Pros and Cons

Writers: Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 26th May 2024

Characters: Aydhan, N'kevyn
Description: Aydhan and N'kevyn talk about moving away from High Reaches
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Aydhara and Nikhayden

Aydhan

N'kevyn

Aydhan sat on the couch, bundled and cozy under a couple big blankets
as a snowstorm raged outside. A fire on the hearth and a thick sealed
curtain over the entrance to their weyr kept out the bulk of the
chill. It would be a rough few days after the storm had ceased;
digging out the entrances to the weyrbowl and extra sweeps along the
affected area, looking for holds and travelers isolated or stranded
with the snowfall. All the Weyr could do now was wait.

And make pro/con lists.

Spread out on the klahtable was two lists. One read 'Dolphin Cove' at
the top and the other 'Barrier Lake'. Dolphin Cove had many fine
points already, such as 'hot', 'beach', ‘I heard they don’t believe in
shirts’, and 'dolphins?'. Barrier Lake's extolled its newness, that it
was 'still warmer', and 'good electricity' with several exclamation
points.

"You can go firelizard hunting a lot easier at Dolphin Cove." Aydhan
suggested from inside her blanketroll. "Write that down."

N’kevyn leaned forward, writing “firelizard eggs!!” after “dolphins?”
in neat handwriting. “I knew you’d come around. If we’re going to be
southerners, we need a firelizard. I think it’s fashionable.” He
leaned back into the couch, adjusting Aydhan’s feet in his lap.
“Which interview do you think went better?”

After a moment of consideration, he leaned forward again and wrote,
“No fuzzy socks” under Dolphin Cove, as well.”

"You can hunt for eggs in Barrier Lake territory too, but you'll still
need to /between/ to get there." Aydhan said. "But they won't leave
you like they would here. And I was never _against_ firelizards, per
se, but you know you aren't going to get just one. You're going to
want one for each child, and that's at least three."

“Yes, but those two don’t count. The children are in the candidate
barracks now. And besides, firelizards are so little. Is three really
worse than one?”

"Three is three times worse than one." Aydhan insisted. "Then it's
just two more until there's a full Flight flitting about my weyr and
bothering Tymborikath." Tymborikath did not think she would be
bothered by them, but she was happy to play along if Aydhan suggested
it.

“As if Tymmie wouldn’t love a little Flight that followed her singing
her praises,” N’kevyn raised his voice slightly, as if the curtain
between them and the ledge had any chance of blocking his voice from
dragon ears. “We can use that as a bribe to lure the children, though-
firelizards.” It would certainly work for Aydhara, he thought.

"I don't know if that'll help when it's up against how much clutching
queens there are." Aydhan pointed out. "Add that to the -con column.
Barrier Lake has Kapera and a retired queen. Dolphin Cove has Cyradis.
Their junior queens are moving to other Weyrs. Two clutching queens
give them fewer chances of Impressing each turn."

“Different queens, though. And probably fewer candidates. Maybe the
southern dragons will like some nice interesting northern candidates,
and there’s always Tym’s eggs.” Sighing, he said, “It’s a gamble
either way. If they don’t like it, I’m sure they’d be allowed to
transfer back.” He’d hate that, but he wanted the children to be
happy. “Are you happy about this? It’s a promotion, but also a big
change.”

"Right now a change sounds great." Aydhan said with a tilt of her head
towards the storm outside. "I'll be perfectly happy if neither Cyradis
or Kapera want me. We'll stay here and keep doing what we're doing.
It'll be a lot more work at either place, but I think the experience
will be worth it. What do you think? How do you feel about leaving
Reaches?"

N’kevyn pulled a blanket around his shoulders, done with notes for the
moment, “You had me at “warmer”,” he agreed. “But you know me. I’m a
simple man; I like new things and new people, and if I get homesick, I
can just pop back for a few hours to remember how much the cold makes
my joints ache. But, I’m going to hope for the one with the dolphins.
I think you’ll like the work.”

"I do like bossing people around." Aydhan agreed. "Add dolphins to the
list to Barrier Lake. They have a coastline you can go to. You just
can't walk to it." She watched him write from within her blanket fort.
"That's good. We can just pop back and forth, but I'd much rather have
you with me."

“No, it doesn't really count. I could visit from here, technically. I
want them a walk away.” He was silent for a long moment and then
turned to give her a disapproving look, “Did you forget that dramatic
speech where I gave you a ring and said I’d like to be with you
forever? It was a good speech!”

"It was a good speech. You practiced in the mirror for sevendays."
Aydhan agreed. She met his look with a warm smile and nudged him with
blanketed toes. "Join me under the blankets. You must be freezing."

“You just want to put those ice cold toes on my nice warm skin,”
N’kevyn protested even as he gave a tug to pull the blanket away from
her and join her under the warmth. “But I signed up for that, too.” He
leaned over to kiss her before adding playfully, “This would be more
fun in Dolphins Cove. I hear they hate clothes.”

Last updated on the June 1st 2024

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Pros and Cons