So Nice To Meet You

Writers: Emma, Estelle
Date Posted: 26th October 2019

Characters: Teseada, Ashela
Description: Ashela joins Teseada for tea and gets an invitation
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Kapera, Jayzine, N'call

Teseada

Ashela

Ashela left her dragon curled up on the ledge, sleeping soundly in the
warmth of the afternoon, and walked around the bay towards the newly
constructed dining hall. She thought she might seek out the Headwoman -
it was always good to be seen being useful - but first, she'd get
herself some tea and look around to see if there was anyone interesting
there. New riders arrived all the time, and there might be another
bronzerider or two.

She found the room empty, most of the weyrfolk being out at their
duties, but there was a woman sitting by herself at one of the tables
near the wall. Ashela recognised the other goldrider at once. The
younger, plainer one, she thought, allowing a rather malicious smile to
cross her features for a brief moment. She wasn't nearly so worried
about this one as she was about Kapera, but it was best to cover all
possibilities.

With a pleasant expression on her face, she collected a pot of tea and a
cup from the kitchens before returning to the main room and approaching
the woman. "Goldrider Teseada. May I join you?"

"Of course," Teseada said politely, as she looked up and saw the knots
on the other woman's shoulder. "My duty to you and your dragon."

"Thank you, and I hope Onnyth is well today." Ashela seated herself
opposite the young woman. "I thought it would be nice to get to know
each other outside of meetings or drills, since we're all from different
Weyrs. Would you like some tea?"

"I wouldn't say no." Teseada offered a smile. "Have you managed to get
settled in yet? Jayzine is doing a fantastic job in getting people
sorted out with good places to live."

"Yes. It's an odd feeling, knowing that you're the first person ever to
live in a weyr. I like it," Ashela said, pouring tea for both of them.
"They've done some beautiful work already. How is yours?" She handed
Teseada a cup. "I hear you've brought a little one with you, so you'll
need the space."

"We do, although he's going to be in the crèche a lot of the time" said
Teseada as she reached for her drink. "His father and I appreciate the
room. Have you met N'call?"

"Oh, yes. I met him on my first morning here, out by the lake." She
glanced at Teseada with a teasing light in her eyes as she sipped her
tea. "You're a lucky one. He's very handsome! And friendly. It's such a
relief to get a warm welcome, when you're in a new place."

Teseada took a sip of her own drink as she appraised the other rider. It
wasn't hard to imagine that she'd would be wondering why and how she
would manage to attract a good looking man like N'call. But N'call had
told her why often enough, and Tecall was certainly evidence of that.
"He's a nice guy," she said evenly, "and a great father."

"I'm sure he is." Ashela met Teseada's gaze, her eyes apparently
guileless. "I do admire anyone who manages parenthood on top of their
duties as a rider, really I do. It's hard to imagine my Aglayath
allowing me so much time not spent on her! And then..." She lowered her
voice, a soft giggle escaping her lips. "There's my figure. Of course,
some women do manage to get it back after a child, mostly, but it's a
risk, isn't it?"

"Oh, but the rewards are so worth the risk," Teseada said. "It really
gives you and your dragon something to fight thread for."

"Ah, well. Maybe one day, if I find a handsome bronzerider like you
have." Ashela couldn't imagine anything worse than looking after a
squalling brat, but she hid that thought with a sweet smile. "For now,
Aglayath is enough of a mother for both of us. We were so proud of her
last clutch."

"I'm sure you were," Teseada replied. "And maybe some day soon we'll see
what she can do."

"Oh, yes. It's been a while since her last rising; it shouldn't be long
now," the tall goldrider replied with an artless glance at Teseada. She
took another delicate sip of tea. "And Onnyth - is she due?"

"Soon enough," Teseada said sweetly. "But then that's why all of us are
here." There was the chance that Onnyth would rise first, and yes, that
would make her Weyrwoman, and she might have to deal with Ashela on a
daily basis, and she wasn't sure how well that would go, the little digs
hadn't passed her by totally. Especially if her plans worked out.

"Yes, it is." Ashela watched the other goldrider with a keen gaze. **So
you're not as soft and placid as you seem, are you?** She was almost
pleased; if defeating her rivals was too simple, it wouldn't be
interesting. "But until then, I do hope we can all be friends."

"I'm sure we can be," came the reply, even as a green firelizard landed
next to her, with a note. Teseada took it, "Ah, it's been nice to talk
to you, but the crèche have informed me that my son needs me."

"Of course. That's the advantage of being only a junior goldrider - we
can get away, if family needs us," Ashela replied pleasantly. She
finished her tea and stood. "And I'd better get back to work. It never
stops, here at the Weyrhold."

"The Weyr is family though, especially if you grew up in one," Teseada
said as she watched the tiny flit disappear back to it's owner.

"Yes. And before long, we'll all be a happy new family, here at the
Weyrhold." Ashela thought that if it was anything like her birth
relatives, Teseada could keep her Weyr family. "It was so nice to meet
you for a proper chat, Teseada. I'm sure we'll run into each other
again, very soon."

"I'm sure we will," replied Teseada. "Perhaps you'd like to meet my son?"

"Oh, that would be lovely," Ashela replied with an insipid smile. She
hadn't the least interest in children, particularly ones young enough
for the crèche, but it would be an opportunity to work more on her rival
goldrider - and she wouldn't mind meeting N'call again. "Next restday,
maybe?"

"Leave it with me," Teseada said. Maybe Tecall would behave, but if he
didn't it might be interesting to see what happened, and get in a few
little digs of her own.

Last updated on the December 18th 2019

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So Nice To Meet You