Now and Later

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 31st December 2015

Characters: F'lin, D'ren
Description: F'lin and D'ren escape the Weyr for a night out
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel, K'reyel, Rhosyn, M'galec, Lenala, Lanniya, Tsaera

Two bronze dragons came from /between/ over the Hold into blue skies and fair winds. Their wings gleamed in the sunlight as they angled to land, not by the Hold proper but a little further out, by the docks. F'lin dismounted and stretched, enjoying the view. "Good suggestion," he said, turning to the other rider. "For some reason I forget that we don't need to always go to the dining cavern."

"It's nice to get out once in a while." D'ren absently patted his dragon.

"That it is." It didn't hurt that he had new knots on his shoulder, either-- although it gave F'lin pause when he suddenly realized that most Holders probably wouldn't understand their true significance. He led the way down the path toward the tavern, pausing briefly to pick a sprig of mint from beside the path to sweeten his breath.

The tavern itself was a sturdy building made of pale rock with a slate roof and a large, smoking chimney that puffed contentedly into the salty breeze. The door was iron but swung easily on its hinges. Inside was well lit, warm and half-full of men -- and a smattering of women. There was a brief lull in the conversation as the two dragonriders entered, but it soon swelled up again as they found a seat near the wall. F'lin stretched his long frame into his seat. "So, now that we're here. How's things going, D'ren?"

"Well enough." D'ren shrugged, although he couldn't help thinking about Lanniya. Hoped his refusal hadn't ruined their friendship. A serving girl headed their way. "Are you buying, Wingsecond?" he asked, half joking.

"Sure, why not?" It felt good to buy, even though he hadn't seen a single mark increase since he'd been granted the Wingsecond position. "I'll have a beer," he told the serving girl when she arrived by the side of their table, then turned to D'ren an arched his eyebrow.

"Me, too." The girl went to fetch their order and D'ren smiled at F'lin. "Thanks. So how do you like it?" He nodded toward F'lin's knots.

The bronzerider exhaled and shook his head. Then he leaned across the table toward D'ren. "Truthfully? I love it."

"That's great. And I think you're doing a good job." It felt a little strange to follow someone not much older than him but D'ren was already getting used to it.

The comment made F'lin grin. "Glad you think so. If you think so, maybe K'sedel will too, and will decide to keep me on."

"It would be nice to have someone from the Wing and not have to bring in someone new." Many people had been surprised when K'reyel suddenly moved to Dragonsfall.

The other bronzerider nodded. "Maybe for another Wing, but Rapids needs people who know the Weyr. There's been so much turnover lately... it's not good for anyone."

"At least we didn't go through what Dragonsfall did." D'ren still couldn't believe a Senior Weyrwoman would abandon her Weyr like that.

F'lin snorted. "That's true. I can't believe they weathered that change as well as they did. The Senior Gold and a Wingleader, just gone like that... ridiculous. Thankfully, I know for a fact neither Rhosyn or K'sedel will be going anywhere anytime soon. Well.. until Orlaith rises again. Then, who knows? Maybe then _you'll_ be my Wingleader!"

D'ren held up his hands. "Faranth forbid! I'm happy where I am." He held his breath whenever the Senior gold rose, hoping Menanth didn't get lucky.

"I don't know. I bet you'd be good at it." The barmaid returned at that point with two pints of beer, which F'lin paid for. "Besides," he said, turning back to D'ren. "You'd do just fine because I'd be your Wingsecond."

D'ren took a sip. "Is it strange that I don't want to be in charge of anything? I seem to lack any of that stereotypical bronzerider ambition." He'd wanted a bronze like many boys did because they were big and important and they featured in harper tales. He sometimes wondered why he hadn't Impressed brown instead.

"Less competition for me." F'lin raised his beer in a mock salute. "Seriously, though... not everyone _wants_ to lead, and that's just fine. It's just that when you ride bronze, you know you have the ability to do it if it comes up."

"I hope I can avoid it -- for a while, at least. Maybe I'll change my mind when I get older." D'ren shrugged.

"Maybe. But... can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

F'lin leaned a little closer. "If... if anyone asks you what they think of me as Wingsecond, will you talk me up? I want to keep my knots, but I have no idea what K'sedel might decide. And to keep them, if you think I'm doing well as Wingsecond... well, the Weyrleader needs to know that."

D'ren laughed. "I can do that. I honestly think you compliment his leadership style. Neither of you barks orders. You lead more by example and encouragement."

"Well, if the opportunity comes up, tell K'sedel that." F'lin leaned back in his chair, pleased. D'ren was a friend, but every supporting voice counted. "And keep your fingers crossed for me. Until I have these knots permanently, who knows who might be the next Wingsecond-- M'galec, maybe!"

"I hope not." D'ren made a face. He'd heard things about M'galec.

"You have no idea." The Wingsecond rolled his eyes and raised the tankard to his lips. "I still can't believe he was ever on the Weyrlingstaff. Thank Faranth he and Lenala are no longer an item. Even she didn't deserve him."

D'ren's cheeks warmed. He still had a slight infatuation with Lenala although he was too shy to pursue the beautiful goldrider. "There's more to her than you'd think."

"There's more to everybody than you'd think. The problem is you can never tell if that's exciting or disappointing." F'lin set down his glass and eyed D'ren speculatively. "What do you think of Lenala?"

"I think she's smarter than she lets on." The goldrider seemed to play a part, especially at events like a Hatching, but D'ren had seen glimpses of something deeper.

"That's what Tsaera said about her," F'lin said, more as a prompt. Maybe D'ren would keep talking.

"I wonder if people told her she was dumb often enough that she started to believe it," D'ren said. "Or if she played a part and lost herself in it."

"Maybe." The other bronzerider shrugged. He hadn't given Lenala much thought, and tended to agree with what few opinions Tsaera had shared with him about her Wingsecond. "Maybe she just needs to be around people who expect more from her."

"I hope so. She seems to be getting better. I mean, I heard she had a rough time a few turns ago." D'ren wasn't big on gossip but you couldn't help hearing when a goldrider had a bad Flight and a small clutch.

F'lin nodded. "Everyone goes through rough patches sometime..." He trailed off, thinking of Lanniya. "But no matter how silly she can be, Lenala's a survivor. She wouldn't have Impressed gold if she wasn't. And dragons don't choose wrong. They see the potential in people that they themselves might not see. Or ever realize. But it's there."

"It's sad that some people never see what their dragon does. That they're jerks or waste their lives." D'ren took a sip of beer.

"Or that they'd be a great leader," F'lin added as a gentle dig at his friend.

"_In the future_," D'ren said with a smile.

F'lin grinned back. "Suuuuure."

Last updated on the January 11th 2016

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Now and Later