Descent Into Depravity (2/2)

Writers: Corrin, Duskdog, Sia
Date Posted: 26th March 2026

Characters: Zaphare, Sybana, Varethos
Description: Three people gather for an intimate occasion…
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 10 of Turn 12

Zaphare

Sybana

Varethos

Varethos had clearly made an effort too. His hair was still perfectly tousled despite the short dragonride, and his cheeks flushed from the chill. His shirt was nice with the top button undone, the sort of casual neatness that suggested he'd tried very hard to look like he didn't. A sturdy leather brace wrapped around one wrist and part of his palm; impossible to miss, particularly given how carefully the rest of him had been arranged.

His eyes swept around the room-- the tea, the incense, the surprisingly clean room, both women looking like they'd spent just as much time getting ready for an evening in as he did.

"Well, don't we clean up nice."

Zaphare made a face at him. “_Wow_. Sybana _always_ looks like this.”

Varethos wasn't falling for that bait so early in the evening. "You two are effortlessly beautiful, of course, but I know Gather Best when I see it. Did you get extra pillows?"

“What? No, I’ve always had two. Somewhere.”

Sybana wasn't actually in her Gather Best. She had considered it, but it was too formal, and with 57 tiny gold buttons it was also rather difficult to get in and out of- which she felt missed the point of the evening.

Anyway, she wasn't about to argue semantics. Not with Zaphare being so sweet and accommodating, and Varethos looking so dashing and exactly as a dragonrider should, with his windswept hair and-- oh no. “What happened to your hand?”

"Oh, uh." Varethos raised his hand up to show the brace. "From skating the other day. I caught the puck wrong." That wasn't entirely right-- he had padded gloves that protected his hands, but he hadn't realized how badly he and Sybana had fallen until about halfway through the game. "I'm fine. Just not as dextrous. Did I miss tea?"

She was sorry he was hurt from his game, but if his hand wasn’t as dexterous, how could he possibly do that thing Zaphare-- Sybana blushed, shoving the thought aside and defaulting to manners. “Not at all. Please, join us.”

Zaphare had not set out a third cup, but because Sybana offered, she fetched another one anyway. “At least you’re good at saying nice things even when you don’t have to,” she allowed, pouring him some tea. “...and nice enough to dress up for it, too. Most guys wouldn’t put forth the effort if they already knew they were getting what they wanted.”

The smile she gave him was genuine appreciation, but brief, as she looked away quickly when she realized her face might be giving away more than intended.

Varethos' smile was warm and lingered longer than hers. "You're getting what _you_ want, Zaph," He reminded her as he took the cup and settled into a seat across from Sybana. "Though I appreciate the consideration. I'm told I came highly recommended."

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Zaphare snapped, instinctively defensive. But she immediately felt bad. He hadn’t actually done anything wrong, after all. In fact, he was doing right. “I mean… you’re the best option I know. For these circumstances, that is. You’re…” She crossed her arms and looked away. “Someone I trust to do it right for Sybana. And not blab about it everywhere. You’re… a good guy. And you know what you’re doing. That’s a rare and special combo.”

Varethos glanced towards Sybana, raising his eyebrows in a knowing look. He remembered what Sybana called him. The best. It's fine-- it'd be their little secret. "Thank you. Now, Sybana, this is your night--- what do _you_ want? You and Zaph have been together, right? Do you want a nice time to trial the parts? My best impersonation of a winning bronzerider? Something in between?"

The silence stretched a little too long, or so it felt in her anxiety. It was still so _unnatural_ to talk about these things over tea and Sybana felt her cheeks burn at the question. “The impersonation,” she said at last. “I think I’d better know what’s in store, right?” She glanced at Zaphare for support.

Zaphare made a little face -- part hesitation, part wince, and then an almost-immediate sort of _screw_ into a weird smile that she probably thought was reassuring. “That’s… I mean, that’s what you’re preparing for, I guess. But maybe… it might be better if he’s nicer first, then more like the impersonation after? Flightsex is kind of a lot, and you’re…” She made a helpless sort of gesture, like she wasn’t quite sure how to finish that sentence.

Sybana wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence either. “I’m what?” she asked, a little defensively. “And what do you mean, nicer? Will a flight make them _mean_? I don’t remember that in the lectures. Won’t they be _pleased_ they’ve won?”

Varethos studied Sybana between glancing at Zaphare. For…guidance? Help?

“You’re, well…” Zaphare stumbled over her words, suddenly aware that what she’s thinking sounds ridiculous. “I just mean you’re new to this. And you’re… well, like you said. A _lady_.” She tapped her fingers on the table next to her. “And it’s not that they get mean, just that they’re not really thinking about what feels good to _you_. They’re just trying to get off, you know? They’re rough. Single-minded. Not really, uh… considerate.” She made another face. “Not that most guys are. But flight sex gives them more of an excuse.”

Varethos' questioning look at Zaphare turned reproachful. "You'll be like that too." He added mildly. "Both parties are only caring about what _they_ want. There's not a lot of finesse to it. It's driven by the dragons' urges, remember, and dragons don't understand it the same way people do. I shouldn't have asked it like that, anyway. I meant-- is this your first time with a man? The foreplay can be a little different, and penetration is a different sensation than fingers. The tannercraft does commissions, though, so I don't want to assume what you have or haven't done just because Zaphare doesn't naturally have the same pieces.

"It _would_ make more sense to take it slow and get used to the sensations of it before getting too rough." He gave Zaphare that look again, "Not that I'm begging for several repeat performances, to be clear."

“Of course this is my first time with a man,” said Sybana. Did he know what an insult that was?

“But I'm not ignorant, not anymore anyway.” She lifted her chin proudly, eager to defend her learning and her friend's tutelage. “Zaphare showed me about everything one _can_, I expect-- excepting what one can do with your ‘pieces’ attached. She has her own… handheld one.”

Which was really weird, when Sybana thought about it, so she tried not to think about it.

Shakily she put her tea down, there was no point in trying to drink it now. “If you both think I ought to start elsewhere, I won’t argue. I _would_ like to know what’s possible and what’s good, but that is-- it’s an indulgence. What I _need_ is to be prepared to do my duty. I would like to rehearse. At some point.” She always felt better for a good rehearsal.

Zaphare made a face at Varethos, just because that _look_ irritated her. It was childish and petty, but she couldn’t let it go unanswered.

For Sybana, however, she frowned. “I don’t think sex feeling good is an indulgence. Otherwise, what’s even the point? Well, okay, yes, your _duty_… but your duty is only what, a couple of times a turn? What about the other, uh… three-hundred and sixty-whatever days out of the turn? I guess I’m just worried that if rough sex is your first experience, it’ll just… turn you off. Or at least make enjoying it harder when you can.”

“Zaphare.” Reaching out, Sybana placed a gentle hand on the bluerider’s arm. “My first experience was you, and it was very nice.”

Point made, she pulled back, folding her hands in her lap as she continued, “You’ve already proved things can be pleasant, more than pleasant, and I’m grateful for that-- but those couple of days a year are very important to me. I’m _glad_ to have a duty, I just want to do it well. I would hate it if my inexperience distracted Galgi--or worse--in her maiden flight. If flightwinners are as different as you both make them out to be, I _would_ like to know what I’m getting into at some point.”

"Well, your duty is really to make sure Galgaith has a good flight. You need to be comfortable enough to control her in the moment, but once she's caught and you get with the bronze, the dragons really just fly themselves." Varethos said. He didn't _really_ know, he didn't have a dragon. And he didn't 'moth that much either, especially not now since there was a pretty good chance a dad or brother or cousin might be there too. But that's what his friends said. "But you're right, it's important not to scare or distract her while she's in the air. But that's why we suggested taking it slow first. If you have a terrible time with me because we went too hard too fast, it might be harder being calm during the real thing because you're expecting a hard time."

He took a sip of tea. It was surprisingly nice. "You can be preparing for your 'duty' and indulging at the same time. Both things can exist. That's what Zaphare's getting at, right? How you're feeling every other time is going to make your flights harder, right? If you're feeling confident that what you've done with Zaphare is sufficient, that's fine. She's good." He shot her a sly smile, "Although she told me that handheld piece was special just for me."

Zaphare grinned slyly. “Maybe I have two. You don’t know.”

"Uh huh. One with each of our names, right?"

“I’ll have to add that. Or maybe I’ll ask for that when I upgrade someday. If Zollarth ever lets me buy anything for myself ever again, I have a few things in mind I’d like to spend some marks on. We’ll have to spend some time doing some errands for marks though.” Zaphare blinked, and then narrowed her eyes. “...that wasn’t a serious question, was it?”

"You sure know how to woo a guy." Varethos continued mildly, still smiling too sweetly.

“I… trust you’re joking about adding names,” said Sybana.

Zaphare just… folded immediately, reaching out to place her hand over Sybana’s. What was a joke, or a challenge, with Varethos felt deeply inappropriate with Sybana. “Yeah, I’m joking. I’m not _that_ crass.” Actually she might be, but Sybana didn’t need to know that. “But especially with you, I mean. I wouldn’t out you like that. Even if you, you know… had something special in my bedside drawer. Not that you would!”

She might.

But again, Sybana didn’t need to know that.

“Sorry,” Zaphare continued. “I know none of this is helping you right now.”

Sybana squeezed her hand and managed a small smile. “Well, it gave me some time to think.” And a mild panic attack. “It sounds like I was being a… a bit too ambitious for my second outing. If you both think it's better to put aside the flight aspect for now, then alright.”

She turned to Varethos. “Show me how good it can be instead.”

Varethos smiled, "Thank you for trusting us. And…Zaphare, what's your role here? Stage direction? A captive audience? Helping me with my bad hand?"

“My role is whatever’s needed,” Zaphare replied cryptically, though the way her eyes shone as she glanced over them suggested what her preferred type of “whatever” might be. “I can be hands if you need it. If Sybana needs it.”

Varethos looked from Zaphare to Sybana, "And that's okay with you, Sybana? I know you wanted her here, and she did all the arranging. You'll tell us if either of us make you uncomfortable?"

“I will,” said Sybana. Truth be told she was already decidedly out of her comfort zone-- but that wasn't directly anyone's fault, so she saw no reason to mention it.

Zaphare took her hand, squeezing it gently -- but with unmistakable eagerness. “Then let’s take this somewhere more comfortable, eh?”

Last updated on the April 1st 2026

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Descent Into Depravity (2/2)