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<Around noon - same time as Dianne's post, obviously :P>

>	Mari saw Jason and Aislyn enter the dining hall as she exited
>the kitchen. As they took their seats at the table Mari went to join
>them.

>	"Hi Aislyn, I see you've met Jason, my mate."  she said as she
>leaned into kiss Jason who pulled away from her.  Mari was slightly
>confused by his action, but went on talking to the mind healer.

	'Now why,' Jason thought to himself angrily, 'did she say
something like that?' He decided not to tell Mari exactly what he
thought of her statement and sat down quietly. As the girls discussed
the trial, Jason tried to work out what he had done, apart from the
obvious, which would have given Marialla the idea that he was her mate.
But then again, there didn't really have to be a reason. That was how
she acted: impulsively. That's how he got into this whole mess in the
first place.

>	"I'm finding it a little uncomfortable being in a courtroom
>again.  I don't know if I'll return or not." she said. "At least at the
>last trial, I wasn't alone."  

	'She keeps doing it,' Jason thought, giving her a dirty look. 'I
wonder if she'll now tell her all about how Allora and I mutilated the
guy that raped her." Amazingly enough, Marialla didn't say any more
about the previous trial and Aislyn didn't comment on the fact. Jason
imagined it would all come out in the counselling sessions anyway. Mari
certainly needed to tell someone and Aislyn seemed the logical target.
At least it wouldn't be him she was leaning on for once. He was getting
heartily sick of it.

>	"That's probably a good idea.  Where would you like to go?  I
>have an office, or my apartment...or even your apartment," Mari
>replied.

	"Well either would be fine, although you might feel better
talking in a more comfortable environment than your office."

	"You're right," Marialla replied with a smile. "I don't think
Jason would mind if we^�" Marialla looked around, for the first time
noticing that Jason wasn't at the table with them any more. "That's
strange, he was just here."

	Aislyn studied Marialla closely, but said nothing.

****

<Late that night>

	<You sure you're okay? I don't like it when you feel like this.>

	*I don't know Star. I really don't know.*

	The two of them were up on the lip of the crater, staring out
over the warren. The sun had long set and the moon was high in the sky,
it's light reflecting off Starfire's scaly hide. The sapphire dragon was
perched on a rocky outcropping, his tail curled protectively around his
rider who was nestled against his side. They had been like that for a
long time, both taking comfort in each other's presence. 

	Star could tell that his rider was upset about something, but
couldn't work out what it was. Apart from the fact that it somehow
involved Regenta's rider. Starfire sighed. Perhaps getting their riders
together hadn't been such a good idea as they had first thought. All it
seemed to have done was made both of them feel bad. Perhaps when he got
back to Reggie they could talk about it. For now, his rider needed him.

	Jason, it could be said, was brooding. This business with
Marialla had gone way past the frustration stage. He had hoped that her
seeing a mind healer would make things a little easier, but for all he
could see, not much had changed. She was still being possessive,
irrational, and several other things Jason didn't feel like thinking
about. Maybe it was to early to hope for change in her, but whenever it
occurred it wouldn't be to soon.

	It all came back to that comment that Mari had made, very
deliberately, in Jason's opinion. Where the hell had she gotten the idea
that he was her mate? Jason hadn't really been close to anyone in his
life and was used to keeping to himself. Joining with Star had changed
that somewhat, but it was different to what Marialla had suggested. Star
wasn't just a companion; the dragon was part of him. Somebody who knew
what he was thinking, how he felt. Someone knew who he had been, but
didn't care. 

	But why was it affecting him this much? He was usually adept at
letting things slide of his back, but for some reason he couldn't leave
it alone. Perhaps it was the fact that he had been alone all his life.
Perhaps he *was* looking for a mate. True as that may be, Jason didn't
get the feeling that Marialla would be his first choice. She was just
to...well, Jason didn't know exactly why. He just didn't feel totally
comfortable with her. Maybe it was the circumstances in which they had
been thrown together. Maybe it was the fact that good friends don't
always make good lovers.

	A faint noise nearby, a rock being dislodged, caught Jason's
attention. He didn't turn around, since he had a fair idea of whom it
was. Instead he waited until they came into view.

	"Nice view," Aislyn commented, gazing out over the warren. She
turned and looked apprehensively at Starfire, eliciting a soft chuckle
from Jason.

	"Don't worry," he said wryly, "he doesn't bite."

	<She probably wouldn't taste all that good anyway,> Star advised
his rider sagely. <Not enough meat. She smells nice though.> Jason
ignored his dragon's remarks and looked quietly at Aislyn.

	"I can guess why you came up here." She shrugged.

	"Mari was pretty worried, but wasn't really in any condition to
be climbing mountains, so I volunteered. Anyway, I needed the exercise."
Jason snorted, the fact that the junior queenrider was worried being
nothing new to him. Aislyn looked enquiringly over at him. "Perhaps
talking about it would be a good idea?" Jason shrugged nonchalantly.

	"Maybe."

	<Go and talk with her,> Starfire urged him. <She can feel it
like I can. If you're unhappy, it's best to let it out rather than
keeping it inside. Besides, maybe you should get to know her better.>
Jason gave is dragon a withering look, fully aware of the consequences
of the last time his dragon made him 'get to know someone better.'

	"Looks like someone agrees with me," Aislyn said, smiling
faintly. Jason gave her the same look, then sighed.

	"Well I guess the answer is yes. When you have the time, that
is."

	"It's not like I'm to busy at the moment," Aislyn replied. "I'll
organize a time and place with you in the morning. For now..." She
looked over the crater edge, her expression hinting that she wasn't
looking forward to the climb down.

	"Want a lift?" Jason offered. Aislyn smiled.

	"Thought you'd never ask."

	Aislyn looked a little wary about getting up onto the dragon's
back, but after Jason assured her it was fine and pointed out that is
was a long walk back down to the warren, she managed to climb up without
to much assistance. Jason sat in front of her and urged Starfire into
the air.

	It may have been because Jason needed to clear his head, or
perhaps Starfire sensed the mind healer's enthusiasm, but as it turned
out the three of them took a rather diversionary route down to the
green, one that involved a fairly lengthy flight over the nearby forest.
Starfire, having decided to enjoy himself, engaged in not a few little
dives and swoops that elicited small gasps from at least one of the
people on his back, while the other just smiled.

	When they finally did land on the green, Aislyn gratefully
accepted Jason's help in climbing down, since her legs were still
shaking slightly. Trying to stand on her own, she stumbled a little,
causing both her and Jason to break out in laughter.

	"That was...fun," she said, grinning at him. "I'd like to do it
again sometime."

	"I enjoyed it as well," Jason replied, his face loosing some of
the edge it had not long ago. "It's been to long since Star and I went
flying just for the fun of it." He rubbed his dragon's eye ridge
affectionately. "As for doing it again, all you have to do is ask."

	"I will. However, I think it's about time we got some sleep.
I'll speak to you in the morning?" Jason nodded. "Good, see you then."
She walked off in the direction of the doorway. Jason stood there for a
while, watching her disappear inside, then shook his head and climbed
back up on Star for the short flight up to their apartment.

****

Submitted by,
		Jason and Starfire, Daere Warren

aka


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      _/|  \-''- _ /
 __-' { |          \          'Listen to them - the children of the
     /              \	       night. What sweet music they make!'
     /       "o.  |o }            
     |            \ ;				-Dracula-
                   ',
        \_         __\
          ''-_    \.//		Michael Turek
            / '-____'		mdt02@uow.edu.au
           /			ICQ#: 32360480
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