The Better To Know You

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 9th May 2013

Characters: Jeyme, D'hol
Description: D'hol socializes with Jeyme for a short while
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Jeyme

D'hol

In a rare moment, of free time, D'hol watched from a comfortable
distance as the weyrlings trained in the weyrbowl. His eyes flicked
each weyrling in turn, watching, weighing and considering them. Some
would end up in his wing, he well knew, but there was one that he was
taking particular interest in.

His eyes lingered on that one for a longer moment and his lip curled
up slightly as he watched.

Sweat trickled down Jeyme's spine as she caught the firestone sack
that was tossed to her. Exhaling a little "omph" as the heavy stones
collided with her willowy form, Jeyme turned and tossed the sack on to
the next Weyrling in the line. The sacks weren't particularly heavy
individually but after tossing about twenty five in a row, her muscles
began to complain. Since she was the eldest Weyrling, and holdbred,
Jeyme refused to complain about how exhausted she felt, or how much
she really craved a good nap. There was already a target on the green
rider and she refused to let them find any fault in her work.

Leaning against a tree trunk, D'hol smiled in approval. The girls body
language clearly showed that she was exhausted, but she kept working.
Some of the other weyrlings were not so silent about their discomfort;
he made mental marks on a few. **Yumath.**

}: Yes?:{ There was a pause. }: The youngling? :{

**Yes. Tell Quinneth that her rider is invited to lunch.**

There was a draconic rumble of amusement. }: You like the girl. :{

**Perhaps.**

Jeyme could feel her arms begin to tremble, her muscles felt like hot
wax, and she was sure that the next bag would probably be the last one
she could catch. She passed the sack on with a grunt and grimaced at
the effort it took to even raise her forearm and dab the sweat from
her brow.

A shrill whistle echoed across the practice grounds and a collective
sigh of relief could be heard from the Weyrlings. The whistle signaled
the end of the drill and their dismissal for the day.

}: You've been invited to lunch.:{ Quinneth informed her rider, now
that she was no longer distracted.

Jeyme turned and walked to the out cropping of rock where some of the
Weyrlings' dragons had been lounging during the drill. Her knees felt
like jelly and she gratefully sank into the grass and leaned back
against her dragon, who was propped languidly against the rocks.

**Oh? By who?**

}: Yumath's rider.:{ Quinneth observed as a spike of pleasure emanated
from her bond with Jeyme at the mention of the bronzerider.

Jeyme smiled, an image of D'hol coming to mind.

**You can tell him I accept.**

Yumath sent the reply promptly to D'hol, and quietly addressed the
little green again. }: He will bring the food to her so she can
relax.:{

There was a pause. }: You are growing very well. Yours is taking very
good care of you. :{

He was going to being food to her? Jeyme was flattered, she knew it
probably didn't mean much but it would be the first time anyone,
especially a man, had done something for her. Of course the thought
ran through her mind that she was a sweaty mess, buy she figured if he
could possibly be her Wingleadet some day he would see her that way
eventually.

}: Thank you, she works very hard keeping me clean and oiled.:{
Quinneth replied to the bronze.

It took a few minutes, but before long, D'hol quietly approached with
a basket of food. He looked down at Jeyme, and then tossed her a small
jar. "Liniment. It helps sore muscles."

"Thank you." Jeyme said, catching the jar instinctively and causing
her biceps to protest. She uncapped the jar and took a sniff of the
goopy rub.

"Whew, strong. You won't be able to stand the smell of me once I get
this on." She grinned, her eyes looking curiously at the basket he'd
brought, her stomach reminding her that her breakfast was long gone.

D'hol shrugged and sat, setting the basket near her. It held savory
meat rolls, dense bread and slices of redfruit, as well as a skin of
juice. "I use it, I'm used to it. Besides, it's not as though I'm
sniffing you, Weyrling." His lip curled in a half smile. "So don't
worry about that." He glanced over his shoulder as Yumath settled near
by to watch the three, his gently whirling eyes observing them.

"MmmHmm." Jeyme raised her eyebrow a little as she scooped some of the
liniment out. With one hand she reached down the collar of her shirt
and spread the ointment on her neck and shoulders, rotating them with
a sigh as the liniment began it's warming and numbing.

"What were you up to?" She asked as she capped the jar back, and sat
it beside of her so she could pour herself some of the juice that
D'hol had brought with the basket.

The smell clearly didn't bother D'hol as the scent wafted towards him.
He broke a piece of bread off, handing it to her as he took a piece of
his own. "I was watching your drills, actually. I'm sure N'vanik does
the same from time to time. It's how we learn about you."

"Oh really? So what did you learn about us today?" Jeyme asked as she
took the piece of bread that he handed to her and bit into it, her
eyes studying the Wingleader.

"Some of you are hard workers. Some of you slack off and expect others
to carry the load. Those are the ones that have to have a little more work
done with them before they graduate." He took a bite of bread and
rubbed his chin. "But you...you work hard to prove yourself."

Well, she couldn't argue with that. His assessment of her was true,
and Jeyme knew that part of that was because he knew of her background
and how she felt about trying to distance herself from her Hold
raising.

"Well, I figure if I work hard enough people will have one less reason
to bring up where I come from. Besides that," she squinted as she
looked out across the training field, "I enjoy the hard physical
labor, it's much more satisfying than sitting in a stuffy dress
sipping tea while ladies talk about marriage."

He considered her, a finger stroking along his jaw line. "I have to
admit, and I don't admit this often, that I was wrong in my initial
opinion of you. And I'm glad I was. You're a surprise, Jeyme. I think
you'll do just fine."

Jeyme smiled, pleased at the compliment from D'hol, as she had a
feeling that he didn't give them out often, "Thank you, D'hol. You
didn't turn out to be quite so bad either." She winked.

One brow arched. "You don't know me, Weyrling." His lip corners
remained lifted. "Not well enough at any rate. You may want to wait to
form that opinion."

"I'll make it a priority to get to know you better then." Jeyme said
as she picked up a couple of slices of red fruit from the basket and
popped one into her mouth.

Both brows shot up at that remark. "Really?" He propped his arm on his
knee and gave a soft chuckle. "And how exactly do you plan to do
that?"

"Well," she crossed her arms and did her best imitation of the
Wingleader that she could, "I might sit back and watch your practices
some time, you know, size you up." She grinned, "Or I could ask you
questions about where you grew up or what you do in your spare time."

"Feel free to do that. You'd probably learn something." Her watching
his drills didn't phase him one bit. He didn't pay attention to any
observers at any rate. At her next words, he met her gaze. "You could
ask. But it doesn't mean I'll answer."

"I had a feeling you would say that." Jeyme chuckled, "I could ask
around the Weyr about you but who knows what kind of information I
would get then. You should probably just tell me the truth first."

D'hol shrugged. "I know exactly what kind of information you'd get,
but very few know me personally. I prefer it that way." He was an
intensely private man and despite his growing respect for the young
girl, he doubted it would change. "Form your own opinion if you like."

"Fine, I will." Jeyme shook her head with a smile. What a confusing
man the Wingleader was. Just when she thought she might have him
figured out he would do something surprising, like bring her lunch,
but refuse to answer basic questions about himself.

**I will get to know you D'hol.**

Last updated on the May 31st 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Better To Know You