12.Oct.19, 02:47 PM
It was hard, sometimes, being so close to home again and yet still so far away. Ivonen hadn't taken any steps to bar him from seeing his children, but he would have to be blind not to see the discomfort his presence brought to her new marriage. S'laire didn't even remember the man's name--Tallin,--but he could see, could feel the way he would look at him when he didn't think S'laire would notice. But Luxilth was always watching. Sometimes in a creepy way, but S'laire had grown accustomed to the blue's random outbursts of observation.
It helped far more often than it was a hindrance, so S'laire let it continue. They didn't talk about it, though. It was something like an unspoken agreement between them that they just carry on, collecting and sharing tidbits of knowledge no matter how mundane it appeared.
Evening always brought with it a certain peace; the Weyr tended to be on the quieter side, with everyone going about their evening chores or getting their hands on something to eat. That was, in fact, what S'laire had been planning on doing--was doing, in fact, and studiously ignoring his dragon's constant string of comments. Ignored wasn't exactly the right word, though, because every word the dragon said was heard and noted and savored.
It wasn't always this easy, though. They both had their fair share of trouble at the start, figuring each other out and learning how best to help one another function in a world that S'laire, at least, didn't particularly want to be in. There was no denying that a dragon had been the last thing he'd wanted...until he had one.
And that was the rub, wasn't it?
Luxilth never took it personally; how could he, when he'd been able to see why S'laire had such a hard time with everything the first couple months after Impression. It had taken significantly longer for Luxilth's frustration to work itself out, but as with everything else: they managed. Together. And by now S'laire didn't think he could even imagine his life being any different than it is.
Though in retrospect maybe he still wished, a little too hard, that he could have his family back--but that was doubly absurd, wasn't it, because as Luxilth was ever-keen to point out...he had a new family now. And so did she.
They had their own separate lives now, and while a part of him craved the life he'd been torn away from he knew that Ivonen had moved on. As long as she didn't keep him from seeing her or their children, he could deal with a little disgruntled glaring from Ivonen's new man. Tallin was free to moan and whine all he wanted as long as S'laire still got to set eyes on the kids and their mother.
Must we linger on such morose thoughts? the blue asked idly after a while, and S'laire winced apologetically.
'No,' he said simply, finishing the final bite of his bread and pushing away from the table he had claimed for himself. Upon walking outside S'laire glanced up, shading his eyes against the energetic glare of the setting sun. While Fort had always felt a lot more secure, safer than Katila in a way that he couldn't really describe, even S'laire had to admit that there was a lot more variety in evening activities in the southern Weyr compared to what was available in Fort. Being nestled in the middle of a mountain range certainly had its detriments.
He could just see the familiar shape of Luxilth sprawled on a ledge a ways off to one side and several dragonlengths in the air, almost unusually still in his relaxation. That only lasted a moment before the sleek blue head rose, looking off across the Bowl with sudden interest.
Someone comes.
It helped far more often than it was a hindrance, so S'laire let it continue. They didn't talk about it, though. It was something like an unspoken agreement between them that they just carry on, collecting and sharing tidbits of knowledge no matter how mundane it appeared.
Evening always brought with it a certain peace; the Weyr tended to be on the quieter side, with everyone going about their evening chores or getting their hands on something to eat. That was, in fact, what S'laire had been planning on doing--was doing, in fact, and studiously ignoring his dragon's constant string of comments. Ignored wasn't exactly the right word, though, because every word the dragon said was heard and noted and savored.
It wasn't always this easy, though. They both had their fair share of trouble at the start, figuring each other out and learning how best to help one another function in a world that S'laire, at least, didn't particularly want to be in. There was no denying that a dragon had been the last thing he'd wanted...until he had one.
And that was the rub, wasn't it?
Luxilth never took it personally; how could he, when he'd been able to see why S'laire had such a hard time with everything the first couple months after Impression. It had taken significantly longer for Luxilth's frustration to work itself out, but as with everything else: they managed. Together. And by now S'laire didn't think he could even imagine his life being any different than it is.
Though in retrospect maybe he still wished, a little too hard, that he could have his family back--but that was doubly absurd, wasn't it, because as Luxilth was ever-keen to point out...he had a new family now. And so did she.
They had their own separate lives now, and while a part of him craved the life he'd been torn away from he knew that Ivonen had moved on. As long as she didn't keep him from seeing her or their children, he could deal with a little disgruntled glaring from Ivonen's new man. Tallin was free to moan and whine all he wanted as long as S'laire still got to set eyes on the kids and their mother.
Must we linger on such morose thoughts? the blue asked idly after a while, and S'laire winced apologetically.
'No,' he said simply, finishing the final bite of his bread and pushing away from the table he had claimed for himself. Upon walking outside S'laire glanced up, shading his eyes against the energetic glare of the setting sun. While Fort had always felt a lot more secure, safer than Katila in a way that he couldn't really describe, even S'laire had to admit that there was a lot more variety in evening activities in the southern Weyr compared to what was available in Fort. Being nestled in the middle of a mountain range certainly had its detriments.
He could just see the familiar shape of Luxilth sprawled on a ledge a ways off to one side and several dragonlengths in the air, almost unusually still in his relaxation. That only lasted a moment before the sleek blue head rose, looking off across the Bowl with sudden interest.
Someone comes.