All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

24-06-01: Abs of Stone
M'kan is surely the manliest of men-- right?

Lydiere shoves a shirt over her head, her modesty preserved only by the rapid upraising of Llysereth's wings--really, Lydiere, be more modest! The weyrling gives her lifemate a rueful smile, the faintest of sighs escaping through her lips as, shoes swinging over her shoulders, she moves away from their couch and cot, into the barracks main.

Where one has modesty, the other barely shows it, but then M'kan does have a towel wrapped around his tight firm buns. Ahem. Xaeloth regards his rider and then cranes his head about, hiding the rest. "I am not that modest..." is the slightly deep resonating tone of M'kan's mostly settled voice. There is a crack here and there.

"No, you're a manly man, not afraid of showing off his abs of--stone," calls Lydiere; her head turns to catch a glimpse of M'kan and Xaeloth, left eye winking in suitable amusement as she raises her right hand in greeting. "M'kan, Xaeloth."

Abs of /what/?! M'kan nearly splutters at this moment and then looks over his shoulder, "Nah, that's what Xaeloth got, not me.." But then again he does have nicely carved abs.. er.. no, he won't tell that. Can't do that. Nope. Quickly covering up, the lad then tugs his shirt on, concealing a well muscled torso. Very nicely dev.. er.. anyhow. "I am not a manly man.." He coughs and then sighs, "Yeesh, and you're not afraid to spout your mouth of either, Lyd." Turning around, he tugs at the towel around his waist, having been caught off guard. Xaeloth rumbles and then nudges his lifemate, still not fully dressed yet.

Lydiere's mirth is hard to constrain; she simply doesn't avoid glancing at the towel, although she smoothly moves to glance at face instead--possibly a better sight. "Y'think you can hide from it, M'kan?" Once more, she winks, adding, "You are too a manly man. Or is that an insult? Am I embarassing you? And no--why should I be afraid to, as you put it so well, spout my mouth."

Erstwhile, Mik's exasperation is not concealed as he rolls his brilliantly bright blue eyes towards the ceiling. He then grins wryly, "I'm sure you should show off too, considering you keep yourself rather fit with whatever chore you get stuck with..?" Sweetly pointed out, the lad then twists the towel but keeps himself well hidden--ahem. Tilting his head, the half-shown dimple upon his right cheek makes him a touch more cuter. Even if he is annoyed as heck.

Lydiere strikes a pose, although being fully dressed--and no towels in sight--it's perhaps less effective. Winking, the woman responds, "Fit is as fit does. And, quite frankly, all of the chores seem to be aimed for that." She drops the pose, rubbing her hands upon her thighs, as if cleaning them off, as she giggles, "You *are* cute. That darn dimple. A manly, cute man." Oh dear Faranth.

Oh Faranth is /right/. M'kan strives not to roll his eyes again, or blush while he's at it. However, he does blink a few times, rubbing furiously at his cheek. "I am not cute... I mean I..." Wait, he's cute? What cute is cute? Anyhow, he mumbles a few things and then moves so he can get dressed.. fully. "I am not cute.. how can I be cute..? Manly cute?" His muttering follows him even as he finally comes around with his trous on. Xaeloth rumbles something about -- what is wrong with being cute?

Lydiere does manage to control her mirth, although it's a close race between loosing control and maintaining it. Her shoes are lifted, then swung more comfortably over her shoulder, as she adds, "What's wrong with being cute? Most guys would love a girl to call them cute--and that's not me coming on to you, by the way." Faranth, no.

He hopes not anyhow... and then exhales, "Thank Faranth... I think I would have a problem on my hand if it were." M'kan admits but then sticks his tongue out at Lydiere, after a while that is. Shaking his head, he pauses and ers. "What're doing with your .. shoes?" Last minute question.. out of his curiosity.

"Just slightly," agrees Lyddie cheerfully, and without a moment's hesitation. "Luckily, you're too young for me. For your sake, and probably mine, too." His tongue sticking out is mimicked, with cheerful enthusiasm. "My shoes? Oh--I'm carrying them. Hate wearing shoes. But sometimes, you end up needing them." Logical, no?

He then shakes his head before muttering something about, weird females.. but then again, he has himself one for a friend. Oh well. "I dunno... what's age got to do with things?" He wonders outloud. M'kan realized he said that and then shuts up, blushing a bit. Stomping his feet into his shoes, the lad pulls himself up, straightening his shirt and then glances over. He pauses right as Xaeloth nudges up to his rider, gently.

Lydiere pauses, absolutely stares at M'kan for a long moment, and then releases a rather overly loud peal of laughter, unconstrainable for several long, long seconds. "M'kan," the weyrling finally opines, "You crack me up." As if that wasn't obvious.

That laughing has M'kan sighing and shaking his head, "I don't mean to." He drolly remarks, "I can't put you back into one piece after you've cracked into a few million bites." However, he let's out another sigh and looks up to his dragon. "I did something stupid, now didn't I?" The brown doesn't comment too much--and he remarks, <>

Lydiere manages to control herself, and announces. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you, or anything, M'kan. I'm easily amused at the moment." Her expression is -- almost -- contrite for a moment, before she adds, "Although you really should take life less seriously."

How many times has he.. but then M'kan nods a few times before he manages a weak grin, "I try.. but sometimes, it's not really that easy." Admitting this, he murmurs, "I usually need to reminded a lot of that... I tend to be more serious.. but well.. hey, gimme credit, at least I'm no sour uncle that can't tell a good joke?!" he blinks a few times, but makes a face, "Thank Faranth for that, though..."

Lydiere responds to the grin with a brilliant one of her own, stretching her shoulders as she stands, expression still vaguely amused. "I know. And yes--that's true! Thank Faranth for that. I'd hate to have anything to do with someone like that."

He looks ready to throw something at Lydiere, but M'kan chuckles softly, sighing. "I don't want to be the bad end product of your sense of humor?" He winks and then ducks after a while. As of late, the lad's been talking more, now that his voice finally is settling. Deeper and more resonant the before, it borders between a deep tenor and a light bass.

"Sorry!" announces Lyddie, winking in return. "I'll try and avoid using you as such--but, frankly, you're good for it." Again, she winks, evidently meaning no offense to the other weyrling. "Your voice is settling, isn't it?"

"Finally!" M'kan's voice booms but then he lowers it, not realizing how strong it is now. Ahem. "Oops.." He notices one of the other weyrlings having thrown her leathers up into the air. Now that's a strong voice? Maybe. "Uh, sorry.." A glance to Lydiere, and he grins, "You're gonna spoil me, Lyd."

Lydiere giggles, but manages some restraint, smoothing her expression into something more generous; a simple smile. "Oops, yes, I suppose. Not that *I* mind. Llysereth, however..." she trails off. The young gold has raised her head from her couch, and peers towards M'kan with eyes whirling rapidly. "She says you need to restrain your urges to make noise. Whatever that means." A generous shrug is given, as Lyddie adds, "Spoil you? Well...maybe."

"She must mean I need to tone down on the boom..." M'kan murmurs under his breath and then ahems, "Sorry, Llysereth..." At that he is nudged by his dragon. "Xaeloth says the same.. says I might scare the living daylights out of any creature on Pern." A sigh from the young man and then he mutters, "I can't help it if comes on that strong." Ahem.

"She says," Lyddie relates, "That its okay. Well, actually, that she doesn't mind that much, and is glad that you are repentant for your misdemeanor. Excuse her." Wrinkling her nose, the weyrling nonetheless manages to maintain her grin. "I'm sure you can't. And Llysereth knows it, too."

He actually breaths in relief and M'kan nods, "Thanks.." He practically beams, dimple showing again. Argh, that thing won't stop coming into view. As he pauses to mumble something about that, the lad's cheeks flush a touch and then he ers. "But anyhow... how's it going with the drills and such?" Rubbing Xaeloth's muzzle lightly, he peeks over.

Lydiere raises one eyebrow at the 'er', and the flush for that matter, too, but responds without hesitation, as if leaving that particular reaction alone. "Oh, fine, fine. Llysereth loves the air, so flying drills are no problem. We're not so good on the ground, though. You, and Xaeloth?"

"Xaeloth loves to fly too.... but on the ground.. I think.. we're all right." M'kan admits but then pats the brown's side affectionately, smiling a little, "I can't wait until we .. graduate and get to fly on our own... as full riders.. you know?"

"I know," agrees Lyddie, spreading her lips into a slight smile. "Quite frankly, I can't wait to get out of the barracks, and out from under the constant gaze of all the weyrlingmaster types." Llysereth warbles towards her rider, neck snaking out to allow her head to nudge against Lydiere; "Although Llysereth disapproves of us being considered full adults and everything."

"I know you are.. but me.." M'kan thinks, shrugging. "I'm only 14 Turns.. so I am hardly an adult.. but a young one?" Xaeloth cranes his head about, rumbling, "But he thinks otherwise, and is my personal.. guardian.. or something." A sigh, his head shaking, "Sometimes it can be unnerving.. but with my mother not here..I guess.. he's my second... mot.. er.. father or something.."

Lydiere leans up against a wall, nodding, "A young adult, then. But close enough to being a full adult, and without all the pressures, or something." She nods, as if trying to assure herself, "Aw, he's cute like that. Father, uncle, brother, something like that. Nice."

His nose wrinkles a little at the comments, "Father, uncle.. er.. I rather have a dragon, not another parent or relative!" M'kan quirks his brow, shaking his head, "One is enough I think." Striving not to look cute in his consternation, it brings out the youthfulness in the young man.

Lydiere laughs, although not uproariously, head nodding. "This is probably true! Llysereth's all but a modesty-guardian for me; manners, modesty, etiquette. Bah." She watches with some amusement at his attempts not to look cute.

He gives up and let's himself look cute. Bah-humbug. Shaking his head, M'kan then ponders, "Modesty..." He trails off, casting the gold a long look but smiles a little, "Sounds good to me? At least she wouldn't let you expose yourself in the most.. strangest of ways." That an impish glint in his gray-rimmed blue orbs? Nah, can't be. Nudged by his brown, he swats aside the nuzzling muzzle, "I'm behaving, Xaeloth, yeesh!"

Lydiere raises an eyebrow, "And dare I ask what you mean by that?" Again, she's amused, and tilts her head to the side, watching with her face lit by some mirth-related light. Llysereth straightens, and warbles loudly--"Shh, Llysereth. Do relax!"

Xaeloth, for the most, strives to relax and rumbles under his breath. Catching the warble from Llysereth, he croons in reassurance to her before he nuzzles his rider again, "There'll be others that won't hesitate to .. strip bare and let you see them in the full.. bareness.." He sighs, rolling his eyes, "So.. you know.."

Llysereth returns Xaeloth's croon with a light warble of her own, soprano warm and clear. Lydiere laughs, noting, "I see nothing wrong with that, personally. More comfortable to swim, for example, in the nude. Bare, and all that." She adds, however, "But walking around like that might be less than comfortable. That's just common sense."

"Imagine walking around the beach with nothing on... and then... streaking the caverns.." M'kan coughs under his breath, pondering but then mms, "No, Xaeloth, she's not here anymore... he's asking about a particular female that used to do that.."

Lydiere giggles, evidently unable to control herself. At length, as the giggles subside, she notes, "That would be *fun*, though. As a dare. Or when someone was proddy." Her eyebrows raise, "Who?"

"Oh.. you don't want to know.." M'kan hastily admits, shaking his head and then quietly moves over to his couch and then moves to the side as Xaeloth rumbles only a warning before thumping into the spot he has smoothed out over the months. "Trust me.."

Lydiere lowers her eyebrows, but notes, "I trust you. Still. I'm interested." Amused grin follows, as she rests her head against the wall.