Lonely Together

Writers: Aaron, Steel
Date Posted: 28th August 2026

Characters: I'zari, Vianne
Description: Vianne helps I'zari with Miokuth
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: E’tariax, I’thralos

Miokuth rumbled, a little bit uncertainly, crouched at the Lakeside and eying their surroundings warily. }:It is shallow here, Mine.:{ he told his rider. }:And the Candidate assigned today to help wash me should be here soon.:{

I'zari nodded slowly, and kept one hand on Miokuth for reference. “I'm all right, Miokuth.” He assured. “We landed near the big flat rock, yes?” Even after time passing, the ever-present darkness was still… disconcerting.

}:Of course!:{ The blue said promptly.

Vianne rushed toward the blue and his rider, worried she was late. She had meant to be early…

“Hello, sir! I’m here!” She had, of course, been warned that this man was blind. “To help you wash your lovely boy. My name is Vianne.”

“Hello.” I'zari greeted, readily, turned his face in the direction of her voice. “I'zari, please-- I'm not one to stand on rank. And the blue looking at you is Miokuth.”

Miokuth snorted, and tucked his wings in tightly. }:I want _you_ to wash me.:{ the blue said. **I know, Miokuth. But… I need help. She's here to help us.** I'zari thought back.

“It's lovely to meet you, Miokuth,” said Vianne. “How can I help?” she asked I’zari. She did not want to presume anything. She knew how proud men could be and did not want to offend his sensibilities.

“I asked for two pails of soapsand.” I'zari told her. “If you could start on his right, that would be an immense help. And, if you would, let me know if you see any dry or itchy looking spots.” He added, and moved carefully toward the blue himself.

}:Mine.:{ Miokuth said, softly, and lowered his head to nudge I'zari with his muzzle. Keeping one hand on the blue, his rider was able to navigate more confidently.

“Of course!” Vianne got to work. Scrubbing dragons was not quite the same as scrubbing laundry over a washboard or scrubbing dinner out of a cookpot, but it was close enough. She kept her eyes peeled for dry, itchy patches, as that was probably the most important part.

I’zari set to work on Miokuth’s other side. His dragon’s hide was, at least, familiar under his hands, and he’d deliberately told the blue to go to the shallows rather than wade deeper. So long as there were no unexpected rocks, he’d be all right. Hopefully.

“... So. You’re a Candidate?” he said, after a long moment.

“Oh. Yes, sir.” Vianne was not sure how much longer that would last. She was running out of chances. “Are you from here?”

“I've been here since Dolphin Cove was founded, yes.” I'zari responded readily. “And you? Were you Searched? I apologize if we’ve met before.” He added.

“I don’t _think_ we have…” Vianne did not want to admit there were times when she did not remember what she had done the night before. “I was Searched, yes,” she added quickly. Not that it mattered. I’thralos had been the one the dragon felt, not her.

“In any case, well met, Vianne.” I'zari told her warmly. “I know you were probably _told_ to come help. But… still. My thanks.”

Miokuth turned his head to regard the Candidate with one gleaming, faceted eye.

“The honor is all mine.” Vianne looked with some degree of nervousness into Miokuth’s great eye and awkwardly curtsied for him. “I'm glad to help you.”

I'zari stroked Miokuth's shoulder, trying to settle the blue. “He says thank you, too.” He relayed.

Vianne rushed through a repeat of her curtsy for the blue, too. Then she tried to keep the conversation rolling.

“Did you learn a craft?”

“I was a Healer apprentice, for a little bit.” I'zari admitted, almost wryly. “But then I Impressed my lovely boy, here.”

Miokuth crooned softly, before I'zari continued. “I'm still Miokuth's rider, and I've still a Wing.” He added. “... What about you? Any Craft?”

“Me? Oh. No. My… my… my daughter's father was a Printer, though. When we came here.” Vianne twisted her wedding band around on her hand. She refused to take it off, but she was not sure at all what I’thralos had done with his.

I'zari wasn't sure how to respond to that, and so worked in silence for a long few moments, carefully feeling his way along Miokuth's side.

“... The Weyr is happy to have you.” He offered finally. “And your family. May I ask what your daughter's name is?”

“It’s Ithianne.” Vianne wished she could have said her daughter’s name brought a warm tone to her voice. But it did not. The little girl was a darling, and she loved her, but… Well, she did not want to let her mind go down that particular path. “Do you have little ones of your own? So many riders do…”

“Not that I know of.” I'zari said, mildly. “But then, I've no weyrmate or partner. Just my Miokuth.”

“Just Miokuth?” What a sad thought to have only a dragon for company. Oh, Vianne was sure all riders would say that was all they needed, but… it had to be so lonely.

She had almost thought she had finally found a place where she would not be lonely anymore. But somehow, things might have been worse than they had ever been before.

“I have friends in my Wing.” I'zari offered up. “And Miokuth has a few greens he likes to chase. We're all right.” He added, catching her tone of voice. “If you're worried, don't be.”

“Oh, I am glad to hear that,” said Vianne. Once upon a time, she had given a moment’s thought to her green flying to mate. Back when she still thought she would find a dragon on the Sands. Now it hardly mattered. All because of that accursed bronze.

“... Miokuth said you scrub well.” I'zari offered after a beat. “If you move your hand just a little bit to the right and up, there's an itchy spot he says you can scratch.”

“Oh! Of course. My pleasure.” Vianne obligingly moved her hand to her best guess of where the itch must be and gave it a good scratching. “Is that it?”

Miokuth crooned, a low rumbling sound, and turned his head to regard her with one faceted eye.

“... He says that was perfect.” I'zari relayed.

Vianne smiled, gratified at having been able to help. That was a good sound.

“Well, if there are any more, I’ll be happy to take care of them!”

Miokuth gave an approving sort of croon.

“He says thank you.” I'zari passed on. “And that you're excellent at scratching.” He added with just a ghost of humour.

He paused, and then continued. “You know, the Weyr doesn't mind women taking up a Craft. If they wanted. I hear the Candidates are sort of encouraged to pick something.”

“Yeah…” Vianne lowered her eyes, even though no one would notice. “It just feels like starting over. Again. I’m not sure I’m cut out for it.” Ancient as she was at the ripe old age of twenty-one.

“Well, what do you _like_ doing?” I'zari asked reasonably.

“Like doing?” What an unusual question. “I… have no idea.”

“Well there you go.” I'zari hummed, ventured further down Miokuth as he kept scrubbing. “I'd suggest starting there. Even if your hobby is washing dragons.” He tried a joke.

Vianne offered a half-hearted chuckle. She had offered to be the one to wash that horrible Injustith while I’thralos convalesced from being squashed by the brute. And she clearly would have been good at it, too.

“It’s a start.” Though not one that led her anywhere other than what she already did. Wash dragons. Wash dishes. Wash laundry. At least the dragons thanked you after you were finished. Sort of.

“Try something new.” was all I'zari could recommend.

The Weyr was supposed to be something new. But it had certainly not been new in any way Vianne had hoped. Maybe E’tariax could train her in how to be as useless as he was.

“I’ll keep an open mind.”

Last updated on the September 12th 2026

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Lonely Together