Untying Buttons

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 9th January 2020

Characters: F'lin, Lanniya
Description: F'lin goes to see Lanniya before the eggs hatch Where; DFW
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, K'ale

Lanniya

Between leading Rapids Wing in K'ran's absence and the new Clutch on
the Sands -- Seneth's Clutch! -- F'lin had found himself with less
time than usual. He did make sure to scrawl off a quick note to
Lanniya to see if she had a bit of time free on the next restday,
though, hoping that he'd be able to spend a candlemark or two with her
before returning to Dolphin Cove. It made it tricky that she couldn't
/between/-- he didn't want to impose on her space with K'ale, but it
was hard to find a place and time that the pregnant goldrider could
get to.

The response was almost immediately returned to F'lin. Lanniya would
happily meet him on the shores of the summer lake. On the planned day,
pleased with the relatively warm weather, she walked along the beach,
a hand on her rounded belly. Her pregnancy was very evident now, and
her walk seemed more like waddling to her, but she felt mostly good
about the whole process. The anticipation of seeing F'lin, however,
brought an even wider smile to her face. But... she could also admit
to a little bit of jealousy too.

He'd won a goldflight; she knew he'd wanted to, but she'd hoped his
first won fought would be with Anaeryth. Her lower lip thrust out in a
bit of a pout as she sat gingerly down on a stone. She really should
be happy for him. She'd try to be happy with him. Anaeryth, on the
other hand, was not as understanding and absolutely refused to come
to the lake, stayed curled up on her couch in a draconic snit.

Seneth came from /between/ above the lake, circled once, then landed
near where Lanniya sat. His rider undid his straps and slid from his
dragon's back, landing lightly on the beach. He waved as he hurried
over to greet her. "Good to see you!"

Lanniya struggled for a moment, then managed to push herself up to
stand to greet F'lin. The sight of him warmed her and she held out her
arms to embrace him "F'lin!"

"Hi!" He swept her into a hug, then stepped back to take another look
at her. "Your belly grew!"

That brought a prompt smack to his chest. "I'm pregnant! Of course I'm
getting big." A hand went to her belly, cupping the roundness. "And
remember, it might be your fault, you know. Where's my kiss,
bronzerider?"

Obligingly he pulled her close and gave her a thorough kiss hello. Her
body felt a bit strange against his, but her lips still felt like
Lanniya, and as he kissed her F'lin realized that he'd missed her.

Lanniya sighed happily against his mouth, pleased. Something about
F'lin's presence always filled her with a sense of happiness that was
uniquely _his_. The child inside her, however, decided to voice its
opinion about being pressed between them and gave a hearty kick.
"Oof..." Lanniya pulled away and looked down, laughing softly. The
baby had been proving to be very active of late, and the little kicks
and elbows were becoming more and more common and much more strong.

"Was-- was that the baby?!" F'lin looked down, bemused.

"Yeah. It was. Here." Lanniya grabbed his hand and pressed to the
side of her belly. It only took a moment for another kick to give a
strong nudge directly under F'lin's palm. "There. See? The baby's
pretty strong." A softness filled her eyes then and she looked up at
F'lin, gentleness in her gaze. "It's pretty wonderful, isn't it?"

He was too busy looking down at her belly in awe to see her
expression. "I've never-- I didn't know that you could feel them like
that. I thought they were kind of like-- sleeping in there. Like an
egg."

That brought an immediate laugh as she shook her head. "Oh,
no...sometimes it's sleeping and holding still, but others, it's like
the baby's bouncing around, kicking my ribs and trying to punch it's
way out." She grinned. "It's amazing though, feeling it. Sometimes
it's uncomfortable and sometimes it hurts, and sometimes I have to run
to the privy to pee." She looked down and felt another strong kick
directly under F'lin's hand. "At first only I could feel it, but
now..." She lifted the hem of her shirt, displaying her rounded belly.
"Watch." It only took a moment for a little lump to appear, seeming to
roll against the skin from beneath. "See?"

F'lin's eyes grew wide and he snatched his hand back. "What-- that's
so _weird_!" He stared, half-horrified and half-amused, as the child
visibly moved again.

"Hey!" She smacked his chest lightly again, laughing brightly at the
expression on his face as she lowered her shirt. "You might have put
that in there, you know. So, if the baby's weird, then you are too,
F'lin." She smoothed down her shirt and tilted her head as she looked
up at him. "Congrats, by the way. About Seneth catching. I guess
you're really happy about that. You should be really proud."

"I am." He took her hand in his and started drawing her down the beach
for a walk. "Dessa's great, and Seneth couldn't be happier. You should
have seen him with Santhiath was laying! I don't think he's ever been
happier, Impression day included."

"Anaeryth is a little jealous, you know." And so was she. "But I'm
really happy for you. I know that's what you've always wanted. You'll
have to tell me all about the hatching after it happens." She squeezed
his hand lightly, then had a thought. "Will you still be going to
Barrier Lake, or staying with Dessa?"

"Seneth and I will go to Barrier Lake." F'lin hesitated. K'ran had
given him Rapids while he was away and D'hol had offered him Cyclone
Wing. Seneth had flown Santhiath. There was nothing for him at Barrier
Lake, except being home... the bronzerider shook his head. "It's River
Bluff territory. _My_ territory. I want to go."

Lanniya noticed the hesitation. "Dolphin Cove could be too, if you
wanted to stay. Seneth is more likely to catch Santiath again if you
do and you might not get the rank you want if you leave." She
desperately wanted him to be closer to her, but also had to think
about what would be good for him too. "There might be more
opportunities for you. Maybe you should really think about it before
you make a final decision."

"It's my home," he said softly. "It's hard to say no to that."

"I know. It was mine too, F'lin." She released his hand to wrap her
arm around his waist "Just make sure you've looked at everything. If
there's anything I've learned lately, its that you have to look
outside of your own feelings sometimes and from a different angle. "

"Oh yeah? What's caused you to look outside your own feelings and from
a different angle?" F'lin asked lightly, relieved for an escape from
the topic of his future transfer to Barrier Lake Weyr.

"The baby. Learning how to be a good goldrider. My relationship with
you and K'ale. It's not always about me." She admitted softly. "Rhosyn
was like that, you know. Only thinking about things from her
perspective and I think she wasn't a really happy person. I don't want
to be like that."

"I don't think you only think about yourself." F'lin pressed a kiss
against her temple, just because he could. "And you seem happy. Are
you?"

"Well, sometimes I do. Sometimes K'ale calls me on it because I
forget." She leaned into him, smiling at the kiss. She considered his
question. "Yeah, I am. I hate being grounded, but I'm happy. "
Lanniya looked up at him. "I'd be happier if you were closer and I
could figure out how to have you and K'ale all to myself, honestly.
It's selfish, but I can't help think about it." She squeezed his
side. "I guess I'm sorta like a gold dragon myself."

"Maybe that's why you were the one who Impressed Anaeryth." F'lin
paused for a moment as he thought. "Maybe we all become a little like
our dragons."

She looked up at him. "Yeah, I think so too." She walked with her
head against him. "It's rough loving two people sometimes. "

F'lin felt a little thrill at the words. She'd said that she loved him
before, but this time-- here, on the beach, with Lanniya nestled under
his arm, it felt different. He kissed the top of her head again. "I'm
glad you think it's worth doing. I wish you were still at Dolphin
Cove, though. Or going to Barrier Lake Weyr."

"It is worth it. You and K'ale are worth it." Her feelings for both
were different in ways she didn't have the words to explain. "I know.
But I'm needed here now. It's just me and Saibra now and I'm all
she's got for help. With me not being able to fly right now, it's
even harder. I don't see myself being transferred any time soon. I'll
just have to be happy spending time with you when we can get it."

"Like right now." F'lin paused. "So. What do you want to do?"

A wicked little grin sprang up on Lanniya's face as she turned her
face up to look at him and then waggled her brows. "Well, honestly,
about the only thing I've been wanting to do lately." She winked and
playfully tugged at his shirt. "But more than that, I just want to
spend time with you today for as long as you can spare. We can go
swimming or something if you want. You did teach me how to do that,
after all. Remember?"

"Couldn't possibly forget. Hey-- with that big belly, do you float
easier?" he asked teasingly.

Lanniya eyed him, crossing her arms over her chest even as a smile
played about her mouth. "Maybe. Or maybe I look like a plains wherry
splashing about. You'll just have to see. Unfortunately, my suit
doesn't fit any more so..." She gave a dramatic sigh, " I'd have to
swim naked."

"Darn. What a shame." The bronzerider paused. "Well.. if you want, I
could always swim naked too. To keep you company."

Her lashes began to flutter. "I may need some help too. Unbuttoning
and untying things. Do you think you can manage that?"

F'lin nodded. "I'm very good at that. Unbuttoning and untying. Or so
I've been told."

"Hm...I think I remember that you are quite skilled at that. " She
tapped her lips in thought. "But it's been so long that you might need
to remind me. My memories could be wrong. " She slipped her hand into
the crook of his elbow. "Care to help me out?" She began to tug him
towards a private alcove.

F'lin went willingly, and spent a great deal of time reminding the
goldrider exactly how good at buttons he was.

Last updated on the January 18th 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Untying Buttons