Lead Me Not Into Temptation (2 of 3)

Writers: JR, Anaria
Date Posted: 4th August 2011

Characters: Roana, J'klin
Description: J'klin and Roana visit the Tavern
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 6 of Turn 6

"Not a bad idea," Roana said quietly. "So how is everything, really?
You haven't come up to see me and Phiralith, so I've been figuring
that no news is good news."

"Pretty calm, I've been alcohol free for a few sevendays now. Like I
said, I've been spending a lot of time just getting comfortable being
myself. And with trying to focus on my wing drills so I can be the
best dragonrider that I can be. I'm pretty happy with how things are
going on that regard, although I have missed you terribly."

The greenrider shook her head at him, "I told you that you didn't have
to stay away. I've been trying to respect that and not pester you when
I got lonely."

"Yeah, I know. I just don't like that I always have to run to you
because I'm afraid of being alone," J'klin said. "It's not healthy,
not for either of us. I want to have you around because I like being
around you, not because I need you."

"I know," She reached out to rest her hand over his across the table.
"But I miss just being able to sit around and talk to you about
whatever, and have a hug when I need one. That sort of thing. I hate
having to think so hard about just being a friend."

"I don't mean for it to be hard for you, but I really want things to
work long term, Ro," J'klin said, taking both of Roana's hands within
his own. She seemed so small, so fragile compared to him. And though
she was a strong person, he hated seeing what his own problems did to
her.

Roana's hazel eyes were on their intertwined hands, but she was still
listening. "It's okay," she sighed, "Really. I'm learning to work with
it."

J'klin started to respond, but fortunately they were interrupted when
the serving girl came back to their table with their meals. He began
breaking up crusty bread to use as a spoon for the herdbeast stew.
"Hopefully it'll get better soon," he said. He wanted to promise her
the world, but he couldn't live with himself if he broke her heart.

The greenrider had reluctantly pulled her hands back to let the server
set everything down, but she busied herself by surveying her meal,
pleasantly surprised that everything looked wonderful. Roana did reach
over to snag a piece of J'klin's bread and brazenly dunk it into his
stew to get a taste.

"Hey, it's bad luck to take the first bite," J'klin chided, but smiled
to let it be known he wasn't serious. He too broke a piece of his
bread and dipped it into the stew, then ate it quickly. "So good," he
said, humming with delight. "How's yours?"

She'd bitten back a hum of delight at the first taste of her own meal.
It was fabulous. Taking up a forkful of the flaky meat, Roana held it
out to him, "Here, try it. I might have to make this place a regular
stop, even if I do end up having to work out harder to keep from
getting fat on the food!"

"The exercise would definitely be worth it to eat here more often,"
J'klin said, leaning over to take a nibble from the fork. "Oh...
wow... that's delicious. It's flaky, but still moist, and the
seasoning is impressive. Forget coming here more often, I say you and
I go kidnap the Cook!"

"I doubt either of us could afford him or her, even if we pooled our
marks," Roana laughed and took another bite of her meal. "How did you
even find this place? A recommendation from a wingmate?"

"I actually found it Sweepriding. A few turns back one of the ladies
that works here was pregnant and there were no healers here to assist.
I just so happened to fly by when the flag was up, and I took her to a
healer just in time for the baby to be born. I brought her and the
babe back here when she was safe again, and the owner offered me a
meal in thanks. I've been coming back ever since," J'klin said.

Roana smiled at the story, "Awww, playing hero! The role suits you," she teased.

"I have my moments!"J'klin boasted. "It's sad now, the kid is about
two turns old, it makes me feel old every time I see him." He shook
his head.

"Old!? At two? Faranth, J'klin, what are you going to do when you run
headlong into forty turns?" The greenrider's hazel eyes lit with
amusement, and she shook her hair back out of her face to get a better
look at his reaction.

"...I'm never getting that old," J'klin said decisively after a short
pause. "I found a gray hair in my head the other day. I thought I was
going to cry," he said, shaking his head ruefully. He took another
bite of his stew. "Time seems to be passing so quickly recently."

She laughed at him. "It does, but that's what happens - ask any
oldster you happen to run into. I know time seems to run faster every
turn for me, especially when it's nearing my birthingday."

J'klin nodded, "Aye, that last few sevendays before my birthingday
seem to go past like candlemarks. It makes me feel bad for all those
turns I wasted with women who weren't worth my time."

Roana's expression went flat and her eyes shuttered at the reminder,
although after a moment she forced a fairly convincing smile, "I
imagine it'll only get worse for me now that I'm in my thirties."

"You don't look it though, you don't look a turn older than 22," he
said, the sentiment spoken with sincerity. "If you've got to get
older, it's best to do so while looking young!"

An unladylike snort emerged from Roana, "No need to flatter me. I
don't look bad for my age, but I still am starting to show it. My
hair's still my best feature," she said, tugging one of the corkscrew
curls out straight and then letting it to go to spring back into
place.

"You do have very lovely hair," he agreed. "I've always thought it was
quite nice, myself. I don't think it would look terribly good on me
though," he said with a wink and a laugh. "Now Rhosyn's hair.... I
think that would look rather fetching on me!"

Last updated on the October 8th 2011

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Lead Me Not Into Temptation (2 of 3)