We Know What We Are

Writers: Corrin, Francesca
Date Posted: 2nd December 2024

Characters: R'bain, A'lin
Description: R'bain and A'lin hang out and catch up on life and changes since Impressing.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 1, day 27 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: L'rin, N'kayden, K'lvin, H'taysh

R'bain

A'lin

It was late in the evening, most of the dragonets were sleeping and it was technically “free time” for their riders, but R’bain couldn’t indulge. He still had to finish his new riding straps in preparation for their first flight next month. So while the rest of the class were out enjoying their liberty he dragged himself back to the classroom-workshop to resume work. With a sigh, he flipped the glow baskets open and hauled his unfinished project out onto a workbench. The basics were in place. It was just all the tedious punching and sewing now. It was all going to be boring, boring, boring.

After about a quarter candlemark, A'lin entered, a plate in his hands. "Hey," he said in greeting. "Mind if I join you? I grabbed some sweets." He had already finished his riding straps, but things were still weird with his brother, so he had gone in search of other company.

R'bain jumped, he hadn't been expecting anyone, but A'lin was a welcome sight for sore eyes. "Company _and_ a snack? You're a good one, A'lin," R'bain flashed him a grateful grin and kicked out a chair for the other weyrling. "Pull up a seat! I've just got a few more miles of this to punch and sew. Beats me how the rest of you were so fast! Almost makes me wish Brinolth was a bit smaller. Almost."

A'lin sat down and put the plate on the table, taking a fruit pastry for himself. He shrugged, slightly embarrassed at the compliment. "My step-mom actually taught me some sewing," he admitted. "She got sick of patching the holes I kept making in my clothes, and I didn't have any sisters old enough to help her."

"You're lucky. My family was -- is -- big. I didn't get much one-on-one time with my ma, and then I was off to join the labor crews as soon as I was able... Before this class, I'd probably have been better off trying to patch my holes with nails 'stead of a needle."

R'bain leaned in, squinting at the thick leather as he lined up another hole to punch. His hands were a little sore already, but the pastries smelled good, and A’lin’s company was refreshing. “I’d never have guessed you had sewing in your background. You’re full of surprises, A’lin.”

A'lin was not sure what to do with the second compliment, so decided to ignore it. "I haven't spoken to any of them since the Hatching, but my stepmom didn't seem too unhappy I Impressed a blue." Or, at least she was not as disappointed as his father. "What does your family think?"

"They think it's grand! They have a dragonrider in the family now and that's more than any other cothold in the region can say. It's practically like I've become a lord, to them. 'Course, I'm sure they think a bronze would have been better, but I've already come leaps and bounds further than any of us ever dreamed-- and it's not like I Impressed a girl dragon or anything." Tieing off his thread he took a break and helped himself to some pastry.

"That's great," Alin said honestly, although he was a bit envious. Thinking about his conversation with V'dryn at the beginning of the month, he hesitated to ask what he had been hoping to find out about his friend. R'bain's comment about girl dragons was concerning. But, his curiosity outweighed his fear. "Were you, uhhh, surprised you Impressed a blue dragon?"

"I was floored to Impress at all!" R'bain said happily as he ate. "I wasn't Searched like you or L'rin, so I didn't think there was any hope for me, but there he was!" His expression went distant for a moment as he shared a tender thought with his lifemate.

"I'm not mad he's blue either. That just means I'll have all the freedoms of being a rider and none of the heavy responsibility stuff--" He broke off as A'lin's phrasing sunk in. "Oh, you're talking about the other stuff, aren't you? I'm not a deviant, if that's what you mean. I don't think blue means that anyhow. There are tons of female greenriders. Plus browns and bronzes chase greens as well and no one says anything about _their_ riders being less than men. I _was_ surprised that Haysh Impressed green though. The guy is crazy about girls. I just don't get it."

A'lin's heart sank, and all hope of developing a closer relationship with another fellow bluerider disappeared. At least his own secret was still safe. "Yeah, they keep saying the dragons choose... whatever that means." Wanting to change the subject, he turned to an easy one: their training. "I can't believe we get to fly in just a few days."

R'bain was oblivious to A'lin's turmoil as he polished off his pastry. In fact, he was _so_ oblivious that he wasn't about to let the conversation change just yet. Something had been bothering him since they Impressed. "Is that why L'rin's been acting distant?" he asked, brow furrowing. "He's been sticking close with N'khayden and doesn't hang out with the rest of us anymore... because our boys are blue?"

A'lin sighed. At least this was easier to talk about than his sexual preferences. "Yeah." He grabbed another pastry. "I mean, we haven't really talked about it, since we aren't talking much. But, he's uncomfortable with male blue and greenriders, and same-sex relationships. And us on blues means he thinks that's what we're into." Of course, in A'lin's case, he was right.

"That's ridiculous. He-- I-- I mean, look at us!" R'bain sputtered, fumbling for the words to express his frustration, his confusion. He settled for gesturing vigorously between them--their height, their muscles, their trade background. "We aren't pansy pillow biters!"

It didn't occur to him that A'lin's preferences might differ from his. They were too similar in his eyes for him to even consider that. He looked to the other young man, expecting camaraderie and validation.

A'lin did not know what a pillow biter was, but it did not sound good. He shrugged. "We know what we are. And, L'rin will figure it out eventually, right?" He was glad he did not need to worry about sex any time soon. He was just hoping L'rin, and R'bain, and everyone else got more used to weyrlife quickly.

"I guess so," R'bain huffed. "I hope he figures it out soon."

Last updated on the December 8th 2024

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

We Know What We Are