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Post by Bellatora on Mar 6, 2012 0:08:36 GMT -4
Assaila smiled slightly and took advantage of this new position and situation and moved closer to him until she was just a mere few centimeters from touching him... Only his arm was still pinned beneath her. She gently, with a tentative, careful hand, reached out and touched his shoulder. "Looking innocent is easier than being innocent," she told him with a cheeky smile. "If you want me to get off your arm, you could always ask," she said winking.
"Well... work could wait a little bit... couldn't it... you do deserve a bit of a break..." she didn't say anything about the bath. She doubted he would want her to tag along...
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Post by Zirin on Mar 6, 2012 17:54:32 GMT -4
That Assaila would move closer was no surprise, it was the fact she hadn't moved as close as possible that confused J'degar. He didn't mind that she wasn't snuggled up completely next to him, he liked his space after all, but it was just weird for Assaila. This whole morning had been pretty weird as far is the pain-in-the-butt woman went. He gave a light chuckle, glancing only half-heartedly at the invading hand, before replying.
"I'll keep that in mind," He shrugged. As it was, he didn't partictular care that she was on his arm. At least there, he would be able to grab and move her if it became absolutely necessary, but as she wasn't bothering him at the moment, it didn't really matter. Besides, he mused, it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Says the woman who doesn't have a pile of skins to work through," He grimaced, well aware that the longer he lounged about, th eless time he'd have to do do them. Sure, he still had a fair bit of time to work; the records were more for personal use than anything, but J'degar was a punctual man and even hobby work had deadlines. He needed to begin preparing his next lesson as well... so much work to do. Perhaps he should make it a test instead? His free hand moved to run through his hair as his other hand rested comfortably on Assaila's hip. "A break? I think I need a vacation."
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Post by Bellatora on Mar 7, 2012 14:49:40 GMT -4
Assaila smiled slightly and closed her eyes, laying her head down, her hand still touching him, but still giving him his space... Though it was very little space at that. She had a hard time believing that his hand was resting on her hip even. She was surprised he would voluntarily touch her anyways. He always withdrew. Always. But he wasn't now... she had to say she was very surprised at that. If he really disliked her so much... would he even have touched her at all...?
She smiled at him almost a bit knowingly and shifted just that little bit so that her body ever so lightly touched his. But she moved no more than that. She didn't want to chase him away or be a nuisance but she was was sure she would likely be making one of herself if she wasn't careful any minute now. But... it was comfortable...
"It's true I don't have a pile of skins to work through," she said, her tone light and airy as if she rather enjoyed the fact that she didn't have to do paperwork. Which was the truth. she wasn't really the type to do it. "You do deserve it... You work very hard. Though... it seems unlikely that you'll be able to get one any time soon..." she sighed, unthinkingly moving her hand down over his shoulder and his arm. She honestly sounded sad about that fact. Riders never seemed to get much of a vacation.
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Post by Zirin on Mar 7, 2012 16:32:15 GMT -4
Had he not been paying attention at all, he likely wouldn't have noticed the sutle shift in position that Assaila made. However, he was paying attention and the touch of her body - her very naked body - against his, coupled with the way her hand was playing on his shoulder caused the man to flinch. She was growing bolder it seemed, since he hadn't told her off yet. He should throw her off and stop this before she got the wrong idea. The hand on her hip twitched, and for a moment it seemed that he was going to follow through and separate himself from her. Yet, after a moment he forced himself to untense and his hand returned to resting lazily on her side. She wasn't doing anything wrong, or anything he didn't like... and he had already told her he wouldn't get rid of her unless she bothered him. He was a man of his word and he wasn't going to go back on it just because she was drawing closer. Suffice to say, he was glad they were talking, it was easier to ignore just how close she was when he had something to distract himself with.
"I suppose I shouldn't be complaining. I had 20 Turns of vacation... that's something these weyrlings may never have." His voice took on a sadder note, and even without voicing it the question was obvious: How many would live to see the end of the pass?. He had lived. He had loved, had a wife and child, he had impressed a dragon, poisoned a Weyrwoman, betrayed a friend and now was in the process of repaying his debt by teaching the newest generation all he knew. He could die in the next threadfall without feeling any regret. The lines in his brow deepened in slight scowl. He was lying to himself. He would have regrets if he died soon; he had promised to protect someone and J'degar wasn't one to break his promises. His touch, ever so gently seemed to use more pressure. The moment was quick though and passed in the blink of an eye.
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Post by Bellatora on Mar 11, 2012 1:57:07 GMT -4
She was expecting him to move her or remove her... especially when she felt his hand twitch on her hip. She did her best not to seem even the slightest bit alarmed. She had to hold her breath for a moment as she felt a small part of her feel like it was starting to rip apart from the other... Maybe she shouldn't push him so much... But she couldn't help it... She wanted... no... needed to be closer. She would have bridged that final gap between them... but... but it had to be that that was the one thing keeping him from throwing her out or tossing her away. She stopped the motion of her hand briefly. She very very gently considered and slid her hand down to his chest where it rested, not moving. Her eyes were closed tight... just waiting.
But... his hand stopped moving and was resting gently on her hip again. She did her best not to push him further.
"And here you are fighting thread again... Risking your life for those of us who are like me and are relatively defenseless, hiding under the cover of rock when it falls and counting on you to protect us... And in some cases... in more ways that one... I suppose that is a lot of pressure..." Assaila blinked. Did he just.... tighten his hold on her for a split second...? for the blink of an eye? She did her best not to show that she had noticed. "You have a big responsibility... even if it isn't one that you necessarily want... And I'm certain that your Weyrlings will be better than the others trained by other people. You have so much experience, Gar..." She knew not all of them, in fact many of them, would make it through this threadfall alive... and yet they had to be brave and face it... They had to be brave and go up against it again and again.
Riders truly were the bravest of Pern...
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Post by Zirin on Mar 11, 2012 3:03:09 GMT -4
He kept an eye on her hand, still wary that she would try to pull a fast one. When she didn't however, J'degar relaxed again and allowed her hand to remain on his chest. He could feel how tense she was, and that struck him as odd. Was she, perhaps, uncomfortable with this? If she was that was just strange... she had always seemed so obsessed with touching him. Maybe instead it was because he hadn't pushed her away yet.
He didn't quite know what to say. He had sworn to protect Pern the moment he began standing for clutches, and he took that duty seriously.The same sense of duty fell to the weyrlings as well. He had a duty to make sure they had what they needed to survive. That was that.
"Well, we'll see." He replied finally, "It doesn't matter how much experience, or how well you're trained. That first Threadfall... nothing can prepare you for it." Even Syphraelth hadn't gotten away without injuries, and the pair had basically dedicated their lives to being ready for it. Just thinking of it hurt, even J'degar couldn't deny that he had lost good wingmates, and even a few good friends in the first few falls. "Riders are brave, we need to be. But we're no braver than the rest... the Weyrfolk who have to stay inside and hope their loved ones come back. That takes a special sort of bravery."
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Post by Bellatora on Mar 11, 2012 4:07:12 GMT -4
She was still rather tense as she lay there. She moved the rest o the way to rest her body against his, but otherwise, she did not move. She was thinking very deeply for the moment. Very quiet. Very... withdrawn. She wasn't qutie sure what to make of everything at this point. "You have a great sense of duty, Gar... And that is something more to admire about you." She sighed and relaxed slowly, resting against him. She felt safe there. She felt safe here. She felt like she would be protected if anything should happen in the time she was with him.
She gently took a hold of his free hand and gently slipped the simple, woven bracelet she was wearing from her wrist, untying it and gently placing it in his palm, closing his fingers around it. "This has always brought me luck... but of course... we do make our own luck much of the time..." she said softly, letting go of his hand and resting against him again.
"Not everyone can do it... and some have too... and some choose to..." she said the last very softly, her tone nearly trembling. Because she was choosing to be one of those who waited for her loved one to return and hope that he was okay... But she felt like a coward anyways. Of course... she could never be a rider. Never. "You have to do your best... but... I can't imagine just how hard it is to prepare for it.... Or how taxing it must be..." She wouldn't dream of even trying to imagine it...
A shiver ran up her spine slightly and she closed her hand gently into a fist on his chest and closed her eyes, pressing just a bit more against him almost involuntarily.
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