Good Gossip

Writers: Bree, Dana
Date Posted: 15th October 2005

Characters: U'val, Shayla
Description: U'val and Shayla share a glass of wine and some gossip.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 3

Shayla grinned at U'val over the rim of her glass. "This one's really good, U'val," she told him, gesturing to the wine flask sitting on the table. She hadn't been much of an alcohol drinker when she came to the Weyr, though her brothers _had_ snuck her a sip or two from their glasses sometimes when her parents' backs were turned during dinner. But now...she was starting to love the taste of wine.

U'val chuckled and watched her take another sip. "I'm glad you like it.
It's helpful to be friends with a Master Vintner. I get all sorts of wonderful treats."

She eyed him knowingly, having a sneaking suspicion that all those wonderful treats weren't _just_ well-aged bottles of wine. "I'm sure you do. Lucky me that I can come and visit you and get to sample some every once in a while!"

"Just don't stay away so long, next time! I know I'm not as handsome as my grandson..." U'val winked at her teasingly. "But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy company. And where is T'voal today, anyway?"

"He's at drills still. I'm supposed to meet him at his weyr later. He's _still_ not fully unpacked yet..." Which was, technically, partly her fault. They didn't seem to get more than one or two boxes unpacked whenever she came over to help him...she knew she distracted him more than not.

U'val snorted. "He's never been much good at keeping his weyr clean in any case. You'll see that soon enough, I'm sure!"

Shayla blushed. "Probably," she agreed after clearing her throat.

"More wine, darling?" U'val asked mischeviously, reaching over with the flask. "Or maybe you've had enough... you _are_ looking a little flushed."

The color in her cheeks deepened. "Oh, you! You and your grandson just _love_ to tease me!" She stuck out her glass to him, raising a brow in playful challenge. "I know my limits. I can have more."

"Some things run in the family," U'val admitted, pouring her more wine.
"Maybe eventually T'voal will even learn some charm."

"Mmm... He has a good start, don't you think?" Shayla thought that T'voal was more charming than most of the other male dragonriders she spent time with. She took a sip. And not just charming, but so patient too...

U'val grinned, thinking that his grandson had obviously found enough of the family charm to do a number on Shayla. "I don't know. He very rarely wastes the effort to be charming to me."

"No. You both just tease each other instead," she laughed.

"Because it's so much fun! You'll learn, Shayla. It's the most fun there is to be had, I think..." U'val winked at her. "Well, _almost_..."

She flushed and took a swig of her drink. Then another. "We tease each other."

"Mmmhmmm... I'm sure you do. In all sorts of ways."

The color in her cheeks deepened. "U'val! We haven't..." Shayla snapped her jaw shut, her brown eyes widening. Shards! How embarrassing.

U'val's grin got even wider. "You haven't teased each other? I think I might disagree on that, dear. But I suppose I need to stop teasing you before you're blushing so hard you can't think!"

She managed to give him a good-natured glare. "Thanks, U'val. That helps," she grumbled.

"I'm sure it does," U'val replied evenly, deciding to change the topic before Shayla couldn't speak anymore. "So, while you're up here, tell me the gossip of the Weyr that I've been missing out on. I never hear any _good_ gossip anymore... unless Gaiya has come to visit, of course."

She grinned at him. "Have you heard the good gossip about _Gaiya_?"

U'val's eyes lit up. "Don't just sit there, girl! Tell me before I turn eighty... my hearing might start going."

Shayla laughed, her eyes glittering in anticipation as she leaned closer.
U'val was a friend to Gaiya...so she could tell him. "She's seeing that bronzerider. Ar'lis."

"Oh is she now?" That was certainly an interesting bit of gossip...
especially given how Gaiya had been feeling about the bronzerider earlier.
"I always thought she was sweet on him."

The greenrider nodded, leaning back in her chair. "Apparently he's been _really_ sweet to her for the past month or so..."

U'val grinned. "I'll have to give him the lecture... no bronzeriders should be messing around with my girls! They simply can't be trusted."

"Only the bronzeriders, huh?"

"Well, I'd like to say that no one but blueriders can be trusted..." U'val reached over to swing an arm around her shoulders. "But then my grandson would hunt me down."

She laughed. "I trust your grandson."

"I'm sure you do." In a fond gesture, U'val leaned forward to kiss Shayla's forehead lightly. "And I'm glad that he's got you, Shayla. You've made him happy."

The girl smiled at that, pleased to hear it. "I'm glad."

Last updated on the October 15th 2005

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Good Gossip