Happy Thoughts

Writers: Francesca
Date Posted: 20th August 2008

Characters: Kamalia, Arrilon
Description: Kamalia and Arrilon talk and joke on the way to the bathing caverns.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 7 of Turn 4

"Thirty eggs!" Kamalia gushed as she and her brother walked to the bathing caverns. There was no gold, but plenty of greens would hatch in sevendays, and just maybe… "Last time there were about that amount, and we still didn't Impress,"
Arrilon replied pessimistically.

His younger sister quickly hit him lightly in the stomach. "Happy thoughts. That's what they say. Just think happy thoughts."

Arrilon just grunted.

"I know, deep down, you want a bronze. All the boys do… well, most of them."

He shrugged. "Yeah, and you want a gold. So, why bother standing at this hatching?"

Kamalia giggled. "I don't want a gold. Gold dragons don't flame at all.
It's the greens who are up in the Fighting Wings with all the other dragons. And, they can turn quickly and do tricks the other dragons can't.
Although, I wouldn't mind all the bronzeriders looking at me." Secretly, she dreamed of Impressing gold, just like all the girls did. Because, even though she wasn't sure she was goldrider material, if she Impressed a queen, that would mean that she was.

"That's disgusting. The way the bronzeriders, and especially the male greenriders act is unnatural. Just because they're dragonriders doesn't mean they need to forget their morals. Of course, weyrbred riders wouldn't understand, but holdbred ones…" Arrilon shuddered.

"If you're so disgusted by weyrlife, why don't you just go home to mother and father and find a nice, simple wife for yourself? Then you can have children until she dies and you have to find a new women," Kamalia replied heatedly. After almost a Turn of living at the Weyr, her brother still had not adapted to the lifestyle, and it was driving her crazy.

Of course, she had been overwhelmed by the size of the Weyr. Then, during the first goldflight, she had gone running to her cot to escape the strange emotions coursing through her. It scared her- the open sexuality of many riders. However, just days after the goldflight she had ventured to the Feeding Grounds to witness a green blooding her kill and then taking to the air, bugling a challenge to the males giving chase. The rider, a woman, had been surrounded by men who struggled to touch and caress whatever part of her body they could reach. They all swayed as if in a trance, minds completely focused on their dragons. And then, the green was caught, and she and the winner locked themselves in a passionate kiss.
Several of the remaining riders had quickly found partners to lessen their frustration at having lost. Two of the men had even paired off with each other- something which, even now, was fascinating to Kamalia.

Weyrlife was incredibly different from the life she was used to. But, it was also irresistible. Women could apprentice to any craft. Not only that, but women had real power. She had seen female greenriders who were Wingthirds and could even order bronzeriders around. Even greenriders without rank held equal status with the riders of non-metallic dragons.
And then there were goldriders. Beautiful, powerful goldriders. How could she not fall in love with a place where she had the chance to be one of them?

However, Arrilon was of a different opinion. While he did not agree with those who thought women were inferior to men, he had still been accustomed to women doing all the housework and cooking. Every time he was assigned to kitchen duty, he felt ashamed at doing women's work.

Above all, he was disgusted by the homosexuality. He stereotyped male green and blueriders, thinking they were all sexually active with different men every night. And, goldriders made him a bit uncomfortable. It was the Weyrwoman and not the Weyrleader who held a secure position of power in the Weyr. A Weyrleader was powerful, but risked losing his authority every time the senior queen rose.

"I don't want to marry a simple woman," Arrilon grumbled. "Besides, if I went home, you know our parents would force you to come back too. I'm here-"

"to take care of you" Kamalia cut in, mimicking him. "I can take care of myself. There are riders in the Wings that are my age."

"Yes, and there are riders who die at your age too," Arrilon retorted.

Kamalia gave a dramatic sigh. "You're so depressing, you know that?"
And, when he looked like he was going to reply, she hit his stomach again.
"Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Maybe if you repeat it to yourself a couple thousand times it will start to sink in."

"Happy thoughts," Arrilon squeaked a high voice, moving his hips exaggeratedly, like a woman.

Kamalia burst into a fit of giggles, leaning against him for a moment for support. When her laughter began to die down Arrilon, straight-faced again, whispered, "Happy thoughts," and fluttered his eyelashes, setting her off again.

When she could finally stand straight, she smiled up at her older brother.
"You belong here. You'll see." And, before he could respond, she skipped ahead to the bathing chamber.

Rather than shouting or running after her, Arrilon just shook his head.

Last updated on the August 20th 2008

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