Keeping Secrets

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 5th August 2024
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: K'mai, I'serin
Description: I'serin has no idea what to do with a flirtatious K'mai
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 15 of Turn 11

K'mai

I'serin

Notes:
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K'mai leaned over to refill his glass from the wineskin on the table and then settled back with one arm flung over the back of the couch. The others were talking among themselves, so K'mai turned to I'serin. "So, how have you been?"

I'serin's eyes were on the small yet lively party in front of them. He was aware of K'mai's flirtatious nature and continuously struggled with it. Hiding behind formalities was far easier for the bronzerider than it was to...well, do anything else. "I have...been studying," he answered. His gaze flickered briefly at K'mai as the bluerider was drinking, taking in the shaggy cut of blonde hair, wondering briefly what it would feel like between...

"Studying what?" K'mai sipped his wine. I'serin was a quiet sort, but they'd known each other all their lives. To this, I'serin chuckled, low and ruefully.

"The usual boring matter," he admitted, though still a bit evasively. "Aluneth complains that I am far too hidebound lately. He insists that not all of the answers I seek can be found in moldy records."

"Well, that's true, but there's a lot of knowledge to be found in the past. At least that's what the harpers say." K'mai nudged him. "Tell me about this boring thing."

I'serin opened his mouth to do so and then closed it. He realized that if he did so, he would fall neatly into yet another pattern, where he bored someone into an early death of a conversation, and then he would wonder once again why he spent many a night alone. And yet...hiding behind formalities was so easy...

Ah, shard it.

The left corner of his mouth quirked. "Honestly, K'mai, it is rather boring, and I would much rather converse about something more interesting. Or do something more fun. Be a bit less hidebound tonight."

"Now you're just making me more curious." The bluerider smiled. "Maybe just one tiny little sentence? I like the way people light up when they talk about something that interests them." He slid a little closer and took another drink of wine. It was on the border between friendly and flirting, but at least some bronzeriders would humor a bit of playfulness.

I'serin sighed, slightly humored, though he was acutely aware of how _close_ K'mai was. He cleared his throat a little. Pitching his voice in perfect oratory tone, he recited, "In the thirteenth Turn of the tenth Pass, the Hold of Storm Bay was established but shortly after suffered a tsunami that destroyed the most of the newly founded Hold. In the following Turns, there were two attempts to revitalize the Hold in its original location, however, further catastrophes prevented the solid establishment of the Hold and it was agreed that it should move two miles west, to its current location." He paused, overcame his awkwardness to maintain eye contact with K'mai with a moment to say, "See? Quite boring."

K'mai frowned. "I think it's sad. And it's missing so much of the story. The hope the holders had while building, the things and people they lost, the struggle to keep trying before they finally had to try somewhere else." It made him think of River Bluff.

I'serin's expression mirrored K'mai's for a moment as he said sadly, "Histories rarely focus on such things. Hope is left for the harpers to tell." There was a pause, a solemn silence for hope lost and never recorded, and then I'serin took a sip of his wine. "My apologies," he murmured. "I did not intend to bring the mood down."

"I'm the one who asked, so it's really my fault." K'mai put a hand on I'serin's arm. "Let me make it up to you." Probably too far for a bronzerider, but it might make him laugh.

The bronzerider froze slightly at the touch. Such an offer, coming from K'mai, could mean anything. Was I'serin...brave enough to be open to possibilities? There was a moment, a decision, and then, he forcibly relaxed and asked, "And just how do you propose that?" He tried to keep his tone light but felt his heart awkwardly hammering.

K'mai removed his hand, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. "Such a shame you ride bronze. There are so many more things I could do for you." The bluerider smiled. "But I'm flexible." He let that hang there for a moment. "I could . . . serve you drinks and snacks for the rest of the night."

So many more things. The idea of any number of those things, even for a brief moment, sent a flush of heat through I'serin's body. No, he would not allow K'mai the knowledge that he was considering that flexibility. He had maintained an aura of being immune to the bluerider's flirtations for long enough. Giving in would...be disastrous, for many reasons, I'serin felt. So, rather than focus on what he would not be succumbing to, I'serin focused on what seemed like the safer offer. "Serve me drinks?" he echoed. "I do not suppose that you have a vintner's commentary you can offer as well?" That was said with a bit of jest.

K'mai laughed. "I could try. Would you like me to get you something now?"

I'serin chuckled back. "If you please." He tilted his chin, trying to figure out how to form a playful expression while still trying to focus. "Perhaps we start with a white?" he suggested.

The bluerider nodded and got to his feet. A moment later he returned with a glass and knelt next to I'serin. "Your wine, sir," he said as he offered the drink.

That brought a huff of true laughter from the bronzerider. Continuing the charade, he said, "And what vintage do we have here, sommelier sir?"

"Oh, it's a . . . fine dry white that . . . probably came in with the tithe." K'mai bit his lip. He knew a little about wine, enough to pick up something nice as a gift and which ones he personally liked, but that was it.

I'serin laughed. "Here," he said, taking the wine. Arching an eyebrow to invite K'mai to learn how to properly taste wine for a moment, he swirled the glass, sniffed it, and then took a small sip. "Crisp with hints of apple," he declared. He offered the glass to the bluerider. "Now you try."

K'mai stayed on his knees and deliberately turned the glass so his lips touched the same spot as I'serin's. "Mmm. . . you're right, I can taste the apple."

The bronzerider froze again, watching K'mai. He licked his lips nervously. The charade was over, the attraction was back, roaring this time. Quickly, I'serin rose. "I have to go," he stammered out.

"Sorry, did I go too far?" Bronzeriders could be so delicate sometimes.

K'mai hadn't gone far enough, that was the problem, and yet I'serin was scared that the bluerider _would_ go that far, all in the same heartbeat. "No apologies needed. Thank you, K'mai," he said, moving to escape. "Enjoy the party."

Last updated on the August 29th 2024

Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined [Next: Awkward Nuts]

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Keeping Secrets