Third Time's the Charm [Larrikith's Flight]

OOC: This flight is predetermined, but anyone is welcome to chase if they wish.

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B'jin could say quite honestly that he hated Wing practice. Weyrlinghood hadn't been nearly as degrading as the bullshit R'nya had pulled from his uptight arse and called 'Practice'. Running laps like a mindless wher B'jin could understand; it was all part of improving their fitness. He was used to that kind of mindless control by authority figures. Simple, and to the point it required little of the men issuing the orders though the greenrider wouldn't lie - he did approve of the fact that R'nya was quick to jump in as well, and make sure everyone participated.

So when the bronzerider started changing their lessons into game time, B'jin was amused - confused, but amused. Tag had been met with a sceptical eyebrow raise; if nothing else, he was a greenrider and they were damned good at running away from unwanted advances. Of course, B'jin was also dryly aware that as a greenrider he was always caught in the end. His participation in Tag had been half hearted at best, keeping away from the main activity and tracking who was 'it' with a thoughtful frown so as to avoid being attacked himself as much as he could. The first time he did manage to end up tagged, B'jin had been at a loss. He was used to being chased, not giving chase. So he'd pounced on a fellow green and let them deal with it, while quickly fading back out of the main action.

The game of 'dragon, dragon, wher!' had been worse, of course. Sitting in a circle between R'nd and K'gan, the greenrider had spent most of the time leaning over to exchange mocking whispers with his fellow greenrider than he had paying attention to the game. When he had been chosen to give chase to someone, B'jin had blinked dumbly and then frowned up at the other person, who smirked and took off. Rising lazily to his feet, B'jin hadn't even bothered to move faster than a walk as he 'chased' the other person back to his spot and then lazily took up the motion of 'dragon, dragon, wher'. He picked someone, was caught, and moved into the centre of the circle to wait out the rest of the game with his chin in his hand plucking at the grass. When the next round had him picked out swiftly, B'jin had been smug and R'nya had been swift to fix that. B'jin was sent to do laps and push ups, something he was vastly improved at. The greenrider shrugged and left the main group without bickering.

The following week had caught B'jin in a brilliant mood, and he'd played along avidly in the games; Being the leader had amused him greatly and he'd gone out of his way to make the following trail do ridiculous stunts. Freeze tag had been more his style, and he'd participated actively and visibly enjoying tagging people and making them stand frozen as a result. It wasn't often a greenrider got to freeze people! B'jin skipped thinking on the tree climbing lesson. Falling down and winding himself wasn't at the top of his 'to remember' list. Ever.

Three legged races.. B'jin slammed the lid of his trunk shut and shoved his arms into the sleeves of his jacket with a snarl. Being paired up with R'nd had been expected and both amusing and enjoyable. Being paired up with his fellow greenriders had been hilarious. Being tied by the leg to blue and brown and bronzeriders, however, had been torturous. B'jin had been trapped and unable to get away. He'd managed to partner R'nd, S'kef and J'ver before the panic had really started to set in, and he'd purposefully rolled his ankle to get out of any more.

He and S'kef had had appearance to maintain, and they had done so with their usual public face. Anyone who didn't know about their personal differences would have easily bought into D'ren's opinion that they were friends. B'jin was still uncomfortably aware of the way the brownrider's body had been pressed against his side, arm around his waist and their inner legs tied together... B'jin snarled, kicking his bedroom door frame harshly, sending chips of wood flying when his booted foot scraped the edge. The son of a brown monster whore! B'jin hissed in frustrated fury as he stalked out of the hut, slamming his riding helmet onto his head and swearing at Larrikith when she wouldn't let him attach her riding straps.

The pair bickered, swearing and hissing before B'jin snarled and scrambled aboard anyway, her riding straps spread across his lap as she vanished between without taking off to appear just half a length above the ground in the Gather Square. B'jin cursing her avidly as he slid off when she landed, dumping her straps at her feet and stalking off, only to spin around after six steps to come back, words rapidly spilling from his lips as he ripped into the green dragon, letting the entire wing know how much he hated her right then. Larrikith gave back as good as she got, her wings half extended as she screeched back loudly enough for anyone to hear why he was a horrible rider and she hated him too!

---

[sup]Edited it so she hasn't taken flight yet[/sup]

R'nya was an interesting Wingleader, all right. S'kef liked the man's personality and presence, but the methods he employed were...bizzare.

At first, the implementation of children's games annoyed S'kef to no end. He was a grown man! His pessimism led him to believe that R'nya was mocking them for their ineptitude. Had they all performed that poorly on their assessments? Was this R'nya's way of coping with the fact that his wing was full of fuckwits? Of course, S'kef had once been in a leadership position himself. After a bit of thought, he came to suspect the games were R'nya's way of trying to foster some sort of community or team spirit in his wing.

Eh. S'kef didn't like it, but he muddled through it just the same. He was trying to be the perfect wingrider, after all. He smiled his way through the games, quiet and attentive but never exactly enthusiastic. He understood R'nya's motivations and had to concede that it was working for many of them, but it was still a bit on the humiliating side.

Oh well. It was a good distraction for a man who had a lot on his mind, and it was preferable to being barked at by some dipshit bronze wingsecond, too. S'kef played along, but he didn't feel any closer to his wingmates because of it. He could see many of the playful blue and greenriders becoming comfortable with their peers over the course of a couple practices, but S'kef just wasn't interested. The method just didn't work for him, but he was careful to pretend like it did. He smiled, careful to seem pleased without being unconvincingly enthusiastic, though occasionally the games did draw a genuine laugh out of him, especially when he found himself paired with J'ver.

Today, S'kef was in an anxious and notably foul mood. He paced on the field. Tyrrisath was even more distant than usual, his mind wandering to something far away. S'kef respected his dragon's privacy too much to go trawling for it, but something about it tickled his sense of anticipation.

Tyr. Where are J'ver and Rilaleeyth?

Leave me alone

Well, fine then. S'kef glowered and kicked the grass. He felt clingy today and wondered if he would be able to resist the desire to embrace his greenrider when he finally arrived.  Where was J'ver? Why was S'kef feeling so damned impatient about it? The brownrider frowned.

He was also aware of Tyrrisath's magnificent levels of not giving a damn about him as he ambled off. Larrikith appeared, and she seemed awfully displeased about something. Tyrrisath was much more interested in her than in his confused, sulking rider. The brown watched the exchange between her and her rider with interest, nostrils flaring.

Yes Tyrrisath decided out loud, after some careful thought. His sweet Rilaleeyth would just have to forgive him. He edged up beside Larrikith, intentionally looming far too close to B'jin, for he knew he unnerved the greenrider and he expected that would amuse both Larrikith and his own bonded.

Tyrrisath's head snaked close. He sniffed her. S'kef's eyebrow raised.

Tyr?

They had been wrapped up in their own little world, the pair screeching at one another at the top of their respective voices until their articulate and outrageous comments had degraded to repetitive instances of 'you stupid fucking whore' and 'I fucking hate you'. They were said with no less enthusiasm or outrage than when the pair had first started, but brown eyes were alive with emotion as the rider glared at his dragon, occasionally tossing his arms around to emphasise a point; in return, Larrikith's gaze sparkled occasionally with amused satisfaction before heating once more with fury.

Larrikith was the first to notice the approach of Tyrrisath, the little green puffing up and hissing in his face when the brown extended his nose to sniff at her. Larrikith's eyes flashed hotly with fury, her lips drawing back in a snarl. Fuck off! Larrikith spat, snapping her jaw threateningly at Tyrrisath even as B'jin puffed up like feline, turning on the looming brown dragon like a sudden whirlwind of fury. Generally, B'jin was cowed by the brown dragon, the creature giving the rider the creeps - never mind his bond to S'kef! However, this time B'jin wasn't in the mood to cower under an obnoxious mud pie and he said as much, spinning around to face the dragon and unleashing a mouthful of foul language to get his point across.

"Get your fat fucking face out of my space you great retarded fucking lump of shit!" The furious greenrider aimed a sudden kick at Tyrrisath's leg, snarling when he missed; not because his aim was off but because Larrikith suddenly swung her own head around and sent B'jin flying to land on his arse three feet away when she head-butted him in the chest. The Harper stared at his dragon in shock for several heart beats, blinking with wide eyes.

"What the FUCK was that for?!" the shocked expression was fading, his features once more taking on an expression of irritation and anger. The greenrider remained sprawled where he had landed, curling his legs under himself as he glared up at Larrikith, demanding an answer.
I need a reason? Larrikith's voice was condescending as she tossed her head, suddenly catching sight of Tyrrisath once more and her neck arched, preening under his attention. She didn't like the brown dragon as a general rule, but at least he was being properly respectful of her amazing Larrikith-ness. The little green crooned, once, before dismissing Tyrrisath with a flick of her wingtip.

Where was Veeth?

"Stupid bitch." B'jin snarled under his breath, climbing to his feet and brushing himself down with great dignity, completely oblivious to the eyes that were watching him. He had no idea what was up Larrikith's arse (sideways!) but the dragon seriously needed to get over herself!

Tyrrisath was unconcerned by Larrikith's hissing, though it certainly was tasteless and uncalled for! The dragon snorted, thinking Rilaleeyth much classier and more refined, but she was not available. Tyrrisath had no memory of the last flight, and if he did, he'd have lamented it only because of the cruel way his rider spoke to him afterwards. Flights were not emotional affairs. They were times of primal need and base instinct. So while normally he'd have been unimpressed and indifferent towards such a snappish attitude, today he found it compelling, if only because his instinct told him to.

Think twice Tyrrisath advised softly, blinking at Larrikith as she snapped her jaws at him. His words were dull and cautionary, but also distracted in tone. He only had one thing on his mind. He ignored B'jin's outburst and pushed his snout forward for another long sniff, interrupted only when she swung her own head at her rider and sent him sprawling. It was mildly amusing. Tyrrisath knew when he could get away with being forceful with his typically heavy-handed bonded, but he couldn't fathom getting away with that.

Females, right?

Tyrrisath turned his head to S'kef, who was watching skeptically. No, Tyrrisath. We're not chasing them he said, unable to smile even at the sight of B'jin toppling to the ground and continuing his mutual mental breakdown with the green. Tyrrisath huffed visibly, producing a rare rumble that bordered on growling. I am. the dragon explained simply, causing S'kef's jaw to slack.

Oh, shards. He could feel it. S'kef wasn't a man to deny his dragon's needs, but he'd been hesitant to enter greenflights ever since the last incident. He'd been hard on J'ver, and while his own morals declared that he deserved to take any green he wanted after being rejected by the only one he really wanted, he found himself nursing a real weakness for the adorable greenrider. This was B'jin, though! The man S'kef had objectified for decades.

His feelings were mixed. On one side, B'jin was his first. At one time, his ultimate prize. J'ver was the new ultimate prize, though. S'kef found himself crushed by unexpected sentiment as the prospect of flying B'jin appeared to him. He should have been happy, and didn't J'ver deserve a little comeuppance?

Why did it still make S'kef uncomfortable?

His protests faded as Tyrrisath's interest grew, but the confusion remained. S'kef scowled and paced over to B'jin, the predatory expression of a brownrider preparing for flight quickly spreading over his face. "B'jin! You still don't know how to keep that cow under control?" he snapped, reaching out in an effort to catch B'jin's shirt. S'kef was quite obviously already lost to flightlust, trampled unexpectedly by his insistent dragon.

Tyrrisath's eyes flushed red. You belong to us he whispered quietly to both B'jin and Larrikith, smooth voice completely void of emotion. They were no J'ver and Rilaleeyth. They were meat to be butchered, and he and his bonded both thirsted for blood.

I belong to no one! Larrikith snarled, her eyes bright and filled with lusty hatred as she glared at Tyrrisath for his self assured comment. Her tiny green body trembled with outrage at such a claim of ownership. She didn't belong to anyone! Not even Ayyonth owned her. Larrikith hissed in vile outrage, her wings spreading wide as she reared back, balancing delicately on her hindquarters and her tail.

"Fuck off!" B'jin snarled. Jerked to a halt by S'kef's hand on his shirt, the greenrider spun around and shoved heavily, both palms colliding forcefully with the taller brownrider's chest with considerable effort on the greenriders' part - though he'd never been as strong as his more compact build should have him be. Looking up, and into S'kef's cold, dragonlust eyes, B'jin's blood ran cold with terror and he jerked away from the brownrider, clawing unceremoniously at his face as he did so. Where was R'nd? Why was Ayyonth not courting Larrikith? Why was S'kef playing into the game? The brownrider hadn't actively chased him in turns, surely! He was meant to be safe from the bloodthirsty creep! B'jin yelped, than snarled as a bluerider made a grab at him, and he clawed the other man across the face, drawing blood along the cheek.

Jerking away from the increasing number of riders ambling into him, terrified brown eyes snapped to R'nd -- who looked confused. Why was he confused? Why wasn't Ayyonth preparing to Chase? Why wasn't R'nd fighting dragonlust? Why was he just standing there? B'jin snarled and jerked away as another rider made a grab at him, trying to cop a feel as a hand darted up the side of his shirt. B'jin hissed, slapping out again with sharp nails aimed at eyes. Larrikith wasn't even in the sky yet!

Larrikith gave another snarl, batting at those males who came to close to her in much the same manner her human was his hopeful partners. She was waiting, biding her time... She wanted her desired winner present! She would not risk one of these... monsters to take away her chance to torture her rider in the most hysterical way possible. The little green's  head turned to catch Ayyonth's eye, crooning affectionately at the younger dragon with a softening expression. Than she spotted Veeth, and Larrikith gave a bellow of welcome, and a screech of challenge.

Wings spread wide, head held high, Larrikith was on display for all the Weyr to see. Than she vanished between.

The green dragon appeared above and to the right of her hopefuls, the little dragon giving another shriek, this time of laughter, at their shock. Than she took off, wings pumping and body twisting through aerobatic moves as she sought to put real distance between herself and those that thought themselves worthy. None were worthy of her - none but Veeth - not this Flight!

B'jin gave a shocked gasp as Larrikith vanished between, the little dragon using her usual technique of take off to avoid those that were too close, and would catch her too soon. Than he gave a burst of wild laughter, kicked someone in the shin, and bolted. Turning tail, B'jin pelted across the Gather Square towards the Weyrfolk Hall. This was not the beach, these other contestants were not Valerian; they wouldn't leave because they lost. They'd join the party and B'jin was part of a two person party!

S'kef released B'jin reflexively as he was shoved, too alarmed by the gesture and confused by his own emotions to do anything else. Of course, B'jin's glare combined with his catty words sparked a bit of anger in the brownrider, who didn't like being told what to do on the best of days. S'kef's hands curled into fists and he puffed up, taking a bold step forward and fixing a cold gaze on the bratty green who had dared to speak out against him in such a way. Filled with his own entitlement and Tyrrisath's need, there was no deterring him.

"Watch your mouth, boy," he said callously, lip curling into a hungry sneer. B'jin was so beautiful. How nice it would be, to feel that warmth once more. S'kef cracked his knuckles and breathed deeply in cruel anticipation.

Tyrrisath, I'm not sure this is wise he thought in the back of his mind, some small shard of his regular self trying to protest once more. S'kef's surface thoughts were more concerned with the wingleader and how bad this would look, but there was also a distant concern for J'ver.

Tyrrisath gave an enthusiastic reply: Piss off

Then, the brown dragon vanished. S'kef was jolted from his daydreams by a piercing shriek. Larrikith was already in the air?! B'jin was...running away?! Shards, when did that happen!

Fuck it, who was he kidding? S'kef wanted this flight. He wanted to put B'jin in his place agian, to wipe the smugness from that whelp's face! More than anything else, though, S'kef wanted to conquer something. B'jin was perfectly conquerable, too.

"You're mine!" S'kef roared, taking off after the greenrider at a shameless sprint. His own roar merged with Tyrrisath's as the brown took off after Larri, his focus cold and steady. He would have her!

Of course he was confused!

Ayyonth still sat in the same spot he had landed minutes before when they arrived for their practice and barely showed any interest in the squabbling greenpair. The only time he seemed to even acknowledge the proddy green was when she glanced at him and Ayyonth crooned softly in return, their fondness for each other quite evident. So why wasn’t he preparing to Chase?!

R’nd was practically beside himself already with the scene playing out before him starring B’jin and S’kef. The only reason he hadn’t already stormed over there was because the greenrider was a big boy and didn’t need constant rescuing. It irritated R’nd to no end that S’kef was harassing B’jin again but until it was clear his lover was in for more than he could handle, R’nd was trying his best to stay out of it. So he turned that irritation onto Ayyonth, which anyone would notice with one look at the bluerider glaring at his dragon, obviously having a private conversation. Why aren’t you chasing? We’ve always entered Larrikith’s flights since our first attempt! I figured since our time with them has even you two so cozy, you’d be more inclined to. Are you two fighting again? Did you look at another green? It was unfair to blame Ayyonth like he was but he simply couldn’t understand!

Are you done yelling at me? Ayyonth replied in an almost bored tone, though he wasn’t overly thrilled to be receiving one of R’nd’s rare outbursts. His rider could overreact with the best of them sometimes. This win is not meant for me. I will find you a suitable flight win soon though. He knew that wasn’t what R’nd was upset about but it was the best he was going to get. Larrikith had told him about the fun game of driving B’jin crazy by Veeth winning and Ayyonth was intrigued. It would end up messing with R’nd as well and the way their riders freaked out over other things pertaining to their relationship and flights, he knew this would be amazing and had to happen. So he had agreed and while Larrikith looked ever so beautiful that day, her mossy hide reflecting the sun better, in his opinion, than that of a gold’s and R’nd tried to urge him to move, Ayyonth stayed grounded and quietly watched all those interested in his charming lady move in closer.

R’nd could feel everyone’s gaze moving from him to Ayyonth to the greenpair and back to him. No doubt they believed there was trouble in paradise or they had dissolved their weyrmate status privately the night before. That was hard to do when they weren’t actually weyrmated! After that initial shock when D’ren announced it to all of Katila, they saw the benefit in letting people believe it since they could be in a wing together and somehow had decided through not a single word shared on the matter to both ignore the label and tune out the gossip about them. That had been hard to do at first since he loved knowing the crazy rumours and the gossip going round about him but R’nd found some of the topics to be too heart-stopping and finally managed to disappear whenever he was mentioned in the same breath as B’jin.

He briefly wondered what would be said about this. Did they fight before coming to practice? They had, after all, arrived separately. Was there an issue between the dragons? Perhaps they had made an agreement to have other flights to spice things up? Did they do that because they were looking for someone else to join them in bed? R’nd barely stifled a laugh at that last thought, knowing B’jin would never want anything like that. Knowing what he did know, however, R’nd knew no one else would guess correctly. Larrikith and Ayyonth had planned something again and that was never a good thing. He didn’t know who was meant to win the flight but when the adorable blue weyrling appeared on the scene, it was pretty easy to guess.

As Larrikith took off with her trail of suitors, R’nd found himself hoping Veeth actually did win. His gaze swept across the dragons in pursuit and while a few had decent enough riders, it was Tyrrisath that bothered him the most. That was a cunning dragon and the bluerider had witnessed more than once, both from the chase and innocently watching from below, the way the brown dragon swooped in and stole victories. He was getting nervous and his fists clenched at his sides as B’jin took off running with S’kef close behind. R’nd was so focused on the men that he barely noticed two of his wingmates moving in to stand closer to him. Had he spared them proper thought, he’d know exactly what they were there for; waiting for him to freak out at either not getting his dragon to move his lazy ass or having issue with who the winner was.

This wasn’t going to end well, he knew it deep within. “B’jin…” His lover’s name came out on an exhale, his fear barely restrained. One slow and shaky step and then another took him that little bit closer to the weyrfolk hall where B’jin was leading his followers. He wasn’t at all surprised at B’jin’s intuition to get somewhere private given so many of his past flights. A part of R’nd was proud to have claim on three of the embarrassing locations with the greenrider. He didn’t get any further than those few steps before one of the men near him placed a hand on his shoulder which R’nd obeyed and fell still and silent, grey eyes not leaving the little green and her acrobatics.

The tiny green gave a shriek of delight as the males took to wing behind her, the little dragon threading through the air like a streak of mossy emerald - a jewel worth more than any of those tailing her would ever be worth! Larrikith shrieked disdainfully at them, eyes swirling viciously. As if any were worthy of she!

Larrikith twisted in the air, twirling into a roll and dropping several lengths as she eyed off those tailing her like a pack of panting dogs. None of them worthy! None! Only Ayyonth - her beautiful, magnificent, precious blue - was good enough for she! But he was down on the ground, giving freedom of this win to another. She gave a croon, eyes set on the form of Veeth as the young dragon came ever after her, strong of wing and solid of mind and sweet, ever so sweet! He would be properly humbled by a win with such as she! Larrikith righted herself, and shot off in another direction, unwilling just yet to be captured by the young blue. Not yet, not just yet!

B'jin pelted through the Weyr, eyes blinded by the sights which Larrikith was seeing, desires mixing with hers until there was only the need to flee before those that came behind him, uncaring about where he ended up so long as the capture was not before its time. Thoughts of R'nd and Valerian fought for dominance within his mind, but lurking under them and threatening to overwhelm was the lingering effect of S'kef, the brownrider's presence lingering around him even as the greenrider crashed through a door, flinging it back behind him - someone cursed - before pelting down a hall.

High, with the wind lending strength to her flight, Larrikith finally flared her wings wide, bugling her desires as she toppled backwards and into the pack of dragons behind her, her intent clearly marked upon the Weyrling blue, eyes locked on the youngster as she angled to end up in his grip... Only to be snatched away before she made it. A shriek of pure rage ripped from her throat as the green dragon struggled viciously against the capturing grip of the brown that had made her his. Hissing, the green attempted to bite, the only weapon she had in her current position.

B'jin threw himself into a room, crowing with success as he spun on his heels in the enter of the room, expecting to find himself faced with the rider of the blue weyrling; instead, the sudden snatching of his dragon had him hiss in outrage, throwing himself backwards as he attempted to escape the crushing grip he found himself in. Teeth bared, biting unapologetically and viciously wherever they could land while hands lashed - fingers curled and clawing.

Look. Look at that arrogant bitch.

Larrikith, screeching and teasing as she darted through the sky, was not nearly so valuable as she made herself out to be, at least not to Tyrrisath. It amused him how greens felt themselves so entitled to choose their winners as a Queen, when even the larger females were known to be snatched by strong suitors from time to time. That was how Tyrrisath made his fortune. That was how he'd claimed Krypth and made his rider an infamous man again. That was how he claim Larrikith now.

Her arrogance would undo her. She clearly had a winner in mind, crooning and pawing for that miserable little blue. Tyrrisath surged forward, his eyes narrowed and focused on the green gem. Larrikith was so intent to present herself to Veeth when her game was through, but didn't she realize that in doing so, she was merely giving her other suitors a greater chance to make their strike?

The brown hissed at a blue, snapping at him as he passed. He rudely butted his way past another, uncaring as the smaller male wheeled out of his way. Let them fall to the ground for all Tyrrisath cared! They were in his way.

The brown sped up, quickly closing the gap between himself and his target. He elevated himself, watching from a dragonlength above as Larrikith fell back to choose her precious little Veeth. Then, the brown dropped. He snatched her easily, plucking her from the talons of her chosen mate.

You shouldn't have left the decision up to us Tyrrisath whispered to her, enduring her teeth and claws without complaint, though afterwards he answered with his own. The brownpair was so mutually enthralled that Tyrrisath's whisper unintentionally slithered to B'jin as well. At the exact same moment, S'kef whispered the words as well, his own voice synced perfectly with that of his beast.

They fell.

S'kef laughed cruelly as he seized his own target, pitching B'jin to the floor with merciless force. "Hold still, whore! You're mine! he snarled, burying the toe of his boot in B'jin's ribs before swiftly moving to slam and barricade the door. No one would interrupt his victory! His flesh quivered with anticipation as he turned, cold eyes locked on the greenrider. S'kef flung himself at the greenrider, the object of his interest for so long, the catalyst of his rise to power...

S'kef valued J'ver for very concrete reasons. B'jin was symbolic, and conquering him one more time was an important gesture...it paved the way of his conquest of the world! It began now, in the same place it had begun so many turns before. The brownrider laughed as he pounced eagerly on the smaller man, enduring the greenrider's vicious blows and returning his own with sadistic delight. B'jin was his one more time. He would make it count.

B'jin grunted, lashing out with an aimless kick as he was toppled to the floor, winding himself as he landed heavily flat on his back. The first breath he managed to suck in was sent exploding from his lips as S'kef's boot connected with his ribs, the greenrider's lips pulling back in a vicious snarl though there was no breath to it, as he fought to get the air back into his lungs.

The lust driven connection with his dragon had her fighting as hard as he - or was he fighting with her spirit? - as claws raked and teeth snapped on flesh, hissing between bared teeth and glaring through narrowed, unseeing eyes as the greenrider fought every move S'kef made with pent up fury for having his (Larrikith's) plan's foiled! This was not to be his win! It was never to be his win!

"Never!" It hissed between his lips, belated but vicious; the dual tone of S'kef and Tyrrisath was lost in the moment, but would return to haunt him, as they ever did. In the air, plummeting towards the earth, Larrikith spat vicious insults at the brown that had snatched her from her precious Veeth, the only one in the air that had been worthy of she!

~~~ Poor Jinny ~~~

The greenrider came to slowly, with a laziness that usually accompanied his Flights for the past Turn or more, since R'nd had started winning them regularly. Prior to then, the greenrider had been in a habit of snapping awake, throwing on his pants and fleeing, sometimes without even looking to see who had won his flight. Not that that was important, Larrikith would tell him the name of the blue, and he would avoid the rider for several weeks to make sure the other man (or very rare woman) wasn't interested in a repeat.

As consciousness caught up with him, however, B'jin became more aware of the aches, pains and the serious amount of wrong that was coming with it; R'nd had never made him feel so awful at waking. There was a sharp ache resonating through his chest with each indrawn breath, and a frown flickered over the hazy greenrider's features as his eyes slowly fought to open. There was, of course, only one answer to that. R'nd hadn't flown him -- R'nd hadn't even flown. B'jin's eyes flew open as he recalled the shocked, confused and pissed off expression on his lover's face as his dragon curled up lazily to watch the Flight. Why didn't Ayyonth chase?

I didn't want him to, Larrikith's voice was distinctly sulking, and barely above a whisper. B'jin became increasingly aware of the pain she was trying to shield from him, and he finally blinked, scowling to focus on the ceiling above him, watching as it swam for a moment before solidifying. Go see Tal, B'jin advised his dragon, still unsure who had won her flight but unwilling to let her sit around when she could be treated. I will be there in a moment. The young Master would be able to put numbweed on her hurts and make sure she was okay. B'jin was distinctly pleased their relationship had grown much more positive; they would get a little bonding in while he dug up his pants!

B'jin shifted subtly, preparing to get up and away; a groan escaped unhappy lips at the same moment brown eyes finally took the moment to focus on the other man curled up against him. B'jin's entire body stiffened, eyes widening dramatically as even his breath froze in his throat. S'kef was curled up against him, arm wrapped around his waist and B'jin wondered how he'd managed not to wake the brownrider - before he realised that he wasn't going anywhere without risk of waking the other man, and waking S'kef would be bad, so terribly bad! B'jin's entire body took to trembling in terror, but he otherwise remained frozen, still staring at S'kef's face with horror, hardly daring to breathe.

Memories past bombarded the man, and he lost himself in them, subconsciously thankful Larrikith's mind was otherwise preoccupied as she examined the level of damage Tyrrisath had left upon her.

Thank you S'kef thought lazily, reaching out to his partner as he first stirred back to consciousness. The drowsy man could still barely believe his good fortune. He hadn't wanted Tyrrisath to chase at first, but now it felt delightfully familiar, curled up beside this precious greenrider in the wake of an unexpected victory.

Of course, it could have felt better. Even as he woke, S'kef found that the victory left an equally unexpected void. He realized immediately that he would have preferred to wake up beside J'ver. He admitted it to himself readily and he could sense his dragon's passive agreement, though neither was going to waste a rare gift by comparing it to something incomparable.

J'ver was special. J'ver was S'kef's weyrmate and the partner with whom he would rule the world. B'jin was symbolic. B'jin was where it all began. B'jin was where it always began. The sting of loneliness for the greenrider S'kef loved was very real, but his desire to dominate the greenrider he'd first tamed was powerful. S'kef would make it up to his precious J'ver; for now, he had a toy to play with.

He opened his eyes, looking fondly upon the captured man curled up beside him. The fear was there, shining brightly in those beautiful eyes. S'kef could still remember the first time he'd looked into those eyes. It had been a moment of curt appraisal right before S'kef carried B'jin and his Master off to Telgar for their visit. B'jin (S'kef could never remember the bitch's uncontracted name) had been so arrogant. It infuriated S'kef, to see his grand accomplishment of Impressing so belittled by a smug little harper slut...As if a pitiful harper was ever, ever the superior to any dragonrider, even the smallest green!

That hadn't lasted long, though. S'kef got his revenge, and it tasted so very sweet! It was said that a man never forgot his 'first'. S'kef could remember how wonderful it felt to see B'jin cower from him, the disbelief on his face when S'kef told him what was about to happen. He'd drawn it out, made it slow and painful. The fear was intoxicating. It was like a drug. S'kef had been reaching for that high ever since, reveling in the power that fear gave him over other people. B'jin was a weakling at heart, and people like him belonged on the bottom.

As he lay there, S'kef felt empowered. He'd claimed the unclaimable, and in doing so, he felt like he could repeat history. He'd learned so much about himself in the sevendays after his first encounter with B'jin, only to find himself soaring towards his potential after the second. S'kef was not a superstitious man. He didn't think he needed to fly B'jin in order to be successful again. He was going to be successful. With his own will and his clever green at his side, he couldn't fail.

No, S'kef didn't need to win. Knocking B'jin down first was just a much-loved tradition.

"Hello," S'kef said lowly, deep voice dripping with perverse pleasure. He tightened one arm around B'jin while gently lifting the greenrider's chin with the other. "Why don't you look your flight winner in the eyes, hmmm...?" he asked, letting out the slightly chuckle of amusement. "Sit tight, 'Jinny...You're not going anywhere."

The greenrider's breath was frozen in the back of his throat, his blood was frozen in his veins; his heart refused to pump and B'jin found himself suddenly wishing it would remain that way, that he might drop dead right then and there and not be subjected to the actions that would be spurred by that sparkle in S'kef's eyes that the greenrider just knew bode ill for him. B'jin's trembling intensified as S'kef just lay there, staring at him. He'd always known the brownrider had it out for him, and the pokes and prods the than-Weyrsecond had given had done very little to have B'jin think any differently; S'kef had no other goal in life than to torment B'jin, and B'jin would be liable to believe that until the end of his days. He was like S'kef's personal chew toy that he just wasn't allowed to have. So he wanted it, and S'kef had a way of getting what he wanted, maybe not when he wanted it, but eventually. B'jin had known this day would come, just like he knew he had never wanted it to come! Just because it was an inevitable fact, however, didn't mean B'jin was going to simply give in and give up. He hadn't yet, and damn it, fuck S'kef!

... B'jin whimpered when S'kef finally spoke, brown eyes flooding with terror induced tears as the other rider twisted his chin and forced him to look at the brownrider who looked so pleased with himself; fuck S'kef indeed! The tears tumbled unhappily down B'jin's cheeks, large, heavy tears of terror though he didn't so much as sniffle. The touch was both a prison and a release, as B'jin felt his pulse sky-rocketed at the touch, both with terror and anticipation. His trembling intensified, wracking through his body before fading away, occasionally shuddering through the terrified man at odd intervals.

Clenched teeth refused to chatter, but wide eyes and a bloodless face betrayed the fear, as if B'jin didn't reek of it as he flinched back, jerking his chin from S'kef's grip and scrambling backwards, ignoring the words that had followed the light, skin crawling chuckle even as he ignored the drying salt trails on his cheeks. Brown eyes darted around, seeking and noting articles of clothing - it was important to put his clothing back on! - before snapping to the doorway. What little blood had remained in B'jin's features was lost completely as he realised he was well caged, and the room he'd picked amidst his flight lust had no windows; not that the greenrider would ever be the type to leap out butt naked, even to flee S'kef. That was signing himself up to all the other monsters in the Weyr, and B'jin wasn't quite that stupid. There were flight losers everywhere and the greenrider knew from gossip and experience that many of them enjoyed scoring together.

"R'nd!" An excuse, a plea, a threat; the exact reasoning behind the whimpering of his lover's name wasn't entirely sure, even as B'jin threw up well used walls against Larrikith - he didn't want the green dragon causing a fuss, which she was as likely to do as she was shrug and continue on her way. Again he encouraged the very unhappy and sulking green to go and have her wounds seen to by Talian; he'd be along shortly.

Just, probably not in one piece.

"R'nd isn't here," S'kef said, narrowing his eyes at the greenrider before giving him a slow once-over. B'jin was almost comically frightened. It gave S'kef quite an ego boost, but it also made him curious. B'jin seemed to do well in their little verbal sparring matches when others were around, but the man became unrecognizable terrified whenever they were alone. S'kef chalked it yup to the typical weakness of greenriders. B'jin was willing to square off with him in public, but in private, he knew his place.

S'kef rolled on top of the greenrider, gently but firmly pressing his arms to the floor and looking down at him curiously. S'kef's old, burning lust for the greenrider had subsided somewhat now that he had J'ver, but B'jin was still attractive and still locked firmly in S'kef's possession. This was his flight bitch, t do what he wanted with.  What a delightful familiarity?

The brownrider got the sense that Tyrrisath would have preferred Rilaleeyth. The dragon had already removed himself from where he'd slept to return to his favorite green. He loved her, or at least as close as a dragon could come to love, and wanted to how her that he hadn't abandoned her. S'kef approved, since he expected J'ver might be in a bad mood later. Greenriders and their womanly double standards! It was a blow for a blow, however, and S'kef would gladly ignore the bitching and make it up to his partner with some fun and games later.

For now, he analyzed his prize. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he asked, slowly settling down and lying on top of the greenrider. "You're slippery...teasing me all this time." He smirked, fully confident that some part of B'jin had wanted him. Otherwise, Larrikith wouldn't have made it so easy!

Tyrrisath protested grumpily. Larrikith had nothing to do with it, after all! The win was by his own prowess, and that was that. S'kef grunted an annoyed half-reply back to the dragon before turning his attention back to B'jin. "You know, I've always viewed these moments as something of an omen," he said lightly, only half-serious. "It must mean something good is coming my way."

He leaned in and brushed a deceptively delicate kiss over the greenrider's lips. S'kef hadn't decided if he wanted to go for seconds yet. That was largely B'jin's choice..depending on how much of a tease the slut was.

"No," B'jin moaned, the word lingering on his tongue like acid. R'nd wasn't there, R'nd wasn't going to sweep in and save him, R'nd knew he didn't want him to ever risk himself by getting between B'jin and S'kef; but B'jin, trembling in terror as he tried to wriggle further away from S'kef, would have cried in relief for someone - anyone - to come charging to his rescue. The greenrider was quivering from head to foot in terror as he reinforced the blocks against his dragon, though Larrikith was wrapped up in herself (as he had desired her to become) as she sulked her way to see Talian, her mind reaching out vaguely for that of Ayyonth. The little dragon was too wrapped up in her own misery to pick up on any surface emotions the blue might have been expressing; she didn't speak to him, just sulked mentally as an unconscious assurance to her mate that she had most certainly not enjoyed the unwanted flight winner. She hurt from teeth and claws that Tyrrisath had returned for her attempts upon him. She was anxious to see Talian, and while neither she nor B'jin focused on it during their little chat, both knew that having her own wounds tended to would take that little bit of stress and guilt off the situation; B'jin never feeling quite right about his inability to tend to Larrikith's flight damage himself.

B'jin hissed softly between his teeth, whimpering as S'kef rolled on top of him and had his arms pinned lightly but securely before B'jin had time to draw a real breath, the kick bruise on his ribs complaining loudly at the weight of the brownrider settling upon them. The greenrider shifted subtly, grimacing unhappily at the uncomfortable shooting of pain before brown eyes widened dramatically at the very sudden and undeniable realisation that S'kef was very naked and pressing against him in all the wrong ways. Frozen with terror, B'jin's eyes darted around, as if an escape from his current prison would present itself in a shining halo of glory. Nothing came, or appeared, and finally brown eyes snapped back to the ex-weyrsecond as he began speaking again, making himself comfortable atop B'jin.

The greenrider's heart was pounding, beating both hard and fast as he remained frozen, eyes wide and a flush of horror colouring his otherwise bloodless features. He was not happy, he was not comfortable, and Faranth be damned if he wasn't exceptionally, acutely aware of every line and curve of his flight partner's body sprawled so casually atop his own. B'jin bit his bottom lip, staring at S'kef in shock as he spoke; a while it had been, but it would never be long enough to completely bleach his mind of the events that were so very similar to the one he found himself in at that moment. B'jin whimpered as he was accused of being a tease; S'kef may have been convinced that B'jin had wanted him, but the Harper was convinced S'kef's entire day and life was planned around how much shit he could give the poor greenrider. It didn't, and likely never would, occur to B'jin that he was just a toy that S'kef occasionally remembered he had dibs on occasionally. He would never believe that S'kef wasn't out to get him, and the brownrider's simple ability to survive both plague and personal illness only convinced B'jin further that S'kef was born to Pern to make his life painful, and embarrassing and a living nightmare.

Hate for the brownrider flared hotly through B'jin's blood, and he jerked viciously against the grip S'kef had retained upon his gently restrained arms, unsurprised when he failed to gain freedom; instead, all he did was remind himself of just exactly how much of the evil brownrider was pressed languidly against his own trembling body. So focused was B'jin on not focusing on rather intimate portions of S'kef's body that the greenrider remembered with disturbing, terrible, vividness that he was shocked to the core when he realised S'kef was kissing him. The action was light, and almost tender and the parting of the greenrider's lips was unconscious; but with wide brown eyes filled with the extreme close up of S'kef's features, the responding and instantaneous instinct to bite was not fought.

B'jin bit down viciously.

S'kef grimaced and let out a hissing curse as the greenrider's teeth sank into his lip. The brownrider's body trembled involuntarily. Warm blood ran over his lips, a few stray drops falling to B'jin's face as S'kef lay perfectly still, rooted to his position by a mixture of possessive lust and indignant rage. He felt himself becoming excited.

"You haven't done yourself any favors," S'kef whispered before licking his lips. The pain was immaterial for the time being, but S'kef imagined he would need to visit a healer after this one. He didn't mind the actual injury, but having to show his face damaged by a catty little green whore wouldn't do for his reputation. The brownrider tightened his grip on  B'jin's shoulders and leaned in close, brushing another light kiss across his prey, this time around the ear.

"I'm going to make you pay for that a dozen times over, B'jin," he said cruelly, voice low and sensual. There was no affection for B'jin, no emotional investment beyond curiosity and a hint of hierarchical entitlement. Skef had B'jin's first flight. That made B'jin his property. S'kef may have preferred a sweet, civilized green like J'ver as his partner, but that didn't mean his claim on B'jin was any less legitimate.

The flight victory felt oddly hollow, now that S'kef had J'ver in his life. Had B'jin kept to his place, S'kef might have been willing to let him go. Now, though, the greenrider had made a challenge. S'kef would never allow some bitch of a green to get the last blow on him, though. B'jin needed to learn his place, and from the looks of it, even he was aware.

"If you didn't want it, you wouldn't ask for it, would you, B'jin?" S'kef whispered. He nipped at the greenrider's ear, leaving a small smear of blood in his wake, before drawing his hand back and striking the greenrider's face.

S'kef's previously languid form came to life. He sat up, snatching B'jin's shirt and pulling him close before slamming him into the floor. "You all but beg for it, B'jin! Everything about you drips of 'green whore'," S'kef snarled. He reached out to catch the greenrider's hair. "Your smug attitude, your excessive denial, your feigned innocence...I don't like to think your stupid, B'jin, but that's the only other explanation."

Slam!

"You're an exhibitionist. A tease, just like the rest of your kind," S'kef explained. He licked his lips again before shoving B'jin to the floor again and raising his fist. "You act  out when you think you're safe, but the moment you're alone you turn into a little pet. You shiver with fight and beg to be left alone, and yet your very actions contradict your words. I don't understand."

Smack!

S'kef leaned in once more, pressing his lips against the greenrider's. He lingered for only a moment before pulling B'jin's hair and peeling free. "Why don't you just give in to your own nature?" Eyes widening, the brownrider let loose a dangerous smile. "Or do you just like learning the lesson again and again?"

What a rush.

The greenrider whimpered, eyes widening and face paling dramatically as S'kef's blood dripped on his face. B'jin's body jerked with a dry heave, the taste of blood on his tongue thick and heavy; his eyes watered, tears toppling down the sides of his face. The following sight of the brownrider licking his lips did little to help settle B'jin's suddenly very upset stomach and he gagged, jerking away from S'kef as the man tightened his grip on him, lips - and blood - lingering over the sensitive skin around his ear. B'jin shrunk away, whining softly at the combined horror of blood on his face and the disturbing rippling shiver the brush of lips sent down his spine.

Eyes widened as S'kef spoke, brown gaze jerking around, seeking an escape the rider knew he wouldn't be granted before snapping back to stare at S'kef in horror. Ask? Ask for wha-- B'jin yelped unintentionally as the brownrider struck his face; the greenrider shrank away, eyes squinting against the retained sting as he stared up at the now sitting form above him, gasping as he was jerked up to follow: than hissing painfully as he was returned to the floor, head meeting floor with enough force to have him seeing black and silver. The words S'kef was spitting at him were lost in the whirlwind of trying to get his gaze to focus, blinking rapidly even as hands struggled, gripping S'kef's wrist at his shirt front with cold, desperate fingers.

B'jin cried out lowly as he was slammed back into the floor, the hand in his hair ripping at his scalp enough to case a new and tingling sensation of pain to ripple across his skull. For perhaps the first time, B'jin was seriously glad for the length it had obtained; if S'kef removed a handful he might be able to hide it. He dismissed the fact that if he hadn't allowed it, there wouldn't be very much for the brownrider to grip at any rate. S'kef would have found a way, B'jin would have put marks on it. S'kef spent far too much time devising ways to torture him and B'jin would never believe otherwise.

The next cry was louder, forced from his lips with a grunt of pain as a fist connected, drowning out words and insults though B'jin had heard it all before, at any rate. 'Green whore' was the most common, that denial wouldn't change anything. B'jin whimpered, gasping desperately for a solid lungful of air and being tormented by the stinging pain of bruised ribs and the weight of S'kef's form perched atop him. Than there were lips on his once more, and brown eyes flashed open, hot with a sudden fire of rage.

In answer to S'kef's question, B'jin spit in his face.

Oh, B'jin, so feisty and so misguided. S'kef was amused, but part of him found the fight a little bit less fulfilling than normal. It would have been more fun if B'jin would at least answer his questions instead of shaking like a doll. S'kef recoiled from the greenrider's lone act of self-defense, sneering a bit before wiping his face clean with one hand. He ran his palm down B'jin's cheek afterward, returning the favor.

He narrowed his eyes and put his hands on either side of the greenrider's head. S'kef held him still, examining the greenrider's terrified face while he poured over his many memories of their rivalry. A thoughtful look came over the brownrider's face as he slowly stroked B'jin's cheek with one hand.

"You don't look impressed," S'kef mused after a moment. "But tell me something. Do you put this show on for everyone...or just for me?"

A mild smile appeared. "You and I both know you weren't always like this.  I remember what an arrogant prick you were, back, in your harping days. I want you to know something about that incident, B'jin."

Without warning, he jolted the greenrider, once again slamming him into the floor. "I want to thank you. I wasn't ambitious before that day, though know. That was the day I learned to stop taking shit from other people...to push back when they pushed me."

Slam!

The brownrider leaned down. "I think that's why you've always been of special interest to me," he said softly. "You are the one who showed me the way, don't you know?" His tone was light and deceptively sweet.

"Pay attention to me," he commanded sweetly, a lingering threat looming in those soft words. "I'd been taking it out of others my entire life. I wasn't a special kid like you...I didn't get to go to a fancy craft hall and have important people stroke my ego. My family lived off of dirt. I could have been the best in the world at any given craft, and I'd have never made it past the hold's borders. But I knew that I deserved more...I just assumed I'd never have it. I thought no matter what I did, those more privileged would find a way to hold me down. It didn't even stop with the Impression of a brown dragon...."

He smirked before pressing a soft kiss to B'jin's lips. "But I was wrong. Tyrrisath tried to convince me that I was strong. That all I had to do was take what I wanted. But he's only a dragon...he didn't understand that humans can't take anything without taking it form someone else. I didn't have the guts. Not until you came along and pushed my buttons, sweet greeenrider." Another gentle kiss. "You taught me the greatest lesson of my life."

S'kef adjusted his position a little bit and ran his fingers over his prize, tracing B'jin's face and chest. Like all dragonriders, S'kef's hands were deceptively soft.

"I thought I needed you for a long time, B'jin. I thought of you as the symbol of my liberation. Time has a way of changing things, though..." He winked deviously and felt himself becoming aroused by a combination of many factors, including the newest presence in his mind. "You're mine. You're always going to be mine, my first..but I don't need you any more. Thanks for all the good times, 'Jinny...what do you say to one more round?"

~~~~OH DEAR GOD~~~~

I figure by this point I may as well disclaimer it: all this powerplaying is pre-approved XD

B'jin shuddered, disgust and fear creeping down his spine and making the hairs on his arms stand on end, the back of his neck tingled by his head hurt more, from the forced contact with the floor and the area where S'kef had gripped handfuls of his hair. Eyes were wide, but filled with heat and hatred as he glared up at S'kef, otherwise unresponsive to the stroke down his cheek. He could feel the lingering wetness of saliva, and it was disgusting. B'jin's features contorted into a scowl as S'kef spoke. One corner of his lips twitched, and B'jin gave a soft bark of laughter, the single action lathered in sarcasm. Unimpressed? What, was he actually meant to be pleased? B'jin sneered, glaring defiantly up at S'kef as he spoke of the way the greenrider had been. The fire was still there, all but exhausted after so many turns of his life under the tight-fisted control of Nemall.

The sudden slamming into the floor took B'jin by surprise, and he cried out wordlessly as he clawed at S'kef's arm. His mouth was filling with the vile taste of blood, his teeth having sunk into his bottom lip with the harsh and sudden action. A sudden fear sent the anger fleeing from the greenrider's eyes as he stared up at S'kef in horror. Thank him? Thank him! B'jin trembled, eyes suddenly filling with tears. It was one thing, of course, to silently blame himself for ruining the brownrider all those turns ago, just as he'd ruined Nemall and feared would be done to R'nd; it was quite another to have the brownrider sneer into his face and thank him for it. How many men and women had the monster sitting atop him raped and abused, all because of him? B'jin grunted painfully as he was slammed into the ground once more, tears tumbling from overfilled eyes to streak down his cheeks. His fault!

He had ruined him! He was the one that had turned the brownrider into a monster; he was the one that had taught him to take whatever he wanted, however he wanted. B'jin bit down on his bottom lip, forgetting the previous bite that had drawn blood, ignoring the pain. Shuddering, trembling with fear and remorse, B'jin stared up at S'kef with wide, crying eyes as the brownrider went off on his monologue, the Harper trying to pay attention, but his mind was afire with his own thoughts and horrors, and listening to S'kef bemoan the past - it went in one ear, rattled around and left, the greenrider continuing to stare blankly up at his flight winner, not even flinching as S'kef claimed another kiss.

"You taught me the greatest lesson of my life." B'jin shuddered, staring in horror while his skin twitched as S'kef adjusted himself, a subconscious reaction to the brush of warm skin; he flinched when S'kef's hands traced over his face, expecting to be hit. The gentleness of the touch was soothing, and B'jin responded unconsciously, though his eyes were dark with mistrust, and a foreign emotion that hadn't quite gained life yet.

The greenrider watched lifelessly as S'kef winked at him, agreeing with the other man's words more than perhaps either of them would have thought possible; it wasn't unknown for them to be in agreement - they could only bitch so much when they were both working with D'ren - but B'jin had never agreed with S'kef. But times did change things, so many things, and as the brownrider released him with one breath, and claimed him once more on the next, B'jin closed his eyes.

When next the greenrider's eyes opened to meet those of his partner, the foreign emotion came alive, all consuming and undeniable; B'jin stared up at the brownrider, his gaze sad and full of pity for everything S'kef had become -- because of him.

S'kef didn't know much about pity. He'd rarely received it as a child, and rarely saw a reason to have it as an adult. Still, as he opened his eyes and looked back at B'jin, he could tell that something was different. There was nothing particularly striking about the timid greenrider's expression or anything giving true feelings away, but the differentness lurked there nonetheless. S'kef was at first confused, than slightly curious, but ultimately satisfied just the same. Whatever was going on, it meant B'jin had heard his words and understood them. 

The brownrider reached out and stroked B'jin's cheek, his intentions somewhere between mocking and complimentary. B'jin was a good boy. He hadn't fought the last time; it was as if decades of training had finally paid off. S'kef leaned down and pressed his lips to B'jin's, giving the greenrider one last parting kiss as he closed the book on their relationship.

That wasn't to say he would never interact with the greenrider again, or even that he no longer considered B'jin his rightful property. It was exactly as S'kef had said; he didn't need B'jin anymore. The cycle was complete, and by all appearances, both parties had changed because of it. Both had learned something about the world and about themselves. S'kef couldn't be more pleased with his own end of it.

He sat up, stretching just a bit, before rolling off of B'jin and reaching for his clothing. "You're so quiet," he purred, satisfied and warm. "Thank you, though. You're sweet, to be so well-behaved for me." He glanced hawkishly over to B'jin, but was surprised when he saw that alien emotion lingering there. S'kef didn't frown, but he did pause. What was that look B'jin was giving him?

Bah. It was probably nothing.

In only a few short hours, their roles had been reversed. B'jin was now aware of things as they truly where, while S'kef was the one living in denial. He rose to his feet, not bothering to help B'jin or tend to his wounds. B'jin was a greenrider, and finally in his proper place. After a moment of consideration, the brownrider turned to the door.

"You can go," he said. An uncertain smile crept across his face. It was satisfying to see B'jin crumpled on the floor like this, silent and obedient. B'jin wasn't a bright but timid greenrider to S'kef. He was the arrogant, obnoxious entitled harper that he'd met at Telgar hold that day. It didn't matter how many times he was knocked down. He would always deserve it.

It felt good to see him humbled, but as S'kef went outside and walked back into the Weyr, he was still puzzled by one thing.

Where was the fear?