Unfortunate Distractions

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th May 2006

Characters: Isaline, R'mer
Description: Isaline and R'mer think a little too deeply about anatomy in first aid class...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 8 of Turn 3

"Ouch! Isaline, please, I need that arm. Not so tight, please," R'mer said as he looked down at the fingers turning purple on his hand. Isaline relaxed her fingers a little, giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry! I got distracted..."

"It's just a little too tight at the wrist there," R'mer said pointing to where the bandage cut into his skin.

Making a face, Isaline went back and set about loosening the bandage. "This is easier with animals," she muttered under her breath as she rewrapped the cloth carefully. "Better?"

"And with more than a couple candlemarks of sleep," R'mer nodded. The hard work of keeping a dragonet fed along with classes, studying, and the mental exhaustion he was feeling trying to keep up with his fellow weyrlings was taking a toll on him as well.

"Don't talk about things we can't have," Isaline replied mournfully, patting his arm. "Okay, your turn."

"All right," he sighed as he started unwrapping the bandage from his arm.
"Do you miss the animals?"

"Yes, sometimes." Isaline shoved her shirt sleeve up and held out her arm for him. "I miss riding the most. I suppose I'll have time for it again eventually. It just seems like it will be forever."

"Yes," R'mer grinned as he rested her arm against his leg and positioned the splints. "I remember I liked riding too." Especially the ride he took with her, despite the embarrassing results afterwards.

Her lips curved into a slow smile as she glanced up at him. "There's a lot of fun things that we don't get to do for a while."

"I suppose so," he replied as he felt the blood rush to his face, knowing she was thinking the exact thing he was thinking. The bronze weyrling concentrated very carefully on the bandages as he started wrapping her arm.

She repressed the temptation to say anything else, knowing it would be long months still until they could do anything about their mutual feelings.
Still, she couldn't help the jump in her stomach every time his fingers brushed against her skin.

R'mer wondered if it had been such a good idea to have done what he did with Isaline right before weyrlingood. After all, if he had come into it not knowing what he was missing, how could he miss it now? But as his eyes flickered up to her face for a brief moment he couldn't help the small smile that started to spread across his face. He might know what he's missing, but he also now know what he had to look forward to. Three more months wouldn't be that bad, after all...

"It's too loose," she said after a short pause, looking down at the bandage around her arm. Her grin had returned, along with a feeling of pleasure that she obviously could distract him as well as he could distract her. "Quick, fix it... Y'sani's looking at us!" "Shards," R'mer whispered as he nervously began unwinding and retying the bandages. If Y'sani knew what they had been talking about... well, not really _talking_ about, but implying... and if he knew what R'mer had been _thinking_!... "Flaming fingers won't work," he muttered looking around to find the Weyrlingmaster. "How's it going over here?" Y'sani asked, pausing next to them and quirking an eyebrow at R'mer's nervous fumbling. "Having any problems?" "My fingers just don't seem to be used to this kin of thing," R'mer answered self-consciously. "I made the bandages much too lose last time and now I'm having trouble getting them off."

The Weyrlingmaster bent down and untangled the bandage with a quick twist of wrist. "It can be tricky at first, but we want everyone to know the basics.
Weyrlings get conscripted to help during particularly bad Threadfalls all the time, and it can never hurt to know how to take care of an injury." "Yes, sir. I understand," the bronze weyrling nodded. "I will keep working on it, sir."

"Let's see you do it again, then," Y'sani replied, looking like he was in no hurry to move along. Isaline gave R'mer a quick panicked look and tried to hold her arm steady to make his job easier.

"Yes, sir." R'mer's blush deepened. Did the Weyrlingmaster know what he had been thinking? Did he suspect? What would he do? The weyrling tried not to let his fingers slip as he carefully, slowly wrapped the bandage one more time around Isaline's arm. Would she get in trouble too? Could they be banned from seeing each other? The questions continued as he nervously looked up at the weyrlingmaster from time to time.

Isaline held her breath the entire time, willing R'mer to stop looking so guilty. She let out her breath sharply when he was finally done, an glanced up at the Weyrlingmaster.

Y'sani studied the bandage for a moment before nodding once. "Good enough, R'mer. Just keep practicing." The bronzerider gave the two of them just long enough to think they'd escaped before adding. "And I'd like to see the two of you pick different partners tomorrow. You need to get to know _all_ of your fellow weyrlings, since they're going to be your wingmates." "Yes, sir," R'mer replied, keeping his eyes on the bandages as he unwrapped her arm. Shards, he had blown it, hadn't he. The color didn't leave his face.

Giving both weyrlings a friendly smile, Y'sani nodded. "Good. Why don't you two move on to the next exercise, then... and if you have any more trouble, make sure you ask."

The bronze weyrling finally glanced up at Isaline and gave her an apologetic smile. He would be sure that never happened again.

Once Y'sani was past them, Isaline returned his smile. "So maybe we _should_
find new partners... at least for the next couple months. After that, well... we'll have plenty of time to be social." R'mer smiled shyly, but his eyes told her he liked the idea. "Well, can't we be partners _sometimes_ between now and then? I don't want to stop seeing you entirely."

"Oh, we'll see each other still," Isaline promised, helping him fold the bandages back up. "We'll have more free time as our dragons get older, after all." "That's true," he nodded. "It will be a long few months still, won't it."

Isaline grinned and pushed herself to her feet, holding out a hand to help him up. "Oh, not _that_ long. And I promise it'll be worth the wait."

Last updated on the May 15th 2006

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Unfortunate Distractions