If you're alone tonight. (R'ven)

[rii]

She was not making things easy, as usual, and likely she didn't fully realize the.. reactions to her actions. R'ven swallowed, finding it more than a little difficult to ignore the lips touching against his ear. He could feel the hairs rising on his arms and the back of neck. The rational part of himself was thankful when she seemed to flinch at the reversal of the question, earning him a bit of breathing room to gather a fraction of his wits back enough to listen to her answer.

Nothing struck him as odd about Erilena's past. He had known girls that were put into arranged marriages before, and even though Erilena's situation had been a touch different, the involved feelings of not loving their partner, but wanting to appease their parents – those parts were the same. Heck, most girl's got married at Erilena's age; younger even. Regardless, the information didn't bother R'ven. She was here at the weyr now, any past plans of being bonded to some bloke back at the Hold meant nothing. She was a dragonrider now, the past wouldn't be coming back to claim her..

When her story got the point where she mention Kentvin pressing her to be intimate, R'ven shifted his hold so that his hands rested lightly on either side of her waist. Didn't want her to mistaken his intentions. Maybe he should ease her out of his lap as well. "Failed at what, turning a blind eye to what he was doing behind your back because he couldn't suck it up and respect your wishes?"

The brown weyrling snorted, giving his classmate a mock look of scolding. "But good, I don't have to worry about some besotted lover coming here and attempting to steal you from me. I'm not very good about keeping my temper in check around men who treat women like property or slaves." The whole reason behind his arrival at the weyr was hinged on such a fact.

Was it his turn, though, to ask a question? R'ven had easily lost track of what were actual questions and other things that were simply tangents to the related subject. At least Erilena's seemed more relaxed despite the storm still thundering through the canyon. Albeit, she did feel tense in his arms. Maybe not calm enough to get some sleep. "Uhm, so.. how did you end up here? I hope your parents didn't send you here because your bonding fell through. That's kind of cold-hearted.."

[Rei]

Erilena leaned back against R’ven and listened to his voice rumbling through his chest. Yes she shouldn’t feel like a failure. But at the time she had. Her mother had been so very disappointed so had her father. “I know. I shouldn’t feel bad at all. I just felt like I owed my parents something. I worried them way to much as a kid. Even now I worry them. When my dad writes I can tell he is worried. I told him about you. He hasn’t replied yet.” As the smith shifted she blinked up at him. He needn’t move, she was comfortable. Maybe he wasn’t. Reaching up she trailed a hand down his jaw. She almost missed catching his scolding look. Giving him a half smile she sighed and stroked Ca’tauri. “You don’t have to be angry. It’s over. I’ll never make that mistake again. I’m not wasting my time one someone I don’t care about ever again.” Erilena had made that resolution after him. No more worrying about what anyone else wanted. In the end wasn’t it her happiness that mattered anyway?

“Nobody could take me from you anyway. You wouldn’t have to worry about some besotted lover.” The weyrling said softly as she listened to the feline purr. Immediately she wiggled back against R’ven and laid her head on his chest. If the smith’s question surprised her she didn’t let it show. “No my parents didn’t send me here. I went on at home for a few months after the engagement broke. Just dabbling in the glasscraft and then the Siege hit Selenitas. I went with my father and a bunch of others to help with repairs. We stayed for a month or so and then went back to the hold. I ended up helping in the makeshift infirmary as a bed nurse and everyone was so nice. Then a few months after I came home Dorava and Aonith came and I was searched. They said I was a bit older than what they normally looked for, but I asked my parents and they said I could go. Millieth’s clutch was already on the sands. I impressed Feyrianth a few weeks later.”

Trailing off the greenrider nuzzled her head against his chest. “How about you? I think I remember saying your uncle sent you. Why? Did you just decide not to go to any of the holds?” Idly she rewrapped her hand though his and drew patterns on the back of his hand. “I’m actually quite surprised I didn’t see you more often when we lived in the candidate barracks. I was in a different lesson rotation then though. I saw you a couple of times but I was so caught up in the newness of it all and you where kind of a bit intimidating. You looked so worried a lot of the time.” Smiling softly Erilena tried to catch her classmates gaze. “Now I think back on that and wonder why I ever thought you where intimidating. I’m so glad you make a good roadblock.”

[rii]

R'ven's expression faltered, though doubtful Erilena's would see it given she was resting her head against his chest. She had told her father about him? "The holds have certain perspective about dragonriders. I'm sure he's not too.. thrilled.. that you are seeing one." It still struck him as strange to refer to himself as that. Part of him still wanted to stubbornly refuse any association with the weyr. It was a mixed feeling, considering that he would never give up Trilaranth. But therein lied the problem of coming to the weyr at such a late age. R'ven had already formed his mindset on the world and people – changing was not an easy feat for him. It wasn't so much as a time issue as just.. himself not accepting the change.

His hands firmed on her waist to keep her from wiggling too much on his lap. "I'm surprised I didn't see you when I was helping out at the infirmary. Although I'll admit I kind of numbed myself to be there, wasn't really looking if you can understand what I mean." Just running on autopilot and not stopping to look at the people dying from the plague. Didn't want to get suck into that depression. "I was a here a little under a turn before Milieth's clutch, so I'm not surprised I didn't see you around if you only came a few weeks before impressing."

The flashes of light were starting to be fewer, and the dark interval between them making him more aware of the darkness around them. R'ven turned his head against the back of the couch to look at dimness of the nearby glowbasket with a mental note to change them in the morning. "I actually probabaly would of been a wherhandler. All my classmates did.. Dmitri, Yoalla, Nautic, Eikane – but I slept through the whole thing."

He blinked at her comments, head tilting as he tried to look at her face. He had looked worried? "I guess I was.. preoccupied with my thoughts. I really didn't want to impress. I don't know if you've noticed but I don't really fit in around here." Didn't want to fit in the a weyr lifestyle. "I was hoping that not impressing would give me the excuse to move to a new hold and see if one of the smiths would teach me so I could get the last knots for smithcraft."

As for how he ended up at the weyr, R'ven mentally debated on the matter. "My Uncle and I thought it would be better if I got out of Hyphen." He gave a weak chuckle. "Plenty of smiths in Hyphen, after all."

[Rei]

Erilena sighed and closed her eyes. “You know. He might write me back a slightly worried response. Not that it matters. He’ll like you I’m sure. If he ever gets the chance to meet you.” Titling her head up she smiled. “If he doesn’t? Well it doesn’t matter in the long run. He’s still my father but he doesn’t control my life.” He wouldn’t either. If he didn’t approve, well that was really his problem. But R’ven was nice, polite, and would probably be on his very best behavior if he did meet her father.

So really there wasn’t anything to worry about for her. Nope. Her father was very intelligent, and he loved her. This she had no doubt about. She had always been something of a daddy’s girl. Erilena had confidence that Erick would approve of her choice. The tightening of hands at her hips was noted and brought her out of her thoughts. She, not for the first time during the night, wished she hadn’t brought the blanket. She was getting far too warm.

Sighing in contentment the weyrling sprawled back against her classmate and worked on removing the blanket from around herself. Hard to do without moving a bit too much. “Sorry.” Erilena mumbled to the smith as she finally unwound the blanket to just drape it over them. There better. “To tell you the truth I tried not to think so much at the infirmary too. So many sad things. I didn’t let myself make too many connections. The time I spent there is a bit of a blur. I know I did help where I could and some events stood out, but yeah.” Yes there where things that stood out. Children being orphaned. Dragons leaping between. The pursuing feeling of doom that you just couldn’t quite escape. She shuddered in response to those thoughts.

The storm was starting to blow itself out. The flashes of lighting where coming a stretched intervals and then thunder was not much more than a few soft rumbles with the occasional mild boom. Funny how she hadn’t even noticed it was still storming. Slowly Erilena was beginning to completely relax. With relaxation came an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion though and she yawned. “Oops. Sorry. I’m listening really.” Shifting so she could see R’ven better, she reached up to cradle his face in her hands. “I’m really glad you did sleep through it. If you hadn’t I might never have met you. That would have been a horrible thing.” The weyrling nodded decisively and then smiled.

“You told me that you didn’t want to be here the first night we kissed. I know you’re different. But I don’t think it’s a horrible thing. You can see things in a different light. It might not be easy all the time.” She traced along his jaw before dropping her hands. “I have some of the same problems. We where raised differently than the weyrbred types.” Raised differently and came to the weyr later in life. Things where ingrained. Things that Erilena may never be able to convince herself to change. However it would be easier if she had someone to confide in and she did.

The greenrider stretched her arms out in front of her, being careful to avoid the cat. Dropping them back to her sides she tilted her head. There was something there R’ven wasn’t saying. Or wasn’t ready to say. Why did they decide it would be best for him to get out of Hyphen? Inwardly Erilena debated for a moment before deciding that it wasn’t the time to prod about it. Maybe later. Instead she spoke. “It’s your turn for a question.” She half lidded her eyes then and resumed snuggling back against his chest. It had to be extremely late now.

[rii]

What was she – R'ven let go of her waist as she shimmied about to remove the blanket. Oh. That wasn't exactly good. A thinning of layers between their bodies, and for a moment the smith's mind wandered as he watched her. Was she wearing anything else under the shift she used as a nightwear? A sharp mental kicked righted his thoughts. Hands on his face now, and R'ven couldn't keep his gaze from locking on hers.

"Yeah. It's funny how those things work out.." And the smith found it difficult to listen when after her words she arched in a stretch against him. Really, he could only take so much. R'ven wrapped his arms around her waist swiftly twisted their positions around so that she was half reclining on the couch and he was.. kneeling on the floor next to the couch. No longer having a temptation sitting in his lap.

He picked up the blanket that had fallen on the floor and set it over her. "My question is.. does snoring bother you?" A smile graced his features as he lifted one of her hands, brushing his lips over the back of her knuckles as he kept his gaze on her face. "Because I'm told I could wake the dead. Got my own room on the other side of the house because I was that loud."

A flash of a sheepish smile as R'ven stood and crossed to his bed, picking up his pillow to return and hold it out for Erilena. "We're both tired.. and as much as I would enjoy staying up the night and talking with you.. I think we'd draw a bit of questioning if both of us showed up to lessons dead tired." After relieved of the pillow, R'ven reached out to scratched at the back of Ca'tauri's ears – of whom had taken immediate claim of Erilena as a sleeping partner by stretching out along the green weyrling's side. "I can take her if you want. She makes a good stuffed animal though."

[Rei]

Erilena smiled softly as the smith’s gaze locked on hers and her heartbeat sped up quite nicely. Suddenly she was very aware of R’ven’s proximity and she wasn’t complaining. Not in the least. Perhaps she should have been, but she wasn’t. It came as no surprise to her that she wanted more from him. What did come as a slight surprise was that she was completely willing to give him more. Normally quite reserved around those she had been courted by, the barriers she had put in place in the past where effectively dismantled by her brown riding classmate. It wasn’t a bad thing to the greenrider though. Not at all. It was different and a bit on the disorienting side at time but the weyrling supposed that was natural. Before she could act on any impulse however she found herself suddenly shifted.

Blinking back at R’ven she gave him a soft smile as he covered her with her previously discarded blanket. Part of her was a bit disappointed but….to be honest well maybe it was for the best. At least for now anyway. The soft kiss pressed to her knuckles made Erilena all fluttery inside and her smile only widened. Didn’t deserve him sometimes. She gave a soft giggle in response to his question. “No I doubt it will bother me. I’ve probably slept through worse.” Okay maybe not, but the weyrling wasn’t going to tell him that. If getting used to him snoring was the price she had to pay for staying she’d gladly take it. As he moved away she shifted to make herself comfortable making room for Ca’tauri as she suddenly flopped next to her. Erilena’s eyes flicked back up to the smith’s as he returned and she gladly took the offered pillow masking a yawn with her other hand. “I suppose so. Don’t want to get accused of naughty things. Considering we are both such angels.”

As R’ven reached over to scratch behind the feline’s ears Erilena caught his hand before he could withdraw it to pull him a bit closer. Inwardly she was very glad he was normally so reactive to her little tugs because honestly if he wanted to resist there would be no moving him. The weyrling wasn’t kidding earlier when she mentioned that he made a good roadblock. Reaching up she cupped his face and pulled it closer so she could kiss him softly. Drawing back she brushed her nose against this for a moment. “Thank you for letting me sleepover and saving me from the nasty storm. Goodnight handsome.”

Pulling away she stroked along the Ca’tauri’s body and sighed. “You're not allowed to take her. Since you won’t cuddle with me I need a cuddle partner. She totally beat you to it. Better luck next time.” Giving him a look of mock annoyance Erilena flopped back down and made a show of snuggling against the feline, who just purred louder in response. Humph. Oh she wasn’t really annoyed or upset. It was all in good teasing fun. To make sure she wasn’t misunderstood she gave R’ven a soft smile.

[rii]

"I don't know about you," R'ven spoke seriously, but couldn't stop the way the corner of his lips quirked upward in a smile. "But I would rather avoid having Darya start questioning us about what kept us up all night – in front of the rest of the class at that."

Hand taken, R'ven let the smile finish taking over his features as he bent down to press his lips to Erilena's. It was so very tempting to sink into it – nudge Ca'tauri aside with a knee and – no. R'ven eased back, drawing in his lower lip between teeth; hard with the idea that pain would put his mind back into place. It was bad enough she was staying at his weyr tonight. Likely could get in trouble for that, but really, they weren't doing anything (and R'ven was determined to keep that the absolute truth) so it shouldn't raise any fuss. Shouldn't.

"Mm, good for something." His fingers smoothed through her hair, curling in a growingly familiar pattern around her ear. The touch moved away, dropping to Ca'tauri's ears. He growled softly at the feline. "I see how it is. Going to have to compete for that spot." Someday he hoped anyway. Certainly not tonight. He didn't trust himself – if his constantly wandering thoughts were any clue. Straightening, R'ven chuckled as he turned to head toward his bed, tugging off his shirt as he went. "Guess I should get back into the habit of wearing something to sleep in."

He flopped down on his bed, stretching out on his back before folding an arm behind his head since he had given up his pillow. R'ven thought to tease her that maybe that's why she was going to come over a next time, but a yawn interrupted his words. Tired, that's right. He let his eyes drift to a close..