Harper's Area (#4056)

Central Bowl> T'rell takes a moment to loosen Sejith's fighting straps. "Sorry, buddy, but I might be a while. You know." With a quick pat, he shrugs and walks toward the caverns.

T'rell stops, halfway toward Kaeryn's door. "Ah. Here you are," he notices the person he's looking for. "How're you feeling?" An eyebrow is raised, and he changes course to approach.

"Afternoon," Kae gives T'rell a small smile as she looks up from the hide spread out before her on the table. "I've been better, how about you?" she returns his raised eyebrow with a confused look of her own.

T'rell grins knowingly, and leans over to look at the hide. "What's this?"

"Your threadfall charts," Kae pokes at them with her finger, giving them a sour look, "the ones that you spend hours reading, but are so...blurred. I figured I'd might as well recopy them *all*." She releases the corner of the hide so that it drops back to the table, causing the surrounding hides to shudder.

T'rell picks up the dropped hide, studying it. "This is beautiful, Kaeryn." He replaces it on the table, crossing behind her chair to drape his arms around her shoulders, leaning over to kiss her hair. "Thank you." Moving again, he leans against the table to her side, facing her. "Considering the rumors going around, you look better than I thought you might," he finally decides.

"I won't allow an old hide that's hard to read to cause you to get hurt during 'fall," Kae explains with a slightly less enthusiastic smile, as she realizes that T'rell apparently knows about the night before. "So, you've heard then?" a soft sigh sounds from her throat as she reaches for another hide.

T'rell nods slowly. "Aye, as do most of the folks around here who know you. Something about Benden White and a party on the beach? Must've been some party." He picks up another of the hides, examining the details of the familiar, now clarified, charts with only half an eye still on the harper.

Kaeryn feels the heat rising in her cheeks, and her frown deepens, the hide currently before her becoming more and more interesting. "I know, I really shouldn't have, and.. if it weren't for Oli, it would have been *really* bad," her voice is thick with disappointment, obviously for herself.

"George told me he gave her the same concoction this morning as he's given me sometimes -- sorry 'bout that," T'rell apologizes sympathetically. "Pretty awful, eh? Least it works." Still studying the charts, he leans over to look closely at one notation, then leans out farther to read the fine handiwork. "Wow, you managed to figure out what that said? I've been guessing on that for turns."

"I shouldn't have taken it upon myself to drink the entire 'skin of wine," Kae lifts her shoulders into a shrug and shakes her head. "I thought the stuff was going to kill me though, it *hurt*, but.. I've *never* had that much to drink before, I don't know why I did."

T'rell pushes the top chart carefully aside, glancing at the one beneath and then to Kaeryn. "I'm sorry I wasn't there." Two meanings conflict in one statement, the lighter hiding the more serious. Even his smile, joking as it is, hints at something beneath.

"So if you heard what happened," Kae begins quietly, pausing long enough to lick her lips, "then you heard that Marius was here?" The question itself makes her a little nervous, and it shows, as she lifts ink stained fingers to brush her hair out of her eyes.

T'rell nods. "I was on watch when he arrived." His eyebrows flick up in the briefest of gestures. "I was surprised until I heard about the wine." Still leaning against the table, he crosses one booted foot over the other. "I'm glad someone was here to take care of you, but I'd rather have Dezaith bring you up to the Star Stones to watch a while." He grins a bit, and shrugs. "So I'm selfish."

"I don't remember asking for him, I was..." Kae's hand moves before her as if she's pulling for the word she wants. "I've been told that I was kind of hysterical, and you were... on duty. I don't know why, but I wouldn't have asked for you if... I don't know, I can't explain it. I hope," she frowns slightly, "I hope you're not upset?" At the mention of the starstones, she tilts her head to the side and looks at him, "You know, you still haven't taken me up there.."

Startled, T'rell asks, "I haven't?" He blinks, considers quickly. "Wanna go?" Then he answers the other question. "I'm not upset. Okay, a little, but not at you. Call me crazy," he smiles to take any sting from the offhanded compliment, "but I trust you."

"It wasn't his fault I asked for him," Kae points out as she slips from her stool, landing lightly on her barefeet. "I, personally, blame it on the entire skin of wine that was in my stomach," she has to put the blame on something that no one can be mad at, after all. "Next time I decide to drink that much," she winces slightly and shakes her head, "make sure you're around, alright?" As she slips toward her room, she holds up a finger, "One moment, I need my shoes."

T'rell follows Kaeryn to her door, leaning against the doorframe until she emerges again. "Next time I'll be the one providing the wine," he quips, brown eyes twinkling. "Last night's rotation was well-dusted, though," he shakes his head ruefully. "Watch through until night drills, and then we were on dawn sweeps, would you believe it?"

Kaeryn gives T'rell a grin, and plants a kiss on his cheek, "Sounds like your evening was even more fun than mine, wasn't it?" As she begins to walk away from her room, she reaches out and slips her hand into his, "I asked Oli if she'd mind keeping an eye on Bren for a few hours, I hope you don't mind?"

T'rell peeks in through the door quickly to wave, then, still holding Kaeryn's hand, leads her toward the door. "It'll be good for both of them," he says more seriously than is, perhaps, necessary. "Yeah, we finally got some sleep around midday, but at least we're off until tomorrow night now. I don't know what G'ron was thinking when he made the schedule."

"Ooh, a little non-parental time," Kae laughs softly and squeezes T'rell's hand as they leave the room. "I'd bet she didn't realize she was going to be a nanny when she came to visit, what do you think?"

Craft Areas (#4532)

T'rell chuckles lightly. "I don't think she minds. Living at the beasthold like she did, she knows what to do with babies."

"I think a big part of last night was just," Kae shakes her head as she walks, trying to explain, "it's been a hard few days, you know? And all of this being a mom stuff is completely new to me, she who doesnt even have a brother or sister. I just needed to," she pauses and looks up into his sparkling brown eyes, "relax, I guess. But I chose the wrong route."

South Caverns (#7009)

T'rell heads through, hand in hand with Kaeryn, joking, "Don't worry about it. Just try not to need George's remedy too often, it'll burn a hole in your stomach, ye know."

"I don't plan to let *that* stuff near me again," Kae's nose wrinkles in distaste and she shakes her head. "If I have pains that will kill me from the wine, I *won't* drink that again."

Llewyn chatters at the Harper as she backwings in from the cold of *between*. A few strong wingstrokes carry her over to the pair as he looks for a place to deposit her load.

T'rell grins in response, then glances at the firelizard. "Eh? What's this?" He looks to Kaeryn. "Expecting anything?"

Kaeryn pauses in her pace, and looks up at LLewyn, and grins, holding her arm out as an offering for a perch. "Hello there, girl," she greets the gold with a warm voice and smile. "She's Mar's, Llewyn, if I remember correctly."

Llewyn closes the distance in a distinguished glide and settles on the perch. She starts to preen herself, then touches the packet attatched to one of her hind legs and turns blue-faceted eyes on the Harper while moving so that she can take her burden away.

T'rell watches the proceedings curiously. "What would he be sending you?" His question will no doubt be answered in due course, but patience is not one of his most stellar virtues.

Kielyn looks up from where she is sitting oiling a very shiny sapphire firelizard. The glowbaskets are visibly reflected in his hide from all the quantities of oil applied. Chirping, the small blue turns his head around to see the new arrivals. "Er... Hello..." Kielyn manages a smile as she greets the two humans and firelizard. "Can I... um... help you?"

Kae gently removes the packet from the Llewyn's leg and moves it to the hand that is being used as a perch, taking a moment to search her pockets for something worthy of the gold's efforts. She finds a piece of the dried wherry her blues like so much, and offers it to the firelizard. "Thanks Llewyn," she says softly.

The weyrhide-bound packet rolls open at Kae's touch. The miniature, carved flask inside slides out. A strip of parchment then unrolls from around the smooth wood. It reads, "Always in moderation. Try one this size next time." Of course, signed at the bottom, is Marius' name in his always immaculate script. LLewyn, satisfied that her job's been done (she's been paid, after all) gives a soft chirp and daintly gobbles up the offered wherry before taking flight once more.

Kaeryn erupts almost immediately into a fit of giggles, causing her eyes to tear up and she holds the parchment and the tiny flask out to show T'rell, just shaking her head and continuing to laugh.

T'rell raises his eyebrows, watching the opening over the harper's shoulder. "Mighty thoughtful of 'im." He takes the flask, turning it over in his palm. "Seems about the right size, too." He flashes Kaeryn a quick grin as he hands it back. "Of course, that all depends on what sort of firewater you fill it with. Hello," he adds in response to Kielyn, sitting quietly as she is.

Llewyn drifts up to one of the rafters. She turns on a dime and swoops back past the pair once more, giving them a goodbye chirp before executing a textbook roll and flashing into *between* just before colliding with the wall.

With another laugh, Kae slips the parchment and 'flask' into her pocket before slipping her hand back into T'rell's and squeezing it. "I'm *never* going to be allowed to forget last night, am I?"

Kielyn bites her lip and tries to mind her own business. She glances back at her young blue. That's probably enough oil for now... She corks the tiny bottle of oil she keeps with her at all times and slips it back into her pocket. She can't help stealing another glance at the pair. "Are you /sure/ you don't need anything?" Right size for what? She can't help but wonder what they are talking about...

T'rell shakes his head solemnly. "It was all over the weyr by this morning, I hate to tell you." Odd, this girl who sits in hallways and asks passersby if she can help them.. he studies her curiously for just a moment. "Thanks for the offer, but we're just on our way through," he assures her with a merry smile and the slightest inclination of his head.

A soft groan is the only sound Kae makes in response to T'rell's teasing, at least, she hopes it's teasing... To Kielyn, she gives a smile and a wink before they wander on their way out.

Kielyn shrugs. She didn't expect much from them anyway. They're adults. What do they know? "Okay." She turns back to her over pampered firelizard. "Are you hungry Robin? Maybe I should go get you some more to eat..."

Living Cavern (#4190)

T'rell notes privately to Kaeryn, "Odd girl. Know her?" He leads the harper in a broad detour that just happens to take them right by the buffet, where he grabs a couple of snacks on the way through.

"Never seen her before," Kae shakes her head, a look of confusion on her face. "But I have the odd feeling that wasn't the last we'll see of her," she adds as she watches him stock up on food.

T'rell nods with a light laugh. "You're probably right. I've seen her lurking around in there before, too." He grabs a redfruit, tosses it once into the air and catches it, buffs it clean on his shirt, then offers it to Kaeryn. "See anything else you like here that's transportable?"

Kae grins and shakes her head as T'rell bounces the fruit around like it's a ball, "I actually don't think my stomach is ready for *anything*, in all honesty." As she takes another step toward the door, she gives him a mischevious grin, "Are you stalling because you're supposed to be meeting someone else up there tonight?"

T'rell is the very picture of innocence, as if he had been painstakingly sketched and inked by Kaeryn herself. "Me? Why," he blinks, "you know I don't go anywhere without a picnic." He displays the bundled napkin that will have to serve as both basket and blanket, a pitiful spread if ever there was indeed.

"Well, if that's all," Kae gives him a wink, and reaches up to pinch his innocent little cheek. "But as soon as you're positive we've enough food, in case Sejith decides to abandon us there," she teases, her light blue eyes sparkling more than that have all day.

T'rell's own grin turns mischievous. "I'd bring wine, but..." With a wink, he hooks Kaeryn's arm with his and nudges her onward.

"Can't control a drunk harper, you big bronzerider you?" Kae teases back as she walks out toward the 'bowl.

Southeastern Bowl (#529)

Sejith is waiting to greet the two people who emerge, whirling pleased blue eyes.

T'rell prevaricates. "I just wouldn't want to subject you to the local hangover cure two days in a row." How thoughtful he is! Unlinking arms, he hands Kaeryn the 'picnic', stepping up onto Sejith's foreleg to readjust the fighting straps.

"I already told you," Kae lifts her chin in a stubborn manner, "you will *not* get me to drink that stuff again. I like George and all but, I think he was trying to *kill* me." As the food is passed over to her and T'rell's attention turns to the straps, she reaches over to give Sejith a gentle scratch, "Good evening, Sejith. Up to watching the sunset with us, then?"

"He wants me to give you a guilt trip for staying inside so much," T'rell calls down as he reaches up to lever a buckle into place. "Aside from that, we're all set. Need a hand up?"

T'rell scrambles up Sejith's shoulder to sit between two neckridges.

"Well, if *he* wants to to feed and change Bren," Kae replies dryly as she passes the food up to T'rell, "then I'll spend more time in the fresh air." A hand reaches up to take his when it's offered and she grins, "Don't I always? Maybe I should get a pair of those leathers you wear, instead of these dresses and..."

From Sejith's neck, T'rell pulls Kaeryn up with a firm hand. "I've got an old set, if you can stand the firestone reek," he suggests, half-teasing.

As she's pulled up Sejith's side and settles in behind T'rell, making a big deal about straightening her skirts, Kae laughs, "I'm afraid that the idea of where those just doesn't seem fun to me. I'll stick with looking like the lady that I try to be, and wearing skirts, if that's alright with you and Sejith?" Once situated, she leans forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his shoulder.

T'rell fastens a set of straps around Kaeryn's waist as he assures her, most certainly and solemnly, that neither he nor Sejith mind her dresses at all. "Besides," he murmurs privately in her ear, "They come off all in one piece."

"Then it's settled, isn't it?" Kae whispers back, giving him a wink, unable to not smile at his comment. "You can keep the leathers, I'll stick to being a girl, and you'll have to keep helping me up."

T'rell quirks his eyebrows in far too obvious suggestion, then untwists himself, and signals the dragon to fly. "Up, up and away," he calls aloud dramatically, and the bronze rises with a great spring from his haunches, wings catching the air in huge downward sweeps.

Star Stones (#3405)

Sejith alights gracefully, catching the stone ledge with outstretched talons before bending to land, wings folded in sunset's glow.

T'rell unbuckles Kaeryn's straps, taking advantage of the closeness to cheekily steal a kiss from her unsuspecting lips. Eyes twinkling, he clasps her hand to help her down. "My lady?"

"Ooh," Kae gasps softly at the surprising kiss, and she gives him a eye-twinkling stare. "If this is what I get just for coming up here with you, I'm going to have to come more often," she squeezes his hand before using his help to slip carefully down from Sejith's neck.

T'rell lands beside Kaeryn, arms outstretched to show the place off. "The most private place in all the weyr," he points out. "And you, lady," he is moved to poetry by some long-forgotten instinct, "You make it the most beautiful." With a flourish, he bows.

Kaeryn blushes again, touching her hand to her chest, and shakes her head, "Now I'm wondering why I didn't make you bring me here before, way before." Taking a step toward him so that she can lean into him, and just looks around. "I think I could live up here, well, if I had a dragon."

T'rell nods, his arms slipping around her waist naturally as he gazes at the brilliant sky. "One of these days I'll get around to carving a path up here from my weyr," he tells her -- a perpetual promise these last score turns.

"I don't really see the point of doing *that*," Kae tilts her head back so that it rests against his, her cheek pressing against his beard, "because then anyone that comes up here would have a straight path to your weyr, and where would that leave you?"

T'rell leans his chin on Kaeryn's shoulder as he smiles. "Good point. That must be why I haven't done it yet." Facing the sunset, he looks away down the ridge. "There used to be a climbing path up here, but I guess it's overgrown now. Nobody really used it -- why walk?" Exhaling, he relaxes, allowing Kaeryn to share equally -- or perhaps more than equally -- in the process of balancing the both of them. "I could sleep right here."

"I'd prefer you not, though," Kae whispers softly as she reaches up and brushes her fingers across the other side of his face. "As much as I love Brencia, and I love her very much, but as much as I do, I must admit that moments like this are so nice to have. How often are we actually *alone* now?" Eyes slip closed so she can just enjoy the moment.

T'rell tickles Kaeryn's sides lightly as she closes her eyes. "Don't you go to sleep either, then," he scolds joshingly. "Picnic?" With a light hug, he stirs, leading the way to a flat area of stone away from the shelter, lowering himself tiredly to a comfortable, seated position. He looks up at her as he painstakingly sets out the small napkin and its meagre contents.

Kaeryn holds a hand up and shakes her head, "Not for me, thanks. My stomach is still angry with me from that...concotion this morning, but I will join you, at least." With a twirl, she spins around, causing her skirts to flare out at her knees, and settles down onto the stone behind him. Gentle fingers touch his shoulders, feeling for tense spots before they begin to carefully massage away the knots there.

T'rell's hands drop from his unfolding task as he relaxes suddenly into Kaeryn's massage. "Keep going," he encourages. "Right there... ah."

"These fingers are stronger than you would think, aren't they?" Kae points out quietly as her artist's fingers work carefully over all the tender places. "Have to prove that I'm worth keeping around now, don't I?" she teases, accenting the question with a playful nip at his ear.

"Sure, you can prove it if you want," T'rell teases back, then rolls his head forward on his neck, stretching his spine. He reaches up to gently take Kaeryn's hand in his, leaning back then just enough to kiss it gratefully. "Thanks." He reaches for the bread and cheese he just snagged, pulling his beltknife out, but pauses. "Still?" he queries. "I mean, your stomach." He frowns. "You had the awful stuff, and then the milk, right? That usually does it..."

Kae's arms wrap loosely around T'rell's neck from behind, and she nuzzles her face into his hair. "Milk?" she raises an eyebrow in question, and shakes her head. "I didn't have milk, just that *stuff*."

T'rell turns around, stealing another kiss. Hah, he's doing well tonight. "You didn't? That might explain it. He's not good at giving directions with that remedy of his, I guess." He shrugs apologetically. "Sorry. Is your stomach really bad still?"

"Feels like I swallowed a bag of firestone?" Kae gives the best description she can, and the look on her face is one that make it almost believable that she did. Expression changes quickly enough though, and she shakes her head, "hopefully tomorrow I'll be fine."

T'rell cuts off a small slice of cheese. "Maybe this'll help," he suggests, offering it back. "And bread is usually good to calm your stomach after a hangover." He clears his throat, a touch sheepish. "Believe me."

"This won't make me sick, will it?" Kae turns the piece of cheese over in her hands, looking at it as if it's a piece of stone. "Because the last thing I want to do tonight is make you spend the night taking care of me." With a sigh, and closed eyes, she nibbles from the cheese.

T'rell laughs softly and encouragingly. "No, this should settle your stomach. Not that I'd mind taking care of you, but I at least was hoping for some sleep."

Taking small, careful bites, and chewing them thoroughly, Kae manages to eat the entire piece of cheese, but she grimaces, as if expecting the worst. "So you're telling me I'm learning from the master?" she teases him softly, nipping at his ear again.

T'rell tugs lightly at Kaeryn's hair, grinning back at her. "Keep that up and Bren might have a sib," he warns playfully. "As to experience with hangovers... you've seen my wing at beach parties." He cuts a couple of extra pieces of cheese, offering another to Kaeryn as he leans back against her. "I've been with this same wing for... " he shakes his head with a chuckle, taking a bite of cheese.

"I thought you said you were ready for another one," Kae plants a kiss on his forehead and smiles down at him as he leans back, her embrace around his neck loosening so she can take the second piece of cheese, but still holding him close. "You'd think that I would know, with the rumors people spread about all of us harpers spending all of our time drinking."

"You mean you don't?" Feigning surprise, T'rell winks up at the woman.

"You mean you don't want another child?" Kae teases back, laughing. "I told you, that's the *first* time I've ever done that. Shards, T'rell, you've seen how little I drink wine when I can, never more than 2 glasses at a time, and that much rarely."

T'rell reaches up and captures Kaeryn, pulling her down toward him. "Tease." He calls her bluff, stopping her protests about drinking with an ardent kiss and his fingers, of their own accord, begin to work at the fastenings of her dress.

Kae pulls her face inches away from his, so that her breath traces lightly against his skin. "And when have you ever known me to be?" she asks him softly before her lips are pressed against his again.

Tired? Who ever said T'rell was tired? Starting with Kaeryn's bared shoulders, he begins the lengthy and pleasurable task of covering her smooth skin with kisses and caresses.

"Remind me to get you to bring me up here more often," Kae whispers softly as she lets her eyes slip closed to enjoy the pleasures of the moment.

T'rell gently opens the last fastening on Kaeryn's dress, running light fingertips up her bare spine. "How big a family did you want?" he asks, just barely taking the time to murmur in her ear before moving on to the next spot.

"With you," Kae mumbles softly, opening her eyes and touching his chin so their eyes can meet. "As many as we can fit into the weyr..." her voice trails off and she leans forward, planting a kiss on each of his eyelids.

Words fail him, and he embraces her tightly. Finally, T'rell whispers emphatically, "I love you, Kaeryn."

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