A Ridiculous Performance

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 17th December 2025

Characters: L'keri, K'mai, R'gal, S'vard
Description: Two bronzeriders watch in horror as L'keri and K'mai dance
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'serin, Saibra, L'val, U'kaiah, N'vanik
Follows "A Responsible Clutch Sire"

L'keri

K'mai

"What is he _doing_?" R'gal stared in disbelief at L'keri and K'mai on the dance floor. "I _knew_ he'd shame the Weyr!"

The little group of bronzeriders, and a few hangers-on, watched aghast as the pair vied with each other to pull off the most outrageous dance moves. First one slowly sank to a crouch, knees bent and arms flung wide, with much pouting and eyelash-fluttering as his face passed his partner's groin; the next moment the other spun around and wriggled his backside seductively to the rhythm of the harpers' drum. If there could have been a performance more calculated to tease the stuffiest Hatching guests, it was hard to imagine.

"I might have known." S'vard's lips thinned as he observed the scene. Some of the dancers had even stopped to watch, the weyrfolk laughing and clapping their hands. "L'keri has a weak mind and that bluerider friend of his leads him astray. They've no respect for the dignity of the Weyr. Stop staring, K'til," he snapped, elbowing the younger rider next to him, who blushed and quickly dropped his gaze.

K'mai put his back against L'keri's chest and rolled against him, then turned and spanked the brownrider, his laugh carrying over the music.

"That bluerider is a bad influence on the Weyrleader, too," R'gal said. He'd heard A'len complaining about how much time they were spending together. "A bad influence on everybody. Now we have these two fools embarrassing the Weyr in front of all our guests."

"You'd think I'serin would put a stop to their nonsense, but I suppose he has his favorites." S'vard's lip curled. "River Bluff riders, aren't they?"

"Yes." R'gal took a sip of his wine. "I think the best of them went off to Barrier Lake and we got left with the dregs."

"So it would appear." S'vard watched in disgust as L'keri spun the bluerider around and swung him low, gazing into his eyes with a ridiculously lecherous grin. "Of course, the disaster there and the loss of their queen was a terrible tragedy. Naturally we offered them shelter when they needed it; how could we have done otherwise? But hospitality has its limits. I'd hoped when they opened that new Weyrhold that we might see some positions of responsibility return to Dragonsfall riders, but it hasn't happened, and there we see the result." He gestured towards the dancers.

"Debauchery, disrespect. Holdless overrunning the place," R'gal said. "Not to mention I'serin's stupid mistake costing us Teal Wing. And then he took away our Wing names as if that would make us forget!"

K'mai whispered something in L'keri's ear and then started unbuttoning the brownrider's shirt.

"I'm surprised the Weyrwoman tolerates it. Though she's a transfer herself, you'd think she'd been here long enough to have some pride in..." S'vard's voice trailed off as he watched L'keri raise his arms, swaying from his hips in time to the music as more of his chest was revealed. "_Now_ what are they doing? Surely he's not going to strip off right here in front of the guests? This isn't Dolphin Cove!"

"Apparently they think it is." R'gal pressed his lips together. "We finally have our duty and purpose back, we finally get to be like the heroes of old. We should have dignity. We should be honored all across Pern. Instead we have _this_." He gestured toward the dancers.

K'mai paused halfway down to run his finger along L'keri's exposed skin and fan himself dramatically.

The brownrider posed and flexed his muscles, turning from the waist to make sure everyone around the dance floor, including a few incredulous holders, got a good view. Nearby, a few Alpine wingriders who'd clearly taken advantage of the freely-flowing wine started clapping and chanting "Off! Off!"

S'vard turned away hastily. "That whole Wing is out of control. Nothing but wild parties and juvenile pranks, bringing the whole Weyr into disrepute. If L'val can't keep them in check, then I'serin ought to replace him."

Licking his lips, K'mai continued unbuttoning the brownrider's shirt. He turned a few times to encourage the chanting of his wingmates. Finally, he pulled the shirt off and held it over his head triumphantly, to the cheers and whistles of several people.

"Indeed." R'gal clutched his glass tighter. "I would be happy to whip them into shape, but Dragonsfall bronzes continue to be passed over."

"Well..." S'vard lowered his voice as the music rose to a crescendo and L'keri beckoned to K'mai invitingly with a crooked finger, his other hand sliding down his bare chest to toy with his belt. "It can't be that long until Chioneth rises again. Perhaps this time she'll make a more favorable choice, and then...you might get your chance."

Ambition lit R'gal's eyes before he turned to sneer at the two shameless riders. K'mai covered a laugh as he came closer to L'keri, then he skimmed his fingers along the brownrider's waistband. "Let's hope our next Weyrleader restores some order and dignity to Dragonsfall."

"I'll drink to that." S'vard raised his glass, a smile turning up the corner of his lip. No one knew how the queens made their choices, and yet if feeling was strong in the Weyr, it might make all the difference. He couldn't help imagining how well those knots would look on his shoulder.

Over on the dance floor, drums rolled and the harpers strummed their final chord without L'keri divesting himself of any more of his fine Hatching garments, though there were a few good-natured boos from the audience. The brownrider swept an elaborate bow, wiggled his rear, and then fell into K'mai's arms laughing.

"What a ridiculous performance." S'vard watched them with disdain, and not a little relief that it was over. "You can take a lesson from that, K'til, in how _not_ to behave in respectable company...K'til?" He turned his head and blinked, confused, at the empty chair beside him.

R'gal looked around, too, and frowned as he spotted the younger bronzerider approaching that ridiculous pair. K'mai and L'keri were holding each other up as they laughed.

"What's he doing?" S'vard followed his gaze. "Is he going to reprimand them? It's about time..."

His voice trailed off. As he watched, L'keri retrieved his shirt and stepped away to pull it back on with the enthusiastic help of a greenrider, who seemed keen on smoothing out the creases. As the harpers struck up a slower, more relaxed ballad, K'til passed him and stepped up to the bluerider, his head bowed shyly. Whatever he was asking, it didn't look like a reprimand.

A bright, surprised smile lit K'mai's face and he said something in response. Then he guided K'til's hand to his waist and set his own hand on the bronzerider's shoulder.

"He--they--!" R'gal sputtered. "Now he's corrupting bronzeriders!"

S'vard was speechless, gaping at the pair as they moved through the sedate steps of the dance, K'til halting at first, then growing in confidence. "Of all the... This is unbelievable! After everything I've done for that boy. If it wasn't for me, he'd still be an ignorant cotholder with barely a word to say for himself." He glared at the dance floor. "That bluerider is a menace."

"Cyan was a respectable Wing before he transferred," R'gal said, conveniently forgetting the time U'kaiah and N'vanik got in a fist fight in the dining hall several Turns ago.

"He and his friend. I heard L'keri was transferred here after insulting his Wingleader in the most shocking terms. And they're not the only ones." S'vard drained the rest of his wine and gestured to a drudge for more. "What they need is a taste of proper discipline. No more 'party wing' foolishness."

R'gal glared at the dancers, growing more and more angry as he watched the soft touches, the murmured words, the smiles on K'mai and K'til's faces. K'til, who was supposed to be a promising future leader, acting like he rode green. "They can take that depravity to Dolphin Cove. We're better than that here."

"N'vanik is welcome to them." S'vard's gaze fell on L'keri, now dancing with his eager greenrider. As they passed K'mai, the brownrider gave his friend an exaggerated wink and a thumbs-up, and he shook his head in disgust. "I'm severely disappointed in K'til. I can only hope there'll be a change around here before it's too late for him."

"And before the entire Weyr gets the reputation of sharding Alpine Wing." R'gal drained his glass.

Last updated on the December 20th 2025

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A Ridiculous Performance