A Responsible Clutch Sire

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 26th November 2025

Characters: K'mai, L'keri
Description: K'mai surprises L'keri with a cake to celebrate Rhalith's clutch and they make plans to rile up some bronzeriders.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'serin, Sybana, M'sar, Hesbia (not by name), Zariah, N'vanik, Z'kim

K'mai

L'keri

"L'keri! Congratulations!" K'mai almost spilled his drink as he pulled L'keri into a hug. "Now close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."

"Uh-oh. That sounds risky," the brownrider teased, bringing to mind innumerable childhood pranks. But he was relieved enough at having escaped from the important guests and into the company of his wingmates for a while to comply. "Go on, then."

K'mai made sure his eyes were closed and then guided L'keri over to a table. "Ok, you can look now. Surprise!"

In the center of the table was a large cake, with edible brown and gold dragons on top.

L'keri blinked, open-mouthed, at the delicious sight that met his eyes. The cake glittered with sugar and layers of icing and fruit, and the little dragons were marvelously detailed, their tails twined lovingly together as they watched over a clutch of sweet-shelled eggs.

"K'mai! I...this is incredible," he breathed. "It looks far too good to eat!" Impulsively, he spun around and hugged his friend. "Thank you!"

K'mai hugged him back. "I had to do _something_ for your special day." Especially with all the disparaging comments about the size of the clutch. "I still can't believe it. Rhalith, a proud father! All those hatchlings are _his_!"

"And all healthy and paired up with lifemates," L'keri said, beaming in relief. He'd worried about that more than the clutch size itself. "Though they made some interesting choices. It'll be a memorable class for the Weyrlingmasters."

"I lost money on some of them." K'mai laughed.

"That kid who Impressed the brown?" L'keri rolled his eyes. "Same here. Never seen a more unlikely brownrider since...well, me. But don't tell anyone. I'm not supposed to be in on the betting."

"I was so sure Mesarian would get a green. He's been in my bed, and he's been making the rounds since he arrived." K'mai laughed again and shook his head. "The dragons sure are making interesting choices lately. Another girl on blue, too."

"I know! That makes three of them here, and a couple more at other Weyrs. It's a promising development." As far as L'keri was concerned, you couldn't have too many women in the Wings. He grinned. "They'll be riding browns next."

"And then maybe _her_ brown will catch a queen!" K'mai said.

"Wouldn't that cause a stir?" L'keri's gaze turned dreamy as his imagination, always vivid in such matters, took over. "There's an idea for the next weyr romance."

K'mai nodded. "Women who like women deserve to read sexy, sexy fantasies too."

"Sign me up for a copy," L'keri said with enthusiasm. "Even better, make her a wild, untamed holdless girl. That'd sell like hot bubbly pies at a wedding gather."

K'mai rubbed his chin. "Does the Printer Hall have a suggestion box? Maybe I'll give Zariah a note to take with her the next time she's doing deliveries."

"I'd love to see those suggestions." L'keri mimed pulling a note out of a box and unfolding it. "'Dear Hallmaster, loved your recent effort, but next time can you include more details of the bronzerider desk sex? Your most devoted fan, K.'"

K'mai's face heated as he thought of I'serin taking him over the Weyrleader's desk. If only he could brag to L'keri about his fantasy being fulfilled. "Details are important."

"That they are," the brownrider said, grinning. "Speaking of, have you seen any prospects for your collection tonight? Galgaith's first clutch has brought out some of Pern's finest." He glanced around the cavern, spotting several finely dressed bronzeriders and a visiting wingleader or two.

"Ooh, good idea. I should at least see if one of them will dance with me." K'mai surveyed the crowd with an anticipatory gleam in his eyes. "And then I can use the dance to lure him into my collection."

"I've no doubt you'll have every success." L'keri's eyes glittered with mischief. "Though as a responsible clutch sire, I shouldn't be encouraging you to scandalize the holders and rival our friends at Dolphin Cove with a spicy turn on the dance floor. Oh, no. Definitely don't do that."

K'mai gasped. "_We_ could do that! I don't know if I can keep a straight face sexy dancing with you, but I can certainly try."

L'keri considered the idea. He really shouldn't. The Weyrleaders would kill him. _Sybana_ would kill him. He'd be playing straight into the hands of all those snobby bronzeriders who'd doubted his ability to represent the Weyr. But the thought of them watching him and grinding their teeth in fury only roused the roguish spirit in him.

He grinned. "Are you doubting my dancing skills? I've got some great moves. Only trouble is, your bronzeriders might be too shy to follow me."

"Or we'll make them jealous." K'mai wiggled his eyebrows. "I can challenge them to outdo you."

"A bronzerider dance better than me? Impossible." L'keri was dimly aware that his boasting was making it harder to back out, but he simply couldn't help it. "Most of them dance like an old uncle with the joint-ail." He turned up his nose in a mock-lordly expression and mimicked a few stiff, wooden movements.

K'mai laughed. "The point is to get them to _try_." He could tell he was close to convincing L'keri, and his own playful spirit couldn't help pushing. "Like their bronzes tried to catch Galgaith."

"Oh...go on, then. You've twisted my arm." L'keri gave in, not all that reluctantly. "I'll go and talk to the harpers. Any requests?"

The bluerider considered 'Let's Go Slow' but he didn't actually want to steal N'vanik and Z'kim's thunder. "How about something from River Bluff?"

"Good idea. We can relive our randy teenage Turns. Oh - but before we do, you'd better gather our wingmates so we can share out that delectable cake. If we leave it unattended, weyrbrats will scoff the lot." He winked and headed off in the direction of the musicians, weighing up the merits of different ballads...all thoughts of responsible clutch siring forgotten.

Last updated on the November 28th 2025

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A Responsible Clutch Sire