Rum and Congratulations

Writers: Devin, Shawna
Date Posted: 21st February 2026

Characters: N'kevyn, N'vanik
Description: N'vanik stops by to congratulate N'kevyn on the successful hatching and his daughter's Impression
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Aydhara, Cirina, R'lor, J'nic, T'lonas, J'ackt, Sh'del, M'gan, Talryne

N'kevyn

N'vanik

"Thread and time zones." N'vanik sighed as he stepped into the weyr. "I wish I could've been there. Sounds like it was pretty eventful." He thought he might have been able to squeeze in the Hatching, but it had started so late that it had been the very early hours before dawn at Dolphin Cove and he couldn't afford the lost sleep right before facing an early morning Fall. Holding up a bottle of rum, N'vanik said, "I brought you a little gift."

"Yeah, you missed an exciting one! Couldn't have gone better." N'kevyn said cheerily. "Should I crack this open and pour us a drink?"

"Yeah," N'vanik said. "Congrats on Aydhara Impressing."

N'kevyn beamed as he poured two glasses, offering one to N'vanik, "You know, she always said she wanted a dragon just like Avicath- well, after she got old enough to understand she couldn't just steal Avicath from me- I'm afraid she got her wish. I've never seen such a bulky little blue I don't think. And the way he tackled Cirina's dragon! I suppose Barrier Lake owes you an official apology for stealing one of your candidates, but Aydhara will be thrilled to have the company in class. "

"Cirina's been waiting a long time." N'vanik took a sip. "At least now I don't have to worry about her trying to sneak onto the Hatching Grounds again." Her desperation to Impress had started to become a problem.

"I had heard about that," N'kevyn chuckled. "Though I'm sure an exaggerated version, because teenagers. Thankfully Avicath is easy going; I've never had to worry about anyone causing a ruckus. He lets in anyone that asks, so no one bothers to sneak."

"There wouldn't have been such a fuss if she hadn't snuck in during the middle of the night and if we hadn't had holders trying to murder baby dragons not long ago." N'vanik heaved a sigh. "But she's your problem now. Well, J'nic's I guess. R'lor came along to ask if J'nic might let him talk to Cirina."

"J'nic's problem," N'kevyn raised his glass like it was a toast, "I don't have problems," he joked, "And no one has ever tried to hurt Avi or one of his clutches, so he's never had reason to worry. I can't imagine J'nic will have any problem with it, and I'm sure Cirina would appreciate seeing a familiar face. I'm sure this has all been a little unsettling."

"Yeah, it's gotta be a shock to have a dragon pick her at a different Weyr after waiting so long, and to know she has to stay here for months. No time to get her things, no time to say goodbye," N'vanik said. "I'm glad Aydhara will be with her."

"Me too. She's a good kid, hopefully she can be a... Voice of restraint around my daughter," N'kevyn said diplomatically, though his opinion of Cirina was obviously colored by the fact that she tended to be on her best behavior around him. "The weyrling staff are going to have their hands full with Aydhara and a pair of Holdless transfers we acquired as it is. At least Cirina is a stands impression that knows what she's in for and signed up for the life, if she didn't quite get what she expected."

"Holdless transfers? From Dragonsfall?" N'vanik said. Well, wasn't that interesting. "We had a holdless from Dragonsfall Impress in our last batch."

"Yeah. It seems Dragonsfall realized they bit off more than they could chew or something," N'kevyn shrugged- we had a couple of transfers. One for 'health reasons'. I don't know the story on the other. Still, two out of thirty nine isn't nearly the mess T'lonas is dealing with at Dragonsfall, so I don't expect problems."

"I do feel bad for T'lonas." N'vanik chuckled. J'ackt had nearly run Sh'del into retirement and often made N'vanik want to pull his hair out, and that was only _one_ holdless kid to deal with. "I'm surprised Thiseta allowed any to come over."

"You and me both; I wouldn't want the headache." N'kevyn shrugged, "I assume the weyrling staff at both Weyrs vetted the candidates, and dragons picked them, so there can't be anything too wrong. I don't know Thiseta well at all, is it strange that she allowed it? I stay out of the Weyrwoman's business and way."

N'vanik chuckled. "I've only talked to her a little at Hatchings so I don't know her well, either. I just thought with . . . what happened, she might be extra cautious."

"Well, hopefully the dragons had the sense to pick good, stable riders. They're Avicath babies, after all. Known for their good taste," N'kevyn reached for the bottle to top off their glasses.

"Oh are they?" N'vanik teased. He accepted the additional rum and took a sip.

"Well, at least that's what Avicath says. I have it on good authority," his tone became serious, "that they are the best. Just never try to get Avi to define what "best" means. But you know how bronze egos are, I'm sure."

"Oh yeah. Dragons and riders." N'vanik smiled in amusement. "You know, they do make some odd choices. Hatchlings. But I think they see the best in us, and it's up to us to live up to that. Not everyone does."

"Speak for yourself with 'riders'. I am a modest and humble man," N'kevyn lied shamelessly. "But anyway, what's the latest news from Dolphin Cove? I haven't been able to visit much lately."

N'vanik made a slight face and took a large sip of rum. "Did you hear about M'gan?"

"Rumors and stories, does this mean it's true? I admit, some of the stories are a little wild," N'kevyn leaned forward, eager for the newest gossip, "I'm not sure even the people telling them believe it."

"He went to the past and got back here months after he was supposed to." N'vanik fought a surge of anger. "He won't even tell _me_ where he went. So I'm making him tell all the riders about his little joyride and making everyone understand how dangerous that was and how he's sharding lucky he got back at all."

"Must have been important, if he'd rather be in trouble than talk about it," N'kevyn said. "I'd heard some crazy rumors, but I kept my nose out of it- I wasn't sure if people were hoping the feline would crawl back in the bag. The truth is officially out, though?"

"Yeah. I never liked that we kept this from the blue and greenriders," N'vanik said. "I don't think anybody should be going /between/ times, but people can do it by accident and they should be warned."

"I'd have rather they kept it from me. It's a dangerously tempting ability to have," N'kevyn's expression sobered, "Now that more people know, more people will try, and the accidents will go up."

N'vanik sighed. "I know it's possible, but I hope people will realize how dangerous it is and not try. I want to _prevent_ accidents. Playing around with time . . ." He shook his head. "I broke a lot of rules but I never, ever messed with that."

"The young and dumb will try it just to try it, and some will try it to get back something they lost," N'kevyn shook his head, "you rolled the dice on that one. I hope it works out." With a chuckle, he said, "I suppose you could go back and punch yourself if it doesn't." Raising a hand to stall any protests, he said, "Just a joke. I know that's a terrible idea."

"If I was going to go back and punch myself, I have a lot better reasons than that." N'vanik wished his list of regrets wasn't quite so long.

"I can imagine a tenure like yours probably leaves a few regrets. Ever thought of giving it all up? Hopefully Dolphin Cove Weyr wouldn't throw parties if you did," N'kevyn had heard rumors from Dragonsfall about the recent change in leadership.

"There have been days," N'vanik said with a rueful smile. "Though a lot of my regrets come from before being Weyrleader."

"Really? I'd have assumed it would be the job," N'kevyn looked genuinely surprised. "You seem like a man who knows what he wants and doesn't let things get in his way."

"Mm, well. I used to get in my own way a lot. Angry and arrogant and afraid to let people close." N'vanik took a long drink.

"Oh, I can see where that would lead to some regrets. I hope you've learned your lesson; all the best things in life come from letting people close," it was a predictable response from N'kevyn. "The scariest things, too, but mostly the best things."

"Talryne taught me that," N'vanik said softly, his voice full of warmth.

"Well, cheers to that, for sure," N'kevyn raised his glass in a toast, "don't ever let her feel unappreciated. Constant, annoying affection is my secret to a twenty Turn relationship."

"We have our own ways." N'vanik had made some mistakes, but he made sure she knew how much he loved her, trusted her. Needed her. "To being very lucky men." He clicked his glass against N'kevyn's.

"Fair enough. Whatever works for you. Want another glass?" N'kevyn reached for the rum.

"Sure."

Last updated on the February 28th 2026

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Rum and Congratulations