Breakfast in Weyr [Nine]

[Windra]

Of course E'lis wasn't gonna see Ronnie around as much. Not after the wher attacks with everybody freaking out. And certainly not after her recent promotion! Although it did ... make him feel a way. A little lonely, mayhaps. Their 'second date' kept getting postponed. He wasn't really the type to nudge and nudge to the point of annoyance and decided to give her the space she needed. Who knew how much work a Wherleader was required to do?! Tuckal was almost impossible to find outside of her weyr! (Although that could have a lot to do with a slew of other problems. Who knew?)

It was Plemeth who urged him out. Your thoughts are driving me up the forsking wall. Go and say hello to the lady before I throw you off the weyr ledge myself! Of course she is busy. So go out of your way! I'll bet you she's famished and stressed!

He didn't need to be told twice.

E'lis ransacked the kitchen to fill a platter with meatrolls and stew, bread and cheese ... and, with a bit of sweet-talking, a couple of extra bubbly pies. The k'lah was tricky. Or, well, balancing the whole shardin' thing was tricky! Quite a few close calls on the way down to the wherhandler quarters.

And ... ah ...

Shit.

Which weyr was her's?

"Miss Ronnie!" he called in a harsh whisper, habit forcing him to be mindful of those who might be asleep at this late hour. It was long after dark. But this was the nocturnal section ... ! "Ma'am, I've brought food - ah, where are you?"

[nineofswords]

Ronnie was buried in paperwork. Which was honestly was her in her element; paperwork was something she'd been taught from birth how to handle, and her penmanship was crisp, neat, and efficient. But changing over from the last wherleader left a lot of paperwork, even for her. It left little time for much else.

She was so engrossed in what she was working on that she was blocking everything else out. Onisk was still sleeping, taking advantage of the hour on what was nominally meant to be a day off. It was Osk who noticed something odd, lifting his head and growling. When Ronnie still didn't look up at that, he slowly got to his feet and padded over to her desk to headbutt her with another growl.

She jerked, slightly, looking up at him. "Osk? What's the matter?" The brown jerked his head towards the door and Ronnie followed the motion, frowning. "There's someone at the door?" She got up and opened it and then she finally heard a familiar voice. "E'lis?" she called out, utterly surprised. "Eli-kins, is that you?"

[Windra]

The moment she opened the door, E'lis felt sweat dampen the back of his neck. "Uh - " She was caught completely off-guard, not expecting him ... or really, anybody. Probably. There was a haze about her: the air of intense work and no sleep for the wicked. The greenrider coughed into a closed fist, prickling heat in his face alerting him to the rousing crimson of his cheeks. "R-Ronnie! Evenin' to you, lovely - ah - hope ahm not disturbin' ya, love - "

He stammered over the words, especially since that last one caught in his throat. Plemeth gave him a harsh mind-push to help heimlich the rest out of his airway.

"Ah - ah haven't seen you 'round and ... well ... " Poor bashful boy. He glanced at his feet awkwardly. "Jes' worried ya might be overlookin' yer health, s'all. Brought some hot grub. And k'lah. Wine too, if'n you're wanting."

[nineofswords]

Ronnie saw the greenrider in the hall holding a tray, and for a moment her brain didn't seem able to register why that could possibly be. But then he was blushing, and she gave him a warm smile, because this, at least, was familiar territory for her. "Eli-kins, darling, you could never disturb me!" she said, striding out into the hallway to meet him and give him a peck on the cheek. It was also so they could talk without having to raise their voices and disturb her no doubt sleeping neighbors.

Ronnie let out a sigh that was half apologetic, half aggravated. "I know, it's been forever since we've been able to spend time together. The paperwork feels never-ending right now, and Osk - and I say this with all the love in the world, because he is just the sweetest in his own way - is a bit of a handful. Not in the sense that a baby is, you know how the young ones get, all energy and no sense, but he just gets overwhelmed very easily you see. It's been ever so long since he's been around so many people, and it's tiring, and he is quite an old wher you know, so he does tire rather easily. We were on half shifts because of how hard it is for him to keep up with us lively girls - which was a bit of a boon as I started settling into my new position - but I simply cannot bring myself to leave him alone to sleep once we're off duty because he gets nightmares you see, and it absolutely breaks my heart to think of him waking up to an empty weyr all alone after all those turns without another soul to rely on, so leaving him to his own devices isn't really possible right now." She stopped to wind her arm through E'lis'. "Oh, but it's wonderful to see you, it really is. Tell me, how's your darling Plemeth? Is she keeping you out of trouble?"

Ronnie gave a delighted gasp when E'lis said why he'd come, and finally gave the tray a proper look. "For me? Oh E'lis, you wonderful, beautiful boy, food is absolutely welcome!" She sighed wistfully at the wine. "I'd better not," she admitted. "I still have a few duty rosters I want to approve, and I shouldn't drink when I'm working on official Weyr paperwork. It's just sloppy, you know, besides which, I had an uncle who would drink when he did paperwork, and let's just say the errors that caused created a scandal that people still talk about to this day in the hold he lived in. Oh, but I shouldn't get into that. E'lis, be a dear and enjoy the wine for me?" She went to take the tray, then stopped, biting her lip. "Oh, but....I'm sure you'll want to eat this with me, won't you?" She looked back at her door, sighing. "I'm not sure Osk will do well with people in our weyr, and I'd rather not test that just yet. I suppose I could do with a break...is it absolutely miserable for a picnic in the weyrbowl just now?" she asked. "I could do with a break, though just a quick one."

[Windra]

"Not miserable at all, darlin', so long as you're around!" And he gave a broad grin, keenly aware that the blush was spreading fast across his nose. "Honestly though, s'a bit blistery. I would absolutely bundle up!"

Ronnie's little pecks and public displays of affection were not something he ever found himself tiring of ... but that wasn't the most endearing thing he was finding of her right now. The way she spoke of Osk - how highly, how much praise and adoration - doting on him like a toddler of her own. It was fantastic. She was undeterred by the brown's actions and surrendered herself - mostly - to maintaining his happiness in an environment he wasn't suited to for a long time.

"He hasn't really spoken much 'bout where he's come from, has he?" he asked suddenly and could not help but turn his head just a little - just a smidge - to try and glimpse the big boy nesting in the weyr. "'Caused a big ol' fuss and Faranth you know how some folk talk 'o whers like they're worse n' tunnelsnakes. Forskin' hypocrites. Heck if he ain't walkin', talkin' proof that they can have bad days jes like everythin' else and come outta it with a little TLC. Heard he's all scarred up. Ah can't believe some of 'em heartless ingrates still chain them up - " He felt himself prattling on, and picking up momentum and heat as he went. But E'lis also found he might be starting to broach a ... tender subject. "Betcha he's a big ol' handsome fella. Be nice for Plemmy to meet 'im whenever he comes 'round! She thinks Onisk is flippin' adorable."

Thinking back to his own bonded, he gave a snort.

"Oh, her," E'lis tittered. "Glowin' like a worm and Ah wager she'd be rising by sevenday's end. Gettin' right up my rump about everything and believe you me, s'all Ah can do to get a breather from her every now and then."

I could say the same of you, E'lis, snapped the green with a warning. Carrying on with your nerves like some jilted creche boy coming of age. I need my personal space, too.

"Oh, she's mad at me now," he laughed. "She packs such venom for a little thing. Then he put on a serious face, shifting to accommodate her linked arm without losing his grip on the platter. [b]"I know ya got so much goin' on darlin, and Ah don't wanna force yer hand if it'll make ya stressed n' throw Osk into a tizzy. If'n ya want Ah can pull up a few chairs n' we can munch at your doorway?"

[nineofswords]

"Oh, you flatterer," Ronnie said, giving him an affectionate and gentle slap on the arm. She nodded. "Good idea, though, about bundling up." The idea of eating out in the cold didn't exactly appeal to her, but cuddling up to E'lis was definitely something she wouldn't say no to.

Her smile was became softer - and perhaps just a touch sad - her tone less flirtatious as E'lis asked about Osk. "He hasn't spoken at all, to be honest," she said, adjusting her dress slightly. "The mindhealers seem to think he's alright, and he can communicate what he needs with me just fine. He just isn't ready, might never be. Which is fine, of course, I don't need to tell you that I talk enough for three people, I'm more than capable of compensating for a silent wher." She sighed. "Still, some days, I can't help but feel I'm not doing something right if he hasn't spoken to me yet." It was a silly thing to worry about, she knew. He'd heal in his own time, and nothing she did would speed that up. But it was a nagging insecurity she sometimes felt nonetheless.

"Oh yes, I know better than most how people like to talk," Ronnie agreed with a hefty sigh. "I was a world-champion gossip back in the day. And nothing makes gossip more fun than a handy scapegoat, and the lumpy, flightless cousins of dragons do tend to be everyone's favorite in that department, don't they?" She couldn't bring herself to be mad about it anymore, honestly. All she could do was work like anything to change that perception, which was exactly what she was doing. Her expression turned very dark when he mentioned how some people still chained whers up. "Mm. If I ever come across the heartless brute who did that to him, I'm not certain I could maintain the decorum my parents worked so hard to instill in me," she said, her tone acidic and promising death despite her mild words.

Ronnie worked her lip thoughtfully when E'lis hinted he wanted to introduce Osk to his dragon. "Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get him more used to spending time around dragons and other people," she admitted. "We should pick somewhere quiet, though. Too many people, too much noise, and he just bolts for our room. Which, to his credit, is a far cry better than biting, but if you want him to not run off, we'll have to make a date of it somewhere quiet."

She let out a delighted laugh at E'lis' description of Plemeth. "Oh, good for her! I know dragons tend to get crabby right before a flight, but it'll be over soon, and she'll get to have some fun, which she more than deserves." She laughed when he said Plemeth was mad at him. "Well serves you right, gossiping about a lady's bedroom habits behind her back like that!" she teased. "And you should know not to underestimate us short girls," she added, putting her hands on her hips and drawing herself up to her full, unimpressive height of five foot five. "We have to be able to tear a man down with words or else everyone will just walk all over us."

Tension that Ronnie didn't realize she'd been holding unclenched in her shoulders when E'lis suggested grabbing chairs and eating in front of her door. "Oh Eli-kins, that would be wonderful. You beautiful man, if you weren't holding the tray I would absolutely kiss you right now." She quickly darted into her room and dragged a few chairs out and then a chest as a makeshift table for the tray. "Please, you perfect man, make yourself comfortable."

[Windra]

"Oh yeah, you sure do talk a lot," E'lis quipped with a light-hearted laugh. The rash of red across his nose and cheeks brightened hotter than the sun. "BUt it's a beautiful thing 'bout ya, darlin'! I never get tired of hearin' ya speak. Ya've got such a pretty voice! And you're smart, to boot!"

He wasn't going to tell her that listening to the drolling of some of these idiots made his brain hurt. He knew he wasn't incredibly smart, either ... and he didn't claim to be! But E'lis had common sense. Sooooo many among them weren't birthed with the intelligence to not hold a candle to oil.

Their shared sentiment about the treatment of whers made her blossom in his heart. "I've liked whers for a long time 'fore I met ya, Ronnie," he told her, trying to make it clear that she was not the reason he thought they needed to be defended. "Big 'n tough for all the jobs on land that a dragon can't handle! Don't get me wrong, Plemeth is tough where she ain't big, but ah've seen one big blue cartin' three full carts of coal outta a mine one time. One! That might not seem like a lot but for their size and, uh, relativity I guess, you'd think it'd take more n' one wher. Didja know I thought I'd bond to a wher for the longest time 'fore Plemeth found me? Not 'cause I'd age out or nothin'. They're just amazing!"

Stop kissing ass, Plemeth groveled. I'd have found you as a dragon or a wher.

"I'm not kissin' - " E'lis silenced himself with a sigh. There was no point in arguing with a dragon in estrus, and he certainly did not want to fight with the creature who owned his heart first. He felt a wave of relief, really, when Ronnie got some chairs and a chest together for them to dine. The trays were getting heavy! He set them down with a giddy grinning. The hallway was much more narrow now. Folks would have to squeeze past them. Frankly, that didn't much matter to him! "Haha! I love how ya can adapt to situations so quickly!" She'd done so without complaint over inconvenience or whatever. "Like goin' sledding in the mud! That's the most fun I've had in ages, Ronnie, and I'm so glad you were open to it!"

He did sit after carefully placing the food and spread his arms to allow the muscles to relax for a minute. Mugs and bottled were not heavy but full of liquid, it certainly got tedious! E'lis sought a roll of bread and bit into it without a second thought. Briefly he wondered if maybe he was supposed to wait for the lady to break bread first?

[nineofswords]

Ronnie giggled when E'lis blushed immediately after teasing her. "Never change, Eli-kins," Ronnie told him. She rose up on her tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek. "And thank you for the compliment, my dear." He really was just the sweetest man.

She smiled as E'lis started in on talking up whers. "They are incredible, aren't they?" she asked. "As smart as dragons in many respects, and much easier for the average person to bond to. Being a dragonrider was simply never in the cards for me - I never had the aptitude, I guess - but whers aren't quite so particular. Which means I get the pleasure of their company without having to have that special something dragons are looking for. But I am certainly glad you had whatever it is. If anyone deserves to be a dragonrider, it is certainly you, my dear Eli-kins. Your heart is the biggest I've ever encountered."

She smiled demurely when E'lis complimented her adaptability. "Why thank you!" she said. "Being able to adapt to new things quickly is simply a must in polite company. You simply never know what sort of subject a person is going to bring up, and you have to be able to respond accordingly and with appropriate grace." She beamed when he brought up mudsliding. "Oh Eli-kins, that was such a marvelous idea! It was such fun! I think life is so much more fun if you're willing to try new things before deciding what you think of them. And while it's true that I was scrubbing mud out of places I'd never have guessed I could get it in, it was utterly worth it for how much fun I had!" And the excuse to snuggle up to her favorite greenrider, of course.

Ronnie settled herself and waited until E'lis looked like he was done balancing the tray before she snatched up the mug of klah. "Oh Faranth, I needed this," she sighed, savoring the bitter flavor before reaching for something sweet for balance. "This is absolutely perfect, my dear Eli-kins. Truly, thank you." She wished she could show him just how much she appreciated it, but she really did need to finish a few of those reports as soon as possible, and she owed Eli-kins her undivided attentions once she was able to get him alone for some fun.

[Windra]

Any other man - or, well, lady - might be willing to usher this conversation into the bedroom now that their bellies were filling. E'lis was not fully immune to his body. The first turn after Plemeth started rising had been tricky as he navigated strong physical urges that tangled with the mental intertwining or carnal emotions. There had been some definite messy situations. But with each flight, E'lis got a little better at subduing the needs. Sure they would still knock him off his feet now and again, especially if she blindsided him after being roused to the sky after another dragon had just broadcast their sensations, but the greenrider was confident in his ability to separate himself from the event.

He could feel Plemeth's mingled emotions of rage and frustration and hunger - the dragon needling his brain as if finding the best course of action to pick a fight. But he rolled his shoulders and set up a mental block. It wasn't her fault. Plemeth was the sweetest thang this side of Pern and hormones set her into a right pissed monster. This too would pass.

But anyway ... Yeah, physical stuff. But his heart? That was what was hungry. E'lis was content to prop his chin on a hand and watch this lovely lady scarf down food in her delicate mannerisms. He started to, too, before some distant noise snapped him out of it. "I forget sometimes of yer background, Ronnie darlin'. But ah am sure glad ya broke from it and made yourself one of us rabblerousers." He casually craned his view over his shoulder, still hoping to get a peek at Osk even though it was obvious that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon. "Ahm real glad he came back to find ya. He couldn't have picked a better person. Funny how it works, what with you becomin' wherleader an' all not long after. Ya got the makin' of a good, strong leader on top of an already beautiful, funny, charmin' lady - "

With each embellishment, his cheeks became redder. He felt much like he was floating after that kiss. Slowly he reached across the table to find a hand when it was free, planting his lips on it, and he swallowed hard.

"ALSO, I wanna 'pologize fer blurtin' out about wantin' to go steady n'all," he stammered out quickly before he lost his nerve. This had been something he was meaning to bring up, but Ronica was under a ton of pressure with a new wher and a new responsibility and he wasn't trying to rush something right off a cliff and chase her off. "Ah know it came outta nowhere an' Ah thought Ah spooked ya, ah jes ... Well. Ah still do but even Ah don't know the first thin' 'bout that. Ah just imagine it'd be ... " He glanced at her, eyes dreamy. Blinking away stars. "Somethin' like this, honestly. Jes' bein' close to you is really ... Well, mah chest s'all warm and comfortable and Ah feel there's butterflies in my head."

[nineofswords]

She laughed lightly when he brought up her background. "So am I. Believe me, being a wherhandler at a Weyr is far more fun than being a high society lady ever was. I swear, sometimes I think manner were made up to keep people from enjoying themselves at all!" Osk, for his part, was slightly awake, but tucked away in his den in the closet, safely out of sight. The scent of someone new so close by had roused him, but Ronnie seemed at ease, so he was fine to stay where he was and doze. Onisk, it might be noted, was sound asleep, absolutely dead to the world, but equally hidden in her den under the elevated bed.

Ronnie smiled fondly as E'lis talked about the brown. "I'm glad he found me, too. He's such a sweetheart, in his own way. And Onisk is so good with him, so patient and gentle, and I think it does him good to have a little sister. And it's been interesting for us, too, having a wher around who's much more worldly and guarded than either of us. Good, in some ways. Onisk can be dreadfully naive about certain things, and it's nice to not have to be the only one with sense in her head in the bond." Not that she didn't love Onisk dearly, of course, but having someone around that she knew could help her watch out for the white was a deep relief.

"Careful now," she teased E'lis lightly, "You keep flattering me like that, it's liable to go straight to my head!" She smiled fondly at him when he took her hand and kissed it, the slightest blush warming her face. "Why, Eli-kins, I do believe there might be a gentleman hidden somewhere in there," she said.

And then he brought up wanting to go steady again, and her face fell slightly. She sighed, but she let him keep holding her hand. She'd hoped he would've let that go, but...no, they probably did need to talk about it. "Eli-kins, you know I'm dreadfully fond of you," she said. "And I love all the time we get to spend together. I just...part of the reason I left the Hold was because my parents were adamant that I marry. And the idea of being tied down to one man for the rest of my life...I don't think that's for me, Eli-kins. I like flirting, like the feeling of butterflies in my stomach that only a new relationship can give, like kissing and more. And there's so many people in this world, and they're all wonderful in different ways, and the idea of only being with one person and closing myself off to what everyone else can give me...I just feel myself resenting whoever's asking that of me, and I never want to feel like I'm resenting a man as good and kind as you, Eli-kings."

She looked down. "But I know you weren't raised in a Weyr, and I know that sort of lifestyle isn't for everyone, so if you're not comfortable with that..." She trailed off, unable to bring herself to finish that sentence. She bit her lip, then looked up at him. "I don't want to hurt you, Eli-kins, but I have to do what's right for me." She should never have let their flirtation get this far without mentioning it, but she'd been having so much fun with him, and she hadn't wanted to ruin that with serious talk. But if she was going to break his heart, better it happen now than months into an actual serious relationship. She hoped he'd be open to her being with other people too, but she had to be realistic. The holder boys she'd known would never have been comfortable with that. Which was why she'd never truly been happy there. She liked and respected E'lis too much to ever put him in a position where she'd start to hate him the way she had those boys back at Fort Hold.

[Windra]

E’lis held his breath for a beat longer than he probably should have. A myriad of emotions flickered across his face and none were anger or disappointment. There was a depth there. Something profound. Kindling realization. Though he’d been hoping for an answer, this was … an answer, whether it was the kind he’d fancied hearing or not.

Even Plemeth sounded a little taken aback. That was unexpected.

Is it, though? Weyr life was quite different than the one he’d grown accustomed to. Growing up on a farm with two very monogamous folks who spewed love for all their bickering was a fine mold for his person. E’lis had only ever imagined finding romance. A partner for life. Babies. But he was nothing if not malleable. Keith would be hootin’ and hollerin’ right now, if he’d been here!

”Maybe it’s … ,” he started to say, then blinked realizing he’d spoken aloud. This was meant to be his internal dialogue. And with words spilling out, the greenrider was bound to have the wherleader’s attention. He cleared his throat, covering his mouth with a free hand balled into a fist. Never once did he remove Ronnie’s fingers from his own. His thumb brushed over the top of her knuckles. They were so soft for so rugged a life. ”Miss Ronnie, I gotta admit I’m kinda … shook?”

Was that the right word?

Shooketh.

E’lis swallowed.

”To be truthful, ah’ve … never really been in … a commitment. Sure is somethin’ ah’ve always kinda wished fer. I mean … Ah’ve shared my weyr with a good many folks ‘cause Plemmy risin’ kinda make its hard not to sometimes. Lots of times. But bein’ ‘round you that night when all the stars were shootin’ over our heads – that was magical and ah felt this pang righ’chere.”

E’lis thumped his chest. Despite the pounding beneath his ribs, he was smiling.

”Nobody’s ever looked mah direction unless Plemeth was sky-high and heated. Your attention … maybe … got to my head. But ah love it. And ah love the feelin’ ah get when I’m wit’cha. Love holdin’ ya. Little kisses. I reckon ah love you somethin’ fierce.” His face flashed red. Shit, his cheeks burned. ”Ah … honestly? Ah don’t really give a flyin’ hoot who ya take to bed wit’ ya. Or kiss. Or nunna that. Yer beautiful, and smart, and lovely and ya got so much tah share than one person can handle. I’d never ask ya to change yerself, Miss Lovely Ronnie. If it’s all the same tah you, ah’d love to still wine n’ dine n’ kiss ya every now n’ again, if yer’ willin’?” His eyes fell downwards suddenly, realizing with sullen truth that he probably ruined everything by running his yapper. ”But ah … ah realize ah might’ve made ya mighty uncomfortable an’ ah’ll absolutely respect yer wishes if’n you don’t wanna.”

[nineofswords]

Ronnie watched E'lis's face carefully, looking for anything that would warn her if she needed to put space between herself and him. She didn't think there would be, didn't think he was that kind of man, but she was on her guard nonetheless. She'd been burned by men before. But it would seem that Ronnie hadn't needed to worry about that.

He didn't even take his hand from hers, and despite herself, she felt hope fluttering in her chest, even going so far as to color her cheeks in a blush. She had to bite her lip when he began to speak so she wouldn't try to rush him into telling her what he was thinking. When he did speak, though, she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. "Shook in a good way, or a bad one?" she asked.

And then he was talking, and he was smiling, and it was a good sign, and wonderful sign, but his words were even better. "Oh Eli-kins!" she said, throwing her arms around his neck, careless of the tray. "I feel absolutely the same way about you!" she said. "You're wonderful and sweet and kind, you're funny and always make me smile. You know how to have a good time, and I desperately need more of that in my life. If you're alright with sharing me, I'd love to share my life with you, darling! If you want me to move in with you, I can't think of anything I'd rather do!"

In his little den, Osk hunkered down. Ronnie was getting swept up in her emotions, emotions that were too big and complex for him to deal with. He growled, but quietly to himself, and tried to block out Ronnie's end of the bond. He was glad she was happy, but it was just...a lot for him to process.

[Windra]

Her arms were around her. Briefly E'lis thought, with a drop of humor, that maybe she was about to strangle him. She was so happy, her body was so warm, and her voice was so ... so ...

Happy!

There was a teasing Plemeth working into the back of his brain, reminiscing about how she'd called Onisk a potential little sister. He could hardly hear her words. His own arms wrapped around this lady so fiercely, squeezed so tightly. Was that smoldering heat on his chest his heart, bursting from its confines? Or Ronnie's? No it was definitely spilled k'lah.

Hah! He could deal with that later!

Unrestrained now, the final slivers of his shy composure slipped away. E'lis kissed the top of her head with a gentleness that paled in comparison to what he actually felt. Moving in with him? He gave a hearty laugh. "Haha! That's a thought, but Ah'm thinkin' that might hafta be put on the backburner fer a bit, Ronnie-love ~!"

Faranth, he felt like singing.

"NOT that Ah wouldn't love it, but Ah dun' wanna be pressurin' ya into somethin', specially what with Osk acclimatin' and all!" He really wanted to see the brown. So freaking badly! Stories alone didn't do the big lug justice. Suddenly thrusting him into a spot where there were more people and a tiny big green dragon probably wasn't the best course of action yet. "Share everythin' with me, pretty lady, s'long as yer willin'! Ah swear on all that's me that I ain't gonna git jealous! Lookit, we're already sharin' the same plate!"

He guffawed at that, wriggling himself a bit. There was indeed a plate wedged between them.

[nineofswords]

Ronnie could feel the klah staining her clothes, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was too ecstatic that E'lis was willing to accept her exactly as she was. She squeezed her arms tighter around him when he kissed the top of her head, but looked up at him in confusion when he said they should hold off. "Why?" she asked.

And then he brought up Osk and she flushed slightly. "Oh...yes, yes, of course you're right, Eli-kins. I should've thought of that..." It would be just awful if the brown ended up hurting someone because he was feeling overwhelmed in someone else's space. She heaved a sigh. "Well, I'll admit that my newest bond's timing could've been a mite better, but we shall just have to make a point of slowly acclimating him to you and your darling green. We should set up a date, something calm and quiet so he can introduce himself to the two of you."

She laughed at E'lis's joke about sharing a plate and let the man go so she could start tidying up the mess she'd made. "This is the second time I've been around you and my clothes have gotten absolutely filthy," she told him teasingly. "Even though this one is on me. But you really are something special if I'd rather spend time with you than spare my poor clothes the abuse."