Dinner & Firelizards

Writers: Aaron, Sia
Date Posted: 11th March 2024

Characters: E'kirim, J'ler
Description: Ekirim and J'ler have some not-so-chill flirting in the Dining Hall
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: K'aur and Remiath

J'ler

Ekirim found himself _abandoned_.

He had been making sure to sit with his family at dinner every night since they'd made the move to Dragonsfall, for solidarity and familiarity more than anything else. But the twins seemed to have found some age-mates they were giggling with and his Mom was sitting with some ladies that were sure to fawn over what a strapping young man he was, and honestly that wasn't the kind of attention he wanted right now (though he agreed that he was, indeed, a nice young man). K'aur was off probably doing weyrling things, whatever that was, and Mirima had her own friends.

So there he was for the first time in his young adult life, alone, casting a wide gaze over a crowded dining hall, looking for anyone around his age that had a spare seat and looked even vaguely welcoming. It didn't take him too long, and once spotted he beelined for the seat, sliding his tray down and sitting before he asked, "Hey, is this seat taken?"

"Yeah, by you!" J'ler answered jovially. "Have a seat. Have I seen you around? You look familiar. I'm J'ler."

"Great!" Ekirim grinned, "I'm Ekirim. I just moved here a few months back. My older brother is a dragonrider too. K'aur and brown Remiath."

"Ohh, that's it. I know K'aur," said J'ler. "Well, welcome to Dragonsfall. Where are you from originally? I moved here from River Bluff." When it was destroyed. He tried not to think about that too much.

"Amber Hills. Worked in the fields. It's a little different here, but I'm working in the kitchens and the gardens." Ekirim said as he dug into his dinner. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to all the dragons overhead, though. I've never seen so many at once before."

"It's all I've ever really known," said J'ler. He followed suit and shoveled his food into his mouthâ€" not that it stopped him from talking. "Seeing the sky without them there almost feels like being naked. And not in the fun way. You'll get used to them, though. Has Remiath ever spoken to you?"

"Spoken?" Ekirim asked, bewildered. "They can speak? He mostly stared at me. Looked grumpy, too, but maybe that's just his face." He grinned. "K'aur said that Remiath picked his name, but I figured he was just being poetical or something."

J'ler covered his mouth with his hand to avoid showing his half-chewed mouthful when he laughed.

"Oh, they speak. Some of them never shut up! And Maishoth is the poet. He doesn't just talk, he _rhymes_. All the time...s." He added the extra S when he realized it would make a rhyme in itself.

}:You'd better not mock and belittle meâ€" or would you rather be rid o' me?:{

**Never.**

"Stop. He does _not_." Ekirim said with a laugh. "I thought that was all exaggeration. Dragonriders so in tune with their beasts or some such. Like how people talk to their pets."

J'ler laughed along with Ekirim. He had never met anyone so sure dragons were just beasties or pets before, he almost wanted to ask Maishoth to speak to him just to prove him wrong.

}:If you asked me, I would do it. Just task me, nothin' to it. There's hardly ever been a cause or reason higher, than to prove that my J'ler is not a liar!:{

"Do you want to hear him?" he asked.

Ekirim's smile wavered just a little. He paused a moment, considering, before shaking his head. "No no. That's real nice of you. I don't want to intrude. Especially on the giant winged creatures that can breathe fire and _talk_. Is that why they seem so well trained? He knows what you mean when you say stop?"

"He knows what I mean, but he doesn't always listen," J'ler groused, but his feigned scowl immediately turned back to laughter. "You don't have to be nervous around them. They wouldn't hurt you."

"I'm not _nervous_." Ekirim argued with a grin. "I have a _healthy respect_ for creatures that breathe fire and could probably eat me as a snack if they so chose. I appreciate that they don't. But they _could_."

"Maishoth's not full grown," said J'ler. "You could meet him without worrying about snacking or fire breathing. If you wanted."

"Everyone's real happy to show off their dragons around here." Ekirim said, teasing a little. "Boys back home are so keen to show off their _firelizard_ too."

"Is that what they call them there?" J'ler grinned. "So, how big is _your_ â€˜firelizardâ€™?"

Ekirim considered for about half a second before replying, "He's a fine specimen. You're welcome to come back to my place to see for yourself."

J'ler chuckled. He hated to have to be the one to blink, but rules were rules, and he was not about to get in that kind of trouble for a game.

"Can I get a rain check? We're not allowed to pet any firelizards until Maishoth has learned to go between."

Ekirim paused for a second, trying to understand. "Uh, sure. Is that regulatory? I got Searched not too long ago- or, really, a dragon _noticed_ me as I was walking across the weyrbowl- and I'm really weighing my options here."

"Yeah, them's the rules. Not so much as any kissing, let alone kissing a firelizard, until your dragon goes between for the first time. And if I thought I could get away with it, I'd tell you," said J'ler. "But hey, after that, it's open season."

Ekirim considered that. "That's rough, buddy. Do y'all have that circled on a calendar or anything?" One could see the wheels metaphorically turning in his head. "Wait, does that include your own firelizard, too, or just caring for other firelizards?"

"Well... he ain't gonna oil himself," J'ler shrugged. "But they say it's about the feelings the dragons don't understand at this age, and well, there would still be some feelings if I was taking care of my firelizard upkeep. We do keep pretty busy, and privacy is a rare commodity. So... I probably wouldn't have much opportunity even if I could. It's probably that way on purpose..."

"Huh. Well, that's neat. And sad for you, really," Ekirim said earnestly, reaching over to gently pat J'ler's hand in sympathy, " but that gives me some great material to give K'aur shit about later."

J'ler cackled with delight. He loved a good ribbing, even if he could technically be the butt of the same jab.

"You have to tell me how that goes," he said. "Assuming he doesn't tell me first."

"Oh, I will." Ekirim flashed him a grin. "Bet you'll get two separate stories. Just remember mine is the better one."

"I don't doubt it for a minute!" J'ler liked this guy. "I'm sorry I have to wait."

"Don't be! You got to do what you got to do." Ekirim said brightly. "Hit me up once you hit that milestone. I know a couple nice storerooms that are no longer dusty."

J'ler could not help but return Ekirim's grin. There was just something about him he wanted more of. He was not sure what they would do when they finally made it to the end of all this, but he would not be the one to back down.

"You got it, boss."

Last updated on the March 14th 2024

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Dinner & Firelizards