RCW: I did offer

Posted on Wed Feb 4th, 2026 @ 10:35pm by Green Rider Neilla & Blue Rider R’kig

Mission: 3531 AL
Timeline: M4 D3

Neilla sighed as she rolled her shoulders for the fifth time in as many minutes in the wing meeting to the point F’cone looked up from where he was talking about the next threadful area and noticed her do it again. He pulled her aside at the end of the meeting and sent her to the infirmary with a note despite her protests that it was just a knot in her shoulder.

“Neilla, it’s just a healer. It’s not a big deal.” The bronze rider said kindly and shooed her off to get it sorted before full. Neilla rolled her eyes but headed off to get someone to look at her back.

R'kig was headed for the Dining Cavern for a quick bite before he headed back to take his dragon hunting when he caught sight of Neilla. A smile touched his lips. She had always been able to make him smile but now…he just grinned.

“Neilla!” He called, jogging after her.

Neilla span around at the familiar voice calling out to her and instantly regretted it as her back twinged and it showed on her face. “Hey.” She greeted as he caught her up.

The blue rider frowned when he saw the twinge. “Are you okay?” He asked, not liking the look on her face. she looked in pain.

Uh oh, another man who sees right through me and my knotted back. “Well someone … not naming names gave me a really good flight and I’ve been in pain with my back ever since and F’cone caught me out so I’m now off to the healer.” She explained, smiling still. But she did indicate where she was off to and why she looked in pain.

R'kig flushed a bit. “I did offer to help with that knot,” he pointed out with a grin. He didn't like that she looked in pain. “I'm glad you're seeing the Healer. You don't need to have a messed up back.”

“And I very much should have taken you up on that offer.” She agreed, shaking her head. Her posture felt to stiff unlike her usual manner and she could completely understand why F’cone caught her out.

He shook his head a bit. She looked miserable. “Come on, to the infirmary,” he coated gently. She definitely needed something for that back.

Neilla did not need telling twice and allowed him to lead the way. She grinned at him. “You do not need to come with R’kig.” She said looking at him as he led the way like she had not lived there the same as him her whole life.

“I am not going to give you a chance to change your mind,” he answered. He had seen riders do that at the very last minute and he wanted to make sure that Neilla was alright.

Neilla narrowed her eyes but she could see her just doing that even with the slip in her hand. “You know me too well or you’ve seen Nerlyn do it one too many times to trust anyone of her blood.” She grinned as her hand brushed against his as she moved to step in front and just get it over with.

“Perhaps both,” R'kig chuckled with a grin. He had seen Nerlyn do it and he wouldn't put it past Neilla if she really didn't want to go. “but you know it will help. And Sandith will be bugging you otherwise.”

Neilla rolled her eyes and carried on until she was inside the infirmary and looked around at how busy it was. “Might be awhile. You can escape R’kig I am here.” She offered gently.

He shrugged a shoulder. “No where to be right now. Rizerth is talking to Sandith so he doesn't want to hunt right now,” he smiled. he wasn't just going to leave her.

Neilla wanted to shrug but she knew it would hurt so she just inclined her head as an apprentice guided them to a cot. “No idea how long it is going to be as a few candidates have had an accident.” The teenager admitted looking at the note F’cone had made her bring. “But this could be solved with Dragonleaf and a massage.”

R'kig followed Neilla. He wasn't in any hurry. If Rizerth started grumbling then he would have to go but until then he was going to stay with his friend. “That would definitely be a good fix.”

“I can give you the dragon leaf if you have some who can give the massage Green Rider.” The apprentice offered quietly looking at her feet. She was Weyr born and had decided that earning a healer craft might be a better whilst she waited to stand as a candidate.

“I can do the massage,” R'kig offered. he would so what he could to help her and offering the massage seemed like a simple offer.

Neilla rolled her eyes. “Seems I get to take you up on your offer after all.” She laughed as she indicated to the girl that she would accept the offer. The girl scampered off to get the supplies. “One of Malearee‘s twins.” Neilla commented thinking that the girl was familiar. She returned quickly and sighed off the piece of paper tearing off the part she needed for the records here before handing it back. “Looks like I’m taking you back to mine.” She teased stuffing the herbs into her pocket.

R'kig laughed. “See? Should have taken my offer the first time,” he grinned. He didn't know why but around Neilla he felt like he could be himself and was actually happy. “Ah that's why she seemed familiar.” That made sense. “Hmm is there a downside?” He teased, standing next to her.

“Yes you were right. And no I do not see a downside if you don’t.” Neilla frowned before she laughed and looped her arm through his and started the slow walk to her weyr. Thankful she was still on the connection with the stairs unlike before when she shared with H’minle. She pushed open her door with a smile at the small space that was uniquely hers.

“Nope I don't see a downside,” he assured her as he walked beside her to her weyr. He had never been to her weyr but when they stepped inside it instantly felt like Neilla's.

“Well this is strange.” She admitted laughing as she saw him looking back. “I never have anyone here.” As if to prove the point Sadirh stuck her snout into the weyr.

R'kig understood that. He never had anyone in his weyr either. Not since Cassine and he had changed weyrs after that. “Hey Sand,” he smiled, seeing the green.

The Green snorted but said nothing to Neilla as she disappeared back through the curtain. “Well make yourself comfortable. I should change out of flights.” She admitted looking down at her thick wherhide jacket and trousers.

He chuckled as the green disappeared again. Rizerth would be the same way. “Yeah might be hard to give you a massage In wherhide,” he smiled, finding a spot to sit and wait for her.

Neilla inclined her head in agreement before she disappeared into her bedroom through the thick curtain. It took a lot longer than normal but she returned in a vest top and shorts. “That was a lot harder than getting the things on.” She laughed as she held out the herbs to him. They would become oily once warmed my his hands. “Where do you want me?” She asked, grinning more.

R'kig quietly looked around while he waited. Her weyr was simple but very her. A smile touched his lips when she returned. “Shouldn't have waited so long to get that Shoulder looked at.” He should have made her stay but he hadn't realized she was that bad. A laugh escaped his lips. “Couch should be just fine.”

“It’s only been a couple of days R’kig. Should be okay with the straps off this top.” She grinned as she moved over and sat down on the sofa turning a little so he could get to her shoulders properly.

“Still shouldn't have waited. You and I both know that as riders,” he pointed out. Although he would have done the same thing. “It will be fine,” he assured her, moving to sit behind her.

Neilla said nothing but grinned. She knew that she should have just asked anyone to help her as they would have in a second but she was stubborn. “Thanks for this R’kig.” She murmured.

The blue rider took the leaves and let them start to warm up in his hands before starting. “Of course. I'm glad I can help,” he answered as he started to massage her neck and shoulders.

The woman froze for a moment at his hands on her back before she started to relax. She grimaced as he got to the knot. “Ow! By Faranth why do I do this to myself.” She laughed wincing.

“Shards Neilla that is quite a knot,” he commented as he carefully worked at it. No wonder she was in pain.

“I worked and played hard.” She groaned, arching away a little for a moment from the pain before moving back towards his hands. “I should have gotten someone to look at it before now.” She admitted sighing.

“I did try,” he offered, letting her arch away briefly. “I'll try to be gentle but if I don't use a bit of pressure it won't help at all.” He hated that she seemed in such pain. “No more working and playing hard on the same day,” he teased.

“You can tell Sandith that. She chose right then and there a candlemark after Weyr wide drills.” Neilla grinned as she managed to stay still as he pressed hard on the knot in her back. “But I don’t regret it.”

She had a point. And he wasn't about to argue with the dragon. “I don't either,” he agreed as he carefully worked on that knot. It had been just what he had needed to knock himself out of his stupor. Of course he hadn't talked to Nerlyn yet and refused to think about that.

Neilla said nothing for a long moment other than move every now and then when it got too much for her to take. She smiled finally as she felt the knot free and rolled her shoulders feeling how loose it felt. “That’s better.” She said thankfully.

R'kig kept up his massage until her muscles were pliable again and the nasty knot was completely gone. “Good. Now don't do it again,” he grinned, kissing her neck teasingly before standing with a stretch.

Neilla shivered at the soft kiss surprised by it, to say the least. She turned easily thanks to him and grinned at the stretching. “Oh is that you escaping hmm?” She wondered rising herself

“Maybe,” he laughed, feeling quite happy and content at the moment. He would happily stay but if she wanted him to leave then he would.

“What I do not get to repay the favour?” She challenged him. She wondered how Cassine could leave him like that when he was handsome and flirty.

R'kig raised a dark brow before grinning. “Well, now that depends. What did you have in mind?” He asked innocently. Shards, Neilla brought out a different side of him.

“You do not suit the innocent look well blue rider.” She said grinning back as she stepped up in front of him and looked up at him. “I was just thinking of a massage. You told me not to work and play hard at the same time.” She whispered.

He laughed. Yeah, he knew he wasn't good at playing innocent. Hence why he got in trouble as a child. “That sounds nice,” he agreed.

“Come on,” She laughed and grabbed up his hand as she tugged him back to the sofa. “Get that the shirt off.” She ordered him grinning still as she reached over for the herb leafs that were left.

R'kig shook his head, still laughing. “A bit demanding,” he teased, pulling his shirt over his head. Well, he definitely hadn't expected this when going to grab food.

“You have no idea.” She whispered close to his ear before she spread her hands over his back warming the herbs more under her hands.

He shivered against her warm breath against his neck and her hands on his back. “Is that so?” he tried to ask.

“Mmmhmm.” She whispered as she spread her hands across his back gently. “I can be very bossy. I’m not meek.” She was a weyrbrat through and through.

R'kig closed his eyes, enjoying her hands on his back. “Oh I never questioned that,” he whispered, knowing she had grown up like he had.

“Good cause I can go all weyrbrat on you if you need me too.” They had grown up together but she had become a rider several years before him much like Nerlyn had on K’ron. She pressed harder but was not feeling any knots under her fingers.

“Oh anything but that,” he laughed. The trouble they had all gotten into as weyrbrats. He closed his eyes as she pressed against his back. He was glad he wasn't all knotted up.

“Someone has not been playing as hard as me this sevenday.” She teased laughing just a little bit as she ran her thumb over his shoulder. “Not as skinny as you were as a weyrbrat.” She observed.

R'kig laughed a bit. “No i have not,” he grinned. He shivered at her touch before looking over his shoulder at her. “Had to grow up sometime,” he pointed out.

“We all do. Can’t say I’ve noticed until now but I have really noticed.” She murmured leaning forward and pressed her lips against his.

“True,” he chuckled. They did have to grow up sometime. “Tease,” he moaned softly against her lips.

“I am not teasing.” She whispered. “I do not want anything from you but…I am here if you want some fun.” She added biting her lip as she pulled back a little.

He raised a dark brow. “And can your back handle the fun?” He only half teased as he turned to face her. He didn't want her hurting herself again.

“If you have done a good job yes but I am sure we can find ways without hurting my back.” She said grinning as he turned around making her hand move from his back to his chest.

“I did my job perfectly,” he said, acting defended before grinning. “Oh we can?” he asked, reaching up to twine his fingers through hers.

Well this was positive, he was not walking out in disgust at her suggestion. “We can.” The woman laughed as she squeezed his hand. “I’m not meek.” She repeated softer this time.

That was true. He knew that Neilla was anything but soft and meek. “Sure you want me here?” He teased, shifting close to her. If they started this he wasn't sure he could walk away.

“For now.” She laughed as she pulled her against her and kissed him softly again. She might not be soft and meek but she knew how to be gentle and she was trying to not scare him off.

“Oh I see,” he chuckled softly, resting his hands on her hips. He leaned into her kiss. R'kig had never expected to be here but he definitely wasn't going to complain.