[7.22.2707] The Morning After(B'ren)

[sorra]

Tanly woke up in the morning feeling much warmer then usual. Not to mention a bit sore. Her head was pounding and she couldn't remember much to begin with. The green rider started to move, but froze when she realized there was an arm flung over her waist. Her face flushed. What had happened the night before? Surely she hadn't drank that much.

The green rider was a big nervous as she slowly rolled over, not knowing who she would see. She knew Cadalayith hadn't risen, so it had to have been too much alcohol. Tanly's eyes widened in disbelief when she recognized B'ren. What had she done? She tried to slip out of her bed without waking him, wanting to get dressed and try to put things into place.

[Kendrall]

B'ren couldn't recall the last time he had such a horrific headache. Hangovers were definitely the worst experience, and he wasn't sure if there could be anything even further down the list. But when he felt the sensation of someone underneath his arm, of warm flesh next to his, his eyes slowly opened to look into the wide-eyed Tanly.

Groaning in disbelief, the Brown Rider rolled onto his back and rubbed at his eyes with a forefinger and thumb. It just got a lot worse, he thought to himself. Mine, where are you?[/i] came a familiar mental voice. I'm with Tanly, Chiath. I'll be there shortly. B'ren then forced himself to open his eyes only to look at the retreating unclothed form of the pretty Green Rider, then sighed as he himself pulled back the furs and rolled off her bed.

Part of him wanted to find something to say to her, but the scoundrel in him didn't feel like sticking around. He was, after all, a free-spirited man, not wanting to be tied down to just one woman as a partner. Being someone's weyrmate was definitely out of the question. Though he didn't know it, B'ren's life would sooner or later take a drastic turn that could get him to realize that being tied to just one woman for an extended length of time, even for life, probably wouldn't be such a bad thing after all...

[sorra]

Tanly found a long shirt close to hand and quickly pulled it on, not bothering with pants just yet. The shirt covered her to her thighs anyhow. She then slowly turned around to face B'ren not sure exactly what to say. She had told herself over and over again that she wouldn't get caught up with B'ren. It would only lead to trouble. But it seemed she didn't listen to herself. And pounding headache and an ache between her legs was a friendly reminder of her stupidity.

"Off already?" she asked quietly, walkiing past him to find a brush. She wasn't going to let this get to her. It had been one night. So what if she was now counted among the other two thirds of the Weyr who had slept with the handsome Brown Rider?

[Kendrall]

B'ren sighed, watching as Tanly pulled a shirt over her head and let it fall down to her thighs. "Tanly, look..." he started to explain. "Whatever happened between us, well...I don't know about you, but I actually enjoyed it. It's just I don't know if I'm ready to ever find someone to settle down with. I don't think I'll ever be ready at all." He groaned, then fixed her with a stare. "I may have a reputation that I'm one of the biggest flirts in the Weyr, and refuse to be tied to one specific woman as a weyrmate. That's fact. But every time I find myself starting to fall for someone, I clam up. I get so afraid that I'll say something or do something worthy of a dimglow and ruin the relationship."

"I honestly don't think I'll ever be able to find some semblance of order in my life. I'll be really surprised if I do. In fact...I'd bet a thousand marks that a woman will finally put me in my place, to show me she's willing to put up with me no matter what." B'ren leaned over for his breeches and began to pull them over his legs and up to his waist. But placing bets was one thing he could never resist, and he was sorely tempted to place a bet on one thing he never would guess would happen to him. If Tanly wanted to take him up on that offer, he'd probably would graciously lose the bet just to finally overcome the two key problems in his life.

[sorra]

Tanly sat down and started to brush out her long hair. She wasn't quite sure yet how to react. She was a rider. She should be used to flitting between men. Especially since she had a green. But that was one thing that she had never really gotten used to. She shook her head. 'Forget it," she said, keeping her back to him. 'There's no reason to apologize. I knew your reputation and should have stayed away from the wine." She sighed. 'Although I'll confess I did enjoy myself." Shard it! Why couldn't it have been awful? Maybe she wouldn't feel so bad then.

The green rider frowned. "Maybe you should give someone a chance. You might be surprised," she said quietly. She knew personally she'd be willing to give him a chance. But she wasn't sure she was ready to voice that yet. Especially when it appeaered he was set against proving himself wrong. "I think you could make somone very happy and that someone just might be able to make you happy as well," she said.

[Kendrall]

B'ren watched as Tanly brushed her long hair, but had to chuckle lightly at her comment of how she enjoyed spending the night with him...but pondered when she suggested he should give someone a chance, that he could make someone happy and vice versa. Arching an eyebrow, he had to think that one over but simply shook his head. "I'm not so sure, Tanly. Though I'll be surprised if you're right and I do wind up in someone's arms for good. I'd even be willing to go double or nothing that person happens to be you."

No sooner than those words escaped his lips he knew he'd regret it...but why did he have to bet everything on her? Was there something telling him Tanly was Lady Luck incarnate, that he'd be smart to hook up with her for good? B'ren didn't know. Shrugging, he pulled his tunic over his head and slid it down over his chest, then grabbed his boots. He paused for a moment as he watched Tanly continue to brush her hair...then groaned inwardly. Shard it. Scoundrel or not, he couldn't resist what he was about to do. Not when the best looking woman in the entire Weyr was sitting near him with that long hair of hers. B'ren pulled his boots over his feet, then walked up behind Tanly and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Would it bother you too much to let me do that for you?"

[sorra]

Tanly shook her head a little. It didn't surprise her that he seemed to be speechless. She should have known, but it was worth try. Although who she was trying to kid she didn't know. Why oh why of all the riders at the Weyr did she have to fall for the scoundrel who had a reputation to boot? She looked over at her shoulder in surprise at his words. "Me?" she asked softly. He's willing to bet on me?

The green rider wasn't sure how to react to that one. She turned back around and continued to brush her hair. She couldn't look at the handsome brown rider yet. Not until she could get her heart to stop fluttering. She was 20 after all and had a dragon. What was her problem?

You like him, Cadalayith chimed in sleepily. I haven't seen you this happy in a long time.

Tanly's cheeks flushed. She hadn't realized her green was awake yet. She just managed not to jump when B'ren touched her shoulders.

"Okay," she said uncertainly, handing her brush over. What was she getting herself into?

[Kendrall]

B'ren took the brush in his hand and ran it gently through Tanly's long hair, admiring how soft and luxurious it was. He'd seen the light play through it many times before, how it brought out the deep rich autumn color which caught his eye every time. Are you still with Cadalayith's? Still trying to get under the furs with her?[/color] Chiath queried his bonded, the Brown curious, prompting the scoundrel to grin. There had been many conversations between the two regarding the pretty Green Rider and her dragon, the Brown often chiding B'ren for his lack of fidelity when it came to a woman. I'm still with her, Chi, and we haven't been up very long. Besides, I think she likes me. You were under the furs with her last night, weren't you.[/color] The dragon mentally accused him, and B'ren sighed inwardly. I was, yes.

He continued to brush Tanly's hair, eventually remembering to answer her question. "Yes, I would be willing to take a chance on you."

[sorra]

Tanly sat quietly in her chair. She still wasn't quite sure how to react. She had never expected to find herself in B'ren's arms. Or for him to even suggest that he would bet on her. Stop analyzing everything, Cadalayith grumbled. You like him. Face it. The green rider inwardly groaned. You don't understand, Cad. Tanly was scared. She knew B'ren's reputation and she didn't want to be hurt. Although she really wanted to give him a chance. I won't let him hurt you, the green said. Tanly actually laughed. Alright.

Tanly had no idea that B'ren was having the same problems she was. Although she liked the feel of him brushing her hair. Her heart nearly stopped at his words. "Alright. brown rider," she said, staying faced away from him. "I'll take that bet," she challenged.

[Kendrall]

B'ren wasn't sure what to make of Tanly laughing, but continued to brush her hair nonetheless until she told him she'd take him up on that bet. His heart skipped a beat and he paused, then a slow grin came to his lips. Well now. This was news indeed. Probably the best news he'd heard in a while. If Tanly was willing to take a risk and have him as her weyrmate...

"Done," B'ren replied. "Do you want to finish getting dressed, or should I head down to the Dining Caverns to get us some breakfast and bring it back here?" He was being his usual playful self now, and since he supposed neither of them actually had anything to do today, it wouldn't hurt to crawl back under the furs and snuggle, not to mention have a little fun. Chiath would have to get over himself.

[sorra]

Tanly hadn't realized she had laughed out loud until it was too late. But oh well. Let B'ren think what he wanted. It wasn't like he hadn't already gotten a show the night before. Although in all honesty, she still couldn't remember much of what had happened. Except that she had lost at Dragon Poker again. Although she had managed to win a couple hands. The green rider turned in surprise.

"Really?" she asked, her gray eyes dancing. She couldn't believe he actually wanted to go through with this bet. Although she wasn't so sure he could actually manage it. She knew he had a reputation and had never stayed with one woman too long. She thought for a minute. "I'm not quite ready to face anyone yet," she admitted, still feeling pretty hung over. Staying in her weyr sounded like a good idea to her.

[Kendrall]

When Tanly turned to face him in surprise that he'd actually take her up on the bet, he grinned. B'ren knew full well what he was getting himself into, by shirking his reputation as a free-spirit and finally settling down on one woman. But a bet was a bet regardless, as was a challenge being a challenge. And the scoundrel in him had a penchant for not backing down from a bet he couldn't resist. This one was too good to simply pass up.

"I'll even give myself long odds," he said casually. "You know me, Tanly. I've never been one for odds anyway, but this is too good to pass up. Besides, Chi's been after me to finally settle down some. Though I have to warn you, the B'ren you know as a scoundrel and rogue is the B'ren you get. Just don't ask me to completely give up my ways." He shook his head ruefully. "I'll be the first to admit I need some help in overcoming my fear of saying something or doing something worthy of a dimglow and ruin this for us. But at the same time, I have this fear of being alone for the rest of my life. Oh sure, I have Chi and I'm thankful for him. But he thinks it'll do me some good to find a woman." He sighed. "I hate to admit it, but he's right."

Of course I'm right,[/i] Chiath's thoughts seemed rather proud, causing his bonded to groan. Knowing Tanly would give him an odd look, he explained. "Even Chi agrees he's right." He waited when Tanly said she wasn't quite ready to see anyone, prompting him to set the brush down and give her a wink. "In that case, I'll be back in a few. Never a good thing to keep a lady waiting."

[sorra]

The green rider folded her arms over her chest. She hoped she was making the right choice, but it was too late to back out now. And even if she could she wasn't so sure she wanted to. She liked B'ren. She just hoped that she could put up with his habits.

You'll be fine, Cadalayith said. Stop worrying. Chiath's nice. I'm sure his rider is too.

Tanly tried not to laugh at her dragon's words. Leave it to Cadalayith to miss the little things and point out the bigger things. She listened quietly to what B'ren was saying. "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this, but I think it's worth a try," she said quietly. If it didn't work, it didn't work. She just wouldn't get her heart set on anything. Nothing said you had to have a weyrmate. Although she did like the idea of it. Tanly shook her head. "I wouldn't expect you to just give up all your habits," she said. "Especially not right away." She didn't want to change him. His personality was what she liked about him.

She chuckled softly. "I'll be waiting." She got to her feet and went to change while B'ren went to get food. The green rider ended up pulling on a tighter fitting sleeveless shirt that clung to her curves and a dark green skirt that she very seldom ever wore. She didn't really like skirts, but she thought B'ren might like it and she was curious to see his reaction.

[Kendrall]

B'ren simply shook his head emphatically when Tanly folded her arms over her chest, voicing her complaint that she wasn't so sure she could follow through. "A bet's a bet," he said. "I wouldn't expect you to back down from it either. I know I won't. And the only habit I'll give up is, well..." He blushed. "I think you already know which one that is. Shards, Tanly, sometimes I look at you as if you're Lady Luck incarnate. I can't go wrong with that, now can I?"

He grinned when she said she would be waiting, and headed out of her weyr and towards the Dining Cavern. Chi. Meet me in Tanly's weyr, would you? I'm sure Cadalayith wouldn't mind your company.

And I'm sure hers wouldn't mind your company, either,[/color] the Brown shot back. But it wouldn't hurt to say hello to Cadalayith.[/i] B'ren had to grin when his dragon gave in. He knew the Brown would follow through.

Rounding the corner, B'ren entered into the Dining Cavern and towards the kitchen. He grabbed a large tray, then placed several sweet breads, fruit, and two large mugs of klah on it. Carefully making his way back towards Tanly's weyr, he nearly dropped the tray when he caught sight of her. A tight-fitting sleeveless tunic and dark green skirt accentuated her curves in all the right places, and B'ren couldn't help but feel a stirring in his loins again. Glancing over where Cadalayith normally slept, the scoundrel noted with satisfaction his own Chiath had arrived and crooned his greetings to the Green, then turned back to look at the lovely vision in front of him.

B'ren set the tray down on the table. "You look lovely, Tanly. Shall we eat first? Or skip it and go straight to something else?"

[sorra]

Tanly laughed. "I didn't say I would back out," she assured her. She never backed down from a challenge if she could help it. The green rider smiled. That was one habit she wouldn't mind him giving up, but she wasn't going to put demands on him. That would only serve to chase him away and she wasn't sure she wanted to do that yet. "Well then, it sounds like neither of us can go wrong there," she smiled.

Cadalayith looked over when Chiath landed on her ledge. Good morning, Chiath, she said cheerily. Her rider was happy, so she was happy. Although she liked the brown's company too, so that didn't hurt.

Tanly smiled as she watched her green with B'ren's brown. Maybe she could do this. She'd at least give it a try. She was still watching the dragons when B'ren came back and she didn't turn around around he talked. Tanly chuckled softly at his suggestion, but shook her head, her bangs falling over one eye. She liked the reaction she had gotten from him. Maybe, just maybe she would wear dresses more often.

"A bit of food first, lover boy," she teased him, moving over to the table, unconsciously putting a little sway to her step. "Then we'll see what happens from there."