There's Something I'd Like To Ask You (2/2)

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 28th February 2026

Characters: Tr'vel, Gilbek
Description: Gil responds to Tr'vel's proposal...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'lek

Tr'vel

Gil's eyes widened, and for once he couldn't guard the emotions that passed over his face. Shock, amazement, incredulity...and joy. He looked up from the ring, glittering in its bed of soft velvet, to meet Tr'vel's gaze, and he smiled like the younger man he must once have been, all the hardships of the past Turns vanished as if they'd never been.

"Tr'vel, you're the most wonderful, delightful, surprising man I've ever met." His voice was breathless, but clear and without hesitation. "I would love to be your weyrmate."

Tr'vel pulled him into a deep kiss, lost in the moment and the happiness of it. Then he remembered there was an issue they needed to discuss. "Wait, before you say yes . . . I'm weyrbred. A dragonman. I'm . . . . going to want to occasionally, and I do mean _occasionally_ have sex with other people. It doesn't mean I care for you any less or that I don't take our relationship seriously."

"Do you mean when Eboroth wins a flight?" Gil sounded more curious than offended, and he didn't pull away.

"And outside of that," Tr'vel said carefully, wondering if he was asking too much from a holdbred man. But then again, Gil had seemed to accept his attraction to Tr'vel easily.

Gil was quiet for a moment, as he considered what Tr'vel had said and how to respond. "It's not what I'm used to, but..." As he spoke, it was clear that nothing about his decision had changed. "Even if it isn't always easy, I'd rather be with you, than let pride or the customs of my old life keep us apart." He leaned closer, relaxing into a warm smile. "Perhaps I should ask you if you can put up with my holder ways."

The worry faded from Tr'vel and he echoed Gil's smile. "Oh, I think we might make a weyr man out of you yet." He took the ring from the box and slid it onto Gil's finger. As he leaned in for another kiss, Eboroth suddenly loomed closer, his good eye hardly more than an arm's length away.

}:Tell him the jewel is for me,:{

Tr'vel let out an exasperated laugh. "Baby Blue picked out the color of the stone."

"You were in on this too, Eboroth? You kept the secret well. I didn't have an inkling," Gil teased, spreading his fingers as he examined the ring. Close up, he could see that it was formed from entwined bands, curving around the sparkling stone in a way that reminded him of dragons he'd seen, twining their necks together in affection. It felt pleasingly smooth and solid on his finger, neither too heavy and ostentatious, nor overly delicate.

"This is beautiful, Tr'vel. It looks like something a Lord would wear - oh, and look!" He held up his hand next to Eboroth's head. "A perfect match. He chose the best color."

}:I did!:{ Eboroth crooned happily.

Tr'vel patted his dragon's muzzle as happiness filled his chest. He took Gil's hand and kissed the knuckles just above the ring. Shards, it did look good on his finger. "And I'lek helped me with the planning. I'm surprised the entire Weyr didn't know before you did."

"I'lek knew?" Gil was amazed. The young greenrider wasn't known for being tight-lipped, particularly on his favorite topic, other people's love lives. He thought back. "He has been behaving a bit oddly these last few days, giving me long, mysterious glances, but I thought it must be something he'd read in one of his books."

"Always a possibility." Tr'vel laughed. "That's why I asked him, because of all those romantic stories he reads. I know holders take weyrmating -- well, marriage -- seriously and I wanted to make this special so you knew how much you meant to me." His gaze was soft as he rubbed his thumb lightly against Gil's hand.

"Then you can tell him he did a fine job. That was a most irresistible marriage - I mean, weyrmating proposal." Gil's grin turned mischievous. "The location, the picnic, the ring...and though most holders wouldn't have mentioned sex with other people _immediately_ after being accepted, full marks for honesty." To take any sting out of his sly teasing, he laced his fingers with Tr'vel's, closing his eyes as their lips met.

Tr'vel lingered, floating in the warmth of the kiss. When he finally pulled back, he said, "I thought the worst of you when we met, but you've surprised me at every turn. You're kind and brave, and far more understanding than I would've ever guessed. You've become one of the best things in my life. I love you, Gil."

"I love you, too," Gil said, his voice soft, all teasing forgotten. "I never thought I'd have any reason to say that again. When I came here, all I wanted was to run away. I thought what I'd done was unforgivable, but you - you weren't easy on me, but you didn't give up on me, either. You brought me back from a dark place."

"I do wish I'd been kinder to you sooner, but I'm glad I could help." If Tr'vel could go back to the day he'd been assigned to guard Gil and tell himself where it would lead, he wouldn't believe it.

Gil relaxed and leaned back against Tr'vel, resting his head on his shoulder while his arm slipped around the bluerider. He turned to smile up at him. "Does that mean you regret making me bathe in the communal pool, that first day?"

Laughter bubbled out of Tr'vel. "No. That was hilarious!"

"That's good. Because I intend to be equally unrepentant about the times I've caused you a little embarrassment," Gil said, a suggestive hint in the amused tone of his voice.

"That flight," Tr'vel said. "When you ran off on me."

"I didn't run off! I went exploring." Gil tried to sound indignant, but he couldn't quite suppress a grin.

"You're lucky I didn't spank you." Tr'vel's voice was a low rumble.

"Oh, I think we've established I can defend myself." He gave Tr'vel a sly, sidelong look, then pushed up to his knees and, with the startling quickness he was capable of, swung one leg over so he was all but sitting in the bluerider's lap. "You'd have ended up flat on your back. Just like last time."

Tr'vel cupped the other man's rear as his body responded eagerly. "I wouldn't mind. I like knowing you can get the better of me." He leaned up to kiss Gil's neck. "Once in a while."

"The secret to a successful weyrmating," Gil murmured, steadying himself with his hands on Tr'vel's broad shoulders as he shifted in his grasp. "Letting the dragonrider think he's in charge...once in a while."

Last updated on the March 19th 2026

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

There's Something I'd Like To Ask You (2/2)