A Spark

Writers: Heather, Sia
Date Posted: 17th April 2025

Characters: Aydhara, Casmari
Description: Aydhara and Casmari talk around the fire
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 12
Notes: Follows the events of Birthday Bonfire
Mentioned: Avicath, Cirina, A'radess, N'kevyn, Aydhan, Rasme, C'ris

Aydhara

Casmari

The party was starting to wind down. A few people had bid farewells to tuck themselves into bed. A few more had coupled off and disappeared, and while third wheeling while Cirina and A'radess made eyes at each other would have been entertaining, it was not the most appealing way for Aydhara to end an otherwise great party. Casmari, though, hadn't paired off with anyone _and_ was still hanging around. That was a good sign.

She nabbed what remained of a bottle of wine and plopped herself down in the sand next to the weyrling. "How are you doing? Are you having fun?" Aydhara asked, tilting the bottle towards Casmari in a silent offer.

The corner of the blue Weyrling’s mouth lifted. A genuine smile. “Yeah, it’s been… good.” She took the offered bottle and put it to her lips. “What about you? Enjoying your birthday bash?”

Aydhara stretched her legs out in front of her, digging her toes into the cool sand. "Yes! I had a good turn out. And look…" She pointed over to a dark lump far beyond the fire, amongst where some of the dragons lounged, "My chaperone fell asleep."

Casmari chuckled. “That means you’re free to get in some trouble, right?”

"Avicath isn't a tattletale. As long as I stay in his sight, anyway," Aydhara said. "Do you have any mischief in mind?"

The blue Weyrling sighed. “I wish I did. I’ll be honest, I’ve always been so invested in following the rules that I’m not a great planner of mischief. I’d like to start… branching out more, though. Having a little more fun.”

Aydhara plucked the bottle from Casmari’s hands with a triumphant grin. “You’re in luck,” she said, taking a sip. “I’m an excellent bad influence."

Casmari laughed. “Alright then, what do you suggest?”

"Well, gluing K'lvin down worked so well that I think I'm going to glue a bunch of stuff down in N'kayden's weyr. Being an accomplice is less pressure."

“It must be nice, having a sibling close to you in age like that. Mine were already grown and out of the weyr before mom had me. Not that it’s not nice, I mean, I had a small army of dragonriders at a young age willing to ferry me anywhere.” Casmari thought it would have been nice to have a confidant or someone to annoy or play pranks on.

Aydhara wrinkled nose at the thought. "Xasvi's your sister, right? She's the same age as my mom. I can't imagine having that kind of age gap with N'kayden. And you probably can't even steal her outfits, she's got an entirely different build."

“Yeah, she’s way more muscular than I am. We all have different fathers, so none of us really look alike. You should see family gatherings.” Casmari’s eyebrows lifted up toward her platinum hair. “Let me really blow your mind - my oldest brother is thirty-nine, my _dad_ is thirty-seven.”

Aydhara's nose wrinkled in teenage disgust. "I don't like that math at all. What do your parents even talk about? Actually, no. I know what my parents talk about, and that's enough for me. My only family weirdness is that Tymborikath and I are the same age, but that's not so incredibly uncommon."

“My parents talk like their best friends. I do know my mom didn’t know my dad’s age. When she found out he was much younger she flipped. Dad says she tried to end things but he wouldn’t ‘let her,’ which is funny if you know my mom. No one _lets_ her do anything. But when he says that it always makes her smile.” Her mother also wasn’t a terribly smiley person. It was an odd relationship from the outside, Casmari supposed, but she hoped to have the same kind of camaraderie with her own mate someday.

Aydhara wrinkled her nose again and shook her head. “That’s still so weird. I mean, good for them, I guess, if they’re happy. My parents still act like they're weyrlings. Mom says Avicath used to follow her around the weyrbowl because Dad was so lovesick."

“It’ll be interesting when Sebiath is wanting to pine after proddy greens,” Casmari said, making a face that said she secretly dreaded it.

Aydhara grinned wickedly, "Are you going to pine after proddy greens with him?"

“I doubt it,” she blurted. “I don’t know.” Her shoulders raised. “It’s confusing.”

Aydhara studied Casmari for a moment. She sipped from the wine bottle, rolling the taste over her tongue. "Confusing how?" She asked.

“I’ve never really considered girls before… or boys either, for that matter. I just thought it would occur more… _naturally_, but with Sebiath growing up so fast….” Casmari shrugged, but a bit of her smile returned. “I’m sure I’m not the first Weyrling to feel this way. Doesn’t make it suck less, though.”

"Y'know, I have a friend back home in 'Reaches that isn't really attracted to boys or girls. She does what her dragon tells her, obviously, but she's not interested in weyrmates or nothing." Aydhara said with a matching shrug. "That's okay too."

“I guess I’ll find out. I’m just trying to go into everything with an open mind. Seb might show me a whole new side to myself that I never knew.”

Aydhara's expression turned teasing again as she offered Casmari the bottle. "I hear it's better if you do it before Sebiath gets involved. I can't quite remember _where_ I heard that." She added with an eyeroll.

Casmari took the bottle again, casting a furtive glance at Aydhara. “But then I would have to find _someone_ as well.”

Aydhara grinned. "I know at least one girl who might be available."

A blonde eyebrow arched. “Oh?”

Aydhara took the wine bottle back and took another drink. "She's pretty fun, but I'm biased. I always have a good time with myself."

Casmari’s lips pursed a little. “I’ll admit, I was hoping you were talking about yourself. I didn’t want to assume.”

"There are other girls, if I'm not quite your cup of tea. Or if you'd like a less-biased recommendation. But be gentle if you're letting me down, it is technically still my birthday."

The bluerider leaned closer. “Did that sound like a let down? It wasn’t meant to be.” Casmari’s blue eyes met Aydhara’s without a hint of the earlier shyness. Thank Faranth for alcohol.

"It didn't, but I _also_ didn't want to assume." Aydhara answered. She leaned in a little too and, after a few seconds of consideration, closed the distance to brush her lips against Casmari's.

Casmari wasn’t expecting the sparkle of electricity between them. She inhaled a surprised little gasp against Aydhara’s lips.

Aydhara felt the hitch in Casmari's breath and pulled back just enough to search her face, just to make sure. The wine made her bolder than usual, but she wasn't about to push if Casmari wasn't into it. "Too much?" She asked softly, a half-grin tugging at her mouth.

“No just… a pleasant surprise,” the bluerider smiled.

“Good,” Aydhara said, her grin widening, and kissed her again.

Last updated on the April 25th 2025

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A Spark