Un-Weyr-Like

Writers: Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 20th November 2024

Characters: N'kevyn, Aydhan
Description: N'kevyn remembers asking Aydhan to be his weyrmate
Location: Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'kayden (kinda)

N'kevyn

Aydhan

It was too long before N'kevyn got to pull Aydhan away for a dance.

He moved with practiced ease, weaving through the crowd, his hand finding hers and pulling her into his arms. She was a warm, welcoming presence, radiant in the glow of the electric lights and gorgeous in the suggestively cream dress she had purchased _just_ for this occasion. The glint of fine jewelry was hardly unusual, but the familiar feeling of her wedding ring (an old tradition, just for him) against his fingers had a nostalgic grin tugging on his lips.

Aydhan shifted slightly in his arms, her hand adjusting in his. "What?" she asked, her voice barely above the music, catching the smile on his lips.

N'kevyn tightened his grip on her and, without warning, he shifted his hands to her waist and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around. The sudden movement disrupted the dancers around them, but N'kevyn just laughed, spinning her with a joyous abandon that made him feel like he was the only one in the world. "Can't I just be happy?" he asked.

Aydhan’s eyes sparkled, but before she could respond, he leaned closer, lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “I have a very pretty weyrmate, you know.”

She paused, then, with a soft chuckle, she pressed her cheek against his chest, her arms tightening around him in return. "You’re incorrigible, N'kevyn," she said with a laugh, but the warmth in her voice told him exactly what he needed to hear. "Ever since we were kids."

------Flashback, 20 turns ago---------

N’kevyn stood in front of the mirror in a new shirt that he’d had special made for the occasion. It had cost a few seven days’ of extra transport duty, but it was worth it. The little box in his hand had cost much more, but it had to be perfect. Everything had to be perfect.

A sleepy distracted voice in his head had corrected him with the insistence that he meant ‘best’. It all needed to be best. He ignored it. Avicath’s particular blend of self confidence wasn't what this situation needed.

Straightening his collar, the young bronzerider faced himself in the mirror, saying, “Aydhan. I know you've never been as sure of me as-”

No. That was stupid. This was not the time to remind her of her doubts.

Clearing his throat, he tried again, “Aydhan, now that we’re expecting-”

No. Shard it. Then she’d just think it was about that.

“Aydhan, I’ve known you were the one I wanted since that first time you laughed at me in the Infirmary…”

He must not have heard Aydhan come in. She heard his muffled voice from his sleeping area, and had been tiptoeing over to try and catch a feel from behind. She hadn't expected him to be all dressed up, hair miraculously trimmed, and a little box in his hand.

She ducked back behind the wall, peeking over _just so_ he couldn't see her reflection in the mirror, and kept listening.

“And… well, I know this isn't a Weyr tradition but… I… got a ring?” His voice rose into a question as he flipped up the box.

“No. Dummy… maybe I should get a bigger ring?” He looked at it standing in the mirror. It was very shiny, reflecting the light back.

Closing the box, he tried again, “Aydhan, I’d like you to marry me. I know it's very un-Weyr-like of me, but I want everyone to know we're together, whatever happens. Oh that's much better,” he congratulated himself.

Aydhan covered her mouth to keep from giggling. She thought about running over to Avicath and whispering instructions over to him, but…it was better to try and watch him figure it out on his own. She didn't get a good look at the ring, but it looked nice in the light. The gesture was sweet and made her heart ache, and he knew she was a sucker for nice jewelry.

“So. Aydhan, would you do me the honor of marrying me and raising that little goldfish you're growing with me? And put up with Avicath’s snoring for the rest of our very long lives? Because we're pretty people, and pretty people live forever.”

“...No. Maybe too much.” He tried to turn the ring differently and wound up fumbling it so that it fell out of the box and rolled out of the bed. “Shardit!” He got down on his hands and knees to fish under the bed for it.

Aydhan jumped backwards, momentarily scared that she'd been found out. But he bent down instead and she took her chance. She crept into the room, smiling, and planted one hand gently on his behind. "What'd you drop?" She asked innocently.

“Ah!” He jumped, banging his arm on the bottom of the bed. “Aydhan what are you-...uh…” He felt around desperately and came out with… “I just… was looking for the laundry to drop it off. And look. I found a sock. Nothing else under there, so I should just… go put this in the bag.” He scrambled awkwardly to his feet and moved to add the sock to the laundry ready to go out.

**Avi, you were supposed to be keeping watch!**

The curtain to the ledge rattled with a large bronze snore.

"Oh good. You're always forgetting at least one sock." Aydhan considered trying to see if the ring still sat under the bed. Bothering N'kevyn was a lot more fun, though. She followed him, still trying not to giggle, and reached up to fix a collar that didn't need fixing. "This is a nice shirt! Is there a special occasion coming up?"

He jumped when she touched him, which was far from typical, but put on his best grin as he turned towards her, “I just wanted to look nice. What do you think?” Putting his hands on her hips, he pulled her closer, “Think it'll impress all the pretty young Weyr ladies?” He asked teasingly.

"Oh yes, your other lovers will be all aflutter." She agreed. "You even shaved. And is that a bit of perfume I smell? Am I missing someone's birthing day?"

“I will have to fight them off,” he agreed, “or at least half of them. I'm sure I can handle five or six.” He rubbed his chin, blushing slightly, and then pointed a finger at her, “You're the one who said I looked like a patchy holdless ruffian earlier.” Leaning in, he kissed her neck, "You said I wasn't getting that stubble near any… sensitive areas. What did you expect?”

He did _not_ answer the perfume question.

"I was expecting you to use it as an excuse not to do those things." Aydhan said, visibly pleased. The beard was a nightmare. "So, do I have a moment to change? I feel undressed in my Infirmary outfit."

“Actually, I was about to take this off and hang it up for a… special occasion. Maybe I could convince you to… inspect my shaving skills instead.” He pulled back long enough to waggle his eyebrows suggestively at her before putting both hands on her hips and picking her up. He tossed her onto his shoulder with all the grace of slinging firestone sacks around, whirling back towards the sleeping area.

Aydhan had just been about to do just that when she was picked up like she was nothing (she liked that best). "Watch the goldfish!" She teased and ineffectually kicked her legs.

---------Flaskback End----------

As they continued to dance, the crowd around them faded into the background, and for just a moment, it was only them.

Last updated on the November 23rd 2024

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