[G] [C] 739.12.04 | Breakfast Gossip

Mylorah was in a good mood, which was a regular state for her as too much energy was spent on negativity and dwelling on things, but considering the early hour, it was almost odd. It wasn't that she hated the morning, but some days deserved rising with the sun and others definitely did not. Today had been one of the early mornings though she couldn't say why it was or why she was skipping to the dining cavern like she was five again. Sometimes it was just nice to skip.

When she reached the room, she glanced around and noted it was one of those odd times where they were between rushes. The people that were actually early risers on the daily and had tasks to get to had already come and gone and those that could linger in bed or just preferred a later meal had yet to come down. There were a handful of people scattered here and there but it was the greenrider sitting in a corner and looking like he wanted the shadows to absorb him that caught her eye.

Forgetting about food, Mylorah changed her trajectory to the greenrider, calling out a greeting as she did, "Hi, F'drel!" Her voice was a bit loud from how chipper it was and her smile just as bright as her greeting. When she came round the table and up behind him, she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug from behind, planting a kiss to his cheek. He wasn't the most outgoing man she knew nor was he overly into touching of any kind but she couldn't help herself! He always looked like he needed a hug and that he would give amazing hugs where she could just nestle into his chest with his arms holding her tight. She had yet to get that sort of hug out of him, but one day she would! The kiss to the cheek was just standard greeting from her for some of her friends and F'drel had earned that honour because the first time she did it the face he made had been adorable.

"How can we live in the same Weyr and I still feel like I never see you enough? Sometimes I think you purposely hide from me," she grinned and released him from her hold so she could slide into the seat beside him. "So what have you been up to? What are you up to now?" It didn't look like he was eating. Just sitting and drinking klah--which smelled amazing. She should have grabbed a mug of it before jumping her friend. But then jumping her friend with klah in hand would have ended up on the messy side of things and she wanted to avoid that. So she eyed F'drel's mug, wondering if there was anything left in it and if she could steal a swig.

It had been one of those nights F’drel hadn’t managed to sleep much, and instead of trying to get another few hours of sleep and just lying there uncomfortably instead as the attempt utterly failed, he’d wandered down to the dining cavern and curled up in a corner with a mug of klah. Because klah made life slightly more tolerable and it was a lot less effort to get it from the dining cavern than to make it himself.

He’d been vaguely staring at his mug, not really paying attention to anything, when a nearby conversation started up loud enough that F’drel was having trouble ignoring it. At first he was irked, not wanting to have to listen to whatever boring shit they were prattling on about, but it had ended up being a conversation about some convoluted drama involving cheating by at least three different people — some bluerider who was cheating on his mate with some brownrider’s mate, but the bluerider’s mate, who was one of the speaker’s sister, knew about the cheating and was pissed but was also cheating on him with someone else and she was apparently pregnant and didn’t know which man was the father — which was at least somewhat entertaining, if unnecessarily complicated. Honestly, did a Harper write this? It was also possibly profitable, being the kind of gossip D’hys liked to hear about, and F’drel was eavesdropping to potentially pass the story on — and also because the whole thing was so ridiculous he wanted to know how much more absurd the situation could get.

He was on his second mug of klah and the brother of the woman, a bluerider, was just telling his friend about how he’d offered his sister a ride between and she hadn’t decided whether she’d accept the offer yet when F’drel heard a certain overly friendly Candidate’s greeting and steeled himself for her approach.

“Good morning, Mylorah,” F’drel said with a resigned sigh, saying goodbye to his quiet morning of klah and eavesdropping, “don’t take it personally, I hide from everyone.” Mylorah was one of those people who appreciated snark and wouldn’t hurt him if he said something too bitchy, so he didn’t overthink the response as much as he usually would have. Still, F’drel instinctively pulled his mug of klah closer to him when he noticed Mylorah eyeing it. He did not share klah, ever. It was one of the few truly good things in life and almost certainly had prevented him from committing murder at least twice. Maybe even three or four times. Five at most.

Klah secured, he slightly inclined his head towards the other table. “I’m listening.” He didn’t feel too bad letting her know he was being a busybody because she absolutely did her utmost to keep up on gossip around the Weyrs, and she may even have further knowledge on the messy drama that was being recounted at the other table — the pregnancy sounded like it was new, but the cheating had been going on at least a few months, especially between the woman’s mate and the brownrider’s mate (who F’drel was pretty sure was a weyrbred greenrider he’d graduated with).

feel free to take that gossip and run with it however u want

Mylorah frowned as F’drel clung to his klah, a clear sign that he wasn’t going to share. Maybe if she bribed him? Pestered him enough? He might eventually break but she had a feeling that by the time that happened, she could have gone up and grabbed her own mug at least three times over. She gave a soft sigh and mentally waved good bye to the stolen sip that would have been extra satisfying. Oh well. She’d eventually get her own mug and maybe even offer to top up F’drel’s, but first, she wanted to know what it was he was listening to.

She rested her head on his shoulder, glancing subtlety to the table that had been indicated as she did so. She didn’t want to draw attention –more than her loud arrival likely already had—and quieted down to figure out what would actually gain F’drel’s attention. She knew those at the table and after a minute of piecing together the conversation, Mylorah realised what they were talking about and giggled softly. “Oh boy. You’re going to need a chart to figure out that drama. I’m pretty sure the brownrider and bluerider in question have ended up in bed together after confronting one another about their mates cheating but one of them has always maintained he’s only into women so he’s doing his best to keep pretending,” she rolled her eyes as if to say ‘brownriders; what are you going to do about them?’ as she continued to quietly explain the many twists and turns in their drama.

“I also just heard that one’s sister is pregnant but some are whispering it isn’t her mate or lover at fault but the sexy Candidate Narinoa that she had a fling with in the summer. I don’t think so, though. Timing doesn’t seem quite right.” Mylorah considered it again as she sat up straight once more and still thought the baby daddy was one of the two men she most frequently slept with.

With elbows plopped on the table and chin resting on her hands, Mylorah thought about the entire situation so many people were now tangled up in and still couldn’t believe it. “This just reaffirms that I never want a mate.” She straightened again to turn and face F’drel more head on; realising as she did so that she didn’t seem able to sit still that morning. Maybe klah wasn’t needed after all. “I mean, if you like sex and have attractive friends, then have sex with your attractive friends. There’s no secrets that way and no hurt feelings, you know?” That had been her philosophy since discovering the joys of sex and it didn’t seem like it would change any time soon.

F’drel waited as Mylorah listened in to the nearby conversation. He took another sip of klah, careful not to dislodge her from his shoulder since she had apparently decided he was a good pillow (what was it with people using him as a pillow? R’dal and Mylorah both did it, some of his siblings did, and that was most of F’drel’s sphere of people right there). The information that the bluerider and brownrider had also slept together didn’t surprise him in the slightest, and F’drel sighed. Holders and Weyrfolk were all the same when it came to absurd relationship drama, and the brownrider trying to maintain he wasn’t into men reminded him of a few Holders he could — unfortunately — name.

He nodded at Mylorah’s assessment of probable father’s of the woman’s unborn child, relieved when Mylorah moved back to a normal sitting position. Made drinking his klah much easier. “Result of a summer fling would be unlikely,” F’drel agreed with her. He had four younger siblings, he knew a bit about how pregnancies worked. Hardly made him an expert, but enough to determine that if it was only starting to show signs now, it probably started much more recently.

Even as he discussed the gossip with Mylorah, F’drel still had no interest in any of the people involved or who the ‘real’ father was. It was drivel, but it was information — and it was always better to have the information that for someone else to have it. And it was really disgustingly easy to get personal details on people in the Weyr, which always made F’drel worry what people knew about him. He much preferred to be as anonymous as possible, thank you very much. Kept you a lot safer.

Of course, Mylorah’s conclusions from the gossip were a lot different than his own. Not having an official mate might mean no one could cheat on you, but it also increased the number of people who knew personal details about you and could fuck you over (and not in a sexy way). But Mylorah wasn’t nearly as paranoid about everyone as he was, if her propensity for attempting to befriend random people was anything to go by. He was not at all surprised that Mylorah already knew of the drama unfolding, even though it sounded like some of it was barely days old.

F’drel was also a little worried about something else Mylorah had said — the bit about having attractive friends. People called him ‘attractive’ uncomfortably often and F’drel really hoped she wasn’t thinking of him when she said that. He was probably overthinking, really, Mylorah was friendly with over half the Weyr and it was probably a general statement, but it made him uneasy regardless. “I’m sure someone would manage to keep secrets and hurt feelings despite that, but perhaps the risk is lower,” F’drel said awkwardly, taking another sip of klah. Who knew, maybe it would work for her. She seemed the type to make things go her way through sheer willpower. Example the first, their entire friendship.

Mylorah nodded at F’drel, pleased that he sort of saw it like she did, though his view was pessimistic. “Definitely lower. If you’re hooking up just for fun and you both know that going in, then you can’t hurt any feelings when they’re with someone else. Friends with benefits is really the only way to go.” She kind of forgot that F’drel was Hold bred and momentarily wondered if that was why he suddenly seemed a bit awkward with the conversation. Weren’t they taught to save themselves and be married by her age?

Maybe he was thinking about her attractive friends comment. Was he attracted to her? She certainly found him appealing and if he suddenly leaned over to kiss her or asked her to meet at his weyr that night, she’d go for it. As it was, though, he seemed a bit skittish and Mylorah had already decided not to spook him by making any advancements. Not much seemed to fluster F’drel but maybe thinking about her naked did and she was okay with that!

Then again, it was probably his upbringing clashing with his new life. She was suddenly nervous that he thought less of her for being such a free spirit in general but specifically with sex. Sinking into herself a bit, Mylorah turned on the bench to completely face F’drel, folding her legs up as she did so. She studied him a moment longer, wondering if she really wanted to know the answer to the question on her mind and figured it was best given their topic of secrets and hurt feelings. “F’drel? How do you see me? Do you think less of me for not having a steady partner? Mimi and I already decided I’d be a horrible Holder, but would Holders think I’m horrible the way I am?” She gave a wave to her low cut dress that barely touched her knees when standing, though she didn’t elaborate on her preferred down-time activities, figuring they spoke loud enough on their own.

Even with Mylorah’s description of why friends with benefits was the best way to go, F’drel still wasn’t convinced it was as feelings or hurt free as she thought it was. Though how would he know, really — he’d never been friends with anyone he’d had sex with. Mylorah clearly had more experience with that kind of amicable arrangement than he did, and apparently it had worked for her so far. F’drel really hoped she was never proven wrong.

The sudden change in Mylorah’s demeanor took F’drel by surprise, and he frowned slightly at her as she asked her questions. Where did that come from? She was usually so confident, why did she suddenly care what other people thought?

“I’m a greenrider, I don’t think I have much room to judge people for that, do I?” he said dryly, still trying to process what she was asking him. Was there some question within the question that he was missing? “Holders think everyone who isn’t them is horrible. They do the same shit dragonriders do, they just do it more quietly while loudly talking about their distaste for the things they do in secret. That, or they take what the people denouncing everything they’re doing behind doors to heart and think it makes them better while hating themselves and everyone else. Holders may talk like they follow all these rules they set for themselves, but very few of them have any moral high ground to stand on while they judge other people. Fuck them.” Weyrfolk always thought Holders were so repressed — and truly, they were — but seemed to forget that just because a rule existed didn’t mean no one ever broke it. Holders broke their own rules all the fucking time, and there were plenty of exceptions to all their rules. No sleeping around outside of marriage, unless you were a man, in which case, do whatever you felt like, especially if you were rich, as long as you can pretend nothing’s going on. Dragonriders also did some awful things when it came to sex and relationships, but most of them put much less effort into hiding it. F’drel figured they did some of the awful shit less in general, since they were less repressed overall — didn’t have to cheat on your wife if you weren’t required to have a wife.

“Take it from someone who’s lived with both Holders and Weyrfolk, Mylorah, their judgement means nothing and you’re easily a better person than at least half of them,” he said hotly, getting mad about how fucking much he hated the idea that Holders didn’t get up to the same sort of shit as dragonriders, because everyone here thought like that and F’drel had fucking lived otherwise. And despite telling T’ryn he didn’t need another sister, apparently F’drel couldn’t help projecting his sisters on other young women and feeling protective towards them, because he was suddenly really pissed at the idea of people thinking less of Mylorah for things that didn’t make her a bad person. Fuck, it was too early in the morning to be mad about things that shouldn’t even matter to him. He took another sip of klah, finishing off the current mug.

Having F'drel validate her and ensure her she was better than at least half of the Holders had a small smile appearing as her mood began to lift once more. She knew her fears were silly and she normally didn't care what other people thought about her since everyone was entitled to their own opinion. So why did she care what Holders might think of her? She had a sinking suspicion it was R'nd's fault. He came from a family of minor lords which meant she technically half belonged to them and that world. Maybe more of the blame belonged att A'tay and T'ryn's feet since her dear brothers talked up their Aunt Eridella and family so much that Mylorah now had her own lofty expectations. She had never met any of them, not even going to the open little winter gather Eridella hosted last turn, since that would have been too much temptation. She didn't want to get to know the family of the man she didn't need as a dad and didn't want to see how they lived or what they looked like or how she compared to them and how they looked down upon her.

As soon as the mug was set down, Mylorah pounced, leaning in and wrapping her arms around F'drel's neck for a slightly awkward hug from the side. "You are a wonderful man, F'drel, thank you." She placed another kiss to his cheek before letting go and slipping back down into her seat with a giggle. "I also don't think I've heard you say so much all at once. You should do that more often. You have a lovely voice and I'd like to hear it telling me your opinions and interests more."

Smiling, Mylorah chanced another glance at the mug of klah, peering inside and seeing it was empty. With a large playful pout, she jumped to her feet, grabbing the mug as she went. "And since you didn't share and finished it all off, I'm going to go get us some klah. Back in a jiffy!" She didn't give F'drel time to argue as she took off, greeting the men that they had been eavesdropping on minutes earlier since she knew the bluerider well enough to do so.

A few minutes later saw her returning with two mugs and a small plate balancing on top of one that carried two scones. A mug was set down before F'drel, the plate set beside it, and finally Mylorah sat down with her mug in hand as she inhaled the scent deeply. "I didn't know if you liked raisins or not so I grabbed a plain one just in case, but take the raisin one if you prefer it."

Being called ‘wonderful’ had F’drel blinking at Mylorah in disbelief. He was what now? That was a new one, and F’drel couldn’t decide if he liked it or not. He didn’t believe it, in any case. Why were the generation of weyrbrats around his age so aggressively nice and positive? It was weird, though F’drel still tolerated Mylorah’s hug and the kiss on the cheek. He wasn’t going to make her feel bad about herself again by shoving her away.

“I wouldn’t get too excited, it probably won’t happen again,” F’drel sighed, annoyed at his own slight outburst. He’d do his best to make sure it didn’t. His nose wrinkled a bit at the comment about him having a lovely voice. Like being called ‘wonderful,’ he just felt weird about it. All compliments like that just sounded false about him, and he had absolutely no interest in talking about himself in a public space. The blueriders nearby had nicely proven that point for him that morning, that nothing said in the dining cavern was safe for gossip hungry ears.

He almost protested when Mylorah grabbed his mug — she was too fast for him to catch her before she got it — but it registered that she said she was getting more, and his mug was empty anyway, so there was really no point in protecting it anymore. And she was offering to get him more klah, which he couldn’t really complain about. Unless she was drugging it, but he didn’t think she would do that so early in the morning in the dining cavern. Probably. F’drel didn’t think she would do that to him…

The new, full mug was accepted with a grateful hum when Mylorah set it before him, and he immediately wrapped his hands around it, feeling the warmth. He took a long sip before considering the scones she brought, and took the plain one — it sounded like she preferred raisins herself, and F’drel had no particular opinion on raisins, so he let her have that one. “Plain is fine,” he said, debating whether or not he should dip the scone in his klah.

Mylorah studied F’drel, eyes squinting a bit as she did so. “I can’t decide if you’re a raisin-hater or just being nice and letting me have my preferred scone. So I’m going to assume you’re proving my point again that you’re a wonderful man and letting me have the better scone.” She smiled brightly as she took a bite out of the sinful breakfast goodness and enjoyed it with a soft smile of pleasure. She did love food, especially that of the baked goods variety. She fell silent, listening to the gossiping riders as she continued to enjoy the scone, dipping it in her mug of klah without hesitation because the combo of klah’s cinnamon and the raisins was divine.

“So,” she cast a glance at F’drel, a wicked grin that indicated trouble trying to show behind the mug she was starting to sip at. Seriously, how could some of her friends not like the drink? It contained so many of her favourite things! “Going back to you hiding from everyone… I hear that’s not entirely true and that you were hiding on the beach with my brother.” She casually sipped at the drink, once again smiling from the taste and the warmth working its way through her. Definitely the best way to start the day and she really couldn’t fault F’drel for not sharing, though she’d still pout at him the next time he had some and she didn’t.

She waited a few more seconds, wondering if F’drel was panicking about who knew that he had spent time with T’ryn since he was definitely the sort that didn’t like attention with how introverted he seemed to be. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how he put up with R’dal and her given how outgoing they could be but Mylorah loved that he did. It showed he was just as kind, tolerant, and fun that she knew him to be.

“T’ryn told me,” she finally confessed, smiling innocently as she did. “Apparently I’ve pestered him enough about making new friends that when I went to visit him a bit ago he told me that you two crossed paths and got along. Sounds like he enjoyed himself and even Syrendryth enjoyed his time with Halomirth.” Not that the bronze dragon ever spoke to her, but Mylorah always felt he was hard to impress, though it didn’t surprise her that the ball of green sunshine won him over.

“You are welcome to think whatever you like about my scone intentions,” F’drel said with a roll of his eyes, soaking one corner of it in his klah before taking a bite. Klah made just about all foods better, even ones like the scones that were already pretty good. Honestly, his blood was probably at least half klah at this point, F’drel drank so much of it, but it was something he could actually enjoy, which he didn’t have enough of.

He raised an eyebrow at Mylorah’s new line of questioning. Of course she knew he’d spent some time with T’ryn, that was just the kind of person she was — didn’t hurt that T’ryn was also her brother, she seemed the type to keep tabs on her siblings. Which hopefully meant T’ryn had mentioned they’d met, not some other gossip source that F’drel would have to avoid for the rest of forever. He waited, watching Mylorah, until she confirmed that her brother had in fact told her about it. F’drel couldn’t even blame T’ryn for it — he probably just wanted to prove to Mylorah he wasn’t a complete recluse. The only thing keeping F’drel from the same was probably R’dal, who F’drel was almost certain talked about him with Mylorah, which was. Questionably safe, but F’drel doubted he could do anything about it.

“I’m not sure you could really call it hiding when you’re sitting on a public beach, but yes, we crossed paths. And I’m honestly surprised Syrendryth put up with Miri for as long as he did, though I suppose I wouldn’t have heard if he complained.” F’drel shook his head, still amazed that the bronze hadn’t just ignored his silly green after the first few minutes — Halomirth was exhausting sometimes, even if she was wonderful. Still, F’drel always worried that the next dragon she tried to befriend would reject her friendship and it would crush her. With any luck it wouldn’t happen any time soon, but when had F’drel ever been lucky?

Of course F’drel didn’t even blink when she mentioned she knew about him being friends with T’ryn. F’drel was almost frustratingly hard to rile up in any capacity and Mylorah wondered if he ever just let go and went wild with friends or gave in to passion. She considered him a friend but who knew where she ranked with him so maybe that was why she never got to see beneath the pretty and perfectly polished exterior. Given brief chats with both T’ryn and R’dal, it seemed their greenriding friend was just very reserved and rolled with what was tossed at him but didn’t seem to emote as much as the kids she grew up with. Not that she was truly complaining, since she liked their interactions as they were; so long as that he was being himself and not putting on some display. It had to be so lonely to keep a wall up and not let anyone in. It was why she was trying so hard to keep T’ryn from falling into another funk because of his romance issues.

“I am definitely not an expert on Syrendryth but maybe he’s preparing for the chance he’ll one day be leading Halomirth in a wing. T’ryn’s goal is to be a Wingleader so it’s possible Syrendryth has already figured out friendliness works best with your chipper lady.” She would not at all be surprised if that was how the bronze beast viewed his interactions. It was strategic enough to be how T’ryn would go about approaching people in his Wing, anyway. Although, Mylorah knew her brother was too kind to be anything less than friendly with everyone.

"Anyway, I'm glad all four of you got long," she slid another glance at F'drel as she drank more klah, trying her best not to say where her line of thought was going but Mylorah knew when she was too weak against herself. Setting her mug back on the table and unconsciously mimicking F'drel's posture of cradling the mug, she continued, "next time Casa throws a wild party, I'll make sure he goes as well to keep you company. Although R'dal seems to have that position filled nicely." She quirked a brow at F'drel, hoping he would fill in some blanks but also knew he wouldn't. R'dal would cuddle with any and everyone but that didn't mean he actually kissed and told. He was surprisingly tight lipped about such things despite how open their group of friends was with details. Did that mean there wasn't anything to share or was he really just keeping that private? Not that she would shame him into sharing anything but curiosity was strong in her; as was matchmaking and Mylorah wanted to make the right people end up together.

“Well, regardless of Syrendryth’s intent, he’s certainly won Miri’s devotion for life. He gave her a fish,” F’drel said with a slight eyeroll. Miri was so ridiculously easy to please. All a dragon or person had to do was not be actively mean to her to be her friend — if they were slightly nice to her, she loved them forever. Perhaps it was the universe’s way of evening out his own reluctance to trust people by pairing him with the friendliest dragon on Pern (or close enough to it, anyway).

It was worth remembering as well that T’ryn and his bronze were angling for Wingleader. Men could do stupid things for power and titles, after all. F’drel hadn’t grown up in a Lord’s home without learning that much. He really hoped T’ryn didn’t become like that — he seemed decent enough for a bronzerider. Time would tell, he supposed.

He took a sip of klah only for Mylorah to start talking again, and it was by sheer luck that F’drel managed not to choke or spit klah all over Mylorah — instead he only made a slightly inelegant noise. Fucking cheeky girl. “The next time Casa throws a party I will be keeping myself far, far away from it, thank you,” he said quietly, putting his mug down on the table — though he kept a careful hold on it, “and I thought we just had a conversation about why talking about your personal business in the dining cavern was a poor choice if you have any desire for privacy? Not that there’s anything to talk about, but it’s the principle of it.” Really, there wasn’t. At all. And F’drel liked it as it was, thank you very much.

He was still a bit hung up trying to figure out if Mylorah had actually been implying he should hook up with her brother or it was just a convenient segue into asking about R’dal. With Mylorah, F’drel had a feeling it could be either — or, quite likely, both. The whole topic was not something to be talked about in public, at the very least, even if the answer truly was ‘nothing is going on’ — no one would believe it, especially if someone heard him protesting that nothing was going on. No one ever accepted that as the truth, tragically. They’d rather believe something false but more entertaining for them. Stupid. And F’drel had no intention of becoming fodder for the rumor mill. At least the drama nearby was almost certainly more interesting than anything about him someone may overhear in the dining cavern. Thank fuck.

Mylorah continued to hide her smile behind her mug as F'drel gave her both a fun reaction to her switch in topics and more talking. She liked that even though just minutes before he had said his talking so much likely wouldn't happen again, that he was carrying on in a conversation like a normal person--even if it was to try and chide her for talking too openly. Somehow, that just added to her amusement about the whole situation and didn't dim her attempts to keep getting him to open up.

"No offence, but neither one of us is really going to attract the attention of, well, pretty much anyone because we're talking over breakfast. A greenrider and a woman who hasn't Impressed and has no real crafting skills aren't typically seen or heard unless we want to be." Or, in the case of a lot of greenriders, when they weren't either. Mylorah had yet to see or hear about F'drel getting caught up in anything untoward with the blue and brown bullies so it made her all the more confident that they could discuss anything in the dining cavern and not have anyone pay more attention than noticing they were sitting together.

"But, you can always invite me to your weyr so we can chat about anything in private if you're that worried about it." Mylorah sipped her klah, pretty confident in her conclusion that F'drel would never invite her over because he'd think people would see her go there and assume they were sleeping together. Honestly, she was just glad he didn't run away from her when she did manage to catch up to him in public. She had seen Edath on Halomirth's ledge with some consistency and assumed R'dal was always up there as well. She'd bet anything the bluerider showed up unannounced all the time and F'drel just put up with it because that's what you did with R'dal's quirks. She needed a dragon so she could show up on ledges. It'd be harder to ignore her when a door wasn't in the way.

“When you talk openly because you assume no one’s paying attention is when they start noticing,” F’drel said darkly. True, he relied a lot on no one noticing him, but that didn’t always apply beyond overhearing or seeing things that weren’t meant for him. When it came to information about him, F’drel had no faith that people would continue to forget he was there. That would be just too lucky for him.

He just wasn’t willing to risk any more personal information being heard by whoever happened to be passing by. He’d already said far more than he was really comfortable with, and he frowned slightly at his klah. Mylorah hadn’t put anything in it, had she? Because he really was talking more than usual. He didn’t think she would, not without telling him. Or maybe he was completely wrong about her, how would he know? Still. While he didn’t really mind telling Mylorah that he and R’dal were very much not dating, or whatever she was angling for, F’drel figured it would be better to keep the general public wondering on that count. There were definitely fewer blue and brownriders who had been approaching him the last few months, and whether that was due to D’hys influence or they weren’t willing to encroach on the Weyrleader’s son’s boyfriend, F’drel couldn’t be sure, so it didn’t hurt to keep people wondering. Him saying that nothing was going on with R’dal once didn’t mean anything — if anyone heard they’d likely assume he was just protesting for appearances’ sake.

Of course, F’drel wasn’t really comfortable inviting Mylorah back to his weyr either. That could also imply things he didn’t really need implied. Miri stirred softly at the corner of his mind at the thoughts of their weyr, wondering if her rider was coming back to her. She didn’t have his issues sleeping, and had gone right back to sleep once F’drel had told her he was getting klah in the dining cavern, but she was slowly starting to wake up. F’drel reassured her he’d be back soon, and her wordless questioning actually gave him an idea.

“Miri’s waking up, and I need to give her a proper bath. If you want to come down to the lake with us, you’re welcome to do so,” he said, as Halomirth woke up more at the idea of getting a nice bath and oiling with a friend there. F’drel felt the lake was a reasonable compromise — not quite as suggestive as his weyr, but much more private than the dining cavern. The lake was big, they could find a section of it that wasn’t full of other people and dragons. It would work, right? Even if Mylorah said no, F’drel would still give Miri her bath; she was expecting it now, and F’drel could never disappoint her like that.

"Oh fine," with a pout, Mylorah slumped forward and rested her head on her forearm, gaze still on F'drel. He was right and she knew it but he still deserved the pout for ruining a potentially fun conversation. She almost laughed at herself for thinking the greenrider would ever share that sort of information with her even if they were the only two alone together on a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean. One day, she promised herself. One day she would get F'drel to open up and realise it was okay to share with friends.

At the announcement that Halomirth was waking, Mylorah prepared for being ditched but was pleasantly surprised when an invitation to tag along came out instead. Smiling, she straightened back up and gave a nod. "I'd love to! Thank you, F'drel." She was utterly sincere in her gratitude, taking the invite as a step forward in their friendship. He might not be willing to open up about most things, but he had actively sought to keep her around a bit longer.

"I'll run to my room and grab what I need. Maybe we can go swimming while we're there." Leaning in, Mylorah whispered--lest anyone overhear the teasing, "I'll even wear clothes for you." Given his earlier comment about staying away from Casa's idea of parties, Mylorah suspected F'drel wasn't a fan of the nude swimming she and many of her friends had enjoyed. She didn't recall F'drel going in the water that day either which led her to believe he'd prefer swimmers be covered up.

F’drel was about to tell Mylorah he’d meet her by the Candidate barracks and pick her up with Miri, when she decided to tease him about not liking Casa’s party. The comment won her the most unimpressed look F’drel could muster and he considered rescinding the invitation for a moment. He didn’t really care whether or not Mylorah swam nude or not, as long as she didn’t make anything of it either — which she didn’t seem likely to — but other people probably would. Then again, with any luck no one would be there so it wouldn’t matter. Maybe F’drel appreciated the gesture a little. Didn’t stop the unimpressed look though.

“Miri and I will meet you by your barracks, then,” he said, expression not changing. It was reasonable enough for a dragonrider to give a Candidate friend a ride every now and then, so F’drel wasn’t overly concerned people would make too much of it. He knew Mylorah got rides from friends sometimes, so very few people would make anything of it. So that was fine. F’drel stood to leave, making sure to hold onto his mug to drop it off with the other dishes to wash — it was weird to not always have to wash his own dishes when he was done with them, and he sometimes did it anyway. Harder still was remembering that he could use as many utensils and plates as he needed, instead of being encouraged to dirty as few dishes as possible. That morning, though, F’drel figured it would be better not to keep Mylorah waiting too long, so it was okay to leave the dirty mug this once.

“See you soon,” F’drel told Mylorah, nodding at her before stepping away to drop off his mug and go get Halomirth and her bathing things.