There's More To Life Than Drills

Writers: AL, Mirren
Date Posted: 30th May 2012

Characters: D'shiel, Meledei
Description: Meledei and D'shiel chat over a meal and make plans.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 6

D'shiel had a tray of hot food, an empty stomach and was searching the
dining cavern for a place to sit. It was getting late and few people
were around, but he preferred not to sit alone if he could help it.

"Hey D'shiel." Meledei flashed a smile as she came up beside the
bronzerider. "How's it going?"

"Hey yourself," he said with a smile. "You're eating late too." Is was
more a statement of fact than a question. "care to join me?"

"Sure. It's always more pleasant to eat with company." Meledei
inclined her head toward a couple of spots. Most of the tables were
fairly empty. Those who lingered did so under the pretense of hanging
out with buddies and enjoyed conversation. "Over there all right?"

"It looks fine to me. Nice and close to the fire." he nodded. Carrying
his tray, he made his way through the tables and set it down before
pulling a chair out for her and waiting politely.

Ah, a gentleman. Meledei flashed D'shiel a smile and slipped into the
chair, then settled her tray in front of her. "So what have you been
up to lately? Besides drills."

"What is there besides drills?" He asked, slipping into the chair beside
her. "Eat, sleep, dream about drills." **Dream about fighting Thread and
losing**.

"Oh come _on_ there's plenty more besides drills." Meledei was half
serious, half teasing. She knew there were dragonriders who thought
only about their work, but in her mind, that could be almost as
dangerous as not ever thinking about it at all. "What do you do for
fun?" Granted, she hadn't spent a _lot_ of time with D'shiel, knew him
of course, but she hadn't ever really known what he did during his down
time.

He looked thoughtful. "The usual things I suppose. Swim, run, eat," he
smiled. "Watch the sun rise over the ocean. Fly." That probably went
without saying. "and you?" he asked, spooning a mouthful of stew into
his mouth.

"I didn't know you run." Most riders at Dolphin Cove swam - it was a
favoured past time, especially since they were so close to the ocean,
not to mention the constant presence of the lake. Some ran, but she
found that those who did weren't as many. "I usually run early, down
along the beach."

"That's my mistake," he said, reaching to take a sip of his juice. "I
usually run in the afternoons. I find it helps me to unwind after...
You know, drills." he grinned.

"I can understand that. I just find it gives me more energy if I do it
in the mornings and leaves my afternoon free for other things I want to
do." Meledei speared a piece of meat with her fork and popped it in
her mouth. "Though," She stated after she had politely swallowed it -
no sense in being rude and offering 'see food', "I'm surprised I've not
seen you down there watching the sun rise. I guess we always go in
opposite directions."

He nodded. "I suppose so. It's nice to walk down there in the mornings,
it helps to wake me up. That and a good, hot mug of klah." And other
things it might be impolite to mention given they barely knew each
other.

"I've walked in the mornings at times, but not often. The sunsets can
be quite pretty." Meledei chuckled softly. "Klah seems to be a
perennial favourite, that's for sure. So where do you go when you go
flying?"

"Anywhere and everywhere," he replied. "as strange as it may seem, I
like to go inland when I can. I've spent my whole life next to the
ocean, so I like to see what it's like away from it. Sometimes it makes
coming back all the better. I can appreciate what we have here."

"I have to admit, I do like to explore." Meledei enjoyed finding new
places and seeing the beauty of Pern. "I also like people so enjoy
visiting other Weyrs and holds."

He nodded. "I'm sure your days are full, even in rest days. Mine are as
well. Just between you and I, I didn't know just how much hidework was
involved in leading a wing."

"There does seem to be a lot of that going around." Meledei gave him a
half grin. "Funny how that works huh? The higher up you are, the more
hidework you have to do."

"Remind me never to have aspirations to be Weyrleader then," he said
dryly. Not that he wanted it. Maybe that was unambitious and
shortsighted, but the job didn't appeal at all.

"You'll have to talk that over with your lifemate and any Weyrwomen's
golds he tries to fly." Meledei knew that the dragons chose, not the
people. Sometimes, those put into power were reluctant - but
sometimes, they were also good for the job.

"I'll talk to him if he tries to catch any senior golds," he said with a
mock growl and a smile. "I doubt too many people would be happy to have
me in the job instead of N'vanik anyway."

"Well, I do like N'vanik." Meledei admitted with a soft chuckle. "But
that doesn't mean I would resent you if the Weyrwoman's gold chose your
bronze. Why would other people?" Of course, they didn't _have_ a
Weyrwoman at the moment. An acting one, yes, but there wasn't a
complete guarantee that she would be Weyrwoman. At least Meledei
didn't have to worry about it being her - she knew she was far from
ready for such a position and was glad Elleth had clutched recently.

He shrugged. "You know what they say, if it's not broken, don't fix it.
What we have is working. Well, the Weyrleader side of things anyway."

"Yes. The Weyrleader side." Now if only they would have a Weyrwoman
who wasn't so selfish and would actually do the right thing. Was
Cyradis that woman? Meledei really hoped so. "Still, one never knows,
but I guess there's no point speculating. If it happens, it happens.
If it doesn't, it doesn't."

"That pretty much covers it," he grinned. "You do have a way of getting
right to the heart of the matter."

"Do I now?" Meledei laughed. "No point in fretting over something
that may never happen, right? I guess I should eat. I'm talking too
much!" With that she speared some more food with her fork.

"There's nothing wrong with doing both," he said, stopping to sip his
drink. "Just not at exactly the same time." he smiled over the rim of
his cup.

"Yea, I like sea food, but not that kind of see food!" Meledei
grinned, her eyes twinkling. Of course, every time she spoke she made
sure she had swallowed her bite first. "I can't linger too long
though." She stated with a soft sigh. "Too much to do and not enough
time in which to do it."

"Wise as well as succinct," he said, raising his cup in a mock toast. He
sipped and then looked at her thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you'd like to
do it again some day? Share a meal I mean. Maybe a more leisurely one?

"Sure. More liesurely sounds great." Alas, liesure was not a part of her
day. Meledei took her last bite, then stood. "Just let me know when. I
have to run, but I'm sure I'll see you soon." The goldrider flashed a
grin, then picked up her tray to put it away before heading off.

He nodded and watched her leave before finishing his own meal and leaving
the dining cavern to get back to work.

Last updated on the May 30th 2012

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There's More To Life Than Drills