Meet the Parent

Writers: Aaron, Devin
Date Posted: 6th November 2025

Characters: Saedyna, Tirraze, Vatirra
Description: Tirraze introduces Saedyna to her mother.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 27 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: T'lin, V'rel
Vatirra "adopted" with permission from Avery

Tirraze had spent shamefully little time with her mother since she had Impressed. She had been in such a funk for so long during their training, and almost entirely -- at least, she assumed -- because she had been so sure of what her future would be, and then when Riamorth had chosen her, she no longer had any idea who she was. Or who she was meant to be.

She was supposed to be Headwoman someday. And now she never would be.

Of course, now she had come to terms with that. Now she was happy, proud to be rider of blue Riamorth. But she had never quite gotten back to seeing her mother, not like she used to.

They used to work together!

But now it had been ages, it seemed, since Tirraze had made time to spend with her.

So, she sent her a message to ask her to meet her for lunch-- and to tell her she had someone she wanted her to meet.

Saedyna fiddled with her fork, wondering if Tirraze's mother would like her.

}:If she does not like you, I will eat her,:{ Avarith said.

**You can't eat people!** She knew her dragon wasn't serious, but Avarith's protectiveness wrapped around her like a blanket.

}:I will sit on her then.:{

When at last lunch was gathered and seats procured, Tirraze sat down across from her mother with Saedyna's place right beside her.

"It's been forever, ma." She smiled broadly.

Saedyna swallowed, trying to calm her nerves as she looked at the older woman.

Vatirra took both Tirraze's hands in hers and squeezed them for a moment..

"Too long." She pulled her hands back and crossed her arms. "That blue of yours is a sweetheart, too, so I know it's not his fault you've waited this long to introduce me to _your_ sweetheart."

"It hasn't been all that long, ma," Tirraze insisted.

"Not that long, hm? I heard about that special order from R'lor, you know. Nothing goes on in the Lower Caverns without me hearing about it."

Tirraze laughed. Maybe once upon a time, she would have been embarrassed, mortified, even. But not anymore.

"Ma, this is Saedyna. My sweetheart. Saedyna, this is my mother, Vatirra."

Saedyna's cheeks had gone bright red. She still wasn't used to the way people talked about such things so freely here. "P-pleased to meet you, ma'am."

Vatirra smiled warmly at Saedyna and took her hands the same way she had Tirraze's.

"Please, call me Vatirra. Or Ma, if you like. The pleasure is all mine. Tell me about yourself, about your Avarith."

"Avarith is wonderful." It was easier to talk about her dragon. "She would do anything to protect me, and she's so brave. A little bit silly, too. She loves attention, not just males flirting with her, but humans, too. And she's so pretty. I'm sure most greenriders say that, but she really _is_."

"I can't wait to meet her." Vatirra was all smiles. "She sounds as lovely as her rider."

Saedyna's blush was back, but this time it was softer and she was smiling. "Thank you." She wondered what it would have been like to have someone like Vatirra as her mother, or if she'd been lucky enough to be born at the Weyr.

"You're more than welcome, dear. Now, has Tirraze introduced you to her brother, at least? Or do I need to track him down, too?"

"I've seen him around," Saedyna said.

"I'll wrangle him into another lunch sometime, ma," said Tirraze.

"You eat every day, madam. It shouldn't be that hard to end up in the dining cavern at the same time."

"You're right, you're right!"

"Of course, I am."

The three went on chatting while they ate, until even Vatirra had to admit it was time to get back to work.

"Now, is there anything you need, dear?" she asked Saedyna. "Anything at all."

Saedyna thought a moment and then shook her head. "It was very nice meeting you." This hadn't been nearly as awkward as she'd feared. "Can we do this again sometime?"

"I'd love to see you both at least every sevenday, if you could spare the time." Vatirra's tone indicated it would be ridiculous for Tirraze to suggest otherwise.

"We really should get back into the habit. I've missed working with you," she said. They had never had to make time for each other before; they saw each other all the time. But now things were different, and it had become clear that if they were going to be as close as they had been, she needed to put in the effort. "I'll harass V'rel and T'lin about it, too."

"I would love that," Saedyna said. It would almost be like being part of a family. One that actually cared about her.

"Well! I'm glad that's settled then. It's a shame Tirraze didn't start seeing you sooner, dear-- it might not have taken so long for her to remember to come see me once in a while!" Vatirra winked to the both of them.

Saedyna ducked her head. "I didn't really realize . . ."

Vatirra reached across the table and squeezed Saedyna's hand.

"You haven't done a single thing wrong, dear, not one."

"Oh, oh no. Not that," Saedyna said. "I didn't know I liked women. That's why we didn't get together before." She knew now she'd been attracted to Tirraze for a while before the flight, but she was pretty sure that hadn't started until after they Impressed.

"I'd never really been interested in a woman before Saedie, either," said Tirraze. She had not given it much thought. It was not something she had ruled out, but there had never been anyone in particular that caught her fancy.

"Saedie. I like that. Can I call you Saedie, too, or is that just for Tirraze?"

"Oh, um." Saedyna loved that nickname and might like other people calling her that, but she also liked having a special name that only Tirraze called her. "Can I think about it?"

"Of course, dear! Whatever makes you happy makes me happy, too." Vatirra smiled.

"You're very kind." Saedyna wondered what Vatirra might like as a gift.

"That's what moms are for."

Saedyna swallowed against the unexpected sting of tears. That's what mothers _should_ be like.

Vatirra and Tirraze both moved in unison to comfort Saedyna. Tirraze wrapped an arm around her, and Vatirra rubbed the back of her hand once with her thumb.

"Hey. Maybe not every mother does her job. But I will. For all my babies, and their sweethearts, too."

"Thank you." Saedyna managed, her throat thick as she fought not to cry. To be cared for this much by someone who'd only just met her, when her own parents had sold her off . . . "You can call me Saedie. It can be for--for family."

"Thank you, Saedie, that means so much. And you're welcome to call me Ma. If you like. No pressure." Vatirra was all smiles.

Tirraze hugged Saedyna tightly and laid her head on her shoulder.

}:I definitelly will not eat her,:{ Avarith said.

Saedyna laughed and the tears spilled over as she hugged Tirraze back.

Last updated on the November 14th 2025

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