Harmless Flirtation

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 23rd October 2020

Characters: Ninaine, L'keri
Description: L'keri flirts with Ninaine
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 12 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: N'call (not by name)

Ninaine

L'keri

Since he'd returned from Dolphin Cove Weyr and embarked on his Turn of
sober and healthy living, L'keri had found one consolation remained to
him. He sat at the end of one of the long tables in the dining cavern
and surveyed the room, repeating to himself the restrictions the
Weyrhealer's wager had placed on him.

**No wine, no spirits or beer, no sweets, no unhealthy food...** His
gaze landed on a familiar figure that he remembered, very well, from her
debut not a few months ago in a very daring gown, and he grinned. **But
she didn't say anything about the bedroom.** And, he had to admit,
sobriety hadn't been as much of a difficulty in that regard as he'd
expected. In some ways, it was a distinct advantage...

He picked up his glass of fruit juice and sauntered over to join her.
"Hello!"

Ninaine turned, her own glass halfway to her mouth. She sipped and put
it down, and as she'd learned, offered a more welcoming smile than she
had in the past. She'd noticed since she'd been wearing different
clothes and making an effort to actually socialise, that more and more
she'd had different people approach her with something other than
indifference.

She thought that she recognized this man, especially after her gaze
flicked over his knots. "Oh, hello. L'keri, right?"

"My reputation precedes me, I see." Encouraged, L'keri slid into the
seat beside her with only a slight hint of favouring his healing leg.
"And you must be Ninaine of the glamorous green dress." He raised his
glass, mischief in his eyes. "Now that's an evening I won't forget in a
long time."

That brought an immediate blush and caused Ninaine to shift a little
in her seat while tucking a lock of hair behind her ears. She cleared
her throat, remembered herself and took another drink of her juice.
"Oh...yes, the dress. I'm glad you liked it." She flashed a rather
cheeky smile. "OH...that's right! I remember that you were sitting
with J'lor, right? But you didn't dance." She looked down at his leg.
"I understand now, I guess. I hope your leg is okay."

"It's much better, thank you. I'm fighting fit and full of health and
vitality, as a matter of fact," L'keri said, innocently. "The healers
have worked marvels. And I've learned my lesson," he went on. "I'll be
much more careful when heroically rescuing small, adorable pets from
rooftops in future."

Ninaine blinked. "Maybe you should if you're going to hurt yourself
like that. You shouldn't risk yourself." Luneth's grounding and
subsequent inability to fly Falls gave her what she thought was a
unique perspective on the matter. "At least you'll be in the air soon,
right? Now that you're healed?"

"Yes. I've been doing sweeprides for a while, and watches." Lots of
watches, L'keri thought glumly, and most of them on freezing, wintry
nights. He didn't think the kitten story was likely to work on his
Wingsecond. But not tonight, he thought, brightening. "I was just
thinking that I should be back on the dance floor around now, too."

"Can you believe I actually miss doing sweeps? I honestly do. From my
perspective, you're lucky." Ninaine laughed softly at the idea. She'd
started doing watches again, often volunteering for the less desirable
shifts, if only to feel busy. His next words caught her attention and
she glanced around. "No one else is dancing. There's no music. But it
is nice. Perhaps the next time the Harpers decide to play, I'll dance
with you." She then gave the flirtatious smile that both T'lat and
J'lor encouraged. It didn't come quite as easily as it might have to
some, but she was working on it. "I don't mind slow dancing if that's
better for your leg."

Encouraged, he returned her smile with interest. "I'd be delighted.
That's my favorite way to dance." Yes, there certainly were advantages
to his particular injury, and the thought brought a mischievous glint to
his eyes. "I might need to lean on you, just a little, to help keep my
balance. The closer the better."

Recognizing a flirt now, Ninaine, blushed and shifted a little in her
seat. "I'll take you up on that next time I dance then. " Her eyes
glinted a bit. "Should I wear the same dress next time? I have
others."

"Mmm. I'm sure you'll look delectable in any of them, but..."
Remembering, in vivid detail, the enticing curves that he'd glimpsed
that evening, his grin turned decidedly saucy. "If you're having a hard
time choosing which to wear, I could always come by your weyr and help
you try them on. I've got a good eye for a stylish cut."

"You really think so?" The outright flirting of the man made her blush
even hotter and feeling a sense of increasing confidence at the
flattery, she suddenly flashed a smile. "I don't think my dresses
would fit you, but I guess you could try them on too. They wouldn't
fit the same way though." Her eyes glinted as she pushed her hair
over her shoulders in a deliberate flaunting of her tresses. She was
beginning to like this flirting business; it made her feel desirable
and wanted, something she sometimes envied of others but didn't always
see about herself.

"Oh, I don't know." L'keri batted his eyelashes. "I think I'd look
pretty. Though since I'm rather larger than you, they might be a little
revealing."

She blinked slowly, then burst out in laughter. She began wiping her
eyes as the tears came while she visualised it and nodded, trying to
speak while erupting in more laughter. "Yes...yes they would be! But I
think I'd look better in them!" She wiped at her eyes again and peered
at L'keri. "I think I like you. You're funny. Are you always that
quick?"

"Oh, no." His voice dropped to a low, suggestive drawl. "Sometimes, I'm
very, very...slow. As the situation requires."

The drawl ended her laughter and where previously she might have given
an immediate scathing reply, she felt far different now. Instead,
there was curiosity and a growing interest in what was being seemingly
offered. Her lips parted and she inhaled slowly before she swallowed.
Her voice lowered slightly as her belly tightened. "And...uhm...when
would you say the situation required it?"

L'keri paused, as if contemplating her question. "Well, for example, on
a long, dark evening in the Weyr, when I've encountered a most alluring
greenrider in the dining cavern. And she's invited me to take our
conversation somewhere more private...?" He gave her his best, hopeful
little-boy look.

She considered his suggestion, clearly interested, but hesitating.
"That could happen," she agreed. "But only after you've shown me how
you dance." She didn't want to make the mistake of taking just anyone
into her bed. She was still becoming accustomed to it being acceptable
behavior. The night with N'var had been amazing, but she still felt a
bit guilty about it. "And, you know I have a weyrmate?"

"Awww." L'keri sounded like a small boy, too, but one who'd been denied
a delicious treat. "My least favorite four words: 'I have a weyrmate'."
Still, it sounded as though there was hope. "If he won't be offended by
you dancing with me, I shall await the next evening the Harpers play
with great anticipation." He grinned. "Not to mention the reappearance
of the green dress."

"He's at Barrier Lake." There was a a definite sense of loss in her
words, but she recovered them quickly. "He's not a jealous man. "
Though sometimes she wished he would be. "When the Harpers play again,
I expect you to make good on that, then. I'll wear the dress. If you
dance well and I enjoy your company more, then a private conversation
could be possible. "

"I accept the challenge with pleasure," L'keri said, sweeping a bow as
best he could from his seat. "And I'd best set to work polishing my
dance steps." After his injury, and the months before spent mainly
drowning his sorrows in drink, he had to admit it might be prudent to do
some practice. Perhaps one of his wingmates would help.

"And I look forward to dancing with you." She laughed at the bow. "So,
why don't you finish the evening meal with me and let me get to know
you better?" She had to socialize and had making a real effort to do
so. And even if she decided not to spend private time with L'keri,
maybe she could make a friend.

"I'd be delighted." If his attempt at seduction had only been partially
successful, friendly conversation with another rider was an enjoyable
alternative. Although... He gave her a mischievous wink. "If you don't
mind a flirt or two. I can't help it, I'm afraid. They just slip out."

"I think I can handle it." She assured him, delighting in the idea.
Now that she was actually trying, she found herself enjoying the
attentions of others. It wasn't as bad as she thought it might be and
no one seemed to think less of her for it. Instead, she felt far more
welcomed and accepted; there wasn't that wariness that she had assumed
others felt when she'd kept to herself. She felt like she was
actually a part of the Weyr and not separate from it. She'd been so
wrong for so long.

Last updated on the November 11th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Harmless Flirtation