Unapologetically Me

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 25th June 2024

Characters: Casmari, Rasme
Description: Casmari tells Rasme about her first day as a Weyrling
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 11

Casmari

Rasme

Rasme felt a bit silly as she sat at the little table in her quarters, drumming her fingers impatiently on the polished wood. She remembered when Casmari had gone to her first day of harper lessons. She had thought about her daughter often during the day, wondering what she was doing, if she was having a good time, and waiting expectantly for her to return.

Now, some thirteen Turns later, she sat, feeling much the same. Except, she was waiting for Casmari to come by after her first day of Weyrling classes. It was true what they said, history was cyclical.

}:They're here,:{ Piketh said in a warm voice. There was amusement in the rich contralto of her voice, and then there was an image of a plump blue dragonet and Casmari.

Smiling involuntarily, Rasme hurried out to Piketh's weyrcouch where Casmari and Sebiath were conversing with Piketh.

"Well?" Rasme asked expectantly. "How was your first day?"

Casmari turned and smiled at her mother. "It was good. There was a lot of rule talk today and then J'nic supervised us giving the dragonets baths and their first oiling. Just look how Sebiath shines!"

Rasme approached the blue dragonet, who had come to rest in the nest of Piketh's forelimbs. The stone blue of his hide contrasted starkly to Piketh's soft wheat-colored hide.

"He looks very content," Rasme observed with a chuckle. Sebiath's head snaked around as he curled up and began to snooze.

"He's tired. The bathing and oiling really took it out of him."

"Well, come on in, he'll be safe out here with Piketh. We don't have much time before your dinner break is up."

Casmari followed her mother through the familiar weyr to the table where toasted sandwiches waited.

"Tell me about your fellow Weyrlings."

"Well, it's a _varied_ group, to be sure," Casmari said, popping a tuber crisp in her mouth. "The lesson started with K'lvin going over the rules. You know, usual stuff. No sexy _things_, curfew, do your chores on time, that sort of thing." It was all what she had expected, being raised in the Weyr.

"I can imagine how some felt about _that_."

Casmari giggled. "You have no idea. I mean, no one said anything out loud to the Weyrlingmaster about it, but from hearing about their exploits before Impression.... I imagine the sex ban is going to be quite difficult for some."

Rasme smiled, remembering the same speech from when she was a Weyrling. **That seems like another life.**

"How are you and Sebiath fitting in?"

"It's only been one day, Mom." Casmari rolled her eyes a little while grinning.

The retired goldrider arched an eyebrow.

"It's fine, really. I mean... Me and Sebiath are obviously... _different_... from the other Weyrlings but no one has been mean or anything. Maybe just a few extra glances or stares." She shrugged. It didn't bother her being different. She was confident in the connection she had with Sebiath and she would punch anyone in the nose who said otherwise.

Rasme nodded. She'd heard what had happened at Dragonsfall to their female bluerider during her Weyrlinghood. It worried her to think something similar could happen to Casmari and Sebiath.

}:I will keep an eye on young Sebiath. Don't worry,:{ Piketh assured Rasme, sending images of how the young blue was asleep against her.

**Does it make you miss having your own dragonets?** Rasme asked.

}:No. It is a fact of life. Not something to dwell on. There are plenty of dragons in this Weyr who need my help,:{ the gold said matter-of-factly.

"It used to annoy me when I was little and you went off into your head like that," Casmari broke into her mother's thoughts.

"Oh?" A smile tugged at the corner of Rasme's mouth.

"Yeah, but," Casmari's face softened, "I get it now. It's so nice being able to reach out to Sebiath whenever I want. Even if he's sleeping. Just having him there..."

"It makes you feel complete?"

"Yes, exactly." Casmari smiled at her mother.

"I meant what I said after the Hatching. You already seem different. More confident."

"I am," Casmari said unapologetically, as she finished off the last bite of her sandwich. "I've never felt... Stronger? More sure of myself? That sounds arrogant, doesn't it?"

Rasme shook her head. "Not to me. That's exactly how I felt when I Impressed Piketh, but then... I've never exactly been known to be humble, have I?"

Casmari laughed. "No, not really but, it's one of the things I admire about you, Mom. You never shrink yourself down to fit others' expectations. You're unapologetically you, and that's what I want to be."

The goldrider leaped up suddenly, snatching a piece of hide and a stylus.

"What are you doing?" Casmari laughed.

"I'm writing down what you said, word for word, so I can repeat it to your father later." Rasme looked up at Casmari with a giant grin, very uncharacteristic for the stoic goldrider.

"Of course you are. You two are so weird."

Rasme finished writing and then kissed the top of Casmari's head. "You'll understand someday when you find your person. Now, off with you, or you'll be late to feed Sebiath and barrack's inspection."

"Yes, Mom," Casmari mimicked the tone she'd used as a child.

"Piketh is waking Sebiath up for you. Do you need her to take him down to the barracks?"

"No, I'll do it. You know how fast they grow. I want to be able to carry him for as long as I can."

Rasme watched as Casmari hurried out of her weyr, not wanting to be late. "Yes, they do grow so quickly."

Last updated on the July 2nd 2024

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Unapologetically Me