Post by nealnotdom on Oct 31, 2010 20:29:53 GMT 10
Title: Learning to Like
Rating: PG13 just to be safe
Warning: Mentions of femslash.
Summary: Buri learns much from coming to Tortall. Maybe she can learn to love as well.
A/N: Written for the Malorie's Peak Prompt- Acquired Taste. But it got long so I moved it here.
********
The first time they met, he embraced Alanna and told her that he was there to escort them home. He was fascinated by her and her princess, Thayet’s beauty and their foreignness attracting him like a bee to flowers. Many questions had followed and she had been reminded of a child, newly released into the world. That had lasted the entire trip to Tortall, providing a constant source of amusement and, in a way, comfort for Thayet and Buri in the few moments they had alone. He unknowingly assured them that in the new world they traveled to, not all the changes would be bad. That she and Thayet would be safe and free and loved for themselves.
Many nobles described him as a block of wood, the next time they met. She realized how little he must associate with them, for it was only in these kinds of situations that he acted thus. Here was something they shared and no matter how she tried, Thayet could simply not understand why they felt so awkwardly at balls and parties. Buri never pressed for her to understand and they continued to find security in one another, an old comfort in the new land. But it was the first wall to come between them, and she could never shake the feeling that it would not be the last. Despite the common ground that offered them a friendship, Buri would never forgive Raoul of Goldenlake for being the cause.
But it wasn’t him, not really. Tortall and its beliefs and ideas had changed Thayet. And its king had won her heart. Buri couldn’t hate him for it, she was glad Thayet was happy. But she missed the times when they told each other everything. And when their marriage was announced, it broke her heart.
The first time she saw Raoul after that, they were both drunk. The night passed in a blur, only small fragments remaining the next day. Her, crying into his shoulder. Him, shouting at his men for replacing his drink with- well, it didn’t bear thinking about. And then a mistake. She had opened up to him like she once had with Thayet. And in that moment she forgot that he was Raoul, big, hulking and male. Thayet filled her mind, slender, beautiful and female. And she kissed him.
Needless to say, they had both sworn off alcohol after that.
Buri refused to talk to him for a long time. It wasn’t his fault, although she tried to pretend it was. But she didn’t want him to think it meant anything. But his constant bragging on the court, of the Own and their unmatched skill caused her and her Riders to challenge him. Their relationship continued as before although perhaps she was more careful and he watched himself more than he had. And there was a spark in his eyes that she forced herself not to recognize.
Thayet got married. Buri knew their relationship would never be the same. It couldn’t be. And she would have mourned. But the cursed level-headed queen had sat her now closest friend down and told her to move on. That there were other people. Buri hadn’t believed her.
For years after that, Buri had continued her life. Training the Rider trainees, travelling the land she was learning to love. Then came a Midwinter and a certain request from Raoul for her to please accompany him to his home and meet his family so they would stop pestering him. She and her queen had sat down and laughed until they cried at that. Just like old times. Then Thayet had gotten a look in her eyes, the one that made Buri uncomfortable. All sorts of fearful premonitions had occurred to Buri at the look in the other woman’s eyes. But in the end, all she had done was remind her that there existed other people. And inform her that men weren’t that different.
That had been an awkward holiday, to say the least. His family asking her where they had met and how she liked Raoul. And a certain grandmother loudly asking when the wedding was. Raoul had disappeared and left her to answer that one on her own. When she had hunted him down after that, they ended up in hysterics behind a curtain. And suddenly she remembered what Thayet had said. So she kissed him again, carefully. And this time she paid attention.
The queen had been wrong. It was different. And Buri wasn’t sure she liked it. Raoul was hard and unyielding to the gentleness and fluidity she found in Thayet. It was strange and almost unfriendly, much like Tortall had once been to her. But there was something there, a glimmer of something more.
It wasn’t her preference. But for her friends, she would try and make the glimmer shine. And maybe there was hope for something more in her choice. Hope that she could learn to love. Hope that she could grow to love Raoul, as she had grown to love the realm.
Hope to find Thayet was right. Hope that maybe men weren’t that different after all.
Rating: PG13 just to be safe
Warning: Mentions of femslash.
Summary: Buri learns much from coming to Tortall. Maybe she can learn to love as well.
A/N: Written for the Malorie's Peak Prompt- Acquired Taste. But it got long so I moved it here.
********
The first time they met, he embraced Alanna and told her that he was there to escort them home. He was fascinated by her and her princess, Thayet’s beauty and their foreignness attracting him like a bee to flowers. Many questions had followed and she had been reminded of a child, newly released into the world. That had lasted the entire trip to Tortall, providing a constant source of amusement and, in a way, comfort for Thayet and Buri in the few moments they had alone. He unknowingly assured them that in the new world they traveled to, not all the changes would be bad. That she and Thayet would be safe and free and loved for themselves.
Many nobles described him as a block of wood, the next time they met. She realized how little he must associate with them, for it was only in these kinds of situations that he acted thus. Here was something they shared and no matter how she tried, Thayet could simply not understand why they felt so awkwardly at balls and parties. Buri never pressed for her to understand and they continued to find security in one another, an old comfort in the new land. But it was the first wall to come between them, and she could never shake the feeling that it would not be the last. Despite the common ground that offered them a friendship, Buri would never forgive Raoul of Goldenlake for being the cause.
But it wasn’t him, not really. Tortall and its beliefs and ideas had changed Thayet. And its king had won her heart. Buri couldn’t hate him for it, she was glad Thayet was happy. But she missed the times when they told each other everything. And when their marriage was announced, it broke her heart.
The first time she saw Raoul after that, they were both drunk. The night passed in a blur, only small fragments remaining the next day. Her, crying into his shoulder. Him, shouting at his men for replacing his drink with- well, it didn’t bear thinking about. And then a mistake. She had opened up to him like she once had with Thayet. And in that moment she forgot that he was Raoul, big, hulking and male. Thayet filled her mind, slender, beautiful and female. And she kissed him.
Needless to say, they had both sworn off alcohol after that.
Buri refused to talk to him for a long time. It wasn’t his fault, although she tried to pretend it was. But she didn’t want him to think it meant anything. But his constant bragging on the court, of the Own and their unmatched skill caused her and her Riders to challenge him. Their relationship continued as before although perhaps she was more careful and he watched himself more than he had. And there was a spark in his eyes that she forced herself not to recognize.
Thayet got married. Buri knew their relationship would never be the same. It couldn’t be. And she would have mourned. But the cursed level-headed queen had sat her now closest friend down and told her to move on. That there were other people. Buri hadn’t believed her.
For years after that, Buri had continued her life. Training the Rider trainees, travelling the land she was learning to love. Then came a Midwinter and a certain request from Raoul for her to please accompany him to his home and meet his family so they would stop pestering him. She and her queen had sat down and laughed until they cried at that. Just like old times. Then Thayet had gotten a look in her eyes, the one that made Buri uncomfortable. All sorts of fearful premonitions had occurred to Buri at the look in the other woman’s eyes. But in the end, all she had done was remind her that there existed other people. And inform her that men weren’t that different.
That had been an awkward holiday, to say the least. His family asking her where they had met and how she liked Raoul. And a certain grandmother loudly asking when the wedding was. Raoul had disappeared and left her to answer that one on her own. When she had hunted him down after that, they ended up in hysterics behind a curtain. And suddenly she remembered what Thayet had said. So she kissed him again, carefully. And this time she paid attention.
The queen had been wrong. It was different. And Buri wasn’t sure she liked it. Raoul was hard and unyielding to the gentleness and fluidity she found in Thayet. It was strange and almost unfriendly, much like Tortall had once been to her. But there was something there, a glimmer of something more.
It wasn’t her preference. But for her friends, she would try and make the glimmer shine. And maybe there was hope for something more in her choice. Hope that she could learn to love. Hope that she could grow to love Raoul, as she had grown to love the realm.
Hope to find Thayet was right. Hope that maybe men weren’t that different after all.