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+--- Thread: [G] [P] 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations (/showthread.php?tid=4801)
741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - N'mor - 17.Jan.21
N’mor kissed Z’rin, a lingering and warm kiss filled with his love for the bluerider, hand roaming lazily before pulling back and grinning at the slightly dazed look on his mate’s face. “C’mon, or we’ll be late.” Not something he really wanted to be, since Helyna had the potential to be rather scary when she wanted, and N’mor rather enjoyed visiting his son; he’d hate for her to get snotty with him and tell him he couldn’t come to see the child. He didn’t really think she would go that far, since Vondlyn was as excited to see N’mor as N’mor was to see the boy.
Pulling a jacket on, N’mor let Z’rin do it up with wandering hands, laughing as he groped his mate, biting him playfully on the neck, dodging away before Z’rin could inflict revenge. Playful banter filled the weyr as N’mor set about strapping up Rhezalth, making sure the bronze was set to one side enough for their blue companion to fit in and get strapped up as well. Once the straps were all in place, N’mor snagged Z’rin’s arm to pull him in for another playful kiss, the bronzerider’s good mood evident in his actions. Foreheads together, N’mor smiled softly at Z’rin, “love you,” he told him. Another fleeting kiss, and N’mor broke the embrace to mount up.
They didn’t need the straps, or to fly, but N’mor preferred to do both. His dragon wanted to see his mate, and N’mor had already lost an arm. He wasn’t particularly keen on losing anything else because he chose to fly without straps. Besides, it wouldn’t be a very good standard to set for his son! A few moments later, and Rhezalth was landing on Iliyith’s ledge, crooning affectionately to the gold dragon, touching his nose to her cheek, giving a quick lick.
“Honey!” N’mor called, his voice full of laughter, “I’m hooome!” Eyes sparkling, he grinned when Vondlyn came charging up to him, running on sturdy toddler legs, and N’mor crouched down to wrap his arm around the child, picking him up with a grunt. “You’re getting big!” He cheered, kissing Vondlyn on the cheek and blowing a raspberry against his neck, making the little boy laugh. N’mor was saddened by the thought that he wouldn’t be able to pick the child up for much longer; he was getting too big and heavy for a single arm, even one as strong as N’mor’s. Adjusting Vondlyn on his hip, N’mor entered the weyr proper, smiling at Helyna.
“Hello, Lyna. How have you been?” As if they hadn’t seen each other just a couple of days ago. N’mor’s smile was warm, though it was brighter when Z’rin came up beside him and greeted the child, grey eyes filled with love and affection for his mate.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - Helyna - 17.Jan.21
Iliyith greeted the visitors warmly, always happy to see her mate. Flatterer… she responded, though she nuzzled the bronze affectionately and invited him to settle down beside her for a cuddle. Helyna rolled her eyes but smiled all the same as she heard the joking greeting, heading out to greet the pair, Vondlyn dashing ahead. She lingered in the door, watching fondly as N’mor scooped the little boy up. It pleased her how well he handled being a father, and she regretted sometimes that she hadn’t told him sooner.
“Hello, N’mor. The last two days have been absolutely awful; simply terrible. I have no idea how I’ve managed,” she joked, a teasing smile on her lips. “Come on in.” She gestured for them to make themselves at home, settling into one of the armchairs and retrieving her glass of juice. Vondlyn was engrossed in asking dozens of questions, and showing off his newest toy once he squirmed free of the grasp, too excited to be held for long.
Helyna waited for a lull, used to the excited energy, then said, “we’ve been settling in well, but today Von decided he wanted new pillows for his new room, so he helped me this morning. He helped transfer the stuffing,” she added with a super serious expression and a wink for the boy. “Certainly the best assistant I’ve had since I left the Hall”
As Vondlyn began to ignore the group in favor of playing, she figured now was as good a time as any to bring up her idea. “N’mor, you know I moved here to Benden so that you and Z’rin could see Vondlyn more often. But I also moved here for a fresh start; a chance to get off on the right foot for my own ambitions.” She flashed him a wry smile. “Something not easily served by my gold being so particular about who catches her, regardless of being at the same Weyr or any other circumstances.”
“I have an idea which I think might benefit both of our ambitions. I obviously like women more than you do,” she teased lightly, “but that could hold me back as a goldrider in any sort of leadership role. And I think you’d agree that you face a similar predicament?” Her eyes darted to Z’rin, then back over to N’mor. “I had an arrangement with Vondlyn’s namesake. In the Hall our preferences were even more taboo, so we married to throw off rumors. Considering how dead set Iliyith is on having Rhezalth as a mate, the illusion might be simpler this time.”
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - N'mor - 17.Jan.21
N’mor laughed softly at the joking response, before schooling his features into a playful response of concern, frowning for a moment before his expression relaxed and his smile returned, following Helyna into her weyr and letting Vondlyn down when he made it known that’s what he wanted, watching the toddler affectionately. N’mor responded with the appropriate excitement when the new toy was brought to him, clearly proud of the item. N’mor’s lips twitched as the toddler took off again, and he turned his attention to the boy’s mother. “Oh?” he asked mildly, swallowing a laugh at the image that was painted for him, shaking his head as his now free hand found Z’rin’s, fingers woven together.
The sudden turn to a serious conversation had N’mor’s eyebrows arching slightly, before lowering as he studied Helyna thoughtfully as she spoke. He knew she had ambitions, knew of some of them from conversations they’d had since he found out about Vondlyn, but he was mildly surprised that she had opted to come to Benden in order to chase her dreams. Not that it wouldn’t be possible in Benden, it just seemed an interesting choice when some of the more established Weyrs would have offered opportunity as everyone left them. Nonetheless, he could understand her intentions.
N’mor pursed his lips as she finished speaking, knowing she wasn’t wrong. He harboured no shortage of guilt when it came to taking Z’rin out in public Hold events, such as his Aunt’s parties, because they couldn’t be themselves due to expectations. N’mor knew they could, really, but he also knew that it wouldn’t go down well. Bronzeriders were the embodiment of all things manly and proud, and finding out a bronzerider was fucking a bluerider – a male bluerider – forget mated to him, had the potential to cause issues with Searching, especially from the bigger Holds.
“Yes,” N’mor grimaced, giving Z’rin’s hand a gentle squeeze and the bluerider an apologetic look. While he was prepared to be cold to his lover in a non-Weyr setting, he wasn’t prepared to pretend they weren’t mates while in the Weyr. It could cause its own issues, but as reserved and quiet as N’mor could be, he wasn’t cruel and loved Z’rin too much to do that to him – even if he was a bluerider. A little smirk twitched N’mor’s lips, and he leaned over to press a light kiss to Z’rin’s cheek.
“I can certainly see the benefits,” N’mor agreed, turning his attention back to Helyna. The best part was that Holders were so damned reserved that no one would expect them to make out in front of them or be touchy feely beyond hand holding or maybe cheek kisses, both of which N’mor could do without issue. He gave a wry smile. “The dragons and Vondlyn will certainly help sell it.” He agreed, glancing at the little boy as he played not far away. “What did you have in mind, exactly?” He asked, curiosity clear.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - Helyna - 21.Jan.21
She was surprised that he agreed so readily, but she didn’t let it show, smiling over at him. “I haven’t thought it out too much, honestly. But appearing together at Gathers or things like that. Anywhere it might be useful to be seen with a woman or to allude to it. Obviously it would just be for official occasions or outside the Weyr; I’d no sooner throw over Tala than you would publicly give up Z’rin.”
Helyna considered a moment, then added, “you could also just use my name, or say that we’re close because of the dragons, I suppose. If that’s more comfortable.”
“Frankly, it would just be a relief to have someone to consider an ally here. Vondal was… well, he was my best friend. We trusted each other with our secrets, and to support the other’s ambitions, but this is so much larger in scale than trying to become an apprentice. I need to prove that Iliyith and I are dependable, and this was the best thought I had so far.”
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - N'mor - 28.Jan.21
He was somewhat surprised when she admitted she hadn’t given the idea too much thought; it was the kind of thing he would have obsessed over before bringing it up. He could see the benefits as it stood, and clearly she did too. But still, the lack of thought seemed strange; she didn’t strike him as someone who was easily swayed by random whims. Of course, she’d lived through this situation before, so it wasn’t like she was going in blind. N’mor was, comparatively. While he’d never been prone to making a show of his relationship with Z’rin, he’d never hidden it within the comfort of the Weyr either. Still, most people were oblivious, which caused N’mor no shortage of eyerolling.
“That seems reasonable,” N’mor agreed, knowing that socialising where Holders were prone was going to be their major show. Holders were so damned stuffy. But then, gold and bronze were renown for their preferences in – according to rumours and hearsay – strong leader types who were, by default, straight. Except, apparently, when they were not. N’mor couldn’t really think of any other bronze or goldriders who were same sex orientated, but there also weren’t that many of them, not really. Not compared to the greens and blues – and they had their share of straight folk, though they appeared to be the minority, for whatever reason.
Being considered an ally was… interesting. N’mor hadn’t really thought too much about his relationship with Helyna. While their dragons had clearly decided to dedicate to one another, he had not had that much to do with the goldrider. Mostly, because he didn’t care to spend time with or around women when he didn’t have to. Which meant most of the time he was around her, was when Vondlyn was involved; not ideal for getting to know one another, when constantly interrupted by a toddler and their never-ending questions. N’mor’s lips twitched, gaze flickering to his son for a moment.
“Of course,” N’mor murmured quietly, gaze turning back to Helyna, and an eyebrow arching slightly in question. “Aiming for your own Weyr?” he asked frankly, studying Helyna’s face though there was no judgement on his own features. Other than his conversations with T’ryn, N’mor hadn’t really told anyone of his desire to be a Weyrleader; he was young yet, and after mating to a bluerider (damned blues) he really wasn’t sure he’d get the votes needed to make it to leadership. Besides, no one knew him, since he was such a recluse. Of him, sure. But no one knew him. And he didn’t really want them to, which didn’t help things. Wingleader was his temporary goal. Once he got his own wing (whenever leadership decided to deal with that) he was sure he’d be able to prove he had what it took to run a Weyr, even if he was young and missing an arm.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - Helyna - 07.Feb.21
“I hadn’t meant to bring it up quite this early; I do usually like to give things like this more thought. But, well, you’re good with Vondlyn. And if you’re a grumpy bastard--” she grinned over at him, silently daring him to contradict her, “you’ve still seemed to grow quite up a bit from the panicked young rider I met initially.”
When he asked her if she was hoping to run her own Weyr some day, Helyna replied, “it beats being a junior to some of the flitter-heads around a few of these Weyrs. Besides, I’ve always been ambitious--I’d have found a way to make Journeyman if I hadn’t been Searched. Or at least to talk my way into learning some of the more secretive techniques.” The cavalier self-assurance was perhaps a bit of an act, but it was true that she was one of the few female apprentices in the weavercraft, and that much of her initial education had been won through sheer force of personality.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - N'mor - 09.Feb.21
“Come now,” N’mor said, widening his eyes dramatically, with a quick glance to make sure their toddler was preoccupied. “I’m a ray of fucking sunshine.” The last thing he needed was Vondlyn to hear him swearing and start spouting words he shouldn’t know, but the child was dedicating his attention to some toy or another (N’mor couldn’t see it) so he wasn’t too worried. Besides, Helyna swore first.
N’mor laughed softly at the rather kind term used to describe some of the goldriders that were around, smirking as the sound fell away. “Nothing wrong with some ambition,” N’mor responded, nodding slightly. “What was your craft?” He asked, lifting his brows slightly in curiosity. He really didn’t know shit about Helyna; knew she was a crafter but not type. He could probably fill a weyr with all the things he didn’t know about the woman, and wasn’t sure he wanted to know all of it. Just enough to not look like a fool when someone asked him something about his dragon’s mate’s rider.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - Helyna - 11.Feb.21
Helyna felt a twinge of regret as she realized he was paying more attention to what their son might overhear than she was. Too late. But she’d try to be more careful about it in the future.
“You really haven’t been paying attention, have you?” She laughed, with no meanness behind the comment. It spoke to how uncomfortable their earlier interactions had been—and a little to his own personality—that he hadn’t retained the information.
Helyna gestured to a nearby table covering and to the baskets of thread and fiber underneath the table. “I was Weavercraft. I made apprentice after Vondal died, mostly on improvements I made to the lace-making techniques he’d shared with me. But I dabbled in spinning and knitting, and the darning also comes in handy with a child around.” She had lost count of how many small repairs she had to make to the boy’s clothes or toys.
RE: 741.12.20 | Visitations and Conversations - N'mor - 12.Feb.21
N’mor shrugged slightly, not finding any reason to contest the question, but not finding it entirely true, either. He paid plenty of attention, just not to the things she apparently felt he should. Most women had sewing bits and bobs laying around, such as his aunts, who were forever commissioning clothing for him; apparently missing an arm made for a fun change, challenge, something. N’mor didn’t mind, it meant he had a lot of really nice clothes, some of them he still hadn’t had the chance to wear.
“Nice,” N’mor said mildly, eyeing the table for a moment before smiling. “Not something I can assist with.” He shrugged his right shoulder; sewing did not strike him as something that one would want to attempt with only one arm available for usage. Or spinning. Or knitting. Yes, it was all quite out of his range, though he was sure Z’rin would be able to pull off the tasks, which for some reason N’mor found funny. He smirked at Z’rin for a moment, eyes sparkling, before turning back to Helyna.
“Did you have plans with Vondlyn today?” He asked after a few moments of silence, his expression a mix between hopeful and wary. “I’d like to take him flying. I – Dad used to take me when I was little. They’re some of my fondest memories.” He flushed lightly at sharing that fact, but held his gaze steady on the goldrider, waiting to see if she’d let him take their son for a few hours.