A Reason For Everything

Writers: Chelle, Yvonne
Date Posted: 7th January 2014

Characters: Harki, P'nal
Description: Harki figures out what she's supposed to do with it
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows 'DFW: For Me?!'

Since she had no idea what to say to P'nal about his gift of a belt, Harki avoided P'nal for the next few candlemarks. She dressed slowly, ate in her rooms, and tried to think up what to do. Then she remembered she wasn't very good at planning ahead, and decided to do what she always did-- just deal with it. It made her palms sweat and her stomach pinch, but she knocked on the Wingsecond's door late that evening.

He had been back at the weyr for sometime now. After dinner, he'd gone to bathe and then had run through a few light exercises. Lounging in his bed, he heard the noise and got up to investigate. Padding across the floor quietly in socks and trousers, he came up to the door and opened it. Seeing Harki there, of all people, he didn't say anything at first. Then he thought about what he'd done and considered. His eyes traveled lower and he saw her wearing it. She was happy for the gift-that was a good thing. "Evening Harki." Dark eyes watched her carefully. and a small smile came to his lips.

"Did you give all your wingriders presents today, or was it just me?" Harki asked.

"On this particular day-just you." He didn't give more of an explanation, instead just enjoying watching her and trying to predict her next reaction. The play of emotions across her face was interesting, to say the least. P'nal found himself amused by her at turns and then surprised. He had to be careful, though. For now, he needed to be professional.

"So am I the test subject, anonymous in the crowd, or the very last to know?" she asked.

"The test subject for what? I'm sorry but I really didn't get what you meant by any of that." He looked confused and opened the door so she could come inside and they could discuss it since it seemed as if it was going to take more than a 'I'm happy you like it'.

She felt her cheeks start to redden as she stepped past P'nal. This was _not_ her day for talking smooth. Or just talking. "Just wondering if I'm the first wingrider with a belt of yours."

"Actually no...as I recall. D'ale asked me to make one for his son a long while ago. Of course then his son Impressed and now K'ale is in my Wing." Then again, that had been different. This one P'nal had made of his own accord. He didn't make that distinction though. "It looks very nice though." **Don't focus on her hips.**

"Oh." So she wasn't the first. But the other one was a man. And he still wasn't saying why he'd singled _her_ out for a gift. "Well, thank you. It's lovely."

"I'm glad you like it. I hoped it might cheer you up after the other day. And anyway, you've been working hard and everyone deserves a bit of a reward." **You are so talking out of your butt. Maybe so, but she doesn't seem to know that. And that's a good thing** He continued to watch her. She was wary but she had come. That showed that she trusted him. P'nal had known Harki before she had left. This was a different Harki. He was still figuring her out.

She blinked. "Well, I _have_ been practicing integrating into Wings lately, although coming back to Azure is a bit like cheating. And I certainly don't mind a reward for an easy job."

"Easy? Oh well maybe I need to make it harder." He chuckled for a moment, though the gleam in his eye made one wonder for a second if he was joking. "It's good to have you back. We need strong greenriders in the Wing. Glad you're staying."

She shrugged, grinning back. "Better here than where I was, and there's nothing like Azure."

"So tell me about...about where you were. Why'd you come back?" This was a conversation they had never had and P'nal had begun to wonder.

"Well... Rising Moons is nice. The people are nice, I flew in a good Wing but..." She trailed off, idly rubbing her palms together as she tried to decide how much she wanted to tell P'nal. Her experience with B'lac wasn't yet a comfortable memory. "But I'd transferred because of a brownrider, and when he and I fell out... it just wasn't a good place for me anymore."

"Ahha." **So she left for a man and came back for the same man. He must have been a piece of work.** He tried not to judge her, but P'nal couldn't ever see himself doing the same thing. He had never left Dragonsfall after Impression. It had been his and Jodeth's always. "Well I hope things are better for you then."

"They already are-- look at this fancy new belt someone gave me!" She hooked her thumbs under the leather and smiled. "Dragonsfall knows how to treat their own."

"You make me very happy, wingrider. If I knew that was all it took to keep people, I would have started doing it long ago. Now, I am thirsty. Would you like to go get some wine with me?" P'nal's deep rich timbre came out then and it was hard to ignore the very white toothy grin that stood out against his dark skin.

A shiver raced down her spine. He _was_ hitting on her, then, and the belt was a gift for a reason-- and she felt safer in more familiar territory. She smiled in return. "I'd love to."

Last updated on the February 1st 2014

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A Reason For Everything