Gossip Before the Storm

Writers: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 4th June 2025

Characters: J'cello, V'dryn
Description: J'cello and V'dryn talk about upcoming graduation and greenflights.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 5, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Ketlyn

J'cello

"Another day closer," V'dryn said with light merriment as he sat across from J'cello in the Dining Hall.

"The end is in sight, isn't it?" J'cello said with a grin. "Do you have a particular Wing assignment you're hoping for? There's been a lot of Wingleaders and Wingseconds just 'dropping by' classes a lot now. They must be deciding soon."

V'dryn shook his head. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "Some of our class seem to be itching for the higher up Wings, where the action is, as they say. I suppose they feel that they have something more to prove. I...would be fine in one of the lower Wings. I'm not someone to chase adrenaline rushes _that_ much." He looked at J'cello. "You?"

J'cello shrugged. "It's fighting Threadfall, no matter what Wing we're put in. I've been doing fine, but I don't think my scores are high enough to make it into a high altitude. Wherever they put me is fine by me."

"And planning to stay here?" V'dryn inquired. Some of their classmates had discussed possibly going to other Weyrs, especially after the attack.

"Yeah, unless the leadership wants to move me." J'cello said with a shrug. "I considered going back to Dragonsfall. My family is there. But Bairelth can go /between/ to visit them anytime. Nobody is going to try and assassinate random greenrider number three. What about you?"

J'cello's morbid jest brought a huff of laughter from V'dryn. It shouldn't have been funny and yet it somehow was. "I think I'll remain here. But I won't be visiting my family much. They...would not understand. They were unhappy with my decision to become a Candidate in the first place."

"Oh right, I forgot you were holdborn." J'cello said with a bemused grin. "You can visit my family, if you want. They weren't too thrilled that I transferred Weyrs to follow a new boyfriend, but they're weyrfolk at least." And, after a pause, "I can visit your family too, if that helps. Their handsome young man on a blue probably won't seem so bad after meeting me and Bairelth. It's all about perspective."

V'dryn chuckled lightly. "While I appreciate the offer, I think that having you show up would make it a worse visit. Well, perhaps not for us. I'll at least be able to just come back here and ignore any of their remarks about our dragons' colors. No, I think I'll just stay here." He looked out over the Weyr. "I helped build it. We all did. It's home now."

"Exactly. Home's not always the place you come from. And neither is family." J'cello said, "You've built both of those here."

The bluerider paused thoughtfully for a moment. "That...is the most accurate statement I have heard about my situation." Between Zhomoth, Mora, his weyrling classmates, the work he had put into building the Weyr -- this was home. J'cello's words resonated, validated V'dryn's decision. He smiled with grounded happiness. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." J'cello smiled and took another bite. He hadn’t meant for the words to hit so deep, but he was glad they landed right for V'dryn. It was hard to remember that holdbred kids didn't often get that kind of choice.

A flicker of intensity brushed the edge of his thoughts- Bairelth. She wasn’t speaking, not with words, but he could feel her again, pressing against the inside of his awareness, like a small child needing comfort. An urge that should have gone away by now, and only intensified as her first flight started to draw nearer. He blinked back to himself, hand tightening briefly around his cup. "Has Zhomoth started to look at the greens, yet?" He tried to ask casually, "Bairelth is getting close to rising and...she's not taking it as well as I thought."

V'dryn thoughtfully pushed food around his plate as he made his next bite. "I believe he's taking his direction from me on that. Which, to answer the question, yes and no. Yes, he is interested, but he also understands that my tastes aren't limited to just one gender. He's been quite curious on that front. I think he might have been a bit disappointed when I initially explained that blue dragons don't fly other blue dragons. He thought it might be fun. Different."

J'cello laughed, "Yeah, I guess it doesn't work that way, huh? Poor Zhomoth. He'll have to make do with only flirting with the boys. Bairelth, well... she hasn't really gotten over the issues with intimacy like the other weyrling dragons have. I don't think she's in danger of panicking, but I'm almost certain she'll be the one throwing me out of the flightroom. So I'm sorry in advance for my future bad manners."

That brought a laugh to V'dryn. "I'd offer to help with that but would it help if it's coming from Bairelth?"

"Just your good grace if you happen to be the person I abandon in the flightroom, thank you." J'cello said in mock solemnity. "It's going to happen a few times a turn, hopefully she'll chill out eventually."

"Hopefully," V'dryn agreed. "They say with practice comes familiarity. But if you find yourself with me, no worries. I was telling someone the other day about how sex is its own weird rite of passage. Especially embarrassing sex."

"I'm not a stranger to embarrassing sex." J'cello agreed, though he perked up. "Who were you talking to?"

V'dryn blushed faintly. "Ketlyn. She uh...did not have a very good first time with someone else."

J'cello’s brows lifted with interest, and he tried, really tried, not to laugh, “Ketlyn? Huh. Poor thing. Not that any of us had a stellar first go at it, but if anyone should have it's her. I hope you told her it gets better?"

V'dryn's blush grew deeper. "I...showed her."

J'cello froze, a piece of roll paused halfway to his mouth. He dropped it back to his plate as a wicked grin spread across his face. "Well, well. You _naughty_ boy."

"Naughty is not a term I would have used," V'dryn pointedly said back with a spreading grin. "Considerate! I was considerate."

"Yes, this was such a hardship on your part." J'cello teased. "You better have given her nothing less than a stellar time. Ketlyn deserves no awkward sex at all."

V'dryn chuckled. "She did not kick me out of the bed immediately afterward so I consider that a win."

J’cello barked a laugh and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head as he grinned at V’dryn. "High praise. Man, nobody really came to _me_. I don't think Bairelth would have liked it, but it would've been nice to be asked!"

The bluerider awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “I…didn’t expect it, if that helps?”

"I'm filing a complaint." J'cello deadpanned. "All the greenriders are getting some but me."

V’dryn grinned. “I’m sure you’ll get some soon.”

"Oh yes, Bairelth will make sure of that." J'cello said.

Last updated on the June 8th 2025

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Gossip Before the Storm