A Quiet Fishing Trip
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: Aaron, Shawna
Date Posted: 6th September 2025
Characters: D'men, N'kevyn
Description: D'men and N'kevyn escape the Weyr for a fishing trip
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 23 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: S'ros, Y'rim
N’kevyn fixed a new piece of bait onto his hook, “I can’t tell if the fish are stealing it, or if I’m just not very good at this.” He tossed his line back into the water. “I’m used to fishing in quiet mountain lakes. Nice of you to show me the spot, though. If nothing else, it’s nice to be away from the chaos of the Weyr, don’t you think? D’brul’s been putting us through our paces, eh?”
The place certainly was quite a bit less chaotic without the three kiddos making a ruckus. D'men caught far fewer fish when they tagged along.
"There's a fine line between overworked and underprepared," he said. "Nice of him to get us so well acquainted with it."
}:I could help,:{ Avicath suggested, }:If I help can we go home? It’s rocky here.:{ The bronze complained.
**You and I both know you won't help.**
}:Well you should be better at this.:{
“My greatest critic seems to think it’s me who’s bad at this,” N’kevyn chuckled.
"Oh, it just takes a bit of patience," said D'men. "Something my kids wouldn't know if it bit them on the ankle." Well. Ferros and Daslim, at least, but it was rude to single them out. Double them out? Whatever.
"Though if you pull the hook back in bare again, maybe I'll help you re-bait it then." He chuckled.
}:You must be a mighty fisher,:{ said Abaroath to Avicath. }:D'men only lets me fish in the sea.:{
"Well, they're teens, aren't they? It's been my experience that the only one who gets patience during the teen years is the parents, and it's hard fought for," despite his words, N'kevyn's tone was that of a fond, endulgent father. "If Aydhara doesn't get a dragon soon, her mother and I are both going to go totally gray."
}:Oh, I'm just the best,:{ Avicath said with the confidence of a dragon entirely unfamiliar with the concept of self-doubt.
"The little one's not quite there, but he's caught it from his brother anyway," D'men chuckled. "How old is Aydhara again?"
}:I can tell.:{ Abaroath, too, was entirely sincere. }:You probably catch greens as easy as fish, too.:{
"She's 18," N'kevyn said, "and she has the attitude to match," he sounded fond.
}:Only when I want to,:{ Said Avicath, who had in fact caught exactly zero fish and hadn't moved from his spot on the banks. His success with greens was only marginally better.
"Whoo. Not looking forward to 18." D'men shook his head. "Any advice?"
}:Nice.:{ Abaroath turned his head and body, like a suave little dance. }: Maybe I could catch a fish for you, if you gave me your advice.:{
"Hide the good alcohol," N'kevyn said seriously, "we've been keeping a decoy good bottle on the shelf filled with absolute swill. It disappears every time the candidates have a party."
}:If I wanted a fish, I'd get one,:{ Avicath said simply. After a moment, he sighed and offered the helpful advice of, }:You just open your mouth and then close it when there's fish in it.:{
"That's more S'ros's territory," said D'men. "But I'll definitely let him know he should be ready with a decoy. You know, for all I know, he already has one." He chuckled. "He usually takes care of all of the drink service if Y'rim or I ever partake of the stronger stuff at the weyr."
}:Easy!:{ Abaroath was not at all convinced that would actually work. The fish would certainly not just... swim in. But he was not going to tell Avicath his advice sucked. He was never going to get a snuggle from him that way. }:Let me try it.:{
**No.**
}:Aww, man. Come on.:{
**No! You'll scare away the fish. Go get one from the sea and come back.**
Abaroath huffed.
}:Fiiiine.:{ To Avicath, he said, }:I'll be right back,:{ and flew up to pop between.
"You're missing out on an important life skill- everyone loves a man who can pick a good wine," N'kevyn joked. "Your boy should know Avicath has never once caught a fish on purpose. Which is good, because he's on a diet, and he's not allowed to eat today."
The bronze made a strangled, disgruntled noise, }:That's not fair!:{
"Oh, well. More for Aba when he gets back, then." D'men chuckled. "I wouldn't know good wine if it bit me."
"Well, if it does have a bite, it's safe to say that's the bad stuff," N'kevyn chuckled. "I've had to play escort to too many important events not to learn about the finer things. Can't be an embarrassment."
"Not with that attitude." D'men nodded. He had scarcely ever had any opportunity to embarrass anyone. Luckily. "One of the advantages of riding blue, I suppose."
Abaroath returned with an extraordinarily large fish that looked like it came from somewhere in the deep sea.
}:Avicath isn't allowed to eat that.:{
**Whaaaat? That's booty,** said the blue.
"That's... what?" D'men said aloud.
**You heard me. Now I have to go eat this somewhere else so he doesn't have to watch me!** Abaroath tried to be as sneaky as he could when he showed Avicath where he planned to take the monstrosity.
"Huh. He didn't actually catch that with Avicath's advice, did he?" The bronzerider looked at the large catch with clear admiration. "I feel like we're wasting our time out here now."
Avicath watched the blue and his fish with poorly feigned disinterest, }:Fish is slimy anyway.:{ His sprawl on the bank somehow took on a sulky air, however.
"Oh, of course he did," said D'men even as he shook his head dramatically, 'no.' "He'll share with us, if you want to cook some of that monster up."
}:Says who?:{
**You would give the whole thing to Avicath but none to us?**
}:Only for a cuddle.:{
"He says we'd have to cuddle him for it, though."
N'kevyn roared out a laugh, "Your boy drives a hard bargain. No, I wouldn't know what to do with it, but I'll bet I could figure it out. That can be the plan for the next fishing trip- larger prey. Maybe Avi will even find it in himself to be useful next time."
The bronze yawned, }:I would be the best at fishing, but I wouldn't share.:{
"He says no, but we'll have to see. After I've had time to research how to cook that monster," N'kevyn seemed pleased to have a new project, even as he missed a fish stealing his bait, too distracted watching the blue with the big fish.
Last updated on the October 3rd 2025