Investing For the Future

Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 28th February 2007

Characters: Jerroll, Lerra
Description: Jerroll and Lerra talk about the future--and the past--during their voyage from Amber Hills to Dragonsfall.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 4

Lerra jingled her large ring of keys cheerfully as she closed the door to her cabin behind her and grinned at her first mate. "You'd better have a glass of that poured for me by the time I sit down, or I'm sending you overboard."

"Yes, Captain." Jerroll grinned back and filled a glass, sliding it in front of her chair.

She tossed the keys onto the table and sat down with a sigh. "Everything's locked up below, and the crew's settled back in. Hopefully things will be quiet on the way to Dragonsfall."

He took a sip of his drink. "How long do you think we'll stay there?"

"A few days, probably." Lerra reached for her own drink and admired the color for a moment. This was from Fielton's personal collection, and very high quality. "Long enough for you to break a few hearts. I'm getting old, so I'll probably only have time for one."

Jerroll chuckled. "As long as you can still break 'em, you're not too old! And I know I have a few acquaintances I'd like to look up."

"Is that so?" She sipped from her glass and spent a moment savoring the rich liquor. "If you look up that greenrider friend of yours, you find someplace _other_ than my bed to disport yourself this time. Shards, I didn't think the two of you would ever get tired. I'm never lending you my cabin again!"

He burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, Captain. But she's just so _energetic_! We'll find another place to use this time."

Lerra grinned. "Maybe I should ask her if she's got any recommendations. I imagine that's a woman who has made friends with all the more interesting men in the Weyr."

"She has to know at least _one_ man that can put up with you," he teased.

"I'm easy to put up with," she replied easily. "In one candlemark increments, at least. You're the only idiot who thinks he should be able to deal with me in larger doses."

He took another sip of Fielton's finest. "I'm just stubborn, that's all. You'll never get rid of me."

"Good. You keep the lovestruck boys in line." She'd yet to have an overenthusiastic lover whose passion didn't cool when faced with having to fight Jerroll for her affections. In their earlier days he'd pretended to be her lover to keep her safe from the attentions of other crewmates. Now it was just an easy way to discourage men who couldn't understand that she wasn't interested in anything they had to offer outside a bed.

Jerroll chuckled. "I'll still be fending them off when you're a hundred. At least I'll get to hit them with a cane, then." Although there had never been anything romantic between them, he couldn't imagine growing old with anyone else.

"I hope I can still get them when I'm a hundred!" She took another sip from her glass and smiled. "I'll try not to pick anyone who will be able to break you in half in your old age, though."

"How kind of you!" He sipped the liquor again. "Mmm. I think we'll have to stop by the Vinter Hall more often."

"I think I might keep a few bottles of this shipment for us," she replied. "For special occasions. Though a few of these bottles he gave us are going to be priceless in a few turns, considering the fact that the vines they were grown from were lost in the landslide. Perhaps we need to hold on to them."

"Investing for the future. I knew I picked a smart Captain." He lifted his glass toward her briefly before taking another drink.

Lerra traced a finger around the edge of her glass absently. "We need to try to find a decent cook to replace Sartoi soon. He's getting tired, and I know he wants to be back on dry land. But we can't let any of the crew cook... half of us would be dead from food poisoning before the first sevenday was gone."

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Maybe we can find someone at Dragonsfall."

"It would certainly be convenient." Having someone who could cook excellent meals on a rocking ship was a comfort that Lerra did not intend to go without. She'd eaten enough questionable food in the turns before she got control of her own ship. "Anyone with some basic healing skills would be nice, too."

"Hmm, yes. You never know when you might need a healer." Jerroll unconsciously rubbed at one of his badly healed scars.

Lerra snorted. "Especially now that we're getting old. Promise me you won't get us into any fights at Dragonsfall."

His eyebrow went up. "_You're_ the one that get us into fights. I just finish them."

"You always were better at that than I was," she agreed easily. "I can't help it I was born delicate and ladylike." Jerroll snorted and took another drink. "Oh, yes. Those are exactly the qualities that come to mind."

Last updated on the March 1st 2007

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Investing For the Future