RCW: Just What Nerlyn Arranged

Posted on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 6:42pm by Apprentice Nerlyn & Bronze Rider K'ron

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: M2 D17

Nerlyn lay in bed contemplating things and waiting if possible for K’ron to return from the dining cavern. She had encouraged him to stay with riders and have a few drinks and just enjoy being with his wing member instead of spending all his time with her. She was fine and needed some breathing space to be in the weyr by herself and reflect on the sketches.

Raen had gone to bed with lots of questions about shells but it had been quiet for the most part other than Koda disappearing off to play with his friends at sunset and Neilla stopping by. It was nice of the green rider to let her know that she was the rider meant to be taking her out on the medical run in the morning. Knowing it was her younger sister allowed her to relax a little as the younger woman would be ecstatic when she explained why she wanted to fly straight.

K'ron hadn't been going to stay but at Nerlyn’s insistence, he finally gave in and enjoyed some time with the other riders. He knew Nerlyn needed time too. They still had to work that out.

After a couple of drinks and lots of laughter, he finally decided to turn in. He made sure to be quiet as he slipped in though figuring Raen was sleeping. K'ron peeked in at the boy before going to find Nerlyn. “Hey Ner,” he whispered.

Nearly rolled over from where she was reading to smile at him as he finally came to find her after a few moments of silence after he came in. “Hello Bronze Rider.” She greeted with a smile knowing her hunch had been right in his need to have a night to himself to be the rider. He looked a lot happier and less on edge. “You look happier.”

“Feel a lot better,” he admitted. “Thank you. He knew he wouldn't have done it without her pushing him. “Raen go to sleep alright for you?” He asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Of course he did. Lots of questions around shells but he soon went to sleep.” Nerlyn smiled feeling a little smug that she had been right in what she knew he had needed. “You need to live too.” She commented bluntly.

K'ron was glad Raen hadn't given her a hard time. He knew the boy could be stubborn sometimes. “Okay okay,” he smiled. “I'll try.” He was quite happy with his family though.

“S’ven has orders to drag you out more often. We made a deal at dinner.” She admitted putting her book on the bedside table with a smile. She was not letting him stupor any longer, watching him at dinner had made her realise just how much Leaneth’s going between had changed them both.

“Seriously?” He asked. She had done that? Shards he must have been falling apart. “So that means I can't get angry with him?” He smiled as Nerlyn set her book down.

“Seriously.” She answered back. “I want you happy and he wants to go on a ship so it was simple dealings that weyr folk do,” Nerlyn stated quietly smiling at him as he watched her. “And you need more than …” She indicated the walls around them.

K'ron shook his head. “Looking out for me again,” he smiled. Yes, he needed someone to do that for him once in a while. “He wants to go on a ship? Never would have guessed.”

“I think he grew up in a seahold or something.” The woman shrugged not having really thought about it in all honestly. She would have done it anyway for anyone but this was how she got K’ron out of the weyr once in a while and his mind out of his protective mindset. It was only going to get worse over the next months once they started to tell people about her pregnancy so she needed to think ahead. “But it's a win for me and a win for him. So… coming to bed?”

That would make sense. It was sad he didn't know that about his wing third. He needed to get better at that. “Hmm that is true enough,” he agreed. K'ron laughed. “Just give me a second to change out of these clothes.”

Nerlyn nodded and slowly moved from the bed to check one last time on the little boy watching him breathing steadily for a moment curled up in a bed that looked far too big for him. She closed her eyes trying to ignore the feeling that she had nearly missed out on all of this. She stayed there for a long moment and jumped as arms snuck around her and made her turn to look up at the Bronze Rider. “I nearly screamed then.” She whispered.

K'ron finished changing as Nerlyn slipped out. When she didn't return right away he crept toward their son’s room, smiling at the sight. “Didn't mean to scare you,” he whispered.

“I know.” She assured nudging his neck with her nose before giving him a gentle kiss there. “I was just thinking how close I was to not having any of this.”

He chuckled a bit when she kissed his neck. “But you're here and Raen and I aren't letting you leave,” he whispered, giving her a proper kiss.

Nerlyn was surprised by the kiss. He had not kissed her like that since before she had come back from being away for a sevenday and everything had felt like it was unravelling around her. “That was nice.” She whispered, nudging him away from the open door before closing it.

He smiled before kissing her again. “Have I not been paying attention like I should?” He whispered, wondering if he had let himself worry too much. He chuckled as she moved him away from the door.

“We’ve not kissed like that since before my sevendays sea duty. So it was nice.” She whispered, shaking her head as she led him away from their son's room. “The last sevenday have been … awkward.” She admitted sighing. “Sweet but awkward.”

She had a point there. So much had happened recently that he had been at a loss for what to do. “A lot has happened. Glad it's been a little normal today.”

“It has and I am sorry for that because that is on me and how I was such a deadglow in not sharing that time in my life with you.” She leant up kissing him softly before he could try and argue about it because it was on her and she wanted that blame. It kept her in the here and now and focusing on trying to move past the part of her life she had tried to forget. “As normal as it gets in a Weyr sure.” Nerlyn was never sure what the normal was in a Weyr but it had been pretty calm today, nothing special happening out of the ordinary.

K'ron started to protest before she kissed him. His shoulders sagged just a bit as he completely relaxed. It had been a while since they had been like this. “True,” he finally breathed. “The Weyr is not normal.”

Nerlyn grinned as he stopped arguing. “But it’s home.” Even at the worst parts of her struggles the offers to take her to her mother's family in Kymos had seemed pointless as she had never known anywhere other than the Weyr. Even ship duty made her homesick when she thought about it.

“It is,” he smiled. He couldn't imagine being anywhere but the Weyr. And with Nerlyn there it was perfect no matter what.

Nerlyn stayed there for a long moment caressing his cheek softly just taking in the first time she had seen him relaxed since before they had discovered about the baby. “So… did you bring any gossip home? Or just smiles and kisses?” She wondered, stepping away, taking his hand, and leading him back toward their bedroom.

He closed his eyes briefly, a smile still on his lips. “Just smiles and kisses,” he assured her. “and me. Is that enough?” He happily followed behind

“I’d have loved some gossip too but you are enough. Always enough and then some my dear mate.” She assured as she pushed open the door and stepped into their bedroom smiling at the look on his face.

“I will see what kind of gossip I can hear next time,” he promised. It was nice to just be normal for a bit.

“I bring home dolphineer gossip only fair you let me know the dragon rider stuff otherwise I have to ask K’yar and he won’t tell me anything big for fear I’ll go and assist the wronged person.” Nerlyn grinned sitting on the end of the bed. Dolphineer gossip was mostly who Jameas was putting on night duty which was not often someone other than him as he was one of the few who lived down in the small hall still or worse who got the monitoring water quality duties.

“Ooh, we don't want that. K'yar is not a good source,” he chuckled. “I'll see what I can learn.” Of course, they didn't always tell him much being a wing leader but he was sure he could learn something interesting.

Nerlyn laughed and shook her head. “He isn’t but he is an amazing friend.” She assured smiling fondly thinking of the brown rider and how he seemed settled. She took in a happy breath and shifted to sit back on her side of the bed feeling happy with the day. “I do not believe he will be sleeping on our couch either again.”

“He is a good friend,” K'ron agreed. And a good rider. He wished he could snag him from F'cone but that wasn't fair. “Really? That would be nice. That was quite a surprise when I walked in,” he chuckled, moving to sit next to her.

“You mean when you tried to snuggle him on the sofa and got a big shock.” She said, collapsing into laughter teasing him. Thankfully K’yar had been so drunk he had not remembered and only the pair remembered the first time the brown rider slept on their sofa. “But yes he is a good friend who will just sit in silence with you if that is what you need.” She smiled looking over at the man as he sat next to her. “I never did get to tell you how much I missed you on ship duty before it went a little crazy.” She admitted leaning over to touch his hand.

K'ron groaned before laughing. “Yeah that was not appreciated,” he agreed. That had been a shock. “Very true. He is a good guy.” The bronze rider smiled at her. “I missed you too. I am glad to have you home.”

Nerlyn was still laughing a little as she snuggled against his bare chest and smiled at the loose trousers he wore. She sighed happily. “7 nights apart is a long time. I do not think that has ever happened since… me and Raen came to live here.” She sighed knowing that she would have a few more later in the turn but for now, it would be max 2 nights.

He put an arm around her shoulders as she snuggled against him. “That is too long,” he admitted. He knew there would be times she had to do it and she seemed happier since meeting Oceania. “I do hope you don't have to leave again anytime soon,” he said, kissing her hair.

“Nope. I took this one as a swap from 2 months time so I’ll have a couple of night watches and overnight but nothing until month five or so.” She had swapped with another dolphineer who had not wanted to miss his granddaughter being born so it seemed an easy swap that Master Jameas had approved. ”So I did turns end and last sevendays one instead of the one end of month three.” It did mean that with her calculations she would certainly be there for Kalaith rising but that was something they could approach later on.

“Oh good.” He had hoped he wouldn't have to let her go too soon. He knew the dolphins and the work were good for her but shards that long apart was hard. “I didn't want to let you go just yet,” he smiled, playing with her hair.

“Distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Nerlyn smiled at his words allowing the silence to settle on them as she thought about it all. The silence settled so long that she wondered if the man had fallen asleep sitting up. It would not have been the first time but then his hand played with her hair again. “I am really sorry about coming home and creating this awkwardness I came home excited to see you and Raen and just have a nice welcome home as I was only home a couple of days before I disappeared off again.” She finally said quickly when she was trying to get something off her chest.

K'ron enjoyed the silence. It was a comfortable silence for them. Not one that had to be filled or meant they were angry. “A couple of days?” He repeated, not wanting to bring up the awkwardness again. That hadn't been her fault after all. “You have to leave that soon?”

“No… I just mean… I came home after turns end and then I left before the flight I just… I wanted this to be a nice coming home why I came to your office. I was excited to see you.” She murmured trying to explain her jumbled thoughts. “I am not on a night shift or anything until after the gather.”

K'ron breathed a sigh of relief when he realized he had misunderstood her. “And I was very excited to see you. Everything else that happened couldn't be helped,” he said gently. “we're together now and I hope me having those sketches here didn't make things worse.”

The woman nodded letting his gentle tone wash over her as she moved a little to look up at him. “No, it has not but I have hidden them until I can face it properly. I know you and the Weyrleaders may be eager but if you are I want you to go without me.” She admitted. “Your desk drawer.” She added so he knew where they were.

Ah, so she hadn’t gotten rid of them. Not that he would have blamed her. K'ron shook his head. “They gave me the drawings so we can face it together when you are ready,” he answered. “if they want to go sooner then they can but it will be without us.”

Nerlyn nodded and shifted a little to kiss his neck. She appreciated that they were facing things together instead of two separate approaches. “Thank you.” She breathed gently.

He closed his eyes as her warm lips touched his skin. “Of course. We are in this together.”

“More so than previously. Normally separate roads to the same destination.” She whispered against his skin. Normally they were on two separate roads going to a destination but the last turn it felt like they were on the same road together which was nice in her opinion.

“Much better roads to be on,” he agreed as he gently ran his fingers up her back. He missed just being able to be together.

The woman smiled as his fingers ran up her back and kissed him again on his neck. His fingers were warm through her thin robe. “Time for bed hmm?” She wondered.

“Maybe,” he answered huskily, shivering at her kiss. Things had been messed up since she got back but they were slowly getting better.

“I’ll get the glows then.” She murmured, pulling away reluctantly as she scooted down the bed. She stood smiling at the man and started to close over the grooves that held the glow baskets all except one by the door in case Raen came in, in the night.

K'ron watched her quietly. “You sure Raen is asleep?” He asked softly, holding his hand toward Nerlyn. He wanted to spend a bit more time with his mate.

The woman turned and noticed his gaze on her. She blushed a little under its intensity. “Very much so. Why Koda is nowhere to be seen. He will be curled up in bed with him.” Nerlyn said, taking the offered hand and smiling.

That made sense. Koda didn't leave the boy's side when he knew that Nerlyn was safe. K'ron gently tugged her back on the bed with her. “Oh good.”

The woman grinned as she was tugged onto the bed kneeling close to him. “Oh good?” The woman copied.

K'ron made a face before grinning again. “Yes 'cause I wanna snuggle with my mate,” he answered.

Nerlyn was fully aware of what he wanted to do but she liked teasing him sometimes when they had moments. “Oh well in that case.” She moved over and leaned forward kissing him gently before moving to her side of the bed.

He leaned into her kiss. “And where do you think you're going?” He asked curiously as he moved closer to her.

“Getting into bed to snuggle.” She said smirking as he moved closer as she leaned back on the bed and looked up at him. “So right here…”

“Oh you are a tease,” he smiled, tugging her back against him. K'ron just wanted her close.

Nerlyn let out a squeal as she was tugging against him. “Not sure I like how easily you do that now.” She whispered against his lips as she kissed him.

“You want to stop?” He whispered before she kissed him. K'ron held her close as he deepened the kiss.

“Never.” She assured gently caressing her thumb along his lip as she pulled back breathless at the intensity of the kiss. It was like they were both trying to reassure the other of their feelings. “I just meant being able to haul me back like a sack of Firestone.” She giggled. “I love you truly, madly and deeply and I do not want you to stop right now or ever.”

He chuckled a bit. “But I like being able to move you like that,” he grinned, reluctant to pull away from the kiss. “And I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

“Mmmhmm…” The woman said pressing a kiss to his lips again as she shifted a little to allow herself to lie back properly on the bed. That was a deep proclamation from a dragon rider when a lot of their time went to their dragon and not the people around them which was why she had made him go tonight.

K'ron shifted, not wanting to lose contact with her. It had felt like ages since they had had a moment alone and not upset or stressed. Tonight was perfect.