Extreme Opposites

Writers: Leigh M-F., Mirren
Date Posted: 14th August 2015

Characters: F'nix, A'kua, Herryn
Description: A clash of personalities leads to trash-talking and possible plotting.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Ilyssia, NPC Slif, Saibra.

F'nix

"Did ya find some pretty boy to kiss your tongue better?" Felnix whispered in Aluka's ear while they were waiting in line to eat.

It was a testament to how far the redhead had come that he didn't act on his first desire, which was to jerk away and punch Felnix somewhere painful for maximum damage. Instead, Aluka just flinched and moved a few paces forward, wishing Felnix would shut up or leave the line. He had known of the older lad for some time, and had despised him for just as long. Something about him reminded Aluka about his stupid whoring sire. Maybe there was a redeeming trait somewhere, but after two Turns at the Weyr, Aluka hadn't seen it.

All that, and Aluka envied the fact the other Candidate was two inches taller than he was.

"I guess not," Felnix said. "That figures. Even greenriders have some taste." The funny thing about dislike was that it tended to be mutual, for one reason or another. It was nothing personal, as such. Sort of -

**Don't punch him. Don't you dare punch him,** Aluka thought fiercely. **You'd get kicked off the sands and Lissath would be terribly disappointed in you.** "Don't talk about Ilyssia like that. She's a far better weyrmate than you'll ever have."

Felnix snorted. "Why would I want to be tied down to anyone?" Faranth forbid! "Weyrmating just means you e given up."

All violent thoughts stopped, at least momentarily, and Aluka felt a touch of pity for the other Candidate. He shrugged. "It means I found what I was lookin' for." Love. Trust. Acceptance. Respect. Inner peace. Everything he had wanted and never gotten in the amount he needed until he fell for Lys.

"Yeah right. Whatever." Felnix had too short an attention span to bother with one girl for long. Not that he went around breaking hearts. So far he'd been savvy enough to pick girls who felt the same way. "You'll be singing a different song when other guys' dragons catch her green." He actually wasn't trying to be mean, it was just a fact of Weyr life.

The redhead gave him a very black look. "You'll be singin' soprano when a bronze catches _your_ green." He had been in the Weyr long enough to know what happened when greens rose. He had gotten used to the fact Lys would have to put up with it, and so would he when he Impressed, as long as they were monogamous outside flights.

Felnix laughed. "Cute. Hey, I'd be funny if you impressed green. What would your weyrmate say then?"

"'Congratulations,'" Aluka said without missing a beat. Sometimes male greenriders liked women too. He turned around to look at Felnix fully. "You know, when men keep accusin' other men of likin' men, it usually means the accuser likes men and refuses to admit it. You should talk to a mindhealer about that." He gave Felnix a fanged grin and moved up in the line. Of course, the taller Candidate would probably try to hurt him now. Sometimes even Weyrbred lads got offended by the implication they didn't like women. But if Felnix did attack, Aluka could defend himself and not get in _as_ much trouble.

"So they say," Felnix replied. "But if you say that again, you'll be using your teeth as a necklace."

Oh-ho! The taunt, meant only to annoy, sounded as though it had hit a nerve. Aluka hid another grin, but couldn't stifle the snort that escaped him. He would have to remember this for later.

Truthfully, Felnix was tempted to see if he could knock out some teeth by punching Aluka in the back of the head. In the meantime, Herryn, another candidate pushed in line in front of Aluka, just in time to get the last bread roll.

"Hey," Aluka protested at the girl's actions, but it was too late. He shook his head, disappointed. A good, hearty stew was always best with bread to sop up the last of the juices and herbs. But if he went back for seconds later, surely more rolls would be set out by then. So he shrugged, let it slide, and got a good helping before nodding thanks to the serving staff and looking for a place to sit.

"Bitch," Felnix muttered. He'd had his eye on that roll.

"Who said that?" Herryn turned and looked accusingly from Felnix to Aluka.

"He did," Aluka said immediately, nodding to Felnix. He hadn't heard exactly what the other Candidate had said, since he had been moving, but he'd heard Felnix say _something_, and if the girl was offended, it was likely something a man shouldn't say about a woman. Thus, Aluka had no problem throwing him under the minecart. He wanted to ask if the girl would like him to hold her tray while she exacted justice, but that was probably going too far.

He didn't have to ask, Herryn had a good hold on her tray when she held it up a little higher and kneed Felnix in the groin.

The tall candidate let out a squeak and stood gritting his teeth while his eyes watered.

Aluka burst out laughing at the unexpectedness of Herryn's attack. He had thought she would slap Felnix, not aim below his belt. It was a little extreme, perhaps, but he still nodded to Herryn appreciatively even as he cringed in sympathy. He had been in enough fights to know how much a groin attack hurt (which was one reason why he had used it against the hold boys and Slif). Still chuckling, the redhead went to take a seat.

Herryn flounced into the seat beside him, while Felnix slunk away across the room. "Some people huh?" she said.

"Some people," Aluka echoed in agreement. "Thanks for that, by the way. He was harassin' me in the line. If you get in trouble because of it, I'll be on your side."

She shrugged. "It'll be worth it. Guys like that think they can walk all over anyone. Faranth preserve us if he impresses bronze. His head'll be so big it won't fit in the Weyr."

That was a good use of imagery. He approved, again. "If it happens, it happens, but you're right, we can hope it won't."

"It could be worse," she said. Her expression suggested she wanted him to ask how.

"What, he becomes Pern's youngest Weyrleader to boot? Saibra would never let it happen," Aluka said with finality. Sure, he wasn't on close, personal terms with the Weyrwoman, but he had a feeling he wasn't wrong.

Herryn looked a little disappointed. "Yeah well, you better hope you're right." She shrugged and got on with the business of eating.

"Oh, I'm hopin'," Aluka said, and began eating as well. He could only imagine the chaos and revolting that would happen if someone like Felnix became Weyrleader. He also hoped Felnix hadn't overheard any of this, or there could be trouble.

Oh he couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could guess and trouble seemed quite likely. How or when, Felnix would wait and see.

Last updated on the August 20th 2015

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Extreme Opposites