But Is He Cute?

Writers: Estelle, Devin
Date Posted: 2nd January 2025
Series: Guarding Gil

Characters: Tr'vel, I'lek, D'stan, Terella, Ochyra
Description: Tr'vel's wingmates get the gossip about Gil
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Gilbek
Follows "Running with the Enemy"

Tr'vel

The table where Lightning Wing usually gathered for the evening meal was
home to a more eclectic mix of riders than most wings. Elderly dragonmen
and women, retired due to their advancing Turns, sat alongside younger
riders, some bearing the signs of the injuries that had grounded them
and their lifemates for good. Despite this, the mood was cheerful and
the chatter and gossip flowed as freely as at the tables of the fighting
Wings.

One of the youngest, a greenrider of barely twenty Turns, rose and waved
his good arm at the bluerider who was approaching with a tray. "Tr'vel,
over here!" He gestured to the rider next to him to make space on the
bench. "Where have you been? We're all absolutely _dying_ to hear about
your day with that man in the cliff weyr."

"You mean the one who may or may not have tried to kill my daughter?"
Tr'vel said dryly as he slid into the seat.

"Yes! The one who was in on the poisoning," the young rider replied
enthusiastically. "What's he like?"

"Really, I'lek." Across the table, an older woman with tight silver
curls shook her head in reproof. "A little tact, please." She gave
Tr'vel an apologetic smile. "We were a mite curious. But surely he can't
have been involved in the attack at the Hatching. The Weyrleader would
never have let him out if he was."

Tr'vel wondered how much he should reveal, but the Weyrleader hadn't
said to keep the information confidential. And it would be good to have
other people wary of Gil in case he _was_ responsible. "The Weyrleader
isn't sure, which is why I get to play creche mother." He almost left it
at that, but he didn't want them thinking N'vanik was risking their
safety. "Weyrleader N'vanik thinks he deserves a chance, though." He
couldn't help thinking of Gil's scars. Threadscars were one thing, but
for a person to deliberately do that to someone else . . . "He might've
just been desperate and got caught up with the wrong people."

"Or he could be saying that to save his skin," another bluerider said
doubtfully.

"If the Weyrleader says he should have a chance, then we should give him
one." Terella, the older greenrider, said firmly. "He wouldn't be the
first to come to the Weyr for a new start."

"But what's he _like_?" I'lek persisted, fidgeting with impatience.

The greenrider at the end of the table leaned forward in her wheelchair,
grinning. "I think what I'lek is trying to ask is: is he cute?"

I'lek pulled a face at her. "Tact, Ochyra."

A surprised laugh escaped Tr'vel. "He's not bad, I suppose, if you have
a thing for criminal types." He looked at I'lek with a gleam in his eye.
"Do you?"

"Oh, _yes_," the greenrider said, dreamily. "Like in that book Ochyra
lent me, where the Lord Holder's son is kidnapped by the holdless
bandits, and he falls in love with the handsome leader..."

"No, it's the sister he ends up with."

"They only put that in so as not to scandalize the holders. Look at the
part where he sacrifices himself to save his beloved from the guards."
I'lek cleared his throat dramatically. "'I met his dark, defiant gaze,
and my heart quickened in fear at the thought of my former captor, now
more than a friend, falling into rough hands...'"

"Hey," the older bluerider protested. "Some of us haven't read it yet."

"But are you all right with it, Tr'vel?" Terella asked, as the other
three started bickering. "If it's too hard, you could ask the Weyrleader
to find someone else to watch him. I'm sure he'd understand."

"The Weyrleader put his trust in me," Tr'vel said. "I'm not going to
take that lightly." Although . . . He turned to the others. "I'lek," he
said a little sharply to cut through the argument. "If you want to flirt
with him, make sure I'm there. I need to see that."

"Really? I can meet your hot conspirator?" I'lek was distracted from his
literary criticism. His face lit up. "You're the best, Tr'vel!"

"Better yet, bring him to eat with us," D'stan, the bluerider,
suggested. "We _all_ need to see that."

"I'lek can show us how it's done. Especially you, Tr'vel," Ochyra said
slyly. "How long is it since you brought someone special to meet your
friends?"

Tr'vel snorted. "If I promise to bring 'someone special' when I have
one, will you stop bothering me about it?" Meddling in each other's
lives seemed to be the main hobby for Lightning Wing.

The two younger greenriders looked at each other, then spoke in unison.
"Nah."

"We only do it because we care about you," Terella said earnestly.
"You'd make someone a lovely weyrmate."

"Is that why you tried to match him with - what is it, three of your
grandchildren now?" D'stan asked.

"Not all at the same time," she protested. "And one of them was a nephew."

Tr'vel closed his eyes and sighed. They were always like this. He needed
a distraction. "I'm escorting the prisoner to breakfast again tomorrow.
I could bring him over and torture him with you lot."

"Mmm, yes." I'lek licked his lips.

Ochyra giggled. "I'lek's going to literally eat him for breakfast."

"We'll be careful," Terella promised, sounding more amused than rebuking
the younger riders. "He won't be used to our ways yet, will he?"

Tr'vel chuckled. "He tried to run away when I took him to the bathing
caverns." He put a hand to his forehead and said in an exaggerated
voice, "Oh no, there are _ladies_ present! This is too shocking!"

I'lek and Ochyra snickered, D'stan rolled his eyes, and even Terella
smiled. "Poor man. He really must be fresh from the hold."

"Which is why I can't wait to see what color he turns when a man flirts
with him. Gotta break him in." Tr'vel winked at his wingmates.

"He might surprise us," D'stan suggested. "He was a guard, wasn't he?
All those brawny holder men living together in a barracks, washing and
dressing together, grappling in the training grounds...massaging each
other's bodies afterwards..."

"Oh - stop!" I'lek fanned himself, eyelids fluttering.

The silver-haired bluerider grinned. "I'm just saying."

"_Please_ repeat that in front of him." Tr'vel laughed hard enough that
he had to wipe a tear from his eye. "Oh . . . oh this is gonna be so good."

"You're all terrible people," Terella said, though she could barely
suppress the amusement in her voice.

"Better to throw him in at the deep end," Ochyra said unrepentantly.
"Right, Tr'vel? Holders need to get used to us fast if they want to live
here."

"And if I have to spend my time watching him," Tr'vel said, "I might as
well get some entertainment out of it."

I'lek's eyes were bright and wicked. "We promise to make it _very_
entertaining."

Last updated on the March 5th 2025

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But Is He Cute?