Being Proud of Each Other

Writers: Aaron, Avery
Date Posted: 2nd November 2021

Characters: V'rel, Tirraze
Description: The siblings discuss recent momentous events.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 4 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Kadira, T'lin, A'kades, J'ler, Naradis, M'gan

By the time the Dragonsfall Hatching ended and they were all heading
home, it was late at night by Dolphin Cove's time, and so V'rel didn't
feel right seeking out Tirraze to gossip with her, not when he expected
she'd be up in the early morning. But gossip spread across Weyrs faster
than dragon wings could fly, and she'd probably hear soon and want all
the details.

So the next morning, before _he_ had mid-morning drills, he washed up
and headed to the Dining Cavern to look for his sister.

Tirraze sat at her usual table, sipping her klah and trying very hard to
look like a Very Grown-up Woman who drinks klah before work.

"V'rel!" she greeted her brother, smiling broadly to see him. She always
had time for V'rel. "Good morning. Do you have time to have breakfast?"

"I came here _just_ to have breakfast with you," he said, grinning
broadly as he passed by. "Just let me grab a drink and a bowl of
porridge and I'll be right back."

Once he got said items, he sat down with her. "Figured you'd wanna know
all about yesterday."

"Apparently, I should have asked you to take me with you," Tirraze
answered. She was very happy to hear that V'rel had made time just for
her. "I wasn't counting on history to be made."

V'rel and Tirraze were close because they'd been raised together.
A'kades had brought V'rel to events at River Bluff with his other two
children, and he'd always including Tirraze when he visited Rising Moons
and then Dolphin Cove, but that was more V'rel and his sisters and not
mixing the unrelated ones. Now that he was older, V'rel thought maybe
they all should have mixed more.

"I feel like you should have been there too, even if you two don't know
each other as well. But I can pass on my congratulations and even bring
you out there if you want."

"I'd be happy to get to know her better." Even if it looked like it was
only because she was special now. "A'kades must be very proud. Didn't
you say your brother had Impressed, too?" There were only so many places
to sit, Tirraze supposed, when it came to flying to the other side of
the world.

"He Impressed at the last Hatching. That means all three of his children
are riders." V'rel paused, and said, "I think it worries him, that now
we're all at risk."

Tirraze tried not to let it show on her face how much she wished A'kades
might have expressed relief that she was not a rider, too. Not yet,
anyway. But even if he did see her as a niece â€" or some kind of relation
worth worrying about â€" worrying about nieces was a little different from
worrying about one's own children.

"Well. I'm worried for you, too, but, I'm proud of you for fighting to
keep everyone safe." She had no idea whether that could be comforting to
A'kades or not. She could hardly imagine having a child of her own.

"You make it sound so noble," V'rel said, briefly looking a little
wistful. "But it's terrifying to go up there sometimes. I wouldn't trade
Rymeth for anything but sometimes I wish it was an interval, you know?"

"I don't understand anyone who doesn't wish it was an interval!" Tirraze
said. "But this is a thing that someone has to do. And it is noble to
choose to be one of those someones."

"That makes you noble, too, for even considering it," he reminded her.

"Well, that's very nice of you to say." Tirraze did not sound convinced.
"Naradis is worried I'm not putting my whole heart into riding dragon,"
she admitted. "And she's been stewing in that worry since we were
twelve, I guess."

"But I'm the only one left who hasn't Impressed now, aren't I?"

V'rel tilted his head. "Did she just approach you out the blue? You're
not close friends or anything, right?"

"Yeah. I mean, we're not close." Tirraze shrugged. "But we've at least
known each other pretty close to our whole lives. I asked her to stick
around and just have lunch with me after that, but she wasn't
interested."

"That's a shame if she just came to lecture." He paused, then said, "Are
you worried you don't put your whole heart into it, and that's why none
have picked you yet?"

"Maybe the dragonets think so. But I'm ready to be as committed to
riding as whatever I do," said Tirraze. "And I will be OK if I never get
picked. I'm not worried."

"I really admire your self-confidence.It's a good family trait, isn't
it? I would have been happy with my Weaver craft forever."

Tirraze brightened noticeably at that. She was happy to have V'rel's
approval. "It is," she agreed. "Do you still work on anything here and
there? I know even if you loved doing it, you might not think it's fun
to do it in your off time."

"I do like the work. Sitting on my weyrledge and sewing is relaxing. I
made T'lin a shirt to wear to the Dragonsfall Hatchings, actually. Do
you want a present? If not new clothes, a new hanging for your room?"

"I'd never turn down a gift from you," Tirraze answered. She smiled and
said, "I'm sure T'lin looked very handsome."

"He did. I'll make him wear it to this Hatching, too, so you can see,"
V'rel promised. "Speaking of looking handsome...anyone _you're_ seeing?"

"Psh," Tirraze scoffed. "I don't have time for that." It was a wonder
_anybody_ managed to find time for it.

"But do you have interest, if you did have time? Seen any cute boys or
girls round?"

Tirraze shrugged.

"It hasn't really crossed my mind," she admitted. "The Weyr is full of
pretty people, I guess."

"Well, isn't that the truth. Let me know if you've got your eye on
anyone and I can discreetly inquire if they're single and like girls,"
he said with a wink.

Tirraze chuckled and touched V'rel's arm.

"I appreciate the offer," she said. "I'll let you know if ever I need to
take you up on it."

He lifted his hand to cover his sister's. "What else is family for?" he
asked. "So, what else is new in your life?"

"Not much happens to us lowly Candidates," Tirraze grinned. "At least,
not the ones who don't have their eye on any particular special someone,
I guess. It's best to stay busy, anyway. No time for drama."

"How about you? Everything OK?"

"I like M'gan as a Wingleader, and I'm happy in my relationship with
T'lin. So I'd say things are going really well."

"That's the dream, isn't it?" said Tirraze. Nothing was permanent in the
Weyr, anyway. So everyone had to enjoy what they had while they had it.

"It's everything I want. I can't imagine myself ever leaving Dolphin
Cove, not even to go back to Rising Moons." The climate there had been
more moderate, with some snows and a crisp fall rather than the
Turn-round tropical heat, but V'rel found he loved it.

"I'm not especially attached to the place. But I love the people," said
Tirraze. She wanted to be where her family was.

"I think that's how a lot of the River Bluff people felt, and why so
many of them went back to Barrier Lake together when it opened. Not that
other people didn't transfer, but... well, you know."

"I know," Tirraze nodded. She missed some of the people who left. But
almost all of the most important people were at Dolphin Cove. Almost.

"Being far apart is a little easier when you can go anywhere in the
world in a few seconds. Or. At least, it seems that way."

â€œItâ€™s true. You know Iâ€™ll take you anywhere you need, right?â€

"If I had anywhere else to be, I'd have already asked you," Tirraze
chuckled. "But I do appreciate it."

He leaned in and hugged her. "What are siblings for?"

"Dragonback rides and relationship advice, apparently!" Tirraze laughed
as she hugged him back. "I know there's not much I can really do for
you, but. If you ever need anything I can give, all you have to do is
let me know."

"You do a lot for me. You're my sister and one of my best friends.
Remember when you picked me up when my relationship with Ashelia fell
apart?"

"How could I forget?" Tirraze smiled. She was sorry that their feelings
had been hurt, but she was glad that they had realized things were not
going to work out before their lives had gotten any more intertwined.
The logistics of getting things untangled could get complicated.

"But if you break up with T'lin, I'll break your arm," she added with
mock severity.

â€œWait, not his for hurting me?â€

"He would never, obviously. So it would be all your fault," Tirraze
grinned.

"Blame your brother, _I_ see how it is." He playfully swatted her
shoulder, then grinned.

Tirraze shook her head and put on her best solemn face. "Sorry. I don't
make the rules. Not yet, anyway."

"When you're Headwoman, you're gonna outrank me and it's gonna be
great," he said with a laugh.

"I promise to be a fair and magnanimous Headwoman," Tirraze promised
with a lordly pose and tone.

"Well, I imagine you have many important duties," he said. "Want me to
help you put things away?"

"I would appreciate that very much," Tirraze answered. She offered a
smile and then stood. "And we probably should get to it, or I'm going to
end up late for work!"

"You got it," he said, picking up his tray to help out.

Last updated on the February 10th 2022

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Being Proud of Each Other