Someone Else's Highlight Reel

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 25th October 2025

Characters: Oriene, Noreia
Description: Oriene and Noreia wish they had something else
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Tirraze, Saedyna, Cirina, By'ler, R'vkal

Notes:
~*~

The Hall was in high spirits that evening with news of a clutch at the Weyr, even if one sired by a brown dragon. Dragons were dragons and Pern needed every one of them. As two harpers played throughout the evening meal, keeping conversations lively while apprentices and journeymen anticipated some dancing later on, two very similar women were having two very different experiences of the same evening.

Oriene sat with her family, her parents chattering on about the day's report from the pod and how they'd be adjusting the ships for tomorrow. She poked around at the food on her plate, a smile that she didn't feel stuck on her face as she listened. Every so often, her father would ask her a question about her studies, had she talked to so-and-so dolphin lately, etc. and Oriene would answer sunnily as expected, though internally she was questioning why she was still answering like that.

She had been back at the Hall for months and still didn't have an answer on what she should be doing. She felt no closer to figuring out the rest of her life than she had on the day she left the Weyr. At one point, Oriene's gaze shifted across the room towards another table, where fellow apprentice Noreia sat, her nose in a book, her firelizard dozing nearby. The picturesque student. How was it that Noreia seemed so certain about her path in life while Oriene felt so adrift?

She was beginning to think that this had also been a mistake. That she should have stayed at the Weyr with Tirraze and Cirina and Saedyna. And By'ler and R'vkal. Her friends. She had her family here, yes, but it wasn't the same. Well, it was good to see her little sister at least, but still. She still felt that lack of something and it bothered her deep down.

But Oriene didn't show it.

And, across that room, Noreia didn't know it.

Her attention kept wandering to the table where Oriene sat, chatting with her family. There was smiles on everyone's faces, animation in their gestures. The whole scene radiated something that Noreia missed. She didn't regret coming to the Hall in any way but she couldn't help but feel a pang of homesickness, seeing Oriene spending time with her family. Noreia's family hadn't contacted her in months, even though she had sent Luck there several times to deliver letters.

She focused her attention back on the page but it was hard to read about currents and tidal patterns tonight. The harpers were more lively than usual. Everyone seemed ready to start dancing. Noreia realized that she would have to leave to somewhere quieter in order to study soon. Just a few more bites of her meal and she would.

Laughter bubbled up from Oriene's table. Someone had told a joke. Noreia found herself wondering what it must feel like to be supported by one's family, to have them happy that your were progressing in your craft and had a solid shot of walking the tables soon. She hadn't felt supported by her family much at all. They hadn't outright forbidden her to become a dolphineer but she knew how to interpret their parting words and expressions. That was probably why Luck had returned empty-clawed lately.

Chairs being moved to clear way for a dance floor signaled time for Noreia to find somewhere quieter to continue reading. She tucked the book under her arm as Luck assumed a spot on her shoulder.

Both women smiled at each other as they passed, one sunny, one reserved, with neither of them realizing how they envied each other.

Last updated on the October 12th 2025

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Someone Else's Highlight Reel