A Little Dirty Laundry (1/2)
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: Corrin, Shawna
Date Posted: 10th March 2026
Characters: Cirina, M'kadja
Description: Two weyrlings from very different backgrounds have a chat.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 13
Cirina was lost, again. Just when she thought she’d finally figured out Barrier Lake Weyr’s warren of tunnels, some new task sent her to some corner she wasn’t familiar with. This morning it had been picking up her first proper set of riding leathers, but that had involved three different storage rooms, and now she was turned around.
Spotting a familiar back ahead of her, Cirina called out, “Oh hey, M’kadja, do you know which way the laundries are? I thought it was left at the last corner, but--”
“--But it wasn't?” M’kadja turned to see Cirina catching up and he slowed his stride a bit to let her. “Yeah, that got me too the first time. It’s actually down this way. I'll show you.”
He had his own bag of laundry slung over his shoulder and was clearly on the way to a drop off himself. He was also… wearing his new flight jacket. It was a hot summer day at Barrier Lake and they were deep enough in the caverns that the breeze off the water couldn't reach them. M’kadja was starting to sweat in the fur-lined leather, but he grinned as he waved out an arm and modeled it for the redhead. “Whatddya think?”
“I think you’re going to faint from heat stroke, but you’ll look good doing it.”
His grin broadened.
“I think I’m going to change the buttons on mine. Something blue, y’know, like Saejith.” Cirina awkwardly shifted her bundle around to show the very boring wood toggles. “We shouldn't get too attached, though. First jackets probably don't last long. I heard one of the last weyrlings’ dragons lit him on fire learning flaming.”
“Really?” M’kadja let out a low, impressed whistle as he ran a hand over his lapel. “_This_ is what they give dragonriders to burn through? This is the best leather and fur I've ever seen. I figured--” He thought this was it. The Flight Jacket. He had been prepared to take care of it and wear it for Turns. Wear it till it fell apart and then patch it back together again. That seemed ridiculous now. You never saw a rider in patches.
“I mean, we’re barely riders. Once you graduate… well, if your jacket’s toast, you’re lucky if you aren’t.” Her expression sobered for a moment at that morbid thought.
“Maybe I'll swap out my buttons too,” he said, changing topics. “Those should be pretty salvageable between jackets. I don't think I have any bronze ones though…”
Relieved at the change in topic, Cirina said, “If you’re nice to the ladies in the laundry, they might be able to hook you up.” Cirina frowned, “I mean, I assume so. The ones at Dolphin Cove used to let me go through the odds and ends from mending if I helped out.”
“I’m not sure what help I’d be,” M’kadja admitted. “My sewing’s fine enough for my own needs, but it’s not _pretty_. Weyr probably wants _pretty_.” He wasn’t too concerned though. He’d amassed a small collection of buttons over the Turns. It was possible he might find something suitable there.
“You can take the trash out, or run things back to stores. The weyrbrats do it. Pretty soon you’ll be able to fly, too,” Cirina pointed out. “Everyone would love to have a bronzerider owe them a ride.”
Soon enough they were at the main laundry room, as promised. M’kadja gave the ladies his best smile as he handed over his laundry bag and helped Cirina with hers. He might not need their buttons in the end, but it wouldn’t hurt for them to think well of him. Unfortunately, that meant he couldn’t really say no when they asked him to take another weyrling’s clean laundry back with them.
Hefting the laundry bag over his shoulder, M’kadja soon left the steamy workroom with Cirina.
Last updated on the April 1st 2026