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+--- Thread: [G] [P] 740.12.21 | A More Enjoyable Evening (/showthread.php?tid=4636)
740.12.21 | A More Enjoyable Evening - Tala - 06.Mar.20
It wouldn’t be too long until Tala and Niath were graduated, which meant Tala wouldn’t need to ask permission every time she wanted to go anywhere outside the Weyr. At least they were close enough to graduating that it was more a formality than anything, and no one was going to particularly scrutinize what she was up to. ‘Visiting a friend in Fort’ was sufficient, though Tala would have told Indivara the more complicated version if she’d had to - ‘my friend who I’m also sleeping with just had a Flight and almost certainly needs intimate contact with someone who isn’t a man and I thought I’d volunteer.’ That information hadn’t been requested, so Tala hadn’t offered it.
She’d been tempted to go first thing in the morning to visit, as soon as she’d heard Iliyith had Flown. But considering the late hour of the Flight, Tala had decided to hold off a bit. Let Helyna sleep in, maybe, or kick out a bronzerider if necessary. And then Tala had gotten drawn into a task for a few of the Weyrlings, and then it was later in the day than she’d originally planned. Ah well, it gave Helyna a few hours to herself if she needed them. She’d bought a bottle of wine earlier in the day, before getting drawn into chores and things, and packed it up for the short journey to Fort. The jump between almost wouldn’t even be enough to chill it. Tala figured wine would be appropriate enough of a gift, though the main gift was the visit itself.
Tala had seen how out of sorts the upcoming Flight had made Helyna in the near month Iliyith had been exhibiting signs of proddiness. Considering how last time she’d ended up with a baby and her general distaste for men, Tala could understand why Helyna didn’t like Flights. So far Niath hadn’t shown any inclination to Fly soon, but considering how unpredictable a green’s first Flight could be, that wasn’t a great reassurance to Tala. At least she wouldn’t be trapped in one Weyr for months afterwards, so that was a small comfort. And she wasn’t as wholesale opposed to men as Helyna was, either. Still. Not something to dwell on for the moment, because Niath had just appeared above Fort and Tala had more important things to think about.
Niath checked that Iliyith was alone on her ledge (she was) before reaching out to ask if she could land to drop off Tala. The young green didn’t want to intrude on the gold’s space if she was the sort to be in a mood after a Flight. Better to be cautious with golds, Niath had decided, though she did like Iliyith. Thankfully the answer was yes, so Niath circled down to land on the ledge, letting Tala slide off as soon as she was properly on the stone.
“Hi,” Tala greeted with a smile as Helyna met her at the door onto the ledge, “I brought gifts.”
RE: 740.12.21 | A More Enjoyable Evening - Helyna - 08.Mar.20
Not usually one for slothful days, Helyna had been up with the dawn and puttering around her workroom since seeing the bronze pair off. Iliyith had sulked when they left, but perked up when Helyna indulged her with an extra long oiling in the early afternoon. It gave Lyna something to do, though unfortunately it didn’t do much to distract her from the occasional disorienting memory from the Flight.
The news that Tala was on their ledge considerably brightened her mood and she set her work aside in a hurry. Not that she would ever admit it, of course, but she had been a bit jealous of N’mor’s attentive mate dropping off a care package. Being in her own weyr she hadn’t needed such a thing, but the sweetness of the action made her miss her friend.
Tugging the door open eagerly, she smiled brightly. “Tala! It’s wonderful to see you. Please, come in.” She pulled her friend inside out of the chill air and waved to Niath as the green went to find a more neutral spot to wait. Iliyith wasn’t snappy in the least, but she also wasn’t in the mood for company that wasn’t her handsome bronze suitor. Helyna stole a lingering kiss before her curiosity finally overwhelmed her. “You mentioned gifts? Is it awful of me to want to know what they are?”
She was thrilled with the bottle, finding them glasses and ushering Tala over to the chairs by the fire, pulling them closer together. They enjoyed the first few sips in silence before Helyna had to get it off her chest. “I don’t know if I’m annoyed or relieved N’mor’s Rhezalth won again. At least I wasn’t dealing with some complete stranger, and he’s more mature than last time; didn’t bolt at the sight of me this time.” She took another sip with a rueful smile, remembering the disaster of Iliyith’s first Flight.