Visitors from Home (2)

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 3rd November 2007

Characters: Rahona, R'harne, Keirlee
Description: Keirlee pays a surprise visit to Rahona onboard the Sungazer.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 6, day 19 of Turn 4

Keirlee glanced across the rails at the huge paddlewheel before turning back to Rahona. "You really have settled in here well, haven't you?"
she asked, quite surprised at the way Rahona seemed to be so at home after only a couple of months.

"I love it, Keirlee. And having Lineal around ..." Rahona smiled at the adolescent boy who appeared with klah and mugs, something he didn't need to do for any crewmember since he worked as a steward for the passengers, and made a mental note to thank him for his helpfulness when she had time. "We've never had so much time together. Not from the moment we became weyrmates. To be honest that's the biggest change -
not being out of the Weyr and away from my family and friends."

"This is good to hear." Keirlee said, her eyes taking everything in.
"And you are getting on well with his family? They don't look down on you for being from the Weyr? Loose morals and all that?"

"They've never said a thing like that! And I don't really think they're like holder folk. Or like how we think holder folk are. Riverboat people are quite independent." She leaned forward and spoke more discretely. "If Lihona wanted to work with the engines like a technician they would be happy for her to do it, though they take care not to flaunt that in the faces of the people they deal with." It felt quite strange to be referring to the Sungazer's crew as 'they' when she mostly thought of herself as part of the 'we'.

"Really?" Keirlee's face registered her surprise. "So they're not that much different from the Weyr, they just aren't as open?" This fact sat well with her, and went some way to explain how good and settled Rahona looked. "I know I'm prying, and I probably shouldn't, but I just know how nervous and anxious you were before you left, and I have to assure myself you really are happy." She reached out a hand and patted Rahona's. "I'm so pleased for you all."

"I am too - pleased for us. We do miss home, family and friends. But this is a wonderful life for our family. And you're not prying. It's wonderful to have visitors from home."

"I wasn't sure how you'd feel about me coming to see you." Keirlee admitted, "but when I was offered the chance, I couldn't say no."

"Why would you? That's something I really miss - having a friend or family member on hand if you want to go somewhere ... Though even that changed a bit once Thread started."

"Well, once your little companion here grows a little, you'll have a ready way of communicating with your family, so you'll be able to travel as much as if you were still in the Weyr." Keirlee answered, "May be you could come back for a visit? Or do you have chores on board that mean you can't travel anywhere?"

"I do have chores but -" Rahona blushed. "I have a position here ...
Oh Keirlee! It's so embarrassing! The captain's wife has to be - I don't know. Like a Holder's wife, perhaps, though I know next to nothing about them, either. I have to meet people, and be a hostess when important people travel. It's not work - just socialising." She laughed and then tried to frown. "Lineal failed to mention that!"

"I'm sure once you've been here a while Rahona, it'll seem like nothing that you're not used to." Keirlee assured her friend, "You've settled in so well already, it'll come to you. But - how are the children settling in? Are they missing the children of the Weyr?"

"Nalin may be, but you know how he is - doesn't say anything much.
Lihona's found a couple of friends just a little younger than she is and is deliriously happy with them. I don't think they've had a fight yet, which is saying something for girls that age."

"And how has Lineal settled in, I was sorry to hear about his father's death, but at least he made it back in time to say goodbye."

"Yes. We couldn't have left it any later - or Jesten couldn't have.
Lineal's doing well, I think. Working very hard and worrying enough for a dozen captains, but most people seem happy with him in his father's place." Rahona went to take another sip of her klah and found the mug empty. "Are you going to have more or do you want the tour now? And you have to tell me about everybody at home. My brothers can tell me useful things like people who've been scored or injured, but nothing else."

"A tour would be wonderful." Keirlee looked into her empty mug, "And a chance to freshen up a little too?"

"Wait until you see the size of the bathing rooms!" Rahona said with a hoot of laughter as she got to her feet. "Everything's just a _little_
more compact than at the Weyr."

Last updated on the November 9th 2007

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Visitors from Home (2)