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.

« Previous | Main | Next »

26-10-02: He's just busy
It will take more than just a casual question to make Lydiere admit how she feels, even to old friends like J'ey and M'kan.

You backswing towards a landing upon the beach.

Away from Llysereth, J'ey stretches, enjoying being idle, enjoying just lying on the sand and not worrying. Soon he will think about all the things that he left undone but for now he is just going to lie here. Even a dragon landing, a sand flying over him does not worry him. He has a warm green pillow to lean against and he yawns again happily.

Away from Llysereth, A brief grumble from M'kan and then he scoots a bit before eyeing Xaeloth, who much preferably likes the green and snuggles up to Tiregeth. Crooning, he leaves his rider -- to do whatever /he/ wishes. "You think you could let me lean too, my brown is being a pain in my rear end, won't let me lean up to him. He is being .. conspiratory." And he is behind a green dragon, so he's concealed, mostly.

Away from Llysereth, Llysereth's wings furl about her sides, sand rising up to obscure the pale hue of her hide as she comes to a complete, gentle landing upon the beach's dark surface. Lydiere's neither strapped in nor sitting properly in place upon her lifemate; she's more or less perched sidesaddle, and wriggles out of that spot as soon as Llysereth is more or less at a standstill, landing upon the beach with bare toes. A toddler -- Llysah -- is helped downwards, before Lydiere's gaze has time to fall upon J'ey, a smile crossing her face. "J'ey, M'kan, Tiregeth, Xaeloth! Fine day, is it not?"

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.

J'ey yawns broadly and eyes M'kan "Hard luck old man." he teases "Your own dragon not helping you out." he grins and then props himself up on his elbows to see which dragon disturbs his rest and he grins warmly "Lydiere and..." he scans brain for child's name, he has enough trouble remember his own child's name, let alone anothers so he seeks to cover up the pause "Llysereth, Fair skies to you both and tis a wonderful day which is why you see me enjoying Rukbat's rays down here at the beach and I am glad you have managed to get away from your chores to join us here and bring ..." darnit why did he go this direction, he has to remember that name soon "Llysah.." he says hesitantly "with you."

"Is that a yes or no?" But M'kan shrugs then, leaving things as is before shaking his and sighing, "Well, he prefers a pretty green over his beloved rider..." However, he glances over his shoulder, rocking upon his heels and crouches down. Waving in greeting, he then absently mumbles, "Hey there." and then he looks at J'ey, oddly, "I'm sure you were better off the harper than a weaver. But over all, you are good at being both -- poetic and creative in your own sense." And then he switches his attention before grinning to the child, "Hi, Llysah..." Wriggling his fingers in greeting, he notes the hesitation in J'ey's voice and the brownrider blinks. However, he thinks about things, leaning over and kisses /him/ on the cheek. "How's the father?" He wonders now, out of normal curiosity and concern. Of course.

Lydiere's smile is bemused; she steps closer to the two riders, hoisting Llysah into her arms so as not to be slowed down by the toddler's gait. "She couldn't sleep," explains the weyrwoman, stiffling a yawn, "Or rather, didn't want to. I think children have an innate sense of knowing exactly when you don't want them to do something - so that they will." She settles herself down upon the sand, not far from J'ey and M'kan, and lets the one-turn-old loose to play with the dark, gritty stuff - though she waves to both other riders first. "G'wain's fine," Lydiere adds, blandly. "Dead to the world. Xaeloth being less than obliging, M'kan?"

J'ey smiles "Course it's a yes, don't know why you asked even M'kan, she or I ever really said no over something as simple as that." He shakes his head and then frowns, tilting his head "Harper? I was never a harper, you have obviously never heard me sing if you make comments like that M'kan. ANd you saying I was... I am a bad weaver?" be careful there M'kan, stepping onto rocky ground and then he switches his attention back to Lydiere and smiles, glancing vaguely at the toddler but she does not really excite any interest in him and he smiles "That's what I have heard about children Lyddie, more problem than help."

"He prefers a green's company to his rider's." M'kan remarks, admitting, watching Xaeloth nuzzling up to the green. He does offer a cordial greeting to the fair Llysereth, and immediately is licking at the beautiful green Tiregeth. This dragon maybe biased, but for a good reasoning. He speculates, "Its just how they are, I guess..." Looking to the child, he smiles a touch but then scans over J'ey, thoughtfully. He grins a little to Llysah's wave and then blinks. "Of course not, you're very talented in many fields. You are good at everything you do. Without much effort." He treads with great care and settles down, scooting closer. "You're better than anyone else I know." Which is really true. Honest. However, he does his best to appease his weyrmate -- with nothing but the truth and the honest truth. "I know how you sing, Jer, and I'm not mistaken at all."

"And it's absolutely true," Lydiere avers, in response to J'ey's children comment, as Llysah attempts to bury her mother's toes in the sand. Llysereth warbles sweetly at the brown, and the green, shifting her wings so as to protect her hide from the dirty sand as much as possible - she's newly clean and oiled, it seems, and very conscious of it.

Tiregeth croons at being chosen for all this attention and with a gold on the sands as well. What could make him happier. J'ey just shakes his head "Flattered." He does not seem to mind it too much "I am quite happy in what I do, a little sewing, a little guidance." He wrinkles his nose at LYdiere "Not sure how great at guidance I was for the weyrlings, any chance I can give this knot up any time soon Lyddie?" He shakes his head again and then grins at Lydiere "I know, I am always right. Didn't you hear M'kan, I am perfect and how could perfection be wrong." He attempts to strike a pose but when one is propped up by one's elbows one should not attempt such things and he only succeeds in landing back on the sand. He laughs and pushes himself up so he is leaning against green now so he can view the others on the sand.

Xaeloth is more then content to settle, nuzzling the lovely lady green. Yes, he is. M'kan seems to be amused by that but abruptly turns back to the rest of said conversation. He blinks and then nods quietly, "You do quite well in both." He assures before he opens his mouth and then shuts it, looking a touch surprised. Attention drifts to J'ey. "You're doing a good job, I think." He offers quietly, rubbing a little at his cheek, mming under his breath. However, a grin curls upon his lips and he lightly applauds the pose. He is being biased, but then it's good.

Lydiere's otherwise placid expression is disrupted by a choke at J'ey's pose, and collapse thereafter, a giggle escaping before she agrees, "Positively perfect, in every way, J'ey. If you're absolutely serious in giving up the knot, hand it in to S'ver, or one of the Weyrleaders - though I hope you're not. I think you did a perfectly good job. They've come out wonderfully."

J'ey grins sheepishly, knowing the sight he probably looked but all in good fun and he winks at Lydiere "Yes, a good example on how not to be, the requisite example of a typical green rider." He shakes his head and nods "I will think about it, perhaps stop M'kan complaining that he never sees me"

M'kan is pondering at this point, regarding both. He leans gently against the green's warm hide. Exhaling slowly, he rubs his chin. There is something that seems fair for sure. He is thinking and then a half-grin curls to his lips. "Most likely." He offers and crosses his arms over his chest, cheeks burning a little.

Lydiere sticks out her tongue at J'ey, childishly - to Llysah's delight, for the toddler immediately must try it for herself - and smiles. "You're too hard on yourself, methinks. Ah, M'kan, I'm sure G'wain could commiserate with you on that, though he's plenty busy himself. Sometimes--" she shakes her head, cutting herself off.

J'ey grins at Lydiere "Indeed my dear clutchsibling, is that anyway to treat a loved one, sticking your tongue out at me, what sort of example is that for the young ones." He sweeps out a hand to indicate the toddler and shrugs "You are right, I am too hard on myself and it's not a habit I have been able to break, someone has to be, M'kan is too biased and forgiving and Tirigeth, well she is constantly trying to give me makeovers, what is a boy supposed to do?" He shakes his head "Sounds like G'wain himself is busy enough, sacked out on such a lovely day as today in his weyr, giving us the pleasure of your company."

He starts to give Lydiere a sour look and then intones. "I try to keep myself busy, really." M'kan shakes his head and thinks about things, crossing his arms a bit more firmly. However, he chuckles a touch dryly before mming a little, "But one can only do so much before there isn't much left to do." He manages to smile then, a hint briefly. "Relax, Jer, don't be hard on yourself for once?" Being not much help, he smiles warmly to both J'ey and then Lydiere. "What kind of example is that? Next thing we'll know, she's scoldin' us like an ol...." Trailing off, he coughs a bit. "Ah well... nevermind."

"If /I/ can't stick my tongue out at you, who can, clutchmate dear?" comments Lydiere mirthfully, grinning at J'ey. "As long as you're not unhappy with yourself, J'ey, I expect it's not a problem. Me-- I don't know. Sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not. G'wain-- well, yes," she finishes, awkwardly, smiling shortly. M'kan's start towards a sour look draws her eyebrows up towards her hairline, though she says nothing in response to it, merely nodding her head. "Like an old woman? Well, why not! Someone has to."

J'ey algush "I think he meant like an old wherry." He laughs and shakes his head "True someone has to keep me in my place, make sure I don't think I have the greatest gift of speech and charm, right?" He shakes his head "But Lydiere you did not finish what you were saying, sometimes? Sometimes you are too hard on yourself too?" He lifts eyebrows inquiringly "I won't pry into what you were going to say about G'wain, I assume that is personal but you can tell us more about yourself."

In the middle, M'kan simply tilts his head and then ponders a moment. However, he shakes his head, "Riiiight." A slight nod and then a look from one to another. He rubs his cheek, thinking, "Oh you're good at it already, for the most part." This the brownrider will admit, chuckling under his breath. "Everyone is hard on themselves at some point in time, I figure." And his attention drifts to Lydiere, then to J'ey and finally to Llysah.

Lydiere's lips part quietly. "I think I'm just a little insecure at the moment, and thus perhaps not particularly honest with myself -- or with my relationship with G'wain. Happens often enough, in relationships, I suppose; I think I'm far too easily frustrated with him - and other things - at the moment." She outstretches her legs, feet pulled out of the sand coverings made by Llysah, who glares at her mother. "But yes, I'm hard on myself. I expect myself to do everything, sometimes, but I can't."

J'ey falls quiet, smiling sympathetically at Lydiere and nods "SUppose it happens to us all and well you have it doubly tough Lydiere, people look to you for leadership because you were paired with a dragon who h appens to be gold. One of the reasons that I am happy that Tiri is green rather than bronze." A content sound is heard from the green in question and J'ey laughs "Yes I need all the reasons I can get." but of course he is only joking and he smiles and glances at M'kan and he shakes his head "I am not one though to give relationship advice, at least not with my own 'mate being here by my side."

An odd look from M'kan but then he ers a little, catching the gist of what is being said and shaking his head, he coughs, "Ah well, I'm happy with Xaeloth and he's happy with Tiregeth." With that thus said, he looks over to the green, chuckling. Speculatively, he nods, "Pressure...." but trailing off, Mik looks at J'ey, admitting, "You must have it hard... cause you have weyrlings looking to you for... advice..." At this point, he admits, "I feel a bit useless ... besides sweep rides and such."

"Yeah," agrees Lydiere. "Sometimes it feels as though I'm supposed to know all the answers - though I know I'm not, and all of that. No, no, I don't want to search both of your brains for advice; I think my problem is mostly from within, and something that I need to work out for myself. I'm probably just feeling old." She glances over at M'kan, adding, "You always used to talk of apprenticing to the beastcraft, or something. Perhaps you should look for something else to do, in addition to the rest of your duties."

"Yeah," agrees Lydiere. "Sometimes it feels as though I'm supposed to know all the answers - though I know I'm not, and all of that. No, no, I don't want to search both of your brains for advice; I think my problem is mostly from within, and something that I need to work out for myself. I'm probably just feeling old." She glances over at M'kan, adding, "You always used to talk of apprenticing to the beastcraft, or something. Perhaps you should look for something else to do, in addition to the rest of your duties."

A slight look for Lyd as M'kan shakes his head, "I had interest, but after dawdling and my time taking care of Xaeloth, along with commuting from here to where Tia lives, to visit our son.. I think I've finally gotten time now to figure out what I want to do."

J'ey laughs and shakes his head "I didn't think you were here to pick my brain but who else is there but your friends to help you find the answers? Only from sharing our shared experiences of course." He shrugs and grins at LYdiere "You are probably right but all I hear from M'kan is that he is giving up his runners because he doesn't have the time to look after them." He shrugs "But time enough to wonder where I am." He pauses and smiles "And as you said before LYdiere children take time."

Lydiere's lips are pulled into a smile again, and she nods. "That's true. That's what friends are for. It's sometimes hard, when your best friend is your weyrmate. There's always W'yn, but he's so /busy/ at the moment." She shakes her head, then nods. "Oh, I see M'kan. It does all get busy. Too much to do, not enough time. And children make that even more difficult. I'll have a son to visit, soon enough; Keid's talking about apprenticing to the sea craft in a turn or two, when he's old enough."

"How old is Keid now?" M'kan asks, adding. "Haven't seen him in so long." He marvels,pausing and nods to J'ey, seemingly sheepish and ers a little, "Well, interest.." but he shuts up and then subsides, "I'll be checking on the runners soon.." It is then he admits. "I care for you lots.." a remark to J'ey and he admits, "And all my friends and loved ones... excluding my two elder foster sisters that fairly drove me up the wall and down it again."

J'ey smiles and shakes the sand off that has collected on him "It is hard Lydiere and I am not going to give you advice that I cannot follow through on myself so feel free to look me up as a sounding board and non-advice giver." He winks and then pauses "Keid is not old enough for apprenticing already is he?" he shakes his head "But he was only... oh wait that was a while ago wasn't it?" He smiles and then shakes his head "ANyway if I don't get back to the weyrling barracks S'ver is probably going to take my knot and hang me with it." He winks and smiles down at M'kan "I shouldn't be too long but this is what happens when I take time off to hang out with you."

"Eleven," says Lydiere with what is only partially a mock-wince. "Not quite old enough, but getting there." She smiles ruefully, then breaks that up with a rapid nod towards J'ey, "Better to avoid /that/ eventuality, at all costs. Be well, J'ey."

M'kan chuckles quietly. "Take care, love.. and make sure that one green weyrling behaves!" He doesn't say who, but J'ey knows who.

J'ey wrinkles his forehead and then laughs "Indeed, don't want him turning out like me would you." He waves a hand "Well take care Lyddie and Llysah and I will see you later Mik." Tiregeth reluctantly removes herself from Xaeloth's embrace and J'ey mounts and is gone.