A Friendly Swim

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 15th August 2014

Characters: N'vanik, Meledei
Description: N'vanik and Meledei catch up.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Kapera, Saibra, Cyradis, Qorri, Chaysea, T'nom

N'vanik

As he waded after Loseth, N'vanik spotted a familiar form on the
beach. "Mel!" He waved. It had been a while since they'd talked.

Meledei ran toward the figure in the distance. When she drew closer
and heard the shout, she lifted a hand to wave to N'vanik, then slowed
and finally eased to a stop as she drew alongside him. "Hey." Her
breath panted out and she leaned over to attempt to catch her breath.
"Just a sec."

"Take your time," he said with an amused smile.

Meledei inhaled and exhaled several times, each moment her body
absorbing more oxygen and allowing her breathing to ease. Finally she
straightened and grin, hands on her hips. "So, did you come for a
swim?"

"Yeah, me and that big troublemaker. Want to join us?" Loseth was
already up to his flanks, pushing deeper into the waves.

"I'm not really dressed." Granted, she could just strip down to
nothing and swim like that, but Meledei wasn't the sort to just_do_
that all the time. "But if you insist." Then again, the water would
help cool her off more quickly.

He laughed. "Asking, not insisting." N'vanik moved deeper, half-turned
to watch her. "How do you feel about the goldrider shuffle?" He felt
bad for her, losing another mentor after such a short time.

Meledei's mouth quirked to the side and she shrugged as she stripped
of her clothing. "It is what it is. I was kind of hoping Saibra
would stick around - I liked her. That being said, I can understand
why she chose to go there more than..." She stopped herself and
frowned, then turned away to toss her clothing further onto the shore
so it wouldn't get wet. "Well, anyway, Kapera seems nice." And at
least Cyradis hadn't left.

"Saibra talked to us about it before she made her decision. I didn't
want her to go, but I can't blame her for taking an opportunity like
that." He watched Meledei take off her clothes. She was too much like
a little sister for him to take any interest. "And she's not leaving
us short, either."

"Yeah, that's at least something." Unlike Traelyn had. Or Janani.
Saibra's situation was a far cry different than the others. Meledei
waded further out until she was deep enough to float. "Dragonsfall's
a lot different from here though. I don't think I ever want to go
over there. Well, I don't think I ever want to leave Dolphin Cove at
all."

"It's_cold_," N'vanik said with a laugh. "Saibra is in for quite an
adjustment. I'm glad you want to stay. We've had enough different
queens come through here that we don't need to worry about moving you
for the sake of bloodlines."

"I don't know if you'd be able to oust me even if that_was_ a
reason." Meledei righted herself and smirked at her Weyrleader.
"Sorry, but you're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."

"I like having you around. You're one of the nicest people I know." In
his experience that was unusual for a goldrider.

"Aww well thanks." Some people would argue otherwise, but Meledei was
glad that N'vanik was still a friend. "Hopefully this will be the
last upheaval for a while."

"Yeah." He gave her a sidelong glance. "Sorry about Qorri. I know you
two were friendly."

Meledei's mouth quirked from one side, then the other. "Well, it is
what it is I guess. She didn't tell me what happened so I figured
it's none of my business." Though Meledei really wished_someone_
would tell her.

"We had a disagreement. I had some information I kept from her to
protect someone and she took it as undermining her authority." He
shook his head. "I didn't want it to end like that but I still stand
by my decision."

"Oh." Well, that still didn't tell her_exact_ details but it was a

whole lot more than Qorri had given - and Meledei hadn't even asked
for it. "Well, I mean, if you felt it was in the person's best
interest then she should have accepted it. I mean, you and Cyradis
are the higher authorities." And there might be more to it, but if it
was that simple, then Meledei had to agree with that.

N'vanik nodded. "Cyradis backed me up. It actually helped us get
closer, so there's a silver lining." He bent down a little, letting
the waves lap at his shoulders. "What do you think of Chaysea?"

"She's nice. I haven't really interacted with her much, but she seems
like a good fit for the Weyr." Even if she wasn't Qorri. But then
again, no one would ever hold a candle to Qorri.

"I was a little worried she might not be able to handle things, but
she seems to be adjusting well." If she adjusted enough to go outside
in little or nothing, he'd be a happy man. Shards, that woman was
gorgeous. "So what's new with you?"

"Not much, same old old." The thing with T'nom had been a couple of
months past and as far as she knew, the rumours had died down, for
which Meledei was glad. Now she just hoped the rumours about Esiah
would go away quickly as well. "Wroking. Trying to get out more with
friends. What about you? How's Tal doing?"

"Tal is good. She keeps making progress with her weaving and I'm sure
she'll make Master someday." He wasn't sure she wanted that, but he
knew she was capable. "She's already got a specialty picked out for
when she makes journeywoman."

"When is she going to walk the tables?" Meledei would have walked the
tables a turn or two later had she not Impressed. That had put the
hold on her craft, but she didn't mind one bit, for Elleth was worth a
million times more. "And what specialty?"

"Probably at least a turn or two. She started late. It's been -- three
and a half, maybe four turns now?" He tried to calculate, then
shrugged. "She's going to do tapestry making."

"Oh neat. I envy those who can make tapestries and make them well."
Meledei had been woefully deficient in any sort of sewing art. The
most she could do were buttons and repairs. "I'd love to see some of
her work sometime."

N'vanik snorted. "Come to my weyr. It's all over the place." Tal was
usually good about cleaning up after herself, though. It had been a
while since he sat on a knitting needle.

"If Tal's okay with it, I wouldn't mind looking at some of her work."
The situation with the former greenrider was not an unknown, but
Meledei also didn't want to press herself on someone who was so
purposefully reclusive.

"She's shy about it, but I think she secretly likes showing it off.
I'll ask her." Besides, Tal could do with more friends, or at least
friendly acquaintances.

"Let me know. I enjoy looking at things other people make - probably
because I'm not very good at making things myself." She was much
better at dealing with animals than creating things. And dragonrider.
Meledei didn't consider herself the best, but she was decent at it.

"Everyone's got their own skills." N'vanik was decent at carving, but
never had the patience to really learn. His true talent was fighting
Thread, and he wasn't too bad at leading a Weyr.

"My skill - sloughing hay and picking up poop." Meledei offered a
sideways grin then shrugged. "Someone's got to do it! But yeah, if
she's okay with it, I'd really like to see what she's done. She
sighed and straightened, her gaze shifting back to the shore. "I
should go. I've gotta take care of some stuff, but thanks for the
swim."

"Any time. Good talking to you."

Last updated on the September 6th 2014

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A Friendly Swim