The first time's the best... (Cr'oph/Sel'n)

[Ruby]

She'd been tricked.

Caden wasn't 100% sure how it happened, but somehow here she was, facing off against a redhead even taller than she was, being told to kiss him. What made it even better was that she was fairly sure she recognized him; not from Selenitas as far as she knew, but as someone from Benden. There had been tall, long-haired, redheaded twins there, a few years older than she was but seemingly stuck in perpetual candidacy, so technically they HAD been candidates together. And really, how many tall, long-haired, redheaded men were there in the world? Caden was betting around two.

So this had to be one of them. She'd never had much to do with either, and couldn't remember their names, really - here's hoping he wouldn't connect the mannish yet gold-knotted Caden with precocious little boy Caedenor - but still, she was sure some sort of surprise registered on her face when the little old man running the booth brought him out and gave them their instructions. Not to mention, of course, that she was supposed to kiss this man. Kiss him. How did she even do that? Kaegan was going to die; this had been her idea, something about 'training'. Caden had assumed that meant something about diplomacy, something Goldriders appeared to need a lot more of than Blueriders. She'd also assumed Kaegan would be coming along. Maybe Mr. Benden here would chalk her surprise up to what the booth was for in the first place?

Really, though, the Weyrling looked way more shocked than she thought she did. Somehow, her generally plain outfit made it stand out more; perhaps the grey of her shirt set off the red of her cheeks, or something. When she discovered she was fiddling with the hem of her shirt, she clasped her hands behind her back, standing near at attention as she tilted her face up slightly, staring off over Cr'oph's shoulder. She looked like a Wingrider up for review, not a Weyrling a few moments away from her first kiss. What, exactly, was she supposed to do now? In the end, she settled for a simple "Um," deciding to let him take the lead. That seemed better.

--

This was right up Piden's alley. The man across from him wasn't someone he knew, but when had that stopped the Handler before? Older, too, but again... age never stopped him in the past. The man was attractive in a mature gentleman type way. And those eyes. All in all, the man was quite acceptable, and to have the deal sweetened by 30 marks? Seriously. This day could not possibly get much better. Really, he should just take a hint from Yoalla and start selling himself for marks.

Actually, that wasn't such a bad idea. Not at the Weyr - Wastelanders would love that, he was sure - but at a gather, especially a love-themed gather? Why not? Surely there were people out there that would part with hard-earned marks for the suggestion of love.

Maybe he could start here. It was certainly worth a try, after all, and the man was old enough that maybe, since he had no marks of Joining, just maybe he was lonely today. So the handler ran a hand through his tousled red hair, sliding a step closer to his victim. In a voice even smoother and sexier than normal (seriously, a major feat for the handler), he purred, "Hey. I'm Piden, and I hear we'll be enjoying each others company for a while. Let me know if there's anything..." Cue downwards flick of the eyes "... Else I can do for you today." Of course, he'd have to be careful here, coming on too strong could put off even the most interested of potential lovers, but he could always back off if the man seemed less then appreciative.

Then again, who wouldn't appreciate someone as attractive as Piden, especially in a luck-of-the-draw contest like this?

[Rei]

Okay so he kind of sort of had a girlfriend. Maybe. Cr’oph still wasn’t completely sure what him and Jazzheera counted as. In hindsight he probably should have asked her if she minded him doing this. It was strictly for the marks. Nothing else. Faranth knows they could use the marks. The supplies those marks could buy. All he had to do for those marks was kiss a girl. Easy. The bronzer had kissed plenty of girls before. Done way more than that with most of them. So one simple kiss for thirty marks? Why not. If Jazz got pissed he could always explain right? Right. Why wouldn’t she understand? Thus pretty much solved of his temporary moral dilemma the Cr’oph jotted his name down and awaited his turn. He was interested to see just who he got stuck with. Hopefully someone not gag worthy at least.

Then it was his turn and he was lead out to his partner. Was it weird that he felt a little nervous. It reminded him of some kind of competitive game. Get it done, do it the best, collect the prize. Yeah probably shouldn’t mention that to the tall girl her was now facing. She came across as strangely familiar. In a way the bronzer couldn’t quite grasp. As if he’d seen her somewhere else before but couldn’t quite place it. Hmm. Her blush was really kind of adorable and it was obvious she was shy. Probably scared too. The way Caden carried herself came across as really stiff, as if she wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as she might a trip to the infirmary and it was just something she wanted over. Poor thing. Cr’oph actually felt a bit bad for her. Well then. He’d make this as painless as possible.

Approaching her with an easy swagger and a friendly smile he gently placed a few fingers under her chin tilting her head up towards him. She was tall. Almost of his height really. That was nice. Her one uttered word was cute. “Just relax. Try and enjoy it. It’s really not bad trust me.” With a wink the bronzer slipped an arm loosely around her waist his other hand tracking from her chin, along her jaw, and settling at the back of her neck. “One kiss. Nothing more promise.” He spoke softly in a bid to try and ease a little of her fear. Tilting his head slightly Cr’oph pressed his lips to Caden’s kissing her lingeringly and urging her lips apart so he could kiss her a bit deeper. Hell if he was going to do this, might as well do it right. She was nervous enough for this to be her first time. Might was well make sure she remembered it.

~~~

Sel’n regarded Piden with slight interest through half lidded eyes. Well damn. Not a bad looking sort. Not at all. He’d definitely seen worse. He got thirty marks for kissing him? It had sounded ridiculous and suspicious at first. Who dropped marks on random people just for kissing? Thirty marks a person no less. Where did this guy get his cash? That was a pretty decent sum of money. He could get a nice meal for that. Some better clothes. So of course he signed up. Most dragonriders were hardly shy about that kind of thing anyway.

So that left him here. With this strange red head. Who was, lets just say less than shy. Which was perfectly okay with Sel’n. All he wanted was some food and nicer pants, maybe a cleaner shirt. If putting up with Ginger here would get him that, he could grope for all the brownrider cared. The seductive quality to the man’s voice had the older man trying not to chuckle. Wasn’t wasting any time at all was he? With a playful grin Sel’n responded. “I’m Selarin. Nice to meet my partner in this…‘venture’.”

The open ended suggestion and the look earned Piden an actual laugh. “I think the kiss and marks will be good enough.” He remarked amiably. But if you feel the need to press your company on me more I’m not likely to complain. Not after I get some food in me.” With a wink he grabbed the back of Piden’s head and tried for an open mouth kiss. As long as he got his damn marks he could deal with the man and or his tongue.

[Ruby]

Alright, he was smiling. That was good, Caden assumed. She tried to match Cr'oph's easy grin with one of her own, but as she couldn't seem to get her mouth to move past a sort of tight, pained grimace, she figured looking a little disgruntled was alright. Not scared though. Angry and confused, perhaps, but never scared. At least the man opposite her seemed attractive enough, as far as men went, not that Caden had ever thought about that sort of thing before. She wasn't quite sure she could get behind the choice to leave his hair so long, but she supposed that a man who could still look like a man with that sort of hair must be quite manly. Yes?

The fingers under her chin made Caden stiffen, and she had to briefly concentrate on not flipping this stranger onto his back and pinning him to the ground. She reflected, briefly, that it had been years since anyone had touched her much outside of combat, and certainly not like this. His hands were warm, she thought, and felt nice... then she immediately furrowed her brows, wondering when she'd become such a silly little girl. It was a good thing he started talking, or Caden might have fled, worried about her brain. Clearly something in it was broken.

But he had started talking, and Caden jerked her head a little, nodding. Orders heard and understood, sir. Try to enjoy it... she would do her best. Relaxing was out of the question, especially with his arm sliding around her waist and his other hand trailing a tingling line across her jaw. Was it supposed to feel like that, like she'd hit her funny bone but not in a bad way? Whatever, like he'd said, one kiss, nothing more. Nothing more? "Wha-"

Opening her mouth to clarify, Caden found her head tilted and her lips captured. She'd snapped her mouth closed in surprise when Cr'oph leaned in, but now she did manage to relax, softening a little. It was awkward at first - her nose seemed to be in the way, and if she tilted her head too much sideways she had to straighten up a little, not quite tall enough - but she settled into it quickly enough, melting slightly as things got more comfortable and Cr'oph pushed his advantage. She responded tentatively (and quite clumsily), but at least she was responding.

Her brain seemed to have gone on vacation.

--

"Selarin," Piden murmured, savoring the taste of the man's name. "Sounds vaguely familiar," he added, but shook his head momentarily. "Maybe not." High Reaches maybe, or Selenitas before... not right though. Something about the man seemed familiar, but if he wasn't a Rider or a Handler, what were the odds? Piden was social, but still, his circle was fairly limited. He considered a goodnatured crack about Selarin's age - too old to know each other or some such - but then again, they weren't exactly here to chat. Piden was 100% ok with that.

He submitted to the other man's advances with good grace, used to being the 'girl' when the men he was kissing were taller than he was. It just worked better that way, made it easier to figure out whose hands went where. And Piden's hands did go, one to the side of Selarin's face, the other to his waist. Practically chaste, for Piden, but he did pull Selarin's hips to his own, packing all of his considerable knowledge of seduction and pleasure into the kiss. He wasn't about to let him get away without really understanding what Piden was capable of.

Of course, he didn't plan on giving everything away right off the bat, either, so the deep, fiery kiss was broken off early, and Piden swayed backwards, looking up at his partner. "I could manage some food. Or...?" The last was clearly a question: Or we don't have to be done quite yet?