Still Meant For Something
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather, KC
Date Posted: 27th May 2025
Characters: I'mrei, K'daen
Description: I'mrei and Kaedin chat while completing their chores in the dragon infirmary.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 12
He'd had a late night and now I'mrei was paying for it as he stood, staring at the inventory closet that he was supposed to be counting and checking against the list on his clipboard. Inventorying was his _least_ favorite thing. It was just so... _boring_.
**I should have known better than to have that third mug of ale,** he told himself petulantly as his sleepy fingers nearly knocked a glass bottle to the floor.
"Psssttt, Kaedin," he called his fellow apprentice over.
Kaedin was already crouched near the back shelves, organizing a row of burn creams with the kind of precise efficiency that came from long practice, or, perhaps, from needing to keep his hands busy to quiet
other thoughts. He glanced up when I'mrei called his name, arching one brow with a slow, knowing smirk.
“Let me guess; ale, cards, and bad decisions?”
Kaedin’s tone was light, but his gaze flicked, just for a heartbeat, to the rider's knot at I’mrei’s shoulder. He didn’t linger on it, but
it was there; that quiet pull in his chest. Not resentment exactly. More like a bruise he’d gotten used to carrying.
Still, he gave I'mrei a genuine smile as he stood up and walked over to his fellow apprentice he bumped his shoulder lightly against I'mrei’s as he passed. “How may I be of service Rider?" he said in a joking tone.
I'mrei's smile matched Kaedin's teasing tone. "Well, _apprentice_, I'm here to inventory the supply closet." He held up a clipboard. "Just goes to show, there's no perks yet for having a dragon and being a
dragonhealer."
"And how is Eismuth these days?" Kaedin asked. Even though, if anything was wrong with any dragon in the Weyr it would be known, especially among the Dragonhealers, but it was still polite to ask.
And no matter how much Kaedin hurt at not having Impressed himself, he still had genuine affection and concern for all dragons. Besides, Kaedin had been on the Sands when I'mrei Impressed, and he was
genuinely happy, for his friend and craftmate.
"She is well. Sassy as ever," I'mrei said with a pursing of his lips as he counted a row of medicinal bottles and then jotted the number down on his clipboard. "I don't know if all greens are this way, but she lives to roast every decision I make."
Kaedin smiled. It was always interesting to him how varied the personalities of the Weyr's dragon's were, just as varied as the
residents. The young dragonhealer had a brief spell of longing, a breath of a moment in which he briefly thought about the personality his own dragon might have, if he was to ever Impress. He only allowed
his imagination to dream for that half a held breath before he released it with a heavy sigh and roll of his shoulders.
"Is it her fault if your decisions make such easy fodder?" Kaedin ask, his teasing voice was an attempt to brighten his own mood more than make his friend laugh.
"You're right," I'mrei whimpered. "I do make it too easy for her. It's especially bad when I'm trying to talk to someone I have a crush on. I just keep putting my foot in my. mouth and she can't resist. She practically died of embarrassment when I first started talking to K'don." Fortunately, talking to K'don had gotten a lot easier after they'd gone to Yethber's party together.
The greenrider smiled at Kaedin encouragingly. "You'll see one day, I know it."
Kaedin huffed a quiet breath, half laugh, half sigh, as he finished aligning the last of the bottles on the shelf. He didn’t look up right
away. He wasn’t ready to let his face betray what cracked open in his chest at those words; not irritation, not jealousy, just that familiar ache that always followed hope like a shadow.
He gave himself a moment. Then another. Then, finally, straightened with the slow care of someone gathering more than just their limbs.
“I appreciate that,” he said softly, quieter than his usual dry edge. “Really.”
He reached for the clipboard in I’mrei’s hands and gave it a once-over; not because he didn’t trust the count, but because he
needed something to look at besides that kind, earnest smile. When he finally did glance up, his amber eyes were steady, but the usual smirk was missing.
“It’s just… every time I Stand, I tell myself it’s going to be the time. And every time I walk off those Sands…” He trailed off for a
beat, shook his head. “It feels a little more like the dragons are saying no. Not yet. Not you.”
Kaedin’s mouth twisted in a way that tried to be a smile, but didn’t quite get there. “And I know what everyone says. I know they mean it when they say, your dragon hasn’t hatched yet, or they’re out there, waiting. But sometimes I worry that maybe... mine already did. And just didn’t choose me.”
He let out a breath through his nose, not quite a laugh, but trying.
“Anyway.” He straightened the clipboard unnecessarily, then handed it back to I’mrei. “I should stop talking like a mopey candidate and get back to counting jars.”
Then, after a pause, quieter: “But thank you. For saying it.”
He bumped I’mrei’s shoulder again, more gently this time. “Now let’s get this inventory done before a journeyman catches us brooding.”
I'mrei shared Kaedin's smile. "You bet!"
Last updated on the June 10th 2025