A Tolerable Evening

Writers: Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 3rd February 2021

Characters: K'mai, T'lat, H'run
Description: When H'run interrupts a conversation between K'mai and T'lat, he doesn't get the attention he wants.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: D'ale

K'mai

T'lat

H'run

It was after dinner and the dining cavern was emptying. K'mai waved as
one of his harper friends said good night and realized he and T'lat
were the last ones at the table. "Well, looks like it's just us."

T'lat smiled up at K'mai, "I guess so," he looked around and didn't
see anyone else. He was feeling pretty good after his wing
performance in drills that morning and smiled a bit wider. "D'ale said
we did really well in drill's today."

"That's great! Anything in particular?"

"Faucheth was really on it. She stuck in her slot but got to
everything in her space. I was really proud of her. She even corrected
one of the Weyrlings who was flying with our six." T'lat couldn't
help the grin that spread across his face at that memory.

K'mai smiled as well. "Congratulations on your excellent performance,
both of you. Are there perhaps Wingthird knots in your future?"

"There you are!" H'run sat down next to K'mai with a wide smile,
oblivious to K'mai's dangling question. "I was hoping to find you this
evening. I came across this rather excellent bottle of wine and
thought that you and I might spend the evening admiring how good it
is."

T'lat's eyes rounded at the arrival of H'run. "Oh hi H'run," he said
with a small wave. He knew the other guy could see him sitting right
there with K'mai but to be so blatantly cut out like that made him
feel awful, and small, and unimportant no matter what his Wingsecond
had said to him earlier. He blew out a breath in frustration.

K'mai frowned. H'run couldn't have missed T'lat, they were the only
two people at the table. "H'run, I was just talking to T'lat." His
voice was mild, but the smile he gave his fellow bluerider was a
little strained. "He was just telling me how well he and Faucheth did
in drills today." K'mai turned back to the young greenrider, his smile
brightening.

"How lovely for you and Faucheth," H'run said, turning a bright smile
on T'lat before returning his attention to K'mai. "So? What do you
say?" he asked, laying his fingertips lightly on K'mai's arm.

T'lat focused on K'mai's eyes. "She was brilliant and completely
forgot about walls in the sky." He grinned hard with pride and could
feel her in the back of his mind and the pleasure she felt at his
praise. "I've never seen her so focused."

"That's wonderful, T'lat. I know how hard you've worked to get her
over her fear," K'mai said. He looked over to include H'run. "Maybe
T'lat will be bossing us around someday, hmm?"

Hurt flashed across H'run's face as quick as a snowflake on a griddle.
"I see." He removed his hand and stood. Inside he was shaking. "I do
_so_ hope that your evening turns out to be tolerable." He finally
deigned to look briefly at T'lat before turning on his heel and
stalking off.

Eyes wide T'lat's gaze followed the bluerider as he stomped out.
"Sorry," he said to K'mai, "I didn't mean to make him mad... if
you..."

K'mai's stomach sank. "H'run, can't we just..." He started to rise
from his seat, but then sat back down with a sigh. He'd been trying to
smooth things over, include H'run in the conversation without
overshadowing T'lat. "It's okay, T'lat. I don't know what went wrong."
K'mai would see if he could patch things up... later. "I'm sorry if
that ruined your mood."

T'lat looked up at K'mai with a shy smile. "I do, he's jealous that
you didn't just drop me and go with him. But I understand if you want
to go after him."

"My popularity is an unfortunate burden sometimes," K'mai smiled. "Too
bad there's only one of me . . . although, could the world really
handle _two_ of me?" His smile faded a little as he turned more
serious. "We were having a nice conversation, and I'd rather stay here
with you." He didn't like the idea of leaving things unsettled with
H'run, but the man had interrupted them as if T'lat didn't exist and
that was rude.

T'lat couldn't help how his grin broadened at K'mai's well earned
bravado. He just couldn't help himself when he saw that smile. "I
doubt it could," he said. Then added, still a little timid, "I've
wanted to spend some time with you too."

"I'm glad we lingered here after the others. I enjoy your company,"
K'mai said. T'lat was friendly and sweet, and his touch of shyness was
endearing.

"Yeah," he agreed. "This was nice," he nodded. Well maybe not the
rider who'd acted like he wasn't there, but on the whole he'd enjoyed
it. "We should do it again sometime."

"My evening is free, if you'd like to stay longer. Or if you'd like to
go somewhere we won't be interrupted."

T'lat's smile tilted and he nodded. "I'd like that," he said. "Very much."

"How about we head up to my weyr?" K'mai asked. Whether they only
talked or whether they ended up in bed, he was sure they'd have a
pleasant time. Not "tolerable" as H'run had so spitefully said.

"Okay," he said and stood. His heart pounded and he felt almost
breathless with anticipation of where tonight might lead. "Should we
try and find a bottle of wine?"

K'mai got up and went over to take T'lat's hand. "I'll just ask the
kitchen staff very nicely. I'm sure they'll be able to provide
something for a pair of handsome, charming dragonriders."

T'lat smiled and tucked his hand into K'mai's larger one. "I'm sure
you could talk a flit out of the sky if you put your mind to it."

Last updated on the February 19th 2021

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Tolerable Evening