Affectionately! Fondly! (2)

Writers: AJ Kraier, Jane
Date Posted: 11th April 2007

Characters: D'val, Jh'slaen
Description: D'val comes up with a theory about F'naren's jealousy and gets an unexpected reaction.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 9 of Turn 4

"There's no need to shout -- and they say brownriders are all stoical." D'val shook his head in amusement at that notion. "And do you really want me to spell out what is going on here?"

"Yes, why don't you? Since you think you know so much."

"Fine." D'val took a measured step toward F'naren, smiled ever so sweetly at the brownrider, and said, "You are jealous."

"Jealous? Of who? _You?_"

D'val rolled his eyes, as he took another step toward F'naren. "No, silly, you're jealous because there might be something going on between Jh'slaen and me that you cannot -- or won't let yourself -- be a part of. It's not a who, it's a what."

"_What's_ a what?"

"_It_ is -- the thing you are jealous of."

"I'm not jealous of you and Jh'slaen being friends," F'naren growled, wondering how long he would be on extra duties if he just _hit_ the greenrider. Probably not at _all_ because surely everybody knew how frustrating dealing with D'val could be?

"And what if he and I were more than friends?"

F'naren frowned but remembered his discussion with the other greenrider. "Jh'slaen will always be my best friend, no matter who he has sex with."

"Which begs a question," said D'val, lowering his voice and softening his tone, "There's a big difference between having sex with someone and having a... deeper, more meaningful connection with someone -- a kind of connection that's harder to find and easier to lose when you are a rider -- or so it seems to me..." Cocking his head to the side, D'val looked questioningly at the brownrider, and tried to hold his gaze. "F'naren? What's upsetting you today? What's been eating at you?"

"You are. You're not right for Jh'slaen. I _told_ you that. You were the one with the dreamy expression on your face when you were looking at him." Why was _he_ getting tied in knots by this most annoying of Jh'slaen's friends?

"Yes, I do remember you saying something about that. And that brings us back to jealousy and what's eating you," said D'val. "If I'm not right for Jh'slaen -- and, for argument's sake we'll say that you are totally right that I'm not -- then... why are you jealous? The only two things that come to mind are that you would rather my 'dreamy expression' be directed toward you, or some part of you wants to be more than best friends with Jh'slaen."

For a moment F'naren was speechless, then for another couple of heartbeats he tried to stop the feeling welling up inside him but it was too much and he threw back his head and laughed. "You ..." He tried to stop but every time he thought he had his thoughts under control he would glance at D'val and the laughter would start again until the brownrider was pressing his hands to his face, trying to ease the cramped muscles in his cheeks. "Jh'slaen's ..."

The brownrider's mirth was contagious, but D'val didn't come close to losing his self-control as badly as F'naren did. "You know you are turning a lovely shade of crimson, and you might want to sit down before you pass out from laughing so hard."

"I might ... have ... to," F'naren groaned, sitting down on the sand, not caring that it was damp, then laying back because he needed to get more air to laugh. "I don't ... I don't even know what's so funny."
He tried to sigh and winced at the sore stomach muscles. Who knew laughing was such hard work?

"Well, don't look at me. I don't know either."

F'naren didn't bother to move, just looked up the the greenrider. "Do you really think I'm interested in you?" he asked, still fighting the laughter.

"Well..." D'val bought himself a moment by sitting down beside F'naren. Hugging his knees to his chest, he said, "I wouldn't mind it if you were, but... I cannot say that I really believe that you are."

"Well- " That D'val wouldn't mind ... It was a sobering thought and some of the brownrider's amusement drained away. "I'm thinking about being flattered. But you're right - I'm not. Huh. What about the other - Do you really think I'm interested in my own _brother?_
Uncle? Whichever he really is."

"I think that you are the only one who can answer that," said D'val, softly, "But I will say that my looking at him set off something in you just now, and if it's not this" -- he gestured to F'naren and himself -- "then it would seem to be..." He left this unsaid.

"You're getting carried away," F'naren said, chuckling again. "We're closer than twins, and you just keep turning up between us. That's all. As long as you don't fall in love with him and ruin his life ...
I can put up with you, I suppose."

"Then I guess I'm safe... unless both of you fall in love with me,"
D'val said, and then started to laugh.

"Oh, yeah." F'naren laughed. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Well..."

Last updated on the April 11th 2007

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Affectionately! Fondly! (2)