Something to Tell You

[dragoncharm]

((putting this here since Es'bel doesn't have a board for his weyr...))

Ay'en walked up to Es'bel's weyr, feeling calmer than many in his position would probably be. It had been a few days since the Graduation Banquet, and Ay'en hadn't ever really stopped thinking of Es'bel the whole time. Now that he had truly realized his affections for the tealrider, he was never off of his mind. Zynsith seemed to approve; the timid blue had always liked Ileyvith, and, though he was nervous about the whole thing, he wanted His to be happy, and it appeared that Ileyvith's would make him happy. So he was going along with it.

Because today Ay'en had decided it was time to make his feelings for Es'bel known to the tealrider. He didn't know how Es'bel would take it, and in truth he was a bit nervous about his reaction. What if it turned out that the man didn't feel the same way? That Ay'en's love meant nothing? Not nothing...love always means a great deal, he reminded himself, shaking his head slightly. He pushed away his anxiety. Whatever happened was for the best, and it would turn out the same no matter what he felt. So why make it harder?

Those thoughts calmed him once more, and, reaching Es'bel's weyr, he rapped on the entrance. "Es'bel?" the bluerider called softly, feeling the ever-more-familiar tingle run through him as he said the man's name. "It's Ay'en. Can I talk to you?"

[Bookworm]

Es'bel had just gotten out of the bath after a dance practice. He still danced almost every day, but he missed having an audience and a partner to work with. Now he had his duties as a dragonrider, which took priority. He smiled ruefully as he ran a towel over his damp hair. I'll dance with you,[/color] Ileyvith said. The Teal was currently curled up on the ledge, with Ursalia perched between two of her neck ridges. Titania was nowhere to be seen. The little green had a habit of wandering off. Ileyvith picked her head up, noticing movement. She watched the man walking up to their weyr with interest. I think you're going to have a visitor,[/color] she told her rider, who was just pulling on his tunic.

Who is it? Es'bel asked, quickly finishing getting dressed. Ileyvith paused, then answered, It's a surprise.[/color] She sounded amused. Es'bel rolled his eyes, then tossed the towel into the laundry basket and waited.

Hearing the knock, he strode forward to answer it, then froze when he recognized Ay'en's voice. I wasn't expecting him! For some reason, the thought of Ay'en in his weyr sent a tingle of nervous excitement up his spine. Es'bel shook his head. Ay'en was just a clutch sibling, a nice young man he hadn't really noticed much until the feast...right?

"Hello, Ay'en," he said, smiling as he opened the door. "Of course you can talk. Come on in." As he passed, he plucked Ursalia up and let her perch in his arms--mostly so he didn't fidget with his hands. Leading the way into the weyr, he nodded at a chair for Ay'en to sit in, then sat on the edge of the bed himself.

[dragoncharm]

As Ay'en waited, he glanced over at the large, familiar shape that took up a great deal of the ledge. "Hello, Ileyvith," the bluerider greeted the teal with a small smile. He felt the presence of Zynsith in his mind, paying close attention, and he had to feel a rush of fondness for the small blue. His Lifemate wanted to oversee the meeting, to make sure all went well for Ay'en, and the young man was comforted by it. Zyn? Ileyvvith's here. Would you like to come say hello? He left it as a question, not a summons - he understood well his blue's shy nature, and he did not have to come if he did not wish to. But in his minds eye has saw Zynsith nod slightly, and take off for Es'bel's weyr - it was only a short distance. He did not mind talking to Ileyvith; the teal never had made him very nervous. Alighting in the very edge of the ledge - so as to show the teal that he would leave if she wished it - he greeted, Good day to you, sister. Do you mind my presence by your weyr? in his quiet way.

Ay'en had turned to watch the interaction, and so had to quickly look back as the door opened - he cricked his neck and rubbed the spot absently with one hand. He hardly noticed the pain; Es'bel's smile caught his attention with his own. Somehow, seeing the tealrider's grin, it was impossible not to echo it on his own features. And at least the man seemed happy enough to see him.

"Hello, Ay'en."

The sound of his own name coming form the exuberant tealrider's mouth made his stomach flip, but in a good way. He managed to nod his thanks and follow the young man inside. He'd never been inside Es'bel's weyr before...It was a good reflection of the redhead's personality. Es'bel motioned for him to take a seat ,and the bluerider did so, more out of politeness than of a real desire to sit down; a sort of restless energy from deep inside that made him fidgety. He took a moment to center himself, found his foot tapping, and stopped.

How should he go about this? Start with small talk, then make his way towards it? Ask how Ileyvith and Es'bel were? Or maybe explain...ask if Es'bel remembered the banquet ,and go from there....Or perhaps he could make a hypothetical situation, just to see....how Es'bel would answer? None of it sounded right. He didn't know what to do.....

"Es'bel...I love you."

For a moment Ay'en wondered who had spoken, then realized the words had come from his own mouth. He hadn't actually meant to say it that way....not so direct....he hadn't meant to say anything all yet, it had just...popped out. He blushed deeply, finding it much easier to look at his boots than at Es'bel's face. "The banquet..." he mumbled, earlier composure gone. "Ever since..."

This wasn't working.

[Bookworm]

((At least it was less than a month this time, right? I'm making progress! ))

Ileyvith rumbled a hello to Ay'en as he passed, acknowledging the rider's greeting. Some humans were below her notice, but she liked her rider's quiet friend. Zynsith was nice, too. He wasn't stupid and he didn't bother her at all. Of course you can join me, Zynsith,[/color] she said, moving over to make room for the blue on the ledge. She casually let the tips of their wings touch. I think our riders are going to give us an interesting show.[/color]

Es'bel sat patiently, beginning to wonder if Ay'en had something really important to say. The Bluerider seemed to be having trouble fishing for his words. He leaned forward slightly as Ay'en said his name, ready for whatever he had to say...or so he thought.

It was a good thing he was sitting down already. For an instant, Es'bel's easygoing smile remained on his face, the expectant expression still there. Then the shock of the confession hit and his mouth fell open. He almost stood up, accidentally dislodging an irritated Ursalia from his lap, but then he changed his mind. "What?" Not exactly the best response, but he almost did wonder if he had heard wrong.

No, that was ridiculous, of course he couldn't mishear that. Es'bel just didn't know what to think. He did like Ay'en, maybe a lot, but it seemed like they barely knew each other. Since the banquet... Yes, Ay'en had been entering his thoughts more and more since then, but was it love?

Now he was the one drawing out the silence. He had to say something! "Oh, Ay'en..." He began, but he was surprised to find a lump in his throat blocking the words. He put his face in his hands, trying to hide the sudden tears that were coming out of the corners of his eyes. He wasn't crying because he was sad. These were surprised, happy tears. "I'm sorry, I'm just so...flattered..."

You're being a touch overdramatic,[/color] Ileyvith said wryly. Hopefully Zynsith's rider wouldn't take this the wrong way.

[dragoncharm]

Zynsith purred lightly at the welcome, and moved obligingly over into the space Ileyvith left for him. Thank you, Ileyvith. At her comment, he glanced nervously at the weyr in which their riders were. I do hope it'll be okay, he murmured. Ay'en has not stopped thinking about Yours for days. Es'bel is in his dreams. He does not remember them upon waking, but I do. It was true; the past couple nights the blue had gotten vague images and feelings from his rider's dreams, all having to do with Es'bel. But during his waking hours Ay'en seemed to have no recollection of such dreams. Well, humans seldom did remember them.

Ay'en cast his eyes upward just in time to see Es'bel's mouth fall open. Clearly that was not what the tealrider had expected him to say. Vaguely Ay'en wondered what Es'bel had been expecting - out of curiosity ,and a desire to really know the lad - but it took a backseat to the bluerider's want to know...what Es'bel thought. The first impression wasn't promising, so far.

The stunned 'what' really didn't help Ay'en's self-confidence, either. What if Es'bel didn't like him? What if he looked like a total idiot, striding in and proclaiming his love for the tealrider? But it was true...and not something he'd dream of trying to hide. Even though he'd only really realized it during the banquet, Ay'en thought he'd held a fondness for the young man ever since he'd met him. He was everything Ay'en was not - outgoing, energetic, and he always seemed so bright and happy.

Yes, when Ay'en really thought about it, he realized he had always thought highly of Es'bel, no matter how different they were....He remembered the first time he'd ever seen him dance. Es'bel was a whirl of color and sound most of the time, but when dancing, the lad was graceful, coordinated, with a concentration on his work that was astounding for the normally slightly scatterbrained rider. It just wasn't till - till he really got to talking with the man...that all these things actually came together into strong feeling.

"Oh, Ay'en..."

The bluerider looked up into those dark, incredibly deep brown eyes, and the sight of them seemed to release something inside him...something warm and filled with affection for the man in front of him. He loved those eyes - always so passionate, so full of life. His own green eyes softened at the sight, and though Ay'en was not aware of it, there was an incredible tenderness in them. He did not love Es'bel forcefully - it was not a physical love, not a needy love...What the bluerider felt instead was just a very warm, tender feeling whenever he saw the auburn-haired man. The want for him to be happy, and for Ay'en to be a part of that happiness.

In the next moment those brown eyes - surely so much deeper, more sensetive, than his ow nlight green ones had ever been in the mirror - had lowered, as Es'bel dropped his head into his hands. Ay'en stared, not sure what to do...or think, or...What did that mean, Es'bel's doing that? And then he looked closer, and saw the sparkle by one of the tealrider's fingers, where his eye was...was he crying? Shards, had Ay'en really made him cry? "Es'bel, I'm sorry, I..." he trailed off - he hadn't wanted to make Es'bel cry or anything...he only wanted the other rider to be happy, not...

Es'bel filled the silence with his own apology, saying that he was 'so flattered'. Flattered? That was...good? Was that good? But then why was he crying? That confused Ay'en, and he half-reached out a hand to the other man, then stopped, unsure. For a moment the thin hand hung in midair, then he moved it forward again, reaching over to lightly touch Es'bel's shoulder. "Don't cry."