Dances with Dustrags }{ Complete

[danaphantom]

It had been months since anyone had really stepped foot into the formal hall, and it certainly showed. A layer of dust coated everything, from floor to ceiling. With a hatching feast in only a few sevendays, this was unacceptable. It was mostly busy work, easily done in an hour by a single person.

Except they picked a person with a short attention span.

Larien had been dusting as he was supposed to, managing two tables and their allotted chairs. However, as he looked around the dusty room, memories of several grand feasts began to surface in his mind. A wide grin slowly spread across his face as he tended and cleaned a few glow baskets.

Deciding that he would change things up a bit, the candidate wandered over to the dancing platform, giving it a look over. It would need to be mopped, he decided, wondering if he could sucker into doing that particular task...

As he stepped onto the platform, another grin spread across Larien's face as he thought back to the last time he was here. Oooh, and that charming sea holder lad... too bad the boy had decided to return to his home when he was left behind at the hatching. The clandestine part made the situation all the more sweet.

He didn't really realize it, but Larien found himself dancing about on the dusty platform, retracing steps he had made back then. He had no partner now, but he had his dust cloth and the laughter of a good time with a good friend.

[lredd011]

Keeliah had just found herself a fresh cup of klah and was humming to herself as she wandered aimlessly around the Weyr, with no particular destination in mind. She was deep in thought, wondering what was to become of the upcoming Hatching, what with poor, dear Grenth being in her current state. This was one of Keeliah's favorite pastimes, helping accommodate the Candidates (more like spoil them), and Faranth help her if some sharding Wherhandler from Southern ruined that for her!

Keeliah did not get angry. She took those feelings and transformed them into a determination that was perhaps even more intimidating than anger. Southern would NOT prevail. They could take their Weyrwoman away from them, but Solace would continue to exist, whether they liked it or not. They would move on - thrive, even. Keeliah didn't know why, but she had a feeling this clutch of Grenth's was going to be special. Every clutch was special, Keeliah knew. But this one was going to make history...it had to.

Keeliah was about to wander straight past the formal hall, when a faint commotion stopped the Redrider in her tracks. The petite woman peered inside, careful not to make any noise so as not to startle whoever was there. To her pleasant surprise, she found one of the Candidates was having a little fun with his chores. Her face immediately lit up, and she couldn't help but smile as she watched the boy completely lose himself in his "work." This was exactly what she needed! See, Southern could not bring them down! Life would move on. New life was about to begin, and being around the Candidates was a perfect reminder of that fact.

Keeliah made it a point to personally introduce herself to all of the Candidates, and with the recent events, she had unfortunately had less time to devote to this tradition. Hoping not to embarrass the boy, or startle him, Keeliah first cleared her throat rather audibly and then sort of bounced across the room towards him.

"I couldn't help but notice what a wonderful job you are doing with your chores. My name is Keeliah of Red Lilith. Might I have your name so I can give a good report to Candidate Master S'rus?"

Her voice was light and almost musical, and she smiled with her usual infectious white smile.

"Where did you learn to dance like that, young man? If you need a dance partner, I would love to brush up on my own dancing skills. I am afraid my dragonriding legs have long replaced my dancing ones."

[danaphantom]

He had paused briefly in his dance when he heard the noise of the Redrider announcing her presence, making it seem even louder since there were no steps to cover it. Larien flinched, a grimace spread across his face, realizing he had been caught. With his back to the door, however, he didn't know who had busted him, but the fact that whoever it was cleared their throat rather than, say, laugh... he had a bad feeling.

It was quite the pleasant surprise when he turned to see the chipper Rider make her way over. Still, the concern was etched on his face as she spoke... was that sarcasm? It didn't sound like sarcasm. He was pretty sure it wasn't, with her tone so bright, but...

Nah, no harm, no foul?

"My name's Larien, ma'am. Pleased to meet you. Just, uh... preparing the hall for the upcoming hatching feast," he said with a gentle smile, holding up his dancing partner, er... dustrag. "Oh, just... something I've picked up, from all the feasts I've been to 'n such. We get candidates from all over the continent, it seems, and most are happy to share what they know." Well, most had been depressed at being left behind at the hatching, but that was another story, something Larien always tried to distract them from.

After a moment's hesitation, he held a hand out to Keeliah, ignoring or forgetting the fact he still clung to the dusty rag as if it were a safety blanket. A charming grin spread across his face as he tacitly invited her to join him on the platform. If he was in trouble... well, he would certainly try to connive his way out, by any smile necessary.

[lredd011]

Keeliah was an extremely perceptive individual and she noticed the boy's hesitation, though it was brief. She supposed she couldn't blame him. Here she was, a woman ten years his Senior, and outranking him as a Rider, and she had caught him goofing off. He didn't know her, so how should he know how she would react to finding him there? Well, he was sure to be pleasantly surprised then!

Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, "Don't worry, Larien. You're not in trouble. Not with me, anyways. You just looked like you were having so much fun! I just had to come see who you were. I guess I'm a little nosy that way. But it will be our little secret."

With a wink, she now joined him on the platform. Before taking his extended hand, she gently removed the dustrag in this other hand with a giggle and placed it on a nearby table. "There. That's better. You won't be needing that now that you have a proper dancing partner!" Her grayish blue eyes twinkled, seeming to smile all on their own. She took his extended hand with her right one, and with her other hand she set it gingerly on his shoulder.

"Now! Let's see if I can get my dancing feet back!"

Now that Keeliah was standing right in front of Larien, it was evident how stark of a size difference there was between them. Of course, most people were taller than Keeliah. But this boy, whom she guessed could not be more than 17 turns old, had about a foot and a half on her. She quite literally had to stare straight up to meet the boy's eyes. It wasn't easy on her neck. But she didn't mind.

With a firm nod, she now took on a tone of mock seriousness. "Whenever you are ready, Sir."

[danaphantom]

Larien couldn't help but grin at Keeliah's whispered reply. Oh yes. He would definitely get along well with this Rider. Tucking her name away in his memory, he helped her up onto the platform, mind wandering somewhat deviously. Oh, but he was a Candidate and she a Rider... and getting disqualified from candidacy, with a clutch so close to hatching... He tucked away most of his plans, too.

"Oh, right," he mumbled, a bout of sheepishness crossing over him as the Redrider removed the dust cloth. Right, not the best choice of partners in the world... he could think of worse, though. It quickly passed, however, as he noticed her reaction to his height. Ah, classic... the candidate never got tired of that, when people realized just how tall he actually was. Subconsciously, his charm suddenly doubled.

"This might be a bit difficult without any music, but we can certainly try... and if not today, at the feast!" If Keeliah suspected any shyness in Larien, it would likely be lost completely as the latter began to firmly lead the former in a simple waltz. "This next hatching is going to be great, I just know it," the candidate said, before humming a simple tune to try to help keep the beat.

[lredd011]

Keeliah followed Larien's lead as he picked up what she soon recognized as a waltz. In reality, she was a decent dancer. It wasn't her strongest point, but she could certainly hold her own. Even without music, the Redrider soon found herself in a rhythm where she didn't have to think much about the steps any more. She simply let Larien lead her around the platform. She was glad he had picked something simple so they could converse more easily.

Keeliah nodded vigorously in response to his comment on the upcoming hatching. "Yes, my thoughts exactly!" she exclaimed. Of course, there were some things to worry about. Keeliah was not blind to that. Grenth would surely not make this hatching easy. The Gold had completely lost her marbles, after all. There was really no way to predict how this hatching would go. But if she really cared about her children, she would have to let them Impress....That was the whole reason she had stayed behind after Maai had died, was it not? These are the things Keeiah told herself anyways. She really didn't see any point in worrying about it. They needed to have a plan of action if the worst should happen, but sitting around worrying would not do anyone a bit of good! That was how she saw it, anyways.

A thought occurred to Keeliah as she danced with the tall Candidate. He had mentioned previous feasts and Candidates from all over...That meant he was not a first time Candidate. She wondered how she had not met him before, and if she had, why she did not remember him. And especially with a personality like his, it was perplexing to the young woman that they would not have crossed paths before this. She had been at Solace since she was 12 Turns.

"Larien, you mentioned being at feasts before. How many times have you Stood at a hatching? I can't believe I am saying this, but I can't say I remember you. This must be a first for me. How embarrassing!"

[danaphantom]

As he hummed, the pair wandered about the dancing platform, and Larien found his thoughts wandering as well. A great hatching, yes. Grenth may be... less than normal, at the moment, but that shouldn't affect the hatchlings. The Dragons of the Weyr wouldn't let it, he was sure of it. Rekhath may be younger, but he was sure that, given the situation, she would be able to force the will of the Clutchmother.

Frankly, it would simply have to work.

But yes, this hatching would be great. Just because -

Larien found his step faultering as Keeliah's question lodged itself in his brain. He laughed at himself to cover the blunder. It was mostly him being distracted, but... no. Stopping the waltz, he pondered a moment, his wry grin fading somewhat, in part because he was thinking, in part because of the stark truth. It had been four turns since his first standing, and despite the coming Threadfall, Solace had only one Queen until just recently.

"This will be my fifth clutch," he replied, which stung as he realized that he had seen dozens of dragons, not one of them suited to him. But Larien was not one to dwell on the past, especially when it was depressing. "Maybe you were just waiting for me to become a good dance partner!" he added as his grin returned, masking his secret disappointment. To keep either from really thinking about it too much, he pulled the Redrider in to start a fast-paced, much more exuberant dance. There wasn't time to think about things one couldn't change when focusing on not tripping over one's feet!

[lredd011]

Keeliah found that their waltz had abruptly stopped. Larien was quiet for a long moment, his mind seemingly in a whole different place. Keeliah was immediately sorry she had asked that question. She was only trying to get to know him a little better, figure out why she hadn't met him yet. But she usually had more tact than this. She was about to apologize for her nosiness when he gave his answer. Five clutches. It was a lot, no doubt. A lot of times to feel rejection and to not make that special bond. Keeliah herself had Impressed at 12 at her very first Hatching, so she did not pretend to know what it felt like. But she was an empathetic person by nature. And she had attended enough Hatchings to see countless Candidates experience not Impressing over and over and over again. It was a difficult thing for sure. But there was still hope. Larien had a few more turns left yet.

"Larien, I have been to many, many Hatchings. And I have seen many a Candidate Impress at the very last chance to do so. It happens all the time...and you, you still have a few more Turns before it's your last chance."

She didn't know if her words would be of much comfort to him. But she didn't have much time to wonder about it, for Larien had clearly already moved on and had pulled her into a fast-paced little number. She laughed freely as she tried to keep up, failing a couple times, but able to find her way back fairly easily. "Larien, I think you are right!" she managed to say as she concentrated on her steps, biting her lower lip. "You are going to give some of those older Riders a little bit of competition at the next Feast! They might not be too happy about you coming in and sweeping all us women off our feet!"

[danaphantom]

Larien shrugged at Keeliah's first comment, focusing on his steps for a while. He frowned, though it was from concentrating, not from sadness. He was pondering, mind wandering.

"It just gets boring, I guess," he replied, before increasing the tempo slightly, twirling the Redrider around when he felt she had gotten enough of a hang of the fast-paced, slightly complicated steps. Her comments brought his wry grin back, the Candidate moving to pull her close and dip her low.

"Hmm... just don't tell the Candidate Master, eh? We're not supposed to be, ah... fraternizing." His voice was quiet, practically a whisper in her ear. Their faces were close, Larien looking deeply at Keeliah, his breath heavy from the exertion. A mere moment passed, but it would likely feel like forever. It certainly did to Larien.

But he couldn't do this. Not now. Not when the hatching was so close. But he could feel...

With a laugh, he pulled back, twirling Keeliah again. After another beat, he changed the pace again, slowing them to a slightly more somber pace so they could catch their breaths. He opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it for the moment, his mind reeling slightly.

[lredd011]

Keeliah couldn't help but give a girlish giggle when he spun her around the floor, now incorporating some fancier footwork. He dipped her back, suddenly, and the Redrider found that their faces were quite close together now. He whispered in her ear, though she didn't really hear the words. Her eyes were wide in surprise as she looked into his own eyes, her smile fading. She was unable, for the moment, to say anything or do anything. Even her breath stopped for the time being. And for that moment, she forgot where she was.

And then the world came back to life again as Larien spun her around once more before switching back to a slower dance. Her breathing was heavy now, her chest rising and falling from the dancing, but also from - whatever that had been. What had that been? Was she overanalizing? It was probably all harmless, right? Just Larien continuing to play along, just as she had been. A boy being a boy and showing off, perhaps? But it had felt like something else. And that wasn't good. Had she led him on somehow? Keeliah racked her brain, retracing her steps, her words. She hadn't meant to...

Well, either way, whether she had led him on intentionally or not, she had to be the adult and put a stop to it - whatever 'it' was - before it even started. She couldn't take any chances. She was a Rider. And he was a Candidate. And she didn't want to put him in any situation that would jeopardize that. Not when he had been through so many Hatchings already. Every one counted for him. She would never forgive herself.

Clearing her throat, she suddenly pulled away from Larien, her tone becoming professional and a little stiff. "Thank you for the dance, Larien. It was a pleasure. I will tell the Candidate Master that you are doing an exceptional job with your chores." With a nod, she quickly turned to leave, and all but ran out of the dining hall. Her cup of klah from earlier sat on the table, now cold and almost completely full. It was the only sign that she had been there.

[danaphantom]

Larien closed his eyes as they began their slow dance, trying his very hardest to blank his mind. He had never really had qualms with flirting, and what it could lead to, but that had always been with fellow candidates. People his own age. Sure, that had been just as illegal, but... he wanted to be on his best behavior. He tried to be on his best behavior. But with Keeliah in his arms and the adrenaline still pumping from their dancing, the thoughts of the consequences were fading fast. So he tried to make every other thought disappear as well.

He let his arms hang limply at his sides when the Rider finally pulled away. Though a gentle smile still remained, his disappointment could not be masked. Oh, he was having fun. Why let the fun stop? Still, she had made her decision, and he would not pressure her. That was not his way. Pursue her, yes, but...

Her stiff reply caused him to stiffen slightly, the boy merely nodding in reply. Had he done something wrong? It hadn't felt wrong... and he was just dancing. Right? Larien was silent as he watched Keeliah practically run away, whatever words that he wanted to say coming too late. With a sigh, he ran his fingers through his sweaty hair.

It was for the best, he supposed. He had chores to finish. After another minute of gathering himself back up, he stepped off the dancing platform, moving to retrieve his dustrag, and finding Keeliah's mug. Ah... he wondered if he should return it. With her speedy escape, however, he decided it was something to be left alone... for now. So, instead, he returned to his chore, focusing on it to keep himself from focusing on the Redrider.