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

"It's probably better to just go to a gather and see for yourself."

After sharing her concerns with him, S'jiro wanted to dispel them all. Veyani was his choice, and he'd decided that he could not live without her in his life. And she had proven that she could dress up to look more fabulous than any Hold bred Lady, so appearances wouldn't be a problem. Surely she could be polite, too? Though, granted that she seemed devoid of any lady-like courtesies in his presence, he might think to second guess that theory.

Sure, S'jiro might be a bit impulsive sometimes... okay, around her, he was impulsive quite a bit, but he was perfectly sure of his decision to invite her to visit his own home, where he'd grown up. Admittedly however, he'd never taken a girl home with him whom his parents did not already know. Nor had he shown such interest in a girl before, so it might be a bit of a shock to them.

"My mother cares for my relationships more than my father." She might notice that he rarely, if ever, called his parents by anything less formal, such as the usual 'mom', or 'dad'. "It doesn't matter who I bring home though, they would accept you as their guest. My mother is very proper, and it would reflect poorly on her not to accept my chosen company." Even if she schemed later against said chosen company, so that they would not return.


A hint of disappointment drew across his face then, as Veyani made mention of putting off any such visits. He'd been growing rather excited about the opportunity to visit the farm with her. It was a chance to get to understand her better, seeing where she grew up, and the people she grew up with; eating the food she ate and seeing life a little differently.

Still, maybe she was right. Maybe they were rushing things just a bit. If they loved eachother though, it should be okay. Their parents should all be happy for them. At least, ideally. And if any of them doubted his sincerity, he'd simply ask her to marry him.


She grinned, "But my sisters will all completely understand. They will probably make eyes at you the whole time."


But of course they would. He was S'jiro of the elite Bronze four. The Bronzeriders of their club were the most handsome of all the Bronzeriders housed at Fort Weyr. Every girl found one of them to fawn over.

"Only if you promise to be there." Veya said, what Gather would be any fun without him to explain everything? He would know what the best things to do were and would keep it from being completely dull. She pulled her legs up n the chair and sat cross legged, staring off while he reassured her that everyone would act as they should. Which meant nothing. Being proper was not the same as being accepting.

Veyani would give him the benefit of the doubt though. Because she cared about him and because she knew he wouldn't knowingly put her in a horrible situation without being there to support her, unless it was part of his plan to make her feel inferior. Which she would never agree to being. Just because some people put on airs and made themselves seem more important, didn't mean they were. She had a feeling though, her opinions would not be well received by his family.

When he didn't respond about her family she glanced at his face. Something she said had irritated him. Veya wanted to reach out and touch him but refrained, "If you want, we could visit your family first. Maybe before the masquerade and then my family right after?" She would like their families to be supportive too. And she thought she was the one who was naive but it seemed to her he was fooling himself into believing that either of their families would be supportive. And she didn't care if they were. What did they have to do with it? This was her choice, this was S'jiro's choice, no one else had anything to do with it.

"Now that I think about it. I don't think its a good idea for you to be around all those young farm girls..."

"Of course I'll be there with you." He would be holding her hand the entire time if he had to. S'jiro wasn't willing to let others bully Veyani. Only he was able to do that. He was completely jealous over her. Even where his parents were concerned, he would be very upset if they were at all inappropriate toward her.


"If you want, we could visit your family first. Maybe before the masquerade and then my family right after?"

"I suppose that could work." He could also formally ask her to go to the Masquerade with him then, he supposed. He figured he should, at some point, though it could possibly be assumed they were going to attend together, whether he asked her or not, considering recent events.

The Bronzerider laughed then, at her mention of not wanting him to be around too many farm girls. Of course, he couldn't help but tease her at that point. But first, he got up from the chaise lounge to go to her. "Oohh? Why is that? Are you afraid I will lure them into my clutches?" His hands were on her then, resting atop her slender shoulders, stroking down her arms, where they stopped to hold her.

Leaning in to her ear to whisper through her hair, he was grinning with completely mischievous intent, "Since they are young and inexperienced around Dragonfolk, do you fear they will be easily seduced?" He did not pull her against him, but he did tease at her ear with heated breath before one hand rose to gently trace the back of fingertips down the tender curve of her neck.

Hardly giving her time to respond, he turned from her, putting her at an arm's distance so that he could go to finish getting dressed for drills.

She figured he would say that, only because then he would be able to tease her later over the things she didn't know. Maybe there were other reasons but that would be one of the main reasons. And he was agreeing with her a second time. Had to be a record. He was never in agreement with her.

Veyani's eyes met his as he moved toward her. He knew what he was doing. He always knew what he was doing with her. It was almost irritating how much she wanted him to be close. When he was, then she melted for him like butter. "I'm sure you could, if you wanted to and they being as you said, young and inexperienced, would be easily seduced."

Some of them might not be. they might have more of a hold mind-set of saving themselves for the one man they would marry but she wouldn't put it past some of the less intelligent ones that they thought being intimate meant they would be getting married. "As I recall you said something along the lines, 'If there were any place or any thing that I desired, I would likely make it mine...' "

She didn't have time to act in return to his touches but Veyani would have liked to. He seemed like he had things to do though. So she watched him. "Not all farm girls are like me. Most of them will be agreeable and allow you to think you are superior...even if you aren't."

S'jiro was laughing as she went on, making his way to the clothing armoire where his clothes were hung, and the trunk near it where riding leathers were stowed neatly away. In fact... everything seemed to always be folded and hung, starched or pressed with absolute precision. Just like the way everything else in his weyr seemed to be kept.

As for her concern, well, she'd forgotten one key point: that they were farm girls. If he were some Bluerider he might feel inclined to seduce them if he had the appetite, but he was a Bronzerider, and not just any Bronzerider, so there was little fear to be had over that. Granted some odd turn of events had happened when he met Veyani, but Veyani alone, had captured his eye, and she was still a curious thing to him. There was still so much he didn't know about her. He doubted very seriously that any other farm girl would be quite like her.


Pulling himself out some fresh socks and shirt, the Bronzerider also took his leathers with him when he returned to the bed that was still messy from him having awoken not long ago. Shucking his night clothes off, they were replaced with clothes for practice. The dark brown uniform fit him snug at the hips, so he tucked in his undershirt before fastening them and sliding the belt through its loops.

At length, he replied to her thoughts, "Well... I have already decided what I desire." And to him, little else mattered. Though, it was a tempting thought to have others acknowledging his superiority. That would only be natural though, so there was no draw for him to be drawn to farm girls of that nature. There were enough females at the Weyr of worthy breeding, if he so chose, who would do just that. And he hadn't really thought about it before, so perhaps he was only just now realizing it on a more conscious level, but that sort of woman didn't attract him.

His laughter made her happy. He didn’t laugh often, unless it was at the expense of someone else. In this instance he was truly amused. Veyani often didn’t think before speaking so what had come out of her mouth was probably all silly to him. She had no reason to worry. She certainly was not going to add more to what she had already said. He was right, it was absurd to think he would be interested in a farm girl, other than herself. Despite the company he kept most evenings, she found him to be rather choosy about whom he spent time with.

Veyani did not look away as he changed but rather kept her brown eyes on him. Admiring him from where she sat. Looking never hurt anyone. It would only add to his already huge ego, something everyone could thank her for later. As if he needed any encouragement.

“As do I.” He could thank her for that too. If she hadn’t been persistent, then he would have listened to other people and given her up.

Indeed, other than all the other attractive women in the weyr and those with familial connections, what more could he desire? Maybe she should be more concerned about why he wanted her? She understood how he felt though. Had she even looked at any of the men at the Weyr? Not anyone but S’jiro. And it wasn’t as if she didn’t spend time with male candidates or people her brother and sister befriended. She saw them as friends.

S’jiro was different. No one could really be compared and that would feed straight into that ego of his. So she had to tease him when she could. Veyani stood up from her spot where she had been watching him and thinking. She’d better be prepared to go if he was. She didn’t want to disturb his routine.

"I should go." Veyani said, though she made no move for the door just yet.

While dressing, S'jiro didn't seem to take much notice of Veyani's watching him from where she sat. And he might have shown at least a smile in gratification to her words but for the fact he either hadn't heard her, or perhaps just expected it. After all, it would only be natural for girls to fawn over him. Like Veyani however, he tended to ignore most of them. Only the few were worth giving attention to, and even those girls he didn't much favour -obviously.


The bronzerider was standing, having just knotted the laces of his boots, when Veyani got up also. "I'll walk with you."

Starting toward the door, S'jiro met her there, opening it for her, so that they could leave together. Zem, why don't you meet me at the Bowl. I'm going to walk with Veyani to make sure that she's okay. Of course, she would probably have been just fine either way, but it was a good excuse being the trouble she'd found herself in lately. He still hadn't had time to reprimand the boys involved with the physical abuse she'd suffered a few days prior. Working night shifts had been tiring, and he'd been too busy torturing her in more emotional ways. Still.. that was over now, and what those boys had done was going too far. It still infuriated him to think of it.

"Will you be on your way to the Candidate barracks?" He assumed she might also be on her way to visit some of her candidate friends. He hadn't met them yet. Nor her siblings. Maybe he'd be able to do so on his way to drills, since they were leaving in time that he'd have a few minutes to do so.

“Yup. I’m supposed to meet up with my brother. We were going to study together.” Veyani grinned, she should warn him. Her brother would not be pleased, he would have a very similar reaction to a normal holdbred person. Well he was the one who wanted to meet family, so here was a chance. If he didn’t want to go to the Barracks with her, he didn’t have to. “If you want to. I don’t mind but you know if you are busy, I can walk around the Weyr by myself.” She didn’t really need protecting, except when he was around.

Despite the events which happened since her arrival at the Weyr, Veya was not afraid to venture to the Barracks without an escort. She might have a bad dream or two now and again but the boys could never have damaged her spirit or her belief that the Weyr was where she belonged. Indeed it would take a lot more to convince her otherwise.

She didn’t presume to take his hand or anything, even if the thought came to her briefly. It would be nice but she wasn’t sure how open they were being about this relationship. Until he had dealt with his family and Indylari, it might be a good idea to keep such blatant actions to themselves. “My sister might be around too.” She mused out loud while walking out of the weyr.

It did not take long to move through the corridors of the Weyr to the Weyr Bowl. Veyani walked next to S’jiro, not at all concerned about the quick pace. Surely he was used to walking quickly. She was kind of excited or him to meet her brother, so maybe that was why she walked so swiftly. Her brother’s reaction was not going to be any better than what she was expecting.

When they arrived though, she had not thought her brother would look quite so…so…angry. He was a bit red cheeked and his arms were crossed. Generally she got along really well with her brother. “Veya! You promised you’d be here a candlemark ago!” After what had happened, she supposed he was permitted to worry. “We’ve been so worried.” He indicated himself and her sister and some of the others who were around. They were probably about to send a real search party.

“You needn’t have been concerned. I told you I had things to do…” She said completely cool in the face of her brother’s anger. In fact she was not bothered at all. He could worry if he wanted, she didn’t like having to keep a tight schedule.

S'jiro didn't reach for her hand or walk too closely to her just yet; he didn't presume to treat her like he might have treated any of the other women he'd been with, because he knew she wouldn't accept it in the same way. He also wasn't much of one to show much affection in public. To him, it was a little distasteful.

So, following Veyani's lead, they entered the candidate barracks and S'jiro at least, was surprised to be confronted by an unexpected mob of angry faces. Surprise might have shown in his own expression just faintly, but when her brother called her out for being late, S'jiro turned his own frown upon her. Of course, in this kind of situation, it would be he who was implicated, also. Especially after all the rumours that had been going around.

"Veyani!" The Bronzerider spoke a little gruffly under his breath. Maybe she did this on purpose to get him back for something. He didn't know why she wouldn't have told him she had classmates to meet and studying to do. Though.. to be honest, he hadn't ever been concerned about that with her in the past. But things were all babckwards now! He couldn't help it!

She's the one who started this whole fight, anyway. He could blame it all on her.

Turning himself to face her more fully, the Bronzerider folded his own arms over his chest, mimmicking the posture of her brother. "Why didn't you tell me you had studying to do?" If anything, he could have even come to help her study, too.

Standing there then, staring her down with that disapproving expression and stance, it was probably a little difficult to tell if he was being totally serious, or if he was somewhat mocking her brother for putting on such a show of bluster over her being a little late. Perhaps it was both.

The people who had been waiting for her were not surprised to see S’jiro with her. After all he had been quite concerned about her and pulled her out of class early the other day. To see them together was not at all something that was news. Except her brother seemed to be ignoring S’jiro’s presence while he continued to stare her down. “I forgot.” She said with a wave of her hand as if it wasn’t that important.

“There’s been a lot going on the last couple of days. Study group was not chief among them.” When S’jiro had to go an act the same as her brother she found herself thoroughly irritated. After rolling her eyes in annoyance, “Don’t you have drills to get to, lord punctuality.”

Her brother wasn’t sure whether S’jiro was teasing him or not. After her comment though, it seemed as if he was being serious. Veyani doubted S’jiro would appreciate her comment, even if it did save his face in front of her family. “One candlemark and you were about to send a search.” She said with a sigh, “I told you not to worry about me. I am fine. I’m unharmed and I can walk around the Weyr without ending up in the infirmary.”

“That remains to be seen.” He may have a point, she thought with an inward grimace. She had a tendency to end up in situations which landed her in a cot at the infirmary. “I told you where I was going.”
“And?”
“And that means there was no need to worry.”
Her brother was giving S’jiro a very unfriendly look. “I don’t have to trust him. Not after what has happened to you since we’ve come here.”

“You trust me.” She said pointedly, then looking at S’jiro, she added, “And I trust him. If you trust me, you should trust my judgment. S’jiro won’t hurt me on purpose.”

Her brother, skeptically, “He could, unintentionally.” Which she could not deny but shrugged her shoulders. Veyani didn’t think he meant physically anymore. Sure S’jiro could hurt her unintentionally, emotionally, but he would never hurt her in any way on purpose. He cared about her, which was why he didn’t want her to miss studying with her friends. She honestly did not mean to miss part of it, she thought she has been on time.

S'jiro wasn't quite as willing, in front her friends, to jump at the opportunity to start up the usual banter that went on between he and Veyani, so he chose to dismiss the words she let fly at him, assuming they were supposed to sting.

Watching the conversation between Veyani and her kid brother, S'jiro remained quiet through it all, maintaining a primarily neutral expression until her brother started shooting evil glares his way. The boy's stare however, no matter how hard he tried, held no clout as far as the Bronzerider was concerned, and by that point, S'jiro was tiring of the boy's show. 

"You've said enough."

Dropping his arms to his sides, S'jiro projected an altered impression of himself -one of uncompromising surety- at the same time, stepping forward to square himself up to the boy. There, he posed himself as an obstacle between Veyani and her brother. There were no icy glares exchanged from him, because there was no need to. He would see himself as far more eminent than this young man in every way, and therefore, there was nothing threatening about the boy. All he could be was an irritation. S'jiro did not approve. So, S'jiro stood before her brother with a demeanor full of authority, the derision he felt toward the boy at that point, becoming more apparent within his eyes.


Seeing as though no distinction had yet been made to mark him as her brother amoungst all the other candidates present, beyond some physical similarities, S'jiro went on as though he might just as well be another classmate. And he might as well be, for all S'jiro cared. "I suppose you must think that your display here makes you a more considerate friend. To most people that might seem true. However, as far as I can tell from your behaviour, you have only acted through the sense of moral obligation -not the loving heart of one who feels deeply for her. So, should we re-evaluate who the trustworthy one is?" Or perhaps re-evaluate the real reason for one's actions?

"To me, you seem far too willing to want to control her activities, just to bolster your own image. It's possible that others may not care, but I do have a problem with it." There was little room for argument, seeing as he spoke with those same airs of superiority. "But you know what? You're right. You don't have to trust me. I never asked you to. But I will ask you not to intervene. From here, you don't need to worry about Veyani. As long as she is with me, I will be the one to protect her."

Meeting the eyes of Veyani's brother evenly, he was measuring up just how the young man must feel about what was just said. Not giving him much of a chance to reply though, S'jiro added, "Now that we've come to an understanding," or rather, now that the Bronzerider felt that he'd made himself clear on the subject, "would you prefer to treat her kindly, or would you prefer that I take her from here and find someplace more suitable for her to study?"

S'jiro knew he needed to be back at the Weyr bowl soon, since drills would be starting, but he wasn't about to let it go when someone was being inappropriate toward his girl. Even if that someone was related to her.

She did not understand why she was suddenly being blocked from her brother’s view. Her brother and her boyfriend had gone from barely civil to full out argumentative in less time than she thought possible. She shouldn’t have underestimated S’jiro’s ability to piss people off. And her brother was standing there listening to S’jiro without thinking of backing down. Not for an instant.

If S’jiro thought she was the only one in the family who had problems with people who exerted their rank just to piss on the little people, well he would be wrong. And she brother was likely going to prove that if she didn’’t get them to stop acting like they owned her.

At first, she fully expected her brother to say something brash. He was holding whatever it was he had to say in. Her sister and put a hand on his shoulder, a very calming hand. Normally he might have shrugged it off, but he needed her calm. Veyani could see it in his eyes that he needed it.

Why were they doing this to her? She loved her brother. They were best friends. And she was falling in love with S’jiro, who wanted to protect her and take care of her but she had a will of her own, as he knew. Neither of them were taking into consideration how she felt at this moment.

“You presume too much, Bronzerider. How well do you even know Veya?” He said in a level tone. “I love my sister. I was there the day she was born, I was there all the days since.” Her brother, despite his own faults, was not ambitious the way S'jiro thought he was, and he did truly love her. They had been best friends their whole lives, with only one Turn separating their ages.

While her brother and S’jiro were absorbed in what one another was saying, walked out of the Barracks, and went around the building. Not wanting to be followed or talk to either of them. They were acting so hatefully toward one another that she wanted nothing to do with either one.

If they were going to continue to not take her feelings into consideration than she had no reason to take into consideration their feelings but Veyani wasn’t hateful. She had trouble finding anything in her that would be angry long enough to take it out on anyone.

She would just lean against the side of the building where there were no entrances and no way to see where she was. She needed some time to think. What did she expect? She knew how her brother felt about what had happened. Veyani should have prepared them both for this meeting but she had no idea it would escalate so quickly.

She needed to talk to someone who was objective. What she wouldn’t give to have a dragon right this moment. Then she would have no need of them. She could protect herself. She would like to believe she could protect herself now but she doubted that as much as anyone else did, even if she did not let it show.

S'jiro failed to see just how 'how well he knew her' had anything to do with this. Veyani had obviously prioritized her time with him over her time with her brother. That should speak loudly enough as to Veyani's preferences.

If the boy loved his sister, his behaviour toward her certainly wasn't what S'jiro would have considered very Loving. S'jiro could say he'd witnessed enough sibling rivalry that their being siblings had a limited influence on whether they truly cared for one another. Likewise, even amoungst family, it was just as common to act out of obligation, self interest or familial interest, rather than out of interest of love, or the interest of a single individual. But perhaps the circumstances of his own upbringing had given the Bronzerdier a quite different perception of familial relationships than those possessed by anyone else here. 

Whatever the case, S'jiro wasn't interested in a debate, and he didn't feel the need to repeat himself. He'd made it clear that he would be the one looking out for Veyani's well-being. Her brother could do whatever else he liked. Just so long as he didn't intervene in their relationship.


About that time, veyani had turned to leave them.

Remaining there for a moment to consider Veyani's brother, S'jiro slid his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. "Maybe I don't know much about love, but I'd like to know when it was ever determined by how long you've known someone."

Glancing back toward the door then, S'jiro left the conversation at that, and turned to leave, also. It would be time for drills to begin soon, and Zemarith would be waiting for him.