Lost That Bet

Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 15th April 2025

Characters: K'far, Vaile
Description: K'far and Vaile attend the DFW Hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Chioneth, Galgaith, Tiyo

Notes:
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**Is K'far on guard duty during the Hatching?** Vaile asked of Liranth as the dragons started humming. Even since the incident at Barrier Lake, various riders and guards had been assigned to watch over the goldriders. So far, nothing had happened, but the Hatching was today and that meant visitors to the Weyr.

Everyone was excited but also on guard.

}: Let me ask, :{ Liranth said as she stretched her limbs. It was snowing gently and Vaile was looking forward to some warm mulled wine later already.

}:He worked a few extra shifts in exchange for having the Hatching to spend with Vaile,:{ said Torth. }:He would love to sit with her, if she is interested.:{

}: She would love that. She'll meet K'far on the third tier. :{

Vaile took a look at herself in the mirror before going to Liranth. She was wearing a floor-length dark blue dress with splits up the thighs. It was too cold to show all of that leg so she had on tights and her riding boots. She was wearing the necklace that K'far had gotten her right around Turn's End too. She draped a long brown cloak around her shoulders but knew that it would come off at some point because of the Hatching Grounds heat. Liranth dropped her off at the entrance and Vaile went to claim their seats.

K'far joined her shortly thereafter, dressed in his smartest outfit, along with a red neck tie. When he saw Vaile, he smiled, happy to see her wearing the necklace-- but more importantly, happy to see her.

"You look stunning, as usual."

"I could say the same about you," she answered. Her hands went to the necktie to fix its cocked nature but then lingered on his chest for a moment longer than just friendly. She smiled shyly. Feeling incredibly awkward at her own flirtations, Vaile looked out over the Sands. "Best seats in the house," she remarked with a motion towards the commotion.

K'far returned the smile, but his was more more confident. He very much appreciated the show of affection and certainly did not want to discourage it.

"It's been a while since I've had seats this good."

"I don't always come watch them like this," Vaile admitted. "Sometimes I volunteer for ferrying duty or something else -- there's so much that goes on during a Hatching that needs help. And besides, others can enjoy it more I think." But everyone was here because of the queen egg and Vaile didn't blame them. As she sat down, she sat close enough to K'far to comfortably hold his hand -- possibly. "Do you want to wager on who is going to Impress the queen?" she asked.

"Oh, I would just be guessing," said K'far. "Did you have a particular bet in mind?" That could certainly lead to some interesting places.

"Everyone seems to think that Nosarre is the pick," Vaile replied. "I...like to go with unexpected. Like that one." She nodded her head towards one of the other girls. "I think her name is Tiyo. She's Weyrbred, which I know golds tend to dislike, but she's got the goldrider spirit, I think." She tilted her gaze up to K'far. "You?"

"Oh, skies." K'far gazed out and picked one at random. Guessing, indeed. "That one." He certainly did not know her name.

Vaile caught his random pick and laughed. "Just throwing a dart at it, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," K'far nodded. "I'll bet you, oh, a bowl of sangria on the beach that she gets her."

"That's not a bet!" Vaile protested with another laugh. "That's a-- oh! They're hatching!" Sure enough, the first egg had cracked open, with a bronze spilling out of the shells. "Well, that's a good start," Vaile remarked. She leaned her shoulder against K'far's as they settled into watching the spectacle. Somewhere in the middle of all of the dragonets finding their riders, Vaile's eyes drifted high up to spot Liranth, privately remembering their own little miraculous day. "It never ceases to amaze me," she said to K'far as she looked back at the hatchlings. "The luck we have."

A lot of things about a rider's life did not seem terribly lucky-- not after Thread had returned. But none of them would ever forget the day their own dragon had Hatched.

And K'far had felt lucky of late himself for a different reason. He gently took Vaile's hand.

"Aye. It is amazing."

Vaile looked down at their entwined hands. A shy but sincere smile applied itself to her face. When she looked back out on the Sands, she didn't retract her hand. "Looks like that gold egg is about to hatch," she noted. "Here's to our wagers?"

"Best of luck to us both," K'far agreed.

Oh, skies. What a... what an extraordinary looking gold she was. He winced, but he quickly schooled his expression. Everyone would be thinking it, but it would be unseemly to say it aloud. The poor dear was just not very handsome, was she?

"Ha! Would you look at that! What are the odds?" As it turned out, the random pick was a good one. Never in a million Turns would he have picked the right one on purpose.

Which was not to say she did not deserve it, whatever her name was. He simply did not know any of them enough to have made an actually educated guess.

}:You lot aren't very good at knowing, anyway. Even when you think you are,:{ said Torth.

"Well, since I said a bowl of sangria wasn't a real bet," Vaile said with a chuckle. "What do I owe you for that lucky guess win?"

"Oh, the sangria isn't the important part," said K'far. "All I really need is the time spent with you. But count as the winnings your consideration only." He smiled and winked. "You're more than welcome to say no. Always."

Him admitting that he wanted to spend time with her sent Vaile's stomach into a light flutter. Her cheeks turned a delicate pink as she looked away. "I...wouldn't say no. To you."

K'far smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. That sent another flutter through her stomach.

Before he could pull away, she hooked a finger in his tunic, keeping him close. So that she could tentatively brush her lips against his.

K'far happily, tenderly kissed her lips and gently ran his hand over her hair. Vaile shivered slightly at the touch.

}: It's about time, :{ Liranth privately said to Torth.

}:K'far was afraid of rushing things. He did not want to hurt your rider while she was still grieving,:{ Torth explained. He and K'far had discussed it at length. Often.

}: Yes, but at some point, even if you get injured in Threadfall, you still have to get back up in the sky, :{ Liranth pointed out. She flicked her wing and leaned against Torth. }: He's good for her, your rider. She knows it. :{

There was a decrease to the commotion that signaled the end of the Hatching, which took Vaile a little by surprise because how long had she been kissing K'far? Surely not very long! Her cheeks were flushed when she pulled back. "That..." she started to say, suddenly uncertain. Or was she just overthinking it again?

K'far was beaming like a weyrling until Vaile's tone turned uncertain, and then he faltered a bit.

"That...? Was that all right?"

Vaile bit her lip. Then her eyes lit up a little as she nodded. "We could do that again. Without the wager. If you wanted."

"I'd love to." K'far's smile returned to its full confidence, and he kissed Vaile again.

Last updated on the April 25th 2025

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Lost That Bet