Practiced Mischief

Writers: AL, Sia
Date Posted: 28th September 2025

Characters: K'lin, D'narion
Description: Donnarion tries to convince Kedolin to lighten up for once.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 21 of Turn 12

D'narion

The candidate barracks were quiet in the late-afternoon lull between chores and the evening meal. The chill of outside still lingered in the bones, especially after the heat of the glasscrafter's forge. Donnarion had flopped belly-down across the top bunk, the thin mattress creaking beneath him. Sweat stuck his shirt to his back, but he didn't move to peel it off. Instead, he peered over the edge, where Kedolin sat on the lower bunk with his legs folded and his slate resting across his knees.

Donnarion watched him for a moment, then reached one hand down, upside-down and slow, like a feline creeping toward prey. His fingers brushed the edge of Kedolin’s folded tunic lying beside him on the cot, but he passed it over, going instead for the piece of chalk resting near the slate. With practiced mischief, he snatched it up and reeled his arm back in, tucking it beneath his chin like a prize.

“Don.” Kedolin’s eyes lifted to the bunk above him, the one which his brother had chosen. That had its advantages, but one of the disadvantages was that Kedolin was within easy reach. Still, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he leaned over and peered up at his brother.

They had never been apart. Sharing a womb, the two had been born, completely identical, and only their mother could ever tell them apart. It seemed the woman had some sort of affinity for the impossible, for she constantly thwarted any and all attempts to fool her on part of Don. She was unshakable. Everyone else, however, wasn’t.

He was the more outgoing and mischievous of the two. Kedolin enjoyed jokes, though he was woefully horrific at making them, and any attempts were usually met with eye rolls or just complete silence. He didn’t bother trying, but Don…he was the one who made people laugh. He also had a habit of being annoying. “I’m trying to study.”

"I have a trick for you. Gs are for girls and Bs are for boys." Donnarion said with a grin. He did not give back the chalk. "What do you have to study about right now? There are still eggs on the sands."

“I have to be able to dictate the steps in a couple of new techniques, not to mention the history of their development.” Kedolin didn’t mind learning all of that, though he much preferred the more hands on aspect of his craft. However, he tempered that desire with the knowledge that he couldn't focus too much on one aspect, since it was all required by the Master in the course of his study. “I’m sure I’ll be quizzed on it tomorrow.” After the meal, he would have some time to execute more practical applications, and he looked forward to that.

"Oh pfft. You aren't an apprentice anymore, plus you're a candidate now. It's okay to get the surprise quizzes wrong. You've got other stuff on your mind." Donnarion said. He wiggled a little forward to peer down at the pages, scrunching his nose as he tried to parse the scrawl. The mechanics of the thing didn't make a lot of sense to him, since their specialities were so different.

Kedolin exhaled through his nose and shook his head at his brother. Unlike Don, he was not so quick to dismiss his work. His craft was a joy to him, and the beauty he was able to mold with his hands still brought great satisfaction. Yet, it wasn’t easy, and took time and hard work to learn how to do it properly. Although he had made great strides over the last couple of turns, he had a long way to go if he wished to achieve Mastery. “There’s no guarantee we’ll Impress.”

"And you've got a few turns before anyone even considers us for Senior Journeymen." Donnarion answered. "Why bother with it now? You are at a crossroads, my friend. Mastery is in one direction, a dragon and Threadfall in the other." He placed his hands on top of the other and titled them, mimicking the intersection in the road. One hand moved off to show the 'crafter' path and the other moved to represent the 'dragonrider'. "I'd be happy with either, but right now it's not like we can do anything but wait. And the couple months before we find out won't set us so far behind that we can't catch up."

“I don’t want to have to catch up.” Kedolin stated matter of factly. That was the way it was between the two of them. While Don had talent and skill, he could have been so much better if he spent more time focusing. Meanwhile, Kedolin knew there were no guarantees in life, and he wasn’t going to pause simply because he *might* Impress a dragon. In fact, the only reason he’d agreed to accept the Search was because it meant he and Don could stay together.

That was also another thing between them. Although they wore the same face, there were many differences between them. Despite those differences, Kedolin loved his brother fiercely, and would do anything to help and protect him. They had spent all their lives together, and he wasn’t about to change that now. “Is there something you wish to do? Is that why you’re insisting I not bother?”

"I’m done work in the forge. We don't have anything else to do today. Let's get into some trouble." Donnarion said. "I can introduce you to a girl. Or a boy, if this is the day you decide to get creative. I know a little of both so far. Or I can introduce you to someone I don't know that you find fascinating. The whole Weyr is out there."

Don had his preferences, and while Kedolin didn’t share them, he would not deny his brother happiness, even if it did force him to rethink his outlook on things. Shaking his head, he snorted lightly and flicked his hand in a dismissive gesture. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble. Or both of us. Besides, I’m sure there will be plenty of time to get to know people here.

Although they wore the same face, the twins couldn’t be any more different. Don was gregarious and enjoyed people, as well as a rather carefree attitude. Kedolin, on the other hand, was quieter, more introspective, and preferred his craft to his peers. “Or have you already met someone?”

"I've met lots of people, I just said. Pay attention." Donnarion chided, though he was still teasing, "Calonice's cute. She's a candidate here. She's chatty enough you'd just need to grunt at the appropriate times. There's some glasscrafter girls appreciating my _masculine_ form, so surely they're drooling over you too. I don't think H'taysh would appreciate me setting him up with my brother, he seems a little shy. Besides, he's _mine_."

“I’m not interested.” Even if Kedolin did wish to find some sort of romantic partner, he had no interest at all in men. Currently, he had no interest at all in anyone, not even a woman. Besides, he didn’t know how to talk to a girl. Shaking his head, he knew his brother would likely have a string over lovers before Impression, and then after Impression, once they hit a certain point in their Weyrling training. Evidently, Weyrlings were supposed to remain abstinent for the first half, and he couldn’t help but wonder how Don would handle that. “You might wish to practice going without so it’s not so hard later.” He pointed out.

Would Don Impress? From what he’d read, those who could hear dragons had a higher rate of Impression, but it wasn’t a guarantee. For Kedolin, he didn’t care. The only reason he’d agreed to the Search was so he could go to the Weyr.

"What? No." Donnarion wrinkled his nose. "You don't fast before a famine. Besides, it'll just be temporary. Good to get used to it now so dragonflights aren't so upsetting later."

“Hard to miss what you don’t know you’re missing.” Maybe that was supposed to convince *him* of participating, but for Kedolin, it did the opposite. Besides, there wasn’t anyone he was interested in. Unlike his brother, he had no attraction to males, and the females were just…females. He didn’t know them. Simply getting so physical with someone who was a stranger didn’t appeal. Even though he knew he was an anomaly, even for a holdbred boy, he didn’t care. His passion was for his craft, and thus he was fine with the status quo. “Regardless, I’m fine. If you wish to indulge, then don’t let me stop you.”

"Ugh." Donnarion flipped over on his bunk, making the structure groan. He was awkwardly sprawled across the width, and the change in position allowed his legs to dangle. Kedolin was prone to bring unfun, and he'd hoped the transfer to a Weyr would pull him out of his shell.

Oh well. There was a whole other Weyr of people to meet. He sat up and hopped off the bunk. "Suit yourself. I'm going to clean up and head to the dining hall, if you decide to change your mind. Don't forget to eat, at least."

Last updated on the October 3rd 2025

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Practiced Mischief