Catching Up, Careers, and Cards.

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 4th March 2016

Characters: Sh'dori, L'exan
Description: Turns out Sh'dori's the right guy to ask for family advice and more. L'exan probably should have talked to him sooner.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 14 of Turn 8

"So, what's going on in your life?" Sh'dori asked when he brought the tankards to the table and sat down. The brownrider tended to have a lot of friends and could always find a company for nice mug of ale and some chatting.

L'exan chuckled, holding up his hands. "Ah, some days I wonder what isn't going on," he said in his low tenor, shaking his head with a grin. He picked up the tankard. "I had to have a talk with my li'l girl about boys today. It went better than I thought 'cause for some reason, she still thinks they're gross. Praise Carenath, huh? But we still had to have that talk about how to brush boys off if she's not interested. Guess I'm only worried 'cause she's twelve already and Ancients know I was the worst of the worst when it came to being a boy. I know how they think."

"Ah, yes, always so fun, those kind of discussion. Unfortunately, the yuck-boys -phase won't last forever," Sh'dori could easily identify with the bluerider's woes. "Is she Standing already?"

"I certainly wouldn't tell Ashuli no if she wanted to," L'exan admitted after a sip of the ale. "But thankfully for my nerves, she hasn't decided if she wants to yet. Fine by me, there's plenty of time for her to choose. She's also having trouble thinking of a craft she might like, too. You have any kinda trouble like that with your lot?"

"With some," Sh'dori replied. "Some of them knew what they want right from the beginning while one or two has even switched crafts along the way." He had so many children that he could probably find an example for every possible case among them.

The bluerider leaned forward attentively. "What kinda advice did you give 'em in the switching cases?" he asked. Maybe he could learn something to help point Ashuli in a direction she would be happy about.

"If it makes you happier, go for it. There's no reason to get stuck in a craft that feels wrong," Sh'dori replied.

L'exan nodded thoughtfully. "So I can tell her if she wants to work under her ma in the Tailorcraft, no problem. If she wants to try something else later, no problem. I think she'll like that."

"They Weyr's crafters are pretty easy going in matters like that," Sh'dori said. "Unlike in official Hall's." Of course, since Sh'dori had spent most of his life in Weyr, he didn't know _that_ much about life inside the Halls.

The bluerider shook his head. "Every time I remember what it's like for women at Holds and Halls, I'm grateful Ashuli's a weyrbrat. Even if the thought of her Impressing does scare me," he confessed. It was one of maybe four things that had the power to make the big, generally fearless man frightened.

"I know that feel," Sh'dori said. He had lost children to the Thread and worried he might lose more. After all, large number of his children were dragonriders.

"I figured you would," L'exan said with a compassionate nod. "How do you handle it?" As far as he knew, the older rider held it together well when it came to his brood.

Sh'dori was quiet for a moment, thinking and drinking his ale. "You just keep going, thru the pain, despite the pain. It helps to know that there are other ones who still need you."

L'exan mulled that over as he sipped his own beverage. He hadn't lost anyone close to him; not like Sh'dori. Wingmates were lost sometimes, yes, but his parents were still going strong, and Ashuli was in perfect health, and even her mother, whom L'exan was on good terms with, was all right. But he had nearly lost himself, he supposed, when he had tried drowning his guilt in alcohol. It had taken Ashuli to snap him out of it, yet even now, sometimes the temptation to over-indulge in drink was terrible. One or two servings were okay, but that was it. "I think I get it," he said, but didn't press Sh'dori further. Even he wasn't that tactless. "How 'bout a game? I think I saw someone leave a deck of cards a few tables down."

"Oh, I never say no for a game of cards," Sh'dori grinned.

The bluerider grinned back and set his tankard aside. "Something tells me I should be sober while I play against you," he kidded, and got up to find the deck.

"Oh. come on, it's my brother you have to watch out for. He can bloody calculate the odds for certain card to end up in certain hand. I, I just play," Sh'dori chuckled.

"Not taking any chances," L'exan said, retrieving the deck and bringing it over. "Any friendly wagers tonight?"

"I've got my hands on two bottles of dark ale, interested?" Sh'dori asked, moving some dishes out of the way. "Hall's best."

That would be perfect for the party he was planning. "Very interested," L'exan said as he started shuffling the cards. "I got some new fur-lined gloves with textured fingers. Perfect for Threadfall and catching firestone sacks, and for hanging on for dear life when your dragon decides to show off."

"It's a deal," Sh'dori replied.

Last updated on the March 6th 2016

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Catching Up, Careers, and Cards.