Leave the Memories Alone

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 24th July 2024

Characters: K'far, Vaile
Description: An outing to Citrus Bay to escape some memories
Location: Citrus Bay Hold
Date: month 13, day 21 of Turn 11

}: It will be good to get out of the Weyr for fun today, :{ Liranth remarked as she watched her rider buckle the straps. }: And somewhere warm too! :{

"At least you're looking forward to it," Vaile sighed. Liranth's eyes shifted color at that remark. Vaile noticed. "I...this is a mistake, Liranth. I shouldn't have suggested it. It's...it was a stupid idea."

Liranth rustled her wings, disagreeing. }: It's not a stupid idea. It's not a mistake. You've been wanting to get out of the Weyr, to do something _fun_. You're just scared. :{

Vaile flinched like she had been slapped.

}: I love you, :{ Liranth added softly. }: This doesn't have to be anything more than a day away. You _like_ K'far. He's your friend. Don't friends do fun things with friends? :{ Vaile didn't answer that. She knew that Liranth was right. She was scared. Scared that she would actually have fun when she was supposed to still be mourning. She was holding on to the pain, afraid to live again.

She sighed. Stroked Liranth's soft hide. "I love you," she said back. And then there was nothing more to do except to climb aboard her dragon and go meet K'far.

}: She's having second thoughts, :{ Liranth said to Torth as she came in for a landing a moment later.

}:We don't want to push her beyond comfort,:{ said Torth as she joined him. }:But this will be good for her. Won't she at least stay for a little while?:{

K'far waved to Vaile from the ground as she approached. He was all smiles. It was good to see her, even if he knew she was uncertain. He would just have to do his best to show her a good time. To keep her mind off of unpleasant memories.

"Good...morning," Vaile greeted K'far. She looked resigned to her fate but she tried to smile. Liranth made an immediate rustle of her wings, the equivalent of a harumphing sound in her mannerisms. Vaile exhaled, let out a rueful laugh, and said, "I'm sorry, K'far. I'm terrible company today. I'm trying to...I'm trying." She ended her sentence with an apologetic smile.

"Hey, that's alright." K'far's smile saddened a touch. "Trying counts. What sounds easiest to try today? Wine tasting? Just relaxing on the beach? Maybe going for a swim?"

She thought about it for a moment. "You know, I haven't been on a wine tasting in Turns. That...sounds the best." Relaxing on the beach just meant that she would remember beach days with M'vel. "Shall we?" she asked, already gathering the image of where they were going in her mind.

"Yes, let's!" K'far would never have considered doing such a thing for himself. Even going to a wedding to see a childhood friend was more of a vacation than he had in ages before that. But Vaile needed his help. And it was not as though he did not enjoy wine. It just never occurred to him to do nice things for himself.

Brown and green wings flashed in the sun as they left, with Torth following Liranth's directions /between/. The darkness exploded into brilliant hues as they reappeared over Citrus Bay, glittering blue water to their right, rolling hills of grape vines to their left. Liranth led Torth in a lazy spiral over the place before angling in on the field just outside of the Hold that was a good landing place.

"Welcome to Citrus Bay," Vaile said as she took off her helmet. "It's...not changed much but from what the locals told me -- it was definitely in some dire shape before. The Lord Holder has done a lot to bring it up as far as a shipping lane." She motioned to the vineyard. "They do more than wine, from what I hear, but I bet that's a popular commodity." She looked towards the Hold, where someone was coming to meet them.

"Hello!" the approaching man greeted brightly. "Here for business or pleasure?"

"Pleasure!" K'far announced cheerfully. "We hoped we might trouble you to send us in the direction to whomever we might need to speak to to arrange for a wine tasting."

The man grinned. "A day away from the rigors of the Weyr? We can do that. Right this way! Our vintners will be pleased to uncork a few of their bottles for you. We've got a late pressing white variant with citron that's been popular locally." As he showed them into the small winemaking space, he talked about several other vintages available, all ranging from full-bodied reds to light, crispy whites to combat the heat. "Felston!" he called. "Felston, you have some guests here to try your stock! Dragonrider guests!" A young boy popped his head around the door. "Rilian, go fetch Felston while I make our visitors at home." The boy disappeared back into what appeared to be the brewery portion. "Felston is our winemaker. Journeyman but going for his mastery in a Turn or two here," the man explained. Then, he smacked his forehead and said, "And I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Ruvorin, one of the residents here. I help the Steward mostly. Make sure our vintners have what they need to do their craft."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ruvorin. I'm K'far, and this is Vaile." The man offered a hand to shake. "All of these sound lovely, but I must say, I'm looking forward to tasting the one with the citron. What do you think, Vaile?" She nodded absently, as if locked in some memory.

"So it shall be!" Ruvorin said with a clap of his hands. "Have a seat, make yourselves comfortable, we'll have you set up in just a moment!" He motioned to some high stools near a serving bar and then disappeared as well, most likely to help with preparations.

As Vaile went to sit, she said, "M'vel always liked coming to places like this. Any excuse to get out and try something new." She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, K'far. I'm sorry I keep bringing him up. It's not fair to you...to being here. I just..." A tear slid down her cheek.

"You don't have to pretend you're not sad to be with me," said K'far. "And you can talk about him." He gently touched her shoulder. "You're always welcome to talk about him. To tell me about him. He was such a big part of your life, and your time with him is worth remembering."

"It is," she agreed. "But...it's over. It's been over for two Turns. I..." She paused. Composed herself. "Sometimes, you don't say goodbye once. You say it over and over and honestly..." She sighed. "Honestly, K'far, saying goodbye is getting old. Threadbare. I...need to move on. Somehow." She reached across with a hand and squeezed K'far's hand on her shoulder. Managing a watery smile, she said, "Thank you."

"Of course." K'far smiled back. "Anything I can do to help, I'm here. We can figure out somehow together."

Her hand lingered there for a moment until movement could be heard approaching. Vaile took a deep breath and dried her eyes quickly. By the time Ruvorin returned with trays and apprentice Rilian in tow, she was back to her shielded self.

"Here we go!" Ruvorin said brightly as he set out glasses and a small platter of nibbles. Rilian dutifully uncorked a few bottles, poured the first wine, and stepped back like a perfect sommelier in training. "Now this one," Ruvorin said, "is our signature white crisp. We start with this one because..."

As the man trailed off into the explanation of the wine, Vaile raised her glass just a little and looked at K'far. "To making new memories?" she toasted with a brittle but brave smile.

K'far raised his glass and returned the smile with a strong and confident but encouraging one of his own.

"To making new memories."

Last updated on the August 18th 2024

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Leave the Memories Alone