Dancing and Footwork [Rekka]

[E]

The day had been a long one, but with the following day declared a rest day there were plenty of riders and weyrfolk alike who felt the sudden need to celebrate. Granted with the past few days and everything that had happened between the Senior Gold being murdered and the mysterious bronze coming from between… there were very few things to celebrate. But there were those few happy souls who felt there was a need to at least make the attempt.

And so it was that reason that found L’nuo dressed in the odd combination of his leather riding pants and a loose dress shirt. A sign of his mixture of work and play. Sweat covered his closely shaven head and dripped down his nose as he spun the woman before him again in the quick, heated dance they partook in with two other pairs in the WeyrHall. Grabbing her by the waist with a fierceness that matched the beat, he held her close as the song came to a close.

It was the clatter of dishes, however, that stole his attention away and the kiss the now very aroused woman was attempting to receive. Laughter broke out as those watching saw the obvious frustration on the woman’s face as L’nuo let her go and left her alone on the dance floor even as the music began another song.

Not far away, the sweaty brownrider knelt down beside the brown haired headwoman. Dishes were scattered around her, but he paid them no mind as he watched her hold her ankle, obvious pain on her face. “Are you okay?” he asked, still a little breathless from the heated dance he had just left.

[Rowen]

Rekka jumped out of her skin, she'd be berating herself for misjudging her step when he spoke. Rekka gritted her teeth as she saw him. "I'm just fine." It was all his fault after all. She'd caught a glimps of him and that's when she had tripped. "You left your fair lady all alone. You should know better." She jerked her head back the way he had come.

Shifting into a sitting position being careful not to put weight on her ankle that throbbed with pain she began picking up the plates. Why did HE have to care if she dropped a bunch of plates? It's not like anyone else did. Who was he to care if she had hurt her ankle, which she was doing her best to ignore the pain still coming off it. She'd have to lean on the wall to get up likely, she'd call a drudge to pick up the plates for her and maybe sit down for a little while until her ankle stopped hurting. Yes, that's what she'd do.

Along with ignoring the brown rider in front of her as best she could. He really should make up his mind how he was going to treat her. One minute he's teasing, the next he's comforting, then he's yelling, and then he's back to teasing again. It was driving Rekka insane, she had been yelled at for speaking her mind, well she'd had her revenge. Now he should leave her alone to do her job. Not that she did it very well whenever she saw him.

[E]

L’nuo pursed his lips as he narrowed his eyes at her as she responded that she was fine. Taking the plates out of her hands, he set them aside and put his arms beneath her before she could refuse the help. The brown rider had a feeling she would refuse just about anything he offered, she seemed to still be mad at him. It was easy enough to tell from the tone of her voice.

Spinning her around, he let her have a good look at the dancing floor. Already another rider had willingly and quickly taken his place with the seemingly tireless dancer upon the floor. L’nuo knew fair well nobody was going to let a woman so hot and bothered stand alone for long. It was too easy to finish what he had started.

“Look Rekka, see how easy I am to replace?” Moving to the nearest seat, he was pleased to find it was an empty couch near the night hearth which had been lit not too long ago. Setting her down gently so her feet were on the couch, he knelt down beside her and gave her a searching look. “Now you have a choice Rekka. I can abandon you here, where you will at least be comfy and warm. Or you can let me help you.”

Looking down at her ankle, he shook his head. It was already swelling badly and he would be surprised if she was walking easily tomorrow. “And by the looks of it, that is painful.” Turning his eyes back to hers, he was caught a little off guard at the way the firelight played prettily on her face. Fighting to keep his mind on track, he asked sincerely, “Can I please help you?”

[Rowen]

Rekka listened to him as he finished she closed her eyes. "I told you that you shouldn't have left your fair, because I knew she'd be taken from you." She opened her eyes again and looked at him, something in his expression made her anger vanish, or maybe it was the play of the firelight messing with her mind. One thought seemed to be snagged in her mind and she was having trouble pushing it back down. He was easy to replace? No, he wasn't, no one could replace him. Rekka wasn't sure if he understood exactly how much he was worth.

Finally pushing the thought away she found she had to answer him. Not answering was an answer by itself. She let out a sigh and relaxed as best she could on the couch. "Do as you please." She could nearly see the swelling from here. She'd be limping tomorrow, there was no doubt in her mind.

[E]

Hearing her answer, a smile broke across his lips. So she was willing to let him make amends. Sure she still sounded angry at him, but he had a chance to cheer her up. “Wonderful. You sit here and enjoy the fire. I will be right back.” Bouncing to his feet, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead before turning and heading toward the kitchens.

Reaching the doorway, a tune already whistling from his lips, he took hold of the doorframe and leaned in far. Spotting a familure face, he smiled at the woman. “Liasila, dear. I need a cup of tea and a bowl of ice at the night hearth. If you know how Rekka likes her tea, make it that way for me. I’ll make it up to you later.” Giving the woman a wink, she giggled and told him he’d be kept to his word. Knowing she would be good to her word as well, he spun around and now headed to the far end of the WeyrHall and promptly out of the door ignoring the calls from the dancers to rejoin him.

It did not take him long to stroll into the infirmary and promptly make a mess of the shelves as he found what he was looking for. Arms full, he continued whistling his tune and walked back – glad he had not run into any healers while he was raiding their stock. He did not grab blindly though, each item in his hands had a purpose and if someone gave it a close inspection they would know he was no stranger to healing knowledge even if he was no master.

[Rowen]

Rekka closed her eyes after watching him walk away. The warmth of the fire felt good, she opened her eyes as she a woman brought a cup to her and a bowl which she set beside her on the table before walking off again to join the festivities. Sniffing the cup Rekka found it smelled of tea. No doubt L'nuo had asked the woman to fetch her tea, she sipped it carefully. Looking up she spotted L'nuo coming back with his arms full.

Oh Faranth's egg. He wasn't really serious was he? He was there was no way to explain the supplies in his arms. Rekka bit the inside of her mouth to keep from saying anything aloud. She took a careful swallow of the tea as she watched him. From the items he had, he knew at least part of what he was doing. It was yet to be seen if he knew how to use them.

[E]

Seeing she had her tea, L’nuo cut off his whistling and smiled at her. “I thought the tea would help pass the time and distract you from the pain.” Setting down his things, he sat himself very carefully at the other end of the couch. Moving to first the foot that was fine, he undid the shoe laces gently and took off the shoe much like he had done when she was asleep in his bed.

Setting it down, he moved to the next foot. If his hands had been careful with the first laces, they were angelic with the next. No matter how perfect he was, L’nuo knew removing the shoe would hurt but it had to be done. Once it was off, he set that one down as well before carefully lifting her leg by her calf and sliding underneath it so her leg rested on his. Watching her face, he apologized sincerely.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you.” His words had two meanings, though if she would pick up on both of them would be another story. Turning toward the table, he used his long arms to his advantage as he picked up the numbweed jar without moving her foot again. Taking up a generous amount, he spread it upon both of his hands before gently taking her leg into his once again.

Starting at mid calf, he slowly worked the numbweed into her skin, careful to let it take affect before moving closer to the ankle. Doing it this way, he had learned, would allow him to rub it in with minimum pain. It was a long process, and his eyes drifted from his work to her eyes several times to make sure he was not hurting her more than was absolutely necessary before drifting back to his work once more.

[Rowen]

When he removed her shoe Rekka had to bite down on the inside of her mouth to keep from yelping. He was gentle, but it hurt anyway. His words almost didn't sink in because she was distracted by the pain. When they did she looked up at him. What did he mean? That he was sorry for her ankle? Or for yelling at her for something she didn't completely understand? She watched him wondering if she stared long enough that the answer would be revealed. It didn't come.

He began rubbing numbweed into her leg and she found herself tightly holding her cup it could have been a lot worse, Rekka knew, but the pain was enough to cause her to want to destroy the cup in her hands a few times. Rekka did not react well to pain, and she knew it. The last time she'd been in pain, others had been hurt, she'd made sure of it. At a prickling sensation that ran down her spine she looked up to see a woman who had been dancing with him earlier. From this distance she couldn't tell the look on the woman's face, but she knew the woman... All to well.

A laughing face flashed in her minds eye, and she quickly suppressed it. A man came up behind her and nearly dragged her back into the festivities. Looking away Rekka looked down at the tea in her cup wishing it were something stronger, but knowing it was better that it wasn't. It had to be that woman that he had danced with, the one who had laughed the hardest, the one who had kicked the hardest, the one who had made Rekka hurt the most. She held the cup like it was precious now, for the moment her pain forgotten, she didn't dare look at L'nuo she didn't want him to know that at this moment she was seeing a past that Rekka would deny for as long as she could.

[E]

Continuing his ministrations, he found his hands having slowly worked their way to her heel. Moving to her foot, he was gently as he scooped up a little more numbweed and added it to the top and bottom of her foot. Once it was done, he took just a little bit more and worked it gently into her ankle as he looked up again.

What he found was a Rekka lost deep into her cup of tea – a little too deeply for just pain, but the whites of her knuckles made L’nuo’s judgment of that shaky. Frowning, he tilted his head and spoke softly. “I am being too rough aren’t I? I am sorry I do not have softer hands…” Silently kicking himself, he gently braced her ankle as he reached for one of the long wraps he had brought with him, his hand hesitating at a small vial next to it. “I did bring felis, if you need more for the pain Rekka…”

Picking up the long wrap, he began wrapping her ankle, starting at the calf where he had began the numbweed. Following the same pattern, he watched his hands, trying visibly harder to be gentler. Finishing that, he took the towel and wrapped ice in it before lifting her leg and setting it gently on the cold to help keep the swelling down. Almost unconsciously, he moved her other leg to rest in his lap as well before turning to regard her again.

She really was pretty with the firelight dancing in her hair…

[Rowen]

Rekka fought hard not to look up not to let him see that it was a different pain she experienced. She managed to speak softly wanting to assure him that he wasn't at fault for what she was feeling. "It didn't hurt as much as it could have. You have wonderful hands, it must be from such practice with them." She tried to smile but it just wouldn't stay in place.

Had he really offered her Felis? She could drink it and hope that it would numb all the pain, but that wouldn't fix anything, Rekka wasn't sure what would. She was tempted, sorely, but she knew she shouldn't. Instead she shook her head. "No. No Felis." Rekka took a good swallow of her tea trying to clear some of the lump that had formed in her throat.

[E]

Rekka spoke so softly he had to lean closer to hear her. Seeing her failing smile, he frowned at her slightly, eyes narrowing as if it would bring what he was missing into light. Searching her face, however, gave him no answers and he pursed his lips thoughtfully. An idea coming to mind, he snapped his fingers and put a friendly, reassuring smile onto his face.

“No felis. But perhaps some Quickal or Wine since we are neither alone nor in our rooms tonight. I am sure I could wrestle some from the stockrooms. That would help dull the pain a little.” Looking down at her foot, he sighed. “I’m sure the numbweed will kick in, I put on more than enough… but until it does…”

Eyes traveling back up to hers, he waited earnestly, waiting and listening for an answer. He really wanted to make up for being so harsh with her several nights ago. She had touched a tender spot he could usually ignore so easily. But with the way she had held onto her anger with him, he knew he needed to make amends. He never liked people being upset.

[Rowen]

"No!" Rekka's response was so swift so sincere she found herself looking up into his eyes. She looked away quickly hoping he hadn't noticed anything. He had been right, that a strong drink often brought the memories back stronger than without them. Her hand tightened on her cup as she managed a faint smile that didn't feel at all right on her face. Rekka didn't really want to smile, but she did for L'nuo's benefit. "The numbweed has kicked in, I can't feel it."

At least that was true, it had kicked in and she couldn't feel her ankle any longer. Taking a careful breath Rekka took another swallow of her tea bracing herself and trying to make sure that all traces of what she was feeling and thinking weren't visible she looked up at L'nuo. "Thank you for the help. It's awkward to bandage myself sometimes."

[E]

Rising her eyebrows at her quick answer, he raised his hands to show he surrendered. He couldn’t help but smile, however, at her sudden shyness as she seemed to look everywhere but him. Was she worried he was going to get her drunk? Remembering the other night, however, he crossed out that possibility. Perhaps it was the dreams she was more worried about – that was the reason, after all, he had offered her water the other night instead of wine.

Nodding at her thanks, he found his eyes watching the firelight dance across her skin and behind the color of her eyes. Putting his hands gently over her legs, he leaned back getting comfy. “It’s never a problem, little Rekka.” He said watching her. His smiled faded into an honest look of concern. “How have you been sleeping?”

[Rowen]

Her smile vanished. He'd asked her how she'd been sleeping. She'd hoped he wouldn't, she hadn't been sleeping well but she wasn't going to tell him that. It had been worse of late, she'd kept waking up crying hoping someone would be there, and no one had, she'd gone back to suffering alone. She finished off the last of her tea quickly then set it aside as she looked at L'nuo. "Have you?"

His expression was concerned, but that didn't help Rekka in the least, when she woke up alone again tonight, or another night. No one would be there so his concern meant little. He might understand, but he was likely in the same hole she was. He'd not admitted anything however and she'd only seen him smile in his sleep once.

[E]

Seeing her smile vanish, his confidence faltered as he considered his next step. He was honestly concerned and curious about how she had been sleeping, especially after the nightmare she had woken from in his own rooms. She, however, seemed too protected against him. Perhaps what Menith had told him that night was true – not that he ever doubted his dragon’s word, he just sometimes doubted his dragon’s interpretation of the information he seemed to gather. After all, a dragon’s viewpoint of life was far different than a human’s.

Eyes searching her face, he wondered if his best course of action was to answer her first, or tell her she was avoiding the question. With her being a flity one, he didn’t really want to chase her away – though on the same hand with her ankle in the condition it was she really couldn’t get away if she wanted to. He could use that to his advantage, but he truly doubted that would help her trust him anymore. Sure L’nuo was an easy going guy and loved to bed women and laughed easily – but that didn’t mean he enjoyed people not being happy around him.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Rekka.” He said his voice low so the festivities on the other side of the hall would not hear over the music. “I always sleep, it is just a matter of whether I dream or not. And on the rare occasion that I cannot sleep, I exercise to the point of exhaustion and let my body force my mind to rest.” Of course he did not say what sort of exercise this entailed, and it often varied, but it was not the current topic of conversation.

Putting an arm on the back of the couch, he leaned a little closer to get comfy. “Honestly though, I am not worried about myself and my sleeping habits. I am worried about you… you woke up very shaken the other night.”