Company For Breakfast

Writers: AL, Clancey
Date Posted: 13th December 2009

Characters: R'yin, Briata
Description: R'yin and Briata have breakfast together.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 5

Briata

R'yin smiled as he saw Briata in the corridors. He caught up to her and offered a smile. "Hello, dragon-helper. Can I escort you some where?"

"Hello dragonhealer."

R'yin's smile is matched with one from Briata and she glances down the corridor. "I was simply on my way to breakfast before my classes, but I wouldn't mind company if you'd like."

"Ahh yes. I was thinking of a bite of breakfast before checking on our patient, as well. I should be glad to join you for breakfast. Perhaps you'd like to come with me after and check on her?" He offered, then remembered, no, she would have classes, no doubt. She wasn't here to just keep _him_ company after all. Jewel stirred from around Briata's neck. One eye opened to peer at the dragonrider, then closed again. Evidently he wasn't worth waking up for.

Briata shook her head. "I'd love to, but I've started as a Weaver and have classes to attend." The words echoed R'yin's thoughts though Briata didn't realise it. Still, she wished she could go see the little green. "I trust she's doing all right? Perhaps I can stop by after classes are over." "She's doing fine, and you are welcome to stop by any time. I'll leave a note with the others on duty to let you see her if you like. " They had almost arrived at the dining hall for breakfast, and he looked at her curiously. "A Weaver hmm? Any particular reason?" He thought she'd make a fine healer, and if she ever Impressed, a very good dragonhealer.

"I've sewn and embroidered most of my life." Briata could remember sitting beside her mother and watching her work. Her mother had helped her when she was five sew her first quilt, then move on to other projects. A pang of nostalgia pierced her heart. "I enjoy it, so I thought I would see how things go in the craft."

They walked into the busy dining caverns and then moved toward the line of breakfast choices to fill their plates. R'yin nodded, his own pang of nostalgia hitting him. His mother had been like that, sewing and embroidering everything, and she'd often wished for a daughter to whom to teach her skills. "That sounds very good. I'm surprised you didn't want to Stand for the Clutch, instead of apprenticing to a Craft. After all, our Weyrwoman made it _mandatory_. " He winked at her to show he was teasing. "You must have convinced her to let you Craft instead!" "Just don't tell her that." Briata's laughed as she grabbed some food, a couple of meatrolls, couple of eggs and some sweetbread. She had to admit, the Weyr fed them well. "I'd hate to see what happens if she finds out about her own cleverness."

R'yin laughed at her comment, nodding his head in agreement. His own plate full - he barely noticed what he put on it - he sat down at a relatively empty table. "It will be our secret, Briata." He raised a finger to his lips in a shushing motions, and smiled at her and then went on, curious. "What's it like? Hearing all the dragons, I mean? Aerrath is a bit of a quiet sort, like me, but I have no idea what the others must be like!" While they were talking, his little blue flit, Fall, popped out of /between/ near his head, startling him a little. The little guy always, always appeared when his person was eating!

Jewel opened her eyes again at the appearance of another firelizard. She seemed a bit more interested in waking up, especially now that there was food. The creature yawned and uncurled from her place around Briata's neck, then settled herself more firmly on the shoulder. Briata passed part of a meatroll to the little gold who chewed on it slowly rather than gulping it down. "Its...well, it's kind of nice and kind of annoying at the same time." The young woman gave a dry smile. "When I went to my first hatching, it was absolutely awful. I thought my head was going to explode!"

Fall perked up and preened when he noticed the gold fire lizard stirring.

"I can't begin to imagine. Aerrath says the other dragons talk _a lot_. It must be ... interesting.... to hear what they _all_ think. Are there some that talk more than others?" R'yin laughed at the images in Fall's head, though they made as little sense as was usual with his little blue. He apologized shortly after and offered his own flit a bit of a snack. "Fall is very appreciative of your little lady, Briata. Sorry for my chuckles. "Oh yes." Briata reached up and offered another bit of meatroll to her firelizard. "There are some who hardly talk at others. They're a lot like people in some ways. It's getting easier to block them out these days, so it's not as constant as it used to be."

"Thank Faranth you can learn to block them out, Briata. My goodness. I've always suspected dragons are horrible gossips."

}:I do not gossip.:{ Aerrath sent,sounding indignant.

R'yin rolled his eyes. "Aerrath says maybe other dragons, but not him." Curious, he tilted his head again at her. "Why wouldn't you want to stand, Briata? It seems that you know better than almost anyone how wonderful it is... if annoying sometimes... to have a dragon in your head. Its even ... more... to have one in your heart."

Briata couldn't help but giggle. It was funny, especially since she could hear both sides of the conversation since she was actively listening. Then the question came. He wasn't the first to ask it and Briata had seriously considered it prior to the Weyrwoman's decree. Every time, however, she had come to the same conclusion. "I'm not a dragonrider. I've a gift and I count myself very fortunate that I can hear the dragons, but I don't think I would do well as a full rider. I still have dreams, but they don't include being on the back of one. They are marvellous though, and I love them." Would she turn away a dragon who had decided to choose her? No, but Briata still wasn't going to actively seek a dragon. She knew, just knew, that if she stood she would impress.

A slow smile crept over her face. "Besides, even if I'm never a dragonrider, I have the entire Weyr. Should I move away, I still have the dragons at hold and I can listen to them when they come." Except during Threadfall. That had always been a troubling time to listen.

"I hope you don't move away. I've only just met you, and besides, I see a future for you here as my assistant." He winked, showing he was clearly just teasing. He considered her other comment and finally nodded. "Being a dragonrider was not in he plans for my life, either. Far from it." He fell quiet then, not elaborating. He had only just met her, after all.

"But here you are, hm?" Funny how plans didn't always worked out the way people thought they would. Briata's hadn't. Every time she thought about it, she felt a stab of hurt and regret. She hid it well, though, for she had gotten used to doing so around others. "No doubt you don't regret the Impression."

R'yin's eyes widened and misted. "Oh Briata... Never. Never. And you wouldn't either, I know. The only thing I regret is disappointing my parents. They didn't want me to come to the Weyr."

"If I Impress, then let the dragon come to me without having to Stand." Briata knew she wouldn't regret it, but that didn't mean she was going to look to Impress either. "Why didn't your parents want you to come to the Weyr?"

R'yin blinked a bit at her statement. Impression from the stands was rare indeed, but if there was one that was going to do it, it would be someone who could hear the dragons, he thought. But he answered her question instead of commenting on that, it seemed her mind was made up for certain.

"Well...." and there was a faint blush, maybe... ".. I was the heir to our Hold. No other children. I have no brothers or sisters. My father basically...forbade me to come. But I came anyway. And Aerrath was waiting." He reached out to Aerrath on instinct. The thought of Aerrath dying if he hadn't been there... it was too much to contemplate. His eyes misted a little.

"I see." Yes, to many holders, losing their heir, well that was a catastrophe. Except for her father. Bridinar saw things differently than most Holders, which Briata didn't mind one bit. "My two eldest brothers were Searched." She had been quite young, but Briata remembered it quite clearly. She had held a nice conversation with the blue. "My father didn't even argue, he just sent them along and let them Stand for four turns. He would have let them go longer, but my second brother Impressed and my eldest decided not to Stand any more."

R'yin's smile was wavering but there. He hadn't thought of his father in some time. How different his life would have been!

"Sounds like you were lucky, lass." His smile firmed up as he finished his breakfast, realizing he'd monopolized her for far longer than he'd meant to do.

"I suppose I was." What Briata didn't tell him was that she, too, had been officially Searched, but had never gone. She'd always had other plans for her life. "Well it seems we have both finished our meal. I must get to my
classes and surely you must get to work. It was pleasant chatting with you, though."

It had been pleasant, but it seemed moreso for him than the young woman. Ah well, he _was_ twice her age. Mentally sighing, he outwardly nodded and offered one last smile and took her tray with his. "Yes, to both. Thank you for sharing your breakfast with me, dragonhealer. Good luck with your ...classes." he faltered a little over the word, having started ou to say 'life'. But he would probably see her some other time. Perhaps. Hard to tell at River Bluff. "Take care, lass."

Last updated on the December 20th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Company For Breakfast