Slandered

Writers: Iluva, Shawna
Date Posted: 13th December 2024

Characters: Cirina, R'fayne
Description: Cirina reports back with her findings
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 24 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: O’rosin, R’lor, Ciara
Notes: Follows "Manhandled" and "Mishandled Inquiries"

R'fayne

It was lunch time a few days after their initial conversation, and R’fayne was minding his own business only to have a brown firelizard buzz his head before landing in front of him, chittering impatiently at him and offering a leg with a note tied to it.

The note just said, “That went worse than I expected. Meet up later? PS Digger expects a treat.”

The firelizard was, in fact, staring up at him with patient expectation.

After a long pause in which he might have silently thought **are you _sure_ you deserve this,** R’fayne deftly slid his plate towards Digger, offering the better half of a meatroll to the same lizard that delivered a savage bite to him a few days before.

“Well, Digger,” he said coolly, rising to leave. “Enjoy.”

He tried not to think too deeply about what the consequences of her note entailed - either what Cirina told him, or how O’rosin reacted. But as the day wore on he did find an odd anxiety building against it in his chest. He was surprised to find it there, and did his best to ignore it.

It wasn’t until later when he and Skadith were packing up at the lake, their shadows stretched long and dark across the water, that he caught Cirina approaching, and that feeling caught hold just a little again. R’fayne straightened from his bucket of supplies and kept his expression impassive. “Evening, Cirina.”

“Sooooo,” Cirina said as she approached, “I found out that O’rosin says he likes girls and definitely not guys, but he’s definitely never given me any intense longing looks so… I think he’s in denial.” It came out in a rush. She’d been simultaneously dreading this conversation and desperate to get it all over with all day. “And I told him you probably wanted to shove him against a wall somewhere and he turned bright red and told me to drink my tea. And then he said we shouldn’t be talking about him at all, and that’s about when he threw me out. So I think he’s definitely both interested, and in super denial.”

She pulled her bag in front of her and fished around in it, “I have a flask, do you want a drink?” She shook it and it sloshed, “I think it’s rum.”

The first thing R’fayne did was raise his eyebrows, since bursting out loud laughing wasn’t in any way appropriate. It also wasn’t particularly funny, either, when he thought about how, in between the lines, all of that might feel in a person, in their skin. Worse when some weyrkid might’ve wanted to eventually shove that person against a wall.

“Yeah, he always reacts pretty defensive when I bring his attention to his attention.” R’fayne snorted. R’fayne hadn’t always been the nicest about how he did that, either, which he elected to omit. He hadn’t been thinking of that at the time. His hand rested on Cirina’s free shoulder briefly to steady her, physically and maybe somewhat emotionally apparently, watching her wrangle her rum from her purse like a cardshark.

“Sure. Why not.” He passed the flask back. “Thanks. So, do you think that’s the sort of thing I should just leave alone then? Back off on your boy in the closet?”

She sighed, “I honestly don't know. He didn't tell me to tell you to drop it and I did push. He wouldn't tell me to tell you he wasn't interested, he just told me I must be wrong.” Taking a drink out of her flask (which was in fact rum of some indeterminate origin), she shook her head, “I just wish everything weren't so hard for him. He's working very hard. I think some stress relief would be good.”

He could watch as the gears in her head started turning again, and her brow furrowed. “Maybe try something casual. I know he's having some trouble learning all the formations because he can't -” her mouth almost clicked as she shut it, realizing she wasn't sure just how much R’fayne knew about O'rosin's problems reading. “Anyway, that's not something I know well enough to really help. Or maybe something simple like a card game or dominoes.”

That slip caught R’fayne’s attention and curiosity, though just how much more O’rosin could possibly be struggling with in the adjustments to dragonrider life, he could only guess. They seemed to be never ending, and that was coming from someone who’d grown up here and knew what to expect and was, regrettably,_still_ struggling rather gracelessly himself at times.

“That’s the holds for you.” He grumbled with something not quite close to disgust, but definitely in its wheelhouse. “I don’t think there’s been a lesson that hasn’t had something awry, or made him look like he’s gonna vomit.” Or perhaps that was more of R’lor’s particular touch.

“So. Casual. Simple.” R’fayne repeated, side-eyeing Cirina, his dark-eyed expression setting into smug amusement in between the evening’s shadows. “Shall I assume he’s an ale drinker then?”

“Yes. A nice basic ale. He’s been drinking tea, too but that seems to be a new thing. Maybe be a good conversation starter if you have a favorite tea.” Grinning at him then, she said, “You’ll have to try to show restraint and charm. Do you think you can manage? If you grab at him he might bolt.” As if O’rosin were a herdbeast to be spooked.

“I don’t know why the holders make things so difficult for themselves. It takes a lot of energy to be that uptight, you know?” Very privately, she wondered if O’rosin was just so used to stress he didn’t know how to not be stressed.

R’fayne couldn’t imagine discussing their favorite teas together of all things, but nodded anyway. “Noted.” he replied politely, then returned her grin with a slightly sardonic one of his own. “Gee Cirina, I dunno, that's asking a lot. Yeah - I’ll do my sincere best not to grab him or shove him up against a wall.” No more than he wanted to be, anyway.

Looking lean and strong as he loped along the bank towards them, Skadith’s dark sails fanned out in sudden anticipation of flight. “Oh yeah, a lot of energy, and a lot of time.” R’fayne agreed with Cirina. Then, rolling his eyes at the entire concept of the holds, he said in a slightly more serious voice, “What do you think he’s struggling with the most? Is there anything I can… do?”

“Hi Skadith,” Cirina greeted him automatically with a wave, though she didn’t expect any acknowledgement back, “you’re looking very striking today.”

Turning her gaze back to R’fayne, she gave a half hearted shrug, “I think he’s having a little bit of trouble with just about everything. It might help him to know someone else isn’t having an easy time. A little ‘misery loves company’ commiseration? I don’t know, really. It sounds like R’lor’s being extra hard on him, and I think it’s really bothering him.” She felt a little twinge of guilt at sharing that, but she hoped maybe it would help.

The question had been awkward, and the answer felt awkward too, maybe moreso, and R’fayne was glad it was low light and the flush on his face would go mostly unnoticed. “Yeah, R’lor’s been riding him from the start. I’m fairly sure he believes that if he pushes hard enough he’ll eventually just get what he wants.” He mentally beckoned for Skadith to lower himself, pointedly avoiding the designation of who would be the ‘someone else not having an easy time’, trying his best to look the exact opposite. “Hopefully the Wingleaders are a bit more varied in their styles.”

“You need a ride?” he said over his shoulder to Cirina, while Skadith rumbled with a bemused appreciation for her comment. Few noticed or paid him any attention at all, let alone a compliment. And just coming into his prime, it was ‘proper’ etiquette with a fine-mannered lady. Plus he knew His 'owed' her. “Skadith insists.”

“It’s not fair,” she sighed, “I don’t know why he’s making it worse. It’s not like O’rosin tried to murder anyone or anything. At least you graduate soon. If you butt heads with your wingleader, there are ways to move.” A little hint of jealousy crept up in as she thought about the fact that she still had her entire weyrlinghood to endure if and when a dragon ever decided to pick her, “I haven’t even started training yet.”

“I wouldn’t say no to a ride up to my mom’s weyr if you wouldn’t mind.” She pointed to the ledge. “It’s always awkward to just sit on the ground staring up until Ellianith appears.” Without giving them a chance to change their minds, she scrambled onto the blue with the ease of a bred and born weyrbrat.

“No. It’s not fair.” R'fayne agreed quietly, grabbing the bucket of bathing supplies and climbing up behind her. “Sure, come on… up.” he grinned.

Though he tried not to think about it, nothing from the hide beneath him to the sky above his Weyrlinghood had been remotely what he'd hoped or envisioned, yet somehow he and Skadith were coming out of it… ready? That almost felt scarier to say than if he were admitting they weren’t ready, which at least seemed more self-aware, more likely, more humble.

Skadith snorted in harsh disagreement, launching smoothly into the darkening sky. He touched down on Ellianith’s ledge with as gentle a landing as his growing bulk could muster, taking care with where he angled to let Cirina off.

“Thanks Cirina,” R’fayne said with a genuine nod. “I’ll see what I can entice our friend with.”

“Good luck. You need it.”

Last updated on the December 16th 2024

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Slandered