Third Time's the Charm?
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, Steel
Date Posted: 16th March 2026
Characters: T'thalin, M'kadja
Description: T’thalin asks M'kadja something; it doesn’t go well.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 13
To say that T'thalin hadn’t ever quite gotten along with the other bronzerider in their class was only honest. But they both had dragons now, and bronzes at that.
}:Go on. Ask him.:{ Roxarith declared, and nudged his rider once more. T'thalin huffed, and stroked the bronze’s head before he faced M'kadja. “They're getting bigger every day, it feels like.” He offered. “I, um… I saw the work you did on Melciroth's harness, during harness drills. It looked really good.” He added.
“Damn right it did,” M’kadja drawled, lounging against Melciroth with a feline grace. It was a temperate day at the weyr. He was taking advantage of some rare free time to relax by the lakeside, soaking up the late summer sun as they watched the dragons and boats go by. Dealing with T’thalin wasn’t on his agenda. “What do you want?”
T’thalin hesitated, but only for a moment, before he rallied. “I was, um. I was wondering if you would be willing to show me the stitch pattern you were using? I'm not going to copy it.” He added hastily. “But I want to, um. Do something similar for Roxarith's harness.”
}:We are bronzes.:{ Roxarith asserted, stretched his wings out for a moment and arched his neck proudly. }:As we represent our class, we should look our best.:{ He added to Melciroth.
“It’s not a ‘stitch pattern,’ numb-nuts. It’s _tooling_. You do it with knives. Well, not you. You’d cut off your thumb,” said M’kadja. He somehow managed to look down at T’thalin, despite their respective positions. Yawning, he folded his arms behind his head. “And ‘similar’ sounds a heck’ve a lot like copying to me. Figure out something else to do. I don’t want to look matchy-matchy with you.”
Half dozing in the sun, Melciroth cracked an eye open to peer at his brother. }:Then look your best.:{ he said with blazing simplicity, tail lashing along the grass. }:I am not stopping you, but why should I help you? Then _your_ best will merely reflect _my_ best.:{
Roxarith snorted. }:Help?:{ he echoed. }:No. I offered a chance to perhaps be glorious both. But I suppose I must inspire our clutchmates on my own.:{ he added, and yawned, losing most of his interest. The sun felt nice.
T’thalin reddened slightly. “Tooling and stitching are, um, similar enough. It's both leatherwork.” he responded defensively as M’kadja raised an incredulous brow. “And we’re all practicing making our own straps. But… fine. I never wanted to match you either, and I'd have, um, made a different pattern anyway. I was just looking for, um. Ideas.” He regarded M'kadja a moment longer, then sighed. “If I--”
}:Do _NOT_.:{ Roxarith asserted, with such a rare sudden intensity that T'thalin stopped midspeech. The bronze eyed Melciroth's rider balefully. }:_You_ have done nothing wrong, Mine.:{
M’kadja watched with dry amusement as T’thalin broke off, expression shifting. “If you what? Is he telling you what to do? What to say? Guess that explains something…” He made a show of looking over the other weyrling, sweeping him from head to toe with a piercing gaze. “I was wondering why a bronze would bother with you.”
}:I _am_ glorious,:{ said Melciroth, idly fanning his gleaming wings. }:I do not need a chance, or an offer, or you.:{
“I was lucky. Just like _you_ were.” T’thalin said, after a moment, and his face stayed a little red, but he lifted his chin-- unconsciously mirrored Roxarith’s steady, planted stance. “I, um. I took a chance. I know that.” he said, and hesitated again before he continued. “We both came here for our dragons.” He swallowed, and then added, “There's nothing wrong with listening to Roxarith. Why would anyone want to ignore their dragon?”
Roxarith eyed Melciroth, but did not deign to respond, merely turned his head away and arched his neck once more.
That suited Melciroth just fine. He closed his one eye again and went back to dozing-- though the slow lashing of his tail hinted at some lingering alertness.
“Yeah, yeah…” M’kadja huffed disdainfully. “There’s a difference between listening and obeying, and sure looks like you do the latter, the way you jumped and changed your tune. Not the first time I’ve seen you do it either. But fine, tell yourself what you want, that he chose you ‘cause luck or some shit. I don’t care. I know what I’m seeing.”
“He startled me. That's all.” T'thalin responded, stiffly. Roxarith didn't _often_ use that volume. He took a slow breath, squared his shoulders. “You… I don't care anymore if you're rude to me. I… know I tried. But leave Roxarith out of it.”
Roxarith's tail lashed once, and he snorted. }:You have done nothing wrong, Mine.:{ he said simply. }:Melciroth's rider is not worth any further effort. Come away. I am itchy.:{
“Oh, go _away_, Tathalin,” said M’kadja, unconsciously echoing Roxarith’s request. “You’re blocking my sun.”
T’thalin swallowed. “It’s _T’thalin_.” he said, but took a step back when Roxarith lowered his head and nudged at him.
}:Enough.:{ the bronze snorted. T’thalin stroked the insistent muzzle, then finally turned and headed away with Roxarith in step.
Last updated on the April 1st 2026