Here Now

Writers: Ames, Len
Date Posted: 9th April 2011

Characters: U'fouinn, A'shel
Description: U'fouinn meets Angshel
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 12 of Turn 6

U'fouinn wasn't doing anything in particular. He'd been enjoying a bit
of sun by the weyrlake while Amizth rested happily on a sunny perch.
He grinned at her contented, sleepy thoughts.

Not too far away Angshel was nose deep in his latest study manual.
Being given this chance to be a Dragonhealer apprentice, he wasn't
about to mess anything up and slide back to being a drudge. Even his
mother had lectured him about keeping up in his studies, which
translated into working extra hours in the infirmary and like this,
studying on his day off.

U'fouinn caught sight of the boy reading and chuckled. "Must be
interesting reading," he commented, trying to engage him in a spot of
conversation since they seemed to be the only two by the lake at the
moment.

Angshel looked up, startled, when the man spoke. He took in the
pretty features and slender body and immediately put him into the
category of harmless men. There weren't a lot he could do that with
right away, a fact that allowed him to warm to the young man. Holding
up the manual, he said, "it's for my dragonhealing classes. I'm new
there and don't want to be left behind the other boys. They've
already got a few turns on me already."

"I'm U'fouinn," the greenrider stated as he smiled at the other boy.
"So did you come here hoping to further your dragonhealing studies or
were you chosen to Stand?"

"Um...neither." Should he tell him why he was here? It wasn't like
he was the only boy this ever had happened to. "I...well...I was
beaten up in the Hold I was living in. For well...for being..well,
like you..and for being a drudge too." He looked down on his book
whilst he told him that, still feeling ashamed of what had happened to
him and a
small part still feeling like somehow it was his fault.

U'fouinn frowned at the boy's words. "I'm so sorry to hear that. No
one deserves to be treated poorly for any reason. Tis a good thing you
came here then." U'fouinn had never had to deal with that specific
kind of treatment, having grown up in the Weyr and truthfully he had
no idea how he would handle something like that. "So...are you
comfortable talking about things or would you rather we just discuss
the weather?" He knew not all the holder-types that came were always
open to discussing their sexual preferences and such, and he certainly
didn't want to do anything to make the boy any more uncomfortable.

"Um...I can talk..a bit..." There were some things about his beating
he didn't want to talk to anyone about, not even with the mindhealers.
He rather would have wished those nightmares out of his life, and out
of his mind. He looked to the pretty rider, wondering what he wished
to know.

U'fouinn looked over with a wave of a hand. "Not that what happened
matters. You're here now and that's what's important. If you're
anything like me, you wouldn't want to be anywhere but the Weyr. I
mean, you like other men, right? And I assume that's why some of those
holder louts took to you, yes?" U'fouinn watched Angshel then
shrugged. "They are the fools! So close-minded they're lucky they can
see their own feet below them for their ideals!"

"Yeah..." the boy said half heartily. He wished the fear they had put
in him would be so easy to wipe away with a few clever words. "So,
are you from the Weyr then?" he asked, hoping to divert the attention
away from himself.

"Oh yes," U'fouinn replied. "Born and raised here in the Weyr. In
fact, my dad is one of the wingleaders."

"You're lucky!" The boy never even knew his own father and his
mother hadn't taken another partner after he left them. Life in the
Weyr seemed so less...brutal than life in the Hold. He wished he had
been so lucky to have grown up in such a loving environment. "You're
lifemate...she's really beautiful."

"Thank you. She is such a pleasant sort to be around," U'fouinn cast
loving eyes onto Amizth. "Do you plan to Stand? Perhaps you can find
yourself as lovely a lifemate as I have."

"I..well...no one said I could...so..." He looked up at Amizth with a
bit of awe. The greens were so delicate and beautiful.

U'fouinn watched the boy, and then smiled a bit, "Perhaps I should
rephrase my question. If you could would you like to have a dragon of
your own? One like my Amizth or perhaps a nice blue like Falzath? My
mate, he added by way of explanation."

"I'd love to have one of my own..." He grinned just at the thought.
"The blues are particularly pretty..."

"Blues are very nice. My Amizth likes them very much." U'fouinn
smiled to Angshel, even as his eyes caught sight of a rather good
looking blue-rider across the way. "See him," he pointed towards the
man who pulled of his shirt. "I may be weyrmated," he winked at
Angshel, "but I sure can admire a nice figure when I see one." He
grinned happily back to Angshel. "So, what's your type?"

The boy looked a bit panicked and shook his head. "I..I don't have a
type. Maybe no one...?"

U'fouinn frowned at the boy's reaction. Something more was underlying
the surface. "You don't want to ever be with anyone?" He asked him
curiously, digging a bit to see if the boy would reveal any more about
himself and his thoughts. He was likely scarred from what had happened
to him, U'fouinn thought. He decided then an there that he would help
Anghsel.

"Well, it doesn't matter!" He replied before the boy could. "I'll help
you find your type! That's all there is to it!" He smiled at the
thought, wishing he could
hold the boy, to comfort him the way a mother might comfort her child.

"Maybe...in time." The man was nice but the last thing Angshel ever
wanted to think about was the thought of being with a man, again. "So
tell me more about your green. What's it like to fly Thread?"

"It's frightening and exhilarating all at the same time!" U'fouinn
declared happily, deciding to leave the topic of men and mates for
another conversation when Angshel was more comfortable with it.
"Amizth is on the smaller side for a green, but because of that she
can zip and dip and move with a speed and agility the larger dragons
cannot. If I wasn't strapped to her back, I'd be lucky to be able to
hold on!" The dragon, who was dozing, snorted proudly at her rider's
declarations. "Even she agrees!" U'fouinn remarked indicating his
dragon just sunning peacefully on the ledge.

"Is it okay to pet her?" Angshel looked up at the sleeping green, his
fingers practically itching to do just that.

"Sure," U'fouinn rose and motioned for Angshel to join him. "Amizth,
this is Angshel," he said aloud for the boy's benefit. "He'd like to
get to know dragon's a bit better. Can he touch your hide, love?"
Amizth raised a lazy eye and looked at Angshel. Then she inclined her
head as she spoke to her rider. }:Yes, but he is a bit skittish. Tell
him he has nothing to fear.:{

U'fouinn cleared his throat and looked at Angshel. "She senses your
nervousness and wishes you to know you have nothing to fear from her.
Go ahead and touch her."

The boy looked curious at that statement. He didn't feel nervous, at
least not directed towards the dragon. There was nothing to fear from
them. They weren't cruel, like some men where. He stepped up to her
and softly rubbed her eyeridges.
--

Last updated on the April 28th 2011

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