"FORE!"

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 22nd July 2014

Characters: Meledei, Esiah
Description: Meledei, Elleth and Esiah play a game of ball... and we think Meledei lost...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 7

Esiah

Meledei and Elleth were waiting for Esiah in the bowl when he emerged
from the Weyr. The gold dragon was the one in posession of the ball
and had taken to kicking it with a foreclaw only to gently smack it
back with her tail. Meledei stood and watched her lifemate, back to
Esiah, but Elleth must have said something to her, for she turned
before Esiah even said a word. "Hey there."

Esiah had the sleeves of his tunic rolled up to his elbows, and he had
left his vest back in his weyr. Even though it was rather warm attire
for Dolphin Cove, he always liked having the vest as its pockets were
perfect for holding pieces of coal for sketching. His ball game with
Elleth would require none of that, however.

"Good day, Meledei, and Elleth." He made a sweeping bow to the queen
as he shot a grin at Meledei.

"You're going to play in that?" Meledei eyed the outfit while
attempting to pull back a smile. She failed. "You do realise you're
going to get dusty and dirty in this venture, right?" Elleth paused
in playing with her side and stretched out her neck to snort at the
artist.

Esiah looked down at his breeches, boots, and tunic, "Why madam, I
would play with no stitch of clothing on at all, but where I come
from, that would be considered rude." There was that smile again as he
reached out a hand to Elleth's nose.

"Not considered rude here, but also not the norm. People would
probably whistle. Well, those who like men anyway." She woudn't, but
Meledei also wasn't like most people at the Weyr, either. "But
still, the long sleeves? You're going to get overheated."

"You dragonriders and your scandalous lack of clothing." Esiah teased,
shaking his head, even as his fingers made quick work of unbuttoning
his tunic. Shrugging out of it, he tossed it aside. "Happy now?" He
grinned holding his arms out.

"Hey, I am fully clothed, thank you very much." Meledei couldn't help
but admire the view now that he'd removed the tunic. He wasn't bad
looking in face or form. "And better. I really don't want you
fainting on me." The dragon snuffed again. "Elleth says we need to
hurry up."

Esiah wanted to tell Meledei that he knew_exactly_ what to do with
beautiful, naked women, but there was a very large golden dragon
waiting on them, "Okay, I'm ready." He said to Elleth.

The dragon rose, the ball between her foreclaws. Meledei began to
edge backwards, then waved toward Esiah. "Make room...and...go in
that angle." She motioned on the other side of her, and indicated he
should spread out.

Esiah complied, stepping sideways as Meledei directed until they were
forming a large, loose triangle. The harper still wasn't sure what to
expect from this "game" and kept glancing at Meledei to follow her
lead.

"Okay, so not Elleth's going to kick or swat the ball to me. I'll
swat it to you and then you to her." Meledei either could read his
mind or his expression. Perhaps a little of both, though the mind
reading was most likely on Elleth's part. "But be careful. She may
not kick it back to me. She might actually send it to you. Then you
can choose to send it my way or back to her. We'll start slow. Sound
good?"

**Don't get hit in the face with the ball. Got it!** He said to
himself, outwardly giving Meledei a nod and a hand up to signal that
he was ready to begin the game.

Elleth was true to Meledei's word, she did start slow. A slight tap
sent the ball shooting toward Meledei who, in turn, kicked it at the
artist harder than the dragon had to her.

Esiah used a fisted hand to send the ball rocketing toward Elleth. It
was a similar game to one he had played as a child with other
holdbrats.

The gold dragon used her head - literally - to send ball rocketing
into the air. It arched over and back toward Esiah, though Meledei
watched it closely to see where it would go to next.

The harper nearly lost the ball against the sun, but managed to raise
both hands at the last second and bop it in Meledei's direction.

After the ball bounced once, Meledei smacked it back toward her
lifemate, who, getting into the spirit a little too much, slammed the
ball with her tail. It was almost a blur as it zoomed right toward
the goldrider and smacked her on the side of her face. Stunned,
Meledei fell to the ground while Elleth cried out.

Esiah hissed, a wince on his face as he hurried over to Meledei. He
knelt beside her and half cradled her in his arms.

"Meledei? You all right?" He asked, brushing a stray strand of her hair
away from her face.

Elleth groaned and whimpered as she stuck her nose in attempt to pry
the harper away. "I'm okay! I'm okay!" The goldrider insisted,
patting the golden snout which eased Elleth's concern enough that she
wasn't trying to insert herself into Esiah's lap. "Her other hand
remained firmly pressed against her eye and she winced as she
attempted to shift. "Ow. I think I'm going to get a black eye."

The man chuckled a bit, "No doubt. At least you can make it an
interesting story and say you saved a child from a wild wherry or
something." He placed his fingers beneath her chin to tilt her face up
so that he could see better. He rubbed his thumb over her eyebrow and
down to her temple, "Yep, feels like you are going to have a bump
there in the morning."

"Ow. Ow. Ow. I think it would help if you didn't touch it." Meledei
managed a half grin even as she winced at the pain it caused. "I like
the idea about saving a child from a wild wherry. Think anyone would
buy it?"

Esiah smiled and helped her to her feet, "Oh sure, and I will back
your story. I am a credible guy after all."

Meledei gingerly touched the area where the ball had hit, all the
while trying to mentally soothe her poor, guilt-ridden dragon. She
hissed through her teeth and allowed Esiah to help prop her for a
moment while she got her bearings. "Think it's bad enough to warrant
a visit to the infirmary?"

"I don't think so," Esiah said honestly, but then added in with a sly
voice, "unless you need me to stay with you all night and keep you
awake. You know, just to make sure it is not a concussion."

"Ha. If that's the case, it's probably best I have it looked at."
Could she have a concussion? Meledei had the basics of first aid, but
she wasn't a healer. Hadn't they once told her that a concussion
could take a while to show up? "Maybe I should have my head wrapped.
It might make people more sympathetic."

Esiah chuckled, "Oh, I like that very much. People will make all over
you and run to do your bidding and ... Wait, you are a goldrider.
Don't they do that anyway?" He teased.

"You'd be surprised. Not really." Meledei didn't really like to lord
her position over anyone. Thus far she hadn't had to use the 'I'm a
goldrider card' and hoped she never would have to. "Are you
volunteering?"

This woman was nearly_impossible_ to flirt with, Esiah noted, or she
just really was_not_ in to him. The more he was around her the more
he was fairly sure it was the latter. But he had at least given it
his best attempt, and not because she was a goldrider either, but
because he found her company enjoyable.... Her beautiful looks didn't
hurt either.

"Any time." He said and then added, "Do you really think you should go
to the infirmary?"

"Does it look bad?" Meledei didn't really care_that_ much about her

looks, but if it did maybe she should. "If not...maybe just walk with
me to my weyr? Make sure I don't fall over or something?"

Esiah shook his head, "Just a little red, no one will notice today...
But tomorrow," he whistled low, "you will have some explaining to do."

"All right. I'll leave it for now but send for a healer if I get
really dizzy or suddenly so sleepy I can't stand it or something." As
it was she wobbled a bit, but Meledei honestly was surprised the world
wasn't moving more. Her brain was probably still settling down from
the shock. "I should get back to my weyr, maybe send for some cold
meat or something."

"Come on, I will walk you to your weyr." He said, putting a hand to
her elbow. "Elleth, you win this one!"

Somehow, the gold wasn't so sure about that.

Last updated on the July 28th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

"FORE!"