We're Brothers, Right?

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 23rd February 2019

Characters: K'don, K'lvin, R'nar
Description: K'don introduces K'lvin to his "big brother" R'nar
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 12 of Turn 9

K'don

K'don was trying to smile. But it did not look quite like he was succeeding. He *had* graduated to a wing, in a way. And it was his grandfather's wing, at that. A wing he could be proud of. And he had already spent plenty of time grousing about being too young for two more Turns yet to fight. Too much time to keep complaining about it now.

But there was something about this day, something about how real it all was now that he was left behind.

People were going to be congratulating him. And K'don knew he had no right to be solemn and somber and...

}:I believe the word you're seeking is 'sulky',:{ said Maciath helpfully.

And he was right. K'don had to force himself to cheer up, or else he was going to look ungrateful and disrespectful, and he would not abide that.

He had to find someone to talk to.

"R'nar!" K'don called out as he waved and jogged to meet him. There. Best to talk to family first. His parents and grandfather would likely come later, as they had a whole class to congratulate. K'don understood that and did not want them to give even an appearance of favoritism. But there was no favoritism in speaking to a brother. He was a bronzerider, yes, but not K'don's wingleader.

R'nar had been mingling among the newly graduated. He had been a candidate with many of them since he'd just impressed Iorath the class before. He remembered how relieved he had felt when he and Iorath had been placed into a fighting Wing. And now he felt a bit... older, mature maybe, since there was now another class between him and the next group of Weyrlings.

"K'don," he said as he turned to find who had called his name.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt..." K'don blushed. No one wanted their kid brother jumping in when they were talking to their friends. Of course, now they were also K'don's friends, but still. "I just saw you, and... er... If you're still talking, I'll leave you be. Sorry," he repeated.

}:There is no shame in craving your brother's lauding. Do not run away,:{ Maciath insisted.

"It's fine," R'nar said as he gave a nod of farewell to his friends, who were moving on to see their families and new wingmates. "Congratulations by the way. I know it's not a fighting Wing but at least you're out of some of the restrictions now."

K'don's worry turned to a smile. Yes, yes, he had plenty of time later to lament 'not a fighting Wing,' but for now, he was happy to have R'nar's acknowledgement.

"Thank you!" he said cheerily, finally seeming to find his pride and excitement for having finished his basic training. "I'm going to help in the dragon infirmary," he said. "And I hope I don't have to see Iorath. That is. In the infirmary. As a patient. I'm always happy to see him just. Around. You know." He blushed again.

R'nar wondered if all of K'deren's children were as awkward. He hadn't really grown up around them since he'd stayed with his father when Cyradis had left.

"K'don," a voice cut in, and soon K'lvin's face appeared as he clapped a hand on the young brownrider's shoulder, "congratulations on your graduation."

K'don's face lit up at the praise from K'lvin. He was most definitely grateful for the opportunity to change the subject to something less awkward.

"Thank you, sir!" he said, delighted. "Oh, do you know each other?" he asked. "R'nar, this is Senior Journeyman K'lvin of Bronze Xmrenth, one of the dragonhealers who's been helping me learn to help in the dragon infirmary." Then he turned to K'lvin.

"K'lvin, this is my brother, R'nar of Bronze Ioreth." He sounded just as proud to introduce one as he had the other.

R'nar knew K'lvin's name but had never met the retired dragonrider. He was just about to extend his hand and nearly paused in doing so when he heard the words "my brother" come out of K'don's mouth. "K'lvin, I don't think we've been introduced formally." He managed to follow through with the greeting without freezing up too much, even though in his brain he kept wondering why K'don would call them brothers. K'don was K'deren's son from a woman other than Cyradis, and he was Cyradis' son, with his father still living elsewhere.

K'lvin didn't seem to think much of the introduction, and nodded his head as he shook the younger bronzerider's hand, "Cyradis' boy, right? You favor her."

"Yes, that's right," R'nar agreed, since he couldn't very well deny the family resemblance.

"R'nar was in the class ahead of mine," said K'don, still smiling brightly and hoping to be helpful. It had not occurred to him to specify which of his parents was R'nar's, but the family resemblances seemed to do the trick in most cases, whether it was Cyradis or K'deren they were talking about. Of course, he knew Cyradis was not his birth mother, but she was the one he went to when he needed a mother. The only mother he knew. And to him, that made R'nar his brother. Given the circumstances of his own birth, family had always been more about love than blood to him.

R'nar glanced sideways at K'don. Was K'don actually proud to have _him_ as his "brother"? Even if they weren't really related? R'nar had never had a close relationship to any of his siblings, especially not with his father's children, and he hadn't been around many of Cyradis' children with K'deren until the last couple of Turns. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. It wasn't as if he was embarrassed by K'don or found the kid annoying, or anything, but he wasn't sure he was as enthusiastic about the family dynamic.

K'lvin squeezed K'don's shoulder one last time, "You two have a nice evening, I've got a few others to congratulate, too."

"Of course, sir! Thank you again, sir!" said K'don. He was happy to have gotten that acknowledgment, even if K'lvin was not about to stick around forever. He turned back to R'nar, much more cheery now.

"I keep wanting to go talk to Mom, but I don't want to elbow in like I think I'm supposed to make her play favorites," said K'don, making a face. "She'll probably tell me I'm being a wherry. That's pretty much what she said when I tried to 'ma'am' her at home right after I Impressed."

"Oh, she'll make it very clear when she's the Weyrwoman and when she's Mom." It was almost like putting on a mask, R'nar thought, which sometimes made it very difficult to be close to her as a parent. It was the same with his father.

"She does, yeah," K'don agreed, his nod growing more solemn as he considered. "Is there something that..." He furrowed his brow. "Is there something that happened that maybe you need family to talk to who's not also the Weyrwoman?"

R'nar cocked an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"I dunno," K'don hedged. "It's just. The way you said that just then, it kinda sounded like maybe something happened, and maybe you needed her to be Mom, but she had to be the Weyrwoman. And I thought. Maybe you might need to talk about it with someone who doesn't have to be the Weyrwoman. It was just a thought. Sorry. I was just trying to help." He blushed and tried to make himself shorter, almost as though he were trying to hide behind himself.

"Oh," R'nar said, and then smiled a little to try and take the sting out of prior reply, "no, I wasn't referring to anything in particular. Just in general." From across the room he caught sight of A'vel who was flagging him down and pointing to some mugs of ale. "Listen, I've got to go, but congratulations again, man. And hey, if you need anything, just let me know. That's what brothers are for, right?"

K'don smiled and quickly and briefly hugged R'nar. "Thanks, man. And me, too. If you need anything. Have fun."

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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We're Brothers, Right?