Let Loose

Writers: Devin, Nicole Bonvisuto
Date Posted: 21st March 2014

Characters: Meridia, Talryne
Description: Meridia and Talryne discuss relationships and plan a girl's night
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn, N'vanik

Meridia

Talryne

"See?" Meridia asked, finishing up the last of the tightening on Talryne's
corset. "It compliments you nicely."

She admired the result in the mirror. The black leather corset, trimmed in
red around the upper edge and along the ribs, accented both Talryne's form
and complexion.

"Who's the lucky one? N'vanik?"

Talryne turned a bit to see herself from the side, then the front again.
She did look very good. "Always." A flicker of worry crossed her face.

Meridia noted her change in expression and frowned.
"You know, at some point, you're going to have to send him to me so I can
doll him up for you for a change. How are things between you two?"

"They're ... okay." Talryne frowned, wondering if she wanted to get into
it. "He might have gotten Rhosyn pregnant."

Meridia let out a long breath and rolled her eyes. Men.
"And you're worried it will affect the two of you?"

Talryne bit her lip. "Yeah."

"Honey, this happens all the time," she assured. "Faranth knows male riders
seem incapable of keeping their anatomy to themselves, and sometimes that
results in... surprises."

All while saying this, Meridia was sorting about in one of her cabinets for
her hidden stock of sweet brandy. She swung the bottle back and forth for a
moment, debating the prudence, given the situation, then shrugged. It
wasn't a particularly strong brew anyway.
The two of them could probably finish the bottle and walk out of here.
She set it out with two glasses on the table.

"Besides, Rhosyn has a bit of a...reputation." Not that Meridia was one to
talk. "And N'vanik's happy here bossing people around. I can't see him
rushing away to be at her side anytime soon."

"I don't think he'd leave Dolphin Cove, but that doesn't mean he can't
_want_ to be with her." Talryne eyed the brandy. She had to be careful with
alcohol. "Part of me can't help worrying that I'm holding him back."
Picking up the bottle, she poured herself a modest amount.

"You're not holding him back, Talryne," Meridia said. She had paused, glass
right before her lips, with eyebrows raised.
"Let's face it. N'vanik's probably been in more beds than any other man in
this Weyr, and that's no discredit to you, love. It's just the man's
nature. Yet, he has a devotion to you that has been relatively stable,
while these other women have been like a swinging door in and out of his
life."
She held up one hand, swinging it back and forth for emphasis. Meridia
took another sip.
"So, given that you are his choice, what are you really afraid of?"

Talryne took a sip and stared at the glass for a while. "She's giving him a
baby."

Meridia let out a long breath. She swirled the brandy in her glass and
stared, as though it might produce the right words to comfort her friend.
"Have you talked with him about it?"

"He'll just say everything is fine and he'll never leave me." Talryne
swallowed, trying to stay calm. "Every time he looks at me I wonder if he's
thinking about it. Rhosyn is keeping his baby but I got rid of ours." No
matter what he said, she knew it still hurt him and nothing she could do
would make it right.

Meridia looked at her. She wanted to reach out a grab Talryne's hand, but
instead, Meridia clutched her glass. Her heart broke for Talryne's
situation, it truly did, especially in the face of this wound N'vanik's
choices picked at. While Meridia wanted to offer comforting words and say
something nice, nice often didn't work with Talryne. Sometimes, you had to
rattle someone's cage. But that tightness never left her chest as she said
the words she hope wouldn't send her friend
running in this moment of vulnerability.
"At some point, you have to forgive yourself for that, hon. Whether or not
you ever expect him to, and it's possible he already has."

"I wish I could believe that." Talryne took another drink. "I used to be
afraid he'd get tired of me, but now I'm afraid I'll do something else,
hurt him again. And that will be it." Could she make it without him? Would
weaving and a few friendships be enough to keep her going?

"But you're always afraid," Meridia frowned, and then smiled, taking a sip
of her brandy.
"I guess the real question is, do you trust him?"

"Yes," Talryne said without thinking.

"Then why don't you believe him when he says he loves you and won't leave?"

Talryne chewed on a fingernail. "I guess that doesn't make sense." She
couldn't trust him and doubt what he said at the same time.

"Not really," Meridia replied with a grin.

"Shards," Talryne muttered. "Maybe I just don't trust myself."

"I think... you just over-think things, love," Meridia said. "It's a bad
habit."

Talryne sighed and took a small sip. "I know." It was all too easy to
get obsessed over the littlest things.

"Talryne, when's the last time you got out and had fun? I mean, really just
let loose?" Meridia asked, leaning over the table.
"We need to have a girl's night."

"Ummm... I'm not very good with parties." It was hard enough when N'vanik
convinced her to join him at Hatching feasts.

Meridia waved a hand dismissively.
"I don't mean a party. Just something to get your mind off of things. Think
about it, if you could do one thing, anything you want, to go out and
relax, what would it be?"

Her brows drew together as she thought. "Maybe if you just invited a few
people, we could play games and talk. That might be nice." Talryne thought
about what she'd been like before, drinking, falling into men's laps.
Partying until the sun came up. That person was so far away.

Meridia nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll get it together. It will be nice. You need a night out."

The corners of Talryne's mouth turned up just a bit. "You're probably
right."

"Of course I am," Meridia winked. "Next restday, then?"

Her first instinct was to say no, to put it off. But she took a breath and
said, "Okay."

"All right, then. It's a date."

Last updated on the March 25th 2014

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