I Don't Even Know Your Name

Writers: Eimi, Ames
Date Posted: 31st March 2013

Characters: R'mer, Shyow
Description: R'mer visits the tavern again and finds himself rather smitten with the new girl
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 6

It was another simple day working at the Tavern. Nothing much had
occurred of late. Shyow hadn't even been able to get her hands on many
_extra_ marks. It seemed as though things had slowed down the past few
days and purse strings were a bit tighter. She _had_ to find a way to
garner a few extra marks. What more could she do?

Wiping down a table, she smiled at the couple there. They had been
guarding there purse strings too tightly and were not nearly drinking
enough. She sighed. Today might just be a slow day for her little
schemes.

R'mer stopped in the doorway, allowing his eyes to readjust to the light
of the tavern. He looked around and spotted the young woman he had met
before. His lips curled into a shy smile. Ever since their first
meeting in which she told him her sad tale of her family, he had
wondered how she was faring. He had to admit, his decision to come to
the tavern tonight was more about her than the good beer on tap.
Dropping his eyes, he walked straight up to the counter and slipped onto
a stool, not wanting to attract her attention just yet.

She continued about her work for a short time, not having noticed his
arrival. When she turned, and scanned the room, she stopped and a slow
smile formed on her lips. Her benefactor had returned.

"Well, hello there," she greeted him as she sauntered up to the bar.
"I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."

"Well, the beer's good," he said with a shy smile. R'mer hadn't really
thought about what he'd actually say to the girl just yet. He was glad
she recognized him, though.

"Would you like a beer then?" She asked, giving him a friendly smile.

"A stout one. If you're not busy," he quickly added, almost as if he
had forgotten it was her job to serve him.

"You got it," Shyow smiled, turned and moved back to the bar. She
returned moments later with a mug in hand. "Here ya go," she said
sliding the drink to him.

"Thanks," R'mer said as he caught the drink with his hand. He looked as
if he wanted to say more for a moment, but instead just took a drink.
Why was it he could bed a Weyrwoman when she decided she wanted him, but
when he was around a girl he actually _liked_, he couldn't even put a
full sentence together?

"You're very welcome." Shyow paused and then leaned in closer, as
though to whisper in his ear. "I never got to thank you properly for
what you did for my family. You've helped us alot." Finished with her
words of praise, she stood up with a smile once more.

The bronzerider had felt a slight flush on his cheeks when she leaned
closer. Her smile was really quite lovely. He couldn't help but feel a
little bit of a bashful hero. She thought he helped! It pulled at the
corners of his lips as he looked back down at his beer, not wanting to
really look her in the eye unless she might see just how pleased he was
at her words.

"How's your Pa?" he asked, remember she had said that he had been
injured and was fighting to regain his strength.

Her mouth turned down in a frown. She knew she had to choose her words
carefully.

"He's still not well. In fact, we're afraid he may not recover now as
his health has taken a turn for the worse. I've been taking as many
shifts as I can here to try and make up the difference. At lease we
haven't lost our cothold, thanks to you, but it's going to be a
struggle month to month," Shyow turned her own eyes down in sadness.
She hoped her words would have the affect she desired.

"Ah... shells," he said softly, knowing too well the pain of losing his
own father. It had been Turns and Turns ago, but he could still recall
that moment clearly. Sometimes it was hard to remember what his
father's face looked like, but he would never forget that numb and empty
feeling. "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," she replied, giving a little sniff. "It's been hard." She
lifted her eyes, her frown still evident. "Thankfully, working here
allows me to forget for a short while, makes it hurt a bit less."

Shards, did he make her cry? Now he felt like a real wherry's ass.
He reached for her hand instinctively. "I will be ok," R'mer said
with quiet assurance.

**Boy, he is so easy to manipulate,** she mused, even while she
continued to use her sad face as she gazed at him. "I hope so," Shyow
replied, "we will be lost if we lose him."

"Naw, you won't be," he said, not letting go of her hand. "It'll feel
that way at first, but soon you'll remember you still just put your
pants on one leg at a time." Quickly realizing the analogy he used
might not work for a girl, he blushed slightly and tried to explain. "I
mean, when my Pa died, I didn't wanna move for the whole day. But the
morning came, and there were animals to be fed and fences to mend and
rocks to dig out of the soil. So I just had to get up, get dressed, and
move. Even though there was an empty place at the breakfast table, the
world didn't stop. You just have to keep moving is all."

**Ah, so he'd lost his own father. I can use that to my advantage,**
Shyow mused, already thinking and plotting about the future.

"I don't want to lost him, but I'm afraid we might have no choice. I
do think our farm will not survive. The only reason my brother is able
to even hold off the loan he's taken is because the man is a friend of
fathers. Without father, well, I think things will only get worse,"
she frowned, squeezing his own hand in response to the comfort he
offered.

"There's gotta be a way," he said, his brow furrowing thoughtfully. "As
long as you've food to eat and can put marks towards the loan, that's
enough. Least until the loan's paid off. And maybe there's somethin'
you can sell. You might not want to, but it might be what you need to
do. I can help you. You know, take you somewhere if you need to find a
buyer."

Her face brightened a bit. "Oh, that might be helpful. Father had some
_very_ interesting things, but I wouldn't know how to get them to the
right people. But," here she paused, turning her eyes to him, "if you
wouldn't mind helping like that sometimes. Then maybe we could repay
the loan. You would really help us? I mean, your time is so
important."

He smiled bashfully, feeling very proud that she would think so much of
his time. "I can find time. I don't drill and fight Thread _all_ the
time." And he liked the idea of seeing her more. She made him feel...
needed. It was hard to feel particularly special, even as a
bronzerider, in a Weyr full of them.

"I'm so glad!" Shyow exclaimed. "You have once again saved us. I don't
know how I will ever be able to thank you for all this." She grabbed
his arm and gave it a squeeze in her excitement. **You have _no_ idea
just how helpful you will be,** she thought, her smile genuine as she
imagined what they could do with his help.

"Naw," he said, truly blushing now, but grinning from ear to ear. "You
would've found somebody. I'm sure I'm not the only dragonrider who
comes in here."

She patted his hand and gave him a smile. "But you're the only one who
actually cares about someone like me." Shyow glanced around the
tavern. "No one else pays me much heed aside from my job. You,
however, treat me better than that."

"Really?" It was hard to believe. R'mer was sure half the men here
would do an awful lot to see that smile. He for sure would. "I don't
even know your name."

She actually giggled a bit at that. "How silly of me. I'm Shyow."

"Shyow?" he asked, pronouncing each syllable carefully. R'mer repeated
the name a couple times and then smiled. "That's a really pretty name.
I like it. Shyow."

She smiled as he practiced her name. "And you are?" She didn't recall
if he'd told her his name before. That evening had been rather
stressful. But she _would_ need to know it now, especially if he was
going to help.

"I'm R'mer. And my lifemate's bronze Hanunth." He wondered if she was
impressed that he rode a bronze or not. Some women were. Then again,
he kind of hoped she was more impressed with _him_ than his dragon.
"We're in Dolphin Cove Weyr."

"I'm glad to have a name to go with the face and now a name to thank
for all you've done," Shyow smiled at him. "I should probably get back
to work and check on the other patrons. I do hope to see you soon.
Then maybe I can take you up on the offer to find a buyer for some of
father's special things." She patted his hand gently and smiled once
more. "You've no idea just how much hope you've given me."

His lips were curved into a shy smile as he watched her walk away.
**Shards, she's pretty,** he thought, turning back to his beer before
anyone could catch him following her around with his eyes. R'mer was
completely smitten, as her name silently rolled off his lips.
"Shyow..."

Last updated on the April 1st 2013

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I Don't Even Know Your Name