. He’d have Kyr with him, but the green had been asleep when he’d slipped out (he’d been lying there for nearly five candlemarks) and he hadn’t the heart to wake her – or the idiocy to tell her where he was.

Apparently, lectures about safety were delivered better in person and he was trying to put it off as much as possible, please and thank you. Good thing he could easily block out the green when he wanted to – A’emi was a naturally manipulative person, after all, and seven Turns of practice made for perfect.

“I’ll be offended if you don’t remember me,” he went on, still playfully. “That Candidate from before went and got stolen by a bronzie, so I’m afraid I don’t have him with me, but hey…bronzers are boring. You’re much more interesting~” Understatement, very much so. It was still very blatant flirting, but he had a feeling Elysia wouldn’t mind.

[Rei]

Elysia couldn’t quite stop the seductive smile that came across her face.

Onyth gave a mental huff and pulled away. Her dark hide glistened with water as she strode up onto the bank and crooned a greeting to A’emi. Kyrahth would not be happy. But she was not in attendance. A quick shake was given before the green took wing to re perch herself gargoyle style on her rocky outcropping again. From this position she could see her bonded and the Fortian. But she wasn’t an immediate threat. That move would never have been done by Onyth normally but her bonded had asked for her to remove herself from the water. It was an attempt to make things less uneasy. Her tail flicked once as she arched her neck and regarded the two with calmly whirling green eyes. Do be careful El my love. I would hate to have to stain the water with his blood.

The smile on the greenrider’s face only widened at her dragon’s comment. A’emi covered in blood? That image was a bit of a turn on. Relax Onyth. He is on our wing. We have to learn to play nice. Still treading water she sheathed her dagger and swam a bit closer to the bank. Once her feet touched the pebbled bottom the benden rider threw her hair back and strode gracefully forward, stopping when the water covered about half of her breasts. Cocking her hip she raised her head to intentionally display a bit more of her neck before speaking. “Elysia yes. I'm flattered you remember. Then again I suppose I'm not easy to forget.”

She allowed her eyes to fall half shut and a purr rumbled in her chest. From his position A’emi likely couldn’t hear. What a shame. It really didn’t matter though. Body language told him that she was pleased. Stretching her arms upwards Elysia ran her hands through her soaked hair squeezing water out of it and allowing it to run down her neck and chest unchecked. He wanted to watch? She’d give him something to look at. The displaying of her neck was intentional. It told him that she didn’t consider him a threat. It was a veiled insult really. It would be interesting to see whether or not he picked up on it. To be completely honest she was willing to bet he would.

Titling her head Elysia caught the greenrider’s eye as she walked forward stopping about hip deep. Smoothing her hair back she raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh I remember you A’emi darling. Couldn’t forget you that easy.” She let her eyes run over the man not even trying to disguise her interest. Dark eyes flicked back up to his face. “Such a shame. I liked that kid. Bronzes taint. You’re right they aren’t interesting. Not in the least. You on the other hand….” Another smile flickered over her face. “Where is your better half? I am willing to bet she won’t be too pleased with you.” Cocking her hip she turned and sauntered back to deeper water. “Where you planning on just watching?” She turned to look back over her shoulder at him, raising her hand to make a come hither gesture. “Because watching is so terribly boring.” Yes watching was boring. Playing on the other hand. So very not.

[Avu]

“Hi,” A’emi told Onyth amicably, nodding and raising one hand to wiggle his fingers in an absentminded wave at the green. “You didn’t get out ‘cause of me, did you?” His nose scrunched in anxiety. Dragons on land were bad when Kyrahth wasn’t there. Yes, he was paranoid, too – he just blamed it on Kyr for the most part because he could. But potentially hostile dragons in the water were better. Water slowed things down (a lot; the last time he’d tried to charge someone in the water had resulted in a very undignified display of frustrated flailing). Hmph. Would’ve been much easier to run away from Onyth while the green was in water than have to dodge a very fast dragon on land.

Oh well. Hopefully it wouldn’t get to that.

A’emi’s gaze fell back onto Elysia, who’d moved towards him. His eyes half-lidded approvingly at her little show, lingering on the curve of the other greenrider’s throat. A low humming croon curled on A’emi’s tongue, fingers half-closing against the warm smoothed stone. So fragile, so breakable, so unafraid…of him. Was he that…not scary? A’emi hid his smirk. Maybe so. Apparently Elysia wasn’t as stupid as lots of other people at Selenitas was – he was hardly going to pick some random person (beautiful or otherwise) to flirt with and then kill for the heck of it. Uh, yeah, no. Well, flirt, maybe.

Closer, and A’emi itched to be able to touch. His head tilted, lolling lazily against his forearm, and he smiled at Elysia’s words. “Good to know I’m equally hard to forget.” The words were quiet, half-purring, amused. He was glad he was, kind of, though A’emi was sure he could be inconspicuous if he needed to be. At Selenitas, he didn’t think he needed to be, though. Yet, anyway. “Me, on the other hand…” he echoed, one eyebrow quirking suggestively, encouraging her to continue the sentence, before he crinkled his nose in a pout at the mention of Kyrahth. “My better half…? Pfft.” He didn’t really answer, though; it wouldn’t do for her to know for sure that Kyrahth didn’t know where he was. Maybe she could guess, but she still wouldn’t have proof.

The invitation. A’emi smiled, eyes hooded. “Gorgeous, thought you’d never ask.” His hands pressed against the flat stone, levering his entire body over it, and his legs swung around smoothly to land on his feet in front of it. A cocky little smile quirked the corners of his mouth, the greenrider coming to a stop at the edge of the water. “Enlighten me. What games were you interested in playing, exactly? Because there are so many I can think of…” His eyelids drooped, innocently, and A’emi flicked a sideways glance at Onyth, more out of habit than actual wariness.

Onyth? /Her/? I hope you’re eaten, I really do.
You’re so cute when you’re angry~

[Rei]

Watching A’emi through her eyelashes Elysia was pleased by every appreciative look he shot her way. Yes that’s right. Wasn’t she a gorgeous thing. Didn’t he want to touch? Oh she could tell he did. It was a delicious sensation really. His eyes on her. Half turning a smile spread across her face at his mention of Kyrahth. So she likely wasn’t around. Or maybe she was. Either way it didn’t matter. She was not planning on being threatening.

Much more interested in playing. A game of cat and mouse. Lets not forget who the cat was. Elysia purred as the other greenrider moved. Yes that was a good boy. Accept her invitation, she didn’t give them often. It wasn’t like she gave invitations to every rider. Contrary to seemingly popular belief. It was however also kind of a let down that he had accepted so quickly. She did so enjoy the hunt. However willing submission was just fine as well. As long as he begged.

Onyth upon her rocky ledge snorted in disinterest, merely brushing once against her bonded’s mind in a silent promise to keep an eye out. Stretching in a catlike fashion the green circled before flopping down to curl up on the warm rock. Her wings twitched once before folding and she titled her head towards the sly before placing it on her forepaws. It was a pity she didn’t have Saboth here to curl up with. She wouldn’t call him either. Not with hers and the Fortian playing. It might scare away her bonded’s prey or attract Kyrahth and she didn’t want that. She would have to settled for the warmth of the sun and get her cuddle fix later back at her ledge. With a final tail flick she set herself to wait while the humans played their little games.

Oh and games they would play. Elysia tracked A’emi’s movements as he approached the edge of the water. Her dark eyes flicked upwards to caress his body seductively before fixing back on him. Turning back to face him she pouted. “We can hardly play when you are so far away.” She outstretched one arm and then curled it back to bite the tips of her fingers. Giving them a lick afterwards her lips quirked upwards in a smile. “Darling that is so unfair. Trying to get the information without any of the work.” Cocking her hip she drew her fingers away from her lips. Resting them instead on the side of her face instead. “If I told you that would take so much fun out of it.” Raising an eyebrow the greenrider waited for his decision. To enter the water or keep his distance.

Decisions, decisions.

[Avu]

You’re playing stupid again, aren’t you?
Why would I be ‘playing’? A’emi answered distractedly, his gaze still on Elysia. Not that he hadn’t gotten a bedmate recently, and he didn’t really need (or even want, for the most part) a new one every sevenday or anything, but…hey, she’d started it. And she was on their wing, which by default made her worth something. Dangerous, right? Potential for pain was always a turn-on. He felt a wave of Kyrahth’s bitter dismay, and felt a tinge of his own guilt, of what am I doing this for, but the greenrider ignored it – Kyrahth was just paranoid, and he’d make it up to her later.

He smiled at Elysia sweetly at her seduction attempts. If she wanted to think that it was the usual that got him, let her; he wasn’t going to correct her. Sure. They’d go with that. Anyway, she probably thought he was terribly easy to get. Actually, he thought she was, too, but that was likely deliberate; she didn’t seem stupid. Or at least, not very; he hadn’t gotten close enough for long enough to really decide yet. The greenrider paced idly on the edge of the riverbank, head half-tilted back and sideways so he could feel the sun on his face, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. His posture was entirely relaxed, slightly slouched, his thumbs tucked loosely into the low-hanging pants at his hips.

“Sweetie, that’s no fair either,” he responded, playfully; A’emi leaned forward to skim the top of the water with the sole of his boot. Stiletto, hidden there; he was loathe to remove it, or the smaller one on his other instep. Or any of the other things he had on him, really. “I need a little more…” His voice trailed off for a moment before he finished, “Motivation.” A’emi’s lips twitched upwards, a teasing smile. She could look pretty all she wanted, but it wouldn’t be getting him into the water – he kind of didn’t like it. It was always warm and kind of muddy, murky; he wanted the icy cold clear Northern rivers again. Not this.

His eyes half-closed again, eyelashes gold in the sun. “I mean, something a little more…tangible, y’know? Kyr’s told me before, promises are made to be broken, and anyway, I think she’d get mad if she caught me dripping wet. She’s jealous, you know.” Of Elysia, of Onyth – the green was, not that she’d ever admit it; jealous because they had A’emi’s attention and she didn’t. “It’d be terribly upsetting, you know, if you just left me all wet without anything to show for it…not even a kiss~”

Okay, now he was just ‘playing stupid’, as Kyrahth had put it. The flirting bordered on obnoxiously outright, but the teasing, playful look in his eyes, the upturn of his smirk, the laughter in the droop of his eyelids, detracted from what might have otherwise just looked like ineptness. He knew he was being stupid.

That doesn’t excuse it. That will /never/ excuse it. Love, my dearest…
Kyr. Kyrahth, love, calm down. I can’t hurt her, but she can’t hurt /me/, either. Even for me, Selenitas has /some/ kind of justice, I’d think.
You really think I care about justice?
Which, in itself, was a good point.

[Rei]

Elysia watched A’emi pace with only idle interest. He was already beginning to bore her a bit. Shards. Ah well. Not everyone could be interesting all the time mores the pity. Dark eyes watched was the greenrider’s boot skimmed the top of the water. Still…there was a large part of her that wanted to play with him. Turning to face him the benden rider leaned forward and made a show of trickling water down her body, starting to bathe. Without him. Whatever. Turning her head she gave a soft snort. “Motivation? Darling whatever could I motivate you with? I can come up with lots of things but they all require you being close.” Outstretching and arm she reached towards him and pouted. “See sooo far away. No fun when I can’t touch you.” Shifting her weight she angled her head up towards her wingmate on the bank. He was making this awfully annoying. Pity. If it was a hunt he wanted she could do that though. Cat and mouse. Wouldn’t be near as fun as her current harper target. Then again. No one made things quite as interesting as he did. He had a knack for being an irritating ass. Born that way it seemed.

Elysia gave a feline like smile and half lidded her eyes. It was something tangible he wanted was it? Tangible she could do. Problem was she didn’t know if A’emi would like what she had in store for him. Pain wasn’t something everyone liked after all. It was more an acquired taste really. Finally the greenrider made her decision and began a noticeable stalk towards the man. Let there be no doubt who was in control here. Her. No sharing in the dominance. He could submit or he could leave. Those where his only two options. Leaving the water, her movements became more graceful as her feet hit dry land. Swaying towards him she made no effort at all to disguise the weapon she still wore strapped to her thigh. No point in hiding it. Elysia didn’t much care if he knew she wore one. It could serve as warning or information. Dangerous she was. Didn’t need a weapon to kill him after all.

Approaching slowly the benden rider waited until she was mere inches from him before reaching forward to snag A’emi’s shirt and yank him towards her., Automatically her lips found his. Sucking his bottom lip between her teeth she bit it hard enough to be painful. Moving her hands up under his shirt to caress his chest she let her nails score little trails up and down his pectoral and chest muscles. Breaking the kiss she whispered against this ear. “Tangible enough for you?” Without waiting for an answer she walked backwards snagging his gaze. “Pain is pleasure love. Is that why she is jealous?” She purred as her feet once again found the water. If he wanted her particular brand of torture she was willing to give. As long as he entered the water. If not. His loss. She had far more interesting targets after all.

Onyth gave a rumbling purr from her position on the ledge. Darling love. Do remember that he is on our wing. Wouldn’t want to make things too awkward between you. Ciceroth’s would not be pleased. Elysia gave a mental laugh. Oh darling. You needn’t worry. Just for fun. I want to see if he is a screamer. Pure curiosity. That and I like squirming. The dark green flipped her tail at that. Yes fun. You humans have such bizarre concepts sometimes. Whirling blue eyes snagged onto A’emi and she crooned the sound soft, inviting. Kyrahth jealous? Oh she liked that.

[Avu]

His head tilted, but the greenrider offered no answer. Words did very little for him, other than catch his immediate interest. Couldn’t hold it there for long; A’emi was and would always be, as far as he was concerned, a very tactile person. Liked to touch, did the greenrider, even in platonic relationships. Even acquaintances were touched regularly. Harmless touches, but touches nonetheless; to the back of the hand, the shoulder, their hair. It was a physical reminder to himself of their presence, their tangibility, and their fragility, how easy they were to break. And it was that, more than anything, that A’emi loved.

A faint smirk slid across his lips as Elysia made her way towards him, and A’emi considered shucking his boots, but decided against it. Later; there would be time later. His gaze slid down exposed skin, lingering for a moment on the knife strapped to her thigh. Tch. That’d be rusting if she didn’t take very good care of it, chances were: That was why A’emi didn’t like swimming too terribly much. Another reason on top of the fact that he just didn’t like the Southern water, anyway. A dart laced with slow-acting sedatives wasn’t much use when water diluted the sedatives in question, and water tended to slow people down. A lot.

Elysia’s closeness drew a lazy smile onto A’emi’s face, and he allowed himself to be pulled forward, his hands brushing against the other greenrider’s hips lightly. The familiar sweet, dark pain that laced through his mouth and the slight scratch against his skin widened the smile. He tilted his head for better access, tongue licking out, but Elysia had already pulled back and he settled for drawing his lips across her shoulder, humming quietly in response to her question. Pain was nice, but his touch was closer to affection; any touch at all was nice.

A slight glance at Onyth’s croon, before A’emi kicked off his boots, pulling the knife deftly out of his belt and dropping it into one of them. The blow-pipe could stay there; it wouldn’t harm the pipe and the dart was due for replacement anyway. The smile he flashed Elysia was all teeth as he stepped into the water, following the greenrider. Not closely, but lingering. In the back of his mind, he could feel Kyrahth’s anger, sharp and prickling and almost painful in its insistency. “Maybe so, gorgeous, maybe so.” His eyes were half-closed, lashes pale and gold against his cheek.

He drew closer, one finger reaching out to drag lightly against the flat of the blade strapped against her thigh before his thumb brushed against the edge, a quick motion that sliced the skin in a thin straight line, blood dotting the thin wound. “So pain is pleasure, right? I’m wondering just how many games you could come up with using that knife of yours…”

/None/, Kyrahth hissed, and her voice was taut with fury. Where /are/ you! I don’t want them /near/ you, love, dearest, let me /get/ you and we can find your pet Candidate or someone /else/, not them, /please/, love… Even in her rage, her jealous blaze of hot anger, she was still calling him ‘love’, and it was that, more than anything else, that made A’emi reconsider, but only for a second. His mind brushed against hers, light, consoling, but definite; he could take care of himself, he wanted this.

[Rei]

Elysia’s smile brightened into something truly dangerous looking as the rider accepted her invitation and finally slid into the water after her. She managed to keep from looking too pleased, but only barely. Yes that’s right. Good boy. The name of the game was control and the benden rider was a /very/ dominant sort. Never liked giving up control. When the other rider drew closer she stepped forward her nails barely dragging down A’emi’s shoulder as he slid his finger along her knife. A purr rumbled in her chest as she reached down to grasp his hand. Bringing it up between them Elysia examined the small amount of dripping blood before licking his finger seductively and then moving to nibble on his wrist, purposely leaving a smear of blood on the skin above his pulse point. Drawing back she licked her lips and her dark eyes caught his, a slow smile spreading across her face again. “Well darling I am sure I could come up with more than enough to keep you interested.”

Oh yes more than enough. Let there be no mistake who was going to be doing the hurting though. As long as he kept things in her control she was more than willing to work him over. Did she need this? Not really, but there was desire there. Purely based on the ability to control. Was there any feeling for A’emi? No, not in the least. All she wanted was a prop. Something to make squirm in her hands. Oh Faranth yes. A pet, a puppet. No strings attached. It didn’t matter where he came from or what he’d done. Hers now. All hers. Hers to hurt hers to give pleasure to. Right now the benden rider didn’t even care if he submitted. If he didn’t she’d make him.

Elysia half lidded her eyes leaning forward to claim the Fortian’s lips again making good use of teeth as her nails raked his back. Her other hand trailed down his abdomen and then broke off and went for her knife. Stepping back Elysia drew the flat of the blade up and over his stomach. “What exactly do you want. What lines do I need to cross?” With careful deliberation she withdrew the blade and, seizing his wrist, pulled him against her violently. The flat of the blade now resting against this back was cold and the greenrider purred. “Let me know darling. Your only chance to back out comes now…”

Onyth gave a soft rumble her eyes swirling with purple and blues as her bonded below played her games. Had her fun. The dark green uncoiled and got to her feet, her tail tip twitching in careful consideration. Had to watch out for Kyrahth she did. Chances are the other green was now far from pleased. Especially with the promise of pain. While Onyth herself didn’t care, as she was well used to her bonded’s ways, she was sure that the Fort green would be less than pleased about her bonded’s choice of torture. Yawning she arched her neck to pay close attention to the skies all the while keeping a careful emotional tie to hers.

If A’emi sought to wrest control and hurt hers. If things went sour quick. Onyth was but a drop away and there would be no hesitation from the green. Blood would be spilled. Let there be no mistake, there was no love held for the Fortian pair, This was merely an opportunity that hers could not pass up. A fort toy. Those didn’t come along too often. Not willing fort toys anyway…..

(( Feel free to fade out if A’emi wants it >> Can always fade back in ;D *flicks purring Els*))

[Avu]

[fade out and back in <3]

The water licked over bare skin and A’emi hummed quietly, mostly to himself, a tuneless expression of contentment. He was floating on his back, eyes half-closed against the sun. Part of him wanted to get out of the water as soon as possible, because really, he’d gotten more than he’d expected to and he was very much satisfied (and plus his hair was starting to curl due to the wet and that made him fret at the best of times), but…he was still…recovering…at the moment. The sting of pain was less than he’d hoped – the thin lacerations that laced across skin came with an initial sting, but they didn’t linger.

His fingers traced across one thoughtfully as he turned, closing one eye, to glance over at Elysia, a smile that was mostly teeth flashing across his face. She was gorgeous – not that he’d ever thought otherwise. Just because he hadn’t always known she’d be into this kind of stuff didn’t mean he couldn’t approve of aesthetics – with the marks of his teeth. He hadn’t used his nails, but his teeth were sharp enough that the nips drew blood, left bruises. They’d fade rapidly – he hadn’t left them with the intention to mark – but they still looked good.

“Hope nobody’ll get upset with that,” he murmured, abdominal muscles tightening instinctively at the sharp twinge of pain that ran through his lower torso as his nails skimmed a particularly deep cut. “No lovers’ squabbles or anything, hnh?” The words were absentmindedly light. No, A’emi didn’t expect anything to come out of it – it was just sex, just physical. Marks had been left, sure, but they’d heal over, whatever…and he didn’t have anything other than flings, anymore. Last real relationship had ended with his killing his so-called lover, so it wasn’t as if he was exactly excited to start up a new one anyway.

“Should probably know. Weyr gossip, ‘n all that, but I’m horrible at keeping up with gossip.” Surprisingly, given how talkative he was, but…eh, he’d much rather flirt with Drudges than gossip with them. Yeah. Much more productive. One hand waved idly in the air, an obscure gesture that didn’t really mean anything – A’emi just liked to speak with his hands. He also liked human contact; even after flings he liked to curl up with people and just touch them – the greenrider especially had a thing for the shoulders and neck area, the temples, and pressure points in general.

The fact that they were floating in the river made that quite a bit more difficult, though. It wasn’t the same if one was actually standing and horizontally, they’d sink. And A’emi thought asphyxiation via water might ruin the experience. Just a bit. Possibly. Whatever, he’d deal without. Being baked by the sun was nice, anyway. Peaceful, kind of. Kyrahth had fallen silent after – he wasn’t entirely sure when. The first kiss, the first press of steel against his skin, the first flash of pain, the first blood – it had been simultaneous, and it could have been any of them that had caused it.

He would definitely have to apologize to her later.

Well, no. Apologies were useless, because that was possibly the best time he’d had since coming to Selenitas, other than Kyrahth’s Flight, and A’emi was definitely going to be looking for a repeat. So he wouldn’t apologize; it would taste wrong, feel wrong. But he’d make it up to her.

[Rei]

Elysia’s arms moved in slow rhythmic motions as she floated on the surface of the water. Pleased was the benden rider. Extremely so. It was nice to be able to hurt. A slow contented smile spread over her face as she tilted her head slightly to catch sight of A’emi. Slowly she ran her eyes over his body, enjoying the sight of her work. Lovely it was. Apparently she still had it. Next time she would have to make use of a whip instead. Those where much more fun.

Arching in a sudden stretch she sank beneath the water briefly and then remerged, treading water slowly. The tiny pangs of pain and the feeling of her sore muscles was a delicious contrast to her current contented mood. Almost lazily she tilted her head to stretch out her neck, flinching slightly from the bite near her pulse point. Mmmm, some teeth the little biter had. The marks upon her body where collateral damage as far as she was concerned. The Fortian had preformed so well she felt the need to allow him his little bites, especially since he had begged oh so nicely for her.

The greenrider’s eyes flicked back to her ‘partner’ as he ran his eyes over her. Elysia pushed her hair back from her neck to allow him a better view of his handiwork. Attention, no matter for what reason, was always appreciated. Her dark eyes examined A’emi’s face a slow smile spreading as he spoke. Hope nobody will get upset? The benden rider chuckled and moved a bit closer to the other greenrider as he examined her handiwork, caressed it. The sight of him stoking his knife wounds was a bit of a turn on. Insatiable wasn’t she? “Hmm Don’t worry your pretty head darling. He doesn’t care. Sex is sex. He may be slightly upset that you marked me but I can assure you there will be no squabbles.” Of that she was certain of. Besides if he did get upset, which she highly doubted, she was good at explaining herself. Tch it was all about communication, even if the communication was rocky at times. Still, she trusted her unofficial weyrmate would understand her need. There was no emotional attachment to A’emi after all. He was merely a toy. A very, very nice toy.

“Hmm can’t say I’m too fond of the gossip either. Even if you had listened though you wouldn’t get much information. My personal life is something I prefer to keep to myself. You understand.” Elysia’s dark eyes flicked back to A’emi and she wiggled slightly in the water before flipping back onto her back to float again. Content was she for the moment. Hopefully the fortian would come back to her. If he did he would be suitably rewarded. What she had given him was a mere taste of what the rider was capable of inflicting. For people like A’emi it was a drug. A highly addictive one. The greenrider would have bet just about anything that he would eventually come back to her, asking for much the same. She hoped he did. Her eyes examined the knife wounds again. She sooo hoped he did. It was a high she missed, being able to hurt and yet cause pleasure at the same time, his body reacting to everything she did, knowing she was in complete control of both his pain and pleasure. It gave her a thrill that nearly nothing else could compare to.

Onyth had fallen silent somewhere along the line. For awhile the green had been content to share in the pleasure, but when the pain and control games had started she had withdrawn as always. The dark colored dragon always stayed present when she preformed with Dmitri. Spurring her on, encouraging her, heightening feeling, but whenever Elysia was involved with someone else the dragon withdrew. It was curious but Elysia didn’t ask. She already knew why. Onyth and she where extremely close. Nothing hidden between them, ever. Even now she felt the slight disproval of her actions from her lovely other half, but they where brushed aside as always. It was one area where they differed in thought. Always had. There would be no apologies, no words of forgiveness. She heard the rumble of discontent from the outcropping above and she gave a chuckle before speaking. “Opinionated thing Onyth can be sometimes.” Pillow talk wasn’t something Elysia was good at, she didn’t prefer to cuddle afterwards either. Not unless it was Dem she was cuddling with. Strange how different she felt about everything with him. Brat.

Pushing thoughts of things like that aside, blamed Onyth for having those thoughts at this moment in the first place she did, Elysia moved to shallow water so she could stand. Almost lazily she looked over her shoulder back to A’emi. Well this was one way to get to know your wingmates.

[Avu]

The assurances that nobody would be after his blood (though the thought was, honestly, more amusing than really intimidating) was accepted with a lazy nod. It didn’t particularly matter to A’emi if he stepped on toes once in awhile, given that usually he tried not to, but it was still good to know, he supposed, that he’d be free to search out Elysia every once in a while when he was bored or had nothing else to do. His fingers still drifted lightly across cuts, lacerations, pausing and hovering and pressing carefully when one offered a particular sting, until it was quelled again.

Of course, actually getting up and moving would just make them hurt again, but it would be a better hurt if they’d stopped at least for a minute first. He snickered quietly at the other greenrider, though, crinkling his nose at her, playful again. “Of course.” It was tempting to tack ‘gorgeous’ on to the end of that again, because A’emi really was considering replacing Elysia’s name with ‘gorgeous’ altogether – even during Wing Drills or during casual meetings, but he refrained, for the moment. One round would have to be enough for now, given that Kyrahth would only be more upset at him if he initiated another.

He tilted his head back until the water came up to his eyebrows to follow Elysia’s path, a faint, amused smile quirking his lips. “You leaving? ‘Cause if you want your river back, think I’m gonna call Kyr to pick me up anyway…” In other words, she didn’t have to leave if she just wanted a private place to practice, or whatever she’d been doing prior to her catching sight of him. One eyebrow rose, though it was made invisible by the river water, and for a moment his gaze flicked to Onyth. Quite simply, he didn’t like the other green. Part of that was definitely Kyrahth’s dislike of anything remotely female near Hers, but he also just…didn’t.

Even if Kyrahth had voiced probably most of the same objections. Heh.

Lovely, he called, reaching for the green’s mind.
You’re done? she asked, and there was acid in her tone.
Look, Kyr, could you come pick me up?
A mental hiss; a wave of resignation, hurt, upset. Kyrahth probably wasn’t aware just how vulnerable she really was, and A’emi was privately exceedingly relieved that he was the only one who could unlock that side of her. Where?
The river – here. The mental image was offered. You know?

No response; A’emi took that for a ‘yes,’ and rolled over in the water before he padded up towards the bank, too. “Wing Drills tomorrow, yeah?” Hum. This whole wet thing would be a problem. A’emi knotted both hands through dripping curls and twisted, trying to wring the water from his hair. “Fun so far, you think?” He thought it was fun, anyway. Kyr did, too, even if she didn’t like anyone on the wing except Ysaloth, and that was more of a passive tolerance than actual affection.

And thinking of Ysaloth, A’emi kind of wanted to poke Ar’ren. That could wait.

[Rei]

Elysia turned to look over her shoulder at A’emi, a smile playing on the corner of her lips. “Oh hun you needn’t worry about that. I just want out of the water. I’m going nowhere. Have nowhere to be and no one to answer to currently.” She smiled and exited the water before striding a bit up the bank and settling down onto the grass. It would be nice to have a little respite, dry off. “It’s not my river anyway darling it belongs to us all. Would be sooo selfish of me to try and claim it for my own no?”

Idly the greenrider caressed her own skin with long fingers, cataloging the bruising and nips and happily reliving each moment of pain and torturous pleasure. Fun it had been most definitely. Something she had missed being able to do. Certainly satisfying. Dark eyes flicked up to Onyth’s position and then back down to A’emi with a silent request for Onyth to behave and be silent when Kyrahth came to fetch hers. The benden rider was well aware that the greens disliked each other. Something that was probably a bit bad considering their wing. Onyth got along with everyone but Kyrahth. She would have gotten along with the other green just fine, but Kyrahth seemed less than interested in liking anyone. Shame, that made things a tad difficult really for both her and Onyth in the trust department.

Stretching out her legs Elysia closed her eyes against the sun, only opening them again when A’emi spoke. Her eyes caressed his body again, lingering on the knife wounds, before she gave a shrug. “I like drills just fine. Fun would be a good way to put it I suppose. At least sometimes.” The greenrider titled her head slightly. “It’s so nice to be on a wing like Legatus. I enjoy every minute of it really. It’s challenging.” Which was the honest truth, but that wasn’t exactly why Elysia liked her new wing. It /was/ challenging, and she liked challenge a lot, but she also liked her wing mates. Almost all of them. It was nice to have that familiar feeling of almost family again. Yes she couldn’t speak for the rest of the wing but Elysia put her heart and soul into it and Onyth did as well. All except Kyrahth, it seemed, fit in. That was the only problem Onyth really had with the other green. Kyrahth didn’t care. The darker green didn’t like trusting someone who didn’t give her the same and Elysia couldn’t blame her.

Onyth sifted to an upright position on her ledge and yawned before flicking her wings once and then settling them upon her back. She craned her neck and crooned softly to the two humans before moving her eyes skyward. The dark green tried to make herself seem as unthreatening as possible, well aware that Kyrahth would be in a bad mood. The other dragon never seemed to be anything but angry. Shame that. Tail tip flicking idly, she brushed her bonded’s mind in brief unease. Do you have to be so close to him. If she shreds you I will be most displeased. The greenrider up tilted her head to look at her beast and she smiled lightly. It’s okay love. I don’t think they are that stupid. She wouldn’t shred me and I do not think A’emi would let her.

Oh the rider had no disillusions that there was any love or emotion between her and A’emi, but the man was intelligent. The green would be no threat physically to her. She may growl and make a fuss but Elysia was sure there would be nothing to worry about.

Running her fingers through her hair Elysia detangled it as best she could before flicking her gaze back to A’emi. “Shame you have to leave. I wouldn’t protest you sticking around but perhaps it’s for the best. I wouldn’t want to upset your lovely anymore.” Truly she had no qualms about it either way but she decided to be polite. “If you ever get bored, you will have to look me up.” A wink was given after that statement and the greenrider allowed her eyes to linger on A’emi for a few moments before she flicked them up to his face and gave a knowing smile. Oh she was sure he would be back.

[Avu]

“Nobody would argue with you if you did claim it.” That was more subtle than A’emi usually did – which meant it was still pretty blatant a compliment, even if it lacked ‘—who would argue with someone as gorgeous as you?’ tacked on to the end. The words were lazy, though, as he waded entirely out of the water after Elysia, still trying to wring water from his hair. Ugh, ugh, too curly, fff. He kind of wanted to cut it all off; maybe it’d grow back straight or something? But there were times when A’emi almost liked it, too, the way his hair fell. Just not when wet. Never when wet. He frowned faintly, squeezing one last time before he brushed his palms down the sides of his abdomen, wiping off the excess water.

…getting dressed was going to be a pain.

“Yeah?” A’emi’s snicker was dry. “Guess so. Never thought I’d need a bow and arrows, though.” His fingers curled, mimicking the way he’d started drawing the bowstring back – not quite conventional, the way his fingers twisted around the length of what he suspected was gut, but effective. Kind of. A’emi stretched his arms in front of him, humming at the pull of muscle and the sting as the flexing opened some of the recent lacerations. Still, his words had been true – bow and arrows, whaaaat. Stilettos and knives had always been enough for him. And trying to cope with bow and arrows was…kind of frustrating.

He had time for one more wide smile towards Elysia before A’emi caught a flash of green out of the corner of his eye, and then he scrambled into his clothing. Of course Kyrahth would know there’d been knifeplay involved, but she didn’t need to see it yet. Not until he was back at the weyr and in the bath. Get all this annoying mud and dirt and whatever else was stick in the most inconvenient of places off of him. “Until next time, then,” he replied, and his words had a barely suggestive lilt to them as he bowed. His grin was playful; he knew he cut a ridiculous figure, sopping wet, clothes sticking to the slender planes of his body, blood showing through the white and tan fabric – but that didn’t matter.

I am here, and you are going to die, Kyrahth hissed; the green coiled into a tight descent before she landed behind A’emi, eyeing Elysia and Onyth warily. She made no move to snap at the other green, though – Kyrahth wasn’t stupid. A’emi wouldn’t approve, and neither would Selenitas Leadership. We’re leaving /now/, A’emi, and the use of his name, without the addition of ‘love’ or ‘dearest’ tacked on was surprisingly sharp. A’emi blinked at her, and then a faint smile crossed his lips. He blew a farewell kiss at Elysia before he threw himself up onto Kyrahth’s neck, squeezing gently with his knees.

I’m /fine/, love. I’m /sorry/ I worried you, but –

She ignored him utterly, glancing at Onyth and stating to the other green, Good day neutrally before she twisted into flight again, cold and completely composed. Hated her, Kyrahth did. Her and Hers, and right now she hated her Bonded, too, for worrying to the point of physical nausea. See if she ever let him out alone again.