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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 1:54:13 GMT -4
The night was soft. A light drizzle misted over the Weyr, dampening the ground and renewing the earth. Somewhere in the distance, the midnight hour was called. Dragons, riders, weyrlings, and candidates alike were curled in their beds, under their furs, sleeping soundly.
In the Candidate Barracks, one such boy was tossing and turning in his sleep, eyes flickering back and forth beneath their lids as a living hell manifested itself in the form of a nightmare. The boy, Liam, thrashed in an almost feverish manner, fighting invisible enemies in his sleep. In his dreams, flames licked his skin, and in the waking world, sweat soaked his shirt.
Suddenly, Liam woke, sitting up with a stifled yell. He didn't want to wake anyone. Panting frantically, the Candidate looked to the window. The drizzle had increased to a hard rain, and thunder rumbled in the distance. At the foot of his bed, his dog, also named Thunder, whined, and attempted to lick his master's hand.
Liam gave the dog an affectionate pat as lightning split the skies. The Candidate flinched, and looked to the bed across from him, where his best friend, Cayin, slept soundlessly. Liam bit his lip, torn between fear and the desire to let his friend get a good night's sleep. As another roll of thunder echoed and lightning flashed again, however, he forgot all guilt and leaped from his bed.
Crossing the room, he poked his friend gently. "Cayin. Cayin. Cayin. Cayin. Cayin." He repeated his friend's name frantically. Lightning struck again, followed by thunder, and Liam whimpered before actually crawling into his friend's bed with the other man, his head under the sleeping furs. "Cayin, I had a nightmare and now its storming and I'm scared please wake up!"
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Post by Zirin on May 10, 2012 2:06:31 GMT -4
Lucky for Cayin, he had always been a horribly deep sleeper. The boy could probably sleep through just about anything. So the boy didn't even know it was storming, nor did he hear his friend's panic. In fact, if it wasn't for the the poke to his face, he likely wouldn't have woken up at all. Physical contact had always been necessary to rouse him; a trick his firelizard had learned quickly. Blinking tired eyes open, he glanced about. At first he didn't notice the quivering form of Liam IN his bed, he was still too out of it, but as another bout of lightning crashed the realization sunk in.
"Li?" He called, glancing over at the other bed and starting to get up. He knew how Liam was with storms and felt the worry wash over him. As he moved to get out of bed though, he felt the man beside him and glanced down. "Hey there scaredy-cat" He mumbled, lying back down and wrapping his arms around Liam. "It's just a little thunder, shh... it'll pass." His words were calm and quiet as he rocked his friend, hoping to help calm him down.
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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 2:13:34 GMT -4
Liam knew his friend could probably sleep through the end of the world, so the poking and climbing into his bed were completely necessary. ...well, maybe not the climbing into his bed, but Cayin should have been expecting something of the sort. After all, Liam had been scared of thunderstorms since he was a child, and Cayin knew that well.
When Cayin woke up, he didn't seem to realize that Liam was actually in his bed, since he called out. Then he moved, however, and Liam whimpered as their forms touched. "I'm n-n-not s-sc-scared!" Liam stuttered, huddling under his friend's blankets.
Liam's tense body did not relax as his friend lay back down and wrapped his arms around him, whispering comforting words and rocking him back and forth. Curling into a tighter ball against his friend's chest, he was ashamed to feel hot tears sting his eyes. "I dreamed y-you were g-gone a-a-and d-dead, Cayin! I dr-dreamed you were never c-coming back! I dream Th-thunder was dead!"
At this point Liam broke into tears, clutching his friend. "Everyone was d-dead, Cayin! The dragons, the dragons! They t-turned on u-us and f-flamed everyone and everyone d-died!" He shook violently, pausing only to take deep, gasping breaths. "I dreamed y-you... y-you... you didn't love me l-like I love you!"
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Post by Zirin on May 10, 2012 2:30:40 GMT -4
"If you're not scared then I'm not a man," Cayin replied, teasing his friend while pulling him closer. He continued rocking for a moment. "Let it out, you'll feel better," Against the sounds of the night, his voice was seemed deeper than normal as he spoke and soon enough Liam gave in and began to spill everything.
"I'm not going anywhere Li, and besides, even if I did I'm taking you with me." He flicked Liam on the forehead, as if to push the point that he was being silly. He had always known his friend's nightmares could be overwhelming, but they were just figments of his imagination. "Now you're just being silly, Li. It's just a nightmare."
He cupped Liam's chin, forcing him to look up. "And you know Li... I'd fight off a thousand dragons just for you,"
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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 2:36:31 GMT -4
Liam ignored his friend's joking. He didn't want jokes right now! Shards, Cayin could be so... frustrating! Sometimes he just wanted to kick that boy in the face and make him understand what was going on, that jokes weren't always appropriate! On the other hand... if Cayin wasn't there... he wouldn't have anybody.
...no wonder he put up with Cayin's stupidity.
Sniffling, Liam wiped his eyes. "W-what if I d-didn't want to go with you?" He asked, shaking his head. Cayin was trying to underline the fact that his dreams were silly, obviously, as he said it. Liam frowned. His nightmares were not silly! They were terrifying and horrible, and, and, and...!
But then Cayin was touching his face, turning it upwards so the two men were eye to eye. At his friend's words, Liam found himself blushing a furious red. "For me? But... what about all those girls?" The Candidate became a bit indignant. "I'm the one that's always been here. I'm the one that loves you. Why don't you love me back the same way?"
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Post by Zirin on May 10, 2012 2:56:22 GMT -4
Cayin ignored his rejection. If Liam didn't want to go with him, he wouldn't force the other man. But he had to leave if he didn't impress, just until he got his journeyman status. It was simply something he HAD to do. Of course, his plan had always been to walk the tables and get himself assigned back to Trelis. It had been his master plan for Turns now. He couldn't just give up on it because his friend was being stubborn!
"Girls? The ones at the Hold? Well... I mean... a night of wine.. and they were cute and..." He trailed off blushing slightly himself. Of course there had been girls in his life... what kind of boy didn't hope for first kisses and more from a lovely young lady... well or boy, as the case may be. He rolled his eyes as Liam continued, obviously thinking he had lost his mind.
"That's an easy one to answer," He said with a shrug, not giving it a second thought. "I love you more."
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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 3:01:35 GMT -4
......okay, now his friend was just being stubborn. Liam's eyes hardened and his sat up. Of course, his angry eyes were marred by the fact that they were still red-rimmed from crying... but he got the point across, he hoped. After all, if Cayin didn't understand after this... well, Liam would have no chance.
"I don't mean friendly love, Cayin!" He said in an exasperated tone of voice. "I mean like real love! The kind of love where I want to kiss you and... other things that I don't really know how but... shardit, Cayin, don't you understand? I want to be in the place of those girls. I want to be the one you love and take home at night to your bed!"
He paused. "Um... not that I'm not already in your bed, of course... but I mean in a different way! A romantic, I love you kind of way!" He knocked on his friend's head. "Get it yet, dimglow? I mean I love you when I say I love you, and not just in the friendly way!"
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Post by Zirin on May 10, 2012 3:17:59 GMT -4
As Liam pulled away Cayin cocked his head in confusion, at first thinking he had done something wrong. He knew he could be a bit of a dimwit sometimes, and he knew people got tired of his inability to catch things. For once though, it was Liam being the dimglow. His smile grew wider and wider as Liam rambled on and on. It was cute, in a way. His friend always did worry about silly things.
With another roll of his eyes, he wrapped an arm around Liam's shoulder and threw him down on the bed, quickly rolling on top of him and pressing their hips together. His lips found their way to Liam's ear and his words were barely more than whispers against the roar of the thunder.
"I said what I meant." He grinned, "Now when can I have a kiss?"
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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 3:22:55 GMT -4
Cayin just waited him out in that frustrating way he had, his head cocked in confusion. But then he started grinning. Liam could have punched him! How infuriating! Cayin was just going to tell him to stop being silly and run off with some girl, he just knew it!
Liam felt hot tears hit his eyes again, but then suddenly he was being moved, thrown down on the bed with Cayin on top of him. "W-wha--?" Their hips were pressed together, but Cayin was supporting his weight on his arms as he whispered into Liam's ear.
The Candidate turned bright red, in stark contrast to his very blue eyes. "O-oh. Um. Now." He smiled, and gently kissed his very best friend in the world... his lover...
-fade to black-
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Post by Zirin on May 10, 2012 21:51:12 GMT -4
Cayin couldn't quite say what woke him up. Perhaps he had just had enough sleep, or maybe Liam had shifted slightly? Well, regardless of the reason, Cayin could feel himself pulling away from the wonderful world of sleep. He certainly didn't mind; his bed was warm and comfortable, made warmer still by Liam beside him.
He yawned and sat up, glancing to the window to figure out whether they needed to be up yet or not. It looked dark out... but was it because of the fading storm clouds, or because it was still night? he got distracted as a shiver ran down his spine, the cool air feeling wonderful on his hot skin. He gave a happy sigh and sat there, waiting for his skin to cool enough to lay back down, or for Liam to wake up.
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Post by Elessar on May 10, 2012 23:17:22 GMT -4
Liam was jolted into awakeness the moment his friend... and lover... moved. Unlike Cayin, Liam was blessed to be a light sleeper, waking easily at any noise or sound. As Cayin say up, yawning, Liam opened his blue eyes, still a bit hazy from sleep, and shifted so that he was curled a bit more around Cayin's form.
"Is it still storming?" He asked quietly, stretching a slight bit before sitting up. He already knew the answer, but he really just wanted to hear Cayin's voice, hear his lover reassure him that the storm was gone. Sitting up and turning, he yawned widely, trying to blink the sleep from his eyes. The cool breeze felt great against his bare body, which was devoid of all jewelery for once... except for the necklace Cayin had given him.
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Post by Zirin on May 11, 2012 1:50:23 GMT -4
Rubbing at his eyes, Cayin jumped slightly in surprise as Liam curled around him. He grinned down at the man, pretty sure Liam could hear the lack of thunder for himself. He really hadn't changed much since their childhood.
"Doesn't sound like it," Cayin replied with another yawn, giving one more good stretch and sighing happily as he felt his muscles start to wake. He grinned down at his friend-turned-lover before running a finger down the man's chest and over the necklace. He paused for a moment to twist it slightly in the light before nodding to himself, as if confirming that he had indeed picked the right colour. He himself was, much like Liam, devoid of jewelry. With another grin he flopped back down on the bed. "Sure is different with a guy!"
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Post by Elessar on May 11, 2012 1:56:33 GMT -4
Liam felt his friend jump, even though he had just closed his eyes. Breathing deeply, he drank in the scents and smells that were coming in on the breeze. "No, doesn't sound like it at all," he replied. "I love the smell of the earth after it rains. Everything feels so... alive." His eyes snapped open as Cayin's finger trailed down his chest and admired the necklace.
The Candidate snorted. "I wouldn't know if it's different or not. What I do know is that there are lots of rain puddles outside ready to be splashed in!" In a matter of seconds he had jumped from the bed and thrown on a pair of shorts. Banging open the door, laughing, he called back to Cayin, "C'mon, slow poke! It's still raining just a bit! Come out and dance with me!"
Bursting out into the rain, he paused, arms spread wide, letting the water run down his bare chest. The mud under his bare feet squelched, and he laughed. For the first time in awhile... he was happy.
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Post by Zirin on May 11, 2012 2:10:34 GMT -4
Cayin simply groaned at the sudden burst of energy from his apparently twelve Turn old friend. Couldn't they just sleep a little longer? Outside was cold and wet and not the warm, snuggly bed that he was currently very comfortable in.
"Eh...." He sighed, giving a look that showed his rather obvious disinterest in getting out of bed, but Liam was gone before he could really do much more than groan in protest. Really... one minute the man was a chicken and the next he was a child! Shaking his head, Cayin forced himself out of bed and took his time finding a pair of shorts to wear.
"How do you have so much energy so early..." He yawned, stepping out into the rain blinking tiredly. Although, he had to admit that the cool water was refreshing and was helping him wake up a bit. Grinning despite himself he bent down to scoop up a handful of mud and launched it at Liam.
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Post by Elessar on May 11, 2012 2:16:58 GMT -4
Cayin's groan of protest fell on deaf ears. Even if Liam had heard it, he wouldn't have responded. He was happy and free and oh, things were so good! The Hatching would be soon, and, and...! Leaning back, he gave a crazy war cry before running through the mud, getting himself half-covered in the goopy stuff.
When Cayin finally appeared, Liam laughed. "I have this much energy because I'm happy!" He replied, grinning. He saw Cayin bend down, but made no move to dodge the mud, instead letting it hit him square on the chest. His legs and feet were already covered anyway, so what did it matter?
Laughing, he approached Cayin slowly before stopping to stand in front of him. The rain drizzled down around them, and Liam's blue eyes shone with passion as he gently kissed his lover. "I love you," he whispered before drawing Cayin back in for another kiss, this one more forceful.
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