To Show You That We Care

Writers: Anika, Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 19th May 2015

Characters: L'pin, Alina, P'ton, R'taran, Ikalis
Description: The day of L'pin's surprise party arrives.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Chaysea
Notes: The last of the Surprise Party series.

Alina

"I'm sorry we had to move-- I thought I'd checked with Chaysea but
apparently I hadn't." Alina was babbling, but she couldn't quite stop.
She walked quickly through the Weyr to where Ikalis had set up the
party and desperately hoped that L'pin would be surprised and not
angry at what they'd done. Hopefully he didn't suspect that something
was up-- she'd changed the room they were to practice in at the last
moment, and for the first time since she'd Impressed she had pulled
her peach dress from the back of the wardrobe and put it on. "Anyway,
I'm just really grateful that she found us somewhere else to go."

"It's not a problem. If she hadn't found somewhere else, we'd have had
to improvise, and that's not always a bad thing. Though don't take
that to heart in class," he said, trying to keep his tone light.

"I suppose not!" She laughed, although it was a bit forced.
Improvisation and /betweening/ sounding like a perfect recipe for
disaster. "I'll keep it in mind for sure. And it's always good to see
new rooms. We see the same rooms all the time. And speaking of rooms--
here we are!" Vtols fluttered in her stomach and Alina pushed open the
door.

P'ton had been on lookout and started waving his hands frantically, to
let everyone know that L'pin was coming and for the Harper to start
playing while R'taran rolled his eyes at his younger brother's antics.
The brownrider was concerned about this plan, though he was all for
the sentiment behind it. He just wasn't sure how it would be received
by the Weyrlingmaster Third.

Alina was being a little quick in her speech, and L'pin wondered if
something was wrong. "If you're not up for the lesson, I can - "

The door swung open and L'pin stopped talking. He'd been expecting
maybe a larger space so the instruments could sound better. He wasn't
expecting to look in and see several people in the room. Several
people he knew. People he really liked.

He turned to look at Alina in surprise, then looked back into the
room. No words escaped - he just looked.

"Um-- we just thought, since we'd all been working so hard lately,
that maybe a party might be a good idea? I hope that you're not _too_
disappointed that you get to play with real Harpers instead of me?"
Alina slapped on a bright smile as she gestured for Ikalis to say
something. L'pin's expression was so unreadable-- what did he think of
all this!? "I-- we'd really love to hear you play!"

Ikalis jumped in to help Alina out. "Although I think Alina should
play with the real Harpers, too."

"Me? No way!" Alina shook her head vehemently at Ikalis.

L'pin finished scanning the room, his eyes falling at last back on the
conspirators. He was pretty sure the three adolescents were the
ringleaders of the affair. "Food, music, a room - you thought of
everything, didn't you?"

"Well there are _some_ things a man really must see to himself," P'ton
noted with a rakish grin and a knowing look for his instructor which
earned him a firm elbow in the side from his elder brother. P'ton
just laughed and ignored R'taran's attempt at censure. "So, we get to
hear what you've got or what?" he asked looking at both Alina and
L'pin and then meaningfully to where the harpers were playing.

"Um-- L'pin can play. I'm not very good." Although she had her pipes
in her pocket, there was no way she wanted to try to accompany real
harpers. She'd hold them back and end up embarrassing herself. "I
mean-- if you want to, L'pin. Perform, that is." She held her breath.

They were all looking at him so hopefully. In the fact of that kind of
trust and faith, how could he refuse them? The first genuine smile of
the last few days came to his lips. "Of course I'll play," he told them.

He looked-- happy. Maybe for the first time all month. Alina glanced
at Ikalis and P'ton, jubilant that they'd managed to put a smile on
their weyrlingmaster's face.

Last updated on the May 21st 2015

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To Show You That We Care