No Confidence

Writers: Emma, Len
Date Posted: 29th August 2010

Characters: D'nev, G'wen, T'bel
Description: D'nev relaxes with friends and is served by Galwen
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 20 of Turn 5

Galwen sighed, picking up the last tray on the kitchens' table. Another
worker had tried to get it but, with a van smile, he had waved her off.
With a low groan, he steadied the tray of beer mugs and walked out of the kitchen.

T'bel, his father's weyrmate, waved him over for the drinks. The slender man was sitting with a group of mostly green and blue riders, most well into their pints, from the sound of them. Galwen put the drinks down, bumping hard into one of the men.

"Slow down son," D'nev told the youngster. "Full mugs are better than you getting covered in the beer."

Galwen blinked at the man, his words momentarily lost on the tired boy.
He tried to place him, it wasn't like many of the riders here had facial
hair.

Across the table T'bel laughed, "watch out D'nev, that one is a complete
fumblefinger. He'll drown you in those soon as pour them for you."

"Maybe he's one of those that think that beer isn't just good for
drinking. Some people say it does wonders for your hair," D'nev said with a grin for T'bel.

"And exactly which section of 'hair' were you thinking of?" T'bel asked,
with an evil grin.

"He's got a fair amount of it hasn't he." D'nev cast another glance at
the lad. "Depends if it is just the hair on his head he's taking care
of."

Galwen blushed furiously, trying to look anywhere but at the riders.
That T'bel! He was always trying to get him into trouble. He didn't
know what his da saw in the man.

Outloud, he mumbled, "I should go."

"No," D'nev said, seeing an echo of the candidate he himself had been all those turns back in this one. "I think you might find it a good idea to grab us a few snacks, then we can see what sort of a man you are."

T'bel stood up and shoved the boy into his seat. "I'll go and get
snacks. If this one goes, we'll never see him again, I know all his
tricks." To Galwen, he added, "you try and play nice."

Galwen watched his father's partner disappear into the kitchens before
turning back to the riders. For courage he took a gulp of the man's pint and stole a shy look at D'nev.

"Relax," D'nev told him. "Nobody here is going to bite you, unless you
want them to that is."

"I...uh..." What did he want? Glancing again at the older man, he
blushed like a Holder boy. Blast it all, he took another gulp of the
beer. A few curls of hair falling back into his face gave him a bit of
comfort. He smiled at D'nev, raising an eyebrow. What did the man have
in mind for him?

"There you go, nothing to worry about," D'nev took the smile as sign the
boy was relaxing a little. "You can do it if you try."

Galwen sighed, finially placing the man was the father of their latest
gold rider. What would he want to do with him? He was ugly and scruffy, after all. Stealing a glance at the other leering and amused faces at
the table, he supposed maybe this was nothing more than a pick on the
ugly kid sort of game. T'bel could be nasty like that. Maybe his
friends were the same way. He looked down, letting his hair fall back
into his face, hoping it protected him.

"Maybe he can't," came a voice, from a bluerider sat across from D'nev.
"Maybe he needs a woman? Have you ever had a woman lad?"

"Me? No, no women." He kept his eyes fixed on T'bel's pint.

"T'bel, I think you might have to work on this one!" D'nev remarked as he saw his fellow rider returning. "He needs a little confidence."

"Why the bloody shards did you think I called him over here?" T'bel
asked, laughing. "Look at him, a lovely little virgin lad, no thread
scrores on him and no attachments, and all you numbglows can do is stare
at the poor thing! No wonder he's got no confidence."

He nudged the boy, saying, "give over, Galwen. Or better yet, run back
to the kitchen, you're too classy for this lot."

Galwen stood to leave.

"See you soon Galwen," D'nev noted the name to mention to E'naer, perhaps
the Weyrlingstaffer could give the boy a bit of a pep talk.

Last updated on the September 22nd 2010

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No Confidence