Tentative Friendship

Writers: Devin, Paula
Date Posted: 15th April 2015

Characters: B'jon, A'dryn
Description: The two greenriders run into each other again and start a friendship.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 6 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Lanniya

When A'dryn saw the other greenrider in the hall, he almost went the
other way. But B'jon had been kind and encouraging. And they could end
up in a Wing together. He should at least say hello.

}:Why does that one make you feel strange things?:{ Nalarith asked.
She was currently sprawled in the sun with her fellow hatchlings.

**Humans sometimes have complex feelings about each other.** He had to
be _very_ careful about what he thought.

"Hello, B'jon." A'dryn tried to sound casual. "You were right about
thinking positive." **Now he knows. _Everyone_ knows.**

"Hello, A'dryn. Did I congratulate when you Impressed? I congratulated
so many new weyrlings that day," B'jon replied with a welcoming smile.

"I don't remember. That night was kind of a blur." Going from the joy
of Impression to being disowned by his parents, then standing in a
half-daze for the candlemark or so he spent at the feast. "But thank
you in any case."

"Yeh, it was," B'jon agreed. "How's your girl? Growing well I hope?"

"She's perfect." A smile spread across A'dryn's face.

"They are, aren't they. I recognize that look," B'jon remarked with a grin.

A'dryn laughed. "I can guess what I look like. I've seen the dazed,
happy expression when my classmates think about their dragons."

"Yes, I had that expression too," B'jon answered, smiling happily.

A'dryn tried not to think about how cute he was. He considered making
an excuse and getting out of there. But could he run away from every
attractive man? Considering how many there were at the Weyr, that was
impossible. He had to learn how to handle this. "Do you have any
advice? About being a weyrling?" B'jon had said he was recently
graduated.

"It's hard work but enjoyable. Just do as you're told and stay out of
trouble," B'jon replied with a shrug. "Getting cheeky at the
Weyrlingmaster aren't worth the pleasure." There had been bluerider
like that in his class.

A'dryn shook his head. "Oh, no. I wouldn't do that. It's my duty to
obey the Weyrlingmaster and all the staff."

"That attitude will get you through the training all right," B'jon said.
"My class had this bluerider who absolutely had to run his mouth
every time he was told something. He spent lot of time scrubbing floors
or filling firestone sacks. He was very cute but shards, he was
annoying."

All A'dryn could think about was how casually B'jon had called another
man cute. But that was normal here. He'd seen men dancing with each
other at the Hatching feast and couldn't keep from staring at them.
People said outrageous things about the Weyr but some of it was true.
"A few people have been disobedient. I always try my best although...
I sometimes have difficulty controlling Nalarith."

B'jon nodded with understanding. "Denenth is normally pretty easy to
control but when she gets excited about something...she just doesn't
listen."

"I don't like upsetting her. She's... the most important thing in the
world." There were no words to describe what Nalarith meant to him.

"She is but you shouldn't let her have her every whim. Like now she's
like a child. If you don't rein her in now, she'll end up like a
spoiled brat. Besides, she'll forget she's upset soon enough," B'jon
advised the younger rider.

A'dryn nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, they did tell us dragons have a short memory."

"Yes, it creates some where odd moments, like when you say: we talked
about this yesterday, remember? And she says: no. You get used to it,
in time. You're her memory," B'jon told him.

"And her teacher and her caregiver." A'dryn sighed, but he was
smiling. "It's a lot of responsibility."

"Yes, it is," B'jon agreed. He just wanted to _touch_ A'dryn, but
restrained himself. The other one was still weyrling and off limits.
Better safe and sorry, even casual contact could get out of hand.

"I suppose I've taken up enough of your time, B'jon," A'dryn said. He
congratulated himself on having an actual conversation.

"You're not taking my time, I like talking with you. Anytime you want
a chat look me up," B'jon replied. "We could be friends you know," he
offered.

A'dryn's heart beat faster and he tried to calm down. He should stay
away from temptation... But it was more than unnatural attraction that
made him want to accept the offer. He desperately wanted friends and
right now there was only Lanniya. "I--I would like that." His cheeks
felt warm.

}:There is that strange feeling again,:{ Nalarith said. }:What is it?:{

**I'll explain it later, love.** He'd realized this was a tactic he
could use to put off answering questions. She would forget she'd
asked, and if and when she asked again, he'd say the same thing.

"Good," B'jon replied with a bright smile. He was slightly
disappointed that he couldn't offer _more_ than friendship just now.
Why A'dryn had to be junior weyrling?

Last updated on the May 5th 2015

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Tentative Friendship