Something to Look Forward To

Writers: Curious, Heather
Date Posted: 12th July 2024

Characters: Inyara, Zehva
Description: Inyara and Zehva go on a date.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 5, day 7 of Turn 11
Notes: Pre-Impression

**It's just a date, quit being so fussy,** Zehva said to herself as
she checked her hair for the final time in the mirror.

After meeting Inyara that day in the smithcrafter's workshop, Zehva
had gone back later to ask the younger woman out for drinks. **_Much_
younger woman,** her brain pointed out. **She's an adult,** the other
side of her brain pointed out sulkily.

It was rare when Zehva didn't have to be in her healer uniform, so
she'd opted for some flowy linen pants and a tailored top that was
embroidered with swirling embellishments along the neckline.

"Hi there," Zehva said with an easy smile, which disguised her nerves,
as she met Inyara in the weyrbowl.

Inyara had vtols in her stomach.

That was rare. It was rare for her to feel _anything_ when interacting
with other people. She'd gotten so used to the people around her being
incidental, either steps to move her forward or obstacles to work
around in her path to mastery. She didn't seek to spend time with
them, didn't think about them once they were out of sight, didn't give
them any of her free time. Yet there was something about Zehva that
had made her heart beat just a fraction faster, and when she had come
back to ask her out, she couldn't help but say yes.

Inyara didn't have much in the way of nice clothes, but she tried her
best. A light blue sundress, a silver ribbon tying her hair back, and
strappy brown sandals - it wasn't stunning, but she still looked nice.
Or at least, as she met Zehva with a smile of her own, she hoped she
did. "Hey," she returned. "You look great."

"That's just what I was going to say to you," Zehva laughed. She
walked beside of Inyara as the made their way toward the outdoor
seating that had been built just outside of the Dining Hall building.
The seats overlooked the lake and were lit by lights, glass lanterns,
and glow baskets. It set a rather intimate ambience that Zehva found
peaceful. "How was your day in the workshop?" she asked Inyara.

"Great!" Inyara said. "Granted, I tend to think that _every_ day in
the workshop is great, but it really was today. I got a few projects
that were challenging enough to make me think, but nothing that
threatened to drive me insane." She hesitated for a moment before
adding, almost shyly, "Meeting you was really nice, too."

“Hm, I spent the day getting puked on by kids. I think your day wins.”
Zehva smiled. “Although, I at least had this date to look forward to,”
she admitted. “You want to snag us a table out here by the water while
I grab us some food?”

Inyara let out a snort of laughter. "I don't think that's difficult to
do when one of the days involves vomit," she wryly said. "And sure."

Inyara's search for a table was, like most everything else she did,
studious. She surveyed her options before selecting the one that had
the best view of the water, looking fairly pleased with herself for
having done so.

"Perfect spot," Zehva said as she arrived back at their table with a
variety of things. "I know you mentioned when we met that you were
just here on a long-term visit. Are you still planning on going back
when the work is done?"

Inyara beamed at the compliment. That smile lingered as she nodded,
only to fade a little when she realized what she had just returned.
"I'm meant to return to the northern Hall once construction of the
Weyrhold is done. Is that alright? I mean-" She paused, nibbling her
lower lip. Faranth, it wasn't often that she cared about how other
people thought and felt. It was _hard_ to care about what other people
thought and felt. "Are you still willing to have this date?"

The healer's smile was an easy one. "Of course, it's a just a date,
not a marriage or anything."

Inyara let out a sigh of relief. "Good," she said. "_Thank you_.
Barrier Lake isn't a bad place by any means, but the south is...
different. And different is difficult. It's nice to have something to
look forward to."

"To having something to look forward to," Zehva said with a raise of her glass.

"Indeed," Inyara said, raising her glass to clink against Zehva's.
Taking a sip of her wine, she asked, "So, what //do// you look forward
to?"

The healer raised her shoulders. She wasn't the type to plan too far
ahead into things. "I look forward to seeing where things go." The
redhead set her glass back on the table. "Do you think you'll be here
for Riyanth's next hatching?"

"Most likely," Inyara said. "I'll be here until the construction of
the Weyrhold is complete, so I'll likely be leaving... Within the next
turn, but certainly after the hatching. So, yes, I'll be here." The
smith nodded slightly, content with her own summary of the timeline.

"Then I'll make sure to save you a seat," Zehva promised.

Last updated on the July 27th 2024

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Something to Look Forward To