Apologises For Nothing (1/2)

Posted on Thu Jan 9th, 2025 @ 2:02pm by Sr Journeyman Thalia & Blue Rider V'lik

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: River Cove Weyr
Timeline: M2 D28

Thalia grinned as she spotted a blue rider walking towards her who had been keeping a low profile. She could have turned around and allowed him to avoid her or she could challenge him and force the contact. She had enjoyed their chats and teasing even him hauling her over his shoulder had been fun. If she had been as drunk as the group she would have gladly joined but she had not wanted to be that person in the group who was sober.

“Well, you look a lot more subdued than last time I saw you.” She said to announce her presence in the corridor leading to the infirmary. He did not look injured so he could not have been in the infirmary due to an injury or ailment.

Yes, he had been hiding. He hadn't quite known how to confront Thalia with his wherryheadness. However she took that option out of his hands by speaking up.

“Hi,” he said uncertainly. Despite Neilla’s words, he was still nervous.

“And you sound subdued too blue rider.” Thalia looked back down the corridor. “What is up? Did you need something in the infirmary? We can go back together?” She was more than happy to help him with something.

V'lik hated how he sounded. That wasn't him. He slowly shook his head. “I'm okay. I've just been trying to sort out how to apologize to you.”

Thalia raised an eyebrow. “Whatever for? And if you do not need the infirmary shall we go and have that drink together? Well, as long as you do not mind I am splattered with numbweed.” She wondered, indicating they could go back the way he had come.

“For acting like a wherryhead,” he answered simply. “And that would be nice. No, I don't mind numbweed,” V'lik smiled.

“When?” She wondered looping her arm through his so he would have to slow down to her pace. Good, she thought cause numbweed was the nicest thing she was covered in sometimes.

“The other night when we were all drinking. I'm not usually like that.” He didn't let go that much or that often but he had needed it that night. He smiled at her though and slowed his pace.

“You do not just pick women up as they arrive in the cavern and practically kidnap them?” She wondered. “Shame.” She teased nudging him a little. “I liked that side of you V’lik just like I like the quiet side with the eyes that say so much more than your voice will ever say. We are not all just one way, we are like dragon eyes multifaceted and ever-changing.” She commented poetically.

V'lik groaned. “Did I seriously try to kidnap you? I had really hoped Neilla was making that up.” The blue rider looked at her in surprise. “Really? You weren't upset?” That made him relax a little bit.

The healer laughed and shook her head. “You did not try you practically did. Truly I am impressed at your upper body strength. You hauled me up over your shoulder like I was a child. So no Neilla was not making that up and no I was not upset. It was… adorable and if I had been drinking alongside I would have joined you I just did not want to be the sober one in the group.” She explained again to the man who seemed to be taking it in this time.

“Shards,” he actually laughed. “It's been a long time since I did that.” He grinned then. “gotta toss around firestone, so gotta be strong,” he pointed out. “Ooh okay yes I get that. Being the sober one in a group of rowdies is definitely not fun.”

“You are strong. I know who to call when I need stuff moving around in my room.” Now that was more like it she thought as he laughed. “And you were all rowdy. Nice but very rowdy.” She teased as they got out into the darkening weyrbowl and Thalia breathed in some fresh air for the first time since before dawn.

“That's me. The Mover,” he grinned. He was feeling better now that he knew that Thalia was insulted or upset with them. “Yeah, we haven't done that in a while. At least not in public,” he admitted as he stepped outside with her.

“You riders work and play hard. Not entirely sure I can keep up once you start going but a couple would be nice tonight before I fall asleep.” She decided pulling her arm from his to stretch her arms above her head.

“Sometimes we do,” he agreed. He knew they all did. “A couple sounds good. I don't need a repeat of the other night,” he answered, leading her to the dining cavern.

She could not blame the riders at all. They protected Pern and everyone on it, why she loved that she had been placed at the Weyr it suited her temperament more than a hold. She could be her and not have to hide her nature. “Good.” She smiled following him into the quiet cavern. The night before a big event it was always quiet,she was not surprised the night before a gather it was like that.

V'lik had never really known what a true hold was like. He went to the mines at a young age and then had been searched and Dragon Hold couldn't exactly be called a true Hold. “Hmm looks like we have the place to ourselves.”

“Seems so. People are sleeping to prepare for the gather. Hungry?” She wondered looking at the food area as the smells hit her making her stomach rumble.

“That would be my guess.” V'lik nodded. “I could eat.” The young man never turned down food. He had learned that at an early age.

Thalia grinned and wandered over to where the food was. She had missed lunch thanks to a labour so she was absolutely starving now that the smell assaulted her senses. “Either we are really early or really lucky.” She noticed the stew looking fresh. She grabbed a bowl and several rolls seeing how fresh they were. food was always plentiful in the Weyr thanks to their own fields and tithes but still as someone who had grown up in a cothold as far west as you could go it was a world away from what she was used too.

V'lik followed her, ready for some food himself. It all smelled wonderful. “Mmm I'll take either if we get fresh food,” he grinned, grabbing up a bowl himself.

Thalia glanced at him and did a double take at how much younger he looked when he smiled. There was something solemn about him when he did not smile that made him look older, not that it mattered to her but she was sure they were about the same age. She pointed to a seat where if it did get busy they would not be in the middle of it. “Go sit down, I'll grab us some drinks.” She instructed.

It had felt like a while since V'lik had truly smiled. Probably since the whole mess with Riana. “If you're sure. Can I at least take your bowl?”

“Nope. H’way with you blue rider.” She said smiling still at him watching as he walked away whilst she retrieved 2 mugs, a jug of ale and a tray to bring it all back over to him. She slid onto the bench beside him and carefully put the tray down. “I thought Weyr ale might be better but I can go back to get wine if you prefer that?” She offered.

He wanted to argue but she seemed to have her mind made up. So instead he just headed for the empty table and waited. No the ale sounds good to me,” he smiled.

“It’s cool.” She said pouring them both a mug of ale. She took a sip happily feeling cooler with the ale after a long day. “How has your day been?” She wondered.

V'lik sipped on his own. It was cool and tasted wonderful. “It's been good. Had a sweep this morning so Terilith got to stretch his wings.”

“This has to be Z’ran’s brew. It’s feisty.” Thalia said thoughtfully as she looked at the jug trying to figure it out properly. She knew some riders had side projects and she had gotten to know some of them over the last 2 turns and Z’ran and Kat were 2 that she had gotten close to thanks to Z’ran’s inability to keep out of trouble. “That’s nice. Where did you go?” She asked returning her attention to him properly finishing her contemplation.

“I think you may be right,” he grinned. Z'ran was good at trying different concoctions. He had tried a few that left a real kick. “Over Kymos and then up along the shoreline,” he answered.

“Up where I used to live.” She grinned a little. “I grew up in a cot hold on the coast way up past Kymos as far as you can go into nothing.” She had not been back since she had apprenticed as there was very little in the way of relationships to bring her back why she had not stopped moving until she found herself at the Weyr.

“Really? I didn't realize that,” he smiled. “It is pretty up that way. Much better than where I grew up.” He took another sip of the ale. He was learning things about her that he never knew.

“It was so boring. It was a cot hold that specialised in shipbuilding. It bored me to tears why I ended up here. What about you? K’yar told me a little about himself so I am assuming it was similar for you but I would like to hear it from you.” She wondered back trying to learn more about him, she knew a bit about him from K’yar but there was only so much a brother was going to spill.

“As a kid, I would have taken boring,” he admitted. V'lik shook his head. “I don't remember much of a life growing up. My parents sent us to the mines to work when we were quite young,” he admitted quietly. He still had nightmares about that time.

“That is awful. I am sorry what happened to you.” She said gently putting her hand on his shoulder for a moment with a squeeze before she started on the stew properly. “Your parents? They sound worse than any family I have ever heard of and I have worked in some of the worst cotholds on my way here.” Thalia could not imagine how scared the two boys had been as children to be sent there.

“We didn't know any different,” V'lik said, sliding his bowl over to eat. The blue rider sighed softly. “My mother was bad. My father just didn't stand up to her and protect us.”

Even so, in her eyes, it was unforgivable. “I have heard about your mother. I know what she put Lenya through. You are an amazing man, blue rider to be from that and to be as kind-hearted as you are.” She said quietly into her stew.

V'lik cringed a bit. “Yeah, that was my mother. Everything for her no matter who she hurt in the process.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you. It's not always easy.”

The healer was thankful that the woman was gone now and everyone could move forward hopefully. “Of course it isn’t but you are doing a great job,” She assured him, glancing at him and the smile he gave her. “Everyone says nice things about you.”

He was surprised by those words. “Really?” He asked. “I never realized.” He did try but some days were easier than others.

“Really? So hard to believe I normally agree and say if he smiled more that would be nice.” She laughed, nudged him and smiled. It was the truth though no one had a bad thing to say about him. They pitied him and the situation with his former mate turns back but nothing was ever nasty.

“Haven’t had a lot to smile about in a while but I'll try,” he promised. He was starting to feel like himself again and maybe just maybe he could get back to how he used to be.

“I know.” She assured softly. “I am teasing you.” She held up her hand to placate him, maybe she needed to stop doing that to him when he was still trying to find his bearings. “And I should know better. I am sorry that you were put through so much.”

He gave her a smile. “Teasing is okay,” he assured her. “Promise I'm getting better,” he chuckled. “Well, I think anyhow.” He was trying. And Thalia was making it easier.

“You do not blush quite as much.” She laughed picking up the rolls to butter and scoop up the bottom of the stew as she watched a few more people come into the cavern and look as surprised as V’lik and Thalia had been around the emptiness. “So what are you doing for the gather tomorrow?”

V'lik smiled. He hadn't realized he did blush. That was news to him. He chuckled a bit when the others looked just as confused by the emptiness. “I'm gonna ferry people for a little bit then take time to truly just enjoy it and walk around.”

“Walk around with me?” She wondered knowing that it was going to be tough for some riders. They had been there when Dragon Hold decided to shoot arrows at specific riders and then last turn where Far Site was turned into a blood bath thanks to Dragon Hold targetting anyone and everyone. It was what had led to Holders finally taking action and a lot of the secrets coming out around who was behind Dragon Hold and why Sophida and M’nor had been a lot more involved than people knew. Thalia sometimes had nightmares around the night of blood as she called it in her head some nights.

The blue rider nodded. “I'd like that.” He didn't want to think about all the things that had happened recently. It was like Pern was falling apart or being overrun by insane people. V'lik gathered up their empty dishes to deposit in a bin before returning to Thalia.

The healer smiled as he took her empty dishes with a whispered thank you as she picked up the ale and sipped on it. It had to be the bronze rider's ale as it was just too feisty like him to not be. “So I will meet you there after you finish your duties in the square.” She suggested thinking that would be a good location to meet whenever he was finished.

V'lik returned a few moments later and sat back down to finish his ale. Z'ran was getting better. “I would like that. I shouldn't be too long,” he answered. He really liked the idea of spending the day with Thalia.

“Got all the time on Pern V’lik.” She shrugged relieved that she had not pulled the duty. Unfortunately, Terlyin offered to take the duty for everyone as she would be unable to attend as she was so close to giving birth.

He grinned. “I promise not to be that long,” he chuckled. “I'd rather spend the day with you.’ He knew though the more that volunteered the sooner everyone could enjoy the Gather.

The woman smiled at his statement, well that was certainly something. “Well, I think I would rather that too.” She assured softly. This was turning into something nice after all. She was a flirt but she did not go out of her way to go further often but he intrigued her.

V'lik felt light-hearted for the first time since Raina left him. Thalia was really helping heal him. “Then we shall meet in the square. First, though did you still want to go for that walk?”

“Now?” She wondered softly wondering if that was his plan. She would enjoy a walk especially as she was numbweed splattered and most likely covered in things she would rather not be whilst enjoying someone's company.

“Well only if you want to,” he answered sheepishly. He hoped he wasn't overstepping his bounds, but a walk would be nice.

The woman stood downing her glass of ale and held out her hand to him wiggling her fingers with a grin. “A walk sounds like the best offer I have had in sevendays.” She grinned. It was and better than anything it was with someone she could actually like.

He chuckled and slipped his hand through hers. “I am glad you like the idea.” V'lik gave her hand a gentle squeeze before leading her out of the dining cavern.