When Mom Says No, You Ask Dad, Right? (2/2)
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: Iluva, Shawna
Date Posted: 2nd August 2025
Characters: Cirina, Th'reyos
Description: Cirina approaches Th’reyos/Zarkarth to try to log even more egg touching time
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Nidre, R'lor, O’rosin
Notes: some Jossenth posing with Dusk's permission
“Look - I'm already convinced. If I could give you your own brown right now, I would.” Th'reyos absently patted Zarkarth's foreleg as he devoured the rest of the muffin, watching in amusement as his dragon leaned with the greatest subtlety possible into her scratch.
}:She is very good. But you know I cannot tell them Who to pick. They will need to decide that for themselves.:{ Yet another pleasant surprise here at Dolphin Cove - it was rare for the brown to warm to someone so quickly.
**She's just real desperate.** Th'reyos pointed out with a click of his tongue. Poor kid had probably been Standing from the time she was twelve, and then there were the punks (like he had been) rolling in with each Clutch and some Impressing their first time even on the Sands (like he had). **And smart.** He added. Considering all that Cirina was doing to get closer to the eggs, he'd honestly be surprised if _something_ didn't work.
“He also likes riiiight under there,” Th’reyos pointed out helpfully to the long curve of the brown’s jaw. “Any brownriders in your family?”
“Oh, wouldn't that be exciting, the first brown with the sense to pick a girl,” Cirina laughed at the idea. “But I don't need all that fuss or specialness, I'll be happy with just a nice normal little green.” She shifted her scratching to the spot Th’reyos indicated, leaning her weight into it as if her future depended on convincing the brown to like her.
“My dad, R’yin, and my brother, C’rin, both have browns. And I have Digger, although, you know, firelizards don't really count. My dad was real pleased he hatched out brown though,” she smiled fondly at the memory.
“How old is Zarkarth? Has he caught golds before? That's a pretty good accomplishment for a brown, although you messed up all the flight betting,” Cirina teased.
Th’reyos laughed. “Yeah, he kind of messed up a lot of plans that day.”
Zarkarth, unrepentant and still outrageously smug, merely grunted softly as he felt his outer eyelid slowly beginning to close. Nothing needed to be said, the future had taken this course. His children _were_ the future. Not many browns or even bronzes could say that.
“He’s almost twenty, though he doesn’t look a day over ten.” Th’reyos said airily. “And, if you can believe it, Jossenth's the first gold he’s caught. Not from lack of trying. So, he’s taking it pretty seriously, which I guess you and your pal there saw the other day.”
“Yeah, that was embarrassing. I should have expected it, I’ve been thumped by a brown before, but the sand is very slippery. I’m not usually clumsy,” Cirina added the last bit hurriedly, as if she were being graded. “Are you two going back to Dragonsfall after the eggs hatch? You think he’ll be done hovering then?”
“Well, you took that bump like a champ.” Th’reyos smirked, trying not to laugh even as he arched a brow in mock offense. “Eager to get rid of us, huh? Yeah, we’ll be headed back at some point after the Hatching. Though after all this Dolphin Cove hospitality, it might be hard to stay away. I’ve missed a tropical Weyr and no one’s brought me muffins like that at Dragonsfall or Vista Point.” Or brought him muffins, period, though again the chips were quite different here.
“Who knows, though.” The brownrider mused. “In five Turns we could both be at Rising Moons, or Barrier Lake, or Ista. You, zipping around on your little dragon, me on this old brute here.” He patted his dragon fondly, exasperation and indulgence limning his smile.
“I’ve had worse from Aeoluth,” the candidate boasted proudly. “Although usually I’m expecting it and know to plant my feet. Why didn’t he want me by that egg anyway? It’s little, so it’s almost certainly a green. I’m sure I could win her over with enough time.”
At the mention of moving on, she waved dismissively. “Oh, I’ve moved too many times already,” Cirina countered. “N’vanik is going to have to throw me out personally to make me leave. I like having the ocean a little jog away. The breeze, the water, the shells,” she gave her arm a little shake, and a bead and shell bracelet rattled.
Th'reyos had some idea why Zarkarth had assaulted (nudged) the girls, but he asked the brown to get it in his words. After a moment his eyes refocused. “Ah, he was worried you were hoarding the egg, which he was apparently right about.” He chuckled. “He just wanted you to give some of that lovin’ attention to the other eggs, too, and let the others touch the little one you were huggin’ like a friend.”
Zarkarth conferred quietly with Jossenth behind his thoughts, and a wide sweep of the cavern showed only the dozing gold dragon, no goldrider.
“Alright,” Th’reyos said, like he'd finally arrived at a difficult decision.
It wasn’t, not really.
A few months from now they wouldn’t be in Dolphin Cove and there were few things humans could offer one another when it came to dragon matters like Impression. But there was one thing he could do - and maybe it should have, but it didn’t matter if it was unfair, or showing favoritism, or just plain ol’ not allowed. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission - even dragons didn't ask permission.
“Cirina,” Th'reyos’ voice lowered, beckoning her closer, “I’m gonna need more fantastic baked goods in my stomach this morning, so I'm gonna be over there. _You_ need to collect more shells.” His hazel eyes darted to the shining shells nestled just beyond. “You know what I mean? And when Jossenth and Zarkarth say out - you're out, alright?”
Cirina nodded earnestly, “Those muffins are really good. You want to chew slow. So you don’t choke. And uh so you can savor them.” She didn’t give him any time to reconsider, scurrying across the sands towards the eggs. She was careful, but there was a distinctive happy bounce to her movements. While she made sure not to focus too much on any one egg, she did very pointedly focus on a few of the smallest, occasionally glancing towards the brown for any hint of the first bit of disapproval, making the most of this opportunity.
Last updated on the September 1st 2025