Keeper of Secrets

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 7th July 2024

Characters: X'eri, Yasmeane
Description: Yasmeane is worried about her upcoming mating flight. X'eri... helps?
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: D'kere

X'eri

Yasmeane

[[Well, I think we can call that Search a success,]] X'eri signed as he and Yasmeane dismounted from their dragons in the Weyrbowl.

Yasmeane's brow furrowed. [[We didn't bring anyone back.]]

[[True, but we also didn't offend any holders or scare any children. That's a win in my book.]]

The greenrider shrugged in response as she led the way into the Dining Cavern. She didn't see how anything they were doing mattered. Even if Isaroth did show promise as a potential Search dragon, she would never be fit to be a Searchrider herself. Holders didn't want to see some female greenrider trotting around in her Weyr clothes, trying to steal away their children to the Weyr.

[[You've got that look on your face.]] The moving of X'eri's hands caught her attention. She looked up to see that he had a golden eyebrow arched.

Yasmeane rolled her eyes, turning her back on him in order to grab a plate. She kept her face turned down and her eyes focused on making herself a sandwich. This was an excellent way to avoid conversation with X'eri. If she couldn't see his hands, then he couldn't press her to talk about what was bothering her.

This plan was successful all the way through the service line and for a few minutes once they had taken their seats in the Dining Cavern.

"Yasmeane."

Her eyes immediately flicked up to his. She hadn't heard him speak since that disastrous day they'd gone on Search and been chased off by the holders. The look in his eyes made her feel a little guilty for purposefully ignoring him.

[[What?]] she signed.

[[You had that look on your face. The one you get when you're stewing on something. What is it?]] The bronzerider's hands stopped signing for a moment so he could take a generous bite of a meal roll.

[[To be so attractive, you chew like a watchwher. Did you know that?]] Yasmeane signed back.

X'eri stopped chewing, the bulge of the meatroll showing through his left cheek. He winked, smirked, and then resumed chewing.

[[There's no reason for someone like me to go on Search. I'm a nobody here at the Weyr, and to most holders? I'm just a disgrace, prancing around their homes in my dragonrider's breeches.]] Yasmeane ended the sentence by waving her hands dismissively and grabbing the meat sandwich and taking a hearty bite.

**Now who's chewing like a watchwher?** X'eri thought with amusement.

[[You're having a pity-party,]] X'eri told her when she looked back up at him. [[But what I don't know is why?]]

For the second time, Yasmeane rolled her eyes and remained silent.

}:As amusing as it has been watching you be clueless... I'm going to help you out here,:{ Kohath broke in. }:Isaroth is near rising.:{

X'eri stopped chewing. He hadn't even noticed that Isaroth was proddy because Yasmeane was... Well... She was proddy all the time! He began laughing, which caused Yasmeane's eyes to narrow at him suspiciously.

[[I'm sorry,]] he signed repeatedly, but tears of laughter were rolling down his cheeks. By the time he had wiped his eyes, Yasmeane had stormed off from the table.

**Jays!** He shoved the rest of a meatroll into his mouth as he jogged out of the Dining Cavern, hot on the greenrider's heels. Even though her back was to him, he could tell by the set of her shoulders and the clenching of her fists that she was letting him have it verbally. It was probably best that he couldn't hear it, he decided.

He tried to follow her into her weyr through Isaroth's ledge, but the enormous green dragon, easily the size of a small blue, blocked his path. Her head reared around, her eyes whirling with irritation.

}:She's uh... she's mad.:{ Kohath provided helpfully.

**Yeah, I got that.**

X'eri bowed to Isaroth. **Please tell Isaroth that I only want to apologize to her rider and make her feel better.**

He waited, remaining bowed during the translation, until finally the green sidled sideways, allowing him to edge his way into her weyrcouch.

}:You owe me,:{ Kohath said.

X'eri was about to respond when something whizzed past his head. Instinctively dodging, he turned his head in time to see a flower pot shattering.

[[Whoa! Whoa!]] He signed with exaggerated arm movements.

Yasmeane's green eyes (the same shade as her dragon, he noted) were swimming with tears, the tip of her nose had turned red, and even her lips were a pouty shade of cherry from crying. He wondered if she realized how beautiful she was when she showed emotion. Anything was better than the apathy she tried to wear like a coat of armor.

X'eri shoved his fingers through his hair. [[I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean to laugh. I just couldn't believe my own stupidity at not realizing the closeness of Isaroth's next flight.]]

[[You have _no_ right to laugh at me. I know what you're going to say. 'It's just a flight!' That's what everyone says, but my first flight was _ruined_ because of D'kere, and ever since then... You can't imagine the looks on men's faces when they wake up next to _me_, the girl who wrongly accused a bronzerider of rape. Isaroth's lucky if she has more than two or three males chase her when she flies, because no one wants to win _my_ flight. And you know what? I can't blame them. I wouldn't want to win my flight either!]] The speech seemed to have drained her because she sank onto her couch after giving it. She covered her face with her hands.

He was no mindhealer, but X'eri bet Yasmeane had been carrying those feelings bottled up inside for the past Turn or more. Maybe now that she had said 'outloud' the things she'd been letting fester inside, she would be able to tackle them head on.

Yasmeane saw the tips of X'eri's boots enter her vision before she felt his hands wrap around her forearms. He gently lowered her hands away from her face so that she could see him sign. [[Feel better?]]

[[A little,]] she huffed. [[It's getting a little annoying though. You keep seeing me at my lowest points.]]

X'eri's mouth tilted into a grin. [[You know what that makes me? Your _friend_. This is what friends do, Yasmeane. Friends keep showing up, no matter what.]]

[[You're not my friend, X'eri. You were assigned to me by the Weyrwoman.]]

It was the bronzerider's turn to roll his eyes. [[You are the only person I have verbally spoken to since losing my hearing. We're sworn friends for life now. There's no getting out of it.]]

Yasmeane's eyes rolled, but this time her cherry lips (again he noticed the color) were pulled into the tiniest smile. [[Fine. We're friends.]]

[[Any man who wins your flight should feel honored,]] X'eri signed. [[And if they don't _act_ as if they're honored when you wake up together in the flight rooms, then you'll tell your friend X'eri,]] he tapped his chest, [[and I'll punch them in the nose. Deal?]]

A little bubble of laughter escaped her. [[Deal.]]

Last updated on the July 21st 2024

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Keeper of Secrets