Glad I'm Not You
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: Estelle, Steel
Date Posted: 20th August 2026
Characters: A'ten, R'zen
Description: A’ten taunts R’zen about his punishment, with unfortunate consequences.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 16 of Turn 13
A’ten hadn’t witnessed the fight at the weyrlings’ feeding, but he really wished he had been. Someone had punched that insufferable R’zen in the gut and then he’d got yelled at by the Weyrlingmaster? After all he’d had to suffer through as a weyrlingstaff assistant, that actually sounded entertaining. He couldn’t believe he’d missed it.
He definitely wasn’t going to miss the next best part, though: the punishment. As soon as he’d heard the weyrlings had been dismissed to their chores, he left Corvanth to sun himself on the heights and strolled over to the middens where the unlucky pair were hard at work. Even the strong odor didn’t deter him.
“Having fun, weyrling?” he called.
R’zen had found a scarf, or at least a long piece of cloth, and tied it around his face. It helped the smell… sort of. It was still unpleasant work, even if it had to be done.
At the voice, however, he looked up with a scowl. What did this _kid_ want?
"Phew." A'ten waved a hand in front of his face with an exaggerated grimace. "What a stink! Glad I'm not you. I guess you must have done something pretty bad, to get assigned this duty on a sunny day like this."
R’zen’s brows drew together in a scowl, and his shoulders tensed, defensive. Elsewhere, Ibranth snorted, focusing on his rider’s spike of irritation.
**It’s fine, Ibranth.** R’zen soothed. No. He wasn’t going to get in trouble _again_.
His eyes stayed narrowed at A’ten, but he let out a reluctant huff. “It _is_ an important part of looking after a baby dragon.” R’zen countered. “Ibranth can’t fly yet.”
}:I can sneak up on Corvanth’s.:{ Ibranth snorted. R’zen made another face. **No, that’s fine. I can handle him.**
"I know. Still, I bet the others are glad to have you doing this important work for them." A'ten shook his head in mock disappointment. "Fighting with your classmates. Tsk, tsk. Teamwork and trust are such important parts of weyrling training."
}:Stop it.:{ Ibranth told Corvanth, taking fresh notice. }:Tell your rider to go away.:{
R'zen's eyes narrowed further. “Teamwork. Right. So you came over to volunteer to help then?”
"Of course not. The Weyrlingmaster has ordered you to shovel dragon dung to teach you a lesson, and I wouldn't dream of interfering." A'ten shook his head solemnly. "I just thought I'd wander by to remind myself of the consequences of bad decisions."
On the warm cliff heights, Corvanth only roused himself enough for a brief, drowsy response. }:Be quiet, hatchling.:{
R'zen's expression twisted into a scowl, and he bit back the first words he wanted to say. And the second. It hadn’t even been his _fault_, not really, and what did this lazy brownrider even _know_ about him??
His fists clenched around the shovel. “So you're slacking off then.” He bit out, before he could help himself.
"I'm a weyrlingstaff assistant. My job is to supervise wherry-brains like you. And even if I was..." A'ten smirked. "What are you going to do about it?"
Ibranth, lying close by, lifted his head and gave a derisive sort of snort. }:He really thinks we have to mind _him_?:{ the blue wondered to his rider.
What was visible of R’zen’s expression became a smirk of his own. “Not at all, Ibranth.” he told his blue, speaking aloud deliberately. **Come over here and knock that bucket in his direction, if you want**.
Ibranth got up.
A'ten noticed the signs of a rider speaking to his dragon, but supposed R'zen must be reassuring his lifemate. If he felt a moment's guilt at that, it swiftly vanished when he saw the weyrling's expression. "Did you hear me? What have you got to be grinning about, anyway?"
Ibranth approached, though he wrinkled his muzzle at the smell. Lifted one paw. Looked at the bucket. Looked at A’ten. Snorted, pointedly. Last chance.
“Nothing.” R’zen said, all innocence.
"Then why are you..." A'ten's eyes narrowed in suspicion, and - a moment too late - he followed the weyrling's gaze.
Ibranth ‘accidentally’ knocked over the bucket. Right onto A'ten's boots. }:Oops.:{ the blue dragon said blandly.
A'ten yelped in disgust and jumped back, too late to avoid the foul-smelling contents. "Ugh!" His jaw set, he glared at Ibranth, who he was convinced was looking as smug as it was possible for a dragon to be. He was still weyrbred enough not to yell at a dragon, though, so he rounded on R'zen. "You told him to do that!"
“Do what?” R'zen responded, and arched a brow. “I'm just doing my chores. Like I was told.”
He paused, then added, “You might want to clean your boots before that smell seeps into them.”
Ibranth snorted again in agreement, reached out his neck to nudge his rider. }:Hurry up Mine. It smells.:{
"You should be cleaning them!" Enraged, A'ten kicked the now half-empty bucket into the midden pit with a clang. "This is your fault!"
“How?” R'zen retorted. “I'm just doing my chores. Not my job to clean shoes.” He added blandly. “If you don't mind, I want to get this done. You're distracting me and Ibranth wants us to finish up.”
"You told your dragon to..." A'ten glanced sideways at Ibranth and reconsidered. There wasn't much he could do, and he should leave before that overgrown watch-wher got any ideas about pushing _him_ into the pit. True, that would get R'zen in trouble with the Weyrlingmaster, but he'd still be the one covered in foul-smelling waste. He threw up his hands in disgust. "You haven't heard the last of this."
“Bye.” R'zen told him just as blandly, and returned his attention to his chores. **Ibranth?**
The blue snorted again, and turned his gaze away in deliberate disinterest.
Last updated on the October 28th 2026