Better Than Going Home Alone... Maybe

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th November 2006

Characters: Nistaja, V'lorn
Description: Nistaja decides to finish off the Turn with V'lorn, even though she knows better.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

V'lorn looked out over the crowd. Shards, he was bored. He was never one for dancing. It was all just foreplay anyway, and he'd rather skip that and get right down to it. But who? He could go for a weyrling. They were usually pretty easy to get off in a dark corner somewhere. But he didn't really feel like playing teacher at the moment. He wanted someone with a bit of _experience_. Hmmm... One of the Harper's wives. Or one of the Harpers... That could be entertaining. But too much work. He didn't feel like putting out _too_
much effort tonight.

Sipping at his whiskey he looked at the faces twirling by in the throng.
K'ern? No, he'd bend over for him in a heartbeat if he offered. That greenrider was like a little puppy, way too eager to please. V'lorn had always liked felines better anyway. A lot less messy. Dresala? She already had half her fingers stuck between the buttons on W'tik's trousers. He smiled appreciatively. Lucky man. Lucky girl.

Finally his eyes caught J'mar. Sharding bastard. Oh, he always thought he was so charming. That bluerider had spoiled more than one of his plans for the evening. But what was this? Wasn't that black-haired beauty sulking behind him the very same one he supposedly wanted to spend all eternity with? Well, maybe he isn't so charming after all. Else why would his lovely soon-to-be-weyrmate be looking so forlorn while the bluerider talked to a group of greenriders? Oh, it would be too easy... But bedding _J'mar's_ girl? It would be worth it.

As he watched, the woman turned away and found herself a small cup of liquor. The first sip made her eyes water, but she took a second one almost immediately, obviously bent on numbing some sort of emotion with the application of strong drink.

That was V'lorn's cue. Downing his glass he hurried through the crowd towards the table. "Do you mind handing me one of those? Mine appears to be empty."

Nistaja glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing slightly when she recognized V'lorn. She knew that J'mar absolutely _loathed_ the man, and normally she didn't think that much of him herself. J'mar's opinions didn't seem too terribly important to her at the moment, though. Not when he was going out of his way to ruin the evening for both of them.

Feeling the slightest hint of rebellion, Nistaja picked up a glass and handed it to him. Once he'd taken it, she tipped back the rest of her drink and smacked the glass back down on the table with a shudder. "I hope you like it strong." The liquor burned its way down her throat, but it didn't stop her from picking up a second glass.

"The stronger the better I always said." He drank down half of it in a swig and licked drops of liquor from his lips. "Not bad. You better slow down there. You might get yourself drunk."

"Only might?" Nistaja raised the glass and smiled at him. "Maybe I need to drink faster, then."

V'lorn snorted. "Is the party really so bad?"

She shrugged one shoulder and took another sip. "It's been awhile since I indulged. Might as well make the most of it."

"Yeah, well, I'm not one for big parties usually." He finished that glass and grabbed two more. "Come on, lets take a walk."

Nistaja studied him for a moment and then glanced back at J'mar. She knew enough about V'lorn to know he had more than earned his reputation--and to know that she was not likely to be immune to his wiles. Especially not if she finished another drink. Leaving with him would be asking to wake up with him, probably with a hangover and enough regrets to last well into the new Turn.

"I'd love to," she replied, finishing her second drink and setting the glass back down. "Where should we walk to?"

He shrugged a shoulder as he started making his way toward the door. "Well, despite the fact that the rumors that I'm a sharding bastard are true, I'm not totally without manners. The lady decides."

"Mmmm, I'm not really looking for manners, tonight." She slanted a look at him, admiring his profile. At least he had the looks to go with his supposed charm. "You want to upset J'mar, and I want to have a good time. I'm just assuming you're smart enough to figure out how to accomplish both of those goals."

"All right, you got me." An appreciative smile crossed his lips. It was easier than he had thought. "Let's go back to your place then. You still have your own weyr, don't you?"

"Mmmmm..." She slowed her steps, leaning her shoulder against the wall for a moment. She tried to make it look casual, and not like she was starting to feel the affects of the liquor. "I know I'm not presenting a challenge, but since I'm being so accommodating, maybe you could pretend to seduce me? That's part of the fun, after all."

"It's not nearly as much fun when you know what's coming." He continued down the hall. "This way is it?"

She didn't move. "Have fun with yourself, then. I'm going back to find someone who can be bothered."

He held the glasses up. "Come on now, how am I supposed to seduce you with two drinks in my hand? One of them has your name on it. I mean, if you want to go back and follow J'mar and his greenriders around all night, you're welcome to. But if you want to forget the fact that your man is going home with someone else this evening when he should be going home with you, if you want to spend tonight with a man who actually will give you his full and undivided attention, and if you want to spend Turn's End having a good time and not standing alone in a crowded room, then show me the way. I'll give you everything you're looking for tonight."

His words got her feet moving again, though she wasn't quite sure why. A part of her she didn't want to acknowledge whispered that it was because nothing else would make J'mar more angry than finding out she'd left with V'lorn. Maybe it wasn't going to be the sweet, romantic evening she'd had planned when she spent so much time cleaning up and finding a nice gown to wear, but it would be better than going home alone. At least, she _hoped_ it would.

Last updated on the November 7th 2006

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Better Than Going Home Alone... Maybe