A Perfect Team

Writers: AL, Francesca
Date Posted: 28th February 2009

Characters: Zelle, G'len
Description: G'len and Zelle chat about weyrlings and candidates.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 13 of Turn 5

"Ah, hello G'len." Zelle had scrambled out of the way to allow the dragonrider's green to settle upon the ledge. She stepped forward as G'len dismounted and immediately held out a glass to him. "I was wondering when you were going to get here. I was about to start without you, but I guess it's a good thing I decided to wait a little longer, hm?"

G'len took the glass with a smile. "Weyrlings," he said in apology, settling into a nearby chair. "Now, what should we toast to?

"Toast to a wonderful set of weyrlings lead by a wonderful Weyrlingmaster Third!" Zelle lifted her glass and clinked it against G'len's. "I think that's definitely worth drinking to."

"Aye, I'll drink to that." G'len took a long gulp of wine, then sighed happily, sinking further into the chair. Being able to just relax with a friend was wonderful. "So, how many of your candidates Impressed?"

"All but three." Zelle grinned broadly. "Unfortunately, I only had seven to begin with. Still, I have high hopes for the others. Rillith is rarely wrong. I am certain they'll impress eventually." The greenrider downed the wine then poured herself another glass. "What about you?"

"You're too lucky. I had five of ten." He shook his head, taking several more sips of wine. "One girl Tobereth Searched didn't Impress and her older brother, who she didn't Search Impressed a bronze. I'll never understand it."

"Huh...that's strange." Zelle's fingers tapped against the glass just before she took a sip. "So the one who was _not_ searched impressed but the one who _was_ searched didn't. That's...really odd. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before unless they were Weyrbred."

"Maybe Tobereth was confused between the two of them?" He knew that wasn't the case though. She had very carefully examined each of the holders. "Who knows."

"Tobereth? Confused? I know greens can be flighty at times, but not Tobereth. At least, not when it comes to search." Search dragons seemed to take their job quite seriously and Zelle didn't think Tobereth would easily confuse them. "I _did_ hear that he is the heir to a hold - well, was the heir. Perhaps she knew this and refrained from Searching him because of it."

"Maybe." That was better than his theory. "I wish she remembered so I could ask. We'll have to set up an experiment to see if that's the case." He smiled, trying to imagine how that could be arranged.

"You mean have her check out the boy and see if she would have searched him?" Of course, he had already impressed, so wouldn't that sort of modify things already? "Either way, he impressed. Is the girl going to try again?"

"No, I mean find another small hold with a candidate-aged heir and see if Tobereth Searches him. Although," he stopped for a moment, thinking, "if she doesn't, that might just mean he is not candidate material. But, then I could at least ask her if that's the case. That would be a fairly complicated experiment though. Too many variables." At the mention of Lenlee, he became more serious. "Lenlee, the girl, is going home. Her father only wanted her to Stand once. I think I can convince her to return though, once another clutch is on the Sands."

"You'll have to deal with her father." Zelle pointed out, swirling the wine by gentle movements of her hand.

"She says she'll try to convince him to let her go. But, if she hasn't managed to, then yes." Either way, he was fairly confident Lenlee would return to the Weyr.

"I hope you are careful." Zelle cautioned. She'd been in the south long enough to know that father's were a lot more strict and often a lot more trouble down there. "I don't want you to get into a fight."

"Hasn't happened yet." He finished the glass of wine and poured himself another. "Besides, I have a huge green dragon protecting me."

"True, that." No one wanted to mess with a dragon, that was for certain, though Zelle wouldn't put it past _some_ of the people she had met. "Still, might be good to take backup just in case."

"Like a handsome, muscular bronzerider," he said with a smile, remembering their last conversation about Searching. "He could intimidate the holder and make Lenlee really want to return to the Weyr."

"Oh yeah, seduce the poor candidate and then make her wait until her dragon's old enough before she can act on anything." Zelle laughed. "You are evil, G'len!"

He pretended to be offended at her comment. "I said nothing about seduction! Just, perhaps, some enticing. Those holdbred girls need to see what they're missing. And, if my good looks convince some boys to come as well, that's even better."

"Come and entertain you, sure. Even better for you since you get to reap the benefits." Zelle giggled like a young girl then finished off her glass. "Alas, you can't steal away _all_ the boys."

"You'll have to come along! The two of us and a bronzerider would make a perfect team." He almost giggled at the thought.

"Oh that could be dangerous." Zelle's lips spread into a wide, mischievous grin. "And lots of fun! Maybe we should recruit someone..."

"Do you have a specific bronzerider in mind?" G'len raised an eyebrow. He could think of a few he wouldn't mind spending a day with.

"I can think of a couple - and a grumpy ol' brownrider. Sometimes they can be just as good." Zelle laughed, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Hmm, do grumpy brownriders mind being dragged across Pern looking for candidates?" He wanted their imaginary adventure to be fun, not burdened by someone who did not want to come along.

"Well, this grumpy brownrider isn't really as grumpy as he likes to _pretend_ he is!" Zelle shook her head in amusement at the thought of T'marek. "Actually, he could add a rather fun dimension to the whole thing - he just doesn't know it."

"Well, I'm willing to try it once," he replied, a bit sceptically, "if you can convince him to do it."

"We'll see." Zelle grinned. She held up the bottle. "More wine?"

He glanced at his glass, empty again. "Just a bit more can't hurt," he replied, holding out the glass.

Last updated on the February 28th 2009

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A Perfect Team