Rumors and Accusations

[S'ren and Kasalith]

The threadfall had exhausted everyone in the Weyr. When S'ren rose the next morning it was to find the Weyr quiet. The deaths were still fresh on everyone's mind, his mind too, but he rarely mourned for the dead. Not because he didn't care, but because he didn't see death as something to be sad about. He wouldn't go around and impede on other people's losses though. He had more tact than that.

Besides, his mind was still reeling over the events of last night. Was L'yst awake now? Did he remember what had happened? S'ren was an utter mess as he gathered his things for a bath. The hotsprings were the last place within the Weyr that he'd come across L'yst. If the blue rider knew what was best for him he'd go to the kitchen and ask for something to recover from his hang over. In the mean time he'd wash away any evidence that yesterday had ever occured. He wanted to forget. For once denial was best.

On his way to the hotsprings S'ren was waylaid by two fellow green riders. He invited them to join him. They agreed readily and ten minutes later they were all naked and neck deep in the warm water.

"I can't believe how many of us were injured," Milia said as she righted her hair atop her head. Nyra nodded and frowned. S'ren looked between them. He knew what direction this conversation was going even before they continued.

"And that weyrling's death. What in the world was L'yst thinking sending them in there. What a bad call." The two women shook their heads and grumbled. "I hope he loses his position. You'd have to be really..."

"Shut it!" He snapped. Both women looked at him with raised brows. Understanding seemed to dawn on Nyra first and she laughed.

"Still enjoying late night visits to a certain blue rider's weyr are we?" She joked, nudging S'ren in the shoulder.

Milia laughed and pouted. "You shouldn't get attached, S'ren."

S'ren narrowed his eyes at both women before moving a short distance away. "I'm not attached, but it's not his fault that they died..."

"Than whose fault is it then?" She said, cutting him off. "No one else ordered them to leave this Weyr." Nyra stood up in the water. The hot water flowed down her naked body as she walked over to him.

"R'enh will speak to him about it. You better believe that." She ran her fingers through S'ren's curls and, gripping his hair, pulled his head back so she could peer down into his green eyes. "He's not worth your tears, greenrider."

S'ren hadn't even been aware he'd been crying. He gripped her hand and shoved her away. Turning away he wiped the tear from his cheek. Nyra clicked her tongue and sighed. S'ren simply sat there mulling over her words. Would he lose his position in the weyr? That would devastate him more than anything. Maybe he could get a word in to R'enh about what happened...but then he didn't know what happened did he? Nothing he said would make a difference.

Nyra settled down beside him and began to clean herself. She pulled S'ren close and he allowed her to. She began to wash his hair while he contemplated his next move regarding L'yst. He really shouldn't care, not after what happened last night, but he couldn't help it...

How pathetic.

Tag: Open

[L'yst and Woreth]

It had not been easy to find S'ren. L'yst had had to ask nearly half the Weyr. Those that didn't stare at him, patted him consolingly on the shoulder and told him they understood what he must be feeling.

Shard it all, none of them understood. It was like having a child of your own, teaching them everything they needed to know and then sending them out into the world only to be crushed to smithereens. It hurt like someone had blasted a sharing hole in his chest.

Now, as he stood on the outskirts of the cave that led to the Hotsprings, hearing the murmur of voices inside, he wondered if he'd made the right choice in coming here. His hand slipped into his pocket and he pulled out the small charm. What if it wasn't S'ren's? What if it was? The repercussions from either option almost brought the pounding back to his head.

Thankfully, the drink he'd had this morn had soothed most of the effects of the alcohol.

Striding out of the shadows, L'yst took in the scene. S'ren in the bath with a few choice beauties. Green riders, all of them, he was sure. He knew S'ren's tastes didn't run that way, not that it should have mattered to L'yst. He had no claim on him. Yet, he felt a stab of jealously. True, he and S'ren had shared some intimate nights in the past, but neither had claimed anything more than that. It was the way of the Weyr, or was it?

L'yst had watched pairs over the years choose to mate together throughout their life. Weyrmates could be short little flings, as many were, but he'd been witness to the other kind as well. In fact his own mentor, R'nall had had mate for more than half his life. The pair had been nearly inseparable.

L'yst cleared his throat and moved out of the shadows.

"Greetings to you Nyra, Milia ." He glanced quickly around at the two other riders, before his eyes rested on S'ren. "S'ren, do you have a moment? I wanted to talk to you," Why did L'yst suddenly feel a huge lump in the back of his throat that made swallowing and even breathing difficult.

L'yst shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He couldn't help but think about what a thrill it would be to strip off his own clothes and join the trio in those warm waters. Just the thought of that sent beads of sweat forming along his brow. It took a bit more effort to stand comfortably when he caught sight of that flesh glistening with beads of water.

Focus, L'yst. Daydreams are not why you came here, he chided himself.

Tag S'ren/Any

[S'ren and Kasalith]

S'ren felt Nyra grip his shoulder and squeeze and he turned at the waist to see what she wanted. It was then that he saw L'yst looking down at him from above. His mind seemed to go blank and it took him a moment to realize that the blue rider was talking to him. He wanted to speak to him...Did he remember?

S'ren stayed low in the water until he reached the edge. He was aware that both Milia and Nyra watched him and were waiting for him to do something ridiculous. For the life of him he didn't know why he wasted time being their friend, but company was company in such a small Weyr.

Once he reached the edge of the spring, he lifted himself out and quickly wrapped a small slip of cloth around his waist. He heard Nyra giggle and he cut her a nasty look at her before standing and moving toward L'yst.

"Is this about last night?" He asked as he neared the taller man. He should have just waited to bring it up, but then if L'yst did remember he didn't want him to think he was avoiding him or the subject. Because he wasn't...not really.

Holding onto the cloth around his waist, he waited for L'yst to answer.

Tag: L'yst

[L'yst and Woreth]

L'yst had to control himself to not let his eyes droop down to that little cloth that covered such an interesting part of S'ren's anatomy. He looked, instead into his yes.

"Is this about last night?"

L'yst felt his heart sink. So, he'd been right, something had happened and L'yst didn't recall it. He hated that he didn't know what had happened.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the charm he'd found in his weyr. "I found this. I didn't know if it was yours. I..." he paused, glancing to the two greenriders who were watching them. He heaved a sigh and pushed a hand through his hair. "Shards, what happened last night S'ren?" He asked, his eyes, still a bit bleary from the massive alcohol he'd consumed the night before met S'ren's. "Did you come to my weyr last night? By the shell, I wish I'd never drunk that blasted brew," he grumbled a bit louder than he'd wanted which caused him to wince slightly. The aching headache from his hangover had mostly passed, but there was still a faint throb at the past of his temple. His shoulders slumped forward slightly.

L'yst wanted nothing more than to sink down to the ground and just give in to the desire to forget everything, the weyrlings, the alcohol, whatever must have happened last night. L'yst's mind was simply reeling and he didn't know what to do next.

Tag S'ren
Sorry for my delay in replying!

[S'ren and Kasalith]

Tucking the fabric more firmly around his waist, S'ren's eyes widened at the sight of his necklace. His hand flew to his neck and he looked down. How had he not noticed that it was gone? S'ren gulped back a large lump and shifted uncomfortably on his feet as L'yst conitnued to talk. He expected the other man to yell at him, but then he asked him if he had gone to his weyr and S'ren knew he didn't remember a thing.

Looking at his feet, S'ren nodded. "Yes, I wanted to make sure you were okay. I stepped in and saw you...well, drinking..."

S'ren reached out and placed his hand over L'yst's, He have his hand a tiny squeeze before slipping the necklace out of his hand. He quickly put it back on and sighed, his shoulders slumping down.

"Nothing happened. You fell asleep and I left." Why did his voice sound so distant? "I'm glad you're a bit better. You were really..." He didn't know how to continue. Twisting his fingers nervously, he looked over his shoulder at the two greenriders. He could tell they were listening. He bit his lip and looked back at L'yst.

"I take it you don't drink often," he said, attempting to change the subject a bit.

Tag: L'yst

[L'yst and Woreth]

L'yst let out a bit of a strangled laugh.

"No, I don't drink much, and I swear I'll never drink like that again." A shadow of sadness passed over his eyes though as he thought of the reason why he'd turned to the bottle.

"Thank you for coming to my weyr last night, even if I can't recall it. It was very kind and I needed a friend," L'yst sighed. He still did, but he didn't want to ruin S'ren's fun with his less than stellar mood. He shoved a hand through his hair and looked at S'ren. "I don't know how to deal with what happened out there." L'yst's voice caught and he closed his eyes.

"Perhaps I should go. I didn't come here to heap my problems on you. I just needed to know that I didn't do something stupid or hurtful last night. I wasn't myself and..." L'yst's eyes were full of sadness, shadowed by the sorrow he felt in his heart. L'yst didn't know what more to say.

His eyes drifted to the water, and he saw the greenriders turn away quickly. He knew they were watching, but he didn't care. It was only S'ren that mattered. He turned back to him, and noticed the glistening drops of water that clung to his chest. The room suddenly felt a bit warmer than it had just a moment ago. His eyes drifted to the towel S'ren clung to. Oh, L'yst could distract himself from his troubles, that was for sure, but he didn't want S'ren to think he was using him.

He looked back into those molten eyes. Leaning in, he whispered. "You friendship has meant more to me than you can imagine, S'ren," his lips just brushed the skin on the other man's cheek as he pulled back. The kiss wouldn't have been all that noticeable to the prying eyes, but it was to L'yst.

Tag S'ren

[S'ren and Kasalith]

"No, I don't drink much, and I swear I'll never drink like that again."

S'ren hoped he was telling the truth because the person he had encountered last night hadn't been a man he wished to see again. Alcohol really wasn't for everyone and L'yst was definitely better off without it.

"Thank you for coming to my weyr last night, even if I can't recall it. It was very kind and I needed a friend."

Should he tell him what happened last night? S'ren found that he couldn't look L'yst in the eyes. To be entirely clueless about one's actions must be truly wonderful. If he could forget he would, but last night played over and over in his mind like a broken record. L'yst shoving him, yelling at him and then ripping off his clothes. So many things could have happened last night but didn't. For that he was grateful, yet, what had occured did leave a mark.

He wasn't himself Soren. You have to remember that...

When L'yst mentioned the loss of his riders, S'ren finally met his gaze. He had tried to console him last night, but nothing he said could make him forget his losses, nor his decision to call his weyrlings into battle. This struggle was one that L'yst would have to work through on his own. S'ren just prayed that the other man wouldn't push him away before he figured it all out.

S'ren yearned to step closer and hold L'yst, but his own uncertainty held him back.

"Perhaps I should go. I didn't come here to heap my problems on you. I just needed to know that I didn't do something stupid or hurtful last night. I wasn't myself and..."

S'ren crossed one arm over his chest and gripped his other arm. Say something. Let him know it's okay. S'ren's mouth parted to speak, but then L'yst's lips graced his cheek and he found that he couldn't say a word. All intelligible thought trembled and shattered into a million pieces as L'yst's words sank in. His eyes fluttered closed and, gradually, a coy smile rose to his lips. There. He had fallen victim to L'yst's charm again. S'ren knew he should give the other man space, let him work through his problems first before pursuing any sort of relationship, yet...

"L'yst...I..." What had he wanted to say? There were no words. Instead he spoke through a soft kiss. S'ren clung onto the bluerider's waist and pulled him closer, bridging the space between their lips. He didn't care that Nyra and Milia watched. Let them see. He had fallen hard for this man against his better judgement and if a kiss could make L'yst finally see that he wasn't going anywhere, than he'd kiss him all day if he had to.

Tag: L'yst

[L'yst and Woreth]

Something in S'ren's body language told him there was more, but, whatever it was L'yst was not picking up on it completely. And then, S'ren's lips met his and L'yst didn't care about anything else, except the man standing before him.

His hands slid over the bare arms, gently this time, as his own lips deepened the kiss between them. L'yst had never felt this kind of attraction to any other rider. He'd tried a weyrmate here or there in the past, but none of them had satisfied or lasted more than a few night. Yet, with S'ren, he found he wanted not only the man and all he had to offer, but he wanted to know the man as well.

Right now, however, he wished for nothing more than to love the man whom he held in his arms. For S'ren alone was like a ray of light in the gray shadows that had sunk in following the Threadfall. He, alone, seemed able to pierce the sorrow and sadness that clung to L'yst like mud.

He broke the kiss a bit breathless from the desire for S'ren that seemed to fill him. He stared into those memorizing eyes.

"I want to be with you S'ren," he murmured, his hands feeling the muscles beneath the other man's back. Oh, how he wanted to slip his fingers beneath that towel and remove it and his own barriers, but L'yst withheld. Not wishing to embarrass S'ren in front of his friends. Now, if they were alone here in the springs. Oh, yes, now that would be memorable. L'yst almost groaned aloud at the intensity of such thoughts.

Tag S'ren

[S'ren and Kasalith]

Surrendering to lust in the heat of the moment was bound to get S'ren in trouble one of these days...but not today. No, he would resist this mind numbing urge because they both knew that now wasn't the time to satisfy such trivial needs. L'yst was mourning. He needed time. He would be selfish not to let him grieve for the young riders he had lost mere hours before.

"I want you too...." S'ren whispered. The other man's grip on him kept him in place, but S'ren managed to pull back far enough to look into the bluerider's eyes. "...but not like this, L'yst," he cooed, bringing his hand up to stroke his face.

Their attraction to each other was undeniable and, although he wasn't sure where they stood, S'ren was now sure that L'yst wanted to try to figure their relationship out. He didn't have to come look for him this morning. He could have tossed the necklace over the side of the Weyr and turned his back on everything that they had created thus far. But he hadn't. He had come to apologize for a night he didn't remember simply because he cared. S'ren wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but he knew it meant something---hope perhaps, or something more.

"Have you eaten? I'm sure you haven't. Come. Let me dress and I'll make you something..." He paused, his smile widening. His cooking for horrible. "Or, I'll see that you are cooked the best meal of the entire Weyr," he joked, his eyes shining. He searched L'yst's handsome face, his fingers trailing along his strong jaw downward to his neck. S'ren kissed him one final time, sighing happily against his lips.

"How does that sound?" he murmured, his voice low and playful. His body was still considerably hot and he was quite obviously in the mood for much more. Perhaps with willpower he'd be able to concentrate on other things...yet if L'yst continued to caress him like this he wasn't sure he'd remain indifferent much longer.

Tag: L'yst

[L'yst and Woreth]

"Have you eaten? I'm sure you haven't. Come. Let me dress and I'll make you something..."

He wanted to continue what he was doing now, but L'yst knew S'ren was right. There were better times for such things and food was a good plan.

"A meal would be good, S'ren, as long as you're sharing it with me." L'yst smiled, accepting the gentle kiss from S'ren and wishing for more. He licked his lips even as he told his hands to let the muscular body go. It took more will-power than he thought he had, but in the end L'yst released S'ren.

"Think your friends enjoyed our little show?" He said light-heartedly with a little twinkle back in his eyes. His heart still ached, but this time with S'ren had taken much of the darkness and pushed it further away. It felt like he was alive and breathing again, compared with the way he'd felt after the Fall and even this morn.

"I'll be waiting," he breathed, his eyes hardly leaving the stunning figure before him.

Tag S'ren - End L'yst