Found Our Places

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th January 2014

Characters: Riveenata, F'lin
Description: Riveenata and F'lin spend some time teasing each other and catching up.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 14 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: M'galec; Mentor Approved

Ahh, but it was nice to have a day off. Riveenata was walking along the waterline when she spotted a familiar figure ahead of her. She cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed. "Hey! F'lin!"

The bronzerider turned, grinning, and waved at her. He was dressed in a light shirt and a pair of short pants, and his feet were bare in the sand. When she got closer he made room for her on the driftwood log he was sitting on. "I can't believe they let you out of the Infirmary. Are you allowed to be here?"

"Nope, I'm doomed to be locked in there forever. I'm sneaking out right now just to see your handsome face." She batted her eyes.

"Pff. Poor thing." F'lin bumped her shoulder with his own. "Life is so hard. How is life, anyway? I feel like I haven't seen you for ages, what with you being all locked up in the Infirmary and all."

"I've started a herbalism project. I'm trying to make some custom cream for massages for different purposes. The one for sore muscles that we usually use smells awful, so I'm trying to add something that smells pleasant but doesn't dilute the effectiveness. I don't want to use all the Weyr stock in personal experiments, so I've needed to go herb gathering."

F'lin wrinkled his nose. "If you can fix that, you've got my thanks. And let me know if you ever need a ride-- I have this dragon, you see. He can go /between/."

"Well, I wouldn't want to bother you," she said. Then she grinned again. "Of course, if you took me to go gather some, I could always test a batch on you."

"Umm... I'm not sure that's encouraging, or if you're subtly trying to tell me no."

She swatted his shoulder. "Free massage, and you don't have to get hurt to get it. How is that not a marvelous deal?

F'lin rubbed his 'injured' shoulder and made a pouty face. "I'm going to _need_ a massage if you keep that up. Aren't you a Healer? Don't you have to swear to cause no harm?"

"Oh, that's not even a hard hit. You probably get worse bruises in drills. But alright, I'm sorry. I shan't ever hurt you again," she promised with a solemn look. "Do you want me to kiss it better?" she added.

He tapped his shoulder. "Lips here and we'll call it even."

She leaned over and kissed his shoulder, making ?a dramatic lip-smacking sound. "There. I have cured it and made everything up to you, yes?"

"You're such a good Healer, Riven. You should make Master by next month, I'm sure."

"Bet I make Master before you make Weyrleader. _And_ I'll still be prettier." She stuck her tongue out like a weyrbrat.

"Speaking of flights, has Seneth caught any greens yet?"

F'lin felt his ears go red. "A few," he mumbled. "Why, you keeping score?"

"Just making sure he's getting his practice in before he tries for a gold. Am I not supposed to root for you two?"

He snorted. "He chased Vilarth, when she rose. And when Orlaith rose, we were there too. Although I'm kind of glad we didn't win that one."

"It'd be a lot of responsibility," she agreed. "Makes me glad I couldn't Impress a bronze, I wouldn't want to be Weyrleader."

Well - if she was totally honest, there was a part of her that still wished she could Impress a green dragon and fight. But she was almost past the age of Candidacy now, and she'd stopped Standing a couple Turns ago for a reason. And she liked being a Healer, really she did.

"Don't get me wrong-- I'd love to Weyrleader before the Pass ends. I just don't think I'm ready yet," F'lin admitted.

Riven nodded. "I understand. I'm sure you've got plenty of time to become one. If not here, then elsewhere - though if you left the Bluff, I think the women would all despair."

"And the women at my new Weyr would rejoice." F'lin grinned, his earlier discomfort entirely forgotten. "I can't please everyone. But I do want knots. I can do more than just be a Wingrider."

"You know, I think I could see you with Weyrlings. You'd be a sight better with the younglings than M'galec, huh?"

The bronzerider rolled his eyes, thinking of his own weyrlinghood with M'galec. He and the older bronzerider hadn't exactly gotten along, but then, he'd also had a Weyrwoman for a grandmother at the time. "I think anybody would be better with younglings than M'galec.

She snorted. "Ain't that the truth. Seriously though. Would you rather be a Wingleader or work with the weyrlings?"

He stared at the horizon for a moment, watching the clouds above the sea as he thought. "Wingleader," he said eventually. "I think I'd be happy working with weyrlings, but my place is up there--" he pointed at the sky, "--just like yours is in the Infirmary."

"Sounds like we're in the perfect places, then," she said, reaching out to touch his hand. "I'm glad you're happy."

"Yeah." He blinked, pulling his attention from the sea back to the woman beside him. "I'm glad you are too."

She wasn't used to being this serious around F'lin. "You know what else would make me happy?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"What's that?"

"Kicking your butt in a race to the water."

"Too slow!" The bronzerider was already off the log and headed toward the waves.

"Hey!" She scrambled off and chased after him. She'd always been a good sprinter, but she'd forgotten about the difference in his physical training versus hers - since she'd stopped being a Candidate, she stopped running as regularly. She pushed herself hard and closed the distance to only a short bit before they got there.

Just before they hit the water's edge F'lin spun on his heel and flung her over his shoulder. He ran a few steps into the water and made as if to throw her in. "You want to go swimming too?"

She yelped as he picked her up and clutched at his body. "You think you can get me wet that easily?" Her face colored as she said it.

"Yup." He grinned and tossed her into the waves.

Riveenata had grown up knowing how to swim like any other individual bred and born as close to the water as River Bluff. While hitting the water was a bit of a shock, it wasn't deep enough to trouble her. She braced herself and swept her arm through the water to splash him. "Wherry-face."

F'lin ducked. "You say the nicest things to me. And here I am, just trying to make sure that you enjoy the water on a rest day."

"Well then come down here and enjoy it with me," she said, sticking her tongue out like a teenager.

Last updated on the January 15th 2014

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