Almiron listened as Briana explained about S'brogh and her thoughts that 
the relationship would never go beyond friendship again.  It hurt him to 
hear it, as it obviously saddened her, but he understood her reasons.

"You do what is best for you.  Only you know that."

"It's just that even though I know now that he wasn't being selfish, I
couldn't stand it if I was mate to someone and they were sick or injured
and they wouldn't let me near them to help them and take care of them and
comfort them." 

"Everyone handles thing differently," he stated.

"It's like I can see that Darlea is concerned about you and wants to take 
care of you, knowing you are hurt."

There was some curiosity in her tone.  He thought about the enigma that
was his relationship to Darlea.  "Darlea... Darlea is good friend."  It
was the only sure thing he knew of their relationship.  If Darlea
considered it more, she hadn't insisted on it being reflected in any way
in their living arrangements.

She seemed about to ask something, but there was a pause and a
nearly-imperceptible shake of the head.  She had changed her mind.  She
looked into his eyes as her fingers gently traced the bruised eye.  "I
wish I could help."

He felt a vague yearning within her-- muscles ready to embrace him, an 
unfocused feeling of sexual need.

Darshan's voice chuckled in his head.  <Perhaps you should get hurt more 
often, pet.  It seems to attract mates.>

<Hush you,> he shot back.  He thought about what they had been 
discussing-- S'brogh, Darlea.  He didn't want to hurt Darlea, and until 
he better understood what he was to her, he couldn't pursue someone 
else.  Besides, he wasn't in love with Briana...

<You aren't in love with Darlea, either, and that doesn't stop you from 
mating her.>

He shoved the dragon's comment aside and thought of the other half of the
conversation.  S'brogh.  She could very well be right that there could
never be more than friendship between them.  But he didn't want her
throwing away the possibility so soon.  Nor did he particularly want to be
dragged into a relationship that was nothing more than an escape from the
pain of another.  He knew it wasn't her intent.  But good intentions can 
still result in pain.

He smiled at her.  "You are good friend, that helps."

There was a moment of silence.  She seemed to be considering him--
considering something inside of herself.  Then, she broke the silence. 
"Well, that's all I wanted to talk to you about.  You seem to be the only
one who understands what I am feeling about this situation.  We can go
back now... unless you want to talk about anything also?"

The offer.  Worded so that he could misunderstand it if it was too close,
too sudden, too uncomfortable-- any of those things that might make the
moment not right.  He had already made his decision.  He would
misunderstand.  "No.  I had nothing important to say.  I came here to
listen to you."  He smiled.  "I think I need to get back before Darlea and
Michel decide I have died of black eye.  After you."

She smiled, though he thought for a moment he saw disappointment, and then
exited through the door and across the hall to the dining hall.

<You humans make no sense,> Darshan muttered.  <First, you choose not to 
mate her because you are already mating Darlea.  Then you worry that she 
will be angry at you for mentioning Darlea after turning her down.  Why 
should she get angry?>

Almiron sighed.  <It is difficult to explain.>

<No, it's impossible to explain.  At least, logically.>

<Darshan.>

<Pet?>

<Whom I mate is my own business.>

Darshan sighed.  <I know.  I know somehow it would hurt you to have more 
than one female mate.  I don't understand it.  But I know.>

Almiron nodded to himself.  Matter closed.

<Pet?> Darshan spoke.  <Will it hurt you if I win another mating flight 
and you mate the rider?>

Almiron considered.  <I don't know, anymore.>

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Almiron and Darshan

NRPG: Sorry, Kat.  Ain't no way he's going to get himself further 
entangled just yet.

Chris C and Kris: Well, the two of you can talk while we're gone and have 
Almiron interrupt if you want.  Almiron's not above being taken care of, 
Kris, if that's your plan.  Just be gentle...  Oh, and he would explain 
fairly similarly to the explanation Briana got if she insists.

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *     Official INWO NetRep & Goddess    *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
 **********************************************************************
 *     The INWO rulings I make are official.  All other opinions,     *
 *  discussions, deck ideas, card ideas, political beliefs, etc. are  *
 *  my own and not those of Steve Jackson Games, the Circle of Janus, *
 *                        or P.U.R.P.L.E.  Fnord.                     *
 **********************************************************************