Sharing a Drink
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 13th January 2006
Characters: N'vanik, U'kaiah
Description: N'vanik comes to find U'kaiah to share a drink and gets a bit of advice in return
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 7 of Turn 3
When he couldn't find U'kaiah in the dining cavern or his weyr, N'vanik almost gave up. Then he remembered hearing the Wingleader liked to spend time in the records room. **If he's not there, I'm going back to the dining cavern and finding some pleasant company.** N'vanik reached the door and almost opened it before deciding that knocking first might be a better idea. He was rewarded with seeing his Wingleader standing with his back to the door reshelving a stack of hides in his hands. U'kaiah had hoped that he could escape into the comfort of his other work. That was where he usually would go when he needed to be alone, needed to think, needed to forget... But even the simple act of shelving could not distract him. Memories of Jaela permeated every corner, desk, and shelf. For the first time, he hated the Record Room.
"Thought I might find you here," N'vanik said as he approached.
U'kaiah almost bristled when he heard the familiar voice. "Did you need something, N'vanik?" He was pretty sure the bronzerider wasn't looking for a hide to read.
"I thought maybe we could have a drink." N'vanik set the bottle he was carrying on the nearest desk. U'kaiah turned around to face him. "What's going on N'vanik? Why are you here?"
"I told you. I thought we could have a drink." He started opening the bottle. "It's good stuff too. Strong stuff. I could drink it myself, but then I might not be up for drills tomorrow."
"What is it?" he asked with a nod towards the bottle. He was not in the mood to get trashed, at least not yet. But a good belt, especially a free one, just might get him through the rest of his shelving.
"Whiskey. And it wasn't easy to get," N'vanik took a sip and smiled.
"Ah, that's the stuff. Here." He offered the bottle to U'kaiah.
U'kaiah gave him one more suspicious look before lifting the bottle to his lips. What could N'vanik be playing at? He wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "Thanks."
N'vanik took the bottle and drank again. "I know you had a thing for her. Jaela."
A thing? U'kaiah had a _thing_ for Jaela? What an awful way to describe it. You have a thing for sweet rolls. You have a thing for beautiful women. You have a thing for goldriders. He just could not imagine having a _thing_ for a woman like Jaela. "You do have a way with words, N'vanik."
"Maybe I should have been a harper," he joked, handing the bottle to U'kaiah.
"It's not too late," he replied dryly as he took the bottle and another long swig.
N'vanik snorted. "You gonna teach me?"
"If you don't listen to me in drills, you certainly won't listen to me here." He wiped the back of his hand across his lips and handed the bottle back. U'kaiah still wasn't sure if it would make him feel better, but the whiskey sure didn't make him feel any worse.
N'vanik took two mouthfuls. "I listen more than you think I do."
"Really? You sure don't seem act on what you hear."
"Just because I decide not to do what you tell me doesn't mean I don't hear you say it." N'vanik sat on the edge of the desk. "If you think I'm a handful now, you should have seen me before the Pass started."
U'kaiah's eyebrows raised slightly. "I can only imagine. Oh, wait. I don't need to imagine. I've read your file." The man never seemed to amaze him. He was so _proud_ of his tarnished record. "Probably more interesting than most of the stuff in here," he waved a hand to indicate the records. "And that's just the stuff they wrote down."
The wingleader snorted. "Did you come here just to pick a fight with me, N'vanik?" "I wouldn't waste good whiskey on you if I was," N'vanik said. "I came here because I know you liked Jaela. Maybe more than liked her. And if it had been Trae . . ." He shook his head. "Are you finally willing to admit that _you_ maybe more than like Trae?"
U'kaiah asked as he brought the bottle back to his lips, glad to divert the conversation away from all he had been trying to avoid thinking about.
"Shards, man! I'm not near drunk enough to start talking about my feelings, and certainly not with _you_." N'vanik held his hand out for the bottle. U'kaiah nodded thought fully as he threw the rest of the hides on the desk behind the wingrider. "You say you listen to me? Well, listen to me now, and listen good. Forget about your scortching pride and tough-guy image. If you feelings for Trae run deep, than tell her. Tell her now. Or you might not get the chance." He slipped the bottle into the other bronzerider's hand as he walked towards the door. "Thanks for the drink."
N'vanik stared after him, the bottle feeling heavy in his hands.
Somewhere deep down, he considered the possiblity that U'kaiah just might be right.
Last updated on the January 14th 2006