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.
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02-08-01: Some things you just can't win
When Lydiere goes to visit W'yn at his weyr, she doesn't expect to be forced to flee in haste from a proddy Ly'ette and Ayath.
[DTU/Project] Zymanth senses that Llysereth casts silvered presence towards yours--lavender sweeping with open-hearted consideration, sweetness tickling at senses. << We should like to visit. Is yours about? Are you free? >>
[DTU/Project] Llysereth senses that Zymanth slids back into your mind, his iced touch somehow warm as they melt into thoughts. >>You are always welcome, both myself and mine are free..<< His thoughts trickle away as he sweeps the bowl to seek your arrival.
[DTU/Project] Zymanth senses that Llysereth finds pleasure in this, bursting succulant sweetness about thoughts and expression. << We come, then. >>
Away from Llysereth, Llysereth backswings to a landing, warbling with dainty poise towards Zymanth, as Lyddie unstraps, unbuckles, and makes for the ledge beneath her. "I guess I just walk in," she decides, audibly, tilting her head in greeting towards the bronze as she dismounts.
Llysereth's lowered forelimb proves a perfect perch, allowing you an easy advent to the ground below--where Llysereth's loving gaze captures yours for a brief moment of solitary adoration.
Llysereth> Zymanth bulges a light greeting, wings extended before he moves to one side, allowing room for Llysereth to land. His eyes whirling slowly with the contented blues as he trills to his rider that Lydiere is on her way in.
W'yn looks up from his place under a table, sanding tools in his hand. As his Bronzes voice rings in his mind so he looks up. "Good day Lydiere!" he calls waving, standing and streching lightly. "please please come in.."
Lydiere digs her hands into her pockets, stepping through from the ledge to glance about the weyr with a moue of impressedness upon her face. "I like what you've done to it, W'yn," states she, stepping around the rug upon the floor, a rueful glance made towards her mud-covered boots. "Good day to you, too, of course. I thought I'd drop in--say hi."
W'yn suddenly looks about and indicates for his friend to perch whereever she would like. Looking about it he flushes slightly before smiling. "Thanks..still the last few things thought..but, i kinda like it.." he offers grinning. Indicating the tools in his hand he adds. "Didnt think I would be using these again.."
Lydiere leans herself against the table, raising an eyebrow at her friend's tools with a wry smile; "You'd be amazed, I suppose. What exactly are you doing with 'em?" She takes another glance around, adding, "You been shopping, or just requesting things from stores?"
Llysereth> Llysereth attempts to hold position with as little space taken up as possible; her size, although still small for a gold, evidently is of some embarrassment, as she attempts to squish, nonetheless warbling sweetly towards Zymanth.
W'yn points down to the table at first and chuckles. "Im sanding off all my chizzled marks on the leg." Looking about then he cant help the broad smile. "Well. Ly'ette had some material left over which she made the cussions for me, nice of her." he looks about then and adds. "The brown blanket was from the cots and well, the woodstuffs ive made.." smiling broadly then he adds. "And I must thankyou for recomending your sister, she did a good deal with this rug.."
Llysereth> Zymanth pushes about the bush, which he had brought to the ledge, his bulk being kept out of the way so Llysereth can take as much room as she needs, He is proud of her size and happily croons back, his tone almost a purr.
"Ah!" Understanding at once, Lydiere gives a rapid nodding of her dark-haired head, noting, "Very nice of Ly'ette. I'd be jealous--except that I was horribly spoilt as it was, and I'm not really all that into the whole decorative thing." She winks, adding, "Oh, Aily was happy to do it. The more commissions she gets, the sooner she'll reach Journeywoman rank."
Llysereth> Llysereth is honoured--of course. The bush is given a nudge with her nose, as she attempts to inspect it, offering a further trill as she settles out into more comfort; squishing isn't all that fun, after all. << What is this? >> she asks, still attempting to nudge at the bush. << I've never seen one on a ledge like this before! >>
W'yn chuckles and ohs himself now. "is that why she shooed everyone else away?" he chuckles though as he looks down to the rug. "Goes well I think.." Cocking his head lightly to one side he wonders. "manage to de-dust yours?" looking around then he chuckles. "Ive only got Klah to offer if youd like some..kinda cool though too.."
Lydiere laughs, wiggling back onto the edge of the table with a rapid shift of her hindquarters. "May well be!" She nods ruefully, adding, "At length, yes. I hate dust. There's simply too much space--I tried to look at some of the empty weyrs down there, to see if there was a smaller one, but there just wasn't." Her head shakes, as she admits, "I'm fine, really."
Llysereth> Zymanth cocks his head lightly to one side, a mimicry of his riders actions as he looks down to the bush. >>It has grown well here, will bloom well<< he hopes. He settles himself then, in a stance that is almost guarding, looking over Llysereth as she makes herself comfortable.
Llysereth> Zymanth cocks his head lightly to one side, a mimicry of his riders actions as he looks down to the bush. >>It has grown well here, will bloom well<< he hopes. He settles himself then, in a stance that is almost guarding, looking over Llysereth as she makes herself comfortable.
Llysereth> Llysereth's eyes whirl thoughtfully, as she pulls back from the bush, as if concerned at the possibility of damaging it. << That will be very pretty! >> she decides, crooning with some delight. << We shall have to come back up, and look. When it blooms. >>
Llysereth>
Llysereth>
W'yn chuckles then and agrees about the dust. Some words that you had spoken and finally worked their way into his mind as he chuckles. "You would be jealous??" he teases lightly before looking at his own cold drink and chuckling. "That was the correct asnwer.." frowning for a moment he wonders. "Do you have to take one of the land accessable weyrs?" he knows of a few still empty above that look smaller.
"Oh. Yes. Very." Lyddie winks as she says this, obviously joking. "Oh, good. I like to get things right. One never knows--and I'm not the most intelligent of people." Again, she winks, wiggling her toes, and sending some dried mud from her boot. "Whoops. I'm making a mess. So sorry!" She pauses, then shrugs, "I think I'm supposed to remain on the ground, yes. Tradition." Bah.
W'yn looks down at the mud and chuckles. "I think it needs some of that.." he cant help feeling it looks alot like a bachelors patch this weyr. "At least it might make it looked lived in..just watch the rug.." he adds in a voice which is stern but rippling with humor. "Esh..you know why dont you? so you have access when your gold is eggheavy..and so anyone can come in and complain!" hehe cant imaging Lydi liking the last bit..
Llysereth> Zymanth croons lightly looking about before nudging lightly. "It is stong, I dont always get my landing aim right" he admits in a quiet voice, indicating it is often squashed.
Lydiere chuckles, shifting herself once more, her arms crossed about her middle. "Oh, good. A weyr-warming gift it is, then." She does, however, attempt to keep her boots upon the floor, meaning less droppage. "I'll keep away from the rug, I promise." She pauses, head tilting to the side, "Mayhaps you're right. That'd make *some* sense." She laughs, adding, "Although I'll leave the complaining alone, thank you very much!"
Llysereth> Llysereth warbles brightly -- << I'm sure you'll get better at that, >> she assures, consolingly, although she feels very much for her sibling. << I don't always land right, either, >> she adds, quietly. << Sometimes, I make a mess of it. >>
W'yn laughs openly and nods. "Just dont send them to this AWLM! Ill just have to push them over to someone else.." thats not strictly true, he would try and help if he could. "Hmm, if thats the case, youknow im going to have to think of a warming pressant for yourself! Smiling broadly he wonders. "Now what would a seamistress come goldrider want??"
Llysereth> Zymanth croons lightly and lowes his muzzle down to your own, wuffling lightly before he looks back and about, hes just too nosy to stop looking at the Bowl.
"Oh!" She straightens, flushing slightly, "I forgot to congratulate you on that--you'll do a great job, I'm sure. You and Ly'ette both." Lyddie offers a wink, then noting, "No need for weyr-warming gifts for me; as long as you visit, that's quite enough. So there."
Llysereth> Llysereth returns the whuffle, engaging the bowl in her own watching. << It is much higher here, >> she notes, eyelids flickering, << Than from my ledge, I mean. A different view. Pretty. >>
W'yn can always visit, he enjoys visits. Shaking his head he chuckles. "Dont get ideas you!" indicating him and Ly'ette, but then who says he has not had ideas.. Chuckling at this thought he turns back to Lydiere. "You enticing any other gentlemen to visit you?" he is bold today right, but also in a friendly way that he hopes she knows means nothing but curiosity.
Lydiere raises a dark eyebrow, then the other, in a mock innocent gesture. "Me? Get ideas? Surely not. There's no such thing as an idea, not in my head." She hesitates, smile half caught upon her face, although she admits, "Only in the same way I invite you--friendship. Llysereth's not exactly being obliging in regards to any other kind of visitation." She grimaces, although she adds, "I'm resigned to it, by now."
W'yn chuckles as he slips himself into one of the chairs about the table. "Llysereth still not changed her idea on such things?" He asks lighly, remembering how upset Lydiere had been about this. chuckling then he looks all innocent and winks. "I meant nothing more that friendship visits.." leaning on the table then he adds. "And I agree..no such thing as an idea in your head.."
Lydiere nods sullenly, admitting, "That's about the gist of it. Mum thinks that maybe she'll get used to it after she rises, but that's not likely to be for a long while, yet." The young rider shrugs, "It's all part and parcel of it, I guess." A wink follows--"Of course you did. Anything else would be..." her eyebrows wiggle, "immoral, or something. No ideas, no nothing! I'm idealess. Brainless!"
W'yn nods and is in total and utter innocent agreement. "Totally, imoral, wrong.." He chuckles then and nods. "you know, it might not be that long..I mean..their what two turns something now?" this fact always makes him surprised as he can still remembering the first day of impression.
"Exactly." Giving a rapid nod of her head, Lydiere then pauses, hesitating. "I guess not. I mean, some of the greens have already risen, and Llysereth's not likely to for another--well, few months, I expect. Golds rise later. I expect within the turn."
W'yn winces and nods. "yeah.." well a few at Xanadu have risen anyhow. "You know, they really should go into more detail in those matingflight lessonss.." He giggles and as his ears go slighlty red adds. "More for the people who dont win the flight!"
Lydiere raises one hand, pointing towards you, "You lost, and didn't know what to do!" Her mirth shows a moment, then she silences. "Sorry. Didn't mean to do that. Guess it's not something I have to worry about. But...ouch. Well, as a weyrlingmaster type yourself, you can make sure our next class knows more details."
W'yn laughs as his whole face flushes. "I knew the other times but not the first.." he chuckles as he remembers. "i feel sorry for Magicara, /nothing/ happened but well, i was in rather an odd mood!!!" He giggles then and nods. "Thats true..Maybe ill bring that up before we have any more weyrlings wandering around.."
Lydiere grimaces, noting, "I'm sorry. That can't have been fun--for either of you." She follows this with a grin, nodding her head. "You should. Definitely."
W'yn chuckles and smiles. "I was like dazed under a tree or something, it was Zymanth who did all the purring and such at her green.." He shakes his head and laughs. "Im glad nobody else saw..Magicara understood, shed heard the flight happening.." He sticks his tongue out then and laughs. "Ill remember this you know!"
Lydiere nods, listening with some interest. "Sounds delightful. But it's been easier, since? I can't say I *really* understand, since I've never experienced it, but the family have always made comments regarding it. Can you believe I'm the only one who rides a female?" She sticks her tongue out in response, snorting, "I'll bet you will. Hmph."
W'yn looks surprised. "You are?" he had not realised she had other dragonriders in her family. He nods then with her previous question. "Straight back to the Weyr!" he blushes then adding. "If you dont mind some unsuspecting person first.." He is sure she udnerstands.
Lydiere nods; "Mum, Dad, my psuedo-father, plus two of my siblings. Blue, brown, bronze, but not a green or gold amoung 'em." She laughs, nodding her head rapidly. "Oh, quite."
W'yn smiles as he listens and nods. "Ive a sister on green..but thats it.." he adds smiling broadly. "She was the only one showed signs of being pleased for me.." Ahh but then his family is known for its strangeways. "So its totally new to your family then, this female dragon lark?"
Lydiere raises her left eyebrow--"You never told me that," she accuses, lightheartedly. "Where does she ride?" Her head nods, as she adds, "From this perspective, yup. Thankfully, none of them are around me enough to really find out too much about it." It's a relief.
W'yn frowns for a moment before smiling. "I have you know, in Fort..Willina.." He looks to Zymanth then to help him with the dragonic name of his sisters green but with no luck as Zymanth is way to involved with Llyserenth and watching the bowl. "We used to love her visits, well i did, but they got less and less as she became part of the Weyr, I miss her!" he adds with a light smile.
"Willina," repeats Lydiere, frowning. "Fort. Perhaps you did tell me." For a moment, she looks thoughtful, then shrugs. "Well, that doesn't matter. But--she doesn't visit you much, now? That's a shame. Sort of. You should go and bug her!"
"Tergeth!" he suddenly adds remembering the greens name. "yeah, she got out you see and well im sure she has her life and such.." with a shrug he smiles adding. "Im not worried about it or anything.."
Lydiere nods her head slowly, cracking a smile, "I'm sure. Still." She pauses, then wiggles slightly, "So--are you and Ly'ette officially in 'item'. Off the topic, I know, but..." Gossip at heart, is Lydiere.
W'yn chuckles at the change of subject and smiles. "you know, im not sure..i mean yes, well no.." he laughs then and looking back to check for ears he adds. "It all started as a joke, you know when we were told 'dont leave things till your first flight?'" he blinks a little before adding. "We talked about this and then avoided each other for ages and then talked again, then Zymanth entered flights and well..it brough it all out in the open so on that Ill say yes..but as to official..you know as much as me.." he chuckles smiling.
Lydiere straightens, listening with avid interest, lips twisting into an exuberant smile. "Ah-hah. I'm glad, official or not, that you're going for it. I always knew you should." Lydiere, relationship specialist.
W'yn cocks his head slighly and leans forward. "you did?" Did he miss something. Smiling then he adds. "Still working on this though I think.." He winks then adding. "And I mean well.." he indicates you adding. "She has competition?" oh he is such a tease today!
Lydiere probably didn't really, but shhhh! "I'm sure," she agrees, then giggles, fluttering her eyelashes. "Oh! Real competition, yes." She snickers, just in time to catch sight of Ly'ette--Lyddie's leaning up against the table, half seated on it's edge, with mud on her shoes--"Ly'ette! I must offer congratulations!"
Llysereth> Zymanth moves as far to the edge as he can as he notes Ayath winging in to land. Bulging a greeting he moves, he would not ask Llysereth to move as she only just managed to relax without squashing his bush. He trills lightly as he extends his neck to the green in greeting.
Llysereth> Llysereth warbles a delighted note towards Ayath, although regardless of Zymanth's failure to ask her to move, she does nonetheless. Squishy, but doable.
W'yn looks from Lydiere to Ly'ette and back chuckling. "It is and well..." he waves Ly'ette in smiling broadly. Standing from where he is sat about the table. "Come in..watch the rug..come in.." that is the tease of the day it would seem, no mud is to go near that there rug!
Lydiere's expression is almost guilty as she gives a goofy grin towards Ly'ette, "Er, hi."
Llysereth> Ayath looks from bronze to gold to bronze again, a strange whine of a croon escaping as she perches right on the edge, her tail seeking out Zymanth.
Ly'ette's movements echo those of her dragon almost exactly. No words just looks from one to the other. "Am..." a cough, "Am I interrupting something?" She doesnt make to leave though.
Llysereth> Zymanth turns slightly so his tail is accessable. He trills lightly in thanks to Llysereth for moving. His puur like trill echoing about his now /very/ squashed ledge. But he's not compalining..he loves guests!!
Llysereth> Llysereth raises her head to peer somewhat at Ayath, shifting her wings in a moue of distaste. That's not flirting, is it? Halfhearted croon is returned to Zymanth, as she shuffles over further. Please, no contact with the green. Or something.
W'yn shakes his head and smiles. "not at all! how could you.." he sits back down slowly adding. "Lydie came for a visit, to see if id finished dusting..and to bring me a weyr-moving gift.." he points to the new encrusted mud and chuckles. "Well, thats now she got out of cleaning it anyhow.." he adds chuckling.
"Oh!" Lydiere shakes her head rapidly, lowering her head somewhat. "No, I was just visiting." She grins, rapidly nodding at W'yn's explanation. "What he said."
Llysereth> Ayath 's claws dig in, clusting at the ledge for all shes worth, shes not about to fall off but her head swings round the face Llysereth, her tail possessively wrapping round Zymanths. Mine.
Llysereth> Zymanth also digs his claws into the ledge, he has the feeling that if Ayath were to fall, he would be going with her, and he would rather stay where he is perched. His maned head swings from gold to green as if curious to what just passed between them, if anything.
Ly'ette ohs, but still isnt entirely sure. "Oh, alright then." Her brains already working out a million and one scenarios that could have been going on and she believes every one. Lydiere finally get a half smile and a "Hi then."
Llysereth> Llysereth is positively disgusted, and shows it -- << That's indecent, Ayath! Stop it at once! >> Sweet innocence is displayed as she pulls back further, her wings lifting slightly to keep her from falling across the edge of the ledge.
Llysereth> Ayath 's head follows Llysereth across the ledge, a look written on it that plainly says 'you dont like it, you know what to do', a deep rumble accompanying the look from the tetchy green.
W'yn raises an eyebrow at Ly'ette for a moment, curiously watching. Becconing her then to join them at the table he smiles. "We we're just talking about my sister never visiting.." he shrugs then adding. "but well, you know all about that.." Hoping this will show no secrets there. W'yn suddenly gets that odd glazed look. "erm, are they all ok out there on the ledge?" he chuckles as his mindseye imagings the view.
Lydiere slides off of the edge of the table, as if this is to make her look more innocent -- which, of course, she is as a matter of course. Her expression holds thoughtful for a moment, then she adds, "Something the matter, Lys?" She pauses, her eyes moving towards the ledge beyond. "Faranth, Llysereth, leave it alone." She turns back, grimacing, "Ayath's annoying Llysereth. You'll have to excuse her. Delicate sensitivities, and all that."
Llysereth> Llysereth responds with a scandalised warble, her wings held protectively about herself, as if she'll somehow be less contaminated by the movement. Ew.
Ly'ette is as tetchy as Ayath, its catching you see. "Well /your/ dragon shouldnt be tlling mine what to do. Ayaths bound to get upset. Its not like she's doing anything wrong, like some people." W'yn gets shot a look, seems Lys has decided what had been happening.
Llysereth> Zymanth croons openly to the two females, a rose between two thorns here or the other way round! His head raised up then and he seems to cough once before looking back, his eyes restong on Ayath for the longest moment before turning to Llysereth, his tone rather calming. His tail still entwined with the greens.
Lydiere raises her eyes to stare at Ly'ette, head shaking. "I think it might be time we left." See, fully dressed? See, nothing happening? See, Lydiere leaving now--so that any further suspicion can be abated. "Er, see you both around."
W'yn blinks as he catches the look, as he had been watching Ly'ette. "Erm, Lys?" he asks lightgly, but noting lydiere rise he smiles. "Nice to see you again!" this ment on the visit.
Ly'ette smiles, a very fake smile and waves. "Byebye then." Now she can let w'yn have both barrels at once.
Lydiere simply peers at Ly'ette once more, head shaking almost invisibly, as she disappears.
"Llysereth!" Lydiere calls the name sharply, as the gold warbles once more--positively scandalised by Ayath's behaviour. "We're going. Now." And they're gone.