Drinking To Forget

Writers: Cali, Emma
Date Posted: 4th December 2008

Characters: I'lan, Neddie
Description: I'lan goes to drink away his memory of Sorsha.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 12, day 28 of Turn 4
Notes: Sorry this is late, it comes after "If You're Sure"

"I'll have another ale." The bronzerider's words were precisely uttered as
he ordered yet another drink. Maybe it had been a bad idea to go haring off like that to see Sorsha when she had so clearly chosen another man. What had he been thinking of.

"Can I bring you something else too? Maybe some dessert?" a girl with big
brown eyes and light hair asked as she picked up the two previously drunk
mugs from the table. He looked so sad to her, and drinking on an empty
stomach wouldn't make him feel any better.

"I.." Then he looked up. this girl looked and sounded nothing like her. "Is
there any cake?"

She smiled, he was handsome too. "Of course there is, I'll bring you a big
piece right out."

"And the ale." He needed that, as much as the sound of cake appealed, the
drink was better right now.

The girl returned quickly with a full mug and slice of frosting covered cake and set them down in front of the dragon rider. "My shift is over, would you like some company?" Someone so cute and sad shouldn't be all alone, maybe she could cheer him up.

"Only," he looked up. "Only if you get yourself a drink too, I shouldn't be
alone." He had enough sense to still realize that drinking alone could be a
bad idea. "Please?"

"Sure," she was back in just a few moments from the bar with her own drink. Working in the Tavern the last turn or so had given her the tolerance of a vintner but she still enjoyed the taste, and she hoped the company. "So I haven't seen you around here before, what brings you this way?"

"I needed a drink, to forget."

She leaned over the table slightly, "You know that only works for a few
hours, right? Then you've got whatever it is you're trying to forget _and_
a hangover."

"I need it, for now. She forgot me fast enough."

Great, there's always another girl when it's a cute one. "I have a hard
time believing any girl could forget you."

"She chose him. He's got a holding to inherit, while all I could give her is a life at the Weyr." I'lan was starting to get more than a little maudlin.

She reached over and lightly put her hand on his arm as she tried to catch
his eye. "Well then she's a stupid girl and it was _her_ loss."

"She could have done anything she wanted at the Weyr, and more."

The girl could see that he wasn't paying much attention to her, but she
wasn't about to give up on him yet. "How's the cake?"

"Good," he said though he'd barely touched it.

She took her hand off his arm and used it to pick up her mug, taking a long
drink before setting it back down. Cute or not, if he didn't start
improving in conversation she was going to call this one a bust. "I forgot
to introduce myself, I'm Neddie."

"I'lan," he replied, taking another drink himself.

Another round later and he still wasn't done wallowing about the sharding
girl that got away, so Neddie was giving up. "Hey listen, I've got to be
getting home. Do you want me to secure a room for you? I'd hate for you to slide off that dragon of yours mid-flight because I plied you with cheap
ale."

"Umm..."

}:You should stay,:{ Naath told him in no uncertain terms. }:Sleep, and
think.:{

"That might be an idea," I'lan said softly.

She was gone and back in no time, key in hand. "Do you want me to show you
where it is, or do you want to drink more first?"

"Perhaps I should just find it now."

"Come on then." She reached out her hand for him, hoping he could walk
alright. He wouldn't be the first man she'd had to tuck into bed after too
much drink.

He took her hand, and got to his feet a little unsteadily.

}:See,:{ Naath told him. }:You stay there.:{

"Which way?" he managed to say.

She led him through the tables and rolled her eyes at another of the tavern
girls as she passed into the section of the tavern reserved for quiet
quarters. She led him past the bunked rooms where single men usually stayed and into one of the nicer private rooms. It wouldn't fit for a dragonrider to be in anything less, regardless of his drunken state. "Here you go. Nice comfortable bed, wash basin and chair. The toilet's at the end of the hall if you need it."

"Thank you," there was relief in I'lan's voice as he sank onto the bed.
"Neddie, I, I appreciate this."

She gave a small smile as she stood in the doorway and watched the rider, "I have a soft spot for the cuties. Come and see me sometime when you're
feeling better."

"Maybe I will."

Closing the door behind her, Neddie gave a sigh when she recalled he was
drinking to forget. "If you even remember me."

Last updated on the December 13th 2008

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Drinking To Forget