It Works Out Sometimes

Writers: Devin, Len
Date Posted: 9th July 2025

Characters: N'vanik, Sh'del
Description: N'vanik and Sh'del have a drink and a chat.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 5, day 6 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Talryne, R'ayl, J'ackt, C’pier, R'lor

N'vanik

N'vanik had made plans with his old friend to go to the Vintner Hall
tavern and get away from both of their responsibilities for a few
candlemarks. He took an appreciative sip of his dark ale. "You getting
bored yet, not having a bunch of weyrlings runnin' you ragged?"

Sh'del gave him a haggard look over the rim of his ale glass. "Bored?
Me? Are you mad? Finally having the time to go for a walk...or a swim
in the sea...or finally getting as much time as I wish to fuss over
Loranth? Trust me, I'll never get bored."

"Well, enjoy it while you can," N'vanik said. "They'll be eggs on the
Sands soon."

"Thanks," Sh'del said with a mock flat tone. "Y'know, you guys could
take a couple turns off and let me and the 'lors have a life..."

N'vanik snorted. "Take that up with Thread."

Sh'del grumbled before taking another swallow of beer. Trouble leaned
over to lick a bit of foam that trickled down the mug. "So...can I ask
you a question?"

"Sure."

“How’s Tal? This death has shaken her up…she’s not thinking anything
dark…or…” Sh’del gave his old friend a concerned look. She was one of
his closest friends after all. “She seems very distant right now.”

"She's actually doing really well, most of the time. Helping Kapera
isn't the easiest thing, but it's doing a lot of good for Tal. Being
able to use the worst thing that ever happened to her to help out a
friend." N'vanik took a drink. "There are moments where it's almost
like the early days when she first lost her dragon, but she pulls out
of it better than she used to." Going through those low moments was
awful, but he could see her getting stronger.

“Maybe I’ll pop over tomorrow, see how she’s doing…” He took a deep
swallow, his eyes staring off, unfocused. He really needed to make
sure she was okay. Trouble glanced at him before going over to N’vanik
and rolling over his arm and onto her belly, hoping for some petting.
Her loud flop made Sh’del focus on his flit. He glanced at N’vanik.
“She’s probably wondering where the food is.”

"None for you." N'vanik rubbed her stomach. "Tal's gotten okay with
riding another dragon. R'ayl's been taking her to Barrier Lake when I
can't make it over there." At first he'd felt guilty, but now he was
glad she had more independence.

Sh’del smiled at that news. It’d been such a long road for her. “Just
make sure you take good care of her,” he mock growled to N’vanik.
Taking a swallow of beer, he decided to change the subject. “Your
Weyrlingmaster has just discovered that brown riders can have a roll
in the furs either men outside a Flight room.” His tone was amused.

N'vanik chuckled. "Well, it's not exactly the most common thing. What
clued him in?"

“Well…obviously not me.” Sh’del rolled his eyes at that. “More like
some of the weyrlings he thought were destined for blue…but got
browns. Sort of like our old Weyrlingmaster. Remember him?”

"I feel a _lot_ more sympathy for him now," N'vanik said with an
amused gleam in his eyes. "I thought he was going to have a heart
attack when I took off and he had to get the Senior Gold to call
Loseth back."

“He would’ve been better off if she had eaten Loseth,” Sh’del said in
a teasing tone. “Would have saved himself a_lot_of pain.”

N'vanik snorted. "I hope R'lor doesn't have to deal with someone like
me. You already had to suffer through J'ackt." There were times
N'vanik had worried Sh'del would quit . . . or that it would ruin
their friendship.

Sh’del unconsciously grimaced at the sound of that name. “C’pier I could give that one a real run for his money. I know the dragons decide, but really, couldn’t they decide on some of the others sometimes? There were so many nice kids in both those clutches that never did get a lifemate, it’s crazy sometimes. Maybe we need to make our lovely queens sit to one side and decide who gets what hatchling.”

"I never would have gotten a dragon that way," N'vanik said. "But I turned out okay . . . eventually. So maybe it works out sometimes."

“You turned out okay?? Ha!”

The bronzerider glared.

“No point glaring at me mate, I know all your flaws.”

"Yeah, yeah," N'vanik said. "Will you at least admit I've gotten _better_?"

“Only if you’re buying the next round.” Sh’del pointed to his empty glass with a laugh. It was nice just being old friends again and dropping the stress of leadership, if only for awhile.

Last updated on the July 15th 2025

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It Works Out Sometimes