Small Improvements

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 27th November 2008

Characters: Lirit, Taia
Description: Lirit and Taia go to dinner together.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 26 of Turn 4

"Do I look alright?" Taia asked, patting her hair into place. Even
though she couldn't see herself, and she knew Lirit wouldn't be able
to see her either, she wanted to look good for him. She turned
quickly and asked Merra
again, "So?"

"Taia, stop panicking, you look lovely. I picked out the cream and
brown tunic and slacks, and they look lovely with your complexion. So
don't worry."

"I just don't want to go out wearing things that don't match, or worst
still - clash with each other. I'm looking forward to having these
bandages removed next sevenday." she murmured, half to herself. "Thanks for
helping me, Mer." she reached out and pulled her friend into a hug. "What time is it? He said he'd be here at the sixth candlemark."

"Then I'd best leave, its almost that now." dropping a quick kiss on
Taia's cheek, Merra made her way out of the room, leaving the beast healer to fiddle with her hair until the knock came at her door.

"Taia!" The call came on the heels of the knock, a voice that had come
rather familiar. "Hey, it's Lirit."

"Come in!" she smiled at the sound of his voice, "I'm ready, I just need to..." in truth she didn't need to do anything she was stalling. This last sevenday they had grown closer, and she had begun to feel a nervous excitement whenever she was around him. "It's alright, I'm coming now." she moved towards the doorway but felt a wave of air waft
over her as the door opened up.

"I hope so." Lirit laughed as he stepped through, stopping just inside. "I'm about starved. I hope there's food left by the time we get to the dining hall."

"It's not _that_ late." she laughed in answer. "Besides, I know a few of the cooks well, I'm sure they could scrounge something for us to eat."

"Oh, really?" A mischevious grin crept across his features, though it was lost presently on the temporarily blind beasthealer. "I'll have to remember that. You could be useful."

"Oh? Is that the only reason you'd keep me around?" she asked, her own
smile answering the one she could hear in his voice. She slipped and
easy arm into the crook of his. "Lead the way."

"Unless you can give me another reason." Lirit teased as he led her
out of the room, closing the door behind him, then down the hallway.
Scout had remained outside, but as soon as Lirit began to walk, he
joined him, flanking his master. "Are you useful in other ways?
Well, I guess you were useful in helping Scout."

"Hmm... so only useful for looking after canine's and securing you food
from the kitchens." she pouted playfully. "I have been told I am
useful for other things too. Did I tell you I can actually cook?"

"You can cook?" Had Taia been able to see, she would have noticed that
both of Lirit's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't realise that women of the
weyr knew how to cook! At least, not those who didn't work in the
kitchens."

"When you're out in the fields at night with the stock, you learn to
cook basic nutritious meals for yourself." she replied smugly, pleased
she had managed to surprise him about something.

"Ah, basic nutritious meals." Lirit grinned, "Sounds absolutely
delicious."

"You're making fun of me." she laughed in reply. It was hard to
believe that despite losing her sight, she could still feel so
complete, did Lirit's company have something to do with that she
wondered? She had really enjoyed his company this last sevenday. He
made her feel as though she hadn't lost anything, but gained an
insight into another world.

"Me?" Lirit's tone took on a bit of incredulity and he managed not to
bark a laugh. "Now why would I ever do a thing like that?

"I just sense that you are. I can also sew, does that surprise you?"
she asked, though she didn't inform him that she could only sew basic
stitches, enough to patch her clothes if they were torn out in the
field.

"Really?" Lirit hmmed softly to himself, one finger of the hand that
clutched his walking stick uncurling to finger his tunic. "Well, I
could do with some new clothes."

She laughed allowed, "Not _that_ well." she replied, "Just enough to
keep my clothing together if some heardbeast decides to take a bite
out of me, or worst, headbutt me with a horn or two."

"Now I'm disappointed." Lirit heaved a mock sigh. "And here I thought
I could get an entire new wardrobe out of you."

"We should both be so lucky." she laughed, again. Her mood was bouyant
tonight, she wondered if Lirit had sensed it or whether he just thought
she was normally like this. They arrived at the dining cavern, and
she was greeted by people calling her name in welcome, she replied,
only recognising a few voices.

"Ah, the crowd greets her. If only I were so popular." A soft chuckle
told her that Lirit was simply joking and he led Taia through the maze
of people and furniture, eventually, though asking, finding a couple
of spots that were free. The harper pulled a chair out for Taia and
carefully helped her into it. "You're moving about much better." He
complimented as he helped her get closer to the table.

"I feel a lot more confident when I'm with you." she answer honestly,
"It's like being with someone who can see, if that makes sense?" she
asked, her face registering her own confusion.

"Oh I see." Lirit remembered telling the same thing to a rather
stubborn little girl not too long ago. "I just don't use my eyes to
do it."

"Well, since you have better vision than me at the moment, you can
order dinner." she smiled across at where hse imagined him to be.

"Food." Lirit chuckled softly. "And lots of it, I'm sure. Actually,
I smell roasted wherry. How does that sound?"

"Mmmm... You're right, it smells delicious. I'm all for it."

"Then that's what we'll have." When the drudge arrived to ask them
what they wanted, Lirit told him, then turned back to Taia. "So,
another sevenday and you'll be back in the land of seeing. Did they
say you'll regain full sight?"

"They don't see why I shouldn't." she answered, "I could probably see
quite well now if they would remove the bandages, but they want to be
certain." Her hands had risen self consciously to the bandages as she
spoke. She had become quite nervous thinking about them removing the
bandages, and what she would do if they were wrong.

Lirit nodded. He wanted to ask, 'And what if you can't?' but
refrained. It was probably not good of him to have asked that
previous question in the first place, but he had only realised it
after the words had left his mouth. He smiled at her though she
couldn't see it. "I guess no more slacking off after next sevenday.
What are you going to do with yourself?"

"Return to work. It's funny you know. I have _really_ missed being
down at the cavern. I didn't think I would, but I have had Sharp to
play with, and work with. He's gotten a lot better, you'd not think
it, but he has."

"Sometimes it's hard to see improvement when it's gradual and you're
around all the time." Lirit chuckled softly. "I can see improvement
in my students because I don't see them or hear them practise every
day."

"Well once I regain my sight," she said, determined to sound positive,
"I'll be able to finish his training, and find someone who needs him
more than I." she smiled at the thought. "And maybe I can find
another pup that may be suitable?" she mused.

"I would think that those who would be on the receiving end of those
canines would be quite grateful." Lirit mused. A soft voice to his
left told him that the drudge had returned, this time with plates for
both of them. He paused long enough to tell them both where
everything was and Lirit murmured a thank you. "Well trained canines,
ones especially trained for those who are blind, are not easy to come
by."

"I know, which is why I think the idea for Sharp and more like him, is
a good one." she said, feeling more encouraged by his words.

"I'm inclined to agree with you." Lirit picked up his fork and struck
at some of the tubers the drudge had told him were on his plate.
"Though right now, a well trained fork is all I need."

"I'd have to agree." she said with a smile.

"Good, then shall we dig in?" The harper suggested, taking a bite
before Taia could even give him an answer.

Last updated on the December 1st 2008

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Small Improvements