You Make Me So Happy

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 23rd January 2021

Characters: T'lin, V'rel
Description: T'lin remembers the day he asked V'rel a very important question.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Dessa, D'hol

T'lin

T'lin cast another look at the door. He should still have some time
before V'rel came back. Leaning over the desk again, he started
sketching the design from another angle. It might not be possible to
get this done in time, especially since he had to find a jeweler to
actually make this. Maybe... he frowned... maybe it would have to wait
until next turn. But he really wanted to give V'rel something
_special_.

He could hardly believe it had almost been a turn already.

~*~flashback~*~

Graduation had been a few sevendays ago. As eager as he was, T'lin had
wanted to wait a little bit, worried it might be too much if he asked
right away. And what if V'rel said no...

Nervous sweat dampened his skin and he started to pace. Well, if V'rel
wanted things to stay the way they were, that wouldn't be bad. T'lin
was _happy_, it was just that he wanted more. But he didn't want to
push V'rel or make him feel pressured. Maybe this was a mistake.

}:What is wrong?:{ Calaroth asked.

T'lin laughed and ran a hand through his hair. **I'm worrying too
much, that's all.** He looked at the table with food and wine neatly
set out. He was wearing his best gather outfit and he'd meticulously
cleaned the weyr, so everything would be perfect.

He took a deep breath. V'rel would be here any minute.

V'rel was running a few minutes late, but it was because he had to
package up into a small leather bag with the item he was bringing
T'lin. He had made friendship bracelets for him and T'lin and Dessa.
But for T'lin, he wanted to make something even nicer, and more
personal. He'd debated what to do, and finally decided on making a
nice tunic with blue dragon embroidery on the shoulders. He had
'borrowed' one tunic from his wardrobe near the end of weyrlinghood
and patterned it off of that one, and then he figured once T'lin tried
it on, he could make any adjustments to make it more closely fitted.
Surely they'd both enjoy that.

"Sorry I'm late, how are you?" he asked, knocking on the door and breezing in.

T'lin smiled, somehow feeling less and more nervous at the same time.
"I'm good." Should he ask now? T'lin didn't know how he could eat when
his stomach was so fluttery. "I got a few of your favorites."

"The pastry-wrapped fish? I love that so much, how'd you manage that?"
V'rel stepped over to hug T'lin. Opening his arms made it obvious he
had a package in them, and then he stopped, hesitating. "Uh, I have
something for you... Do you want it now or later?"

T'lin eyed it with a glint of eagerness. A present! He hadn't been
expecting anything. He opened his mouth to say he wanted it now, but
maybe he should wait. It might provide a distraction if things went
wrong. "After we eat."

V'rel turned away long enough to set the bag down nearby on a chair,
where it wouldn't be in the way of eating, then stepped over to hug
T'lin. "How was your day?"

"Pretty good. Drills were just the tiniest bit easier, so maybe we're
getting the hang of it." T'lin shook his head, though he was still
smiling. "The Weyrleader's Wing. I still can't believe it." He gave
V'rel a quick kiss on the cheek. "How was yours?"

"D'hol isn't as bad as I was afraid of. That still surprises me," he
admitted. "I wish I was in the same wing as you. I miss being in
weyrling class together and having the same routines."

"I wish we were in the same Wing too. But, uh, I think they might have
separated us for a reason."

V'rel let out a dramatic sigh. "I know, they're concerned about our
relationship. But...still. I'd feel better if I could keep you safe.
I'm glad you're flying with my father, though. You can keep each other
safe."

T'lin's smile was warm. "We can. And really, we're _all_ keeping each
other safe, right? All the Wings working together."

"That's true." He settled into a chair at a table. "Been to see the
family recently?"

T'lin sat across from him and started dishing out food. "I got out for
a visit last sevenday. Everyone's doing good." Talking about familiar
things made him relax a little. "Have you been to visit your
half-siblings at Dragonsfall?"

"Yes, I wanted to see how they are. Jadirel's so jealous I've
Impressed, but I pointed out to him that I waited quite some time.
Hopefully he will at the next one."

They chatted pleasantly through the meal and T'lin grew more at ease,
almost forgetting what he was planning. But as they were finishing
their food his nervousness returned, his heart beating fast. His hands
shook a little as he refilled V'rel's wine glass.

"So do you want to go somewhere next restday and do something?"

"I'd love to." T'lin set the wine skin down. He should do it now. The
moment was right, and if he waited any longer he might lose his nerve.
"So, um, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." He could
feel the blood rushing to his face.

}:Do not worry, it will be fine.:{ Calaroth sent comfort through their bond.

"Are you okay?" V'rel asked.

"I'm fine." T'lin smiled. He took a deep breath and stood. If this
didn't go the way he hoped... well, he'd think of something to smooth
things over and make sure the rest of the night was good for both of
them. He walked around the small table and then got down on one knee
beside V'rel. Gently taking his hand, T'lin said, "V'rel, I love you.
You're kind and smart, and you make me so, so happy. Will you be my
weyrmate?"

V'rel was confused as T'lin got up, and then walked around, and then
his eyes watered. "Your weyrmate. Oh. *Oh.*"

"If--if you need time to think about it, that's okay."

"Of course I don't need time to think, you wherry," V'rel said,
lifting T'lin's hand up to kiss it. "Of course I will."

A wide smile spread across T'lin's face and tears blurred his vision.
"Oh. Oh I'm so happy." He leaned up and pulled V'rel down for an
enthusiastic kiss.

}:I told you.:{ Calaroth basked in the joyful feelings from his lifemate.

V'rel immediately deepened the kiss and nipped at T'lin's lips,
reaching his other hand around to stroke the back of T'lin's neck in a
gesture half-tender and half-possessive.

T'lin kept kissing him for a long moment, then pulled back just far
enough to gaze into his eyes, one hand cupping his face. "Tir, my
precious Tir." Then he stood, drawing V'rel up with him so it would be
easier for them to kiss, easier to get their arms around each other.
T'lin held him close as their lips pressed together again.

V'rel enjoyed the long kissing, and when they stepped back from each
other, he said, "I'm glad you asked."

"I'm glad you said yes," T'lin said with a warm smile. "I was worried
it might be too much for you." V'rel had been hesitant about starting
this relationship in the first place, worried that it would hurt their
friendship if it didn't work out.

"I think for Vatirel it would have been, but for V'rel, it wouldn't
have been. Does that make sense?" he asked. Impressing to Rymeth had
completed him, filling in the part of his self he hadn't known he was
missing - and it had changed him, giving a confidence and a security
he hadn't possessed before, bringing him out of his head and his
anxieties in some ways he'd needed.

T'lin nodded. "You seem. . . steadier with Rymeth. I liked who you
were, and maybe I was more than a little bit in love with you before
we Impressed. But I've also loved watching you grow." He took V'rel's
hand, his thumb gently stroking over the back of it.

"I'm certainly glad you don't love me any less," he said. Then he
paused. "Did you really love me before?"

"Yeah." T'lin felt warm all over. "At least, I was _falling_ in love
with you. I definitely love you now. More and more each day."

"And I love you too. Which is why I made something for you." He
gestured over at the chair where he'd set the package before the meal.

T'lin's gaze followed where he pointed, and then his eyes lit up. "Oh!
The present!" He went over and opened it eagerly. When he saw the new
tunic with the embroidered blue dragon design he gasped. "It's
beautiful! Did you _make_ this?"

"The embroidery is all mine, though that's not my specialty, so I
worked really hard to get it right. I hope the tunic fits well, so we
should test it. If not I can make it looser or tighter."

"The embroidery is wonderful." T'lin traced his fingers appreciatively
over the stitching. Then he looked up, a slow, wicked smile curving
his lips. "How about I put this on and take everything else off?"

"That could be arranged." He grinned.

"How about right now?" T'lin set his gift carefully on the chair and
started pulling off his tunic. He couldn't wait to show V'rel how
happy he was -- with the gift, with V'rel agreeing to weyrmate. They
were _weyrmates_ now!

"Works for me," he said, ready to watch his creation and his new weyrmate.

~*~end flashback~*~

T'lin smiled to himself as he drew a graceful arc. Yes, _this_ was the
right design. But . . . Hmm, it was a bit plain. Maybe when he found a
jeweler he or she would be able to help with some decoration, a
pattern along the outside maybe.

On the weyrledge, Rymeth touched down. }:We are back from drills,:{ he
told Calaroth, as he knelt for his rider to dismount.

}:Rymeth and his are here,:{ Calaroth informed his rider. T'lin
scrambled to gather up his sketches and hide them in the desk drawer.

Last updated on the February 19th 2021

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You Make Me So Happy