The Strangest Little Book Club

Writers: Devin, Shawna
Date Posted: 27th March 2025
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: Zariah, K'mai
Description: Zariah updates K'mai on the gift subscription
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'serin

K'mai

Zariah caught K'mai as the wing was breaking up after a drill, rushing
a little to catch up to him as they all disbursed. "Did you hear? Your
special subscription got his delivery." Her eyes were bright with
delight at a job
apparently well done.

His eyes lit up. "He liked it?"

"Judging from his reaction when I gave it to him, he certainly liked
the gift. So. Going
to tell me what's really going on there? You don't seem the gifty
type." Zariah was looking at him with open curiosity.

K'mai heaved a dramatic sigh, though there was still a hint of a smile
on his face. "You judge because I flit from bed to bed. I buy gifts
for my friends sometimes. And I'serin is having a rough time adjusting
to being Weyrleader and books make him happy, so . . ." He shrugged.

"Mmhmm. Because it makes sense. I always buy my Weyrleader a gift when
he's having a hard time adjusting to being in charge of everything,"
her voice dripped sarcasm. "Well, he'd like to see what book you'll
pick for him next. He wants to see if your tastes match." She stressed
"tastes" pointedly, clearly fishing for information.

"Oh, boy, no pressure!" K'mai laughed. He was pleased I'serin liked
the book, but a little nervous that he had to pick another. I'serin
couldn't possibly be hinting that he wanted a dirty romance, right?

"Yeah, no pressure. Except if he buys them I may be able to
leverage that into a raise, so make sure you pick another good one.
Anything in mind yet?" Zariah asked.

K'mai thought about how panicked I'serin had been in the bookstore.
"More history, I think." Better to be safe and check with I'serin the
next time he saw him.

"You know, I heard there's a great historical romance book making the
rounds," Zariah said with a little too much casualness.

One of K'mai's eyebrows went up slightly. "Hmm . . . Well, I'm the one
who likes romance, and this is about what _he_ likes. Maybe I'll ask
him if he wants to branch out and try new things." K'mai had a thought
and laughed, "He could complain about all the inaccuracies."

"I don't know about that. He wanted to know if your tastes match. He
might like to see what you like to read so you can compare notes and
likes." Zariah shrugged, "Sometimes it's nice to share things you like
with someone else, not just try to guess their favorite things.
T'gyrlan doesn't love sweets but I still share my favorite cookies
when I bake them."

"He said that?" K'mai asked eagerly. "That he wants to see if our tastes match?"

"Yup," Zariah said. "He said he would be willing to let his generous
donor decide the next book as well. To see if your tastes match."

Well, if that's what I'serin wanted. . . "What's the historical romance about?"

"Oh, the founding of one of the first southern holds. A delicate
northern holder moves south and meets a rugged outdoorsman helping to
civilize the continent. They have to face a wild frontier together.
Very exciting and dreamy," she said.

"Is it sexy?" K'mai asked.

"I think it's safe to say we have different definitions of sexy. It's
not like those short dirty stories they release without cover art,
more of a slow burn sexual tension. I just started it, but there's a
longing hand touch. It's swoon worthy," Zariah sighed dreamily.

A longing hand touch? That was it? "Well, I was hoping it would be
hot. Like _Ways To Burn_. Have you read that one? Unf. Anyway, I like
sexy, and he likes history, so I thought that could be a . . . meet in
the middle kind of thing."

"I'm like a quarter of the way in but no, definitely not like the
really smutty ones. There's more to romance than rolling around naked,
K'mai," that was almost a scold.

"Yes, but those are the parts I skip." K'mai pressed his lips
together, barely holding back a laugh.

"And I'm suggesting maybe you're missing out," Zariah rolled her eyes at him.

"I get summaries at the book club." He chuckled. "I _am_ reading an
entire book right now and it's both sexy _and_ romantic. If it was
just hand touches I'd be bored. I like it better when they roll around
naked and _then_ start having feelings."

"And that's why we're never sleeping together, K'mai. That's not my
favorite genre, but there's a market for it," Zariah said.

"Because you don't like my taste in books?" K'mai laughed. "But if you
mean you only sleep with people after you fall in love with them, then
yeah. I guess we aren't meant to be."

Shrugging, she said, "It doesn't need to be love, but there needs to
be something there for me first or it's not any fun. I like to be
wooed, what can I say? I have high standards."

"I could say _you're_ missing out, not wanting to have hot, fun,
no-wooing-needed sex." K'mai shrugged.

"It's not that I've never done it," Zariah said, a little tersely,
"it's that I have tried it and it wasn't fun. I think the sex is
better when there's a connection and some build up. Otherwise I might
as well just do it by myself."

"And I've tried to have romantic relationships and I _can't_, Zariah,"
K'mai said. "I have nothing against it, I'm sure it's lovely, but I
can't make myself feel something that isn't there."

"You shouldn't have to," Zariah frowned, "I do think it's lovely, but
you don't have to agree with me any more than I have to agree with you
that casual sex is fun. Like I said, we have different definitions of
sexy. If you want to know which kind I'serin is into, you'll have to
ask him. Or at least snoop out his bookshelf to see if it leans
towards swooning romance or _Ways to Burn_. You could see what books
he already has and look them up."

K'mai's attention abruptly shifted and he thought, **Oh I know what
kind of sex he's into**. "I'd be surprised if he was into romance.
He's very . . . serious. I'm trying to expand his horizons and show
him he can have fun, too, so . . . hmm. I'll have to think about it.
If I did pick a romance I should probably start with something a
little less intense than _Ways To Burn_." And not something involving
two men.

"Well, just let me know a first and second choice over the next few
days so I can put the order in for next month. And please figure out
who will fill out the order form for next month's order. It's been
adorable and sweet to watch this little gift exchange, but placing
special orders is a lot of extra work." To soften any blow, she added,
"But thank you for giving me the extra entertainment this month."

K'mai nodded absently, still wondering what kind of book to pick.
"Sorry for the extra work. And Zariah? We like different things, and
that's fine. If we were all the same, life would be boring, right?"

"Exactly," Zariah agreed. "It takes all sorts. I'm going to go get
cleaned up now. See you later."

Last updated on the April 15th 2025

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