Make Up Plans

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th January 2025

Characters: K'mai, H'run
Description: K'mai goes to see H'run the day after cancelling their plans.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 12 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'serin

K'mai

H'run

K'mai did feel a little guilty that he'd cancelled plans with H'run.
Even if it had actually been Aluneth's idea, I'serin _had_ needed him.
Needed someone to talk to and help him make a plan to ease his burden.
The other things that had happened, well . . . I'serin had needed that
too.

K'mai had said he was going to make it up to H'run, and he intended to
do just that. }:Mine asks if yours is free for the evening?:{ Sebeth
asked Calcifeth.

}:I will ask, but he is quite upset with yours at the moment,:{
Calcifeth replied. The blue was sunning himself on his weyr ledge, his
forelegs neatly crossed in front of him as he surveyed the comings and
goings of the other dragons. It was near enough to his moody rider
that he could provide comfort if needed, and far enough away that he
could avoid the worst of H'run's temper. }:Beloved? Sebeth's wishes to
see you this evening.:{

H'run was currently trying to soak his mood away in the baths--
without much success. When Calcifeth's mindvoice intruded on his
thoughts he scowled. **Tell Sebeth to tell K'mai that I am busy.**

}:Are you?:{

**That hardly matters. Tell him that I absolutely don't have time to
see him.** He sunk up to his cheekbones in the water and closed his
eyes. **I am far too busy.**

}:I will tell him that you will see him in half a candlemark,:{
Calcifeth replied calmly.

**What?!** H'run shot up out of the water like he'd been bitten by a
fish. **No! Absolutely do _not_ tell them that! You'll make me seem
desperate!**

There was a small, sly pause. }:Too late!:{

**I _hate_ you!** H'run grabbed his towel and basket of bathing oils
and lotions and half-ran out of the bathing chamber so that he could
at least get his clothes in order before K'mai knocked on his door. Oh
Faranth, what was he going to wear!?

Calcifeth's message made K'mai hope that H'run wasn't _too_ mad about
yesterday's sudden change of plans. He dug around in his liquor
cabinet to find an unopened skin of good wine and half a candlemark
later he had it tucked under his arm as he knocked on the other
bluerider's door.

There was a clunk, a muffle swear, and the door opened to H'run in a
ratty old sweater and a towel wrapped around his wet hair. "Oh! You
arrived sooner than I expected. Everything is a terrible mess, I'm
afraid."

"Oh, sorry. Calcifeth said half a candlemark, and I wanted to make
sure I was punctual."

**_Now_ he wants to be punctual.** H'run waved K'mai's apology away
with an elegant gesture. "It's fine. Please, do come in."

"I'm really sorry about yesterday," K'mai said as he entered. "A
friend needed me." Images flashed through his mind and he shoved them
away.

"Oh? Who are they? I hope they're all right."

"They're doing much better and I hope they take my advice. Wine?"
K'mai said, holding up the skin.

"Oh! I think I have glasses... somewhere..." H'run turned and began
looking through the cupboards and drawers by his table. There were
already a few empty, dirty glasses lying about between sheafs of music
and a large stack of hides covered in neat, tiny writing. "You do give
excellent advice. What was it about this time?"

Delegation, but that would let H'run know it was someone important.
"Stress relief." K'mai immediately regretted it and was glad H'run was
turned away and couldn't see his face. K'mai absolutely did not need
to think about the way I'serin had looked while he . . . **No, stop.**

"And-- ah ha!" H'run pulled a pair of slightly smudged cut glasses
from behind a jewelry box and presented them to K'mai with a flourish.
"I knew I had something. So, what did you advise them to do?" The
Harper had a sinking feeling about the answer, but he kept smiling
anyway.

K'mai poured them drinks as he considered his words. "To lean on
others." He thought now if I'serin listing all his problems, how the
Weyrleader thought he just had to learn how to deal with it. "Some
people need to be reminded that they aren't alone." He handed H'run a
glass.

H'run sat down at his table with a practiced ease that hid the sharp
hurt he felt. It hadn't mattered if _he_ were lonely, not to K'mai.
"Mmm. Do you think that they will listen, this mysterious friend of
yours?"

K'mai wished he could just tell the _truth_. He and I'serin were
_friends_, he should just be able to say 'the Weyrleader was stressed
about his duties and I encouraged him to delegate'. It shouldn't be a
big deal. But I'serin had told him those things in confidence, and
then they'd had sex, which K'mai absolutely had to keep hidden. "I
hope so. But I'm not here to talk about them. I'm here to see _you_."

"Me? I'm terribly dull." H'run sipped his wine. "But thank you for
bringing this anyway. It's quite good. Wherever did you get it?"

K'mai squinted at the wine skin, trying to remember. "I think someone
brought that for a party. Sorry for not bringing something more
thoughtful. I didn't know if you'd want to see me today and half a
candlemark wasn't enough time to charm some of those little cakes out
of the kitchen staff."

Leftovers. Of course. H'run sipped again at the wine, wondering if
K'mai would notice if he gulped it like he wanted to. "No matter. I
still need some dinner so I will probably go down to the Dining
Caverns at some point anyway. Perhaps I'll be lucky enough to find
something for dessert then. And you know that I will always want to
see you."

"I thought you might be upset about yesterday, and I _do_ want to make
it up to you. We should have dinner here."

The sensible thing to do would be to tell K'mai to leave and that his
apology was _not_ accepted, but H'run found himself desperate to
believe him. Sharp words would only drive K'mai away again, and H'run
couldn't bear it if he left. K'mai was finally here, in front of him,
and his nearness was going to H'run's head. He sipped his wine to give
himself time to compose himself. "Why would I be upset? And it's such
a mess here, K'mai. I can't imagine that you actually want to dine
_here_."

"You're always so worried about how things look or if you're perfectly
put together." K'mai shook his head. "You don't have to perform for me
H'run, I like _you_."

"Oh pish." Hrun strangled the little voice that was screaming, lies!
lies! and instead hid a smile behind the rim of his glass. "But if you
insist..."

"Dinner, wine . . ." K'mai smiled. "And I'm sure we can think of
something to do after that."

There was no way he could say no. "If you insist..."

K'mai took a sip of wine and studied him. H'run was acting casual but
he seemed a little off, so he probably _was_ upset. K'mai went over
and knelt next to his friend, looking up at him with a little smile.
"I have an idea for something we can do now." He slid a hand up
H'run's thigh.

The bluerider shivered. K'mai's fingers on his skin made him feel like
he'd downed a whole bottle of wine. The edges of the room blurred and
the hurt he felt faded like it had never existed. His fingers curled
as he held perfectly still. "Do you?"

"Mmm-hmm." K'mai slid his hand higher, pleased to see the shift in
H'run's expression. "Push your chair back. I don't want to bang my
head on the table."

They did not end up going to the Dining Cavern for dinner after all.

Last updated on the February 11th 2025

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