Catching Up
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Corrin, Devin
Date Posted: 22nd November 2025
Characters: K'mai, Sybana
Description: K'mai congratulates Sybana on her first goldflight.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 12
"Sybana!" K'mai called as he hurried up to the young goldrider in the Dining Cavern. "I just wanted to say Galgaith has excellent taste in mates."
Sybana stiffened. After several days spent brooding in her weyr after her disastrous matingflight, she had finally mustered the courage to return to the dining hall. She'd come down to dinner armored in red velvet and her most stunning smile, determined to face the judgement of the weyr with poise and grace.
She braced for whispers, for stares and scorn. She hadn't expected... sarcasm.
But what else could K'mai mean when his words clashed so garishly with the truth?
"Oh, yes," she said, looking up from her meal with frost in her green eyes. "Everyone has such a lot to say about her _excellent_ taste these days. Only usually they're polite enough to do it behind my back. ...I know we've had our differences, K'mai, but I didn't expect you to be unkind."
K'mai sucked in a breath. "Oh no! No, I didn't . . ." He hadn't realized what that might sound like given the way some people were talking about the flight. Shards, he was screwing things up with her again. "L'keri is a very good friend of mine and I'm thrilled for him and Rhalith."
"Ah." Heat crept up Sybana's neck, mollified and mortified and not enjoying the experience of either. She reached for her water goblet, buying herself a moment to smooth her expression. "Perhaps I got ahead of myself. It's been... a trying few days. I suppose I should be glad _someone_ is thrilled."
The bluerider slid into the seat across from her. "Don't worry about it. I maybe should have been more clear. It must be rough, having so many expectations put on a flight instead of just enjoying it."
Sybana looked at him oddly for a moment, silently reordering her hold expectations to weyr ones. K’mai ones. “I don't mind the expectations,” she said finally. “It’s a Duty, of course there are expectations. And I never needed to enjoy it, though people said--” She blushed. “Anyway, it's not that. It's just… it’s just so very public.”
She didn't really have the words or the nerve to explain to K'mai precisely what she meant. And would he even understand? As a Lady Holder of course she would of course perform wifely duties and produce an heir or three, but it would be no ones business how or where or when. Things were… Different at the weyr. She didn't want to think about how many people had now seen her in a nightdress. All the bronzeriders for sure.
Sybana looked miserable.
"Oh, hey." K'mai started to reach for her before pulling his hand back. "It's okay. It must be hard going from a place where they hardly talk about sex to having the whole Weyr discussing who you ended up in bed with."
"Yes," she admitted. It felt strange to be talking about it now, with K'mai, but it was a welcome surprise to find him understanding. "It really is."
"People understand it's not really _you_. 'The dragon decides, the rider complies'," K'mai said. "Sometimes you and your dragon have the same taste, but you don't have control over what happens in a flight. I know lots of people -- even weyrbred ones -- struggle with the realities of flights."
“...That's comforting to hear. And somewhat surprising." She was looking at him oddly again, measuring the man in front of her against the memory of their previous conversations. "I know you've said it's one of your favorite things--“ Sex, anyway. "And you're so open about it... I guess I assumed you'd tell me how much fun I should be having."
"I wish you _could_ have fun with it because she's going to keep Rising, but . . ." K'mai shrugged. "Not everyone enjoys flights. Some people don't like the choice of what happens to their bodies being taken away by their dragon. Some people don't like sex at all, and that's okay."
"It was... alarming," Sybana admitted quietly. A master of delicate understatement. "I'm not sure I'll ever be used to losing control like that, but I'll be happy enough if my future flights are high and long." K'mai had said L'keri was a good friend, and the brownrider had been nothing but kind to her, so she held her tongue on any wishes regarding color.
"You'll know what to expect next time, so it should be easier." K'mai thought of all the comments he'd heard about the short flight and the brown sire. "L'keri is a great guy, and he's so happy for Rhalith to be a dad. But he's not used to talking to Lord Holders or visiting Weyrleaders, or dressing up fancy. Be gentle with him, please."
"I have heard something of his... reputation," said Sybana with a wry smile, thinking back to how the other weyrlings had teased A'ten. "I gather he and his brown are unlikely winners in more ways than one. But I will help him, if that's what you're getting at, so long as he makes an effort. I may not be able to change what's happened, but I mean for the rest of this to go as smoothly as possible."
K'mai nodded. "And I want to help you any way I can. I know what people have been saying, but I want this to be a happy thing for him. For both of you." He didn't want Rhalith's first and probably only clutch shrouded in negativity.
Sybana's expression softened. The source was a bit unexpected, but she was grateful for the sentiment. "Thank you. I'm afraid there isn't much that can be done at this point." The gold was flown, as it were. "But it's nice of you to offer."
K'mai knew a lot of people, and he could steer at least some of the gossip away from the short flight and potentially small clutch by emphasizing how happy he was for his friend. "Oh, we're having a party to celebrate L'keri and Th'reyos, would you like to come?"
A party. Celebrating was the _last_ thing Sybana felt like doing. She still nursed a fragile hope that the clutch might turn out alright despite everything, but on a whole the flight haunted her as an unmitigated failure.
Still, she teased herself with the idea. It would be K'mai's wingmates and friends, she supposed. And while they could heartily congratulate L'keri on his unusual achievement, what could they possibly say to her? Tell stories of their own mishaps? She didn't want their pity. "I wouldn't be very good company," she demurred, smile a bit tight.
"Well, consider this an open invitation if you change your mind," K'mai said. "If you decide to come, wear something brown to fit the theme."
"Of course," she promised, more sure than ever that she would not attend. What was a fun theme to him was a festering shame to her and she was not ready to make light of it.
Last updated on the November 28th 2025