Loseth is the Best

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 17th May 2026

Characters: Tavhei, N'vanik
Description: Tavhei spends some time with Loseth and N'vanik.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: Talryne, Gil (not by name), Eboroth

N'vanik

N'vanik was headed across the Weyrbowl with his dragon bathing supplies when he saw the young harper. "Hey, Tavhei! Wanna help wash Loseth?"

Tavhei brightened, at the familiar voice, and changed direction to veer toward the older man. "N'vanik." He greeted. "I'd love to help. How are you? How's Loseth?" He added.

"Doing pretty good, both of us," N'vanik said with a smile. "How are you?" Tavhei had grown up well and was a young man now, but sometimes when N'vanik looked at him, he could still see the skinny little teenager who used to curl up with Loseth.

"Good." Tavhei responded, and offered a return smile. "I'm well, thank you." He continued, after a moment. "I've been busy with my craft, and everything. But I've been thinking about maybe getting a feline." He added.

"Oh yeah?"

Loseth was already in the water and crooned a soft greeting to Tavhei as they approached, his eyes whirling a little faster.

"They're cute, and soft. Better than a yapping canine that needs to run." Tavhei supplied. "It could stay with my mom while I'm busy with my duties."

And then he was waving the topic off. He paused only to tug off his boots and leave them on the lakeshore before he waded into the shallows.

"Hey, Loseth." He greeted with quiet warmth, no diffidence or usual affected disinterest shown as he reached up to hug the bronze's head and then scritched an eyeridge. "Bath day, huh? Is it okay if I help your rider and you out?"

Loseth rumbled and gently bumped his nose against Tavhei's chest. He liked this human very much and was happy for him to help.

N'vanik stripped off his shirt and kicked off his sandals, leaving his shorts on. "Do you gotta ask? You know you're one of his favorites." He handed Tavhei a brush.

"He's the _best_ bronze, aren't you Loseth?" Tavhei told Loseth, half conspiratorial, then accepted the brush from N'vanik. "You're my favourite too, Loseth." He added. "Especially once you're scrubbed and shiny." Another pat, and then he was headed to scoop some sweetsand.

"I know, uncle." he added to N'vanik as an aside. "At this point it's just habit to ask him too, though." He offered a half-shrug. "Are you busy after this? I was going to go get lunch."

The first time Tavhei had called him 'uncle' N'vanik's chest had squeezed so tight it almost hurt. "He says of course he's the best. Got some hidework to get to, but that can wait. We can have lunch in my weyr. Maybe Tal can join us. And maybe your mom, too?"

"I'd like that. And I can ask my mom too. She's having a good day." Tavhei told N'vanik, and then waded back deeper. "Here-- Loseth, do you mind holding your wing out? I'll start at your shoulder." He paused, then continued talking to the other man. "Let me know if he says somewhere is itchy on this side?"

Loseth lowered himself in the water and lifted his wing as asked. "I will," N'vanik said with a slight smile. He picked up a handful of sweetsand and started scrubbing Loseth's coppery hide. "What have you been working on lately?"

"I made those reference sketches for Talryne recently." Tavhei offered, scrubbing industriously and the selected spot. "They came out fine, but she asked me not to clue the rider in that I was drawing their dragon, and the next thing I know this guy's talking to me about how Eboroth is great." A huffed exhale. "It was just the weyrmate though, thank Faranth."

N'vanik chuckled. "Thanks for doing that, by the way. Tal really appreciated it, and I know you don't like being around dragons. Except for this big guy, of course."

}:He scrubs well.:{ Loseth's eyes whirled slowly with contentment.

Tavhei shrugged, a little awkwardly, then remembered N'vanik couldn't actually see him. "The dragon didn't get clued in, which was really the best I was hoping for." He responded, a bit blandly, then relented. "That's cause Loseth is the _best_, yes you are." He told the bronze, and continued scrubbing.

A pause, and then he added, "I don't mind doing things for Talryne, and you, you know. And it wasn't awful. Just... different proportions than Loseth."

"Eboroth is much smaller." N'vanik shifted around so he could see Tavhei. "You're a good kid, Tavhei. Man, I should say."

"Between you and Loseth, you probably know every dragon and rider in the Weyr." Tavhei remarked, if a little bit dryly. "I... Thank you. I know its a little odd, to live in a Weyr and not want to be around dragons. Loseth excluded." He added, and petted bronze hide.

Loseth looked back at him, eyes whirling a contented blue.

"He says he's happy you're here," N'vanik relayed. "And I know you're staying here because of your mom." Despite her loss, Vheira was determined to stay at the Weyr, and Tavhei refused to leave her.

"... Yeah." Tavhei agreed, stopped scrubbing for a moment. "I'm not going anywhere without her. And besides, I... Well. I've never lived anywhere but here, myself."

He resumed scrubbing. "Loseth just likes getting scritches. And probably a faster bathtime." He told the bronze, half amused.

"If that's all he wanted, there's plenty of Candidates and weyrbrats for that," N'vanik said. "I invited you to help because he likes your company. _We_ like your company, and I hope we can make your life here a little bit better."

"... You do." Tavhei responded. "You-- Faranth, I haven't said it often, have I? Talryne and you and Loseth, some of the other Harpers, you make it... easier." He huffed, half amused. "I know I'm not the most social." He added, glancing at N'vanik. "I almost _yelled_ at some green dragon yesterday for being too friendly. So if you get a complaint about that... sorry."

He sobered, then. "... Like I said. You both-- all three of you-- really help. Even if I don't hide with Loseth anymore."

"He'd like it if you read to him again sometime," N'vanik said.

"I'm not a 'brat anymore, Loseth!" Tavhei protested, half laughing, even as he gave the nearest bit of bronze hide a pat. ".. I mean, I guess if he's insisting." he added teasingly. "Faranth knows I don't say no to him, either, isn't that right Loseth?"

The bronze looked back at him again with a soft rumble of affection.

"He doesn't remember it, of course," N'vanik said. "But whenever I remind him, he wants you to read him more stories." N'vanik had been reading to Loseth since he was a hatchling, and now Talryne did it, too.

"After lunch, maybe." Tavhei agreed, and petted bronze hide again before returning to scrubbing. "Today is more or less a free day for me so I've got plenty of time for Loseth, and lunch, and... anything else."

He paused, then added, "Maybe I'll work on some more sketches, too. Loseth can pose."

The bronze arched his neck and very carefully spread one wing.

"Don't encourage him!" N'vanik laughed.

"Not right _now_." Tavhei told the bronze, with a laugh of his own, and added a pat. "But that is a very good pose, Loseth."

Last updated on the May 24th 2026

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Loseth is the Best