RCW: Guitar Goes Pinged

Posted on Fri Jan 2nd, 2026 @ 1:54pm by Sr Journeyman Halia & Brown Rider S'lei

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M4 D6

S'lei yawned a bit as he walked back to his weyr. He wanted to check on Halia and see how she was feeling. “Hal?” He asked, stepping into the weyr.

There was a noise like a ping that filled the air followed by several mutterings of shards. “In the bedroom.” The woman called revealing where she was and where her guitar had broken a string again. She really needed to get some decent strings for it.

S'lei followed the voice. He cringed as he peeked inside. “Ooh that doesn't look good,” he commented seeing the guitar strings.

“They keep breaking. I really need to get some better ones soon.” She laughed bundling the string pieces up to get rid of into her pocket. “Are you okay?” She wondered putting the guitar to the side.

“Well we can't have the Harper breaking her strings all the time,” he said, walking into their room. “Yeah I'm okay,” he assured her, moving to sit down on their bed.

“I’ll borrow some until I can get some from Far Site.” She sighed knowing that not many merchants were coming this way thanks to the muddy road. “You looked tired? Busy sweep?” She glanced at the clock. She was not singing in the cavern that night but she had been practicing until he came back.

“Let me know if I can help at all. I'm sure Red wouldn't mind a short trip.” His brown loved Halia. “It was. Guess it's catching me now.”

“What happens when you are in the Weyrleaders wing.” Halia teased quietly as she sighed and stood up grabbing up the guitar. “Want some wine whilst I am up?” She wondered.

He laughed a bit. “Can't argue there.” A'ren kept them busy and in tip top shape. “That would be great. Thank you.”

The woman nodded relieved there was no longer the tension between them any more. She put the guitar back in its holder and grabbed up a mug and the skin of wine pouring him a mug. “It’s empty so this is all there is unless you want to go back to the cavern.” She declared.

It was good to be back on talking terms again. He had hated how stressed they had both been over the baby. “That is just fine,” he assured her. “I'll wander down and get more later.”

“Can get whatever one you want now.” The woman smiled as she leaned over and started undoing his boots and chucked them behind her.

He laughed a bit as the boots thudded to the ground. “You didn't have to do that but thank you,” he smiled.

“I am up.” The harper said, sitting next to him on the bed. She had obviously had a bath recently as her hair was wet and pulled up out of her face. She was wearing a long night dress with no arms that swished around her ankles.

He leaned over to give her a gentle kiss. “I hope I'm not keeping you up,” he smiles, realizing she was dressed for bed. “You look lovely and happy though.”

“No, it's only the 19th Candlemark. I just bathed after lessons and could not be bothered to change into clothes and this was easier.” She assured wiping a thumb along his cheek smiling at the smudges it made.

He chuckled. “Well I think you look perfect,” he smiled. “Am I dirty?” He teased, having no doubt he was. Sweeps were rough.

“You like it cause it’s practically see through brown rider. Not so much dirty, just a little dusty.” She said brightly, pulling her hand back to show her thumb.

He laughed a bit. “Now you can't hold that against me,” he smiled. S'lei looked at her thumb. “Yeah guess I am dusty.”

“Oh I am not. Just telling you why you think I look perfect. Can’t judge you when you look perfect in riding leathers.” She laughed and stood to wash her hands. “Can see it around the goggle lines.” She laughed a little at the dust on his face.

He grinned. “Oh I do?” He teased. “Well thank you.” S'lei hadn't thought about his goggles leaving marks. “Perfect. So I have rings around my eyes,” he said with a shake of his head.

“Pretty much.” She admitted from the bathing chamber where she cleaned the grime off her hand. She came back with a wet cloth and handed it to him with a smile. “Dirt is better than sun burn.” She pointed out.

S'lei accepted the wet cloth and worked on cleaning the dust off. “You have a very good point. Sunburn is nasty and hurts.” He'd had his fair share of sunburn.

“Yep, so a bit dusty is okay compared to that. What do you have planned for this evening?” She wondered as she sat next to him on bed. She had no interest in doing anything as she felt exhausted but she was not about to go to bed yet.

“Nothing really. Red is sleeping already," he chuckled. “And I don't have any other responsibilities right now, so just spending time with you,” he grinned.

“Well that is nice. You can go to the cavern or something if you want. You do not need to spend it here. I was just making music.” She said gently. “Was…working on a lullaby.” She said, smiling a little.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Jd smiled. His eyes lit up as he thought about their little one, glad she had decided to keep the baby. “That is so amazing. Our baby will love it.”

The woman laughed and shook her head at the way his eyes went wide and lit up. He was excited by the prospect, which made her heart beat quickly. “No, but I also know you enjoy those nights.” She pointed out quietly. “I bet your siblings will be there.”

S'lei still couldn’t believe they were going to have a baby. He was so excited and scared at the same time. “I do but I like spending time with you too,” he assured her. “I might. Right now I am happy here.”

“Okay then. Well, get changed and we can rest on the couch together.” She said quietly as she stood. She did not want to keep him from the things he needed to do, but she would love to have him for the evening.

The brown rider pushed back to his feet. “Be right back,” he grinned. He quickly moved around to get cleaned up and changed. It would be nice to have a quiet evening with Halia.

The woman smiled and left the bedroom, moving to the couch. She snuggled down onto the comfortable couch and grabbed a fur, wrapping it over her legs. She looked up as Moni came down to snuggle on her lap.

It didn’t take S'lei long to get changed, and he soon walked back out to join his mate. “You look comfortable,” he smiled, sitting down next to her.

“I am.” The woman looked up from writing on some papers. They were sheet music, and it seemed to be she was writing on them. “Moni is just making it cosy.” She said, twisting a little to show where the firelizard had her pinned a little.

He didn’t understand music at all but he could see what she was doing. “Oh I see that. Looks like you are stuck,” he smiled.

“Just a little bit.” She laughed and patted the space next to her lifting the fur. The south was just starting to cool down as they hit the winter months compared to the north. It was not noticeable to some but she was was certainly feeling the cooler climate which would bring different crops to the place.

S'lei smiled and gladly sat down next to her. He was looking forward to the cooler weather. It made it a bit more tolerable when they had their flight gear on. Not to mention it was perfect for snuggling.

“This is what I was singing when my string broke.” She said passing him the pages so he could see the song words even if he could not understand the notes and sounds of it. She had trying to compose more songs recently to keep her voice strong but also to create new teaching songs.

“We'll definitely have to get you new strings,” he smiled, reading through the words. “I like it. I don’t know much about music but it sounds catchy.” He liked listening to her practice and play.

“I’ll borrow from Jonah and then I’ll go to Far Site when I have time to get some decent ones.” She smiled a little at his compliment. “Catchy is exactly what I want and need but this is the lullaby.” She moved the pages around so he could see it. “It goes like this…” she hummed the music hoping he liked it.

He nodded. “Just let me know when you wanna go. Red will happily take us.” Maybe they could even get lunch or dinner while in the Hold. S'lei nodded a bit as he listened. “I really like it.”

“Whenever you have a rest day. I know it’s a bit of a harder trip flying straight.” She had not realised until recently that pregnant women had to fly straight for the early part of their pregnancy. She smiled happy that he liked it, she just hope he still felt that after hearing her sing it over and over to their child.

“Only a bit. It lets Red stretch his wings so no worries there.” S'lei liked flying straight sometimes. “Our little one is going to be surrounded by music,” he smiled, liking that idea.

“They are. Hope you are prepared.” Halia smiled a little more and put a hand on her bump for a moment. She shook her head and pulled back the sheets reorganising them again and started writing some more notes down.

He chuckled a bit. “Can we ever be totally prepared? But if you mean am I prepared to listen to you sing to our little one, then yes. I am very prepared for that.” He reached over and sat a hand over hers.

The woman stopped writing as his hand reached over and covered hers. She looked up and smiled at him. “I meant the singing. Very much not prepared for having a child, but just one day at a time, right?” She questioned. She had never done this nor been around people who were pregnant, really.

S'lei gave her a smile. “That's what I've heard. I haven't really done this either. At least not properly.” Luna had been a mess and one he would have gladly avoided. At least this time he could enjoy it.

The woman smiled and shook her head. “It would have been different I suppose, both being riders.” She surmised kindly. She did not want to open that mess up but she wanted to acknowledge it at least.

“That's true,” he agreed. “I know that part was hard on Tanly when she had to foster the twins. I am actually excited about being able to be a part of our little one's life.”

“You are. Hopefully they have some bigger Weyrs available.” She admitted thinking they would need to talk to Tula and the Weyrwoman soon for another type of weyr. “Will your sister be okay with all of this?” She asked softly.

S'lei nodded. “We'll talk to Tula.” The brown rider considered her question. “In time. I know she is happy for us. Just a bit jealous and I get it. Tanly is too sweet to be mad long though.”

The weyr was the least of her worries as that was months away and could be after they had the baby as they would be with them for a little bit. “I hope so because she and Terliyn introduced us and I would hate to lose her as a friend.” She could understand to a point but the dragon riders know that the dragons come first.

He smiled. That was true and it was the best thing Tanly had ever done for him. “You won't lose her. She'll be okay. I think what hurt her the most was all the miscarriages she's suffered. She won't turn her back on you though.” He knew his sister was too kind for that.

Halia hoped he was correct because she missed seeing the rider as part of her routine. “I hear it is hard for female riders to avoid miscarriages due to going between so often.” She said turning a little to look at the man as Moni grumbled a little at the movement.

S'lei nodded. “That's true. Especially green riders as they between a lot with Thread. It's amazing Tanly carried the twins. She knows that too. Don't worry.” He knew Tanly would come around.

The woman nodded as Moni chirped and moved off the woman’s lap and moved under the flow basket. “I do worry but I will listen to you.” She breathed leaning her head back on the wall.

He kissed her hair, glad she wasn't mad at Tanly. He would have to talk to his sister later. S'lei chuckled a bit. “I think Moni is mad at us,” he smiled

“You are still the only man he likes.” She reassured him, shivering for a moment as she thought of Galen for the first time in turns. She had not thought of her former benorthed in turns. “Oh… I have made you a present.” She remembered softly as she untangled herself and rushed off to the bedroom. She came back with a small pouch and handed it to him. “It’s… um… It’s a leather band. I know you riders do not wear jewellery, but I thought you might like this trinket.” She said quietly, knowing that her world, a trinket, meant so much more than his, but she wanted to offer it to him and had brought it at the gather before things had gotten strained.

He smiled. “I'm glad I'm on his good side.” The little firelizard certainly hadn't liked him to begin with. S'lei was confused by her words. “You got me something?” He asked in surprise. A smile touched his lips as she handed him the band. “Hal I love it.”

“I brought it at the gather, but things got a little crazy, and I kinda wanted to celebrate us being together.” She said, smiling at how happy he seemed with her gesture. “If we were both crafters, it would be different, but I thought you might like this.”

“It's perfect,” he assured her as he slipped it on. “It is so thoughtful.” He leaned over and kissed her gently. “Thank you so much.”

“You are welcome,” She assured, caressing her thumb across his cheek this time happy to see that no dirt came away. She laughed a little and kissed him herself. “I just wanted you to have some to remind you of me when you aren’t here.” She shrugged, embarrassed a little but it was a gesture.

He closed his eyes at her gentle caress before she kissed him. He leaned into her kiss, loving her. “That is such a kind gesture and I thank you so much.” He would treasure the strap forever.

The woman smiled as she snuggled close to him just enjoying the closeness that they had again. “You are welcome, brown rider.” She laughed a little.

He gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “I love spending moments like this with you,” he whispered.

“I know as do I.” She assured him, smiling a little more up at him as she tugged his chin down to kiss again. “You are ours.” She whispered against his lips.

He didn't argue as she tugged his chin down to kiss him. “Good cause I'm not going anywhere,” he promised.

“Big promises.” She teased just a little. It was a nice sentiment but she knew how threadful was which is what attracted her to him in the first place as he was so brave and strong.

S'lei playfully kissed her nose and chin before kissing her properly. “And I will do everything I can to keep that promise.” He knew anything could happen but he would try.

And trying was all anyone could hope for.