Don't Hurt My Sister OR The Kiss

Eastern Weyr - Commons Cavern

A grand stairway leads downward into the cool rock of the commons cavern, a place for socializing and relaxing, as well as an area that provides solid shelter from the seasonal storms of this area. One of the few caverns at Eastern Weyr, the rock here has been worn away by centuries worth of water movement, leaving a nearly glass smooth polish over much of the room. Rocky shelves line the walls on which electric lights covered with paper lanterns rest, providing adequate illumination for the area. High above are further light fixtures, enabling a wide range of lighting options here. A natural pool occupies half of the far end of the cavern and is supplied with heated water piped in by an ingenious techcrafter. All about the room are balconies of rock with stairs leading to them and small dumbwaiters for the purpose of delivering food and drink to their heights.


It's another beautiful day in paradise…which means eventually, the other shoe is going to fall, and something horrible is going to happen. In this case, horrible has taken the sevenday off and gone to bother Xanadu. Or maybe Igen. Who knows and who cares. As it is, it's nice at the moment, and relatively quiet for an early morning. The first flush of the breakfast crowd is out and busy with their chores for the day, or maybe training, or other useful things. That means there's a handful of folks lurking, lingering, loafing. One of those doing the latter is Ur'con, who is lazing with his feet up on another chair, nursing a mug of klah and with his nose in what appears to be a book…idly scratching the back of his head with a pencil-stylus between making notes on some sheets of repurposed paper. Nearby him, a small brown and blue curl up together companionably, to nap, and he pays them no particular attention at all.

Fiona's entrance is simple and sedate, still clad in her green and grey Phantasm wing uniform from activities earlier in the day, her one-eyed bronze perched easily on one shoulder, looking just as grim as she. Though all of her firelizards seem the grim sort, sadly. Not a raucous trouble-maker in the group. And today the stoic one-eye and his equally serious bond are striding right up to Ur'con, "So… you do know how to read."

Ur'con looks up from his reading, and gives a slight frown, but decides not to rise to the bait, "A new tract out of the pottery speciality, on a new way to fire porcelins for improved translucency and thinness." He puts the book down, and sticks his papers in to keep his place. And perhaps obscure what he's written on them. He does take his feet off the other chair, but he doesn't stand. "What is it I can do for you this morning?"

Fiona frowns and pulls out a seat for herself, swinging it around to sit with her front pressed against its back facing the bronzerider who's caused so much contention, "Interesting. Sounds very high quality." She sighs, reaching for a bit of food from a basket on the table, fresh rolls dutifully delivered by those who work in the kitchens, "About my sister…"

Ur'con glances again, and quirks his brow up, "Your sister?" It looks like it takes him a minute to put two and two together, "What of her? She's not set the fertilizer afire or something, has she?"

Fiona's brows furrow, "No. Last I checked she was flying with S'dan today, which gives us a moment to chat." Her expression remains flatly serious, "She has a crush on you."

Ur'con quirks his brow up at that as well…which leaves for a somewhat quizzically amusing expression. "A crush on me?" He actually looks a little to the side, as if there might be someone behind him that is being addressed. But..no. "Well. That's certainly a new one on me."

Fiona nods, flagging down a girl to bring her a glass of redfruit juice, "So it seems. At least she has all the symptoms. So I have to ask, plainly and simply, Do you feel anything for her? I don't want her getting hurt."

Ur'con quirks a brow up just a little more and then sighs. And leans forward, putting his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers in front of his face for a few moments. Then he gestures. And more orders than invites, "Sit. Please. I think you and I need to have a talk."

Since Fiona's already sitting, she just makes a quick swirling motion with her hand, "What?"

"First off…I'm flattered your sister apparently has a crush on me, though I might have preferred to find that out for myself. Second…the problem in this relationship is not your sister. It's you. You are having some serious boundary issues. You have to look after a child, who has no reason and no control over their own impulses…but she's well over the age of majority now. You are not going to be able to be there to keep her from getting hurt. In fact, not getting hurt is the worst thing for her. I don't know what went so horribly wrong in your young life to make you think that you had to live up to these unreasonably stringent moral values…but trying to make someone that is not your own offspring hold to them is not just unreasonable and foolish…but it's doomed to fail, probably to the detriment of your relationship with your sister." He looks up for a moment, his face dead serious, "That said..if you're worried about her having a crush on ME, you've got your distrust placed in the wrong man. I don't even have any children, for Sorcha's sake. I have my dragon and my craft…and that, I assure you, is more than enough for me. Not every bronzerider is a walking fornication factory." He face never wavers, not once.

Fiona sighs gently once he's finished his little tirade, her right hand coming up to rub at her temple, "You have no sharding clue what my… what /our/ childhood was like. And I'm not going to tell you. If you'd been paying attention the other day, you'd know that I hadn't realized she was already 18. She was only 16… or 17 when our parents sent her here after a… runner related incident. She's been kicked out of more holds in the middle of our parents' posting than lasted an entire posting unscathed. I just didn't want to have her kicked out again. I'm the only family who'll still talk to her and deal with her." She frowns, "I'm sorry, I'm digressing. I have no intention of interfering with her interest in you. She's growing up and no matter what our parents might think, there's nothing they can do to stop it. And… shards, she fits better here than I likely ever will." One brow arches menacingly, "But if you lead her on and break her heart, I'll introduce you to the other side of my firelizards." Odin gives a soft hiss, emphasizing the statement.

Ur'con knits his brows together, but doesn't blink. Then again, he's a bronzerider. "My dear, I would suggest you stop with the veiled threats. If you want to suggest your firelizards would disobey a dragon, then we may need to escalate this little…issue of yours up to a higher authority. Frankly, I'm not a fraid of you. I have absolutely no intention of hurting your sister. Personally, I think you're a bit off in the head…or the heart. One of the two."

Fiona sighs, "Okay, you want no veiled threats? Despite only being a few turns apart, she's like my daughter. Our family might not have cast me out like they've done her, but she's really the only family I have. And if it's off in the head for me to love her enough to not want her to get hurt, even knowing it's going to happen, then I'm off in the head. I just ask you to be honest with her."

Ur'con nods a little, "Perfectly fair…and a request that could have been made without the threats. Contrary to your assumptions, I'm hardly a philandering old fart. I tend to not consider myself much of an old fart, for that matter…" He sits back a bit, and lays his workman's hands flat on the table in front of him. "She's a clever, but easily intimidated girl. She needs a chance to get to know herself. That said, I think I know myself well enough to assure you, I'm not one to just leap in the furs with the first pretty face that flashes lashes at me…which I find to be true of most of my kith and kin as well."

Fiona snorts softly, "Never called you old. I've certainly seen enough to belie such an assumption. I'm not used to riders actually caring how I feel or what I ask. You're proving both judgemental and more capable of basic thought than many I've had the poor fortune of dealing with. And she's afraid of doing something embarrassing in front of you. First symptom." She frowns slightly, "It never stops some"

Ur'con snorts in amusement, "If you're not afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of someone, you've either taken leave of your senses, or you don't realize you're being watched." He offers half a grin, though, "You'll get a lot further along, lass, if you stop with the backhanded compliments. You seem to keep forgetting I was craft raised and bred…I had a basic and thorough education before Darlth came into my life. And I'd like to think I've had both some experience and some time to grow into my common sense."

Fiona frowns, though perhaps more at herself than him, "I've had very few positive interactions with riders. /Especially/ bronzeriders. Not since I was a sweet senior apprentice they said wasn't serious enough to make journeyman and an Igenite bronzerider decided to try to make me a conquest. And I'm sorry if that piece of my past colors my treatment of other riders, but it does." One of her hands reaches out to pat his, "And I'm sorry I've treated you poorly because you do seem better than most. A good man in your own right."

Ur'con nods a bit, but notes, "You attract more vtols with jam than vinegar, lass…a less patient man might have dismissed you and your sister outright…or made certain you were as ostricized as possible. Now…if you'll do me the small favor of trusting your sister…I'd greatly appreciate it. And yourself…a little bit more."

Fiona sighs gently, "I have infinite trust in myself. It's others I fumble with. I'm trying very hard to let Kay live her own life. I don't know if you know how hard it is because I simply don't know you that well." She takes the juice with a polite smile when it's delivered, then takes a long pull off of it, "And I'm trying to trust you. And I beg you not to make me regret that." For a brief moment she's open, completely unguarded, but the barriers raise again of their own accord.

Ur'con chuckles a bit and just shakes his head. But he looks like he's willing to let it go, too…unruffled to the point that even his pair of flits are still curled up, sleeping. Yeah.

Fiona brings one hand up to stroke Odin's headknobs, then sighs again, "Why do these things have to be so complicated? My parents always made it look impossibly easy. Of course, you can see the sort of parent's they are… were."

Ur'con notes with aplomb, "I don't know. My parents seemed to make it look easy, too…but then, they never had a troublemaker in their group…I'm as close as they got, and I believe I've made pretty well for myself."

Fiona shrugs, "Kayla was never a troublemaker. She's just… not a 'good crafter girl'. And when F'ndo impressed Trellith and started spreading his seed everywhere, they decided to make sure none of the rest of us would do the same. I joined the craft at ten for a reason. But Kayla never had a way out. They'd get a new posting, she'd have to go. She'd do something to embarrass them and they'd foist her off on some uncle or aunt until their next posting and the whole thing would start all over again. This last time. /The/ last time, I was the one. You know, they didn't even do me the common curtesy of sending a note. They just put her on a dragon for parts unknown without making sure there was somewhere for her to be."

Ur'con shakes his head a little, "That's a pity…that's truly a pity." He contemplates the book in front of him for a moment, "And what has she put her hand to, that's ended disasterously, so far?"

Fiona chuckles softly, "Trundlebugs in the Lord Holder's apartments, borrowing the wrong runner," she shrugs, "Normal kids stuff, mostly. But if you think I'm easily embarrassed by her… yeah. Our folks're worse. And she really /does/ fit here. As stupid as it sounds, I'm a little jealous of her."

Ur'con comments with that flash of amusment, "I thought so…" but. "I'm sure there'll be something she finds her hand to. Has she ever stood for Impression? You never know."

Fiona shakes her head, "I don't know if a rider ever asked or not, but our parents made it very plain that they would never allow another of their kids to stand. Honestly, though? If a rider asked, even if she weren't eighteen, I'd let her. Obviously our older brother had the right stuff… and then turned into a sex-crazed li- never mind."

Ur'con chuckles a little, "Sounds like he's either found himself binging…or he was just repressed. Then again, if you believe Weyr history, they've always found themselves the last bastion of those too moral to be Renegades, but just didn't fit in anywhere else."

Fiona shrugs, "They say the dragon does change the rider some. Who knows. Maybe just getting away from mom and dad did it. Likely a combination. He impressed pretty young. I don't really have any memories of him before Trellith."

Ur'con nods a bit, and clarifies, "And he rides here, he does?" Someone might have a word…bronzerider to bronzerider…but that's for later. "Still…I'll thank you, quite genuinely, to be a bit less…hasty. It puts people off…never good for the social peace and quiet. You're a likable girl, when you let yourself be."

Fiona nods once, "In Deluge. He's not- As far as I know, he's never forced anyone. But he has three or four kids, each with a different woman. And our parents don't truck with that. And the girls' whose hearts he's broken, they won't deal with me directly once they know I'm his sister. And I'm a technician. It's not our /job/ to be likeable. It's our job to fix machines."

Ur'con snorts, "It makes /everything/ work better…when the social lubrications are properly…greased." He snorts again, but seems to have some idea or another…which he promptly keeps to himself.. "And I'd hope he'd never force someone. Even Weyrs don't appreciate that behavior in the slightest…like getting yourself busted down to Weyrling or worse."

Fiona frowns darkly, "I don't know what happened to the aforementioned Igenite, but I've always hoped he was suitably punished beyond my damage to his mantenna array."

Ur'con does a slight doubletake, but says little at first…just mulls on it, with that strangely protective expression. "Like bloody shells I'll ever allow that sort of thing while I'm in aWeyr…I don't care who the 'leaders are. That's sharding wrong."

Fiona manages a slight smile, "It's been several turns now. He was at Landing taking a few classes when we met. He was sweet at first. Little gifts, surprise picnics. Everything a fifteen turn old girl wants. For my sixteenth turnday, he took me to the Weyr. Igen. His Weyr. It was when I wouldn't go to his /weyr/ that things went wrong. It wasn't very crowded. Most of the guys there cheered him on. I think there was a gold rising, but it's all blurry. I got away and a bluerider brought me back to Landing again." She takes a drink of her juice, "And now you know just about all there is to know about me, for better or worse."

Ur'con is quite genuine, "I'm very sorry that happened, lass. It shouldn't happen to anyone…and I assure you, I'm not so brain addled with Darlth rises as to have egged anyone on in that way…and most responsible bronzeriders would say the same. If they say otherwise, they're lying to themselves." He scowls, "Only one that caught up is the winner…" He snorts, in disgust. "Sharding Igenites…bad as the Reaches." But then he lets it go. "So…now that we have the air cleared here…maybe you'll let me buy you you a drink sometime." Not now, apparently.

Fiona smiles gently and takes a sip of her juice, "I've been here nearly a turn without any incidents, so maybe you're right. But it really only takes once to make one… overcautious." She looks at him for a moment, as if by looking at him she can magically know him, "Sure. I think I owe you that much."

Ur'con nods a bit, "I think you do. And perhaps a ride to your next out of Weyr assignment, if you like. Darlth likes to show off for human women, for whatever reason."

Fiona shrugs, "Don't go outWeyr often anymore. Plenty to do right here. Did you know the sharding sands generator's broken down three times since I've been here? I swear, my predecessor must not have done anything."

Ur'con cocks his head, "The hatching sands?" Wait, he seems to have missed something, "What's wrong with them?"

Fiona blinks, then chuckles, "They're artificially heated. The generator keeps frying. Though at least once it was the quakes."

He frowns, "How do they heat the sands? That seems…poorly thought out. The hot springs are naturally heated, aren't they?"

Fiona shrugs, "I presume so? At least I've never had to fix 'em." She smirks easily, "But I guess the sands have always been electric. They're heated much like Xanadu's, forcing electricity through really small wires in a contained pad to spread it evenly."

Ur'con's brows tighten at that, and he shakes his head. "Shards. Seems dangerous…to dragon and man alike. What if there's an arc of electricity? We could have scrambled eggs…or worse."

Fiona shrugs, "Eastern's not a mountainous Weyr. And our beaches are positively /crawling/ with parasites. I think the dragonhealers decided artificial was safer. There's very little risk of arcing current since the mat is insulated."

Ur'con keeps to his opinion, "Sounds dangerous, all the same. There's a reason I prefer a fired kiln."

Fiona chuckles, "Fire really would scramble the eggs. Not that Svetlanath's last batch didn't come out a little… off, anyway. But they're getting through Weyrlinghood okay last I checked…"

Ur'con shakes his head a bit, "That's certainly troubling to me…do we have a full blow dragonhealer here, yet? I've not been introduced if we do."

Fiona shakes her head, "I'm sure we do, but I've not met them, either."

Ur'con nods a little, and then notes to himself, "Worth it to find out…can't imagine there's not one here. Just in case."

Fiona nods, "There're always a couple."

Ur'con nods a bit, and makes a mental note. Find out /before/ he needs them! He stretches out in his chair, languid now…allowing his small blue to crawl up against his neck and face for a brief snuggle.

The increasingly relaxed state draws a softer side from Odin as he chirrs, rubbing his head against her cheek before demanding food. Fiona flags down someone to get that before she continues, "Truth, though, the worst that's happened with artificial sands is them turning off."

Ur'con says "And that'd bring its own problems. Cold eggs have a lot of unhatched. That'd be very unfortunate." He ruminates for a moment, and then chuckles, "Just for the sakes of the little ones inside the eggs."

Fiona grins, "Well, journeyman potter Ur'con, do you know a way to tap into the planets natural heat to emulate most Weyrs' naturally heated sands? Because you can count on my help if you do."

Ur'con shakes his head, "No, not as such…but I know a few miners. And I'm thinking of what they call a slump kiln…which can burn for decades, if fueled properly, and produces lower heat…that can be spread out. They're used for central heating in the north, in some of the smaller clayholds."

Fiona hmmms softly, then chuckles, "Well, if you can make it work, I'd take it to Azura and T'uz. I'm sure they'd like something more reliable about."

Ur'con nods a little, thoughtfully. "I'll make some inquiries back home in Landing too…if nothing else, they heat up quickly, so they could be used for emergencies."

Fiona nods slightly, then shrugs, "Can't hurt, right? And I certainly don't mind getting the thing off my plate"

Ur'con chuckles a little, "Indeed…I can imagine. As if I didn't have anything better to do myself." He sighs and rubs his face, "Bad habit of mine. I like to… fix things."

Fiona smirks into her juice, "Even things what aren't broke from the sound of it. But that's why I joined the technicians hall. My folks always wanted me to go into computers like them, but I never much cared for the nuisancy things."

Ur'con is all seriousness when he attests, "I have zero talent with computers…I think they break down just to spite me."

Fiona chuckles lightly, "I'll not let you in my weyr, then. They may not be my favorite thing, but they're essential for keeping track of all my blueprints and stock sheets."

Ur'con chuckles and wags a finger, "Careful…inviting me back to your weyr might suggest to others that you've less pure intentions than having me crash those same computers."

Fiona stiffens suddenly, her eyes dropping to her juice. After a moment, she sucks down more juice, letting her body relax from the shoulders down, "Just don't want you breaking anything I need to do my job. Most of the south clearing's crafters, anyway."

Ur'con sighs a bit, and then taps the table, "Fiona, relax. I'm teasing you, and you should know that. I'd never go there save by your invitation, or perhaps to rescue you from a rampaging feline." His smile's distinctly amused, though.

Fiona's smile is a little weak, "It wasn't that. It was the realization that I had basically implied you might be in my weyr at some point." She blushes just a little, but says no more.

Ur'con laughs a bit, "Stranger things have happened, and for more innocent reasons. Don't worry about it. I certainly won't."

Fiona just blushes more, taking another long drink from her juice. "Won't what? Worry about it or come over some time?"

Ur'con laughs more, openly. It's a ringing, pleasant sound. "Won't worry about. Though I never say never!"

Fiona's eyes cast quickly downwards, "I think I maybe should go… I seem to be all manner of stupid this evening."

Ur'con tushes softly, "I didn't find you stupid, nor even the topic. You should really loosen up. You're more fun than you seem when you're first encountered…you should give yourself some room to have a bit more fun all around."

Yeah, that compliment really isn't helping the blushing on Fiona's face, "Whenever I have fun, something bad happens."

Ur'con says "Well then," he retorts, "We'll have to practice until that doesn't happen any longer!"

Fiona shakes her head rapidly, words starting to fail, "I… can't, no…. Kayla." Not exactly cogent.

Ur'con pfts a bit, "Kayla's learning to have fun on her own…you don't want to be left behind, do you?" But his grin's pretty gentle. After all, he's not suggesting a naked romp through Eastern with a drunken greenrider! Well, not for Fiona, anyway.

Fiona scrubs at her face, "It's not that…" That was helpful.

Ur'con chuckles amiably, as he slowly develops a brown shaped lump on his lap. The flit gets a comfortable scritch, "It's not what?"

Fiona frowns more, "I don't want to hurt Kayla."

Ur'con quirks his brows down into a frown, "How would YOU having fun hurt Kayla?" Now that doesn't compute!

Fiona casts Ur'con an unreadable look and stays silent.

Ur'con actually rolls his eyes a bit, "By showing her you were wrong, and you've turned over a new leaf?"

Fiona groans slightly and shakes her head.

Ur'con actually scratches his head, causing both flits to open their eyes and PEER curiously at Odin's keeper. What the shells? Even the firelizards are confused.

"Why does that greenrider call you Urry?" Talk about a topic shift.

Ur'con chuckles, "L'im, you mean? We were Candidates together, back at Telgar. Impressed at the same clutch. We spent a good…what, nearly two turns staring at each other whether we wanted to or not. Darlth's caught her lifemate a handful of times, too. We know each other." He shrugs, quite genuinely.

"So you've…" Fiona's words fail again for a moment, "But why Urry? It sounds so… indelicate."

Ur'con snerks a bit, "My name before I impressed was Uriconon. Uri. My mum and dad called me Uri…Uri, Urry…actually, my dad's parents called him Uri too…I was Little Uri for most of my life."

Fiona's blush returns, "Oh…"

Ur'con grins, amused. "Dad's Uricolt…I was Uriconon…but L'im gets all pouty if I call her Lemma, so I just call her 'lass' instead."

Fiona quirks one brow, "Lemma? What was her birth name?"

Ur'con nods, "Aye…Lemma….Lemma…" He chuckles, "Lemma something or another. She came from one of those Trading families that uses two names…I forget. She's L'im now anyway."

Fiona nods slightly with a soft, "Ah… Did you know she tried to tell us we were sick? For not being as… outgoing as weyrfolk?"

Ur'con shrugs a bit, "Everyone has an opinion, of course. I don't think you're sick…but then, you don't tend to survive long or have a happy, healthy dragon if you don't give…a little bit. I won't say I wasn't shy as all get out and uncomfortable at first…but you learn. You grow."

Fiona sighs, "But I haven't got a dragon. Not likely to, either. I'm just me." She shrugs slightly, "And I have no clue how to just let go and have fun."

Ur'con grins. Brightly, "Well…alcohol /can/ help. But really, it's just a matter of letting go. It's like a leg cramp…it feels so much better once you get it relaxed. And I don't mean flinging yourself into sexual excess..or drinking excess…or any excess, really. Those things can all be fun…in moderation." He winks. "But loosening up a bit, so you're not like a vise that's been turned so tight it's frozen…that's always better."

Fiona lets out another frustrated sound. She's never had such a hard time expressing herself. Finally she just reaches across the table to grab the front of his tunic and pull her close enough to plant her lips on his. Talk about letting go.

Well. There have been a few moments in Pern's history that there has been MORE surprise for those present…but not many. Ruth's Impression. The first time a dragon went *between*. Right now! It takes him a moment, once the er…display… is over. For him to sit there, now sans his flits… "Ahem." He manages a sheepish grin, "That's more like it, lass!"

Fiona falls back into her seat with an audible thump, her voice is much sadder than it should be really, "That's why I'm going to hurt Kayla if I let go…"

Ur'con does a genuine doubletake. Wait…did he think that was some sort of weird experiment, "Lass, I'm not sure I follow you on that one…" I've been here a handful of MONTHS…now I have two crushes on me? Seriously?

Fiona groans miserably, burying her face in her hands, "I'll just go. Shards, I'm sorry.

Ur'con frowns a little, but this time he's the one that reaches out. "Alright…whoah right there, lassie. Whoah. You don't go anywhere." And Odin's eyeballed, too. No biting, or else! "I want you to try and tell me what you're thinking you're doing wrong…before you go anywhere."

Fiona lets him pull her hands down. Odin snaps at him, but nowhere near close enough to injure. The bronze is just as confused as his bond, "I just kissed the boy I know my sister likes. Do you know how wrong that is?" The fact that she's managing to keep her voice quiet is amazing in and of itself, "And I know it'll hurt her as soon as she hears. And I don't want that. And all this anxiety is ruining a perfectly good kiss, too."

Ur'con takes a bit of a breath, and then suggests the same, "Take a deep breath, Fiona…and hear something for a moment. I think you're worrying a bit prematurely.. I mean…this is the first I heard of ANY of this…" Yeah. How about being the object of affection that's being a potential battle…when you didn't even know it? "And I'm hardly a boy anymore."

Fiona sucks in a breath, but it comes out in an awkward stutter of escaping air, "It's go-hot nothing to do with what you want. I-hit's ab-hout K-kayla." She sucks in another breath, this one comes out at least more steadily, "Even if you don't like either of us, I just broke a key tenant of sisterly code. You don't ever, /ever/ make a move on a guy you know your sister likes. Not ever." There's that half-miserable groan again, "Trust me, I know you're not a boy. It's just hard to think about my sister being attracted to a man."

Ur'con's eyes twinkle, amused, "Would it be easier to think of her being attracted to a woman?" But he's teasing, obviously, "I think you're fine…" Maybe overwrought. But fine. "I'm certainly not going to tell Kayla what you've said…did you think I would?"

Fiona casts her arm to indicate the whole cavern and its scattered occupants, "And you think they won't?"

Ur'con pfts a bit, "I doubt it…they've each got their own worries. Now if you'd done this during dinner, it might be an issue."

Fiona shrugs, "News always seems to travel faster in the Weyr."

Ur'con notes, "Worrying about it…or acting like you feel guilty…that'll make it travel even faster. It happened, lass…let it go. It wasn't a bad thing at all…and if I'd had some warning, it might have been a very nice thing indeed!"

Fiona just blushes deeper, "You know, that's really not helping."

Ur'con laughs a bit, "I don't know. You're yelling less, and now you're blushing. I'd say that over all, that's an improvement!"

Fiona chuckles nervously, "I don't see how failing to control myself is an improvement."

Ur'con points, "Because you didn't do anything WRONG. Maybe…awkward, but not wrong. Shards…I've been kissed by far less pleasant, I assure you. Old drunk greenrider comes to mind, but I won't dishonor her memory now." Oh yeah, there's a look….mujst be quite a story behind THAT! "I won't tell…and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised…just relax and stop worrying so much."

Fiona shudders at that odd look, then sighs, "You think so?"

Ur'con chuckles, "I'm not going to make any promises. But ANYTHING is better to deal with it and move on, than to hold on so tight you make yourself sick and everyone around you miserable. Our Weyrlingmaster beat that into us when we were young…we were such a motley lot…some almost 25, some barely 10. It was a big clutch, almost twenty…and we came from all of Pern, all sorts of backgrounds and raisings and breedings…"

Fiona shrugs, "At the Hall they teach us that you can't succeed as a technician unless you pursue it doggedly. In some ways it's all I know. It's not like my parents were the loving sort."

Ur'con nods, "I never said determination wasn't important…but sometimes you just have to move on. Or move on, think about it, and come back later."

Fiona sighs gently, "Are you saying I should just move on?" From what she doesn't clarify.

Ur'con chuckles, "No…but I think maybe you need to think on it a bit more. I'm certainly not going anywhere any time soon. I'm tired of moving about."

Fiona drains the last of her juice and sets the glass down with a thunk, "What's to think about? My sister and I like the same guy. Things just don't end well down that road."

Ur'con notes, with some humor…even as he starts to pick himself and his book, and papers up. "You're in a Weyr now, lass. You'd be surprised what /can/ end well."

Fiona boggles, "You can't possibly mean… Shards, man. She's my /sister/. It's not like it's that greenrider."

Ur'con laughs, bemused. "I've seen stranger, dragons or no dragons." He chuckles to himself, and then smiles, "Good day, lass. I'll see you about. I need to ask someone about a slump kiln."

Fiona blushes and slumps against the table, "Let me know how that goes."

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