Cookie Man

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 4th July 2006

Characters: Larken, M'tone
Description: After more than a sevenday's silence, Larken and M'tone finally see each other again after that one afternoon out on the beach
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 3

M'tone looked up as he could feel a pair of eyes on him. Walking down the rows of tables towards him was Larken. Well, if she wanted to sit with him she could, but he wouldn't push anything. They're last meeting had ended on less than comfortable terms, which he knew was his fault. If he hadn't been such a sharding ass... He gave her a small smile as she approached, hoping she would decide to turn towards where he was sitting, but thoroughly expecting her to keep on walking.

And as she looked back at him, she almost did. But it was the small smile that gave her pause - that made her think twice before completely passing up the table where he sat. Was it resignation in that smile? Regret? With a sudden flash of decisiveness, she pivoted around, and before she knew it she was perched across from him, her expression rather startled, as if she was surprised by her own behavior. A slight flush rose in her cheeks then when she'd finally gathered enough courage to raise her eyes to his. **Shards, Larken... What are you doing?**

The brownrider noticed the uncertainty in her face, and it made him feel a bit uncomfortable. Her silence didn't help. "Lunch looks good today,"
he said trying to keep to a safe topic.

She nodded, glancing down at her plate. Suddenly she wasn't very hungry anymore. Then she looked back up at him again, quickly taking in his attire and latching onto it as something to make conversation about. "How...were drills?" She'd been living here at the Weyr long enough now to recognize riding leathers when she saw them.

"Long, hot and exceedingly boring. And how was your day?" M'tone actually wasn't sure what she did with her mornings, so he couldn't take guess at anything specifically.

"Fine. I got some more mending done..." Shards, there really wasn't much to say, was there? As she glanced at him again, she found herself wishing that afternoon on the beach had never happened.

**Your _husbands_ mending?** he almost asked, but he thought better of it.
"What do you have planned for the rest of the day, then?"

Larken shrugged a slight shoulder. "There's still a bit to do around our weyr... And...I might go for a walk with Anacia later."

**Nervous about walking alone?** "How is Anacia? I haven't seen her for a long time."

"She's doing well." Her small smile was genuine as she thought of her friend. "She's...really coming into her own here." As soon as the words were out, Larken pressed her lips together. Shells. That sounded too much like what had passed between them....

"Oh?" he asked curiously reaching for his mug of klah. "How so?"

Feeling uncomfortable, she took a sip of her own klah. "She's just...well, she isn't the same woman she was at the Hall. I can't really say how..."

"A bit freer perhaps?" The words were out before he even thought to stop them and he winced at how it sounds. "I mean, more outgoing."

Larken gazed at him for a moment before looking down. "Yeah... That must be it." Shells.

This was not going well. Even M'tone could feel that. "You know what...
hold on just a sec." He stood up and ran over to the dessert table and came back with a small plate piled high with cookies. "I say, lets skip lunch and go straight to dessert. What do you say?"

Recognizing his offer for what it was, a slow smile began to curve her lips. "I think it's a wonderful idea, M'tone," she murmured, reaching for one of the cookies.

Shards, where would he and Larken be without cookies... "You know, these taste just like the ones you brought me that day at my weyr. Do you remember?"

Her eyes flickered to his as she bit into it. "I do."

"Do you think its possible to get sick of cookies if you eat too many?" he asked with a teasing smile.

Smiling back, she shook her head. "I love them. They're my favorite sweets. Why? Do you think so?"

The brownrider picked up one from the plate. "I wasn't a cookie man before. But I think I'm learning to like them more and more. I don't think I could ever get tired of them now."

"Then..." **Larken, what are you doing?** "Then you wouldn't mind if I brought you more someday?"

"I think I would like that," he nodded. "I would like that a lot."

Last updated on the July 5th 2006

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