A Great Time

Writers: Suzee, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th October 2017

Characters: Sophque, Devren, Lenir, Pharisol, Sophine
Description: Devren finds Sophque in the dinner line at Turns End.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 8

Sophque

Devren's light green eyes scanned the tables were food was laid out
from the back of the seating area. The line was moving pretty quick,
but it was much longer than he had planned to stand in. He wasn't
really _that_ hungry after all. Maybe he'd just wait until all the
families cleared out. The Hold never skimped on the food at Turns
End. There would be plenty left after the fireworks. There had to be
some vendors selling tasty treats out in the Gather Square to hold him
over.

As he turned, however, his eye was caught by a flash of pink in a
familiar pearly hue. And right beside it a gorgeous teal skirt. He
recognized them at once. Only a couple sevendays before, he had sold
fabric in just such shades to Sophque, and she and her daughter seemed
to be heading for the back of the line.

**Well, a little dinner wouldn't hurt...**

"I can have _anything_ I want?" Sophine's eyes got as round as
redfruit as she looked at everything laid out on the tables.

"Within reason," Soqhque chuckled. "You pick two things, and I pick one."

"Ohhh," the little girl peered at every sweet thing she could see.

Devren stepped into the line quietly behind them looking off across
the crowd so as not to make it obvious that he had a reason for
jumping into line at that exactly moment. After a few more people had
lined up behind him, he deemed it safe to make his move. Turning his
head, he caught Sophque's face in profile. "Sophque?" he asked
innocently, leaning to catch her eye as if he wasn't quite sure he was
right.

Sophque turned and smiled. "Devren? How are you?"

"Hungry, actually," he said, looking down at her pink clad daughter.
"Why Sophine, what a pretty dress you're wearing!"

Sophine preened and spun holding out the wide skirt. "My momma made
it," she said proudly. "It's pink!"

"It is," Devren nodded with the appropriate level of sounding
impressed for the girl's benefit. "And such a lovely shade, too. And
your mother has a new dress, too, I see. Doesn't it look lovely on
her?" This time his praise and smile were sincerely appreciative.

"Momma, can I have that big pie?"

"First say thank you to the nice man who gave you a nice compliment."
Sophque's lips twitched.

Sophine turned and dropped a pretty curtsey just as she'd been taught.
"Thank you sir," she piped. Then she whispered to her mother. "Now may
I have the pie?"

"Yes," Sophqhue laughed. She looked back and gave her own smile and
curtsey. "Thank you sir,"

Devren returned the gesture with a bow. "You have a charming
daughter, Sophque."

"Thank you," she gave him a very honest smile. "Are you with anyone
tonight Devrin? Would you like to eat with us?"

"I'm not, but, I wouldn't want to impose..." he lied, being actually
quite pleased with the invitation.

"You're not imposing," she said as she filled her plate and put a
couple healthy choices on her daughters. "Do you see a table?"

Devren was not a tall man, so he had to stretch his neck a bit to look
over the crowd. "Yes, I see a few spots, and a couple people look
like they're getting ready to leave." He quickly grabbed a couple
porcine pies and a red fruit off the table. "I'll go grab a spot for
us."

She followed with Sophine in tow and soon they were seated. She
whipped out a napkin to cover the pretty pink dress and then began to
eat. "I really do love this time of turn," she said with a sigh.

"Me too," Devren agreed, looking around at all the people in festival
colors milling around. "Everyone is smiling, happy. New beginnings
and fresh starts. Everyone thinking about their goals for the
upcoming Turn."

"Yes," she smiled. New beginnings were a very good thing to think
about. "Sophine will be starting her Harper school soon."

"Really," he said, looking at the little girl. "You know, my daughter
will be starting Harper school, too! Are you excited?"

Sophine practically glowed and her eyes got round as saucers. "You
have a girl too? Will she be at school with me?" She clapped her
hands. "Oh momma I can know someone there already."

He gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Sophine, but my little girl
lives in River Bend. But I'm sure she would really like you if you
ever met her."

"Aww," she slumped. Sophque smiled at him and then Sophine perked up
again. "Is she coming for a visit maybe? How far is River Bend?"

"Oh, well," he said, running his fingers through his light brown hair
in a nervous habit. "She visits sometimes. Usually I visit her. But
maybe a visit could be arranged someday."

Sophque was pressing her lips together to prevent the laughter that
tried to bubble up when Sophine exclaimed. "Gramma! Look I have pie!"

Sophque whipped her head around with a smile. "Mother?"

Pharisol walked with Lenir, her healer son and bent down to her
granddaughter. "I see," she smiled. She also didn't fail to take in
the fact that her daughter was sitting with a man who wasn't related
to her. She'd lived in the Hold a long time and knew most of the
residents on sight especially a shop keeper but still the niceties
should be observed. Her eyes twinkled and lifted a brow.

"Oh yes Mother this is Devren, Devren this is my mother Pharisol and
my brother Lenir."

Devren quickly rose to his feet to greet the new comers. "Well met.
Happy Turns End to you both."

Levrin responded with a nod while his mother smiled and replied.
"Pleased to meet you. Happy Turns End."

She turned to Sophine, "Would you like to come with me Sophine? I saw
some jugglers across the square and thought you might like to go see
them."

"Oh yes," Sophine's eyes lit up. "Can I momma?"

"Of course," she said with a smile and a tight look at her mother. But
she took a deep breath to keep herself calm. "I'll see you at home
then?"

"Stay as late as you want," she smiled and picked up Sophine's pie
plate. "We can't leave this can we?" A moment later they were fading
into the crowds Sophine chattering away and holding Levrin's hand.

"Well," Devren said, holding up his hands with a smirk of helpless
surprise at the way they had ended up alone together, though inside he
was quite pleased with this lucky turn. "I guess it's just you and me
now. Would you... like a drink?" he asked pointing over to the table
where bottles of wine and kegs of beer and been placed for adults to
help themselves.

She looked back at him feeling helpless for a moment but then she
smiled. "I believe I would."

His grin crinkled the edges of his eyes. "Wine? Beer?"

"A glass of wine, please. Red?"

"You sit right there, I'll be right back!" Devren said, holding out
his hands to stay any protest she might raise before practically
bouncing off to the drinks table.

They sat and chatted, sipping wine and enjoying the evening, even
though the stars were hidden behind a veil of clouds. After a while
tables were pushed back and Harpers set up to play. A few
couples took advantage of the space to dance and sway to the music,
but Devren and Sophque found a quiet spot where they could enjoy the
music, but continue the conversation. She did have a daughter to
think about, so as the families began picking up their little ones,
weary from exhaustion from all the excitement, it was time for Sophque
also to make her way home. Being a gentleman, and loath to end the
evening sooner than it needed to, Devren offered to walk her back to
her cot.

Sophque couldn't quite remember when she'd had a nicer time just
sitting and talking to someone who wasn't her family. He seemed so
nice and as they walked toward her cot she realized she felt
comfortable with him in a way she hadn't in a very long time. Even the
thought that her mother would press her with a hundred questions
didn't dampen her enjoyment of the evening.

"Here we are," she said as they walked up to her neat and well maintained home.

"It's lovely," he said, looking up at the curtains instinctively.
Devren recognized that material... But he quickly turned his
attention back to Sophque with a smile. "I really enjoyed this
evening. Thank you."

"So did I," she smiled back. "Very much."

Devren smoothed the hair down at the back of his neck in a bit of a
nervous gesture. "Do you think... I mean, if you don't have plans...
You might be busy with family and stuff, but..." He was rambling and
he knew it. This was not working. With a bit of a helpless flail, he
just came clean. "I had a great time tonight, and I really like you,
and I would love to see you tomorrow, if you're free. Maybe we can
try that dance."

Her eyes twinkled at the nervous energy and his fidgeting. She found
she liked his shy approach since she herself had always been shy. "I
think that would be very nice. Yes," she smiled.

"Great," he said with a true sigh of relief. Then his looked turned
to one of uncertainty. "Will your family be joining us?"

**Not if I can help it,** Luckily she didn't blurt that out loud but
she did want to reassure him. "I think I'll leave Sophine with her
grandmother so we can enjoy the evening." She hoped that didn't sound
too forward.

His smile was much more relaxed at that news. As much as he respected
her family, he certainly didn't want that pressure on their first
planned meeting! "I'll meet you by the Gather Square after the
evening meal, then?"

"I'll be there," she nodded. "I look forward to tomorrow night."

Last updated on the November 2nd 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Great Time