What Comes Next (1/2)

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 7th April 2025

Characters: V'tian, T'lin
Description: Two riders, going to a Gather
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 12

T'lin

V'tian waited by Indith's side, one hand on her leg as he looked to the sky. "Are you sure Calaroth said he was coming right now?"

}:Yes. I am sure.:{ Indith responded simply. }: And then he will show us where to go.:{

Bright blue hide glinted in the sun as Calaroth descended toward the Weyrbowl. He called a greeting to the young green and landed neatly beside her, wings hardly stirring the sandy soil. T'lin smiled at his dragon's show-off behavior. "Ready to go?" he shouted across to V'tian.

Indith called back a greeting warble, offered a proud arch of her neck and spread her wings in response.

V'tian climbed up onto her back, checking his straps one more time, and then waved back. **Ready?** he asked Indith.

She bugled a response to Calaroth and crouched, spreading her wings. }:We are ready!!!:{ she called. }:Give me the image!:{

Calaroth sent her the image of a minor hold in the North. T'lin had picked a Gather that was large enough to have several dragonriders attending, but not so large it was overwhelming. A few moments later the two dragons appeared high above a Gather square filled with colorful stalls of all kinds.

}:Oh that is pretty!:{ Indith enthused, both to Calaroth and her own rider. }:Look, Mine, adventure awaits!!:{

She circled to land, almost daintily, and V'tian took a deep breath, straightening his shoulders as he dismounted. It wasn't a big Gather-- but it would be the first he'd been to in Turns, probably.

"Looks fun, yeah?" T'lin said as he headed over. Pitching his voice low, he said, "If you want to go home or need to take a break at any point, just say so, ok?" He patted V'tian's shoulder, a friendly gesture that couldn't be misinterpreted by anyone watching.

"I can't say other than training to _between_, I've _ever_ been North like this." V'tian responded, looking around intently, before he absorbed T'lin's lower voiced words and nodded. "... I'm here, aren't I? And this isn't half as big as the Weyr. I can _do_ this."

"That's the spirit." T'lin smiled. "Remember this is for fun, not a trial you have to pass. What do you want to do first?"

}:We will definitely have an adventure!!:{ Indith announced, wiggling a little, prancing in the snow.

V'tian shook his head. "... Something to warm up?" He suggested. "And then we can do something you want."

"Klah? Or I bet they have hot cider," T'lin said. He nudged V'tian with an elbow. "We can take turns picking things to do."

}:We can meet Northern dragons,:{ Calaroth told Indith, nodding toward a hill where bright dragon hides stood out against the white snow.

}:Oh! How wonderful, and perhaps they will tell us all sorts of interesting things.:{ Indith responded, and spread her wings again to fly-glide over.

"... Klah." V'tian responded, and drew himself up, tried his best to look mature and certain of himself. "_Definitely_ klah."

He paused, then nodded to T'lin. "Lead the way." At least until he had an idea of the layout.

They headed in to the rows of brightly colored stalls, T'lin scanning for one selling klah. Not too far from the entrance he spotted a banner with a large steaming cup painted on it."Ah, there!" He bought two large cups and passed one to V'tian. "Now that we have a drink, how about food? Ooh, I wonder if they have tiny sugared doughnuts."

"Food's good." V'tian responded, and took a long draught of his klah. Oh, that was _good_. A pause, and then he perked up slightly. "I think any kind of doughnut would be good. They have them at the Weyr sometimes."

**I would like a doughnut, Mine.** Indith hummed.

"There's something about the little ones they sell at most Gathers," T'lin said. "Maybe it's the atmosphere. They just taste better." His eye was caught by a clothing stall with a beautiful flowing blue dress. No, better not. He was supposed to be making V'tian comfortable, not potentially embarrassing him by looking for inspiration for his next dress. A moment later he bounced on his toes. "Yes, they have them!" As he nudged through the crowd he asked, "Do you want to share, or do you want your own?" The little packets were enough to split between two.

"Oh.... If we shared one it'd probably be cheaper." V'tian responded. "Indith says she wants to try one too, for some reason, but I'll just save one back for her."

Now to find something that _didn't_ cost marks...

A pause, peering around the Gather. "... Is that pond frozen over?"

T'lin followed his gaze. "Yeah. A lot colder than home, huh?"

"... Yeah." V'tian responded in turn. "... But I bet they probably think sunny sandy beaches are weird." He gave a sort of shrug, trying to appear haughty.

The bluerider chuckled and offered the packet of doughnuts to V'tian. "So what next?"

V'tian took one, fastidious, and ate it. And then he brightened, startled. "Oh, that is _delicious_." He said, then looked around. "...What's your favourite thing to do at a Gather like this?"

T'lin thought for a moment. "It might be a tie between eating and shopping. I like seeing all the different things holders are selling. Dancing can be fun, too but . . " He made a face. "It's not like I can dance with my weyrmate here, or any of my male friends." As fun as Gathers could be, it was a different world.

"_Holders_." V'tian agreed, with a bit of a scrunched expression, though he at least kept his tone quiet enough only T'lin could hear. "... I suppose we could stroll around at at least look at what's for sale. I... don't have any marks though, so it'll be just looking, for me."

A pause. "You like dancing, then? I guess it could be a way to improve agility."

T'lin snorted. "It's not an exercise routine, it's _fun_. Didn't you dance at the Hatching? Or back at your hold?" The bluerider led them on a slow pace through the stalls.

"I ate Feast food and lurked mostly." V'tian responded, after a moment. "And then I went back to Indith. There wasn't much else to do after all."

"Nobody cute catch your eye?" T'lin asked. "Or friends who wanted to dance?"

"I.... wasn't really in a _great_ mood." V'tian admitted after a moment. "And... Everyone else was busy anyways. Or _had_ friends or family with them."

"Aww, V'tian." T'lin gave him a quick, one-armed hug. "I'm sorry the Feast wasn't more fun for you. Maybe next time I can drag you out on the dance floor."

"... Maybe." V'tian conceded, leaned into the hug just a little bit before pulling away. "I'd like that."

Last updated on the April 22nd 2025

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What Comes Next (1/2)