Flirtation Gone Wrong

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 8th August 2019

Characters: L'keri, Urlene, Numor
Description: L'keri's attempt at flirting goes very awry.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Taren, Saibra, Olwinna

L'keri

Urlene

L'keri unfastened the last of the bundles he'd been asked to transport
to Dolphin Cove from Rhalith's straps. It smelled faintly but pleasantly
of dried herbs, and he grinned at the memories the scent evoked. He did
like visiting the infirmary at Dragonsfall, if he could avoid being
caught by the Weyrhealer. He wondered if he'd meet anyone interesting
here...

It was a fine day for a stroll on the beach with a pretty healer, he
thought. The warmth had struck him as soon as he and Rhalith had come
out of /between/ and down here in the Weyrbowl it was hotter still. He
shrugged out of his heavy jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt,
then undid a top button - and then another. Then, with a package of
herbs under each arm and a jaunty spring in his step, he headed for the
infirmary.

Just about to leave for the end of her duty shift, Urlene was removing
her smock when an unfamiliar man strode into her infirmary. Her eyes
flicked to the bundles in his arms, then to his shoulder knots, her
hands stilling. Ah, the supplies she'd requested were finally here.
She straightened and met the man before the apprentice on duty
approached him. "Greetings brownrider," She gestured to the bundles
and then waved at the apprentice to approach. "Supplies from
Dragonsfall? If you'll wait a moment, I'll bring you the vials that
were promised."

A slow, delighted smile spread over the dragonrider's face. Luck was
certainly with him today! The healer was prettier than he could possibly
have hoped. His imagination pictured that golden hair falling loose
around her shoulders, those slender arms reaching up to him, the soft
lips opening for a slow, passionate...

**Steady. Don't get ahead of yourself.**

"For you, lovely lady, I can wait all day." He hefted the bundles, the
better to show off the muscles in his arms. "L'keri, rider of brown
Rhalith at your service. Where would you like these?"

Blue eyes narrowed and Urlene stiffened only a moment before
responding with a chill to her voice that should have frozen the man
as though he was standing naked in the middle of the weyrbowl at
Dragonsfall.. "That's Weyrhealer, Brownrider and you'd do very well to
remember it. If that's how you greet the Weyrhealer at Dragonsfall
then perhaps your Wingleader hasn't instilled enough discipline." The
apprentice beside her winced and from behind her, shook his head
rapidly at L'keri. "Numor, take the parcels, please and bring me the
vials labeled "P" from the right-hand shelf of the second storage
cabinet by my office."

Even L'keri noticed the coldness in her tone. His smile faltered a
little, but he remained undaunted by the apprentice's warning. After
all, a hard-won success was all the sweeter, he thought with an inward
thrill of anticipation.

"My apologies, Weyrhealer," he said, handing over the parcels to the
apprentice. "You're quite right, I wouldn't have addressed our
Weyrhealer that way, but then he is neither a lady nor - in my opinion -
particularly lovely." He still remembered his uncomfortable encounter
with Master Taren and his icy-cold instruments. Putting that memory
aside, he turned his best innocent, wide-eyed look on her. "And I am
rather in need of discipline."

"So because I'm a woman and have a pretty face, I'm to be subjected to
your unwelcome, juvenile, ham-handed attempt at flirting? Did you even
attempt to look at my rank or were you too busy staring elsewhere?"
Urlene's reply was quick and brutally sharp. "Indeed you are in
desperate need of discipline; I've seen weyrlings with better manners.
And since you're so very willing to acknowledge it and the cargo that
I'm sending to Weyrhealder Taren is of too high a value to send with a
lack-wit, I'm afraid that you'll have to explain to him and to
Weyrwoman Saibra why you don't have the medications that were
requested."

Numor took the parcels and glanced at Urlene, then back at L'keri,
hesitating. "Master Urlene, should I go get the vials?"

"No. I'll arrange other transport." Her eyes never left L'keri. "Put
the bundles away please, Numor, then go back to your studies with
Olwinna. Thank you." The apprentice hurried away, glanced back, then
with arms full, disappeared.

L'keri watched him go, his mouth open in astonishment. This was a
reaction he'd not expected. **Ham-handed?** He'd thought it a rather
charming little compliment. How had he ended up facing the prospect of
being in trouble with the Weyrwoman and Weyrhealer Taren? He really
didn't need to come to the attention of either of those two right now.

"Don't be like that," he pleaded. "Let me make it up to you." An idea
struck him. "If you don't trust me with the vials on my own, Rhalith and
I could take you to Dragonsfall and you can deliver them to the Master
Healer yourself. How about it?" Trying to keep the mischief out of his
voice, he went on. "I could give you the tour of the Weyr. It's worth
seeing, this time of the Turn. Cold, but beautiful. You'd like it. And
then, we could go to dinner together, have a few drinks to warm up,
and...I'd bring you back safe in time for your next shift..." His voice
trailed off as he realised his offer wasn't having quite the effect he'd
hoped for.

"A complete lack-wit who doesn't have the sense that a child
possesses. Do you honestly think after this I'd want to have dinner
with you or anything else that you've cooked up in your mind? You know
nothing of what I'd like or what interests me. You certainly aren't
it." With a straight back, Urlene summoned everyone ounce of breeding
and hauteur that she possessed. "I _will_ be writing to Saibra and
Taren regarding your deportment. Get out of my sight and out of my
infirmary, Brownrider. Don't come back unless you're injured."

L'keri's jaw tightened with mingled resentment and frustrated desire.
He'd been turned down before, of course, more times than he cared to
remember, but never like this. She'd pulled rank on him! Was he supposed
to check the knots of every attractive woman he met lest she turn out to
be his superior?

He turned smartly to leave, but in the doorway, having decided he
couldn't get into much more trouble than he was already in, he glanced
back for a parting shot. "Well, it's up to you, Weyrhealer, but you're
missing out on a treat. We could have had fun together. If you change
your mind..." He gave her his best lecherous wink. "You can always send
word to Dragonsfall."

"I'd rather be mounted by a mangy, diseased herdbeast than spend one
moment in your company." She turned coolly and walked away from the
entrance, calling out to him to the snickers of several apprentices
who had been peeking around curtains to watch and listen. "It would
probably be more enjoyable." Those same apprentices and a few
journeyman ducked back as her gaze fell on them, but she said nothing
as she walked past and directly to her office.

The brownrider glowered after her. He'd never had anyone say _that_ to
him before, either. "Just you wait. You'll regret it when you're lying
alone in your cold, empty bed tonight. You'll wish you'd been nicer to me!"

But she was already gone, and he got no response but a stifled giggle
from one of the apprentices. Humiliated, he turned his back on the
infirmary and left, slamming the door behind him. He'd go straight back
to Dragonsfall and find more congenial company there. If not a pretty
healer, then a bottle of wine should help him to forget.

Last updated on the August 19th 2019

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Flirtation Gone Wrong