A small Family (open)

[hrsegrl]

Ruff! Ruff! The growing pup barked as Rory called him over. "Gadget! Come. Sit." The canine came to his owner without hesitation. Rory had had no trouble training the canine because he had been consistent. The baby boy in his arm was awake and smelling the fresh air much like the canine was. In his other arm, the drudge had a basket.

It was a good day for a picnic in his opinion. So he, Nishor and Gadget had walked down towards the Lake but stayed far enough away that no water would reach them. He laid out a blanket and set the basket down on it. Gadget, who had been instruscted to heel laid down on the blanket as Rory sat. Nishor gurgled pleasantly and smiled up at his father. He was a cute baby, if Rory was allowed an opinion on the matter.

Sighing contededly, the man watched the dragons in the Lake and felt a warm breeze cross him though they sat in the shade. after all, babies had sensitive skin and could burn easily in the sun. Rory felt different since he had Nishor. No amount of wine could ever change what he felt when he spent time with his son. Family was the most important thing to him and finally he had one of his own, even if it was just the three of them, Nishor, Gadget and himself.

[thedreamerlady]

If it weren't for Delith, Nisha would have never known to find Rory and her son by the lakeside. She hadn't even planned on actively seeking them out, not at that time. She'd asked to be allowed to breast-feed however much her schedule would allow, but this wasn't the usual time for that, as during the day, another woman was suppose to take care of it.

But Barsamith, who really liked Delith(after they'd been introduced during Nishor's birth), had been gossiping with the older Green, and she'd told Barsamith that Her Riders Mate was outside near the lake, with a small furry thing, and something else, and then Barsamith had told Nisha, and Nisha, who was enjoying a moment of respite decided that being outside near the lakeside with a close friend and her son had never sounded better.

Hoping Rory wouldn't mind the intrusion, the Greenrider had approached the blanket Rory had spread out.

"Rory!" She called happily, approaching with easy strides. "Mine if I join you? It's such a lovely day." Her clothing was obviously meant for work, thick pants and a short sleeved tunic, both dark brown. Nothing could be done about her hair, which was wildly curling around her head.

[hrsegrl]

Rory wasn't expecting anyone so when Gadget stood up suddenly and began to bark it nearly made the drudge jump. "Gadget sit." The canine sat where he was though he continued to growl. Rory looked to see who it was and just as he aknowledged it was Nisha, she spoke.

"Of course you may join us. No better day to match it that I can recall." Rory looked down at Nishor who was still making cute baby noises. "I think he heard your voice..." Rory explained when Nishor became louder. "Is your mommy here? I bet she'd like to hold you..."

He smiled at the beautiful boy and began to hand him off to Nisha. "This will give me a chance to eat." He explained as he began to take things out of the picnic basket. Now that everything was settled, so too had Gadget. The canine was laying down next to Rory, within arms reach and watching Nisha's every move.

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha glanced at the dog in askance, but didn't say anything. If Rory trusted the dog near her son, then it was good enough for her. Rory wouldn't do anything to endanger Nishor, Nisha could sense it.

Sitting down next to Rory, she took Nishor from him, carefully supporting the child's head. She smiled down into his hazel eyes, stroking his soft cheek. She had the most beautiful child, and everyone should be jealous of him.

"I hope he hasn't been keeping you from eating." Nisha said, watching Nishor giggle and gurgle some little sound. Adorable. "And if he has, I'm sure me and N'zule and others can help you out."

And if Rory didn't ask for help, Nisha wasn't above sicking one of her drudge friends or family members on Rory. Her family wasn't the closest in the Weyr, but they'd still help each other out.

Oh, he was so cute! Even Barsamith would agree. Or D'leon.

[hrsegrl]

Rory smiled as she took the baby. "Oh no. He's not a bother at all. I just usually eat in my rooms and I'm afraid I hadn't thought this picnic thing out as well as I had hoped." He saw that Gadget had relaxed and stopped staring at her now that he had handed the baby to her willingly.

"I've got enough here for both of us and I brought along milk but if you want to feed him, you are welcome to." Not that she couldn't do that without permission, he just didn't want her to feel obligated to do either.

The day was going just as wonderfully as he wanted it to. It was so nice to have a family of his own, even if it was a little unconventional. He finished making his own wherry sandwhich before asking Nisha, "Want one? We really do have plenty." His gray eyes watched her face to see her reaction.

[thedreamerlady]

As Nisha moved her blouse as to feed the infant, her mind was reeling. Nishor had a healthy appetite, she registered distantly, but the thing her mind was focusing on at that point was that different.

Rory eating in his rooms? Alone? By the first egg, that simply wasn't normal. Rory was a social creature, and, no offense to her son, but he wasn't at the point where he could be giving Rory the attention he should probably have.

"I'd love one." Nisha said, then gave him a dirty look. "You need to spend time with people who can speak." She told him, her voice reproachful, and slightly mothering. "I can take care of Nishor a few nights a week. I'm not going to let you become a recluse." Brown eyes narrowed. "And if you try, I'll foist N'zule off on you."

[hrsegrl]

Rory set about making her food and looked up at her when she started in on him for being anti social. "Well... I..." He looked down again. It wasn't that Rory didn't want to be social, it was that he didn't want to be irresponsible. At least that was part of it. N'zule had not come to a conclusion as to how they were going to go about their lives, seperate or together and Rory wasn't about to mess with that fragile mental balance by flirting with other men.

"Nishor is simply the excuse my dear. I don't want to be tempted into doing the wrong things... I also don't think N'zule would be the best person to tell me how to live, seeing as he's part of the reason I'm behaving as I am." Rory let her take that as it will. She may know more about N'zule's current mood than he did but the man was toying with Rory right now and it was almost unbearable.

He finished her sandwhich and set it down next to her. "I've always wanted a child, Nisha, and now I have one. I am a social person but I don't want to miss this either." The little one was completely ignoring him right now but in a few months he would know well that his father loved him and took good care of him.

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha looked at Rory curiously. "I was threatening you with N'zule. Considering how mopey and sullen he's been the last, I have no idea, seven or so days, that would force you out of your solitude." Nisha looked at him seriously. "I don't even want to be around N'zule right now- that's how bad it is."

She readjusted her hold on Nishor, smiling down on her adorable brown haired babe. If only he'd get her curly hair. For a boy, it wouldn't be as hard to control, and he would be so cute at three and four. So cute. She smiled sweetly down at her son, then glanced back up at Rory, brown eyes warm and wondering.

"Do you know what's wrong with him? He'd gotten over Nishor, and then bam, he's back to being sad again." Nisha shrugged. "Not that their can't be normal reasons for that, of course."

She laughed. "And who wants to talk about such subjects on days like today. It's beautiful out today. And did you hear? We're getting a new Harper!"

[hrsegrl]

Rory listened to what she was saying and his heart was sinking, there was something bothering N'zule. He should have invited him to picnic with them. If he could picture anyone else with them it would be N'zule. All the greenrider had to do was let go of his pride and see how happy they would all be, together.

"Oh, I hadn't realized...maybe you should have him come for a visit. I'd be more concerned but I don't know whats caused this melancholy. Has Barsamith asked Delith?" He liked Delith, she was probably his favorite dragon. "She might be able to give an insight on his reasons." He hoped there wasn't anything wrong with N'zule.

It was clear from Rory's concern that he was in love with N'zule still and there was no moving on from it. "A new Harper? I hadn't heard. That should be good for the Weyr. I'd personally like some more entertainment." He grinned and looked on at the interaction between Nisha and Nishor. His family. As he thought that, Gadget, nudged his arm. Rory pet the canines head as he snuggled in next to his master.

[thedreamerlady]

"The feeling I've been getting from Barsamith is that Delith has cut off N'zule a little bit. She hasn't been pleased with him for a while. 'Samith thinks he was ignoring her advice, so she isn't going to offer any." Nisha shook her head. "Poor Delith. She's such a dear little thing."

Nisha wondered when her Uncles would get back together. N'zule was being boneheaded, and Rory was to nice to knock him around, and take what they both needed. She gave a mental sigh, and wished that her blood-uncle had the sense of her son, who never ran from what he needed. Not that he could run.

"Yes, hopefully they won't keep him hidden away teaching the 'brats." The smile that Nisha now wore was distinctly predatory. "I, personally, would love to meet him, and show him around." And it wasn't as if Greenriders weren't well known for their very special welcomes. "We could only benefit from more dances as well." Nisha's eyes closed for a second, as she remembered the last dance she'd attended. "So much fun!"

[hrsegrl]

Rory wasn't too suprised that N'zule had succeeded in making his own dragon upset with him. "Delith's a strong one too. I'm sure she knows what she is doing. Though N'zule is a hard person to get through to." Rory didn't doubt that Delith could make the greenrider see reason but that didn't mean Rory would be the answer to the problem.

"Did you know, she bespoke me once?" Rory thought back on it for a moment. Yes that had been an interesting day. Went to fix a bed that he ended up being in and then later leaving enraged. N'zule and he could work out their problems if someone would just admit his own faults.

"Well theres only one way to properly greet a Harper, and I happen to be an expert at selecting a good vintage." He grinned. "I'll see if I can't find out what type of wine he likes..." Rory was an expert at wines. He'd drunk enough of them. Of course there was no more doing that no matter how much he wanted to. He'd made it through the withdrawls and such, he wasn't going to give in now that the hard part was over.

[thedreamerlady]

Nisha's eyes widened at that admission. She was N'zule's favorite niece, but Delith had never spoken to her. As far as she knew, Delith had never spoken to anyone who wasn't N'zule, and despite how well mannered she was, Delith rarely even spoke to anyone through N'zule. Despite all of that, Barsamith and Delith gossiped a lot, so it wasn't as though the Green didn't chatter like most Greens. And dragons really didn't talk to anyone who wasn't there rider. Barsamith never had.

"What'd she say?" Nisha begged, fascinated about what the tiny Green could have said to Rory. It would have to be something he remembered. Moving Nishor, she changed the side he was nursing on. Great shells, her son had an appetite. She wondered what he would do after he nursed. Sleep perhaps? Daydream? Did babes daydream? Little dragons did, she could remember snatches of what 'Samith was thinking back when she was much smaller.

"I look forward to seeing this Harper. Find out when Allior's free to baby sit, and I'll find us a Harper." Nisha laughed, rocking her baby absentmindedly. "And maybe he can give us some music to dance too. You do like to dance, don't you?" It seemed rather odd that she couldn't decide if he did or didn't. Some people it was just harder to tell, she supposed.