Revelations

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey. Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!

Revelations and Philosophy

Set right after the offer F'gon made her, Chailyn gets into a discussion of F'gon, and riders attitudes towards 'that sort of thing' in general
Setting: Igen Weyr Living Cavern, late night
Cast: Mirval, Jasmyn, T'mren and Chailyn

Chailyn - Sunday, May 28, 2000, 4:29 PM
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Your location's current time: 2:34 on day 6, month 10, Turn 31, of the Tenth Pass. It is a autumn night.

You head into the Igen Weyr Living Cavern.
Igen Weyr Living Cavern(#600RJMQ)
Igen's living cavern is an immense hollow in the volcanic caldera, stretching up two stories, the light of the glows and the hearth reflected in the quartz which peppers the swirled sandstone unique to this region. One hundred feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet long, the room could, and, as the social center of the weyr, often does, seat the entire weyr. Tapestries adorn the walls, depicting scenes from Pern's past. The head table sits upon a raised platform at the far eastern side of the room, in front of a huge fireplace which is continually burning.

A wide balcony overlooks the cavern, and large tunnels lead west out to the bowl, and south to the kitchens. A smaller tunnel leads off to the east, beyond which lay the inner caverns of the Weyr. A small doorway in the northern wall opens to the infirmary, and a quiet door to the northeast opens into the Records Room. In the corner one may +view a plaque.
Tables fill a good portion of the room. One can '+view' them at a glance, or get '+help places'.
Contents:
Mirval
T'mren
Jasmyn
Meal Table

Chailyn comes in quietly, her steps slow and dragging lightly.

Mirval dips his chin in affirmation. "Definitely. You need to be careful how you deal with people if there's a chance they'll get the wrong idea."

Jasmyn looks concerned as Chailyn walks in. She says softly. "Good evening." Turing back to Mirval she nods. "Yes. And make sure that you both define certain words in the same way."

T'mren nods towards Chailyn in greeting, as he sips his klah.

Chailyn blinks and then offers weakly, "I didn't think many people'd be up this time of night. Evening all."

Mirval smiles at Chailyn, lifting a hand in greeting but not waving. "Sleeplessness for some, hunger for others; what's up?"

T'mren raises an eyebrow, "You ok?" He asks Chailyn.

Jasmyn watches the girl carefully. "Care to join us for a klah or a juice?"

Chailyn summons a smile. "Oh, fine, thanks. And some klah I think for me tonight. It's downright chilly out there." She heads to the hearth to pour herself a mug and offers, "Can I get anyone anything while I'm up?" A dragonweight's worth of sweetner is dumped into the mug.

Jasmyn hmms and holds up her own klah mug. "Refill would be nice but skip the sweetner?"

T'mren shakes his head and points at his mug, "Just filled it."

Mirval shakes his head. "None for me, I'm still on my juice." He studies Chailyn quietly. "Just tired from being up so late?"

Chailyn brings the pot over and deftly pours for Jasmyn. It is settled with a thump on the table, and she puts down her own mug before taking a seat. Then she hms absently at Mirval. "Oh. Yeah. Long days, you know. Best time to be outside is at night."

Mirval nods, lips curving upwards. After taking another sip of his juice, he says, "Oh, I know; I went outside for a walk myself."

Jasmyn smiles gratefully. "Thank you so much." She nods to Chailyn. "Yes, the night air is nice, especially up on the rim."

T'mren nods sagely, "I haven't been up there in a sevenday. So nice this time of night. Isn' it?" he asks Jasmyn, "Err. I was only up there in the daytime."

Chailyn was just sipping her klah. It must be extra hot or something tonight, for she sputters, and then puts a hand to her mouth. Must've burned her tongue.

T'mren regards Chailyn worriedly, "Hey! You ok?"

Mirval gazes at the riders. "I've never been up on the rim, can you believe it?" He gives Chailyn a quick questioning glance. "Are you all right? Have you been up there?"

Jasmyn hmms."Umirieth and I were going to go up for a bit tonight but Hollerith told us that F'gon and him were up there. We decided the beach was nice enough." She blinks, looking at Chailyn "Oh dear! Can I get you some water?"

Chailyn makes a show of waving a hand in front of her mouth. "Hot. Not used to it. 'M fine, really." She darts a look at Jasmyn and doesn't answer Mirval. Perhaps deliberately. "No, no water, really."

Jasmyn hmms. "I thought you drank a lot of klah?" She shrugs. "But, if you ever do get the chance, it is lovely up there. Nice breeze, incredible view."

Chailyn shakes her head. "No. Usually too hot to drink it. I just drink juice most often. But it was chilly tonight..." She trails off.

Mirval glances out at the Bowl. "It _was_, wasn't it? I noticed that on my walk. I hope F'gon had a good cloak up there, then."

Jasmyn blushes slightly and clears her throat for some reason. "Yes, can be nippy up there if you aren't properly dressed."

T'mren chokes on his klah, and glances at Jasmyn.

Chailyn wraps her hands about her mug and reamins utterly silent.

Mirval eyes both riders, frowning slightly. He, too, stays silent, as he takes a sip from his juice and watches all three at the table.

Jasmyn shrugs and sips at her own klah. "But he knows that already. He isn't a fool. I think the cold affects his threadscored leg." She looks on with innocent puzzlement at Chailyn's sudden silence. "So.. how was your day?"

Chailyn blinks at Jasmyn. "Oh, you know. Same old thing. Stains here, bleaching there. Nothing terribly exciting."

Jasmyn hmms."I try to soak Rosmyn's clothes before I send them down, she gets things so dirty but that is the joy of childhood, I guess."

Mirval rubs at his eyes idly and yawns. "I think," he says, putting a hand over his mouth, "that I'd better turn in."

T'mren smiles wryly, "You should, before your jaw cracks in two!"

Chailyn grins at Jasmyn. "Oh, don't bother. It's sometimes easier if you don't." She looks to Mirval and smiles, "Sleep well, Mirval."

Jasmyn nods to Mirval."Good idea.. You do look tired." She blushes slightly. "Oh.. here I thought I was helping you all out."

Mirval smiles at both women, then at T'mren. "Sleep well, when you all turn in." He rises and walks - slowly, and stifling yawns every few steps - across to the dishwashing area to dump his mug, and then into the inner caverns.

Mirval strides through the passageway into the Inner Caverns.
Mirval has left.

Chailyn grins at Jasmyn. "Long as it doesn't sour, you are. Soured clothes take more scrubbing though." She relaxes as talk turns to what she knows best: laundry. How very exciting.

Jasmyn nods."I suppose." She ponders. "I guess you are used to all sorts of stains and dusty clothes. The sands leave their mark, everywhere." She sighs. "I had a green felt sort of cape once that got ruined up on the rim once. The sandy dirt up there really did a number on it. I didn't notice until much later."

T'mren laughs, "Too busy to notice were you?" he teases.

Chailyn nods. "It's the cleaning out of the pools once a sevenday that's the worst." She arches her eyebrows at T'mren. "Why would she be too busy to notice?"

Jasmyn blushes slightly again. "Just looking up at the stars.."

T'mren wiggles his eyebrows at Chailyn, "Well, the rim is a very...distracting place."

Chailyn wrinkles her nose and asks, with a hint of exasperation, "Is that all most riders think about?"

T'mren smiles at Chailyn beatifically, "Yep. Especially brownriders and bronzeriders!"

Jasmyn blushes and looks bit affronted."Well, err, not all the time."

Chailyn sniffs primly, "I *just* don't see what the big deal is about it."

T'mren blinks at Chailyn, "What the big deal is about..what?"

Jasmyn looks a bit flustered, playing with a tendril of her hair. "It is enjoyable, Chailyn, and because I know Ric and I are together, and committed to each other, it is a very special part of our lives. I am not like some, who seem to have a collection about them.":

Chailyn nods to Jasmyn. "Most do, seems like. I bet I could count on one hand the number of riders who fit into your group, Jasmyn." She shrugs a shoulder at T'mren. "You know. What all those randy riders are thinking about." She wrinkles her nose, showing just what she thinks of *that*.

T'mren chortles, "S'not just riders y'know. Most men think about it all the darn time."

Jasmyn giggles. "Well, that may be true but some have learned to control their thoughts."

Chailyn rolls her eyes. "Well, they've always said that women were more mature than men. Just lends to that theory."

T'mren snorts, "That's not true. I know PLENTY of women who like it as much or more than men do."

Chailyn asks T'mren, "Yeah, but are they riders?"

Jasmyn squirms in her seat and can't quite look at T'mren."We are talking about enjoying, we are talking about self control."

T'mren grins, "A lot of 'em. But...not all."

Chailyn considers. "So maybe there's something different about riders - particularly female ones who aren't weyrmated. No offense, Jasmyn - but maybe something different happens to mark 'em when they impress or something." She shrugs. "In any case, just seems rather silly to be so hung up over it to me."

Jasmyn squirms in her seat and can't quite look at T'mren."We are talking about enjoying, we are talking about self control." <repose>

T'mren nods, "I know dragons emotions affect their rider. Flights and such. And once you've...been in flights, you may look at sex a little differently, a little less strictly...some do. Some don't, however. I don't think you can just make a blanket statement like, having a dragon makes everyone insanely lustful..."

Jasmyn nods. "Exactly!" She does look offended."I happen to not think of myself as marked. I, if anything, am much more settled since impressing Umirieth."

Chailyn snickers softly at T'mren. "Well, doesn't it? Whether you're with a weyrmate or not - and I'd say, just from looking at it on the outside, that flights do tend to make riders and weyrfolk in general a bit more cavalier than regular folk about that sort of thing." She looks back at Jasmyn and wrinkles her nose. "How many turns've you, Jasmyn? Eighteen? Twenty? You're too *young* to be settled." Then she pauses and considers, brow furrowing in thought.

Chailyn says slowly, as though thinking it out, "Maybe... since most candidates are pretty young... riders just get more used to the idea at a younger age. Y'think? It's not really the dragon that does it then. More like all the things that go with it." She frowns thoughtfully. "Does that make any sense?"

Jasmyn raises both eyebrows at CHailyn. "Excuse me?" She speaks softly. "I've eighteen turns and I would have you know my parents, who are very happily handfasted have been so for over 33 years, bore 6 children and have 30 grandchildren. She was 16 when she handfasted. Age has -nothing- to do with it."

T'mren sighs, "I think you're gonna learn more about people and....that...as you get a little older and wiser, Chailyn. not that I'm saying you're dumb. I' mjust saying you don't have much experience in that area, I'm wagering.'

Chailyn snorts at T'mren. "Might as well, T'mren. Many people have. But I'll ask you all: why do you think that - *in general* - people in a weyr have a much more cavalier attitude about this sort of thing than crafters or holders? There's gotta be a reason, and it's gotte be more than just flights, doesn't it?"

Jasmyn shakes her head again. "If you had seen me two turns ago, you would eat your words about riders being cavalier. I almost died inside. " She looks deadly serious, "No exaggeration at all, over this issue." She says very softly. "I am not one to hop from bed to bed and there are many many like me. "

T'mren shrugs, "Of course it's more than just that. Weyr life is an old tradition and a way of life that's..evolved over a long, long time. It's not just flights, it's the way this place has been forever and ever..."

Chailyn says to Jasmyn, "There's always exceptions to every 'rule'. But I guess my question is, how'd those 'rules' get to be like that to begin with?"

T'mren hrms, "Well, things just...became that way over time, as riders had kids, generations grew up, traditions sprung up..it's complicated."

Jasmyn looks on, stubbornly. "Because people in cotholds and holds, with no true understanding that Flights do complicate things, make up these stories of us being some sort of sexual monsters who live immoral lives, hoping to scare their children not to want to be searched. Then these very same children are searched. They come to the weyrs and think they have to live the "life" of the weyr." She sighs. "For every randy rider I can tell you another story of a loving caring weyrmated couple, who outside of Flights are faithful to each other."

Chailyn wrinkles her nose at Jasmyn. "Oh, I heard the stories, all right. But *I* certainly don't intent to give in and be 'just like everyonebody else' for the sake of going with the 'rest of the weyr'." She rolls her eyes. "That's just stupid. I can't argue that holders and even crafters don't do it, but as for living the life of the weyr - that's a personal choice. So why do lost of weyrfolk make it for *not* weyrmating?"

T'mren chuckles, "Because lots of people prefer having lots of partners to settling with just one."

Jasmyn shrugs. "I don't know."

Chailyn pounces on that idea, "But T'mren, why is it 'settling' to have just one? Why'd you say it that way?"

T'mren shrugs, "Some people like variety Chailyn. The excitement of new sex partners. And the conquest of getting them. That's how some men..and women...see it."
Jasmyn looks at T'mren as she was about to ask the same thing. "Ric and I are not bored with each other, anything but.."

T'mren sighs," I did say some people. Others are quite happy with the person they're with..for life. It's all a matter of what sort of person you are."

Jasmyn sighs and mutters. "I think some people just use their dragons as an excuse.."

T'mren nods, "THAT is definitely true."

Chailyn blinks at Jasmyn. "You know, I never thought of that explaination before."

Jasmyn frowns. "Maybe -some- are drawn to the weyrs, thinking it is a safe haven for wanton behaviour." She shakes her head. "I can tell you that the gossip here is not favourable towards people who have multiple partners and flaunt it openly."

T'mren nods, "Like F'gon? He seems to be gossiped about a /lot/."

Chailyn does a bit of listening, toying with her mug.

T'mren adds, "Not that I know if any of that is true. I try not to judge."

Jasmyn nods. "Exactly. His behavior right now, I don't quite understand." She forgets Chailyn is there. "He seems to be proud of the fact he is either pursuing or being pursued by three females."

Chailyn remains quiet and still, curious, and not wanting to call any attention to herself.

T'mren chuckles, "I don't know whether to be jealous of the attention or shake my head at it all."

Jasmyn smirks at T'mren."Jealous I think, covers it?" She looks over towards Chailyn and bites her lower lip. "You are one of the names mentioned often with F'gon as of late.. are you alright with all this?"

Chailyn blinks a bit. "Me? Why me?"

Jasmyn hmms and ponders. "F'gon himself has been gossip about you."

T'mren frowns, "A little bit, yeah, I admit it."

Chailyn arches her eyebrows, looking from T'mren to Jasmyn. "What's he said?"

Jasmyn sighs, and looks at her cold klah mug. "Errh, maybe here isn't the best place? "

Chailyn shrugs. "It's as quiet as it's going to get. Why not here. I'd like t'know what's being said about me."

Jasmyn sighs. "F'gon mentioned to me that you had a crush on him and he had to let you down gently."

T'mren blushes, "I'll go." he stands.

Chailyn says mildly to T'mren. "No need to, since apparently the rest of the weyr's heard it all already." She wrinkles her nose and then looks back to Jasmyn. "Oh *really*? What else did he say?"

T'mren sits. Ok, so he can't help himself.

Jasmyn shakes her head. 'That was just it. That is why I left the beach so suddenly the other night. He gave me a look like he had to tell you some bad news and wanted to do it alone."

Chailyn's tone is bemused. "Long as the weyr doesn't have me sharing his bed, they can say what they like. They will anyway. He *offered*, but." She shrugs, the expression a trifle too nonchalant to be genuine.

T'mren raises his eyebrows, "He offered, eh?"

Jasmyn blushes. "He offered to do what? I mean, he was supposedly letting you down gently."

Chailyn shakes her head. "I just don't understand it myself. It's too confusing. But I certainly don't want to be gossiped about."

Jasmyn sighs. "He told me that he might have to sleep with a certain greenrider just so her feelings aren't hurt, for the morale of the wing. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Chailyn blinks. "No. And the more I'm hearing, the more I'm thinking that I was right - I really don't know him at all."

Jasmyn sighs. "He was settled down with Terryll, or so it seemed, maybe she was doublely lucky to have impressed. I know she would have been terribly hurt if he had started his old ways when they were weyrmated."

Chailyn mms. "Maybe he's gone back to this because of what happened. He did talk to me about it." She shrugs slightly and then asks T'mren, "What *is* it with men?"

T'mren bites his lip, "We aren't all scoundrels, you know."

Jasmyn sighs.

Chailyn sniffs critically, "Just most of you?" She shakes her head.

T'mren looks apologetic, "I'm sorry."

Chailyn asks lightly, "Why? Are you one of those bed hoppers?"

Jasmyn sighs. "I wouldn't say that either." She frowns. "There are some very kind decent men here. And there are also some heartbreakers of the female persuasion too. Look at Siara for instance?"

T'mren frowns, "No I'm not. I'm just sorry that you've been lied to."

Chailyn shrugs. "Oh, I wouldn't say F'gon's lied to me. On the contrary, he was pretty straightforward about the fact that he was *only* a friend." She nods to Jasmyn, "But apparently, the kind and decent ones are either weyrmated or handfasted."

T'mren cocks his head, "But you said he offered you his bed, didn't he?"

Chailyn says wryly, "Apparently, that's all part of being friends."

T'mren chuckles, "To some people, yeah."

Jasmyn looks a bit smug at that one. "Umm I suppose you are right. Ric had his randy days too but settled down." She smiles again. "He says he can't imagine ever straying.." She shakes her head. "That mentality that eerrr intimacy is a sign of friendship and comfort only is a bit..strange to me. I give all -of- me to another person. It's not just physical."

Chailyn shrugs. "I just don't see the difference between that sort of friendship and flights. From what all the riders say, that's all they are is lust. Not love. And I'm no rider, so why should I have that kind of friendship?" A trifle simplistic, but that's her answer and she's sticking to it.

Jasmyn shakes her head at Chailyn. "Flights... you go where your dragon takes you, you have no choice. What F'gon was suggesting is no where near the same thing."

T'mren nods, 'Flights are an entirely different thing."

Jasmyn shivers. "I have no desire to sleep with another woman for instance .. but if Umirieth is caught by a female rider of a male dragon..well. we all know what happens."

T'mren nods, "You don't do what you do after a flight because you want to, but because you must."

Chailyn shrugs again. "Seems to me, not being a rider, that it's the same thing on *my* part - why share furs with someone you don't at least care a little about? Okay, I have a choice in it, sure, but in flights, you don't necessarily care about the other rider, right? I mean, sometimes, you get lucky, but... I'm talking more about emotion rather than being compelled."

Jasmyn nods "And again, -some- riders take advantage of Flights as an excuse for having intimacy with someone. Those who stay in the guest weyr for days after a flight, for instance." She shakes her head."Last time Umirieth rose, I had NO idea who the person was I woke up beside. We both high-tailed it out of there so fast it wasn't even funny. Very awkward as we were scrambling for clothes, gulping down a mug of klah as she headed back to her weyr." She blushes. "Very uncomfortable. During the Flight, I am one with Umirieth but a few hours later? I am very much my own person again."

Chailyn nods. "Now *that* I can't imagine at all. Nor would I want to. It sounds just awful."

T'mren nods his head, "Cev's first win, he caught a green whose rider was male. Very awkward."

Jasmyn sighs. "You get used to it, I guess, in time. That is what they keep telling me." She smiles. "But she makes up for the discomfort she puts me through when she is about to rise, many times over."

Chailyn sighs and yawns. "Oh, Faranth's knees - it's gotten late. I should try to get some sleep - I've not got a restday tomorrow." She pauses and then smiles wryly at both riders, "But thanks for keeping me company t'night. Even though it's been a rough couple of days, I really feel like - well, I've learned a lot, if that makes any sense." She wrinkles her nose, "Yes, even wherry-brained me can learn a new thing or two."

T'mren grins, "You're hardly wherry brained, just a bit new. You'll get used to it all. Have a nice night."

Jasmyn shakes her head sympathetically."I have had similar lessons, but I learned a much harder way. I hope you don't have to go through the same errors I did, Chailyn. Sometime, we can talk about it? Sleep well."

Chailyn rises and goes to leave her mug in the proper bin. She nods to Jasmyn. "I'd like that. I think I think more like you do than I do F'gon's." She yawns again, "But it's late, and I know I'm not making sense. G'night you two."

PST