To Our Empty Beds

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 25th July 2007

Characters: R'syl, M'galec
Description: R'syl and M'galec chat late one evening.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 27 of Turn 4

The bronzerider sighed as he looked over at the candle burning through its marks in the corner. Still two marks yet before he was expected at the infirmary. He could go home and relax the time away, but really, what was the point. Truth be told, he was starting to miss his weyrmate. Not Lenala, exactly. Well, perhaps a little Lenala. But he missed having someone to come home to. What really was the point in going home now? He might as well just push through the rest of his hidework.

R'syl was leaving his office when he saw the light in his 'Second's door, and he paused. He thought he was the only one still up, finishing a little extra hidework before the next day, and tempting fate by seeing if a weyrling was going to seek him out with a minor disaster. Was there a reason for M'galec to still be here? Or was he simply killing time, avoiding returning to a weyr with no one there? Curious, he knocked lightly on the doorframe, sticking his head in. "Hello?"

"Ah, Weyrlingmaster." M'galec rose to his feet. "Good evening. How may I help you?"

R'syl entered, waving M'galec back to his seat. "Actually, I was about to ask you the same question." He raised an eyebrow. "It's late, and I know the vital stuff is already done -I just finished reviewing that pile you left on my desk. So what are you doing still working?" He asked bluntly.

"Right now I'm just organizing all the records we received concerning the Dragonsfall Candidates," M'galec replied with a wave towards the stacks on his desk.

"That's not exactly urgent enough to keep you awake." He chided with a smile, but settled himself in one of the chairs. "Anything we need to watch for with the Dragonsfall kids?"

"Just that no resentment builds between our Candidates and theirs. There will be some envy if they walk off the Sands with a new dragonet while River Bluff's own are left dragonless." M'galec had already heard some rumblings of dissatisfaction from the Candidates. Not all, but some...

"I know." R'syl sighed. He'd heard a few complaints about that already, but he knew it was the right thing to do. No one knew what caused a dragonet to chose someone, or not to chose. Better to have more candidates than they could possibly need than too few. Besides, the kids were spoiled. He remembered watching fifty or so candidates standing for a paltry ten or fifteen eggs. "Any real troublemakers on that front?
From Dragonsfall or here?"

"None as of yet, but I think it is only a matter of time before someone says something foolish." It was inevitable with this many hormones and egos running around. "It will be dealt with swiftly when it does, though. You can be sure of that."

"I have no doubt." R'syl said dryly. He'd seen the way M'galec swooped in on erring weyrlings. "And I have full confidence in you to handle any situation that arises."

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate your confidence. I try my best to be fair, but strict." As any good weyrlingmaster or second should be. Something J'an just hadn't understood, though he would never speak ill of the dead.

"As all good teachers should be." He agreed blandly. "But I will repeat my question. Is this worth losing sleep over? I know you have a shift at the infirmary tomorrow, and I'd rather you were awake to deal with whatever disasters befall us."

M'galec was rather surprised at the question. It wasn't as though he had broken shell just yesterday! He of all people had become adapt at balancing his time after all. "I would hardly say I am losing sleep, sir. It is yet fairly early in the evening."

"Not that early." R'syl pointed out. "It's been full dark for almost two candlemarks. And I was hoping I could persuade you to have a drink with me." His faint smile was somewhat bitter. "It isn't as if I have anyone to go home to, and I'd appreciate the company."

"Oh." M'galec blinked a couple times before he finally shrugged, a slightly amused smile touching the corner of his lips. "Well, I suppose I have no one to go home to either. A drink would be nice."

"Good." R'syl said definitively, leaning forward and feeling marginally cheered by the prospect of company other than a cleaning drudge in the dining hall. "We can drink to our empty beds. Hand me some files then.
I'll give you hand."

His second didn't have to be offered twice.

Last updated on the July 29th 2007

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