A Clash of Gold and Bronze

[panther]

Danask rumbled, her sleep disturbed by the brown of earlier, Danasks is informed Danask did so, Danae didn’t reply, she didn’t trust her thoughts not to come out of her mouth too, that’d give the game away completely.

“Yeah, wines alright, not much of a fan myself.” She said as she took another mouthful, “Was to busy as a girl chasing rainbows, not bottles.” She informed him. “With my cousin, shards, but that was the fun times.” She grinned. “Ezieki, I miss him, and Azvon’s not even that far, I’ll have to visit him” She declared, then laughed, “Though, the times I’d visit, he’d probably be doing unmentionables.” She smirked, “He’s a bit like you,” Danae felt pleasant now, she was tired, but the feeling wans’t over powering, she was happy, but not ecstatic, it was a gentle medium where all in Pern was right.

She smiled as he obeyed, drinking the glass down a good amount, she nodded happily and took another bit form her own glass. “I know that,” She shook her head and waved her hand as though sweeping that comment away. “As I said, your interest is misplaced, and I know it’s the fact that she, as a woman, is oblivious to your charms, but believe it or not, no matter what you may have come to believe, we’re not all dying to bed you Alder. Some of us.” She stifled a hiccough, “some of us, have better things to do.” She smirked.

Then looked affronted, “She didn’t insult you! She was looking out for me! Leave her be, I don’t want to hear bad said of Fyg. She’s agood, smart lass. Even if she does have one of the thickest accents, I’ve ever stumbled across, shards and shells but I struggled to understand her a couple of times.” She bit her lip;, looking guilty and covered her mouth with her hand. She did feel bad about it, and she’d never say it to Fyg – by this time she had already forgotten that Fyg was standing by, and could hear her anyway. Oh dear, what a frightful Quen handler she was…

[Shekru]

Though a tiny smile tugged at the brown handler's lips, she remained devoutly silent and watchful. Her balance in the tree was near catlike. And so still. Birds flit in and out among the branches, even with her present. Apparently, she was well practiced.

We're going tot take 'em for a ride tonight, m'dear. She had said to Fygwesk.

The brown's reply was a happy rumble that churned into warm thoughts. Want to see Danask. Did not see her very well. Think she pretty.

Don't you dare start. There's arreddy one ruthless horn dog in this place. Fyg teased the brown wher.

[Xennai]

Humor invaded Alder's body in waves. By the egg, the woman was just growing more and more hilarious the more she drank. Alder smirked, raising his glass to his lips and drinking a little. He intended on staying mostly--operative word mostly--sober so he could see just how much more she became.

"Rainbows, eh?" His brows rose and he smirked, head shaking from side to side at the mere thought of Danae chasing rainbows. It was a site he'd pay to have seen. Dark eyes rose even higher then when he heard the fact that he was linked with the handler's cousin. "Mmmm, not likely." The man sounded like a greenrider in the crudest of the form. He doubted he and the man were very much alike.

Alder snickered, looking over at her with dark green eyes. He looked amused, but he really was dying to see if what she said was right. "Some of you have better things to do?" he questioned softly. "Such as what, Danae? The way you described the life within the wher hold, it didn't sound like you did." He shrugged, swallowing a large portion of his glass.

"I promise I won't actively pursue you." Yet, he added silently to himself. "And I won't make myself overly known, Danae. But..." he shrugged. "You're interesting. You're a much more interesting woman than I've met in recent times. You're beautiful, without a doubt, but you've also got much more than a pretty head upon those pretty shoulders of yours."

He took another gulp of wine, having sped up now. The savoring was over. The drinking, true drinking, had just begun. He snorted and looked to Danae. "Thick accent, yes. Looking out for you, yes. It's sharding annoying." His lip rose in disgust. "I'm not going to jump you out in the open, Danae. I'm not even going to jump you unless you say yes. I may be a womanizer, but I have my scruples." He finished his glass, reaching for the skin again, needing more alcohol now.

[panther]

“Yes. Rainbows.” She assured him. “Well, metaphorical rainbows of course, it was one of those rainbows that made me make a blood pact with Danask, but that’s another tale for another day.” She said not trusting herself to recount it accurately at this moment.

“Oh aye, I have better things to do Alder, than you that is.” She smirked at the connotations – having been in the wher hold for a lot of her teenage years, she easy familiar with the filthy humour boys tended to have, and she was well used to finding it amusing too, “I’ve got things to do, like paperworks, and to see the lord holder, and suchlike! And! And I have that.. thing with… Fyg later. You know!” She paused, “What was it again?” She felt bad, but her short term memory was bad sober, let alone inebriated.

“Do as you wish Alder, I have a mind and will of mine own, and you shall not bend it.” She smirked, “I spent all my teen years around boys, handlers, all like yourself, all trying to impress the one with the gold wher. I know how to handle more than whers Alder. And I know how to tame them too.” She warned. “And, I know. I’m not overly fantastic, but I’m not a bad looking lass, even if I’m a lighter shade of pale that I’d prefer to be.” She sighed assessing her pallid hands.

She laughed, hard, she didn’t mean to, but she did, she stifled it almost immediately though, “Sorry.” She knew, now, how tentative his pride was, “But the idea of you with morals amused me. “and Fygs a good lass, she’s caring for your queen handler, you should respect that, Alder, if nothing else. And I think you mightn’t jump me in the open, but, in or around my own, or your digs? Possibly.” She smirked. “They are quite secluded afterall.” She smirked, assessing him and teasing as she took another mouthful of wine.

[Shekru]

Atta girl. Fyg thought to herself as she continued to watch and listen from her tree-perch. Fygwesk had dropped into slumber again after complaining of a light-leak into his quarters.

[Xennai]

Alder smirked. Oh, he loved it when she talked like this. When she was sober, she seemed so stiff and solemn. Now...well, now she may as well have been a different person. He also counted in the fact that they'd just met and he had, admittedly, hit on her a bit, but he didn't think that was why she'd been so formal earlier. Wasn't it?

"Ah, metaphorical." He nodded. That made much more sense. Maybe he and Danae's cousin were more alike than he'd first thought then. Ears perked forward at what she said and he listened, for all the world absorbed in her words. He was, he really was, but he was also sensing her out, trying to determine if she meant what she said or if it was all a game. He decided to go with what he felt was being sent his way...

"Danae, first of all, you have never seen me in fine form and I would gladly like to see you tame me. It might be fun. Second, you are much more than overly fantastic. You're radiant. And lastly, you made a whole bunch of excuses that made absolutely no sense and would not keep you from having any sorts of real fun." He smiled, flashing white teeth as he leaned forward, eyes holding hers. "Which makes me think that maybe...maybe...you're just the tiniest bit curious," he drawled, smile wicked.

Alder leaned back, giving the gold handler room. He took a draught of wine and swallowed, feeling the alcohol slide down his throat, slightly hot and stinging. "Mmmm, believe what you want, Danae, but I don't go until I'm told I can. Or get some sort of sign." Brows winged upward and he took another sip. "I wouldn't try it quite so soon with you either, my Queen. As you pointed out earlier, most wait a few days." He smirked and took another drink.

[panther]

((ooc: Complaining of a lightleak! Shard it! But I designed these places to avoid that! Lol xD))

“And, yes, you and my cousin are very similar, indeed.” She nodded, picking up on a point she had forgotten –temporarily- about earlier. “He’s a womaniser, though he would prefer you say that he appreciates beauty to it’s fullest. And the same excuse has seen him in the bed of a few gents too.” She smirked, “Ez is a bit prettier than you, and a deal more vain.” She informed him, pointing at him with the rim of her glass.

“Fine form?” She questioned. Ignoring the second merit he gave, for it seemed like an all too sexual innuendo than she was willing to raise, and she had meant it innocently enough. “Is there a difference? I don’t believe you.” She shook her head, taking a mouthful from her glass once more.

“As to my curiousity.” She pointed out, “I’m a curious girl.” She nodded rhythmically. “But, one doesn’t satiate her curiosities all of the time, Alder. I’m curious as to what makes Pern turn, as to whether if I were to dig through the ground, as to whether I’d reach a new land, or perhaps as I reached the centre I’d find the boils of by the first egg.” She smiled, “Yet those are two curiosities of mine, that I never intend to fulfil. What makes you even think, that he curiosity that is you warrants my attention more than those?” She asked him, questioning expression on her face, but not a soured expression. She enjoyed being challenged. She enjoyed it a great deal.

She smirked at his next speech, then added few words. “and you, in your on words, aren’t like most.” She smirked, looking at him wickedly. Knowing she’d cornered him, she added with a boldness uncommon to her, “So, would I be wrong then?” She assessed. Eyes eager, her body angled more in his direction, her interest was in the conversation now. Quite an amount more than it had been earlier.

[Shekru]

Still in her tree, Fyg leaned her weight against the trunk, stretched her upper body out over a sturdy branch. The conversation was, to her ear, relatively safe. There was more to the red-head than she had pegged, and that was good. Girl had a brain.

Come back soon? His voice curled up close into her head, cuddled.

What, you can't sleep without me? Fyg fired back, amused.

..maybe.[/i] It was pouty, and a little guilty.

It made Fyg smile.

[Xennai]

Alder smirked, dark head moving from side to side. "Ah, he might be prettier and more vain, but...well. I'm not one for men really. So I guess he's more of a player than I. I prefer to got to bat for the opposite side, thanks." A smirk twisted at his face, pulling his mouth to one side. "No offense to your cousin, of course." He took a small sip of wine before nodding, eyes dark with mischief.

"Aye, fine form. I haven't even started yet on you, Danae. This is setting low for me." He smiled, toasting her with his glass before he took another drink. He was overcoming his taste for the wine and wanting just the alcohol instead of the bouquet of flavor. "Mmm, I think everyone wonders about those, dear. But this is different. Much different. See, those are things that could be done but with a great deal of effort. Now...this..this much different."

Alder glanced down, running his pinkie finger around the rim of his glass and then licking his finger clean, tasting the slight sting of alcohol on his tongue. He glanced up again, eyes dark, swirling with hidden thoughts. "But this...this is as simple as reaching out...as simple as a touch...a taste...a look."

Head cocked to one side and he looked at her, watching her with those same undreadable eyes. It was uncertain whether he really did want something with her or if he was thinking along other lines, lines he may or may not be willing to share. "You might be," he murmured, not elaborating more. "But that is beside the point, isn't it? You don't want touching, there is no touching then." He shrugged, finishing his glass.

[panther]

Danae smiled, “None taken on behalf of my cousin, though I think you two would get on, quite swimmingly” She pointed out with a grin, and she didn’t mean anything about her cousin slipping into bed with the bronze handler, but, she wasn’t adverse to him taking it tht way, so she refrained from commenting.

This setting was low? Presumably he meant his scale of charm, she smirked. He really did fancy himself now didn’t he? And dear

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] He honestly just used the word dear in reference to her? Well he was a sharding comedian now wasn’t he? He went on to divulge on the senses.

“hmmm.” She posed, wine glass now resting in both her hands, the belly, swollen with deep red vintage, cradled in her hands. She shifted, quickly swinging her leg over the bench on which they sat, taking up a less ladylike, but much more comfortable position, within which the wine, and her hands sank between her knees. Elbows propped on her thighs, and interest solely in the rider opposite. “So, you think, that jut because you are here, before me, I can’t resist my own curiousity?” She pulled an innocent look, that suited her fact quite well.

Then she looked hurt, at his next words, “Might be

---

Admin's Note:[/hr] Alder, I’m shocked. And don’t tell me things are beside the point, you shouldn’t question me you know that good sir? A woman is always right, and I am infallibly correct.” She smiled, her falsity showing its falseness in a supreme spectrum of a wide, mischievous grin, and a devil’s torch in her eyes.

[Xennai]

Alder smiled and turned, watching Danae as she resettled herself. He liked that. He liked that she was watching him so avidly, even if what most of what he was saying was absolute and utter fantasy. Most, but not all.

He listened to her as he reached for the wine skin, hefting it slightly. It was mostly full, maybe a little over half. That was good. That was very good. He poured himself another glass of the alcohol, offering the skin to her with a cocked brow. "I'm not saying that just because I'm here with you doesn't mean that you're going to want to immediately jump between the furs with me. I'm saying that I'm much more approachable than touching Pern's center. I'm saying that--if you wanted to appease that curiousity, you'd be able to."

He took a drink and smiled, eyes lighting with the motion. "Mmm. You're right. I was wrong. You are female so of course you're right. And, not only that, but you are the only Queen handler in residence. I should have taken that in mind as well. How wherryheaded of me." Alder laughed, soft and understated humor, and winked.

[panther]

She grinned, humming contentedly to herself in her state of intoxication.
“No, I couldn’t possibly.” She said placing a hand before the wineskin, “Oh scorch it, go on.” She smiled as the glass was poured.

“And I know what you are saying Alder, I’m drunk, not stupid.” She reminded him, eyes not quite focusing on his face at this stage, but a little bit beyond. “What if I did?” She asked, brow furrowing, leaning over her wineglass a little more, “What if I did jump between the furs with you?” She embellished upon her question, “I would be setting a tone, we are a wher hold, not a pillow crafter.” She smirked, a term loosely used for another group of members of the hold, who worked at night.

She smirked, “And I am glad that you know it good Sir.” She continued to smile, “Perhaps your company can indeed be pleasant Alder. Perhaps, there was a sleight of mind where my earlier judgement was concerned”. She grinned, refusing to say error or mistake now.

“You know, I should probably go back now…” She yawned heartily. But it sounded begrudging, she was enjoying his company (at last) and was not too keen on the idea of giving it up quite so soon. She was having fun, teasing and tormenting him. It had been a while since she was able to torment some one, and for them to actually fight back. She’d tried with a couple of the drudges, but they tended to take her jokes seriously, and there was no fun in that. She meant them no malice. She was just bored. Insanely so, with so few night wakers around.

[Xennai]

Alder poured dutifully, watching the liquid slide out into the glass to splash and froth about in its own momentary current. He raised his glass in a salute and drained part of it. Mmmm. It was very good. He could feel himself getting quite a buzz now and he held it close. The warmth, the hilarity, the slight slipping of the mind.

"You're not stupid," he agreed amiably. "You're not a whit stupid, Danae." He glanced into his glass, mouth curling to one side. He considered another drink, not sure if he wanted it or not. He glanced up as Danae spoke, mouth suddenly turning into a soft smile. "Well, you wouldn't regret it for one, my Queen. For another...Well, there's better things to do during the day, and night, than sleep and paperwork." Alder shrugged, deciding on the drink. He took it and then added, "All up to you really."

Fingers ran through his head and he chuckled. "Sleight of mind indeed. I'm much more than a man who appreciates the company of women, Danae. I'm much more than that, but most people only see that sole facet and not the rest. Pity."

He took a deep draught and then glanced up at her, genuine sadness touching at his dark green eyes. He frowned a little bit, setting his glass down and reaching, rather pre-emptively, for her hand, fingers twining about hers, slightly darker against her own pallor. "Please don't. This is one of the best and most interesting conversations I've had in a fair bit of time." His eyes were intense, pleading. "Please?"

[panther]

She drank slowly, not a patch on his speed. She couldn’t else she’d be spark out in a few minutes. Then she grimaced, “Ah, you see, but there’s not much more for me, honest there is not Alder.” Her lips tugged at the side, in a resigned smile, “For, if I do not keep on top of it, I will lose sleep, and if I lose sleep. I’m not a pleasant woman.” She warned, “but, we shall see, if I ever get a junior, my load will be lightened.” She took another mouthful, “or a bronze for Danask.” She shrugged, not even connecting that the man opposite her was in fact a bronze handler. Oh, the affects of alcohol. She would kill herself for saying that when she woke later on.

“it is a pity, for a diamond cannot shine in any less than three dimensions.” She pointed out, a strange drunken wisdom sprouting from somewhere unknown. “you’re not planar Alder, there is a depth to you, but I’m not certain I want to find it.” She pulled her lips to the side thoughtfully, brow furrowing gently. “I’m afraid it might bring a side of you that I do not like, or bores me.” She told him.

As she spoke of leaving he reached for her hand. One leaving the belly of her wineglass, laced with his. His eyes asked her not to, his voice done similar, “I should though, and I’m concerned that I might surpass my limit if I stay.” She looked thoughtfully down at the glass, the last thing she wanted was to be sick before she went out on this venture of Fygs.

“Oh shard it!” She exclaimed, quite indignantly. Then quietened herself, and added, “I forgot to ask Fyg what her full name was.” Then she blushed, “Not that its to sate my own curiousity…” She looked rather guiltily away from Alder. It seemed she was staying for now at very least.

[Xennai]

Head tilted and he sighed, twirling his glass about contemplatively, staring into the ruby depths. He glanced up at an angle, eyeing her with one dark green iris. "You worry too much," he murmured. "And don't care enough for yourself. Golds are known to be cranky, beast or bonded." He frowned when she spoke of a bronze, brows rising as if to say "Me, me, look at me!" But of course, she was inebriated. She probably didn't even realize what she was saying, which made him frown slightly.

If Danae didn't realize what she was saying...then all of this meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. The teasing, the innuendos, the suggestions...none of it meant nothing either. The thought was staggering. He'd gotten drunk with girls before and had fun, but he knew this was different. He'd sensed it from the beginning. This was Danae. This was the senior Queen holder at his new home. You didn't mess around with that.

Whatever sadness had overtaken him only deepened when she spoke of not wanting to find other levels within him, the other planes that few wanted to see. He glanced down, dipping a finger into his glass and pulling it out, sucking on it briefly. "Mmm. Well, I'm never boring, Danae..."

He heaved a sigh when she spoke of leaving again, glancing up and back down again. It looked as if his fun balloon had been popped. And he wasn't quite sure why. "You've already reached your limit," he muttered. "You don't even remember some of the things you're saying."

A negligent shrug and he nodded, not even touching his wine now. What was the point? The fun was over for him. Danae probably wouldn't remember anything he'd said, or little of it, if she kept drinking. All the progress he'd made...lost. "It's an interesting conundrum, for sure."

[panther]

She grumbled, “Oh shard it Alder, you make me sound like an imbecile. My drunkenness is odd, I say things I’m thinking, it comes out as I see it. But, I don’t always connect dots. I don’t connect dots when I’m sober Alder. Let alone when I am drunk.” And yet the conversation was becoming sobering, though that was only just about counteracting the call to sleep that the warmth of the fire was providing amply.

“Well, I am glad to hear you aren’t boring, though you seem to be bored with me. I’m sorry, whatever offence I’ve supplied to you, I didn’t mean it. I’ll regret this later, if I have truly offended you. That would be the last thing I want.” She said, looking almost as dejected as he felt. “Looks like I do get things wrong.” She said sheepishly. Feeling more sober. Stern conversations tended to do that though. She sighed, looking at him from her position, which would otherwise look at the floor. She bit her lip. Drank down some more wine, uncomfortable with the dull ache that was already beginning in the back of her skull.

“Alder?” she asked, face curious, but in a foreboding, ‘oh shards what did I do?’ sort of mannerism. “Cheer up eh? It’s not like some one’s holding Aldesk against his will.” Poor bronze Wher, no actually poor people who were holding a bronze wher against his will.

Bronze… Shards. Now she realised, thoughtless comment about a bronze for Danask. She pouted. “I really ought to think before I speak.” She shook her head, hair falling away to the side, despairing of herself. “I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn, I do worry. Far too much. It is a problem, but a common side affect of position, Alder. And I don’t care enough for myself, because I haven’t the time, it is as best I can do to make sure Danask is well, let alone myself, alongside this place. It’s not so bad now, but when we get populated? May thread fall would be the only way I’d be busier.” She said in an almost frantic tone. And They all knew how ridiculous thread was now, they’d not seen it in many hundred of turns. She apologised to him once more in a muted tone. Taking a deep mouthful of wine before sliding the glass along the table, and staring after it.

[Shekru]

Fyg's interest in the conversation was now down to dutiful. They were gabbing, and thusfar Alder had behaved himself. At least in terms of minding Danae's personal space. Still, though, she watched. And waited. And shared banter internally with the brown that complained.

[Xennai]

Alder felt even worse when the guilt and shame descended on him. Danae shouldn't be apologizing. He had heightened emotions when he was drunk and was more liable to take things to heart easier when alcohol was in his system in copious amounts. Though, according to Danae and Fyg, he probably did that sober.

He only felt even more guilty the more she apologized. It wasn't needed, really it wasn't. She didn't need to be. He was just overreacting and being wherryheaded. That was all. Really, that was all. She shouldn't be apologizing so much.

Head shook and he glanced up with green eyes and a slight smile. "All's well, Danae. I'm very sorry I was so rude. Drinks make me a little sad sometimes." His smile widened and he leaned in, cautiously, not sure how the gold handler would respond. He cupped her cheek with one hand, smiling lightly. He'd apparently bounced back. "Danae. Honestly, my Queen, you need to relax a little, all right? I understand your position. I understand it's stressful, and hard, but you need to calm down a little and learn how to let loose, all right?" He leaned in to press a soft and slightly wary kiss to her forehead. "Elsewise you're just going to run yourself into the ground faster than you would otherwise." He smiled, shrugging slightly. "Having a drink, talking with a friend. Those are nice ways to calm down. There's others I know too." He shrugged again, smile genuinely happy.

[panther]

Danae smiled, tentatively. Not certain as to whether his over all response was a good thin, or a bad thing. She blushed fiercely at the kiss upon her forehead. Simply because she’d not really been involved since Danask’s last Running.
“You’re fine Alder, I think we’ve both had a little too much to drink, and yes I know, drink can have a melancholy effect on everyone every now and then. “ She shrugged, “I guess I have a problem with that part. I’ve always known what there was to do, and I’d prefer to get it done before I relax. But, my list seems to multiply.” She looked a little sad.

She shook her head, and took another good mouthful of wine, “mmm, I feel as though I’m doing that now. I rarely have time on my hands, and I wake up feeling more tired than I went to sleep. My dreams are so vivid my mind has no chance to rest.” She paused, “Though I think I shall sleep well today.” She nodded, “Wine does make me sleep abnormally heavy. But the ache in the mind has occasionally made me concerned about Firehead.” She smirked at her own confession. “I don’t deal with alcohol well, even if it does give pleasant sensations, regrettable but pleasurable conversations and an enviably deep sleep.” She smiled, hoping the general compliment would make him feel just a little less melancholy.

“Anyway, what are these other ways that you know?” She asked, drink still making her impervious to his insinuations if not blinding pointing out her own faltering perversions in a slip of the tongue.

[Xennai]

Her reaction to his touch, by lips and hand, was a surprising thing. She looked almost...nervous or embarrassed. He just couldn't tell which. The flaming of cheeks was all too often a general response to too much. It could mean too much. Embarrassment, nerves, surprise, lying, even desire. It was just too general, too broad. Alder gave it up as hopeless, focusing instead on what she said.

"There's always going to be a list, Danae." Lips quirked and then fell. He looked into his mostly full glass, not feeling like consuming any more of the wine any longer. His appetite for it was gone. Any more and he would get the headache she was talking about.

"Mmm. The sleep of a drunk is very good indeed." Smirk lined his lips. "Though you are right, the head you have the morning after is something atrocious." His finger swirled within the glass as he stared into the depths of his glass. "You know...I was drunk the night Aldesk bonded on me, or whatever it is a wher does. The bloodpact. It wasn't until the morning after that I realized what had happened...And not only did I have a head, I had another presence in that pounding head." He shrugged nonchalantly, unconcerned. What had happened, had happened. That was all there was to it.

"Well...there are several things I know of." His trademark charming smile made a reappearance. "As I said, there's a drink, talking to a friend. There's reading through things, swimming, running. There's taking a long, hot bath. You can dance, eat your favorite good, listen to someone sing. There's watching the sunset, the moons rise, firelizards play, your wher sleep." He shrugged again, reaching out, slowly running a finger up and down her arm, slowly, softly. "Then there's the things that are more...up my alley. First off, there's kissing. Those are always nice. Then there's a little touching, a little feeling .You know. Then, there's just a continuation along that kind of thread. It basically ends with hot and sweaty skin, barely being able to breathe and feeling fanfreakingtastic." Smile was wide, his eyes glinting with either amusement or desire. He licked his lips slowly, still lightly caressing her arm. "Those are just a few of the things I can think of..."