I'm Not Living Next to You!

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 27th April 2026

Characters: D'miran, M'sar
Description: The weyrlings move into their own weyrs, but not everyone is happy with their new neighbors.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 26 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: A'ten, Hesbia

D'miran stood in the arch of the entrance to his new weyr and surveyed his new quarters with the purest sense of relief he'd felt since he'd come to Dragonsfall. His own space! No more weyrling barracks. No more sharing with those noisy, rude, uncivilized holdless people. No longer would he have to fear being robbed in his sleep, or worse. The weyr was small, dusty and spartan, furnished only with a bed, a desk and chair and some shelves and cupboards for storage, and it was high up on the cliffs, far from the lower caverns and the bathing pools - but it was _his_.

Behind him, he heard the rustle of wings and felt Elamith's contented sigh as he settled down in his new couch. It was hard to believe how much his dragon had grown this last month. He was taller than his rider at the shoulder now, bigger and sturdier than a runnerbeast. Only a few sevendays ago he'd taken his first clumsy wingbeats into the air, and now D'miran never felt closer to his lifemate than when they were flying together. They couldn't go far yet, but when they did, the whole of Pern would be open to them...

He dropped his bag and walked back out to the ledge, one hand brushing against his dragon's sky-blue hide as he passed. Below him the cliffs dropped away from the narrow ledge down to the Weyrbowl, the light glittering on the waterfall from the summer lake. Beyond he saw the wide expanse of the practice field where he'd spent so many weary hours marching and tossing firestone sacks, and further still, the distant forest-covered hills. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the breeze in his hair, and the deep sense of peace.

A dragon thumped onto the ledge next door. Nazoth inspected it and snorted. }:It should be bigger.:{

**Yeah, but it's all _yours_.** M'sar patted his dragon's neck. **'Sides, we'll get a bigger one later. This is just temporary.** He grinned as he slid down, looking toward the weyr entrance. Finally, a place that was his. _All_ his, and he didn't even have to fight for it.

D'miran felt the shadow of the other dragon pass over him and heard claws on stone, and opened his eyes, curious as to who his new neighbor would be. These weyrs were smaller and not that desirable, so it'd have to be a junior pair - shells, it was a brown. Not that annoying kid A'ten? No, this dragon was large but not yet full grown. As he folded his wings, a familiar rider came into view, and D'miran's mouth fell open in horror.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, before he could think. "That can't be your weyr!"

M'sar turned at the indignant squawking. Oh great, D'miran. "Well, this is the one they gave me, holder boy. What's all the fuss for?"

"This is _my_ weyr." D'miran pointed to the opening behind him. "Mine and Elamith's. I'm not living next to you!"

"We got a whole wall between us." M'sar gestured at the rock separating the two weyrs, although he wasn't too happy about living next to the stuck up holder either.

"That's not much of an improvement. What if I want to sit out here on this ledge in the evenings?" D'miran had imagined himself leaning against Elamith's sun-warmed hide, idly watching the weyrfolk below while he studied his notes or worked on an assignment. "I thought I'd be living next to a wingrider. Someone I could look up to, go to for advice, not...you!"

"Well I was hoping for a hot guy, so looks like we're both outta luck." M'sar crossed his arms.

Nazoth stuck his head into the entrance, looking over the couch. }:This is too small.:{

}:Hello Nazoth!:{ Elamith popped his head out to see what was going on. }:We're going to be neighbors! What fun! Why don't you try it out? It's probably bigger than you think.:{

D'miran gritted his teeth. **Don't encourage him.** He turned a disapproving stare at M'sar, though in truth it wasn't much different to his ordinary expression. "After everything that happened, you should know better than to even _think_ about that for another few sevendays."

M'sar rolled his eyes. "I can think about whatever I want." Though he felt a stab of guilt for how he'd made Nazoth panic.

}:Is your couch bigger?:{ Nazoth leapt over, squeezing onto the ledge next to Elamith. }:I want to see!:{

"Careful!" D'miran had been about to launch into a lecture about why they had to keep their minds off hot individuals of either sex, but had to hastily back up against the cliff face while the two young dragons shuffled around each other, to avoid being knocked flying by wings or tails.

}:You can try it if you like,:{ Elamith offered. }:Can I try yours?:{

Nazoth tilted his head, considering. }:Yes, you can.:{ He shuffled past the blue and entered the weyr. Moving in a slow circle, he looked over the couch before finally laying down. He filled more than half the space meant for an adult dragon. }:Hmm, this one is small, too. You can keep it.:{

M'sar laughed as he listened in. "Might not have to live next to me for long. I'm gonna have to get us a bronze-sized weyr."

}:Yes. I am bigger than Malzyveth.:{

Elamith spread his wings and bounded over to Nazoth's weyr with a single downbeat, eager to poke around inside. }:Oh, this is nice!:{ He climbed into the brown's couch and rolled over on his back, legs in the air and neck and tail stretched out blissfully. }:There is plenty of room for me.:{

**Elamith! Come back. That's not our weyr.** D'miran watched his dragon disappear into the opening helplessly, then turned and scowled at M'sar. "It's vulgar to boast about your dragon's size."

"Hm, that's not the only thing I can brag about." M'sar smirked. Then for a brief second, his gaze flicked nervously toward where Nazoth had disappeared into the weyr. But the brown was still focused on the couch, sprawling to take up as much of it as he could.

D'miran made an exasperated sound. "You're unbelievable. Haven't you learned anything?" He grimaced. "Oh, shells, maybe that's why they put us as neighbors. Because there's no chance of _me_ breaking the rules with you."

"Yeah, you're way too fussy. Got a huge stick up your ass. But in a few sevendays, maybe I can stick something else up there." The brownrider snickered. It was just too fun to get that hidebound holder boy all riled up.

Bright spots of color appeared on the holdbred weyrling's cheeks, all fury and embarrassment and - a small, traitorous part of him that wondered what it would be like if he...

}:Rider?:{ Elamith raised his head from Nazoth's couch, sensing the strength and confusion of his feelings through their bond. His eyes whirled red with alarm.

**I'm all right.** D'miran's nails dug into his palm as he struggled for calm, and he spoke aloud. "Come on, Elamith. I'm going to see the Headwoman - or the Weyrlingmaster - or the Weyrleaders themselves if I have to, and - " He pointed at M'sar. "I'm getting _you_ moved out of that weyr!"

"Yeah, go get me a bigger one." M'sar laughed.

D'miran wondered uncharitably if he could convince Hesbia to swap with him instead, but it wasn't worth the risk. "I'll be back soon," he promised as his dragon emerged reluctantly from the weyr. "Don't bother unpacking."

Last updated on the May 1st 2026

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I'm Not Living Next to You!