RCW: All The New Things

Posted on Wed Nov 6th, 2024 @ 7:02pm by Gold Rider Lana & Bronze Rider I'han & Bronze Rider A'ren & Green Rider Zirieh & Green Rider Tanly

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: Month 2 Day 8

I’han came out of his mindhealer appointment feeling brighter than he had in a very long time. He knew what his troubles were but it would take a little longer to make himself see the reason that he did not need to be infallible, he was allowed especially as a rider to make mistakes as long as he moved on from them. He wanted to and had a plan in mind to carry on working on what he had last spoken about. He glanced around the cavern and saw the woman he loved sitting with a group of female riders.

“Good evening ladies.” I’han greeted grinning.

Tanly had been enjoying the evening with some of the other riders. She felt like she hadn’t had a chance to do that in a while and it was just nice to stop. She looked up when she heard the voice she loved hearing.

“Well hello, handsome.”

I’han grinned and bent over to kiss her softly. “Do you mind if I join you?” He wondered looking around the table spotting several people he knew and then a couple who must be part of the new riders.

She leaned into his gentle kiss. “Well I certainly don't mind,” she smiled, looking over at the others. Everyone nodded their agreement. “The more the merrier.”

Rya smirked and shifted a little along the bench to let the man have the space next to his mate. “Glad to hear.” He grinned sitting easily on the bench and looked around at the group. “So how come we all here drinking?” He wondered taking a mug from the pile and pouring himself a mug.

“We need a reason?” Tanly teased her mate.

Zirieh laughed from her spot a little farther down the table. “Just welcoming a couple of the new riders,” she answered cheerily.

The bronze rider inclined his head at his mate's teasing and agreed with the sentiment but he grinned to Zirieh when she actually answered. “Thanks, Z.” He called at least one of them was taking pity on him. I’han.” He introduced to the women who he had not met yet.

Zirieh nodded with a grin. “Oh you're no fun,” Tanly teased her mate before looking over at the new riders. “They have all just come from the north,” she explained, managing not to shudder at the thought of the north.

I’han knew what she was thinking and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her against his side. “Big change hmm? Warmer for sure.”

“Yeah.” A dark-skinned woman spoke up. She had come from Bendan but she had not regretted the change for a moment so far. The weyr was beautiful and the people despite everything she had heard had been generous and kind. “Imela… but I needed a change so here I am. I answered the call and it is nice to feel some heat.” She said offering her mug as a salute to the man.

Tanly snuggled against his side, glad he knew what she was thinking without her having to say anything. “The warmer is much better.”

“Usually,” Zirieh laughed. “The cold made good snuggling weather.”

“I am sure I will tell G'vat that and he will want to go north again.” I’han teased a little. He liked G'vat and the south had mellowed him to not be an insufferable fool and Zirieh had made him likable to the point that I’han enjoyed having him in his wing and a drinking partner sometimes. “Me personally I do not ever want to go North again. Far too cold. Far too stuffy.”

Zirieh wrinkled her nose. “Don't you dare,” she laughed. She would rather keep her mate in the south with her. “Yeah the north can be stuffy,” she agreed.

Tanly nodded. “I'm not going back there for anything.”

I’han smiled as he shifted away for a moment and undid his jacket taking it off stuffing it under the table and rolled up his sleeves a little. It had been the whole reason for him to come in search of her and be out in the open. He wanted to take his jacket off and not fear his scars. “Good. I like you here and want you here.”

“Lots of changes need to happen there but when someone is hold bound to change their ways,” Imella commented thoughtfully.

Tanly glanced at her mate. He had certainly come a long way with not being afraid or embarrassed to show his scars. They were just a part of him and she loved him. “I'm not going anywhere. And you are right, Imella. It is hard.”

“Why so many of us were willing to come here,” Imella stated getting several other women agreeing with her words with nodds and mumbled words. I’han smiled at Tanly as he noticed the Weyrleaders wander in laughing together.

“Looks like everyone is in a good mood today,” I’han commented.

Tanly glanced over at I'han's comment and nodded. It was good to see the Weyrleaders laughing too. “It's a good evening.”

“Maybe we could persuade our favourite harper to play?” He wondered raised an eyebrow. “Have a bit of a celebration.”

“Favorite harper hmm?” Imela wondered.

“All we can do is ask,” Tanly grinned.

“Her brother’s mate is one of our weyrharpers.” I’han explained looking around for either of them. He could not see either of them but he could not imagine that the cavern would be devoid of them for long when the atmosphere was so great. It was like a homing beacon. As if summoned the Weyrleaders appeared behind I’han.

“Good evening folks?” Lana asked touching I’han’s shoulder in a friendly gesture. I’han glanced at Tanly giving her i’ll explain why me and Lana are friends again later look.

“And she is a very good Harper. I am sure they are around here somewhere.” S'lei and Halia usually weren't too far away. she raised a brow at her mate. Huh looked like he had some explaining. “Werywoman,” Tanly smiled.

Imela stood up on hearing that the woman there was the Weyrwoman which meant the man standing behind her had to be the Weyrleader. “Weyrwoman. Weyrleader.” Several of the other northern Green riders did the same looking a little lost as the the southern riders did not do the same.

A'ren glanced at Lana. He had almost forgotten how formal the North was. “Please have a seat,” he smiled. “We just stopped to say hello to everyone.”

Lana moved her hand from I’han’s shoulder to wrap both of hers around A’ren’s arm. “We are not quite so formal as you are used to but the sentiment is appreciated.” Lana assured smiling.

“Thank you ma’am. This Weyr is very different but I like it.” Imela assured quickly.

“I am sure you and Feath will be happy here.” Lana hoped as Kalaith supplied the riders dragons name for her.

“It takes some getting used to but everyone seems content with it,” A'ren said. He would rather have a conversation with his riders then to have them standing at attention.

Imela sat down reluctantly as she was so ingrained in her behavior in certain situations. The south was really a learning curve in how things could be outside of what she had grown up with. “The north is a lot more formal.” Imela stated glancing at the others that seemed to have experienced it all as well.

“It gets easier,”Tanly said. It had certainly been hard for her to learn that as she had been ingrained from day one. “Everyone is very nice down here too.”

Imela nodded. She was starting to see that for herself. She smiled and relaxed a little into her seat.

“I am starting to see that.” She quickly assured smiling at the weyrleaders. Lana looked around seeing that it might be their presence making the nerves higher which had not been her intention when she had seen a big group of new riders.

“Have a good evening everyone.” Lana said with a smile.

A'ren inclined his head to his new riders. “You guys all have a great evening.” He then moved to walk with Lana. Tanly tried not to giggle. The Weyrleaders certainly weren't like the north.

Imela sat on her hands to stop herself rising as the pair walked away together. “Is that normal?” Imela asked, looking at Tanly trying to hold her laughter in. She was so confused by the big difference in attitudes.

Tanly looked over at the new rider. “Very normal. A'ren and Lana like to come around and talk with all the riders. And normally you will see them mingling with everyone.”

“My former Weyrleader would have thrown a fit if the Weyrwoman had been so casual with another bronze rider or something.” Imela shook her head. The other couple of green riders were from other Weyrs but she knew B’ter would have frowned on the casualness of the evening.

Tanly nodded. “They are definitely different,” she agreed. She looked up at I'han. “Plus my mate knows he better behave,” she teased. Not that she was worried. Lana and A'ren were definitely a good pair.

I’han laughed and smiled down at his mate. He much preferred being at River Cove compared to Telgar Weyr and Healer Hall. “I have nightmares about being the Weyrleader so nope not for me,” I’han assured, pressing a kiss to Tanly’s cheek. “Can we get out of here soon?” He whispered in her ear.

Tanly chuckled. She knew that I'han had no desire to be Weyrleader. And that he was all hers. She glanced up at him curiously. “Sure,” she answered.

“Well I never… a bronze rider with no desire to be Weyrleader? Well I never...” Imela laughed as she downed the rest of her wine. This really was too good to be true that her life had changed so much.

Tanly grinned at her mate. It was odd that he rode bronze and didn't want to be Weyrleader. “We're all a little odd here,” she laughed.

“Starting to see that odd can be good,” Imela admitted and smiled at the pair. “Go on, get out of here. Go be odd together somewhere else.” She encouraged with a grin and saluted them with her empty mug.

Tanly laughed. “On our way. Talk to you later.” She pushed to her feet, pulling I'han with her. “Come on handsome.”