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 (Late Morning, Day 9)

<snip> 

 

Mari excused herself and returned to the green. She scanned it looking
for

signs of Jason or Starfire. She then saw the dragon laying on a ridge
high

above where she stood. His rider was leaning up against him.

 

<end snip>

 

< Regenta's rider is looking for you. >

 

* Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll go down and talk to her. She's probably
worried

or something. *

 

< Is that a bad thing? >

 

* I suppose not. Still, it seems a little silly. *

 

< Silly that she likes you and is worried about you? Why is that silly?
You

humans are strange sometimes. >

 

* You're not the first to say that bud, * Jason observed, scratching his

dragon affectionately along his eye ridge. *It's just...well, it's not
easy

watching someone get taken out like that. I've seen it before and it's
not

something I've wanted to see again. *

 

Jason flexed his arm absently, as if the now healed limb was a subtle

reminded of someone who's life had been taken from them earlier that day.

Funny, you never really thought about death that much until it was thrown
in

your face. For a brief moment, he tried to imagine people's reactions if
he

had been the one.

 

< That wouldn't happen, > Starfire told him, nuzzling his rider's neck

gently. < You have me, don't you? >

 

* Can't complain there buddy, * Jason grinned, his dragon's observation

snapping his sombre mood somewhat. * Don't know what I'd be doing without

you around. *

 

< Walking, > Starfire observed, standing up and stretching his wings. <
I'm

going to snuggle with Reggie, if you want a ride down. >

 

* Sure, * Jason replied, stepping lightly onto Starfire's back. * I want
to

go and have a word with D'Altar and T'rell about tomorrow later on
anyway. *

 

< Being in the special squad is sure better than training exercises, >
Star

commented as they glided down to the green. < Things are a lot more

exciting. >

 

* You can say that again, * Jason replied as they alighted next to the

warren entrance. * We need to work on keeping the casualty rates down

though. *

 

< I agree. Hmm, Reggie has been acting strange lately. I wonder if
anything's

wrong with her? >

 

* Have you forgotten already? * Jason asked his dragon, grinning
mentally. *

Are you prepared to be a daddy yet? *

 

 < She lays the eggs, I help her protect them until they hatch. How hard
can

it be? >

 

****

 

(Midday, Day 9)

 

 "Mind if I come in?"

 

 Marialla looked up to see Jason's head sticking around the half opened

door, a questioning look on his face.

 

 "Sure," she replied. "Glad to see you're still in one piece."

 

 "So am I, but I wish I could say that about everyone," he replied

regretfully. "But anyway…I was going to ask if you were stuck here,
or would

you consent to doing lunch with one of your lowly riders?" Marialla
smiled.

 

 "Oh, I'll consent to it just this once," she said lightly, pushing her

chair back and standing up. "I've got Alyssa with the Gossimers, so if
they

need anything I'll know. Besides that, I'm pretty well free."

 

 "Good," Jason replied, slipping his arm around Marialla's waist and
kissing

her lightly. "I'd hate to have you wasting away in this office all day."

 

 "As opposed to you cavorting around with the rest of the BCS?" Mari
replied

as they walked down the hall. "After what happened the other day, I think
it's safer in my office."

 

 "Some days," Jason remarked to no one in particular, "I'd be inclined to

agree with you." Mari glanced at him for a moment, but said nothing.

 

 Lunch was nothing out of the ordinary, the two of them engaging in idle

talk. Mainly they just enjoyed each other's company. Jason was
surprised.he

had actually missed spending time with her. Now that the two of them had

talked about their problems, things just seemed to be so much easier.

 

 "I'd ask you to dinner, but I'm afraid you might not survive my
cooking,"

Jason said as they finished up. "So, mind if we eat here and then maybe a

drink at my place? Star and Reg won't want to be to far apart anyway."

 

 "Love to," Marialla replied with a smile. "Just remember, you have to

escort Lord Gossimer in the morning with the rest of the BCS."

 

 "I know. Now don't let Jayleigh work you to hard, okay?"

 

"You know that most of what I do doesn't seem like work.  I think when
most of it was new maybe it did.  But I've not done anything lately that
I haven't enjoyed.  Of course there are things I enjoy more than work." 
She grinned letting her fingers lightly trail up his arm.

 

****

 

(Day 9, Evening)

 

 "Mmm," Marialla said, "this is nice."

 

 Both slightly buzzed from the wine Jason had procured, the two of them
were

sitting quietly on a couch, the night breeze drifting lightly through the

room.

 

 Well, it was more Jason sitting on the couch and Marialla snuggled up
tight

against him. But then again, neither were complaining very much.

 

 "Yeah, I don't mind it," Jason replied with a grin. "We should do it
more

often."

 

 "Well keep your arm healthy then," Mari said lightly. "Look who you
ended

up with last time." Jason smirked.

 

 "Thanks a lot for reminding me," he said wryly. "I'll take your advice
to

heart. Just for that." He leant down and tickled her neck with his nose,

eliciting a furious giggle from his victim.

 

 "Hey! Start something like that and you better be prepared to finish it

mister."

 

 "Oh?" Jason raised an eyebrow at her. "Is a certain queenrider feeling

arduous tonight?"

 

 "Well," Marialla smiled, "it has been a few days."

 

 "A few days?" Jason giggled. "What happened to my shy little Marialla?"

 

 "I fired her," Marialla replied, climbing into his lap and looping her
arms

around his neck. "She wasn't doing much to make me happy."

 

 "Ah," Jason murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling
her

neck. "So, just who are you now?"

 

 "Someone who is going to get cross if you don't follow through with your

promises," she replied with a wicked smile, leaning down and kissing him.

"Right now."

 

****

 

(Early morning day 10)

 

 < Jason, we have to go soon. >

 

 * Yeah, yeah, I was awake. *

 

 < No you weren't, you were sleeping. >

 

 * Can it fuzzball, let me wake up. *

 

 Jason opened his eyes and smiled. It wasn't every day that he woke up
with

a beautiful woman in his arms. Made him really not want to get out of
bed.

 

 But he had to, so he gently extracted himself from her embrace and slid
out

of bed. Quickly getting dressed, he walked out to the ledge outside his

apartment and noticed the other members of the BCS beginning to gather on

the green.

 

 "Hmm, time to go I think. Can't have T'rell yelling at us for being
late."

 

 "Jason?" He turned around to see Mari sitting up in bed, looking at him.

 

 "Yes?"

 

 "Be careful," she said firmly. "Make sure you come back in one piece."

 

 "Didn't plan on coming back otherwise," Jason replied lightly, noting
the

worry on her face. "I promise."

 

 He vaulted up onto Starfire's back, the sapphire dragon leaping off the

ledge and gliding down towards the green. In his apartment, Marialla
sighed

and lay back down on the bed.

 

 "The waiting is the worst part," she whispered to herself.

 

****

 

NRPG: This post is kinda lame. Was going to have other stuff in it, but I
got tired of being shot down for daring to involve my character in
anything.

 

Submitted by

                  Jason and Starfire

 

Aka

 

                  Mike T