Take It Slow

Writers: AmajoS, Paula
Date Posted: 26th April 2019

Characters: Benna, Uetia, Sabia
Description: Benna asks Uetia for some advice.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: L'keri

Benna spotted her friend and wingthird at the feeding grounds,
watching her dragon devour a herdbeast. Henerath had already eaten but
said that this was where Sirjath was when she'd asked, the greenrider
had headed here. She'd hoped that Uetia would be where her dragon was.
"Hey," she said when she arrived, her tone forcefully cheerful.

"Hi, Benna," Uetia replied. She was holding Sabia in her arms. Of
course Sirjath had wanted to eat when she had one of her rare free
moments with her baby. Instead of dropping her back to her
forstermother or creche, Uetia just took her along. Sabia was
weyrbrat, she was going to see dragons eating sooner or later. Better
get her used to it sooner.

"Hey, cutie," Benna added, noticing her friend's daughter now that
she'd gotten closer. She reached out and shook the baby's foot gently.
"She's getting big!" Benna's grin at Uetia was real this time.

"She is," Uetia agreed. "She's big for her age." But so had Uetia been
too. Sabia certainly took after her mother, with her blond hair.
Sabia's eyes were more blue than Uetia's.

Benna made faces at the baby to make her giggle a little longer than
glanced up at Uetia, not sure how to start the conversation she wanted
to have. She was looking to get advice on the problems she was having,
or at least do a little venting, but what she felt about the situation
was a confusing tangle. She hoped talking to her friend would help her
unravel it, but how to begin?

"Something weighting on your heart, Benna?" Uetia asked. She was sharp
enough to notice her forced cheer and blunt enough just to ask about
it.

Benna sighed, "You could say that." She hesitated a moment, watching
Uetia's dragon eat another hapless beast before saying, "I think I've
done something to ruin things between me and L'keri, but I can't think
of what it was."

"I'm not familiar with L'keri," Uetia warned. She might have met him
in passing but she didn't remember ever talking to him. "What did
_you_ think you did, or didn't do?"

"That's just it," Benna replied, her tone a cross between bewildered
and exasperated. "I have no idea." After a moment, she continued, "You
remember when Henerath first started rising? How silly I was after
each Flight? Like some moon-struck holder girl, thinking a tumble in
the sheets meant a lifetime commitment?" Benna grimaced at the
remembrance of some perfectly good times and some potential good
friendships she'd ruined before she'd realized that life really -was-
different in the Weyr.

"I thought I had stopped that, but maybe not," she added glumly.

"Or maybe you really like this guy," Uetia said. "Did you scare him
off? What kind of person he is? Some male riders seem to have
commitment problems," Uetia asked and made an observation.

"Up until just here lately, I would have said he's just the most fun
person I've ever known. A little childish sometimes, but in really
good way most of the time. Although he has this self-pitying streak
that makes me want to shake him. But it has been making itself scarce,
until lately."

"And I do really like him. I think I could actually love him. And I
thought he felt the same way about me. I mean, he never said but it
was the -way- he never said, if that makes sense. Except now... Oh, I
just don't know."

She sighed, feeling just as confused as ever. Maybe it was a
commitment issue. But if so, didn't that mean she had actually ruined
things? That she'd let her feelings for him show too much and scared
him off? Asking for more than he was willing to give?

"He kind of sounds bit like my brother G'el, fun-loving, hard partying,
sleeping around, everything is a joke and laughter...and he's the
loneliest person you'll met. Of course, he would rather cut off his
left testicle than admit it." Uetia suddenlyb realized how much _she_
had matured. Before, she would have never realized that.

"L'keri is -just- like that," Benna nodded. "He always seems so
-surprised- when I say something nice to him." She frowned, "It's kind
of sad."

"It is sad," Uetia agreed. "And if he's like G'el, he's been avoiding
long term relationships like plague. You have to be patient and not to
push him. Don't try to move forward too fast or he will get scared."

So it was probably her fault. But, maybe she could still fix it.
"Thanks, Uetia. I have to do some thinking, but maybe it's not as
hopeless as I thought."

Maybe a nice lunch later today, just the two of them. She still had
that good cider she'd been saving. She wouldn't make any demands or
anything, it would just be one of several meals they've had together.
Maybe the relaxed atmosphere would settle L'keri some and help get
them back into the groove that used to be so easy for them.

"Anytime. If you really like him, don't give up," Uetia offered an
encouraging smile and hitched Sabia to better position.

Last updated on the May 6th 2019

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Take It Slow