Family Dinner

Writers: Sia
Date Posted: 10th August 2025

Characters: E'kirim, K'aur, Kemira
Description: E'kirim discusses his conversation with K'mai to his brother and mother.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Follows "Bragging Bluerider", "Fact Checking", and "Injured Pride"

It had been almost a sevenday since the lake incident, and E'kirim had almost convinced himself to forget about it. Almost.

K'aur ruined that by leaning against the doorframe of their mother's quarters with a smirk that radiated trouble. "So, I hear J'ler's been telling people you're his boyfriend."

E'kirim, halfway through filling his plate with dinner, shot him a sharp look. "I'm not. How did _you_ hear about it?"

"I know people. Word spreads." K'aur said. "And the people wanted to know a brother's insight."

"I'm glad you got your five minutes of fame from me." He set his plate down on the table and dropped down into a chair, his frown bordering on a scowl. "I guess you didn't tell anyone to mind their own business?"

"No." K'aur said, "You two have been hot and heavy since you moved here, with a break for Norrianth. That's courting with extra steps."

"Why does everyone care so much?" E'kirim asked, exasperated. "K'mai accosted me at the summer lake, too, demanding to know if it was true and if I liked men. I told him it wasn't his sharding business."

"I've met K'mai." Kemira said mildly, causing both brothers to turn their heads sharply. "He does have a way of asking personal questions."

K'aur considered his mother a moment before deciding he didn't want to know. "Yeah, and? Some old bluerider poked you a bit. At least he wasn't rumour-mongering?"

E'kirim gave him a look. "He went on about how it's important for people to see 'bronzeriders like me' so kids 'know it's possible'." He made exaggerated air quotes.

"Yeah, and?" K'aur repeated. He tilted his head, expression twisting into faux sympathy. "He's got a point. I only know one other bronzerider that likes men, and that's only because Varethos has been very loud about having two dads." He paused for a moment, considering, "Huh. Both the wingsecond and wingthird of Azure like men. It's not all that common with brownriders, either."

"That doesn't matter." Kemira said, "E'kirim's eighteen. He's not old enough to be a good example."

"Yeah!" E'kirim said, though it took him a moment to catch the jibe. "Although, rude, mom."

Kemira tried to hide her smile. "I just mean that T'mhas should be sitting you down and telling you that it's ok to like men. You're overdue some fatherly-type embarrassment."

E'kirim made a face. "I don't care what people think. Bronzes win greenflights too. It seems strange that everyone seems to think they all _only_ like women."

"Well, who else in your class likes men?" K'aur asked. "Z'renh? Girls. C'uren? Girls. A'ris? Girls. L'kayric? Girls."

"So what?" E'kirim protested, "There must be more in the Wings. The dragons don't care."

"Of course dragons don't care." K'aur agreed easily. "But people do. And they talk. And then K'mai tries to recruit you into the Grand Cause." He rested his chin on his fist, "Why does K'mai care, though? He's a bluerider. You think he's some bronzerider's dirty secret?"

"Ew." E'kirim said.

Kemira shrugged. "That sounds like too much work for him. Maybe he just enjoys meddling."

"Then he can meddle somewhere else." E'kirim muttered, stabbing at his food.

"At the risk of _also_ meddling, what's wrong with just telling him that you like men? You've never been one to keep it a secret, even back at Amber Hills." Kemira asked, "And it's not like you kept the subtlety when we moved."

"That's different." E'kirim said, "K'mai doesn't know me. He's not my friend. He's probably old enough to be my father, and he's bothering me about my private life like an old auntie. And I don't care about being an example just because someone wants one."

Kemira took a sip of her tea, "Then keep doing what you've been doing with J'ler, and the point will make itself."

"I'm not--"

"Dating him." K'aur finished, smirking, "Sure."

"I hate you."

"Language, boys. Eat your dinner."

Last updated on the August 29th 2025

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Family Dinner