The Art of Prospering

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 16th February 2025

Characters: Ç'pier, I'mrei
Description: Ç'pier pops into the dragon infirmary on his day off to make a delivery.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 5 of Turn 12

Ç'pier

I'mrei

The worst part of full-time drills was having significantly less time
to work to pay his debt to Saedyna. But nobody wanted to hear him cry
about it, so he merely worked as much as he could and dealt with it.
Today, he was making a delivery of linen from the weavers to the
dragon infirmary.

Linen was heavy.

He set the bundle down as gently as he could just inside the store room.

"Oi. Anyone about in here to sign for this?"

I'mrei's perky blonde head popped over the counter.

"Oh! Sorry about that." He'd been behind the desk sneaking a pastry,
which he crammed the rest of into his mouth as he came around. "I can
get those put away."

Ç'pier usually prided himself on staying fairly level-headed, but he
came dangerously close to being startled. Instead, he turned it into a
grin.

"Need any help?"

"That would be great," I'mrei said, putting a casual hand on C'pier's
forearm. "All these linens can be heavy. I'm amazed you brought them
down all by yourself."

It had been a long time since anyone had touched Ç'pier like that. It
was nice to run into someone who did not recognize him. He flexed his
opposite bicep.

"And I only had to set them down to rest like two, three times tops!" He winked.

I'mrei's blue eyes crinkled as his head tossed back with laughter. "A
big strong brownrider to save my day." He grabbed half of the laundry
and tossed it onto his shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you where we put
them."

"Looks like you're pretty strong yourself." He was too young for
Ç'pier to truly pursue, but he was cute.

"Stubborn is more like it. I hate making more than one trip," I'mrei
huffed as they turned the corner and went up a short set of stairs.
"Here we go." He set the linens down and opened a closet that revealed
shelves of the linens, which all had to be neatly rolled up before
being stored.

"It seems I've roped myself into doing a proper chore." Despite the
complaint, he only needed a couple of demonstrations before he joined
in the rolling.

"Yeah, it's not glamorous work, but one day I'll be a journeyman
laughing at the poor apprentices who have to do this." I'mrei's hands
made quick work of it, speaking of the many times he'd done this exact
chore.

"You can tell them it builds character," said Ç'pier. Of course, he
was not as quick as I'mrei, but he was no slouch, either. He wondered
if he would ever have time for any kind of proper craft work, or if it
was already too late for him.

"Or at least some dexterity." The greenrider stuffed another rolled
linen into the closet. "I just realized, I didn't even introduce
myself. I'm I'mrei."

Ah, there it was. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

"It's nice to meet you, I'mrei. I'm Ç'pier."

I'mrei stuck his hand out. "Well met. Do you also craft?"

Well, what do you know. There did exist at least one person who did
not know him either by name or by face. Ç'pier shook I'mrei's hand.

"I was a trader once. No craft to speak of."

"Oh, a trader! I bet you've seen a lot of places then?" I'mrei put the
last of the linens into the closet and shut the door.

"I've seen my fair share of the road," said Ç'pier. "But it's sure a
lot faster to go by air."

"What's the most interesting place you ever saw?" I'mrei asked as they
walked back towards the front of the infirmary.

"Oh, the Weyr. And it's not even close," said Ç'pier. "The Holds
are... Well, they're not the Weyr." He hated to bash them too much
only to find that I'mrei had come from them.

"Oh," I'mrei said, finding that a bit of a let down. He imagined there
had to be some really beautiful geographical locations out there that
he hadn't yet discovered while flying with Eismuth. To hear that
Dolphin Cove was the best of them was a bit of a disappointment.
"Well, I'm glad you like it here, then."

"Heh. Yeah, thanks." Ç'pier was not quite sure he would say he liked
it there, but it had nothing to do with the location itself.

Still, he could hear a bit of disappointment in I'mrei's tone.

"If there are more interesting places out there, they're probably not
on the road. You can still find a pretty good time, though, if you
know what to look for. Cerault's waystation is pretty close by, if you
haven't been. There's always something cookin' there."

"I was thinking more... geographical? You know, breathtaking
landscapes and stuff. Do I sound like some harper romantic?" I'mrei
laughed.

"Yeah, a little bit. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Roads
tend to go around those things, though." If Ç'pier had been flying for
fun since he was allowed to leave the Weyr, he might have noticed more
geographical beauty, but most of the time, he was focused on his work.
"Do you sing like a Harper, too?" He grinned.

"Oh, shells no," I'mrei's laugh was there again. "I can't carry a tune
to save my life. Literally, Eismuth would probably flip upside down
and throw me off if I tried."

Ç'pier grinned a let out a single breathy laugh. That had not been
exactly what he was getting at. But that was all right. He really was
too young for Ç'pier. Probably.

"Well, I guess Yuli and I will just have to catch you if you fall."

This time, I'mrei seemed to catch on because he said, "Good luck,
then. Eismuth isn't easy to catch." The greenrider's smile was
decidedly more flirtatious than it had been a moment ago.

There we go. Ç'pier had been wondering whether he had lost his touch.
Of course, Yuliuth was not much of a chaser, either. But that was not
really that important.

"That's all right. We don't mind working hard to reach our goal."

I'mrei glanced sideways at C'pier again. The brownrider _was_
handsome. Perhaps not boyishly like K'don. No, C'pier was... _manly_,
I'mrei determined. The realization sent his pulse into a full-blown
gallop.

}:Oh no,:{ Eismuth sighed, }:you were doing so well, too.:{

"Well, you know what they say, 'without hard work nothing prospers'."
I'mrei's laugh was a tough higher in pitch. "If, uh, if that makes any
sense." Oh no, his metaphorical foot was slowly working its way into
his metaphorical mouth.

Out on her sunny rock, Eismuth draped her tail over her eyes, reeling
in second-hand embarrassment.

Ç'pier had missed this. It was not going to last forever. Eventually,
I'mrei would find out who he was. But he could enjoy it while it
lasted.

"I think it makes perfect sense. Has anyone ever worked you so hard
you prospered?"

I'mrei was pretty sure the tips of his ears were on fire. "Yes, my
first boyfriend. He was a very hard worker." He hadn't thought about
Py'ler in months.

"He must have been something. The first one usually doesn't know what
he's doing." Ç'pier nodded. "Enthusiasm goes a long way. But it's no
substitute for experience when it comes to hard work."

"I'll have to take your word for it," I'mrei said a bit breathily,
peering up into C'pier's eyes.

A throat cleared from behind the infirmary desk and I'mrei flinched.
"I'd better get back to work."

"I'll see you later." Ç'pier winked and then hurried off.

}:You want me to tell them?:{ asked Yuliuth.

**Only if he really does want to see me later.**

}:Are you sure you don't want to tell him yourself?:{

**Yeah. Pretty sure.**

Last updated on the February 21st 2025

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The Art of Prospering