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Day 18, afternoon


[snip]

^�Yeah, yeah, whatever.^�  Gus waved him off, but her eyes were shining.
Though she^�d never admit it, the kindness felt awfully damn good.  ^�Go
before Shawnee busts your ass^�well, more than she^�s gonna over G^�ret^�^�

"She has to find out about it first," he shouted back over his shoulder
as he walked away. "And somehow I don't think G'ret will be one to talk
it up."
[end snip]

Gus watched Ojean walk away, her mind whirling.  Just as suddenly as
they^�d stopped being friends, they were friends again and it was going
to take a little time to adjust.  She^�d at least expected him to be mad
the first time^�.  Shrugging a bit at things she^�d never quite
understand, she headed for the beach, whistling.

<So you^�re admitting you have friends?>

Gus grimaced mentally at Loki^�s smug tone.  From all she^�d heard from
other riders, it seemed it should be her lecturing the dragon NOT the
other way around.  She should be winning most of these arguments with
the infernal beast ^� or at least SOME of them.

<All right, you win.  Now shut up.>

Loki did, but not before allowing a smug chortle to be his final word.

*****
[snip]

Gus cocked open one eye and regarded the blond girl.

^�Well,^� Summer plunged ahead in the face of Gus^�s interest, ^�thinking
you were doing something with another guy made him jealous, but it
sounds like you did your best to convince him you weren^�t interested in
the other guy.  I mean you threw them both out, didn^�t you?^�  She didn^�t
wait for confirmation.  ^�Besides, just the way you and Lainie talked
about that guy this morning--Tyler, was it? Even I could tell it would
be far fetched for you to be interested in him.  So I was thinking, what
if you made Jerram think you were interested in someone else, someone
he^�d have a harder time competing with?  Like me.^�

[end snip]

Gus gave vent to a low whistle.  Plenty sure of her appeal was this
barkeep^�s daughter.  Leaning back against Loki, Gus gave the girl a
slow, thorough appraisal.  Summer flushed, but held her gaze without any
other sign of discomfort. Privately, Gus^�s estimation of the girl^�s
character rose a notch or two.  Still, best to be clear on everything to
start with.  ^�Why?^�

^�Well, it sounds like fun.^�

^�Really.^�

Gus^�s dry tone didn^�t really invite comment, and yet Summer hastily
added more.  ^�Yeah, kind of like^�well, like a practical joke, right? A
lot of laughs.^�

Gus acknowledged the statement with an inclination of her head.
Narrowing her eyes, she considered the other girl.  ^�Yeah, but Lainie
likes ^�em too^�and she^�s easier to get along with.  Why pick me?^�

Summer grinned.  ^�Maybe I like a challenge? Or an adventure?^�

Gus sighed.  ^�A back-ass proposition like that, you aint got the smarts
for adventure.  IF we was to do this, there^�d be trouble.^�  She held up
her hand to stop Summer^�s protest. ^�Yeah, I know, the risk^�s part of the
fun, but do you really understand how much trouble or what kind?  This
aint a lotta laughs and no one gets hurt, y^�know.  Jerram^�s gonna be
pissed ^� big time.  I aint gonna be able to keep the heat from fallin^�
on you too.^�  Gus paused, trying to get through the next part.  It was
bad enough she was even thinkin^� of doin^� this^� ^�And..y^�know^�it^�d have
to look good, or even Jerram won^�t buy it.^�

Summer shrugged, but didn^�t quite meet Gus^�s eyes.  ^�I realize that.
But, I^�m offering to help you.  A favor, as it were^�in exchange for a
return favor.^�

Gus^�s gaze sharpened. ^�Aha.  And what favor izzat gonna be?^�

Summer grinned.  ^�I don^�t know yet.  Maybe you^�ll just have to owe me.^�

At that Gus threw back her head and laughed.  ^�Your da didn^�t shelter
near good enough, did he?^�  She crossed her arms and met Summer^�s gaze
evenly.  ^�Ok, it^�s deal, but you do anythin^� what gets me kicked outta
here,^� Gus^�s voice dropped to a low, icy whisper, ^�your da nor your
dragon aint gonna save you.  Remember that.^�

If Gus^�s warning made any impression on Summer, she didn^�t show it.
Instead, with a squeal of delight, she threw her arms around Gus.
^�Great!^�

Gus flinched and stepped back a pace.  Swell, another one like Elly and
Lainie, always grabbin^� at a body.  ^�Don^�t do that.^�

^�Gus, if we^�re going to make it look good, you^�re going to have to not
flinch.^�  Summer furrowed her brow a moment.  ^�Are you going to be able
to do that?^�

Gus flushed slightly, secretly ashamed she^�d have to be reminded of such
an obvious thing.  ^�Yeah,^� she muttered, ^�just don^�t surprise me like
that.^�

{Tag Glory^� JP?}

*****

later

[snip]

Yasu had picked up a staff about four and a half feet in length,
complimenting his short stature well.   Starting slowly, he began
spinning the wooden shaft out and around his body.  Closing his eyes, he
felt the breeze he created as it whirled.  Faster and faster he spun the
staff, all the while remaining blind to the outside, letting his inner
eye guide the movements of the staff.  The wind whispering through the
staff became a low hum as the staff looked to be all about Yasu's body.

"Yasu!" came the greeting of Gus.

The humming suddenly ceased and Yasu's eyes opened, the staff held in
one hand, it's motion completely stopped.  Bowing slightly, he
responded, "Good afternoon, young Gus."

[end snip]

Gus shook her head slightly.  She wasn^�t young, but she understood well
enough that there was little point in trying to get Yasu to stop calling
her that.  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to work
up nerve enough to do what she came here for.  ^�Yasu? The other day we
was talking and..well, it kinda looked like I upset you or
somethin^�^�like I made you remember somethin^� bad.  And well,^�I ..uh..I
didn^�t mean to, y^�know.^�

^�Apology accepted, my friend.^�

Gus shrugged and dropped her eyes.  Apologies weren^�t exactly her stock
in trade ^� at least not sincere ones.

^�Was there perhaps something else you wanted to ask of me?^�  Yasu stood,
waiting patiently, his shrewd eyes trained on her.

Gus chewed at her lip and eyed Yasu.  How far dared she trust this funny
little man? ^�So,^� she began in an all too casual tone, ^�when I upset
you, that was rememberin^� somethin^�?^�  Yasu nodded, but did not
elaborate.  Gus dropped her eyes, struggling to do what common sense ^�
and the repeated urgings of her dragon ^� insisted she needed to do.
^�But you aint upset by it now^�so you know how to let it go, forget about
it?^�  Without waiting for Yasu^�s response, Gus went on, words tumbling
from her in a nervous rush.  ^�So, maybe you could teach me, cuz I need
to figure how^�bad.^�

{Tag Chris!}

_____________

Submitted by:

Katrina aka Gus/Loki



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