Written in the Stars

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 3rd June 2025

Characters: By'ler, Oriene
Description: Byllaver takes Oriene stargazing, as promised.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 8 of Turn 12
Notes: Pre-Impression for B'yler

By'ler

Oriene

“So,” Oriene said as a sunny greeting as she sat down across from
Byllaver at dinner that evening. “When are you taking me to go see the
stars?”

Byllaver’s head whipped in the lovely blonde’s direction. “I have time
tonight, if you’re available.”

“Sure! Shortly after sundown?”

“Absolutely. Meet me by the star stones.”

--

Since Byllaver was hoping to show Oriene more than just some stars,
he’d made a trip by the bathing pool, and now some of his best cologne
wafted from his person as he folded up a blanket and tucked it among a
hot pitcher of klah and a couple of cups in a basket.

It was quite a walk up to the stones, but Byllaver didn’t mind. His
thighs, roped with muscle, enjoyed the burn of exercise.

He arrived at the Finger Rock just as the sun was beginning to dip
into the ocean.

“I brought some klah in case the wind gets chilly here at night,” he
said, still not familiar enough with Dolphin Cove’s weather to know
what the nights were like.

“Klah?” Oriene echoed with a grin. “In this heat? Lucky for you, I
brought something else.” She held up a wineskin. “It can get a bit
chilly at night but we’ll figure it out,” she added. “So, tell me
about these stars.” She was wearing a flowy, light dress but had a
cloak that currently doubled as their blanket.

Byllaver smiled. Wine? Even better!

“The first constellation will begin to appear in the next few minutes.
You’ll see it starting to rise out of the ocean.” The candidate set
his basket down and stretched out his legs beside Oriene. “Great
dress, by the way. You look fantastic.”

“Thanks!” she answered sunnily. She did a little shimmy of her
shoulders. “It’s one of my favorites. Sage green is exactly the color
dragon I want.” She uncorked the wine and poured two cups of it. “And
you? What color are you hoping for?”
“It’s going to sound cliche, but a bronze is my goal.” It was said
unrepentantly, despite his words. “A nice, brassy bronze.”

Oriene laughed. “All guys want a bronze,” she answered with a
dismissive wave of her hand. “The real question is -- how do you feel
about possibly getting a blue or green? Because _that’s_ more likely
to happen.”

Byllaver shrugged. “I suppose it’s like when you want a purebred puppy
and you end up with a scraggly mutt but it’s so cute that you love it
anyway.” At least, he hoped that’s what would happen if he ended up
with the misfortune of a green or blue.

“I suppose so,” she agreed with a chuckle. “Can you imagine a mutt of
a dragon? Half brown, half blue?”

“It actually sounds kind of… cute. I’m imagining a bronze dragon with
dark brown splotches like those bovine you see down at the farming
cotholds.”

“Yes! Oh, that _would_ be adorable. Too bad it doesn’t happen. Well,
much. I’ve seen some mild dappling on a dragon but nothing like
bovines have,” she answered. She looked up at the sky. “Still, it’s
cute to imagine.” She took a sip in the pause that followed. “Okay, so
constellations?”

Byllaver, who had been staring at Oriene’s lovely profile, was jolted
back to task. “Oh, right, the constellations.” He pointed. “Just to
the right of the Dawn Sisters you’ve got the Harper. See the outline
of a man? Looks like he’s holding a harp?”

She had to lean close to follow his pointing fingers. The evening wind
caught her hair, ruffling it. After a squinting moment, she said, “Oh,
I think I do! Neat. Who decides the names for these things?”

“I dunno. They’re all in musty old books and hides.” Byllaver looked
around the sky as more stars began to appear in the darkening sky.
“The younger apprentices come up with their own names for the
constellations… they just don’t let the Masters hear. Like that one,”
he pointed, “apprentices call it The Happy Man because it looks like a
man holding his… Well, let’s say he’s having fun all by himself.”

Oriene’s eyes widened. “No,” she breathed, laughing silently. “Oh, I
see why you don’t want the Masters to hear that one. Tell me another
one.”

Byllaver’s teeth flashed, the smile dimpling his cheeks. “Look to the
left over there,” he pointed. “Find that triangle of stars, no, not
there, _there_. Okay, now look down and you’ll see what we call The
Luscious Lady.” He shot an unrepentant grin at her. “I did not name
these by the way, blame the others. Anyway, if you follow the trail of
stars it looks like she has a giant pair.” He cupped his hands in
front of his chest in gesture. Oriene laughed at the mimicry.

“Oh, it does!” she agreed, still giggling. “Though, when you said
‘triangle’ I thought you were going to talk about something else on a
woman.”

“Yes, well, _that_ triangle is over there on The Lewd Lady. Very
different from the _Luscious_ Lady.” By’ler cleared his throat,
although he was still smiling. “Why don’t you see if you can find and
name your own constellation?”

“Does it have to be a naughty constellation?” she asked as she began
scanning the stars and trying to impose shapes on them.

By’ler smiled in the darkness. “No, it doesn’t have to be naughty.
Those just tend to be the ones boys like to pick out first.” She
laughed, agreeing with that.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t find one that was anywhere near naughty.
Defeated, she laughed again and pointed to an arcing formation of
stars. “That one looks like a dolphin leaping out of the water.
Boring, I know, but it was the first thing that came to mind!”

He tilted his head. “I can see it. It makes sense that you found a dolphin.”

“Given my background?” she chuckled. She leaned a little closer to him
as she pointed out another trail of stars. “That could be waves behind
it,” she suggested in a low murmur.

With her proximity, By’ler inhaled her scent, and shards did she smell
nice. They were alone, under the stars, and this might be their last
opportunity before Impression….

“Your eyes are beautiful,” he told her. “I can see the stars reflected in them.”

Her expression turned coquettish. “Is that so? And what constellation
would you name the stars you see there?”

“The Heavens’ Reflection, I think,” he said, reaching out to trace his
thumb along her jawline.

She smiled softly. “I like it,” she answered as she leaned closer, inviting him.

He closed the distance between them, kissing her softly, slowly. Her
lips were silky smooth and tasted like the wine they’d been drinking.
She sighed against his mouth. For a long while, that was the only
sound either of them made.

Last updated on the June 10th 2025

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Written in the Stars