First Dance as Weyrlings

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 20th January 2018

Characters: T'lin, V'rel
Description: T'lin and V'rel share a dance at the Hatching Feast
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 9

T'lin

When the music started T'lin bounced on his feet. Then he smoothed his
expression and bowed elaborately to V'rel. "May I have this dance?"

A broad smile split V'rel's face as his best friend came over and
bowed in front of him. "I'd love to," he said, standing up and taking
T'lin's hand.

T'lin couldn't stop smiling as they stepped out to join the other
dancers. "It's like a dream come true. I feel like a different person
and the same one at the same time. There's someone else in my _head_
who loves me beyond words." His expression grew a little softer. "And
I get to share all this with you."

As they began to dance, he stepped a little closer to T'lin's than he
had to for the dance's requirements, just because he wanted to be
closer to his best friend.

"That's the best part," V'rel said. "I couldn't imagine being in a
different class than you. I'm so glad it's both of us together. That
we have Dessa and Neria as well, it's great."

He knew Ashelia had Impressed too, but he didn't mention her, because
he was still a little heartsore over her.

T'lin didn't stop to think about why his friend might not have
mentioned her. "Ashelia too."

"Yeah, and Ashelia. I'm happy for her, don't get me wrong," he said
quickly. He didn't want it to come across as though he'd hoped that
she wouldn't Impress at all. "But it's going to be awkward seeing her
every day."

"I'm sorry she hurt you." Now T'lin regretted bringing her up. "If
there's anything I can do to make it easier, let me know."

"We'll have to get over it if we're going to be clutchmates," V'rel
said, knowing he needs to be practical about it.

It's not what he wants to do. V'rel could say a few things about how
it's going to be hard. He could complain about how having to work with
her every day is going to be scraping along his nerves. How he's got
so much to focus on now that they'll be undergoing this hard training
process, and having to add in managing her emotions when she sees him
with his blue is going to make it harder. But T'lin is dancing with
him right now, and he doesn't think complaining is the right thing to
do.

"Dancing with you helps. I know we can't really do anything else now
that we're weyrlings..." He was hyper-aware of Rymeth's presence in
his mind, the blue currently asleep in the barracks, but he didn't
want to think about anything that could wake him from his sleep.

"I know what you mean, but there _are_ plenty of things we can do.
Picnics, washing our dragons together, those awful poems I promised to
write you." T'lin smiled. Not being able to have sex was going to be a
trial, but having Calaroth was worth it. Besides, as he'd told V'rel,
they could pretend they were courting like good holders.

"You reaally meant it about the poems?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm definitely going to write them and they're _definitely_ going
to be terrible." T'lin laughed.

"I'll have to find something to share back at you." He didn't know if
he'd be good at poetry. He did know that he'd made the friendship
bracelet, the knowledge of it sitting in his chest of items in the
barracks weighed on him. But it didn't seem like _enough_.

"I don't expect anything, but I know you'll want to reciprocate. I'm
sure you'll come up with something." Any gift or gesture from V'rel
would be special to him.

"I just hope Rymeth and Calaroth will continue to get along." They
were both part of themsevles...and they got along...so surely it would
work out? V'rel didn't actually know if dragons had likes or aversions
to other dragons like people did about people. He decided he'd ask his
dad as soon as he had a moment.

"Cal seems like a friendly guy so you've got a good chance there." It
was overwhelming to suddenly share your head with someone, a strange
combination of feeling like you'd always known each other and learning
what a new person was like. "What's Rymeth like?"

"He's like me, but not," V'rel said, wondering how to put it into
words. "We're both curious about things. He kept asking me questions.
I'm really interested to see what he'll think about classes."

"Me too. Though I heard they sleep through most of them at first."

"It sounds like it'd be nice to be a baby dragon. You get food cut up
for you, you get to sleep through classes, bathing and oiling's done
for you..." V'rel let his mind wander as he imagined what life would
be like from Rymeth's perspective.

"No wonder they Impress to people right away. Guaranteed one-on-one
attention from someone who adores you beyond words." As V'rel said, it
would be nice to have someone take care of you like that.

"It makes you wish that it was possible for humans to work like that,"
he murmured.

"What if dragons Impressed to _us_ when we were born?" T'lin laughed.
"Then they had to feed us and change us and carry us around."

"I think they'd feed us raw meat and that would be disgusting. With
their forelimbs I dunno how they'd change us. Guess it's a good thing
that doesn't happen, then." T'lin's laughter made V'rel smile, it was
infectious.

T'lin pictured a dragon trying to change a diaper, amused by the
absurd image. "Oh no. Does that mean they really _are_ smarter than
us, waiting until we're old enough to take care of them?"

"I think that's true," V'rel said. "So I should just accept it now
that Rymeth is the better half of me, and Calaroth's the better part
of you. Smarter and more pampered."

"And they chose us, which means they must be very smart." T'lin's
smile turned warm. Shards he wished he could kiss V'rel!

V'rel was willing to test the boundaries. He leaned forward and pecked
T'lin on the cheek, a soft kiss of friendship like dozens they'd
exchanged in the past. "And since we're all smart, and clever, and
hard-working, we're going to do the best in class. Just watch us. All
four of us."

T'lin laughed in delight. "Ooh, naughty." He wondered if the
restrictions really were that strict, that they weren't supposed to
kiss on the cheek. And what about cuddling? T'lin had always been
physically affectionate and he wondered if his platonic touches might
get him in trouble.

"I'm pretty sure we can still get away with this. I'll want to ask the
weyrlingmasters, but I heard it's going too far and forgetting about
our lifemates. But they're asleep, and cheek kisses are things friends
do, right?" Now V'rel was uncertain. But Rymeth was still asleep...

"I'm more worried about upsetting the weyrlingmasters than our
lifemates. _We_ know what's friendly and what's something else."

"True, I don't want to get yelled at. So we'll keep it more chaste."
But V'rel thought he might ask his father what was safe, because he
wanted to know.

The music was coming to an end. V'rel looked at his friend. "Another?
Or should we do our dutiful dances with others? I can't monopolize you
all night."

"One more," T'lin said softly. He never wanted this night to end.

"One more now. And then at least one to close off the night?" Because
then they could balance the dances they owed others as their friends,
and the dances that that they wanted to spend with each other. After
this night, they wouldn't be able to be as close with each other, so
V'rel wanted it to be as memorable as possible.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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First Dance as Weyrlings