That's Mine
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: Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 27th June 2025
Characters: Q'vettan, N'kevyn
Description: N’kevyn is called into the Weyrleader’s office for a frustrating conversation… for them both
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 17 of Turn 12
Q'vettan was not yet moved into his new office, not fully: D'hol's things were mostly relocated, minus a few items that didn't look like his. Including the mug he was drinking out of when N'kevyn walked in, a garishly bright Benden red with the letters "Wine, Women, and Song" stenciled on it.
“You wanted to see me?” N’kevyn was already talking as he burst through the door, sparing zero moments for even an attempt at pleasantries. He’d been in this office only once before, when he’d first transferred, and a quick glance around revealed a much more barren space. Except- his eyes narrowed.
“Do you realize you’re drinking out of my mug? How did you even get your hands on that?” He sank into the chair across from the desk, immediately falling into a slouch.
"This?" Q'vettan said mildly and raised the mug up a little, considering it as if he hadn't thought about it before. "I found it sitting in the cupboard with a couple other ones. D'hol left them, so I figured they were abandoned. However did they get here?"
N’kevyn scowled, knowing the answer. Normally, N’kevyn found Aydhan’s habit of scattering his mugs around the weyr like a hap-hazard scavenger hunt endearing. Not today, however. “My wife must have left it in here by mistake. I’ll just take that with me when I go then.”
"It's half-full." Q'vettan said and purposefully did not set down the mug. "Take the ones still in the cupboard, if you must. I'm sure other ones will meander back here eventually."
N’kevyn did, in fact, stomp over to the cupboard, and proceeded to gather two mugs he was sure were his and one he honestly couldn’t remember, but it had a dolphin and said “We do it in the water”, so it belonged in his collection even if it hadn’t started there. “They must not have cleared this office out for you. How rude.”
"D'hol took the things that were his." Q'vettan said mildly. "The rest could have been communal. Sent over in tithes or donated in common rooms. I think there's at least one in the Ash Wing meeting room."
“You’d think in a nice new Weyr like Barrier Lake wouldn’t have second hand items in the Weyrleader’s office. Such a pity you’re getting the leftovers,” N’kevyn quipped.
Q’vettan swirled the contents of the mug with a lazy wrist, as if the act of mildly offending N’kevyn was the best part. He watched the other bronzerider claim his ridiculous dolphin mug like a man rescuing a kidnapped child with no little amusement. "Every Weyr has a collection of scattered things." He said, "You know, for a man that can get so riled up about something as little as mugs, I'm surprised you’ve never tried for rank.”
“Yes, well, I’ve always found ambition to be the purview of men with something to prove. I’ve never had that kind of feeling of inadequacy,” N’kevyn replied with an exaggerated lightness. “Why do the extra work when I have nothing to prove and everything I want in life?”
"Because it is our duty as bronzeriders to be leaders, whether or not there's any ambition behind it." Q'vettan said, though he tensed at the not-so subtle jab. "I understand the lack of drive during the Interval, even in the lead-up to the Pass. A goldrider weyrmate and young children to raise. But you've been fighting thread for twelve turns and drilling for it for twenty-two. We are not so overwhelmed with bronzeriders that a man of your seniority should be able to coast through as you do."
“If you thought bronze-ness was all it took to lead a wing, I think Cypress and Cherry would look different, don’t you?” N’kevyn shrugged, “As a bronze, it’s Avicath’s duty to fight thread and catch golds. It’s my duty to not fall off him. I do more for the Weyr by supporting my wife. I can’t do that and lead a wing. She’s a high maintenance woman, you know.”
Q'vettan nodded slightly in agreement, acknowledging that he'd lost that particular round of verbal sparring. "So that's it, then? You've decided the best use of your experience is being a weyrwoman's distraction?"
“Yes. Have you seen her?” N’kevyn said, feigning shock. “If you just wanted to criticize my life choices, shall I consider myself chastised then? I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
"You're not chastised." Q'vettan said with a hint of amusement. "You are deflecting, though, and don't think I don't see it," He knew the type all too well-- underneath all the lazy irreverence and glib remarks was someone who knew exactly what he was doing. Charming, intelligent, and pathologically opposed to responsibility unless it suited them. Gadding about this far into the Pass was admirable, if not ideal. "But you are dismissed, if that's all. But consider that any one of us could be Weyrleader someday. It would be in all of our best interests for you to learn before Avicath dumps that responsibility on you."
Q'vettan wasn't wrong about that chastisement, so N'kevyn didn't bother to protest. Instead, he shrugged and said, “I’m not concerned. Avicath and I abstain from those flights. I’ve always found it strange we hold our goldriders to higher standards than our bronzeriders. A goldrider is expected to control their dragon in a flight- make sure they blood, not gorge, and a senior gold should _never_ pick a brown, or the Weyrwoman would have failed. But as bronzeriders we’re allowed to just throw up our hands and act like we have no say in the matter. Seems unfair, don't you think?”
"A poor Weyrleader pretends that he has no say in the matter." Q'vettan said, "Men who fall fully into Flightlust at the first bellow are not the ones leading the Weyrs. Avicath does not have the tactical sense to win any mating flights. Which leads me to believe you're at least _trying_ to catch Tymborikath."
N’kevyn was piling the empty tacky mugs into his arms carefully and giving a pointed look at the half full one Q’vettan was still nursing. “You aren’t wrong. The only perk to our new Weyrwoman is that, as long as she sticks around, I don’t have to abstain from the lovely Tymborikath’s flights. Maybe I’ll go thank her for that right now.” The moment Q’vettan released his hold on the still partially full mug, N’kevyn snatched it, not caring when he splashed klah on his sleeve, and proceeded to stomp out of the office without another word.
Last updated on the July 3rd 2025