A Friend in Need
meadow.jpg

Xanadu Weyr - Meadow

A large, slightly rolling meadow is set high enough above the riverbank on both sides to avoid suffering from flooding, healthy ground cover and grass spreading out from either side of the dividing river. Scattered amongst the meadow are a variety of buildings, each with a narrow path leading up to it from a main, winding road. Some are set under a few trees, while others sit by themselves.

Stables and a smithy are settled on their own plots, while trees border the western edge of the meadow, and a faint outline of a fence can be seen to the north.


A stiff evening breeze blows through the meadow, where M'nol finds himself munching happily on a meatroll as he leans against Faraeth, staring up at the stars. Faraeth grumbles gently and M'nol pats his shoulder, "We'll go back to the weyr soon enough. Maybe even go visit Jessamin again. I'm enjoying sitting here right now."

R'zel is out sitting near the entrance of his weyr, a thoughtful look on his face and his trusty sketchpad in his hands. He's tapping the paper with the tip of his pencil, waiting for some sort of inspiration to strike. Apparently, it isn't coming today. When he sees Faraeth and M'nol wandering by he greets them with a smile and a wave. "Hello there!"

M'nol glances up, then nearly ducks back behind Faraeth. He'd forgotten R'zel's weyr was so near here and he knows what Ruz is going to ask next. He swallows, then stands, waving, "Hey R'zel, how're things?"

R'zel smiles and waves M'nol over, gesturing to an empty chair beside his on his makeshift porch. "Good! Yourself? Why don't you join me for a bit? I haven't had much luck sketching this morning anyways."

M'nol holds in another large gulp, taking another bite of his meatroll as he gives Faraeth one last pat before moving over to the indicated chair, "Well enough, I guess… Life goes on." He slides into the chair, "What's wrong with your art?"

"Oh, nothing's really 'wrong' with my art." R'zel says with a smile, closing his sketchpad and setting it aside for the moment. "Some days, inspiration comes more easily than others. And… well, I've had a lot on my mind recently. Especially when it comes to sources of inspiration." A grin spreads across his face. "Speaking of… what's this I've been hearing about you and a girl?"

M'nol's eyebrow quirks up to one side, "What d'you mean sources of…" The characteristic blush finds its way across his face, turning him a light shade of reddy-pink, "I… well… it just kinda happened…" He's not very good at talking about it.

A holler of a female's voice from inside one of the weyrs followed by a bronzerider being unceremoniously dumped on his backside by a rather disgruntled bronze is always quite the sight to see and well at least this time it isn't some random female threatening P'ton… it's his own weyrmate Esha who well… ever since he Impressed Tesnath at the same clutch as Loeashia the older female greenrider has slowly getting the reluctant and dark-natured P'ton whipped. P'ton glares back at Tesnath as the bronze rumbles at him. "Oh stop that…. you caused this bloody mess… not me. I can at least keep it in my pants… unlike you Tesnath." He gets up and dusts himself off. "It's not like that greenrider got knocked up or anything…"

R'zel smiles and shrugs his shoulders, leaning back in his chair. "Well, you know, there's nothing more inspiring than…" He's cut off by the sudden fracas in which the bronzerider is ejected from the nearby weyr. He blinks, watches, and laughs. "Well. Perhaps that's not the best example at the moment. Ehm. So. Who is this mystery girl?" He asks, trying not to laugh or be distracted by P'ton's predicament. Got to stay polite, after all.

M'nol's mouth draws itself into a flat line when he sees P'ton tossed out, "Hope Phy never does that to me…" He does his best to seem calm, "Phylicia… dunno if you ever met her. Apprentice healer. She got recalled to the Hall for training, so we're trying to keep in touch… doesn't always work, though."

P'ton doesn't seem to pay much attention to the fact that Tesnath and his entrance caused any scene instead he glances over hearing the voices and gives a bit of a smirk at the conversation. "It'll happen all too soon enough… all too soon enough. That's why I never let them get me whipped… until Esha." He gives a bit of a chuckle. "But then again I'd do anything for that lady. She didn't put up with my nonsense."

"Phylicia… hmm…" R'zel thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, don't think I've ever met her… anyways, what's the problem? We're wingriders now. You can between over and see her any time you want. Shards, you can even sneak her back to your weyr." He says with a chuckle and a wink. When P'ton approaches, he looks up and smiles. "Mmmm. Is that so? In my case, they usually run out long before the 'whipped' stage."

M'nol sighs, resting his head in his hands, "That's just it. They won't let me in to see her or let her out to see me. And more often then not Bloodstone can't even get through with a message. It's like they're trying to cut her off from the rest of Pern." He glances up at P'ton, "Is she mad at you because your bronze caught a different green?"

P'ton looks towards M'nol as he chuckles and replies. "More like the fact that he's at time time of her cycle and Tesnath and a drunken me ended up chasing a proddy green… and she's mad that I may have ruined our chances at having a child this time." He groans. "I have enough children as it is I figure."

R'zel blinks and furrows his brow, confused. "They won't let you in? You, a rider? They're barring a /rider/ from visiting their crafthall? The nerve! On what grounds?" R'zel seems to have a suspicion, then grins. "Oh, I get it. You had her breaking the rules, right? They're afraid you're a bad influence?" He smirks over at P'ton. "You're a bronzerider. Isn't having kids supposed to be a competition for you, or something?"

M'nol shrugs, defeated, "She says that's not it, but I can't help thinking it might be. I didn't tell anyone what happened… don't know how they could even know…" He quirks an eyebrow at P'ton, "I didn't think that could affect the likelihood of having a kid… Thought it was just timing…"

P'ton gives a bit of a groan. "Well not being physically present for timing to happen… well doesn't help apparently." He shakes his head. "I can't believe I let her get to me this much, used to not be bothered enjoying and entertaining a different girl each night in my bed… and taking off in the morning and going on with life…"

R'zel grins at M'nol. "Listen, I'm not that much older than you, M'nol, but I do have one piece of insight for you. If you deflower a girl, she's going to tell somebody. That's just how it works. These things never stay /that/ secret… tell you what. You want me to pay the crafthall a visit, see if I can find this girl for you?" He grins over at P'ton. "Now that, that sounds like the life. I've had it up to here with trying to make something serious work. I should just relax and enjoy my youth without getting tied down to somebody."

M'nol blushes deeply, turning a bright shade of red, "I never said I… I mean we both… First for both of us… She said she wasn't in trouble or anything… but yeah… if you would, I'd… it'd mean a lot to me. Her last note said she was having fun, but… more than anything else I want to see her." He glances up at P'ton again, "You can… you can do that? I feel a little guilty everytime Faraeth rises… let alone the one time he caught… 'course that was F'yr's mom… made it all the more awkward…"

P'ton looks towards M'nol as he replies. "I started young well before I had Tesnath… it's between Tesnath and Esha that seem to figure I need settling." He chuckles… "Maybe they are right, doesn't mean I don't like my fun at times."

R'zel chuckles and rolls his eyes. "Oh, come on, M'nol. It's easy enough to see what happened. Don't you worry about it, I'll take the next person or package that needs transportation to the healer hall, and I'll poke around and see if I can find this Phylicia girl." He grins widely. "Who knows? If I'm going to be a young rider living life to the fullest, maybe I'll find some healer girl of my own there. They must know what to do with their hands, right?"

M'nol blushes even deeper, "Really? It's that… obvious? I thought… Thanks for looking… and you'll find someone, maybe, a rider doesn't need someone, I guess… less they think they do." He glances once again up at P'ton, "Faraeth wants to catch everything that flies, even chased Kilaueth and this other gold when they rose… but he wants me to be happy, too… he knows flights won't do that."

P'ton looks towards the other two younger riders… "There is truth in that… there is more than flights and all… and there is more to just sleeping around and all." He does seem distracted. "Yes Tesnath, somehow I'll get her to see that I'm sorry for things. You are right as always." He looks at the bronze.

R'zel grins at M'nol. "You're transparent, M'nol. Don't worry, it's not all bad. Makes it easier for people to trust you. Anyways, I'm happy to take care of it." He leans his chair back further. "I've tried the serious thing a couple times now. Ended badly on both of them. I'm starting to be of the opinion that it's not worth the trouble."

M'nol hangs his head, "Guess maybe…" He glances up at R'zel, "You did? Was I here for that?" He glances at P'ton, "I… I want to settle… but at the same time I'm still just a kid."

P'ton nods as he looks between the two riders as he replies. "Esha has been the first stable relationship I've had and well… oh my it's been that long?" He looks over at Tesnath having been reminded that it's been longer than a few turns. "Over 10 turns we've been together…"

R'zel grins a little at M'nol. "Yeah, you were. You might not've known… I had to keep some of it under wraps, what with the candidacy rules and all. Just as well, since it worked out so poorly." He shrugs and smiles at P'ton. "So on the whole, is it worth it?"

P'ton nods quietly as he looks at Tesnath hearing the grumble from the bronze as if trying to keep P'ton honest. "Yeah it is. Funny thing is we couldn't stand each other as candidates… but she got through my stubbornness and through my past issues and still accepted me for me."

R'zel smirks. "Well, if not standing one another as candidates is a good building block for a relationship, I suppose I should chase after Vivian. Funny, I don't really see that happening." He says with a laugh. "Well, maybe I'll be that lucky sometime… last time I found a girl like that, she left me for another guy in less than a month."

<missing bit>

P'ton nods listening to R'zel. "Well my name is P'ton. Rude of me not to introduce myself but well…" And with that Tesnath has had enough of P'ton's banter and gives him a shove back towards the weyr. P'ton mutters. "Sorry… Tesnath is the boss right now and he won't let me let Esha be upset for long." And with that Tesnath nudges the bronzerider back into his weyr…

R'zel smiles and waves to P'ton. "Nice to meet you, P'ton. I'm R'zel… and your lifemate is right. You should get back there and smooth things over. Don't let us keep you!"

M'nol chuckles, watching the goings on, "I hope Faraeth never does that to me…"

R'zel grins and arches an eyebrow at M'nol. "Oh? I thought you wanted to do the whole serious relationship thing with this girl… or is it just a fling?"

M'nol shrugs, "I definitely want to. I meant more the physically forcing me to do things… Waking up next to F'yr's mom was awkward enough…"

R'zel laughs a little at that, leaning back in his chair again. "I can only imagine. Waking up to Keziah wasn't half bad… I guess I've been pretty lucky when it comes to flights."

M'nol chuckles, "Did Kez threaten you with a knife? Then yeah, you got lucky." He sighs softly, "Waking up next to Phy was… perfect…"

R'zel grins a little and chuckles to himself. "Well, she wasn't too happy at first, but I found a way to calm her down." He says with a wink and laugh. "Mmm. Well, I hope things go better for you and Phy than they did for me."

M'nol grins a little, "If it weren't for wing drills I might've done the same. V'din was ticked that I was late…" He shrugs, "I'll take what I can, when I can… and all I can hope is that if it ever ends, it's mutual, right? Don't want bad blood."

R'zel chuckles and shrugs his shoulders. "At least we don't have to deal with those drills anymore. Or those rules. The world is our oyster now. Just be careful, okay? I hope things work out better for you than they did for Zip and I, but… sometimes women can be fickle."

M'nol cocks an eyebrow, "Zip? That was that rider from graduation? What happened to you and her?"

"Did you see the guy she brought with her to graduation?" R'zel says with a slightly bitter smile. "That's what happened."

M'nol casts his eyes off to one side, "Oh… He… He's one of the new wherhandlers. Same clutch as Hysk…"

You say "I'm… so sorry, R'zel. It must be hard.""

R'zel smiles and shakes his head, looking over at M'nol. "Oh, it's all water under the bridge. Ancient history. I have Mikalath now, and he makes me happier than Zip ever did." He looks off into the distance. "I thought I might've found someone new, but… well, she ran off to be a candidate again."

M'nol chuckles, "You and Jessa? Even when she impresses, she'll still be around. You could always transfer, too."

R'zel grins and shakes his head again, quickly. "I don't know… it might've all been in my head. She's inspiring, but she might be a little out of my reach, if you know what I mean."

M'nol chuckles, "She's the one who shooed me off so you two could talk alone. She's a special woman, she is. Like a sister. If anyone could do right by her it'd be you." he waggles a finger, "You shouldn't give up just 'cause she's far away. Isn't that what you just told me?"

R'zel has reconnected.

M'nol chuckles, "She's the one who shooed me off so you two could talk alone. She's a special woman, she is. Like a sister. If anyone could do right by her it'd be you." he waggles a finger, "You shouldn't give up just 'cause she's far away. Isn't that what you just told me?"

R'zel looks back at M'nol, scratching his chin and pondering. "Maybe you're right… I just can't exactly figure out what she wants out of the whole thing, you know?"

M'nol shrugs, "Maybe she just wants someone to be there. I mean, most of us know that rider relationships *can't* be like holder ones. We can't promise to never be with anyone else. But having someone to go home to, even for the couple of days that I did, was… so very different."

R'zel thinks for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders. "We'll see how it goes. I really should pay her a visit. I just… don't know exactly what I'd say or do."

M'nol chuckles, "Stop by. Thank her for the fruit. Ask about the eggs." He winks, "She's got a favorite she loves to talk about."

"I might just do that." R'zel says with a smile. "Which egg? Maybe I could do a painting of it, give it to her as a gift."

M'nol shrugs, "I still haven't gotten a chance to actually look at the clutch there, but I'm sure she'd point it out to you."

R'zel thinks for a moment. "Hmmm. Maybe that would be a good idea. But I'll have to think about it… I have no clue whether she's seriously interested at all."

M'nol shrugs, "People, mostly, I think, and her flits. You could do a painting of them."


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