More Than A Hobby

Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 11th July 2007
Series: Saving Each Other

Characters: Talryne, N'vanik
Description: Talryne tells N'vanik about Trae's visit, and she also has some news.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "Wearying"

Talryne

N'vanik

"Hey," N'vanik said as he walked in. He tossed his helmet and gloves onto a chair and shrugged out of his jacket. Talryne's head jerked up from the back of the couch and she blinked at him sleepily as she tried to untangle herself from her knitting. "You're back already?"

"Lost track of time?" he asked, amused.

She scowled as the ball of yarn rolled from her lap and bounced across the floor, unwinding itself at an alarming rate. "Shards, I spent all _morning_ rolling that thing up."

N'vanik bent and picked it up before it could roll any farther. "Nice color." He walked over and handed it to her. Roughly half the ball was still wound.

"I thought it might make a nice blanket," she admitted, starting the long process of rolling the yarn back up. "I didn't get as much done as I meant to, though. Traelyn stopped by, and then I fell asleep."

"Trae was here?!" he said before he could stop himself.

Talryne didn't look up from her yarn. "Mmmmm. And then I fell asleep."

She didn't seem upset, so maybe Trae hadn't said anything. Or at least, anything bad. "Did she want something?"

"Left some clothes in your bedroom somewhere. I helped her look."

"You were . . . okay with it?" The image of Tal helping Trae dig her clothes out of his bed was certainly an odd one.

Talryne glanced up at him with a tired smile. "I knew she was here, N'vanik. You _told_ me she was. It wasn't like some big surprise."

N'vanik started to clear a space for himself on the couch. "There's a difference between knowing something and seeing it."

"I suppose." She shifted over to give him room to sit, and then curled back into his side once he was next to her. "I'm fine, N'vanik. We had a nice talk. She was nice."

He slipped an arm around her. "Oh? What did you talk about?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

She tipped her head back and looked up at him. "Nothing you need to feel worried about. It was really just fine. I only told you so you wouldn't get all upset if you found out later."

"I was just worried that it might bother you. I'm glad she was nice to you. I wouldn't want to have to go yell at her." He smiled.

Talryne hesitated for a moment before looking back down at her knitting, examining the part she'd finished very carefully. "If... if you wanted to spend more time with her, you could," she said after a moment. "I mean, I wouldn't be upset. I know she's special to you."

"She is," N'vanik admitted. "But so are you, and you . . . you're more important." He knew what it was like to feel like you were someone's second choice. **But now Trae is the second choice . . .** Why couldn't things be easier?

"Oh." She didn't look up from her knitting, but some of the tension left her body. "I, uhh... talked to someone today. One of the weavers. Well, they talked to me, actually. And they suggested something I hadn't really thought about before."

"What?"

She finally set the knitting aside and glanced up at N'vanik. "He asked if I'd be interested in working with him to learn more. Sort of like an apprentice." She tilted her head to the side and smiled. "Well, exactly like an apprentice. That's... that's what I'd be, I guess."

"Apprentice weaver huh?" he smiled back at her. "So I probably won't ever have to buy sweaters again. Or scarves."

"Or blankets or hats..." She tucked her head against his shoulder and slid one hand onto his chest, closing her eyes. "Do you think it's a good idea? It's a little scary to think about. I'm sort of old to start learning a craft..."

"Well, it's obvious you like it." He looked pointedly around the room, at the balls of yarn, patterns, knitting needles and partly finished projects. And that was just what she had in his weyr. "So yeah, I think it's a good idea. I'm sure you'll be weaving circles -- or loops or whatever -- around those younger apprentices in no time." Not just spending time on a hobby, but pursuing a craft. N'vanik bent to give her a kiss, feeling a swell of pride for her.

She smiled at him when he pulled back and slid a hand up to brush a thumb along his cheek. "Thank you, N'vanik. For being here."

"Where else would I be? It's my weyr," he joked. Talryne rolled her eyes and muttered, "Idiot," before kissing him again.

"I think this apprentice thing might be giving you an attitude. If it is . . ." His hand moved down to her waist. "You should have done it sooner."

"An attitude, hmmm?" She smiled and traced her finger along his ear lightly. "If that's true, just think what might happen if they promoted me to journeyman some day."

N'vanik pulled her into his lap so she could feel how much he liked that idea. "Weaving suddenly got very sexy."

"You think so, do you?" She wiggled around until her back was pressed against his chest and her head was resting on his shoulder. "Who would have thought you'd be so interested in knitting and spinning and carding..." He laughed and kissed her cheek. "You make things interesting."

"It's because of the tiny blue sweater, isn't it?" she murmured, twining her fingers with his and tugging his arms more tightly around her. "You love the tiny blue sweater."

"It looks so good on you," he agreed, his lips brushing along her ear.

She made a pleased sound as her fingers slowly caressed his arm. "Does that mean you want me to go put it on?"

"Yes," he whispered. Chuckling, Talryne sat upright without moving from his lap and slid her hands to the hem of her tunic. She pulled it off slowly and then dropped it to the side of the couch before glancing over her shoulder at N'vanik. "You sure? It's all the way in the other room."

N'vanik smiled, sliding his fingers along her bare skin. "Maybe later."

She leaned back into him again, her eyes drifting shut. "Why, did you think of something else you want to do? You could read to me. Or we could take a nap."

"Sharding tease." He moved his hands up to cup her breasts as he nibbled her ear. Her voice turned a little breathless. "Why, did _you_ have a suggestion?"

With an amused snort, N'vanik stood up, taking her with him. He turned and planted her on the couch, then knelt to pull off her shoes. "Something without shoes," she mused, lifting a hand to twirl a lock of hair around her finger. The smile that curled her lips was almost giddy, and there was a light in her eyes that hadn't been there since the accident. She finally had a purpose again, and it was clear from her expression that she'd needed one desperately. "Or pants." He pushed her back and started pulling her pants off. The look on her face made him feel warm and happy and he almost didn't want to change it. Almost . . . Still kneeling, he spread her legs. "I suggest we celebrate your apprenticeship."

Last updated on the July 11th 2007

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