Secret Negotiations

Writers: Leigh M-F., Miriah
Date Posted: 31st October 2013

Characters: Eirlira, Lokkun
Description: Eirlira strikes again
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 10 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Bahji, Reeva

Eirlira shifted in her seat, ears straining. The news had filtered all over the Weyr and she simply couldn't grasp why folks were so up in arms about the matter. The girl had lived. She just had a few bumps and bruises. She didn't understand why people just didn't leave it alone at that. She sniffed audibly, but the infirmary waiting area was loud enough to cover the derisive sound.

But she wasn't here for the blind girl. She had other matters to take care of.

Lokkun and several other apprentices had been charged with restocking the kits positioned everywhere around the Healers' caverns. Every now and then, a journeyman would catch up to them and double-check to make sure all supplies were in equal amounts. It was tedious, and Lokkun would be bored if it weren't for Pegas' comforting company. The little blue was perched on his shoulder, chittering away about something or other. Probably fire-lizard gossip. The apprentice had started talking back to Pegas as if he understood what his pet was "saying" at some point.

"Queep!"

"No, really? So what did you say to that?"

Random chirping.

"Oh, I see. How did she take that?"

"Creeee!"

"Well, of course. If-" A random feeling prompted him to turn around, and he found another apprentice behind him, hand raised to tap him on the shoulder. "Oh, hello."

The other apprentice jumped. "It's uncanny how often that happens," he muttered, then raised his voice. "Jaone got his woven belt snagged on a cart and broke it. Can he borrow your sash to get him to the storerooms and find another belt?"

Lokkun immediately shook his head. "No, sorry."

"You don't even need yours. It's just for decoration, like your headband."

"They may be just decoration, but I'm still not going to let just anyone borrow my things. They belonged to people very precious to me. Have Jaone tie his apron extra tight so he can get to the storerooms."

The other apprentice sighed. "All right," he said, and walked off, passing Eirlira on the way.

Having heard the conversation, Eirlira's eyes narrowed. The sash was important to him, was it? Well, it was a weakness then. She stood as the apprentice passed and cleared her throat. "Excuse me. But..." She opened her eyes wide. "Could you help me for a moment?"

The apprentice turned around, eyes also widening. "Uh.... sure," he hedged, trying to stand a little taller. "What can I help you with?"

Eirlira smiled, inhaling slowly and wrapped her arms around her middle, subtly drawing attention to her chest. "I couldn't help but overhear you talk about that sash? Well, I've been trying to find one like it for my little sister. She doesn't ever get much you see." She sighed wistfully. "Do you know where he got that?"

The apprentice's eyes flicked down, then up to her face again as his cheeks colored. "I'm sorry, but I think it's a one of a kind," he said, shrugging. "Lokkun says he got it from a friend who died in their first Threadfall. I mean, it wasn't a gift; it actually belonged to that dragonrider."

Eirlira pursed her lower lip in thought. It would be difficult to get that sash off of him then. Hmm. She laid a hand on the apprentice's arm, stroking her fingers lightly. "It's okay. Thank you for trying." Her head tilted to the side a little, her eyes purposefully wistful. "Maybe you could get me in there to talk to him?" She took a slight step forward. "I'd be very grateful."

The apprentice gulped. "Uh- Uh- You want to talk to Lokkun? It might not be a good time," he said. "We're supposed to be working, and he's been kind of mopey ever since that woman was assaulted. But I guess I could try if it's that important to you."

Eirlira wrinkled her nose. "Well, I could talk to him and then..." Her smile grew warmer as she lifted her hand to trail a light finger down the apprentice's neck. "Then I could spend much more time talking to you." She wanted to roll her eyes. Were all men here as pathetic? Lokkun was all sobby over the blind girl? She wasn't worth the effort; sweet Faranth, the girl was practically useless!

There was a thought however. Lokkun might remember that she didn't particularly like the blind wench. She hid a frown. Perhaps she could fix that.

The apprentice's face became even redder. "Okay, um. Wait here, I guess." He moved away reluctantly, disappearing. Some moments later, he came back, dragging Lokkun by the elbow, only letting go when the blond threatened to have Pegas bite him.

"Okay, now what is this all abo-" Lokkun paused, recognizing Eirlira. "Oh. It's _you_," he said coldly, and Pegas extended his neck, hissing. "Are you here in another misguided attempt to get an apprentice in bed?"

"I wouldn't mind," the other apprentice muttered, barely audible.

Eirlira looked wounded and her lower lip trembled as she looked at the other apprentice as if she couldn't understand Lokkun's attitude towards her. She blinked slowly and put a hand to her chest. "That's not very nice, Lokkun. I came to talk to you about something very important, afterall."

"I don't trust you," Lokkun growled, and Pegas' hiss grew a little louder. "But if it will get you to leave sooner, then fine." He raised his right hand and placed two fingers under his jaw. "The human heart can beat up to sixty times per minute, and you have exactly one. I'm counting now."

"Hey, you're not being fair," the other apprentice protested.

"Shut up, Laudan. You have fifty heartbeats left, _miss_."

The boy was infuriating! She glanced at the apprentice, then back at Lokkun before giving a little sniff. "I've not done anything to you, you know. I was coming to talk to you about that blind girl."

"You tried to seduce me and keep me from helping a patient!" Lokkun snapped, then reined himself in with an effort. "Look, you have forty heartbeats now, and we both have work to get back to."

Laudan gave Eirlira a hopeful look, probably wondering how quickly he could complete his task and then meet with the attractive young woman later.

She would handle this in a different way. She turned from Lokkun and pushed a tear out of her eye as she sniffled. "Okay. If you have to be so mean about it." She looked up at the apprentice and make her lips tremble even more. "Thank you for trying. I'll...I'll go now."

"I was right to mistrust you," Lokkun sneered, lowering his hand. "Come back again without a medical emergency, and I'll ask Master Reeva to ban you from our caverns." Which was an empty threat; healers had to treat whom they could. But then again, patients also had to want to get better.

"But Lokkun, what if she does know something?" Laudan protested.

"The only thing she knows is her way around the bedchambers," the blond shot back. "Come on, Pegas."

~nastybad~ the little blue projected as he was carried away by his person.

Laudan bit his lip, watching the other boy go, then touched Eirlira's shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said awkwardly. "I didn't think he was that upset by it all. He's usually much nicer. Is there anything I can do?"

**We'll see about that, you wretched, slime covered, color blind filth.** She leaned against Laudan and hiding her smile, she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I don't know why he was so mean. I turned him down once and he's been nasty ever since. He's turned it around somehow." She licked her lips, appearing to think a little. "I'd..I'd just like to get my own back for once." She sniffled and wiped at her eyes.

The other apprentice hesitated. "That doesn't sound like him, but.... well, everyone has their bad days. Maybe there's something I can do. I could try to mediate, I guess?"

She turned to face him and thrust out her lower lip. "Then he has a lot of bad days." She lightly touched his chest and peered up at him, her eyes wistful. "I have an idea though, maybe..if you could help." She licked her lower lip. "Maybe..." she whispered. "maybe if I had something important to him, he'd stop and listen to me instead of just assuming things." Her eyes became soft as her fingers tickled at his chest. "Could you help me?"

"Uh- uh, sure," Laudan said, and the negotiations began in earnest.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2013

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Secret Negotiations