A Pity

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd December 2009

Characters: Traelyn, R'hoos
Description: Traelyn catches up with a bronzerider acquaintance.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 7 of Turn 5

Some people liked to say, "If you've seen one cove in Dolphin Cove's territory, you've seen them all." Traelyn knew for a fact that this wasn't true. Only a person truly ignorant of this lush place would say something so ridiculous. Each cove varied in size, in the tropical foliage surrounding its borders, in the color of sand, and the coarseness or softness of it as it squished beneath a person's toes--or a dragon's claws. Today's sand happened to be a bit coarser than she preferred, but that was because this particular cove was smaller, more secluded, and didn't have huge waves corroding the shore; in other words, the perfect waterball cove. It was swarming with dragonriders from many of the other Weyrs--though not all of them. A few of the Weyrs, including Dragonsfall, were not in the rounds today. And really, that was just as well for Traelyn. She wasn't sure what she would do if she saw U'kaiah...or came face to face with him.

Deciding not to draw too much attention to herself, Traelyn had had Nyith land a ways away from all the action, suggested to her queen that it might be a nice day to take a nap in the hot sand, and then moved further up the beach and followed the waterball observers' example and staked her claim on the sand while the participants readied themselves for another tournament round. After slipping out of her outer clothes, she spread the towel out so half of it was in the shade of a tree and half of it not. Then she settled down, eyes intent on the game.

A bronzerider with his arm in a sling stood on the sidelines, watching the game just as intently. He turned to say something to one of his fellow observers when he spied the white-blonde haired woman sitting in the shade. "Traelyn?" His face broke into a happy grin as he began waving his good arm furiously. "Trae!"

Hearing the familiar voice, her head snapped around--and a genuine smile spread across her lips. "R'hoos!"

The game was quickly forgotten as the bronzerider jogged across the sand towards her. "What in Faranth's name are you doing here?"

"Watching the game," she grinned up at him. "What else would I be doing here?" She took a good look at him. "Shells, R'hoos, what happened to your arm?"

"Practice," he said with a shrug and then winced when he remembered why his arm was in a sling. "I dislocated it. My Wingleader nearly killed me and we were all half afraid the Weyrleader would ban us all from playing. It was a pretty stupid thing for me to do during a Pass, I know."

She agreed with that statement. Moving over, she patted the spot next to her, inviting him to sit down. "I hope you've been taking it easy?"

"As the healers ordered," he nodded, putting weight on his good arm to help him sit down more smoothly so as not to jar his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be healthy and two handed in no time."

"You better. Your Wing needs you." Her tone half-teased him. "And your team too," she added, grinning, inclining her head towards the dragonriders wading into the water.

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that last one," R'hoos chuckled. "If I was really such an important part of the team, you would think that greenrider wouldn't have been able to yank the ball out of my arms, let alone out of the socket! Course, she felt rather bad about that last part."

She snorted. "Did you put up a fight, at least?"

"I did!" he protested. "I just thought letting her get the ball was the gentlemanly thing to do, that's all. I didn't know she wanted to take the whole flaming limb with it!"

Traelyn laughed, eyes flickering mischievously. "I've never heard of gentlemanly behavior abounding in a waterball game before. You're a special case, R'hoos."

"Well," he sniffed haughtily, "_someone_ has to bring a little civility to the game."

"At the cost of your arm?"

The bronzerider chuckled as he leaned his good elbow back in the sand. "Some things are worth fighting for."

She smiled down at him. It was really nice to see him again. He was fun and easy to talk to. "So how have you been, R'hoos?"

"Aside from the obvious, I've been really well." He squinted up at her. "I've been waiting for you and your new Weyrleader to pay my Weyr an official visit. You never seem to come on your own."

A brow rose. "Is that an admonishment?"

"It's a pitiful whine. I've found lately that pity works amazingly well," he said with his best pout.

"Oh I'm sure," she drawled, looking pointedly at his arm. Men liked to be coddled by the womenfolk, some were just more honest about it than others.

"Any advantage I can get, you know? I'm not the only bronzerider, after all." And he knew he was far from the only one competing for her time and attention.

"Hardly," she agreed. "But I don't think you need to elicit any pity. You're already charming."

"Well, let's face it, charming bronzeriders are not necessarily a rarity now that the queens are producing larger clutches," he said with a dramatic sigh. "Competition is heating up. Even my good looks, incredible wit, and turns of experience in the sky and elsewhere are not enough to sell themselves any more. Such is the state of the world nowadays."

"You poor bronzeriders." She placed a hand over her heart, giving him a mock-pained look. "What on Pern are you going to do to stand out now?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out! I can't keep dislocating my arm. My Weyrleader wouldn't much like it. I'm thinking Threadscore next time. It's more heroic anyway."

"And attractive," she grinned. "Women like scars on a man. It proves his masculinity."

R'hoos liked seeing her smile. He had almost forgotten how it lit up her face. "Oh, well then, it's decided! Next time you see me, goldrider, I shall have a nice manly Threadscore for you to admire."

"Just make sure it's somewhere I can see it and admire it, hmm? Because what's the point of going through all that trouble if someone can only see it when you're naked?" Shards, she hadn't flirted this outrageously in a long time. It was fun!

"So let me get this straight, goldrider," R'hoos murmured softly, leaning a little closer. "Are you saying you're opposed to the idea of me stripping off my clothes just to show you my big, manly scar? Would it make you blush?"

"It just might, bronzerider," she murmured back just as softly, lips barely touching his ear. Then her face lit up in another grin and she leaned back on her elbows, tossing her hair over her shoulders. "Of course, you wouldn't be able to see it, what with all this sun I'm getting."

He grinned, liking the way she was flirting with him. It reminded him very much of the very first time they met in a cove much like this one. "I'm willing to try to make you blush. Just to see if it would shine through."

She slanted him a look out of the corner of her eye. "I dare you to try."

He leaned in closer once more, this time letting his lips brush against her ear. "I may have only one arm at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I could bring a little blush to your cheeks. Among other places." Their mutual interest in seeing each other naked had never been a secret, after all.

Her breathing quickened a little. He wasn't kidding around anymore. Not really. "Whatever happened to you proclaiming to be the gentleman?" Her eyes flickered to his and she gave him a nervous smile. She hadn't meant it to go so far. "Would you really try to seduce me in front of all these people?"

"It would be the easiest way to make you blush, but I don't mind a more challenging setting if you prefer." But he was no fool. He could see that her smile wasn't nearly so sure as it had been just moments before. "I'm sorry, Trae. Am I pushing too fast?"

Now she _did_ blush. Sitting up, she looked out to the water. She and R'hoos could never be lovers--not even casual ones. B'ram wouldn't stand for it. He was already competing with N'vanik, and the memories of L'kub and U'kaiah, for her attention. She was ashamed to have even considered it even for a moment. True, she could blame her inkling of desire on being caught up in the playful banter, but the thought of tumbling with him had been there in her mind--had been real. Shards, what had she been thinking, flirting with him like that? Gathering her courage, she forced herself to look at him, and her expression was rueful--and embarrassed. "I'm sorry, R'hoos. I should probably tell you now.... I'm in a relationship with someone. And....it's serious." Exclusive.

R'hoos leaned back, disappointment in his eyes, though his smile didn't falter. "Well, we never really have had good timing, have we."

She bit her lip and looked down, shaking her head.

They had postponed things because of the time difference and interruptions, but this was the first time they had stopped before they had even started. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "Serious, you say?"

"Yes," she murmured, studying the pattern on the towel with more interest than it deserved. "We've....been together for quite some time now." It shamed her even more that she was disappointed too. Shards, what kind of a woman was she?

"Your Weyrleader?" he asked, noticing just how their easy banter had slipped into something they had never felt together - uneasiness.

She shook her head. "A brownrider. His name is B'ram. We've known each other since we were kids." Now she dared to glance up at him, hesitantly searching his face. Did he scorn her now for flirting so outrageously with him without the promise of fulfilling every word she had said?

"Oh well, it's not to be helped I guess," he said shrugging his good shoulder. His eyes were beginning to smile again, though. "I guess I'll have to content myself with mostly harmless flirting in the hope that one day I can steal you away. For your own sake, of course."

Her answering smile was hesitant, searching. "Oh, of course."

"I'm happy for you, Trae. Really." And he meant it.

The sincerity in his tone took her by surprise, and a spark of respect began to glow for him. "I.... Thank you." Desperate to be on solid ground with him again, she searched for something else to say--something that didn't have to do with relationships of any kind. Her eyes landed on the basket of snacks she had brought with her, and she seized the opportunity like a life line. "I brought some food with me. Crackers and small pastries and the like. I'll share." She held one out for him, wondering what he would do, and hoping he would stay.

"Are you going to feed me too? I _do_ only have one good arm," he said, giving her his biggest eyes and pitiful pout.

Traelyn grinned at him, relieved. "Here." She held it out for him to take a bite out of.

He took a healthy bite as his eyes looked into hers smiling. "See," he said, after swallowing the tasty treat, "pity really does work."

Last updated on the December 10th 2009

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A Pity