He Likes You!

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 17th September 2024

Characters: Oriene, Tirraze
Description: Tirraze has the opportunity to introduce Oriene to Riamorth.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 11

Oriene

Tirraze stared into the distance as she scrubbed Riamorth's hide. If he was perturbed by her disconnected demeanor, he had yet to express any concern about it. He was content to snuggle with her if she was not ready to play, and he could always feel her love. That was the one thing about her that did not seem distant, and the most important thing to keep close.

}:There she is, there she is!:{ Riamorth reported. He splashed excitedly in the water, drenching Tirraze, but she did not seem to care. The blue took off running toward Oriene, though, and that did concern her.

"Wait." Tirraze stood and jogged after him.

Oriene made a surprised sound as Riamorth came charging her way. "Oh, maybe not so fast! Not so fast!" Baby dragons were notorious for being clumsy and what if he hurt himself trying to get over to her? Oriene would feel extra awful!

Riamorth did not heed Tirraze's caution, but when Oriene spoke, he skidded to a stop, plopped his backside onto the ground, swished his tail in the sandy dirt behind him, and lolled his tongue out the side of his mouth to wait for her to approach him.

Tirraze would have to scrub his back half again.

To her surprise, Oriene laughed. He was so like a canine that she couldn't help herself! "That's better. Much better. Can't have you tumbling around, hurting those growing wings of yours, okay?" she said as she knelt to be at eye-level with him.

Riamorth's eyes whirled deepest blue, almost violet at the praise from Oriene.

}:She's so nice! Do you think she would maybe give me scritchies?:{

Tirraze smiled. Something felt... right. More right than she had felt since the Hatching.

"I told you he would like you," she said. "He wants you to give him scritchies. Like this." She demonstrated.

Oriene followed suit. "Scritchies? Does he really call it that?" He seemed so adorable! But it was still a little weird. Would it ever stop feeling weird?

"His exact words!" Tirraze crossed her heart.

Riamorth's eyes fluttered closed, and he began thumping his leg. Oriene chuckled. "He really is like a canine," she said aloud this time. "Does he...even know what a canine is yet?"

"I don't think he's ever had the chance to see one himself," said Tirraze. "But he does like to sniff around inside my head." Riamorth did not speak much, but she could always feel him looking for answers with avid curiosity.

"How is he...um...doing? Growing?" Oriene asked. She suddenly felt very awkward. They used to be able to relate to _anything_ together. But now Oriene didn't know what to talk about even though she desperately wanted to talk to her friend like they had before.

"Bigger every day, I think." Tirraze tilted her head. "Are you all right? A-are you... still angry at me for being weird at the feast?"

That immediately shifted the mood. Oriene's expression and posture changed to one guarded but hopeful. "I wasn't angry," she said. "I..." She stumbled, couldn't finish the sentence. What _had_ she been feeling? It was so complicated! "Tir, I...I wasn't never angry at you. I...was sad. Devastated. I always thought that we would Impress _together_ and then...then it happened for you but not for me. And, I thought I would be happy for you because...because...because that's what you wanted and I'm your friend but..."

She looked at Riamorth. "They keep talking about blue dragons. _Everyone_ knows the stereotype about them. I mean, at least when a guy rides them." She scritched Riamorth in quiet apology. She really didn't want to be talking about this on their first meeting. He was so adorable! Oh, Faranth, if she messed up her words on this, with her best friend...

"I just...don't know what he means. I thought...I thought we were going to Impress greens. Or maybe you on a gold. Not..." She really didn't want to make Riamorth sound like he was a disappointment. He was Tirraze's dragon! He was perfect for her, just like every dragon as for their chosen rider. Oriene just...didn't know what it meant for _her_.

Tirraze blinked and pondered for a moment. Maybe that was part of why she had felt so detached from everything. She was living a life she did not expect, but she also had no idea what it was supposed to mean. Or whether it even had to _mean_ anything. She had never given much thought to sex and sexuality. She had never fallen in love or gotten close to any particular man... but she had never once thought she did not _like_ men. Or that she _did_ like women. But were all these thoughts the connection she was lacking? Did that even make sense?

"Is there... anything you want him to mean?"

Oriene looked really confused by this question. "No...?" she answered. "I mean, he's _your_ dragon. He's meant for _you_, not me." She reached over and put a hand on Tirraze's arm. "Tir, I'm your friend no matter what dragon you ride or don't ride. It's just...that ever since you Impressed, you've been acting weird and it's...it's really throwing me off. I don't know what to think," she said softly.

Friend. Well, that answered that question, anyway. Tirraze was relieved to know she was not going to lose Oriene as a friend. Not on account of the dragon, anyway.

"It's been throwing me off, too," she said. "But... I think it's getting better? I think it will be better. I hope you can give me the chance?"

Oriene let out a tittering laugh. "Tir, how could I _not_?" She scratched Riamorth's head. "It's not like you can just get rid of him," she said with a smiling chuckle. She tilted her head to the side. "I mean, he is kind of cute. Especially when he does the whole canine leg thing. I hope he doesn't do that when he gets bigger. He might smack someone!"

Riamorth tilted his head and looked to Tirraze.

}:You want to get rid of me? I won't hurt your friend, I promise!:{ He whimpered aloud.

**No! No, never.** She knelt, wrapped her arms around his neck, and touched her cheek to his.

"She knows you wouldn't hurt her, Ri."

"Hurt me?" Oriene echoed. "Oh, his eyes! They're yellow. He's upset, isn't he? Oh, what did he say? I'm sorry, Riamorth. I didn't mean to suggest that you should go away!" She knelt beside the little blue dragon and pet him, hoping to smooth over the situation.

Riamorth leaned into Oriene's touch and sighed with relief, and his eyes returned to a more cyan color.

"He thought I might want to send him away for being too rambunctious," said Tirraze. "But I won't ever want to send you away. You're stuck with me forever." She kissed the tip of his snout, and he lolled out his tongue.

"He really is cute," Oriene said softly, watching their interaction with a small pang in her heart. She let out a sigh and said, "I should let you get back to him. I know you don't have a lot of time on your hands nowadays. Maybe...we can do lunch soon?"

"Very soon, I hope." Tirraze stood again and smiled. "I'm glad you two got a chance to meet."

"Me too." Oriene rose and then gave her friend a hug. It felt a little more awkward than it used to but at least...it was something familiar. "I'll...see you soon?"

Tirraze returned the hug and squeezed gently.

"Definitely."

Last updated on the September 23rd 2024

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He Likes You!