A Book-Lovers' Day Out

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 7th July 2024

Characters: T'kala, Y'rim
Description: A book date on the beach
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 11

}: Yoli, don't we have enough? :{ Quiroanth asked. She swiveled her
head around to look at the full bags, her faceted eyes whirling
slowly. }: We're only going there for the day, right? :{

"We _are_," Y'rim confirmed, "But I don't want to forget anything! Oh,
I know he's too young for me, he has to be, but I just want to have a
little bit of fun and who knows where this will end up? Did Dagreth
say they were ready?" He stuffed another something into the bag.

}: I'll ask, :{ Quiroanth said. She swung her head to look outwards
and sought Dagreth. }: Mine has packed way too much stuff for sitting
on a beach and reading books but wants to know if you are ready? :{

}:Oh yeah, we had to make _three_ trips back and forth just so T'kala
could make sure everything was 'just right'.:{ Dagreth told Quiroanth
as he relayed to her the coordinates of their exact spot on the beach.

T'kala had set up a gauzy little tent on the beach, the sides of which
were rolled up to allow the breeze. Underneath a couple of blankets
and a mound of pillows rested. A few moments later, Quiroanth's dark
green form appeared above. She hovered in place for a few wingbeats
while Y'rim openly gaped at the setup. It was...it was perfect!

Quiroanth trilled a coquettish welcome at Dagreth as she landed.
Y'rim's expression was still one of delighted surprise as he slid
down. "T'kala, it's...oh, this...this is so lovely! It must have taken
you the entire morning to set this up!"

"I've set it up a few times for myself and friends, so I've got it
down to a science now," T'kala said, although his shirtless chest was
gleaming from a light sheen of sweat. "It's worth it to be able to
read by the ocean."

The greenrider took another delighted look at the setup. "A picnic
with some friends would be idyllic here as well," he remarked, already
thinking about F'aen and T'ner. When he looked at T'kala, his eyes did
a once over on the bluerider, appreciating the view. His smile was shy
yet flirtatious. "So! Where shall we start? Are we doing a book swap
or reading a favorite to each other? Or did you have something in
mind?"

T'kala's eyes swept Y'rim from top to bottom. "I did have a few things
in mind. I need a dip to cool off from setting up. You care to join?"

Oh, Y'rim spotted an invitation there for sure.

"Sure," he replied. His tone might have been light but his expression
was turning sultry. He stripped out of his shirt, started kicking off
his shoes. "It _is_ hot," he agreed. But he wasn't talking about the
air temperature by the look in his eyes.

T'kala smiled, glad that he'd read the situation correctly.

The water temperature was just right, not too cold, but cool enough to
be refreshing from the heat. The sky was a brilliant blue and the
sunlight made the water sparkle as they got past the breakers where
they could float about in the calmer water. "This is my definition of
a perfect day."

Y'rim made a humming sound of agreement. He couldn't remember the last
time he had felt so happy and seen. They could cool off -- then get a
little hot again -- then cool off and lazily read the rest of the day
away. Oh, it sounded just perfect!

They floated for a little bit longer until Y'rim worked up the courage
to slide one arm across T'kala's torso and say, "Ready to get a little
warmed up again?"

T'kala captured Y'rim's chin in his hand and pulled the greenrider's
face to his for a kiss. "Warming up sounds perfect."

}: Oh, I could get _used_ to this, :{ Quiroanth purred some time later
after their riders had explored each other and were cooling down under
the tent that T'kala had set up. }: You being spoiled, me curling up
to a handsome dragon. We should do this every day! :{

"And we still have books to read," Y'rim chuckled to both T'kala and
Quiroanth. He gave T'kala another kiss. Quiroanth was right. It was an
absolute _delight_ to have a day so perfect as this!

"Books for dessert. Perfection." T'kala said this around the kiss.
"What did you bring for your reading pleasure?"

"Oh, something boring. A history of some minor Hold," Y'rim teased lightly.

T'kala's eyes said he did _not_ believe for one second that Y'rim was
reading a history book. "Well," he pulled out a thin book, it was one
of the quarter-mark issues that commonly featured mysteries. "I'm
reading a book about a missing dragonrider whose amnesia keeps him
from knowing his own dragon. It's rather fantastical, but I'm here for
it."

"Amnesia? In a _dragonrider_?" Y'rim breathed. "Oh, okay, that does
sound interesting. Read me an excerpt!"

The bluerider cleared his throat and held the book up where he could
see it better:

"What are these calluses on my hand from? I must be a laborer of some kind.

My attention is caught by movement in the room - it's a healer. His
burnished blonde hair gleams in the anemic light of the infirmary. A
look of hope is etched on his singularly handsome face as he
approaches the bed where I lay.

There's a strange pull in my gut, but I can't place the emotion.

'B'laiz?' The healer's voice is a soft question wreathed in hope.

'Who are you?'

'You don't remember me?'

The silence between us echoes with the crestfallen despair written on
the healer's face.

'My name is... B'laiz? So that means... I'm a dragonrider?'

}:That's right. You're mine,:{ a new voice says...."

T'kala trailed off in a dramatic voice. "Find out what happens next
in," he whipped the book around to show off the title, "_Forget Me
Not_."

Y'rim let out a theatrical little gasp. "Clever _and_ intriguing! I
like it," he purred. He leaned forward to give T'kala a playful kiss.
"You could read to me _any_ time, especially in that voice."

"Then you'll really like the part where B'laiz remembers that the
healer is his weyrmate and they _reunite_," T'kala lifted his eyebrows
suggestively, before curling an arm around Y'rim and pulling him
close. "Let me read it to you," he said in a husky whisper before
opening the book to the right page....

Last updated on the July 27th 2024

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A Book-Lovers' Day Out