A Side Order of Gossip

Writers: Devin, Draconafin
Date Posted: 20th August 2026

Characters: Az'uka, K'mai
Description: K'mai and Az'uka catch up over the midday meal
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 12 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, I'serin, Z'kim
Mentor Approved by Heather

K'mai

K'mai was on his way to eat lunch with his Wing when he spotted Az'uka and realized they hadn't talked in a while. Turning, he headed for the other bluerider's table instead. "Hey, Az'uka! How have you been?"

Regardless of the time of day the Weyr always managed an impressive spread for meal times. It certainly made for grateful riders caught between drills and other duties to have something of a centralised retreat. A moment of downtime went a lot further than most people would admit and while midday was less likely to involve a wineskin it was as good a chance as any for Az’uka to clear his head. Hearing someone call his name he looked up from the plate he had barely put down and smiled on seeing K'mai walking towards him. Now _there_ was a breath of fresh air for the day; K'mai was not exactly the kind of company one turned down.

}: It’s barely midday and you're already thinking about how to spend your evening? :{

**Do I pick on you when you flirt with all the greens? ** was the retort for the dragon who had seen fit to interrupt his thoughts. Dismissing the blue's teasing he waved the younger rider over to join him. There was plenty to share of course. He mused on the question, if only for a second; "Under Nilzuth's strict instructions I have been keeping out of trouble -- for the _most_ part," the way he weighted his words made it clear he had no intention of walking the straight and narrow if something more interesting turned up -- implying at the same time he was well enough to be causing trouble, while directly avoiding the question; "And you K'mai. I hear you and Sebeth have been busy"

"Which of our antics have you heard about?" K'mai asked with a laugh as he set his tray down. "Catching greens? Flirting with the Dolphin Cove Weyrleader?"

"Couldn't have been both right?" an honest but bemused smile crossed the bluerirder’s face as he quirked a brow at the other’s question. Riders were gossips by nature it would often seem and while Az'uka might not have an exact tally on what his friend had been up to he knew enough to know the man had been around. Given that K'mai's company was like fine wine he doubted anyone was complaining.

}:I doubt you would be complaining either:{ Nilzuth remarked from the Weyr heights, knowing full that conversations would often go beyond caverns

“Nilzuth has been after a few greens himself,” he continued, doing little to mask the smile on his face. Regardless of if it came from the other rider’s admitted conquests or the fact that his dragon might be giving the man full permission to flit. A name flickered in his mind the moment he chose to dwell on the end of K’mai’s remarks, N’vanik. Most riders knew the names of all the current Weyrleaders, it was impossible not to. Even so, something about recalling the bronzerider in question didn’t sit right with him. But out of sight and out of mind he figured.

K'mai eyed him speculatively. "Maybe next time they chase the same one, I'll pull you into a flight room after. It's been a while."

"And who says we need a flight for that," Az'uka chuckled easily, taking the bait and ignoring his dragon's remark of he might be alone on that. _Although_ there were some _very_ pretty greens at the moment; riders too come to think of it. Some of which might be more adventurous than others. Smirking Az'uka focused on his friend.

"I dare say too long; it sounds like you have some stones to show, flirting with a Weyrleader." not that he wouldn't do the same himself if the opportunity presented itself.

Oh if he only knew! K'mai considered for a brief moment whether it was safe to joke about flirting with I'serin -- K'mai had been flirting with him since they were Candidates, after all -- but decided against it. "N'vanik is fun, even if I haven't been able to coax him into bed." He sighed dramatically. "Z'kim is so lucky."

"I'm sure you'll get there too my friend," Az'uka encouraged K'mai with a chuckle, the other bluerider was definitely persistent enough. His own personal feelings and memories about N'vanik aside. -- He knew the man had been impressive enough to keep Leadership at Dolphin Cove longer than most Dragonsfall’s Weyrleaders, so credit where it was due. Any actual face to face time he had with the man might have been under a turn; but it was amazing how quickly riders gained reputations among each other. Slander of the previous Dragonsfall Weyrleader wasn't that hard to come by either. But if they made K'mai happy then there was nothing against it in his opinion; and despite popular opinion he could keep his distance if he needed to. Letting the thoughts roll over each other he inclined his head to the other rider. "To future conquests then?"

"To future conquests." K'mai chuckled as he clicked his glass against Az'uka's. After taking a drink, he asked. "So what have you been up to?"

The toast went down easily between friends and after a drink of his own Az'uka found himself pondering both the glass and the other rider's question; _just_ what had he been up to. Uncharacteristically flying under the gaze of his fellow riders for some time it seemed, and despite the rumour rampant nature of the Weyr he had no way of knowing what K'mai had or hadn't heard. So with nothing truly noteworthy -- like seducing a Weyrleader; he kept it simple. "Training and fliting for the most part..." came the musing out loud as he put the glass down, in truth the latter sometimes made him late for the former. He decided his friend deserved more of an answer than that; "Finally managing to pocket a mark or two against some of the more prolific players around here too." Although a lot of the time it wasn't just marks, Az'uka tended to find that betting and losing the occasional skin of wine tended to get him in less trouble with higher ranking riders. Opening up again he belatedly added another thought "And keeping on top of friends who won't do it themselves."

"You mean gently encouraging people to take care of themselves?" K'mai teased. "Or not so gently, in some cases."

For a second the bluerider's eyebrow raised in the direction of his friend; catching the teasing tone; and trying all he might any look of mock offence wouldn't have stuck if he tried it. There was that easy smile on his features, the one that was always getting him in trouble; either because it preceded something very stupid, or because it made it impossible to lie about what he had been up to. If nothing else it was clear enough that K'mai got it; undoubtedly the other rider had his fair share of people caring about him too. "Everyone could do with a little encouragement," he paused before accidently implicating himself further; "_Some_ more than others."

K'mai laughed and held up his glass. "To looking out for our friends."

"_Always_" now that he could toast to; although some of his friends heartily might disagree about the intensity of his involvement. As his glass settled back on the table he regarded his friend. "I trust you have been keeping track of your friends too;" there was very much a warm, ‘we are all in this together’ attitude about the way he said it. Although his nature had him ending it with a smirk that bordered on flirting. "Encouraging the best out of them"

"I do try my best. Somehow my friends keep multiplying, so it can be a challenge," K'mai said with a grin. And after the people from River Bluff had been scattered all over, it got hard to keep up with everyone. No, he wasn't going to dwell on that.

"A worthwhile challenge." Agreed Az'uka with a warm smile of his own and a knowing nod, friends often did just that when it came to Weyrlife. Friends, family, weyrmates, wingmates; not to mention those who came down from the Holds and Halls from time to time. With dragons jumping /between/ there honestly was no such thing as distance. Consequently you could find and make friends anywhere; and he personally would protect those he had as best he could. Especially those that lived closer; but he was always willing to make the effort to those that showed they were receptive; out loud he mused to K'mai "Some people need the space though," not that he was one for following such requests when it came to certain friends, he understood it. "Hopefully, everyone manages to catch some time. I know I for one keep trying"

}: Even when you get things thrown at you :{ Nilzuth saw fit to point out, undoubtedly to Sebeth too. He was referring in jest to his rider's sister. But in all truth, Az'uka had dodged plenty of incoming objects from other riders, friends, and weyrmates. He just had a _knack_

K'mai nodded. "Though having too many friends is a nice problem to have."

"A very nice problem indeed" Az'uka agreed. A talent he had been glad for whatever happen. After all, who knew what the future held.

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

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A Side Order of Gossip