One More Reason to Drink

Writers: Eimi, Vanessa T Sommerfeld
Date Posted: 18th January 2008

Characters: Birigundi, Nasiria
Description: The two commiserate after failing to Impress, again
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 4

Birigundi

A large pint of ale was unceremoniously plunked down on the table in front of Nasiria, sloshing frothy foam over the rim to pool around the glass.
"You're not too young to drink, I hope," Birigundi smiled challengingly as he slipped into the seat beside her, his own glass in hand. Nasiria almost shouted as the foam from the glass sloshed onto her arm, but when she looked up and saw Birigundi, she checked herself. "I wont tell if you don't." She smiled at him-the one person in the room who just might know what she was feeling tonight.

"I'll think about it," he shrugged, setting his mug on the table and wrapping his fingers around it. "You're my excuse for hiding from my mother, so please, take your time." "You need an excuse for hiding from your mother? Stick with me. I'm a Master." She grasped her brew, clinked his, and took a large gulp.

"Yeah, well, usually I'm just trying to avoid the brave front she tries to put on for me when I'm left Standing. This time, she just asks too many questions." Like when she would be able to see Lyndi, and why he and Nia were not exactly speaking at the moment. Questions he would rather avoid.
"How about your family?" Nasiria laughed, although she shuddered to think about the look of pity on her mother's face after the Hatching. "My father committed suicide when his dragon was killed in the first Fall." She tried to sound nonchalant. "My _mother_ was completely useless after he died, so." she shrugged. "I guess I just had to learn to take care of myself."

"I'm sorry." Birigundi hadn't been looking for her family history, but hearing it explained a lot. He doubted she really felt as callus as she sounded. "One more reason to drink up, eh?"

She chuckled to lighten the mood. She neither needed nor wanted his sympathy. "As if I ever needed one." She took another drink.

"Well, then, to another Hatching and another mug of ale," he said, reaching over to clink his glass against hers. "May this be the last for both of us."

"It won't be the last for me. I'll keep Standing until they won't let me anymore. You're not going to stop trying, are you?" She hoped not. She really liked Birigundi, and couldn't imagine a better leader.

"Who, me? Of course not. I haven't found my lifemate yet. Mine just hasn't been Clutched yet, that's all. It only takes one Hatching, it just has to be the right one." Shards, it was getting harder to force those words out with every Hatching. Two more turns and he wouldn't be able to stand anymore.

Sighing audibly, Nasiria let her tension go. She was glad to hear Birigundi felt the same way she did about finding the _right_ dragon. But she had to admit, she had almost hoped to glean some new insight from him rather than hearing the same old weyr encouragements echoed back to her through his voice. "Good. I was afraid my future gold might miss being chased by your future bronze," she teased.

"Only _chase_?" he asked, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "Are you so sure he wouldn't catch her?" "Mmm. Well, he would have to be _very_ fast. And powerful-not to mention clever. I just don't know." Birigundi pulled out his best cocky future-bronzerider grin. "If he's anything like _me_, he'd be all that and handsome besides." Nasiria let out a genuine laugh. "And with a rider so modest and completely charming, how _could_ we resist?"

"Exactly," Birigundi nodded. "I think you have no choice but to accept the fact. It makes life so much easier when you don't try to pretend to resist my charms. Or, uh, my dragon's charms I should say."

"Who says I'm pretending?" She chuckled. "Besides, we sound like a couple of old Holders plotting the coupling of their son and daughter before they're even born. What do you say we let our dragons decide who is irresistible, hmmm?"

He grinned as he let his eyes wander down along the low neckline of her tunic. "I agree. Let's talk more about this coupling idea you have." She shook her head and returned his grin. "I simply said the word in the course of conversation. I think the ideas are all in _your_ head."

"Well, it better to think about than the fact that I was left Standing again." He shrugged innocently. "It's a consolation of sorts to know that I am still free to have those ideas for a while longer." "I know what you mean." She finished her drink and looked around. "So, who do you have in mind for tonight's consolation activities?"

"Who me?" he asked innocently. "No, I'm afraid there is no consolation for me tonight. Not unless I want my mother watching." Birigundi sighed dramatically. "Having your own weyr does have its draw-backs at times."

"Oh, too bad for you!" She chuckled. "How long is she visiting?"

"She wants to spend time with her granddaughter," Birigundi said with a roll of his eyes. That was going to lead to all sorts of discussions about his responsibilities to Nia and the baby. Well, its not _his_ fault Nia kicked him out of her life! "Hopefully not more than another day or two." She laughed. "So what are you going to do to work out all of your frustrations then, since you can't work them out under the furs?" she taunted.

Birigundi had never had trouble finding a way to burn excess energy. "What I always do. I'll go for an extra _long_ run." Nasiria considered how far she would have to run to compensate for having not had sex for three or four whole days. Not a big fan of exercise, she raised an eyebrow at the prospect. "Ugh. Good for you. I think I'd rather eat dirt."

"Well, I would make a pretty poor Runner if I didn't love to run," he chuckled, amused by the face she had made. "Oh shards, Ma's standing all alone. I better go."

"Yes, run along to mommy, now. I need to pick out my consolation prize."
Giggling, she elbowed him before beginning to scan the room for prospects.

Last updated on the January 19th 2008

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One More Reason to Drink