A Poetic Bluerider

Writers: Estelle, Nici
Date Posted: 8th January 2005

Characters: R'yal, A'zer
Description: A'zer finds out why R'yal has been avoiding him
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 3

"Okay, what did I do?" It had taken A'zer far too long to track R'yal down--at least track him down and find him _alone_. R'yal might not be the most faithful of lovers, but he'd never avoided him before and the bluerider was certain he'd done something to annoy him.

They'd been friends too long for him to put up with it, however. Not to mention, he rather missed waking up next to the flighty greenrider!

R'yal spun around, startled, and a definite nervous look crossed his face before it was replaced with his usual grin. "Oh...hello, A'zer! Sounds like you're feeling guilty about something..."

"Not particularly," A'zer replied blithely. "Fess up or I'll tickle Terissa until she does it for you. Crackdust, you _know_ how ticklish she is..." He just bet Terissa _did_ have something to do with this. Maybe it was unfair, but A'zer was cranky enough to blame just about anyone for R'yal's sudden distance.

Sure enough, R'yal flinched at the mention of Terissa's name. "Really, A'zer, I've no idea what you're talking about." He smiled weakly, recalling with a sinking feeling just _how_ bad a liar he had always been. "It seems you're innocent - for once."

"Entirely _too_ innocent lately," A'zer agreed. "It's been _forever_ R'yal...and it's making me grumpy. Are you mad at me or not?"

"Of course not! I'd _tell_ you if I was mad at you."

"I hope so," The other man smiled. "I just get the feeling that you're moving away from me...from us as friends and it's alarming."

"It's nothing important - really, A'zer." R'yal saw the look on his friend's face and correctly guessed he wasn't going to get away without some sort of explanation. "All right. How about we go and get a wineskin to share while we talk?" That would at least give him time to think of what he was going to say. He wasn't even sure of what he _felt_...

"Deal...I'll even get the wineskin...." It was about _time_!

Ten minutes later they were sat together in an unobtrusive spot in the Dining Cavern, far away enough from anyone so as not to be overheard by gossips. R'yal had to take several swallows from his wineglass before he got up the nerve to speak, and wished he could have had more...but A'zer was waiting, and he had made a deal.

"You remember that night when Terissa and I got drunk together - after the bad Fall last month?"

"Who could forget? Terissa drooled all over my new flight jacket because she kept napping on me."

"Well...we did have a _lot_ to drink, and she sang a song to me." R'yal felt rather guilty about revealing Terissa's part in the affair, but he didn't think he could explain without A'zer realising she had been involved. "She said you wrote it...for me."

A'zer's complexion turned a few shades of crimson before settling on one in the middle range of embarrassed. "Um...I can explain. Mostly..."

"You don't have to. I mean..." R'yal, not normally known for his reticence, was stumbling for words. "I feel horrible about it. All those times I told you about my...um...exploits...when we had that wager about N'klos...I honestly didn't _know_ or I would never have said anything!"

A'zer rolled his eyes. "So, you feel guilty for being yourself when it's...well, _yourself_ that I fell in love with? Or do you think I'm going to move into your weyr tomorrow or something?!"

The greenrider started to shake his head and then, reluctantly, nodded.

"R'yal, you hog the covers and you never have enough towels. I think your weyr is mate free for the time being...." A'zer sighed. "I could wring Terissa's pretty neck. I never meant for this...which is why I never said anything."

"I don't mind," R'yal said hastily. "It's just...I'd make a bad weyrmate. Everyone says I'm flighty and fickle and I'm just not _ready_ to settle down." He managed a weak smile. "Anyway, speak for yourself. _I_ hog the covers?"

"Just because I love you doesn't mean _I'm_ ready to settle down either And yes, you do indeed hog the covers!"

"Well..." The smile became more genuine. "At least I don't _snore_."

A'zer laughed. "Guilty!" He sighed. "Ah, R'yal...I don't want anything from you except what we've always had. We can worry about settling down when we're both old and gray, not when we're young and sexy!"

"Huh. I hope you realise I intend to be an _extremely_ sexy old man one day." R'yal grinned. "I'm sorry I avoided you, A'zer. I may be flighty, but I missed you."

"Good, at least I wasn't alone in that regard!"

"Hmm...there is _one_ thing I'd like you to show me..." R'yal raised his eyebrows and winked in a decidedly suggestive manner.

A'zer leaned forward, unsure as to just what R'yal _hadn't_ seen in all the time they'd known each other. "And that is?"

He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You could sing me the rest of your songs!" After all, what other greenrider...or even goldrider had a _real_ harper composing love ballads in their honour?

"Oh, but that does require a private audience I'll have you know..."

"That's perfect, because I have no doubt they deserve some _very_ private appreciation."

"Deal...well, what _are_ you waiting for?"

R'yal jumped to his feet, his heart lighter than it had been in days, and tugged A'zer to his. "Nothing, my dear poetic bluerider. Nothing at all!"

Last updated on the September 15th 2005

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A Poetic Bluerider