What Would You Prefer?

Writers: AL, Paula
Date Posted: 29th May 2008

Characters: Glafir, Vidara
Description: Glafir and Vidara discuss whether or not to stay on shore during the Moonflower's haulover.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 10 of Turn 4

Glafir was washing his face after his shift at the engineroom had ended. The bad side of being engineer was that you tended to get smudgy.

He heard the door for their little room in Moonflower open and close.
He could smell her in the crampet quarters: flowery perfume (he had given it to her as a wedding gift) mingling with the smell of klah and other aromas from the galley. "Hello, love," he said.

"Hello darling." Vidara crossed over to her husband and leaned forward, giving him a peck upon his newly washed face. "How was your day?"

"Dirty, sweaty, busy. The usual. It's high time to put those engines to through repairs," he said and wrapped an arm around her.

"Speaking of which," Vidara leaned into her husband, one hand gently playing up his arm. "What are we going to do during the four months the Moonflower is grounded?"

"I don't know. We could stay ashore and help with the repairs or isn't part of the crew going to transferr to another riverboat?" Glafir said.

"Yes. I know some are going on the Sungazer. I'm not sure if more will be going to another or not." Vidara cocked her head, trying to remember. She only knew that the Sungazer was a sure thing. "What do you think you would rather do?"

"I don't know. I won't probably be much help with the overhaul, being so new on riverboats," Glafir said thoughtfully.

"So you think we'd be more in the way." Vidara rocked back and forth for a moment, almost dancing with her husband before pulling away.
"Perhaps we should stay ashore then. Although, if you prefer, you could get more experience on another riverboat."

"I think I should be learning more about riverboats, and getting experience about other engines besides Moonflowers wouldn't hurt,"
Glafir replied. He had been apprentice technician, when he met Vidara and fell in love. Now he was training to be a riverboat-engineer.
"What would you prefer, my lovely?"

"I would prefer," Vidara stated slowly, approaching her beloved once more to place a light kiss upon his lips, "To be with you, whether on or offshore." She smiled, then reached down to take his hand and squeezed it. "Although I would miss the river if we stayed ashore, if you want to take a break, we can. There are things we can do while onshore that we wouldn't normally be able to do."

"I'm still learning how to be a riverboat-folk, would I lose my 'river-legs' if stayed onshore?" Glafir asked and pulled her tightly against him.

"I doubt it." Vidara leaned into her husband, smiling up at him.
"You might be rusty at first, but you never completely lose the river once it gets a hold of you." She pondered for a moment, then stated, "I think we should go on another riverboat. As much as I'll miss the Moonflower, I think the experience would be good for you."

"So, it's settled then. I'll tell Menore" Glafir said and kissed her.

Vidara kissed him back, then smiled. "At least this way we'll be able to stay on river, hm?"

"Yes. Have anything to do?" Glafir asked bit breathless and nodded meaningfully towards the bed.

"Yes, actually." Vidara stated and pulled away from her husband. She smiled up at him, eyes twinkling and tugged at him, pulling him towards the bed. "Something rather pleasant."

"I think I like this," Glafir said with pleasant expectation fluttering in his stomach, not to mention other nether-regions.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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What Would You Prefer?