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.
11-04-02: Old and new
A visit from Jezzara, formerly an Istan resident and now a Xanadu goldrider, is plenty to celebrate - adding W'yn to the mix is even nicer.
You stride down the ramp from Llysereth and Ahreluth's ledge, to the bowl.
Zaislinth gives a friendly bugle to the watchdragon as she blinks in from *between* Circling for a moment, the gold backwings gently to a landing in the center bowl, her curious gaze looking about at the weyr that she's heard so much about from her rider.
Llysereth is curled up upon her ledge, her head propped up against Ahreluth - always the willing resting place, although he's fast asleep - and her tail swishing over the edge of the precipice, sliding down towards the bowl floor. Her attention is caught by Zaislinth, and a sweetly crooned greeting is proffered, echoed by Lydiere, whose stride increases in speed as she recognises Jezzara-- "Jezz! Duties to Xanadu!"
Jezzara slips gingerly from pearl-tipped 'ridges to proffered golden paw as she dismounts from Zaislinth.
Jezzara slips from the gold's neck to the ground below, a happy smile turned as she hears her name called, eyes flashing with good humor as she spies Lydiere headed her way. "Lydiere! Xanadu's to Ista!" Pulling her gloves off, she tucks them into her belt as she heads towards the other, laughing as she reaches her, "And, how is Ista?" It may be noticed that Jezza came without anyone else - could she be breaking weyrling rules?
Lydiere crosses the last steps between herself and Jezzara with an agile speed, coming to a halt to note, brightly, "You look wonderful. Riderhood obviously suits you." Digging her hands into her pockets, which, keeping in custom, have holes at the seams, she grins, her head tilting to the side thoughtfully. "Ista's good, I think. Always managing quite well, though we miss you still. -- And, pray, does this visit imply that you've graduated?" Her eyes drift towards Jezzara's nod, her smile broadening.
Jezzara laughs lightly as she nods her head, a hand reaching up to pull the flight cap from her braided hair, "Aye, that I have. Qyh handed me my knot just the other day." Truth be known, she first handed the young weyrwoman a glass of brandy and told her to figure it out! "And, I've been accepted with the healers too." Seems this young woman has been quite busy here lately. Zaislinth croons softly as she watches the two, wings folded neatly across her back while her tail curls about her legs, whirling eyes ever upon her petite lifemate.
Lydiere's grin remains broad, her head bobbing in cheerful acceptance of the news. "Welcome to the world of late nights and boring hidework, then." That's probably meant as a congratulations, although Lydiere is notably cynical about it all, and always has been. "Ooh, the healers. Congratulations on that. I'm sure you'll do well. It'll keep you out of trouble, anyway."
Jezzara chuckles lightly as she takes the condolences..er.. congrats... in stride. "And, Frydath is upon the sands with 13 eggs, so I'm picking up more of the hidework.." She rolls her eyes just a bit but smiles nontheless. "I figured Qyh was going to argue with me when I told her I was applying to the healers..." The other goldrider actually surprised her with agreeing that there should always be one goldrider within the weyr with a bit of healing knowledge.
"Qyh gets out of hidework when she's on the sands?" There's an all too clear note of envy in Lydiere's voice, as she digests this. "I'm lucky enough to have to do it all the time, on the sands or not. Of course it was hidework that led to--" She trails off, sarcastic, envious tone dropping in to something more nostalgic and warm. "Anyway. She didn't, obviously. That's wonderful."
Jezzara giggles lightly, "I think she gave it to me to give me something to do instead of bugging her all the time." Jezza is known for her swings of hyperness, something she still hasn't grown out of. Curiously, she looks at Lydiere, a thin eyebrow of midnight arching over a green eye, "Led tooo??" Oh, now, you have her curious.
Lydiere expels a wry chuckle at that, her head lowered into a sage nod. "Ah, I see. Certainly, the idea has merit. The less bothersome you are, the less nasty she'll have to be to you." Or so sayeth Lydiere, who hasn't, it's true, had a lot of experience with Qyh. "Oh. Well-- I guess you could say that it led to the next stage of the relationship between G'wain and I." On the sands, which probably accounts for the faint blush that tinges her cheeks every briefly.
Jezzara grins even more as she hears this bit of news, eyebrow still arched as she leans closer, "Don't tell me you're... weyrmated these days??" There's just a hint of excitement in her voice as she asks this, knowing full well how the two were before she left Ista for Xanadu.
"'fraid so," agrees Lydiere, grinning broadly. "Have been for--gosh, a turn or so? I'm surprised that the gossip doesn't manage to travel that far-- shows how little we all managed to visit you, I guess." She sounds, briefly, contrite at that particular statement.
Shaking her head, Jezzara offers a hug to the other, laughing lightly, "Well, that is news, and something I haven't heard. " Looking back at Lydiere, she gives her a wicked grin as she wonders, "How is G'wain surviving it so far?" Is there a hint of a blush on her own cheeks? Just the sun, yep.
Lydiere lifts her arms, pulling in to the hug warmly, and holding it for several long moments. As she pulls back, hands seeking instinctively for her pockets again, she adds, "Well, I guess you've heard it now, then! We'll have to make sure the gossip makes it over your way far sooner, now that I know how bad it is." She winks, cheerfully, then considers. "Surviving. Some, minor problems." Don't mind her face clouding; it lasts only a second, her eyes seeking the ground, before she recovers with a smile. "He's just too busy at the moment, though-- darn his promotion. And what about you, might I ask? Any young men we should be beating off?"
Jezzara notices the cloudy look, but decides not to ask about it. See, she has learned some control over her curiousness! "Promotion? " Wow, seems there's a lot to catch up on at her old home. The blush does get darker now that Lydiere pins her with that question. "Weeeelll.. there is one." Laughing lightly, she shrugs, "Obviously, the trouble I caused during weyrlinghood didn't reach here either." Should she be glad that they don't know all about kissing the AWLM?
"Oh, you didn't hear about that, either?" Lydiere shakes her head in disgust. "This is appalling, and I'm not even really all that much of a gossip. He's Wingleader, now, of Gumshoe." Her nose wrinkles, as she adds, somewhat quietly, "Which basically just means that I see far less of him, because he works so hard." Her head tilts to the side, shaking once, "Haven't heard, no. Spill. All."
"Well, congrats to him on the promotion! " is said before Jezzara chuckles lightly, patting Lydiere's shoulder. "Ah, well, tell him too much work will make him dull. " Glancing back towards her lifemate, she pauses before nodding softly as the gold moves closer, "I'm.. involved with S'yn, rider of brown Zeredyth?" Perhaps Lydiere might know the name as being that of Qyh's older brother, but then again, maybe not. "Our relationship has caused a few troubles. Not only was he one of my AWLM, but he's also Qyh's brother." If anything, she's kept Xanadu's Sr. on her toes throughout weyrlinghood, that's for certain.
Lydiere grimaces cheerfully, her head swinging up and down with a nod. "I'll forward that on to him-- both the congratulations, and the advice. Maybe he'll listen to you!" Grinning, she's all ears for Jezzara's response, her smile lifting broadly. "Ooh. Well-- congratulations! I've never met him, I admit, and if I've heard the name, it's not been more than once or twice. So, let me guess-- you had a little trouble not breaking weyrling rules, hmm?"
Jezzara brushes a hand across her thigh, wiping something off her palm, laughing lightly, "You could say that. We traded kisses once in the middle of the caverns in front of Lecil. He just got me soooo mad that day." Eye flicker with remembered anger before she gives Lydiere a wry grin, "Qyh tore into him as soon as she heard about it, and decided that he wasn't to be alone with any of the female weyrlings, a doublely so with me." She gives a slight eye roll before turning towards Zaislinth, and nods, "It seems we're being invited to the beach so she can swim with Zymanth and others."
Lydiere bursts into laughter, her head shaking back and forth. "I can just see that happening, even if I don't know S'yn. Well, lucky for you that you're finally graduated, then, is all I can say. My own weyrlinghood seems quite tame, in comparison. You young'uns." There's a wink there; she doesn't say the comment in any kind of seriousness. "Ooh. A beach visit." She glances across at Llysereth, who has apparently dozed off, and then indicates towards the beach. "Let's meander down, then."
Jezzara laughs even more, and with Lydiere's last comment, heads towards the beach, the gold following after, eager to find a nice sunny spot, and to meet the few dragons she's spoken too.
You go to the west, to the outer plateau that lies beyond the Weyr-walls.
You head down the stairs to the beach.
Jezzara walks along with Lydiere, the gold waddling along behind the two, happy croons escaping her as she spies the water and beach. Her rider laughs along with Lydiere about something, nodding as she turns to look, waving towards W'yn and Ly'ette as the two are seen, a smile flashed to the two of them. Zaislinth moves out from behind headed towards the water and the dragons there.
Zymanth croons softly from just above the waters surface his eyes glinting as he turns to watch the gold approach. W'yn looks over from where himself and Ly'ette are. (Ly'ette seeming miles away). "Weyrwoman Jezzara! Lydiere!" he calls with a light wave of his own hand. (er..ignore the +today and make it warm?) "Please, join us?" he calls over.
Jezzara walks along with Lydiere, the gold waddling along behind the two, happy croons escaping her as she spies the water and beach. Her rider laughs along with Lydiere about something, nodding as she turns to look, waving towards W'yn and Ly'ette as the two are seen, a smile flashed to the two of them. Zaislinth moves out from behind headed towards the water and the dragons there.
Lydiere's bright grin remains in place as she nods her head rapidly in response to Jezzara's own nod, gaze watching far over the horizon, and then moving to greet W'yn and Ly'ette brightly. "Oh, g'day W'yn, Ly'ette! Fine day to be at the beach, isn't it?" Her footfalls are heavy, through the sand, which sprays everywhere-- dark and hot, to the point where she leans down to yank off her boots and socks, toes wiggling into the sand.
Zaislinth finds herself at the water's edge, amber muzzle lowered to sniff before tail tests the temp. Finding it suitable, she makes her way in, crooning out lightly to the bronze. Jezzara watches her lifemate for a moment before, she too follows Lydiere's example and begins to strip, loosing the flight jacket first, and boots and socks next.
W'yn is sat with just trousers on, his torso and feet free to the warm and relaxing elements. "it is definalty a day to relax.." he turns to Ly'ette and chuckles. "Maybe not that much.." noticing the sleep. "You finally made it back then eh?" he turns to Jezzara with a broad smile. Zymanth slowly paws his way forward to close the distance to where the gold is, enticing her maybe to come further out to where he and Ayath had been cavorting about.
Lydiere tucks her socks into her boots, and ties the laces together, swinging them over her fingers. "Ly'ette obviously works too hard. We pick our 'mates badly, don't we, W'yn?" Light, teasing tone there, grin broad and amused. She dumps her boots down, coming in to a seated position upon the warm sand, hands already working at the sand to dig holes for her feet to be dumped in to, sand piled atop of them.
Jezzara knew where she might end up, and came prepared for Ista's sun, wearing her swim suit beneath her leathers, you see. Tunic is pulled over her head, and pants are shrugged out of before she folds all neatly to sit upon her spread jacket with the others, savoring the warmth of the sun above. Laughing lightly, she nods to W'yn, "Aye, finally, though I did pass through very quickly a sevenday or so ago on our way to Fort. Quick enough to run in and bring something to my aunt in the kitchens and then back out again." Sighing softly, she turns her face upwards, eyes closed as the sun shines down. Zaislinth moves further into the water, lured by Zymanth, a happy croon given once more as the water laps at her sides.
W'yn watches the two women approach and smiles. "You can say that again Lydiere! Really.. they just sleep!" he laughs openly then as he adds. "At least this is a flat and comfortable surface!" Frowning for a moment then as Jezzara speak she smiles. "So that is why she was happy in the lower caverns!" nodding with what seems understanding he chuckles. "Well, hope this is not just a flying visit?" Looking about then, catching Zymanth leading Zaislinth astray he turns to Lydiere. "llysereth not coming to loll in the waters?"
"Much better to sleep here than in the bowl, yes," agrees Lydiere, her gaze fastened out over the ocean again, as she settles back comfortably. "Too much work, too much sleep, not enough time for you or I. Tsk." She grins broadly, however, encompassing both non-sleeping riders in the beams of that expression, as she adds towards W'yn, "Oh, no, she's dozing up on her ledge, with Ahreluth. She elected - amazingly enough - not to move herself. The water-loving creature within is obviously on holiday."
Jezzara nods to W'yn's question as she stretches out her legs before her, leaning back on her arms. "Aye, brought her a few new recipes from Xanadu." Listening to the two speak about their mates, she chuckles softly as she shakes her head, "I guess I shall be joining the two of you soon as I know S'yn has gotten promoted too.." They could make the Wingleader's Widows?
Lydiere glances at W'yn, and then chuckles, murmuring, "Looks as though we'd better count W'yn as being on the other side of it, for the moment. Poor guy works too hard-- hard work, being R'yn's second." She glances at Jezzara, and shakes her head, "Oh, dear, I feel sorry for the pair of you. You'll both end up being hugely busy, and will never see each other, because, invariably, schedules always clash."
Jezzara turns her head to see W'yn dozing, and giggles lightly, though not loud enough to wake the bronzer. Tilting her head, she looks to Lydiere, sighing softly, "I know, and then with my studies with the Healers... we'll both be busy. Thankfully, I can get my basics under Tia at Xanadu so that'll help a little." Drawing her legs up, she buries her toes in the sand, feeling the warmth of the sun even under the layer.
Lydiere nods, expression rueful. "Much as I hate to admit it, I'm often relieved that Seacrafting isn't something I can really keep pursuing, now; I just don't have the time, if I want to devote anything to my son, G'wain, or--" Anything else. "Tia! Another ex-Istan. How's she doing?"
Jezzara ooohs, for it seems she gets to tell Lydiere more news! "Tia is doing quite well these days, and will be busier than me. She just got her Sr. Jman knot, and was made Weyrhealer too." Which is why she gets to study under Tia until she finishes the basics and then turns to a dragonhealer to finish.
"Ooh! Pass on my congratulations, then. She's sorely missed, among our healers here, but I'm sure she's doing great things for Xanadu." Lydiere smiles approvingly, her hands shifted to rest within her lap as she half closes her eyes, lifting her face towards the warm, bright sun.
"I will, I know she misses Ista as much as I do some days." Jezzara sighs again before looking back out to the water where Zaislinth now stands submerged up to her neck, warbling lightly. "I have to say Tia is an interesting person! I didn't know her very well before we became weyrlings together.." There's been a many a thing the bluerider has taught her!
Lydiere's head nods shortly. "She should come visit us, more often. You're all always welcome, of course. And there's always the guest weyr, if you want to come and stay for a few days-- get away from things, as it were. I know that that can be useful, sometimes." She tilts her head to the side, adding, "Interesting, how?"
"I'll drag her down next time I come if she hasn't visited before then." Jezzara promises before blushing lightly, her glance going quickly to the sleeping W'yn and back to Lydiere. "She explained the finer points to a relationship between men and women to me.." Unlike the bluerider, she was completely in the dark about a lot of things, so very naive!
"Good. Do that." Lydiere says this firmly, before her eyebrows raise, her grin becoming mirthful, seen through the twitching of her lips. "Oh, I see! Yes, people like Tia can be rather useful to have around, for such explanations. Good knowledge to have."
Jezzara blushes even more while she nods, "Yes, quite handy to have about." Even when they put down your lover's kissing habits! Xanadu might have gotten more than it planned on with the healer. Looking around, she smiles, "I'll have to remember your idea of a vacation. I'd like to come for longer than just a day before I truely get busy.."
Lydiere hesitates, and then adds, after a pause, "And you know that you could always come to me, if you needed advice about anything? Mostly unrelated-- Obviously, you don't need sex education anymore, but it can be hard to get used to relationships, and then there's all the Junior Weyrwoman stuff. We juniors have to stick together, and all that." She tilts her head into a more firm nod, agreeing, "And we'd love to have you, honestly."
Jezzara smiles warmly as she nods her head a few times, "Thanks Lydiere, I'll remember that." Faranth knows she can use someone understanding sometimes. Qyh is a good Weyrwoman, but there are times when the two do nothing but bang heads. She's heard that it's a good thing though, but sometimes, she's not so sure.
"Good." Lydiere seems pleased at that, although she confides, her voice lowering, "Not that I'm really the /best/ person to give advice; Faranth knows, I ask for it from other people more often than not. Still, I've done it for a few turns, so...Well, yeah."
Jezzara giggles lightly, "You've got more experience than I do, Lydiere, much more experience!" Stretching out her legs again, she wiggles her toes, brushing off the sand stuck to her skin.
W'yn snorts. His rambling slighly but audable. "R'yn's second..sleep...experience.." He suddenly blinks a few times and begins to strech, no awareness of where he is!
Lydiere laughs - her eyes flicking towards the snorting W'yn, and his ramblings, and then back to Jezzara - commenting, "True, and--what, six or seven more turns of life, as well. You lot make me feel old sometimes." A grin there, as she draws her feet from out of the sand, to stretch her legs out properly in front of her, toes stretching and pointing. "Faranth, I guess this means W'yn dreams about his job?"
Jezzara blinks as she she hears bits and pieces of W'yn's snorted comment, breaking into more giggles as she shrugs, "Either that or he enjoys going over R'yn's conquests?" Which, she is happy to say, she isn't one of! Tis strange how fate works sometimes - there was a time when she would have given.. well.. something... for him to like her.
W'yn finally completes the waking up process and laughs. "It would not surprise me..but.." he frowns and rubs his head. "I'm sure I heard you say something about R'yn's second.." he turns to Jezzera then and asks. "Was it you who mentioned experience?" seems whisps of the 'dozing off' and 'waking up' conversation got into. Sitting up finally and looking from one to the other he blushes, a very streange expression flickering over his eyes. "I dont think I second R'yn in that fassion.." he offers in a soft voice.
Lydiere groans with amusement at that particular comment. "There's always that possibility. It'd take him a good long time, though, I'd imagine." Further responses are cut off, as W'yn wakes up, and she chuckles. "Somehow, I really don't see it, no. You're not really anything like R'yn, I'm afraid, W'yn."
Jezzara just laughs even more. Poor W'yn. "And, I think Ista is /glad/ that there's not another like R'yn either." Could the weyr survive another bronzer like that one? Probably not. Blushing just a little, she waves off W'yn's mention of experience, "Oh, nothing.. "
W'yn chuckles lightly and nods. "Ill learn.." he tease suddenly to Lydieres comment, though the chuckle in it shows he is quite happy to be different. "But if anyone gets our names wrong again!" he growls before grinning. "Zymanth is no match for Zippiths flare only..he tries though!" he offers finally rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he really should not have fallen asleep mid conversation. This makes him blush slighly adding. "Please..it was not the conversation."
Lydiere fills her cupped hand with sand, and then lets it slide through her partially opened fingers, the sifting motion apparently drawing her attention, although she stays in with the conversation. "No, no, don't bother to learn, W'yn. We like you as is, thank you very much. Jezzara's right; we really don't need another R'yn." She laughs, adding, "That /would/ be annoying-- W'yn and R'yn. At least Ly and I have more letters different." After a pause, she adds, "Llysereth prefers Zymanth to Zippith, if that's anything to go by."
Jezzara listens lightly to the two of them, smiling as she glances back out to the water in time to see her lifemate leaving it behind to head up to a nice sunny area on the beach to sun. "Just think, if I'd stayed here and possibly impressed gold I'd messed up the whole system with Jezzara in all the Ly's. "
W'yn laughs and nods. "With such a recommendation, thankyou.." he bows his head really showing his appreciation for the comment. Watching Ly'ette stirr for a moment and then fall back into slumber he chuckles and turns to look to Zymanth. "Don't tell him that eh?...ack too late!" he offers as he did not keep the pride out of his dragons mind. He chuckles then adding. "I have to admit..with a little embarrasment.. to saying Lyd and Lys the wrong way round sometimes..being Ly'ette and Lydiere.." he adds for alls benefit.
"True, Jezzara!" Lydiere chuckles. "Though, it might've made it slightly easier, that way. We've too much repetition in this Weyr." W'yn's comments draw another low chuckle, as the woman shades her eyes from the glare of the sun. "Oh, I'm sure Lys appreciates it so much when you call her Lyd, instead!" Teasing note there, as she nods: "Lyd, Lys, and Ly. At least the three of us do have slightly different nicknames!"
Jezzara just shakes her head, for there's no way anyone could get Xanadu's goldrider's mixed up. Not only they different in names, but they're different in attitudes too! Zaislinth stretches out on the sand, wings flared to dry beneath the warmth of the sun.
W'yn laughs. "All that and Im tongue-tied!" he turns to Jezzara and chuckles at her silent reaction. Turning to Lydiere then he frowns. "G'wain not with you?"
Lydiere shakes her head, "No, he's not. Unfortunately, we're not quite attached at the hip, at the moment." Momentary bitterness, perhaps-- although she covers anything of that nature up with her smile. "At least Ly and I are /quite/ different, as people."
Jezzara looks back to W'yn and chuckles softly, "Well, if you were, right now, we'd have to take notes." A wicked grin is flashed towards Lydiere as she makes her comment, brushing her braid over her shoulder to hang down towards the sand.
W'yn laughs and tried to say a silly rhymn he had heard as a child, but it didnt work so with a wave of his hand he gave in. Turning to lie on his side and look to the others he is sat with he smiles. "Ahh.. but then whats that saying, Absence makes the heart grow..fonder?" he offers before turning to Jezzara. "not books at the ready!"
"So they say," agrees Lydiere, "though with this, I'm not so sure. It isn't absense-- just not enough time." So she'll pout; she's allowed to do that. Jezzara's wicked grin is met with a wry smile, as she settles herself down more comfortably.
Jezzara grins even more before giving W'yn a wink, "Hey, I could get some extra studying for the healers done!" Pulling herself up, she crosses her legs, sitting up straight as she glances between the two.
W'yn shakes her head. "Lydiere, please could you tell Jezzara here that she will have enough paper work not to nead to get herself more.." he grins as he turns to Jezzara. "You see coming from a more experience lady.." he turns to Lydiere then with a broad smile. "More Weyrwomaning experience.." he offers now getting tonguetied and floundering with embarrassment. "Not enough time is a definate problem!"
Lydiere groans good naturedly. "Jezza, dear, there is /no/ need to study all the time. Believe me!" Again, her hands are drawn to the dark sand, rubbing the sparkling grains through her fingers so that it outlines the creases upon her palms. "W'yn has the right of it. You'll hate it all, I promise." At least Lydiere does, W'yn obviously does-- there's a growing consensus. "We just need more hours to the day, is all. Or less hidework."
W'yn bursts out laughing all of a sudden. "What did you say his name was?? it didnt end in 'yn did it?" he offers..an odd sound without the first few letters. Turning to Lydiere he chuckles. "your right..a growing consensous. Wonder what Lymera and R'yn thing of all their paper work..as it happens I dont mind the work..I miss the long flights with Zymanth while on sweep and I miss working with LY'ette when I was a Ass. WeyrlingMaster but as I didn't even keep that for one hatching.." he adds with a chuckle, remembering the schene when Ly'ette though she was his boss for a while! "So its not the work..its the time around the work that you just dont get enough off..im rambling arnt i.." he pauses then and turns to Lydiere. "What does S'yn do?"
[My connection woes caused me to drop out entirely, here]