Unrequited

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 10th January 2025

Characters: Tsaera, M'kall
Description: M'kall wants to ask Tsaera on a date - so he does.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: A'len, I'serin

M'kall

At first he thought it just a rumor. There had been so many rumors
flying, especially in regard to River Bluff riders, ever since I'serin
had won Weyrleader and M'kayre had become his second. But there was no
denying _that_ muscular, dark golden dragon in Dragonsfall's weyrbowl.

**Tabanirth.**

}:That's right,:{ Sanderveth confirmed. }:She's come to stay at
Dragonsfall for a while. That will be nice, won't it?:{

**More than nice,** M'kall thought idly as he watched a pair of
Weyrlings move to help ferry things into what had once been Ashela's
weyr.

}:Those young pups might need your, uh, assistance, don't you think?:{
Sanderveth said with a nudge.

**Tsaera.** M'kall hadn't thought to ever see her again. After she'd
left River Bluff he'd lost all hope of ever living at the same Weyr as
her again. **Take me over there,** he said as he climbed up to
Sanderveths' neckridge.

Shortly after, Tabanirth welcomed the bronze to her new ledge with a
rumble of approval. }:Sanderveth is here.:{

**I am aware,** Tsaera thought back. **And Aluneth, and Bhelth, and
many others.** The morning had been a litany of rediscovery as her
gold recalled the dragons that had been at her Weyr before they'd
moved. Dragons had terrible memories. "Over there," she said, pointing
to her bedroom door as one of the weyrlings stood like a confused
little flit in the middle of the room. "That basket is clothing. Thank
you."

}:I mean that he has come to my ledge,:{ Tabanirth said, sounding
pleased. }:And his rider, too. His rider wishes to see you.:{

Tsaera paused. That would be M'kall, then. She'd always liked him, but
they'd never been close. Kind of him to stop by so soon after she'd
arrived. **Send him in,** she told Tabanirth, and turned to the open
door to greet the bronzeider.

"Weyrwoman," M'kall greeted with an incline of his silvery head as he
walked into the weyr. "I recognized Tabanirth across the Weyrbowl and
realized that the rumors must be true.

}:You look as lovely as ever,:{ Sanderveth said, settling his wings
against his back smoothly.

}:Of course, why wouldn't I?:{ Tabanirth replies with typical dragon
aplomb. }:I am always lovely.:{

"Come in!" Tsaera gestured for him to join her as she sat at the
new-to-her table. "I'd offer you klah but I don't have any. How are
you, M'kall?"

M'kall wanted to tell Tsaera exactly what Sanderveth had told
Tabanirth, but he suspected it wouldn't be received any better. It was
true though, now that he had laid eyes on her, that she was as
beautiful as he remembered.

"I'm well. To be honest, I'm surprised Saibra managed to convince you
to leave the warmth for the snow here." M'kall well remembered seeing
Tsaera soaking up the warmth of the River Bluff beaches.

The goldrider smiled ruefully. "And I may yet live to regret it. But
she needed help, so here I am. And you? You transferred here after--
after?"

"After River Bluff fell," M'kall supplied softly. "Yes. Although I had
stepped back from being a Wingleader, many of the men and women I led
were sent here. I couldn't abandon them. I only intended to stay for a
few months, to see them settled. I had planned on transferring
someplace warmer, but months turned into a Turn and here I still am
three Turns later."

"Besides the weather, are you happy here?"

"Happy may be a bit too strong. Content, though, yes." M'kall's lips
tilted a little. "Are you coming to Dragonsfall alone?"

That seemed like an odd question, but Tsaera had Turns of practice in
dealing with odd questions. "Just me, no escort I'm afraid. Were you
hoping for someone?"

M'kall was no longer a youth lacking confidence or afraid of a little
age gap. He was old enough and wise enough now to just go for what he
wanted. "No, I wasn't. I was hoping, actually, to take you out on a
date sometime."

Tsaera blinked. Had he just-- **Oh Faranth, I'm seventy-five!**

}:I do not see why your age is relevant,:{ Tabanrith rumbled in her
mind. }:It has been a long time since you have been with a man.:{

**Precisely.** She smiled, realizing that M'kall was still waiting for
an answer while she nattered on with her dragon. "It's been a while
since I've been asked on a date."

M'kall arched an eyebrow at that before saying, "I'm not sure why."
While they were both entering later middle-age, they both still had
several decades ahead of them. "If it makes you feel better, it's been
a while since I've _asked_ anyone on a date." He had not sought the
comforts of a woman since River Bluff fell, and the couple of mating
flights Sanderveth had won at Dragonsfall did not factor into the
equation for M'kall.

The goldrider hesitated. "All right," she said. Trust a bronzerider to
spring a question like that on her the first time they saw each other
after Turns. But he was attractive, and she was only going to be at
Dragonsfall Weyr for a little while. If she was considering a fling,
better to do it here than at home where the consequences could be much
larger.

Tsaera was surprised to realize that she _was_ considering a fling at
all. Tabanirth was right-- it had been a while since she'd taken a
partner, even a very temporary one. "But I need a few days to settle
in first."

"Of course," M'kall said, although there was definitely a twinkle in
his blue eyes now. He had waited around when they were younger and
missed too many opportunities to try and woo Tsaera. He wasn't going
to miss _any_ opportunities this time. Another young rider, too young
for the fighting Wings, but no longer in Weyrlinghood, drug another
box inside the weyr. "Maybe some of us from back in the day can get
together one evening and reminisce." Many of the men who'd been
Wingleaders when Tsaera was River Bluff's Weyrwomen were now at
Dragonsfall, not to mention at least one former River Bluff Headwoman.

"Perhaps. I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces." Although in
her experience, having the former Weyrwoman present tended to kill
conversations rather than spur them on. A good dragonrider knew when
to wag their tongue and when to keep silent. She watched the young
dragonrider struggle into the other room with the box and made a
mental note to suggest that he spend more time with weights. "Catch me
up, M'kall. How are my riders doing here?"

"They're making you and River Bluff proud," M'kall said, with a touch
of pride in his voice as well. After all, he'd led many of them as a
Wingleader. "Of course, there's A'len, who is still being too hard on
I'serin." He rolled his eyes a bit at that one.

"I'serin stopped by just a little while ago. Whether A'len likes it or
not, his son wears the knots." She glanced up. "How are you
finding I'serin as Weyrleader?"

M'kall thought about it for a moment. "I wish he were less bookish and
a bit more of a traditional leader. Now, I have nothing against studying
hides and being prepared, however, sometimes a leader needs to make a
decision on the fly without consulting his notes."

**Interesting.** But not surprising. I'serin had always been a
thoughtful boy. "I heard that there was some difficulty with the first
Threadfall after Chioneth rose."

"That's putting it lightly," M'kall said matter-of-factly. "There were
several casualties that day. It's been better since then, though."

"That is a low bar to clear, but I'm glad to hear it nonetheless."
Tsaera said ruefully. Transitioning between Weyrleaders had always
been such a risk once Thread came. Tabanirth had never been
particularly faithful to a single bronze, so she knew very well the
challenges that came with changing weyrleaders every mating flight.
She tucked that thought away for later so she could mull on it and see
if there was anything she could do to help, although she was here only
briefly and only to lead the Weyrwoman's Wing while Saibra was stuck
on the Sands. "But it is good news that there is a gold egg on the
Sands. I'm very happy for Saibra."

"Having a River Bluff male sire the gold egg is good for everyone,"
M'kall said. "It makes those from River Bluff feel as if the old Weyr
still lives on in some way. Although, I imagine native Dragonsfall
riders might be getting tired of outside bronzes winning the Senior
Queen. My understanding is that it's been a while since someone born
at Dragonsfall was the Weyrleader."

The goldrider hid a smile. Of course her bronzes chased and won. "I am
looking forward to the Hatching. I hear that there's a new type of
sausage here, and I look forward to seeing it at the feast."

"Ah, yes, they're called 'dragontails.' They're not nearly as spicy as
a real sausage, but they're not bad either. There's an assortment of
different things you can top them with." M'kall could easily eat two
dragontails in one meal, but his indigestion made him pay for it.

"That's the last one, ma'am," the winded box carrier finally said,
hefting the last box into place.

"I should be going," M'kall said, standing. "You no doubt want to
settle in a bit and I'm keeping you from it."

"I do. But I suppose I will see you in a few days?" Tsaera said.

"You'll be seeing me soon. I promise," he said with a wink.

Last updated on the January 11th 2025

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Unrequited