All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

02-01-02: Sharing
It takes a lot of courage from Lydiere to finally ask G'wain what she's intended to for some time.

G'wain is alas, still moving into his weyr, bit ny bit, inch by inch, day by day. Muttering under his breath about the dust (Which hasn't gotten any better) he moves some things around, to make the place a little more homely... Though it's far from it, at this stage.

Llysereth has overcome her shyness about arriving uninvited, and backswings for a landing near Ahreluth with a bright warble of friendly greeting. Lydiere's quick to dismount, peering about the weyr almost thoughtfully - perhaps even hesitantly. "G'wain! It's still pretty dusty in here, isn't it?"

G'wain blinks. That was awfully quick. No-one there one minute, people and dragons there the next. "Oh, Lydiere!" He exclaims, obviously delighted for the distraction. Looking around as she asks her question, he ruefully nods his head. "I can't seem to get motivated to clean it up. It won't be like this forever though." The 'I hope' lingers in the air, unsaid.

Lydiere, oh-so-casually (not), comments, "It'd be easier to just move out, really." Oh, sure. "Cleaning, ugh." She weaves her way into the weyr, adding, "Though you're obviously working hard on the place. It looks good."

G'wain nods his head a little. "You know, it would. But the view's good here, so I suppose it makes up for it. That is, if I can get it all clean. You're right, though. Cleaning, ugh." he's emphatic about this point, at least. "And Ahreluth hasn't been able to find my little fair of firelizards to help, yet." The only comment in regards to him working hard? "Thanks."

"Ah, yes, the view." This turns Lydiere quiet for a few moments, as if she's deep in thought, eventually coming up to respond to G'wain's comments; "Alas. They'd be *so* useful, if only...Ah, well. -- Llysereth likes your view, by the way. She raves. If only it was possible to have a weyr with a view that gets cleaned on occasion by drudges. Perfection, that'd be."

G'wain chuckles softly. My she's being oblique. He'll let her speak some more... Then maybe she'll get to the purpose of the visit. "She... raves?" He's a little taken back. "But I think what you say is impossible. The views are higher up, and the drudges... they can only get the ground weyrs."

Lydiere, suddenly, seems to have found an inability to say what she means. Could she be - nervous, of all things? "Yes, she's actually very enthusiastic. Loves watching the sea, I suppose. But...Yes, it's impossible. And living on the ground *does* have other advantages."

G'wain never says what he means. Or he never means what he says? There's a difference... And one cannot often tell which is it. "Ahreluth loves the sea. One of the advantages of this place is just being able to glide down to the beach. I never really considered it. Like what?" In the dark, as always. He's bright... and he'll put it together eventually, but Lydiere can suffer, for now.

Lydiere attempts to sound relaxed over this, as if just recounting any old thing - or as if she hasn't actually thought out all of this before coming. "Well, I can go out, even when Llysereth's asleep. And everyone can visit, dragonrider or not. Things like that." She nods, leaning up against a wall, as seems to be her trend, to add, "Llysereth sometimes glides over, but it's further."

G'wain nods his head a little. "I suppose so. Don't need to worry about falling off the edge, either, like J'ran did." He nods his head, understanding her logic. At least he's got another chair, now, and noting Lydiere leaning on the wall, he rolls his eyes, mainly at himself. "Where are my manners. Really. Have a seat."

"J'ran fell off the ledge?" Lydiere's interest is caught at this, and, after a pause, she takes a seat. "I really should just sit down, but I forget - and the wall is pretty comfortable, too."

G'wain nods his head. "A while ago now. I don't even know what brought it to mind, to be honest. Ahreluth went charging out into the bowl to catch him... But he's actually on this side, over the forest. Poor Ahreluth. He was only little, then. He told me Maxanth yelled, or something. And, you should. You know that you're to make yourself at home here." There's an opening, if ever there was one.

Lydiere's head shakes, as she makes herself comfortable, stretching out her legs as she listens. "And I never heard about it. Poor J'ran. I wish I could've seen it, though - I imagine it would be *quite* amusing." G'wain's final comment draws a pause, and a sharp intake of breath, and now she really hesitates. "G'wain? Um..."

G'wain chuckles a little, his voice a little raspy. He's just coming off a cold, anyway. "I don't know about amusing... Heard he hurt himself some, from it." Raising an eyebrow just a fraction, he isn't quite used to the hesitant Lydiere, and he leans forward. "What's wrong?"

"All right, not amusing. But--" She falters, expression rueful. "This really isn't like me. But...You know, if you wanted, you could move down into my weyr. Or," she adds, speaking rapidly, "I could move up here. Or, indeed, we could move between the two. But--I mean, if you wanted..." Oh look, she's blushing. Talk about out of character.

G'wain is a little taken aback by the offer, and is quite startled, at least for a few seconds. This is definately not like the Lydiere he's come to know, and... love? "That's why you mentioned about the advantages of a ground weyr, right?" He asks, grin growing rapidly as he warms to the idea. Dragging his chair over the floor, he brings it right close to Lydiere's. Blushing indeed.

Lydiere immediately appears to regret this. She's moving too fast, she's--well. "I guess so. Faranth knows, I've never had to figure out how to ask such a question before. Last time, *he* did it for me." Grin, at least, seems to reassure her, her own face smoothed into a smile. "Go ahead and say no. I mean, if you want."

G'wain moves to scoop an arm under Lydiere's outstretched legs, and the other around her back, to draw her onto his knee. "Now, why would I /want/ to say that?" He asks, his elation showing through in voice, and expression. "And I'm sorry that I didn't ask - It's not really my place to, afterall. I'm just a rider..." Reminding her of his station, he allows her an out... should she want it.

Lydiere moves to wrap her arms about G'wain's neck as he scoops her up, positively beaming with relief. "Oh, good." Her head shakes, however, as she settles herself comfortably upon G'wain's knee; "Faranth - don't go quoting rank on me. If you're going to move in, you're going to have to treat me as an equal. So there."

G'wain holds Lydiere close and shakes his head. "No quoting ranks.. I havn't called you a Junior Weyrwoman since that very first time I saw you, I think. Maybe once more, at most. Give that much credit. I was just... reminding... that's all." He shrugs. "I certainly can treat you as an equal. What does Llysereth think about it, though?" Ahreluth's joy echoes his rider's, but he keeps a lid on it, at least until he gets some indication.

"Good," says Lydiere, satisfied. "You learnt quickly not to try and remind me of *that*, for which I'm very much thankful." She snuggles in, adding, "Llysereth--I think she's given up. At least she's decided it's real romance, and nothing less meaningful, and she's found too much empathy to want me to be unhappy. So, for the moment, it's all good."

Ahreluth would bound over to Llysereth and snuggle up to her, but he's... careful. He doesn't want to ruin all of the hard work that he's done, restraining himself all this time... Maybe he can train her, or something. G'wain nods his head, and looks around. "Y'know, I'm just going to have to move out, now. You've saved me the trouble of cleaning, I think. If I had of cleaned..." He threatens, though it's with a grin on his face. The grin doesn't fade as he moves his head to kiss his newly found weyrmate.

Llysereth is such a puppy-dog, and all. Lydiere leans in to respond to that kiss fervently, keeping contact for what hardly seems like any time at all - although probably is. Finally, pulling back, she notes, "I had good timing, then. Of course, you *have* done a lot of work already." Briefly, she looks contrite.

G'wain raises his eyes to the ceiling, and shakes his head. "All I was doing, was rearranging things to make it look better. But I don't have that many things, so..." He shrugs a little. "It was going to be rather... empty, until I went a bought things. But now, I'm glad. I don't have to worry." Ahreluth can't help himself. He's got to shuffle over towards Llysereth. See what she thinks, really. << Do you... mind? >> He asks, and whether that means a nuzzle, or about the whole situation, is anyone's guess.

Lydiere opens her mouth for a chuckle, snuggling down against G'wain again. "Oh, good. And there's plenty of space, down in my weyr, for all your things - and more, if you want them. " Llysereth lifts her head to regard Ahreluth, eyelids flickering open as whirling facets consider him. << Mind? I suppose...not. >> Whatever it is - at this stage, she's not going to be loud about it.

G'wain nods his head as best he can, murmuring his assent. "It'll all be fine..." Snuggled into, he's perfectly happy to stay where he is. Ahreluth shuffles a little closer still. << Would you... prefer if I didn't... I mean, we didn't? >> He asks, and the 'we' makes it clear that he's talking about moving.

"Perfectly so," decides Lydiere, safely nestled in. Llysereth hesitates, but notes, her voice the mournful tones of a cello spinning silver streams, << I want my lifemate to be *happy*. She *is* happy, now. >>

G'wain mmms softly, content. Ahreluth stretched his tail out, but doesn't move closer, just yet. << But... what about you? >> It's simple enough, and from the feeling behind, it, the echoing chello is concerned as it asks a question, hoping for a duet, perhaps.

Lydiere rests her head against G'wain's shoulder, eyes half-shutting. << I'm fine. >> Llysereth is almost enthusiastic - lazily - about this much. << They're happy. That makes me happy. >> Except when they're being too...crude. Duet it is; she's soft, almost relaxed, voice twisting in a symphany of soft sound.

G'wain relaxes, letting Lydiere rest. She's probably tired from all her duties and such, and he's just coming off a cold, which took it out of him. Not the most comfortable of sleeping spots - for G'wain, at least - but it will do. Ahreluth shuffles to Llysereth again, touching her side lightly. She could pull away should she want. << I'm happy... because I'm happy. Not just because they're happy. >>

Llysereth nudges her head back at Ahreluth, settling down more comfortably on the ledge. She's going to be here awhile - that much is obvious. << Then be happy. It's good to be happy. >> And she has her own kind of happiness. Lydiere, herself, doesn't quite go to sleep, but it's a close run: she's perfectly comfortable, although perfectly easy to move should she become an object of discomfort. Very cute.