An Elite Intervention (Tags: Z'rim & S'jiro)

Sh’nar was concerned, as much as Z’rim and L’mar were. He tended to show it a little differently. Using his skills as a charming Harper…he wrote to S’jiro’s family, issuing his concern for his friend as well as his concern for his relations with Indylari and her powerful minor holding family.

The last thing they wanted was to be enemies over something this trivial. It was too late now for S’jiro to have objections to his future wife unless she had done something morally wrong. So far as he knew, Indylari lived at the Weyr without so much as a whisper to her having done anything that would be considered unbecoming of someone of her station.

The real concern though was S’jiro’s sudden erratic behavior. He wasn’t acting himself. He wasn’t really behaving like one of their group at all. What was Sh’nar supposed to do? He had been left with no option but to take matters into his own hands. With L’mar and Z’mir being so concerned though, he had also thought it a good idea if the three of them paid a private visit to S’jiro.

Working nights was a pain, it made everything more difficult to schedule. So he had settled on meeting at S’jiro’s about mid-afternoon. He waited outside his friend’s weyr for the others to arrive. Once both Z’rim and L’mar were there, he knocked on the door. “S’jiro, it’s just me, Z’rim and L’mar…” Without waiting to be invited in, he opened the door and walked in. Sh’nar wasn’t sure what to do now or how to begin but one of them should say something first.

“We wanted to talk to you about something…”

S'jiro was still in bed when the other Bronzeriders came through the door. It wasn't uncommon that any of them would show up unannounced and enter his weyr without permission so to speak. They all visited one other with a fair amount of frequency.

Groggily sitting up from bed, he waved them in; they knew where the chairs were at if they wanted to be seated. S'jiro yawned and tossed the covers back enough to climb out of bed and move to join them. He didn't really seem to register what they were saying yet, his brain still waking up and all; if he did, he ignored it for now.

"Anything to eat or drink? I'll call it up." It would be breakfast time for him, but lunch for many others. Working the whole night shift for drills and such was throwing his sleep schedule off.

Sh'nar took a seat on one of the lounge chairs, as usual making himself right at home. He didn't look the least be apologetic for waking his friend up. He was just glad the farm girl wasn't there. If she had been this would have all been a lot more awkward. Waving off the idea of food and refreshment, "No. I've eaten. Thanks."

"Order yourself something though." He looked at the other two as if expecting them to say something. No, he had to be the one to break the ice. This conversation was going to be very strange. Normally he never had to talk to S'jiro about his conduct concerning women. He was pretty normal in that regard, until now. Who was he to say anything? Sh'nar had the worst reputation with women. He'd even bedded his best friend's sister so whatever he said now was likely to be thrown back at him. Except he wasn't engaged to a lady with powerful family connections.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked to start, "Cause you aren't acting like yourself and its concerning us...." No need to mention they were his friends and their concerns were shared and valid. Maybe Z'rim should handle this? He sighed, "Have you thought about what happened yesterday?" To be more specific, "Concerning Veyani."

S'jiro smiled a bit smugly as Sh'nar started into the conversation. Though he did feel a little guilty about his whole plan to totally cut ties with Indylari -well, that was the initial plan, whether or not it worked out was another story and yet to be seen.

He went to call up some food and drink enough for anyone else who should want some, and while he waited for it to arrive up the service shaft, had a seat along with the other Bronzeriders. To tell the truth, as he sat down with them, he was trying not to, but was still kind of grinning like a love struck fool.

"Well, I haven't had much time to dwell on things yet today, but I think I will feel the same today as I did yesterday." S'jiro looked up at Sh'nar , and then one by one, glanced casually around the circle of riders until he sank down a little more in his cushioned chair with another yawn. He was still waking up.


Z'rim interceded at that point, taking a sidelong glance over to Sh'nar before turning his focus back to their friend. "I think we're all just a little concerned over how serious you seem to be about Veyani. Are you doing this as a part of your waged war to break her heart and declare victory? Or are you really serious about liking her?"

The Bronzerdier paused momentarily, to make sure that S'jiro was taking in everything he said. But then, he thought maybe S'jiro would feel like they were tag teaming him and needed to assure him that that was not the case. They were just here to make sure he was thinking things through. "I don't think any of us are saying if that's what you decide, that we're against it, it's just that this is all very sudden. And you need to take Indylari into consideration. You are engaged, just in case you don't remember."


S'jiro was giving a soft sigh, getting up to go pick up the tray of food and drinks. He was wondering if they would end up disagreeing with his decision; after all, it was completely against his general disposition to do something like this. What he'd done could be considered extreme, even. But oddly enough, S'jiro felt good about what he'd decided to do in that drunken spur of the moment. He felt.. a little relieved. Or maybe it was better put that he felt some strange sense of resolution to his feelings deep down inside.

Returning to the coffee table with the refreshments, S'jiro took a cup of steaming klah for himself, pouring a little milk into it. Taking it back to his chair, he slouched into the chair again, stirring it, letting it cool just a little, where he placed the cup on the side table beside him. "I know you think I've lost all sense of sanity, but I'm completely serious about my feelings for her. I think I love her. I just can't... function smoothly anymore, since she's come around. But if she were around more, I get this feeling like I could do anything. She has this strength in her that she can teach me how to have."

Becoming quiet for a long moment after that, S'jiro took a sip of his klah, testing its temperature on his lips tentatively before drinking any more. "So, I asked her to go out with me. If it all turns out bad, I could dump her and do like I'd planned originally." Which was break her heart and make her want to leave. But, for whatever reason, S'jiro didn't think that's what would happen.

After that drink last night, he seemed to have a whole new perspective. What kind of wine was that anyway???

Sh'nar was glad when Z'rim started to ask some questions of his own. Especially since S'jiro seemed so unaffected by all of it. Granted he was still waking up and he was not known to being extremely emotional like last night but he would have expected something more than that smug smile.

He was pleased with himself... for what exactly?! Throwing away a perfectly good engagement and going out with a Candidate who was much too young to know her own feelings, let alone help S'jiro figure his out. He'd been foolish before himself and Karayla had shown him that he would prefer to have power than to be loved.

If Sh'nar said anything right at that moment, he doubted it would be supportive so he shut his mouth. Whatever had come over his friend, he didn't understand it. The girl could do nothing for him. She had no wealth, no power, she hadn't even impressed a dragon of any color yet. What would he do if she impressed a green, a flighty green who wanted variety in flights? Hmm? Wouldn't S'jiro be the one hurt then?

"You... love... her." He was having a hard time comprehending this concept. "Does she even know what love is? She's so young."How could the girl possibly understand the depth of feeling that was love. He didn't even understand love. He could swear he had never been in love in his lifetime and hoped never to be unless the woman were a Goldrider. In which case his desire for power and love would be combined. The only problem was women tended to not like being loved for what their title and power could do for a man. So he had to pretend to be in love with women he felt nothing for.

Of course there was still the matter of Indylari. "And you are going to tell your parents that you won't be getting married? Or are you going to remain engaged while you date Veyani? Does the girl even know you are engaged?" Sh'nar didn't understand how S'jiro could be so calm about it all.

S'jiro couldn't believe that Sh'nar was trying to lecture him on love. The Bronzerider's eyes tightened at their corners, wanting to narrow as he shot a glare at his friend. "And you're telling me you know what falling in love is? Just because you know how to pretend?" That didn't make Sh'nar any more knowledgeable about love. That just meant he was acting on his observation of other people's expectations in a very specific situation.

It made S'jiro mad that Sh'nar would even say something like that. What made him think that he understood what S'jiro was feeling in his heart? None of them likely did. Shard it! S'jiro didn't even know! But it was something that he was willing to act on. Something he was going crazy for! Didn't they think that was frustrating for him?

It took a good whit of S'jiro's self control to sit in that chair and act as though he wasn't mad enough to get up and punch his best friend. So, S'jiro looked away, and with a deep breath, took another drink of his K'lah.


"And you are going to tell your parents that you won't be getting married? Or are you going to remain engaged while you date Veyani? Does the girl even know you are engaged?"

Well, S'jiro hadn't really wanted to think about that. But they all just had to go there. And he was about to say something when Z'rim piped up.

"Oh, Veyani knows. I talked with her last night, after everyone left. I told her everything."

Met by S'jiro's icy, but somehow fearful stare, Z'rim returned the look with one of his own, even more stern. "S'jiro, she deserves to know. You can't just leave her in the dark about something like that when you're likely to get the both of you into a lot of trouble." The Bronzerider wasn't backing down; Z'rim wasn't afraid of S'jiro's hung over attitude problems.

Leaning forward so that he could rest elbows over his knees, Z'rim just looked down between his legs and shook his head at it all. Soon, he was looking back up, wondering if S'jiro had anything to say in defense of himself.


Having set his cup back on the side table, S'jiro was too upset by that point to drink it. The Bronzerider was sitting up in his chair a little more then, so that he could better digest their whole conversation, being that he was awake now. S'jiro was scowling over what they were saying, but didn't really feel as though he had the right to complain about Z'rim telling Veyani. After all, he'd have to tell her eventually, and it was better to know now just how she felt about that. But if it upset her, he could simply break things off sooner with Indylari. If that's what it came down to.

"I"ve already decided. I'm seeing Veyani. Indylari doesn't care about our relationship.... I talked to her too, last night. If she did care about it, then she'd at least try to show me that she did." It was clear that as S'jiro went on, he was growing more and more frustrated over the whole prospect of his arranged marriage. He was getting angry, and gradually his voice became harsh enough to become a shout. "I'm not going to pour my heart into a one-sided fantasy relationship just because my parents tell me to. They can't expect me to try to love someone who acts toward me as cold as stone."

S'jiro could admit that he hadn't been the best fiance figure in that light, but he could justify his feelings, or lack thereof, toward Indylari plenty. She hadn't done any more to nurture their relationship than he had. As far as he was concerned, she'd done less, even.

The Bronzerider was out of his chair then, looking ad though he was ready to start pacing. He was livid, and he let it show in every one of his features. He even took his cup of klah and sent it flying against the stone hearth only a few feet away.

"Why should I care about being with Indylari if she doesn't?! Why!? Why is all of this put on me?! I've already Impressed a Bronze. What more do they want from me!?" S'jiro turned back toward his friends and glowered angrily, "Would they be more happy if I married her and decided on a mistress? Or maybe I should just take two wives." He was sure they didn't see that one coming.

As they all knew, mistresses were not uncommon amoungst the well-to-do, though it was less common for more than one wife to be taken. But being as they were here at the Weyr, S'jiro would never be held at fault for sleeping with more than one woman. It was the Weyr after all, and regardless of if he was married, he would be taking part in Flights, inevitably winning a few. At this point though, he wasn't sure if he would have even cared if he weren't at the Weyr. He'd made a decision for once in his life, about something he thought he felt really strongly about; and now were they going to try to stop him?


A number of times during S'jiro's rant, Z'rim had nearly gotten up to stop him, but he figured more than anything, S'jiro just needed to let all of it out. If he was going to sort all of this out, he needed to get it off his chest. Finally, Z'rim looked over to Sh'nar, an expression of sympathy there, wanting to feel badly for their friend.

Of course he was going to bring that up! “I could be in love if I wanted to be! I’ve decided to put my future as a rider before my feelings.” He was growing really angry. Sh’nar at his worst might yell and shout but he had never been physically violent. “We aren’t talking about me anyway. We are talking about you and your sudden extreme behaviors.”

Sh’nar didn’t care what the others thought about his lust for power. As long as they benefitted from it why should they care? If any of them had an issue with this before they weren’t speaking up about it till now. He could screw around with whoever he wanted as long as he kept himself emotionally detached. Out of all of them he was the only one who had long term relationships with women. Love was overrated.

What the shells was Z’rim thinking, telling the girl? He wouldn’t be the one to use it to their advantage and discourage her. He was the sort to give her the information and let her decide what to do with it. S’jiro should have to clean up his own messes and Z’rim was making this so much easier for S’jiro to blow it all off as nothing. Nothing! “She deserved to hear it from S’jiro…” He muttered under his breath.

“Love.” He said with a sarcastic laugh, “You are fool. A bigger fool for thinking that your marriage was supposed to involve love. Your parents don’t care if you love Indylari. Love has nothing to do with it. It is about what is going to get you the most of everything, wealth, power, connections. None of those have anything to do with love.” Sh’nar was being completely serious now.

He wasn’t exactly shocked by the direction the conversation was headed. While he could not condone his friend keeping two wives he saw no reason the other option wouldn’t be viable. “Why not keep Veyani as your mistress?” Sh’nar was starting to see how this could all work out. If S’jiro and Veyani cooperated.

“I don’t see how your parents would care. And Indylari would simply have to get over it.” Of course Veyani’s feelings on the situation were set aside because Sh’nar figured she should take what she could get. S’jiro wasn’t a free man, that was about as much as he could offer her at this point.

When Sh'nar had just about finished berrating him, S'jiro closed the distance between them, bringing them close enough to impose on eachother's personal space. He glared hatefully at Sh'nar, though it wasn't all necessarily directed at his best friend.

"I never thought it was about love,.. but I'm a Bronzerider now. Does that not allow me any kind of independence from the Hold? This marriage benefits me nothing but a dumb girl who's probably just going to age out. I don't know what dragon would Impress someone with no more feelings than a rock. Then where does that leave me? With baggage, because there's no greater a future for Gold flights than before. I hope my parents are happy." And of course, S'jiro was likely not giving Indylari enough credit; he was just very angry.

"I hope they're getting more benefit out of this than I am." Though S'jiro paused long enough to take a breath, he wasn't done ranting. "Choosing Veyani is the first remotely meaningful thing in my life that I've ever decided on, besides coming to the Weyr. Is it that surprising that I would have some desire of my own? It's not as if you ever held back when you wanted something. Not even when it involved Tsuki. So, if it's Veyani I want,... " S'jiro stopped there, realizing his own boundaries at that point. He wanted to complete that thought.. 'If it's veyani I want, then its veyani I'll have', but he knew that might be much too presumptuous, even for himself to proclaim.

It was selfish. He was completely selfish. But how could it be helped when he'd been raised in a life where he'd easily been able to get his hands on anything that he wanted. Of course, nothing he'd ever wanted was anything like this. Nothing he'd ever wanted went against his parent's wishes before, because all of his wants in life thus far had been simply material and pointless. But was this?

Was his desire for Veyani pointless? Was it no more than physical desire? Would he write it off like that, diminishing her to the status of a mistress? Given her background, he could imagine that the life of a mistress in the world of Holders would be much more suited to her; but would she be satisfied with that? Somehow he just couldn't see her like that. And for some reason, that almost made him smile because of her usual, dumb insistance to argue with everything he said.

In a way though, he realized that Sh'nar was right. What if this was no more than a fling, and he really didn't know what his heart wanted at all? And by then, had ruined any kind of future with himself and Indylari? The threat of that happening though, didn't seem to bother him as much as perhaps it should. He had a hard time considering Indylari's feelings or wellbeing at all. She only existed in his background, playing no real part in his life except, as far as he was concerned, to interfere with anything else he wanted. She was just a tool used by his parents to control him. Could he hate her for that?

Even so, S'jiro didn't want to be like that. Yet, he had a hard time believing he could easily change the way he felt about it all. He didn't want a marriage.

The proximity of S'jiro, made him stand up. His blue eyes met the other man's in a stoney glare. He didn't care what S'jiro thought about him in that moment. They were worried about him. And they were his friends. They weren't criticizing his choice of lover, so much as the erratic behaviors that accompanied her.

He didn't appreciate the Tsuki comment, at all. "You just went there. Really?! I thought we discussed that. I never intended to hurt Tsuki in any way. If I had my way, Cymrioth would have won that flight and your sister's virginity would still be in tact." Well sort of. He might have had her at some point regardless. More because she was pretty and always around them, than that he felt he had to have her specifically. He couldn't be to blame if she fell for his charms like some of the other girls. To be honest, sexual advances were more common at the Weyr, if S'jiro wanted Tsuki protected he would never have brought her to the Weyr.


"So what, you want her and should have her and who gives a damn what she might feel or want?" Sh'nar said angrily. "You'll defend your sister, who by the way is older and has been at the Weyr and aware of what goes on at the Weyr much longer than Veyani, but Veyani is yours and you can do what you please with her without repercussion? She has a family too you know..."

Sh'nar didn't care if S'jiro got nothing out of his marriage. At this point having lost all sight of that part of the conversation. He was too focused on his friend's egomania to care about the rest. He didn't particularly like Indylari. She was as S'jiro had pointed out, rather aloof. He figured it was a way to protect herself from what the men in their group might do with her without being married. And for good reason.

"So nothing matters but making yourself happy. The consequences of your family mean nothing..." He nodded, feeling a colder anger flow through him. "Well then, I'll go see if your lovely sister is around. I could use a pretty mistress myself."

S'jiro met the other Bronzerider's hardened stare evenly, without any sign of backing down from his argument until finally, what Sh'nar was saying started to kind of make sense to him. A little. He started wondering if perhaps his friend was right, and he needed to take a step back from the situation and look at what was in Veyani's interest, and not what just he himself decided. As for Veyani's family, they should just be glad she was bedding someone like him! Her super secret lover could have been a total loser.

His whole war waged against Veya had made him forget, often times, just how young and fragile she was, because she acted so tough around him. And that thought made him appreciate her amazing strength even more. At the same time, it made him want to be able to protect her.

To be honest though, S'jiro recognized that he needed to take his time with Veyani; he didn't want to rush anything with her, really. The suddenness about it all was just that he'd finally admitted that he... liked her. But they needed to adjust to one another. There were a lot of differences between them which would likely make being together difficult for long periods of time; that, and he was still unwilling to give in to her where their personal war was concerned. He wasn't sure he was prepared to let her win.

And considering those things, the thought was sparked that perhaps he should one day soon, go to visit her family. It would be good to meet them, and he wanted to see how she lived before coming to the Weyr.

Back to the secondary subject at hand, S'jiro eyed Sh'nar warily over the topic of his sister. It was no excuse that Cymiroth had lost a flight, that Sh'nar stole his sister's virginity. He had to admit that his best friend had a point about her being old enough or at the Weyr longer than Veyani, but that was beside the point that she was still his sister. Of course he was going to be protective of her!

But then, all of those thoughts were as nothing, when Sh'nar dared to finish with the threat of treating Tsuki like a mistress. His arms moved as fast as that flash of anger through his eyes, swinging one fist at Sh'nar's jaw, following it up with a punch to the gut; that is, if the other rider didn't react in time. S'jiro threw all of his weight into those hits. There was no way he was letting Sh'nar get away with that last comment without taking a little punishment for it, even if he too, didn't walk away unscathed. Which is likely what would happen.

Sh’nar was not good with physical altercations. He didn’t like being physically violent in any way with other people. He never trusted himself when he became violent in any way.  He did not want to lose control of himself, especially not around friends. Even so, he wouldn’t allow himself to feel weak or powerless. If anything, they should all know how deep his desire for power was.

So it should have been no surprise when Sh’nar, brought up his fists and actually knew exactly how to use them. He also knew S’jiro wasn’t much of a fighter. Sure the other man could defend himself but he never took it as seriously as Sh’nar did.  While he had not reacted in time to protect his jaw, he did defend himself against the blow to his gut.

Quickly he sent his own punch towards S’jiro’s head. As he threw the punch, a mixture of good and bad emotions flooded him. Punching other people didn’t release any stress for Sh’nar, rather it created more for him. He would rather be in a verbal altercation, his emotions were much less confusing then.

As if on cue, before he could do anything more to S’jiro, Veyani opened the door to S’jiro’s weyr. Before Sh’nar could say how dare she enter without permission, he realized S’jiro had given her permission to see him at any time, by allowing her to know his feelings. He watched S’jiro to see his reaction, maybe he could get in a good punch while the other rider was staring at this new girl.

Veyani had been serious when she spoke to Z’rim. She wanted to talk to S’jiro about what the Bronzerider had told her. After her morning lessons, she made her way to the only weyr she was familiar with. Her feet knew the way well enough she didn’t really think too much about where she was going. Veyani had already gone over what she wanted to say over and over again in her head.

The rumors around the Candidates were becoming more and more annoying but she knew she only had to wait them out.  It wouldn’t be too hard. She thought about knocking first but decided it would be more fun to surprise him. Only she ended up being the one surprised for as she opened the door, she saw S’jiro and Sh’nar fighting.

"Hey guys." She said nonchalantly. Moving off to the side, near to Z’rim, “What are they fighting about and are you taking bets?” She was smiling because not only did they look ridiculous but because it was amusing to watch two best friends want to hurt eachother but not want to hurt eachother.

S'jiro was too busy preparing himself to throw another punch to block Sh'nar's strike. He had to accept the blow, which soon drew blood to his nose, staggering back a couple of steps at the same time. Of course, there was a coffee table there, so he couldn't go far.

About that time, the door opened and Veyani walked in. It being to S'jiro's complete surpise, his eyes were wide then, and fixed on her. It took him a moment to believe it, because why would she just happen to show up at a time like this?

The Bronzerider couldn't help but let his brow furrow a bit then, letting his guard down enough to try to straighten up his shirt by tugging at its hem, and then using the back of his hand to wipe away the blood dripping from his nose.

---

Z'rim looked over to the door when it opened, seeing who'd come to join them. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised that Veya would show up here, but it was kind of ironic to him that she'd show up at that perfect point in time.

"Hey."

The Bronzerdier's eyes checked back once more, to where the other two were fighting, before he glanced back up at the girl. "Bets? I don't think I'm willing to make bets over this one." More likely than not, he figured he'd step in to put a stop to it before long. That is, if they kept at it. He knew it would probably be good for them to get out some of their aggression like this, but if things went too far,... well, enough was enough. They were still friends, and needed to cool off at some point.

Finally, Z'rim started to answer the other half of her question. "Would you be surprised, at a time like this, if it was over girls?" He looked back to Sh'nar and S'jiro again, having noticed it got quiet, wondering if they'd decided to stop, now that Veyani had graced them with her presence.

If she was smiling at S'jiro just a second longer than was appropriate, then she didn't notice. She also didn't notice the blood coming from his nose or that Sh'nar was about to land another blow in S'jiro's vicinity. She heard Z'rim's words which called her back to reality for a moment. About girls? Veyani wondered who else it could be about, other than herself. The plural meant more than one girl. Surely S'jiro didn't care if Sh'nar was with Belisse.

Z'rim didn't seem to want to be more forthcoming than that. If she had not grown up with so many brothers, she would find this all very silly. However, her brothers had on occassion fought out their issues rather than talking through them. It was perfectly natural and amusing to watch.

"I thought I would talk to S'jiro before he went on duty..." She said so that only Z'rim could hear her. Surely they would be done with their fight soon. It was clear that the young woman was amused though, "Reminds me of home. My brothers used to do stuff like this, though not usually about girls it was always a matter of pride."


---

Sh'nar used S'jiro's distraction to try and get another blow in, though he didn't go for the other's face this time, he went for his gut. He was a little distracted himself but not because the girl was attractive to him but because she seemed perfectly unaffected. The nerve! To be so completely unconcerned about the two men fighting and be easily talking to Z'rim and watching! She wasn't normal... maybe she was insane. Certainly that would explain many things.

If she were a lady, she would be completely aghast at the situation the men were in. If Indylari were here, she would turn her nose up at the fighting, even if it were about women. This just went further to prove that Veyani did not belong with people of higher class. Especially not S'jiro.

At least he had his priorities straight. Even if the rest of them thought he was being cold, he was doing what was right. He was pursuing his ambitions. He learned that love meant giving up on those ambitions. To be a leader meant making sacrifices and he didn't mind one bit if that made him unlikely to fall in love, ever.

Yeah! S'jiro's thoughts momentarily echoed Sh'nar's own. The Nerve! Why didn't Veyani seem to care that they were fighting. Welll, for the moment, that had come to a halt. S'jiro didn't see though, when Sh'nar hauled back and threw the last punch.

Reaction coming too late, Sh'nar's fist landed, doubling S'jiro over, causing him to stagger back. But as he staggered back, he met the coffee table filled with their drink and food, careening backward over it. Everything on the table went sliding, the Bronzerider with it.

As S'jiro tumbled over the opposite side of the table, along with about half of the dish-ware, there came an even greater clatter. But momentarily, the Bronzerider groaned, sitting up from the floor. He was left rubbing on his elbow instead of his gut, though that was sore, too. There was broken glass and cracked plates that he stood up from, picking a shard or two from his hand. It didn't seem to bother him much, though there were a couple of spots where blood now dotted his skin.

Even as he picked the few small pieces of glass from his hand and under his elbow, he looked up to find Veyani. "You needed to talk to me?"

Seeming to have almost completely brushed off the altercation between he and Sh'nar, he glanced over at the other two riders, indicating that they should take their leave so that he and Veyani could discuss matters together. After all, none of this would be resolved without Veyani's input first.

---

Z'rim's eyes went wide when he saw from his periphery that S'jiro was about to go flying across the table. His body tensed, preparing to get up and intervene if he needed to, but again, he refrained. Looking from S'jiro back up to Sh'nar, he wondered if Sh'nar was going to let all of this slide as easily as S'jiro seemed to think it would.

Expression mirroring some minor concern for the whole situation, Z'rim took a deep breath just as S'jiro was getting up to acknowledge Veyani's words, indicating that they should depart. With a nod toward Sh'nar, Z'rim turned for the door. "Well, I'll leave you two." Pausing long enough for furtive glances between Veyani and S'jiro then, he started briskly toward the door.

Watching in disbelief as S'jiro hit the table and knocked over dishes, making a huge clattering of noises, he thought maybe I shouldn't have hit him that hard. He didn't think it was that bad. He would have been concerned but S'jiro was almost immediately talking to his new lover. Well if he wanted this fight to be over, then it was over and he knew where Sh'nar stood.

He had other things to do... like bathing his dragon and preparing for Watch Duty. Leaving just behind Z'rim, he hoped Veyani was taking this all seriously. She must be right? She'd come to talk to S'jiro after Z'rim had spoken with her. Still though, he had the distinct feeling she would do exactly what would be worst for her and in the end for S'jiro.

----
Her eyes widened in concern as S'jiro slid across the table. Sh'nar was being just a little too rough now, she thought. Veyani moved away from Z'rim to get closer to S'jiro. "Are you alright?" She asked in concern. No doubt he would find it silly for her to be concerned since she tended to cause most of his falls these days.

Extending her arm in order to help him up. "Do you want to wash it?" She asked, allowing him to make the decision what he wanted to do. It wouldn't surprise her if he didn't take her hand. She watched the other Bronzeriders leave. Good. Not that she was ever afraid to speak her mind and heart in front of other people but she knew S'jiro was not as fearless when it came to having an audience.

"I do want to talk to you." She said with her brown eyes watching his expression. "Did Z'rim tell you he spoke to me yesterday?" She asked because she didn't know what he knew or what he thought she knew. It was better if they were on the same page. Veyani had thought long and hard about what was said to her. She was never going to be someone who was swayed by reason though her siblings had tried to tell her she was being completely silly.

Watching after the other Bronzeriders until they'd gone from the room, S'jiro finally shook his head. "I'm fine."

Though he did not take her offer for washing the small abrasions right away, he did take her hand. Eventually. He drew her into his chest. He did feel a little bad for the blood that caked under his nose, on his upper lip still, but that could be remedied soon. For now, he wanted to hold her.

S'jiro's arms encircled Veya's shoulders and he held her against him. But after a moment,... he remembered what Z'rim had said. It was that he'd already told Veyani about Indylari, and that must be what she was here to talk to him about.

Beneath his tan skin, S'jiro felt his blood drain, if only a little, in anticipation of what she might say to him.

He'd only just come to accept...

Nevertheless, stepping back from her, S'jiro's eyes met her with wonder. "Yes, he told me that... he told you everything." Some sinking feeling took over his heart then, leaving him in silence after, trying to suppress it.

Unprepared to be caught up in an embrace she soon realized that if they were going to continue to see each other, she should get used to such things. There was pleasant warmth, a feeling of being at home, of being loved, in such embraces. So how could he possibly think she would care about Indylari’s claim on him? She was almost sad when he let go of her and stepped away.

“Probably not everything.” She teased, then continued, “He cares about you and so he wanted to be sure that I wasn’t the type to back off just because things might be a little more complicated than they seemed.” Veyani wasn’t worried about things being complicated; she was worried he might decide that because they were complicated, he would rather do what was easier.

Oh but seeing his expression she realized he thought she was going to end it now because of his engagement. She didn’t want him to be prepared for the worst. “I think if you need to keep your engagement up for the show of it, then I can accept that. I can accept that you need time to figure out how you want to deal with Indylari and her family.”

She paused. “I didn’t think being in an arranged marriage was possible at the Weyr. It still seems a bit strange to me. But S’jiro you shouldn’t go through with it if you don’t love her. Even if you don’t love me, you should never marry for anything short of the love of your life.”

“I have feelings for you. I want us to date and be in a relationship but I don’t want you to feel like I’m making you choose between what you desire and your duty. I think this is entirely dependent upon you.” She would do anything he wanted for now. The problem would come if they became more serious. At which point Veyani would have to revisit the whole Indylari issue.

Listening to her words, S'jiro was nodding. Though he'd stepped apart from her, his hands wanted to remain; but gradually, they fell.

To be honest, S'jiro was surprised to hear her speak what she had. He wondered if she understood what it meant for him to be engaged. But what did it matter when he himself hardly seemed to care. At that, S'jiro started to feel a bit guilty again. He was starting to feel like his heart was hanging in midair.

He shook his head then, when she spoke of him hesitating because of her to choose between desire and duty. What did she know of the kind of duty he was called to?

"I don't think you can expect any answers from me today. I haven't really figured out what I'm going to do. It's not up to me to figure out how to deal with Indylari or her family." S'jiro seemed to be thinking just then. In fact, he was thinking of several other things he might say, but refrained, figuring none of it mattered at the moment. None of it mattered because he'd already made his decision on liking Veyani.

Bringing a hand up to clean some of the blood from his nose, it only started to bleed again, and so S'jiro turned to grab a cloth napkin from the table behind him to dab it with. At that point, he went to sit on the couch where there was room for Veya to sit beside him.

"My parents are still paying for all of this." He gestured toward the room. "All of our parents; mine, L'mar's, Z'rim's, have been rather generous in their tithing to the Weyr to afford us a certain amount of privilege and in order to maintain our way of life here. Usually, the Weyrs are alright with the additional patronage as long as it doesn't interfere with the way they do things. Even if they don't admit the real reason for the additional tithes, it's still a show of good relations between the Holds and Weyrs; and who are the Weyrs to decline a gift of good intention? It could be more harmful to decline in some instances." Of course, where did duty stand in all of that? Where did desire or duty stand in the scheme of the whole engagement? Even if he chose not to, he still feared his parents would fight his decision in some way. They might as well just say the 'I do' for him and get it over with.

Then again, as he took a deep breath, he wondered if he was just blowing things out of proportion. Maybe his parents would realize he really wasn't happy with Indylari and accept that he'd rather be with someone else.

Leaning his head back so that his nose would stop bleeding completely, he added with a softer, more conversational tone, "You know the others don't approve of it, either. Sh'nar thinks I should marry Indy, and then make you my mistress." Again, trying to imagine that ever happening, brought a chuckle to his lips.

Everything was so uncertain and she wasn't sure she liked it. He was going to allow other people determine his own fate. It was a bit sad really but she thought perhaps in time he would realize that he was the master of his own life not his parents, no matter how many marks or goods they tithed to the Weyr. It was still his life, he was free to make his own choices. Consequences and fear of what would happen should those consequences come into play were the only reason he held back.

For now, it was enough to know that he cared for her and wanted to be with her. Veyani listened to his words and watched him as he dealt with his bloody nose. Why was it, one or the other of them, was always injured? She walked over to the couch and sat next to him.

Her ears heard, her mind understood but she didn't want him to think they had so much control. He did not need these things, he thought he needed. "I don't believe that. Z'rim seems to think I'm not so bad. I don't know L'mar that well. Sh'nar perhaps doesn't like me but I think what they are all concerned about has nothing to do with me. I think they care very deeply for you. They don't want you to be hurt. I don't either."

Veyani heard the mistress comment and giggled because it sounded completely absurd. Maybe he thought it was a viable option. If he knew her well enough, he would know she would never suffer a competitor for his affections. Even if he married someone else could it really be called a marraige if he never saw the other woman and spent all his time with Veyani?

Still she did think she should make her own point on the matter quite clear, "Well if I'm going to be your mistress I think I should be allowed to marry another man. Then you can be my paramour." She watched his reaction.

His nose had stopped bleeding for the most part, by the time she threatened him with the same fate. Of course S'jiro would have nothing to do with it... well, if they absolutely had no choice in it, he would suffer it just to be with her. But that was beside the point.

The Bronzerider sat upright, raising his brow at the suggestion with disbelief. "Oh. Is that what you want? Don't make me remind you that I'm the only one around here," Besides L'mar or Z'rim as far as he was concerned, "who could take as good a care of you. If you go running off with some other man, you'll just regret it later. Anyway, what's so bad about being my mistress? You could cozy up with me in bed any time and not have to go to any of those boring social events. If we were married, it would be different." As if that in and of itself was a threat, he left it at that. Of course, it was all in tease, but he was being at least half honest about it all.

S'jiro set the napkin down on the table which still needed to be cleaned up after all the mess of him tripping over it.

"You know... Sh'nar started to make sense. I see where he's right because no matter what I want or where I am, I'm still inflicted with this lethal condition of being the son of my parents. I still have to grow up at some point I guess, and consider my future more than I have. But I don't want that to come between us. Right now, I want you to be part of whatever future I have, even if that future has to wait because you are too busy with being a Candidate and Impressing."

Pausing there with his thoughts, S'jiro figured with the blood still caked on his nose and lip it was probably a little hard to take him too seriously. But that didn't stop him from positioning himself so that he could kiss her. Though it was only a brief kiss.

"If only we'd both been born different people... this would be a great feeling. Because then we could be together. "

"But if you were my paramour, you wouldn't have to take care of me at all. You would have no need to acknowledge any of my children and I could visit your bed at my convenience." She realized shortly that he was considering the mistress option. Her voice grew less playful and more serious. "Yes it would be different if we were married, I could always be with you and never have to share you."

She looked away from him then, a little sad that he would even consider her a mistress. "I don't think I could share you. If you love me you'll never ask me to." It was a simple return to what he was saying. Maybe he would understand, maybe he wouldn't. She had heard of those who were well-off marrying for convenience and having a long-term lover, official mistress, whatever he wanted to call it.

Veyani listened, her eyes blazing in defiance. "Your family helped to raise you, support you and you should indeed be grateful for that but S'jiro you can make your own life now. You have Zemarith and a position here at the Weyr. As a Bronzerider you can become a Weyrleader if that is your desire. Your potential is unlimited. Nothing your parents do can stop you from whatever you choose to do with your life." She was as defiant of his logic as her own parents.

"Did I tell you how I came to the weyr?" She asked, "I was Searched and my parents refused to allow me or my siblings to come to the weyr. So we left at night, without a word to my parents and came anyway. I won't allow other people to make my decisions for me. I have nothing but the clothes on my back. I am learning things I've never learned before. I'm meeting people and making friends I would never have had. My world is expanding and becoming more like the life I wanted for myself. Why do you think that is?" She didn't like that he sounded like it was inevitable that they should be apart.

His kiss, however brief was like a lightening bolt through her body. "I will Impress." She said, "I will be a dragonrider." Her conviction was almost contagious. She was so sure that everything should work out. Some things though perhaps were harder to get through his skull than others. "Neither of those things should stop you from being part of my future."

She felt her hand move of its own accord and hold his. Bloodied though he was, she could only see him as she thought him, exotically handsome. "I don't want you to be a different person. I wouldn't feel this way for anyone else. I'm not sure I ever will. Don't you feel this way too? Or is it just a passing fancy you think? Maybe we'll both get over it and move on in a few days?" She didn't believe that but she was much younger than he was. He had experience feelings before, surely.

Passing fancy? Sure. That's what everyone else was hoping for. And if it was, it was the best passing fancy he'd ever experienced. But most of his passing fancies had been dragon induced. Something which he had no control over.

Suddenly he was imagining her as a Rider with a dragon in her maiden flight being flown by Zemarith. How wonderful would that be? The mere thought excited him. Their passion would be double that of any other flight, he was certain, simply because they were already madly in love.

In love?

He'd just thought it. But was he? Were they?

S'jiro sat back into the couch again, taking a deep breath, though it was quietly drawn with thought. Veyani was certainly vehement about those things she'd said. He didn't realize that she'd run away from home to be here. And after all that, he had put her through so much torture on her first few sevendays here. It was no wonder though, that therein lay the reason for her persistence to stay. She didn't really have anywhere to return to. She would surely have to prove her ability to be here on her own. But... wasn't he the same?

He also, had left home in order to be on his own; he'd wanted to break away from his parents enough to start a different sort of life. Not that he'd ever intended on breaking ties with them completely, because he cared for his family and their oppinions of him. He cared that they supported his decisions, because he wanted to bring them honour and make them proud. So, Veya too, was right. Just like Sh'nar was right about certain things.

But in the end, it was he who'd have to make the final decision. Right?

"Heh. I suppose you and I are allies then. We seem to have similar reasons for coming here." Only, thus far, S'jiro had made little real effort to achieve anything more than Impress. But... perhaps now was a good time to start considering setting bigger goals for himself. Especially if he wanted to ease his parent's concern about his future. Though that probably wouldn't be enough to help in the case of his betrothal to Indylari.

The Bronzerider was watching her expression then, his own becoming just as serious. "I'd rather not be party to such big arrangements like the engagement my parents have set for me. But I don't know to what lengths they'll go to ensure that Indylari and I marry. So.. I suppose, that also makes us enemies."

S'jiro couldn't help himself when he squeezed her hand at that point, moving to kiss her lips again. But again, it was a brief kiss. In that moment, he brought a finger up to place upon her lips so that he could press a point with her. "Just for the record, the whole mistress idea was Sh'nar's, and part of the reason I punched him in the first place. I simply suggested that if all else fail, you become my second wife. I knew you wouldn't go for the mistress thing."

And of course he knew she wasn't about to fall for the second wife scheme either, and so he nearly ducked in preparation for her outrage, eyes twinkling with mischief. Anyway, it wouldn't be any fun if he didn't give her something to be all riled up about anymore, now would it?

Veyani too, thought about what she had said. She was pretty sure this wasn't some fleeting feeling. With nothing to compare it to, she wondered if this sort of thing happened to people all the time. For some reason she rather doubted it. Maybe the lust part but the rest? Well she was not about to allow him to blow this all off as a fancy of his. He had plenty of those in the past, she wouldn't be one of them.

"Allies and enemies. I suppose it comes down to what the issue is huh?" She smiled. They fought over the silliest things and the most important things, so really they were more like friendly enemies. She didn't mind, she enjoyed their disagreements.

After all, he could be sweet when he wanted to be. Like now, squeezing her hand and giving her another amazing, yet over too quickly kiss. Raising an eyebrow at his comment she went to smack him in the face but he moved away, prepared for hostility.

She didn't just not like that he mentioned it but she didn't particularly like the feeling of being jealous of Indylari. it would be easier if they were the ones who were engaged and Indylari was out of the picture but for now, she had time to convince S'jiro, he could leave the other woman and deal with his parents. She fully expected it to take him some time to realize he wanted to be with her long term. Until then she didn't expect him to put an end to his engagement.

"I don't want to come in second to another woman for your affections. Ever." She insisted, then moved close enough again to give him a kiss. "Would you like being second in mine?"

S'jiro was quick to duck away from that swipe of her hand, still grinning a little lopsidedly. Shying away from her kiss, he teased her further by taking her arms at her sides, and as he drew her into his lap where he was nestled back into the deep cushions, he turned her so that she could sit leaning against him. His arm went around her shoulder then, finally responding to her accusation.

"Do you think just because I tease you, you come in second? You should know then, that Indylari despises me. Even as a second wife, you would be first on the affection list. Do you still decline?" The Bronzerider was obviously still teasing her by his words, though his hands held her close to him, and he buried his face into her hair momentarily.

"By the way, you'll have to get used to this. And those pesky random kisses." He was laughing inwardly at her response to his too-short little kisses earlier. "I might have random urges to give you one or two. So... be on your toes."



After a long moment, he asked, perhaps out of the blue, "Vey, do you think that your parents would be happy to know we were together? It's possible they haven't accepted your coming here yet, but.. do you think that after a while, once they see you're successful and happy here; and with me?" Somehow it bothered him to think that her parents were unhappy with her decision to be here just as much as it made her unhappy that his parents wanted him to accept an arranged marriage. He didn't want either of them to have a falling out with their parents. He just wanted to prove to both their parents that they could create their own path in life and still be successful, honourable, happy people. Of course, Veyani seemed to have a greater handle on those things than he did at this point.

"We should visit your family together, sometime."

His playfulness rubbed off on her. Fighting a little against his restraint of her, she began to giggle. Oh but it felt good for him to hold her so close even when he was teasing her. "You are hardly in a position to offer me marriage when you haven't even honored your first engagement." She teased him back. Veyani wasn't ready, just yet to allow herself to think that far ahead but he was the one talking of wives. She should say he was rushing into it but really, was he? Veyani figured it was different for everyone. Maybe they were already aware their feelings were stronger than other people could understand.

"As long as you are aware that you might drive me crazy with desire for more..." She said and she was quite serious. A little kiss here and a little kiss there, next thing she knew she was wanting more and more kisses and longer ones. He knew what he was doing, making her want him around.

She felt completely relaxed until he asked her about her parents. Veyani didn't tense up and actually the used of a new nickname made her a little more relaxed. He was asking because he cared about her. "They won't be happy exactly but they will accept what I have become. I'm still their daughter and they love me. But you have to keep in mind S'jiro they are just as much hold-bred as your family. They will not be pleased that I've become the lover of any man who I am not married to. " In short they wouldn't be pleased she had gone to the weyr and ruined herself.

"Other than the whole corrupting their young and innocent daughter, they will judge you mostly on how you treat them as well as me. I'm sure they would rather I was happy than part of the farm still. I've never been much good at farming."

She felt like perhaps he truly was taking this more seriously than he let on, "We should." she said in agreement. Although if he was taking her home, he had better be planning on saying something to reassure her parents. Otherwise she could see their faces now. Not happy at all.