Nothing Going On

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 30th August 2008

Characters: Mehan, Menore
Description: Mehan and Menore wake up in bed together.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 4

It was still dark when Menore's eyes fluttered open. This time it wasn't due to a bad dream, but of some sense of being in a place that wasn't usual for her. Her eyes fell across a form, dark in the dimness. He must have snuffed out the lights. Menore propped herself upon her elbow, half asleep as she gazed at him in the stillness. Then, she slowly slipped from the bed and moved over to whisper in his ear as she took his hand. "Mehan."

"Mmm? Menore?" He opened his eyes but there wasn't much light in the room. She was holding his hand. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She kept her voice soft and tugged at him. "Come to bed, Mehan. You'll sleep better."

He might have thought better of acceding to her invitation but his neck hurt and his backside was numb and somewhere along the line, despite the tropical evening, he'd started to feel cold. He let her do her bit to pull him out of the chair and padded across to the bed.

The young woman watched him with her eyes still cloudy from sleep, then moved back to the bed and slipped under the covers once more. She turned toward him, eyes deep and dark in the lightless room as they regarded him.

"Go back to sleep," he told her, intending to do that himself as soon as he warmed up.

"You're cold." Her voice was soft, a breathy whisper in the darkness and Menore inched closer to him, her body pressed against his own, adding her warmth.

"A little bit. Not like we get upriver, where the snow falls."

"True." Menore leaned into him and closed her eyes, one hand upon his arm. He smelled smoky and tangy, a scent that seemed to be a mix of riverboat and water. "It's warmer this way though."

"Of course it is." He sighed happily, snuggling closer and enjoying her warmth and the comfort of having somebody close by. "No more bad dreams?"

"No." She whispered, nuzzling his neck. "Not yet."

The was a long silence during which Mehan distinctly thought that there was a reason he should be staying awake, then feeling his eyes close and losing track of whatever the reason was.

~ ~ ~

Mehan woke with a jolt, certain something was wrong. His eyes flew open and his ears listened desperately for the noises he was most concerned with.

There were none of the sounds he expected in that moment of waking; no river noise against the hull, none of the creaks and rustles of the riverboat's wooden structure, and (most importantly) the grinding sounds that indicated a riverboat run aground weren't present.

Because he was in the guest house, at the seaport, he remembered, relaxing as his mind caught up. The Moonflower was undergoing her overhaul.

Menore was asleep, though at his bit of movement, she turned a bit, unconsciously moving closer to the warm body that shared the bed. She sighed softly, then settled back down.

"Menore?" How had they ended up snuggled together like this? "Hey, Menore? Wake up."

"Hm?" It took a moment, but Menore's eyes finally opened and she peered up at him through half closed eyelids. "What?"

"I don't think you should still be here," he said with a smile. Funny, the two of them snuggled up like lovers. Unlikely. "You need to get back to your room before people are up and about and see you."

The young woman stared at him for a moment then closed her eyes once more, snuggling closer. "I don't care."

"I care," he said, though he, too, shut his eyes. "People will talk."

"Why does it matter what they say?" Menore reached up, her fingers gingerly, hesitantly stroking his cheek. "It only matters what we think."

"They'll think something's going on," he said, catching her hand in his to hold it still, though not moving her fingers away from his cheek.

"Is there?" Menore tilted her head back to look at him, her breath gently warming his face.

"No." He kissed the fingers he held and then edged away. "No, there isn't."

Menore's lips turned downward into a frown. Then she rolled over, swinging her feet over the side and stood. "I should go."

"I said that," he reminded her with a smile that she probably couldn't see in the dim light seeping in through shuttered windows.

Menore winced though her back was turned and she bent down to search for her shoes, finding them by smacking into them with her hands. Shortly, she put them on and stood, then crossed over to the door. She paused then, and turned back, her mouth opening and shutting, but the words escaping her.

"We can think about this when we're more awake," he suggested, guessing the reason for her hesitation by the door.

"Yes. I suppose you're right." Still, she wavered, uncertain. Menore looked between him and the door. Finally, she made a decision and she reached out to open it, pass through, and close it behind her. She leaned against it for a few moments once outside, took a couple of deep breaths, then looked up to the sky. What a fool she was! What a blasted fool! He could never...what was she thinking? The young woman shook her head at herself, then ducked her head and hurried back to her own quarters.

Last updated on the August 31st 2008

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Nothing Going On