bakerstreet | The Dragonriders of Pern AU Meme

The Dragonriders of Pern AU Meme

THE DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN AU MEME

WARNING: Contains situations of dubious consent, violence, and triggers. Click with caution.

Pern is a planet with an unusual problem. Every 250 years or so, orbits in the system bring the planet into a fifty-year shower of a substance they call Thread. Thread consumes every organic substance it comes into contact with, dissolving plastics, plants and people alike. It is stopped only by metal and stone. In order to combat this menace, the early colonists on Pern created dragons.

Now, thousands of years later, dragons are an ordinary institution. They carry passengers and transport messages, since they are able to go Between, a teleporting ability that produces several seconds of cold sensory deprivation every time it is done. They live in weyrs, places reserved solely for dragons, riders and support staff, usually in caves, often in volcanic areas in order to create warm grounds for egg-laying and hatching.

The dragons themselves bond with, or Impress, humans immediately upon hatching, creating a deep, psychic and very intimate connection. Dragons and humans are a pair, and they tend to bond based on personality, gender and sexual orientation. This comes into play during mating flights, when female dragons go into heat and fly away, requiring a male to catch her and mate mid-air. Often, sex between the riders of the mated dragons is not optional, no matter who the riders are or what they feel about one another. This creates a general atmosphere of sexual openness in the weyr.

That's a dragonrider's life. Skipping out to fight the latest shower of Thread, taking care of their dragon, hopping Between, and dealing with the occasional unwanted desires from a mating flight.

For more info, feel free to check out Wikipedia!

HOW IT WORKS:
1) Post with your character and canon. Feel free to take this opportunity to make a note about which sort of dragon your character would have, and any roleplaying preferences.
2) Tag around, and dragon this shit up.
3) Stick to canon, if you like; disregard it, if you like.
4) Have some goddamn fun with some goddamn dragons.

TYPE OF DRAGON
CANON:
Gold - the largest of the dragons and most rare, queens and egg-layers. Those who Impress a dragon like this generally end up in a weyr's leadership. These dragons canonically always have women as their riders.
Bronze - second largest, male; the gold's mating pool tends to draw from these. These dragons canonically always have men as their riders.
Brown - slightly smaller than bronze, male, steady and strong with a lot of endurance. These dragons canonically always have men as their riders.
Blue - the smallest male, and a somewhat awkward compromise between strength and small size/agility. These dragons canonically nearly always have men as their riders.
Green - quick, agile and flighty, without much endurance, making up about 50% of all canon dragon population. Female. Greens almost never lay any eggs, and lack much of a maternal instinct. These dragons may take riders of either gender.

NON-CANON/SLIGHTLY MODIFIED CANON:
(In case you'd like a few more options to play with.)
White - A mutation, but a surprisingly common one. White dragons have little to no sex drive, and are very small, but unusually intelligent and sometimes have strange and unique abilities.
Black/Dark Blue - Another rare mutation. These dragons can be of either gender, but are incapable of chewing firestone and producing flame. They tend to take dragonriders who are deceptive, sneaky, clever. They are often used as messengers or as night-riding spies.
Red - Female and medium-size, this dragon is a fighting dragon that does clutch, if not as numerously or as productively as the golds. They tend towards passion and strength, deep emotions that make them fervent fighters.
Yellow - Male, on the small side, jumpy and often somewhat thick-headed, yellows take longer to mature and are more difficult to train to work in groups, but once you do, the result is worth it. They are impulsive and brave and vicious.
Purple - Another dragon type that can be male or female. Small-bodied and huge-winged, this type is somewhat rare but ideal for long patrols. Their eyesight is famous and keen, so they're good spotters as well.
Other - If you have a particular idea, feel free to make up your own!

HIJINKS
1 - Threadfall. Time to get out there and burn this stuff before it manages to hit the ground. Hopefully you won't find yourself or your dragon in the path of this stuff. Otherwise, you might be out of commission for a while, and the scars never heal.
2 - Gather Day. It's a festival today! Get out there and spend some money, hear some music, and have some lovely food.
3 - Hatching. The candidates are ready, and those eggs look hard enough to break. Hatching could happen at any time. Are you ready for Impression?
4 - Feeding/Bathing. Dragons need a lot of taking care of. Whether it's feeding a hatchling an enormous basket of meat, taking a full-grown dragon out to hunt, or having a bath in the lake outside the weyr, keeping your dragon happy is a full-time job.
5 - Mating Flights. It's time. Your dragon is feeding on the blood of their kill, and they're about to take off. Who's going to catch them this time?
6 - Other. Wild card, if there's any other situation you'd like to explore!

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The Bronze was all too willing to cooperate, for his rider's sake. Zephith carefully lowered himself so that Kain was much closer to the ground than he would otherwise be.

"His wounds... ah... aren't too bad?" Kain would feel guilty indeed if it were his fault that his dragon was suffering any terribly injuries.

There's no need to be concerned about me, the dragon insisted. That wing was visibly troubling him, but his gaze was fixed on Kain at the moment, wanting to be assured that he'd recover.

Khemrys frowned slightly as she actually caught response. Odd, was it because she was touching the dragon or because her gold was perched on the bronze? Who knew! She'd have to think on it, see if it repeated itself..."He will be in good hands Lord Bronze, take care of yourself as I have instructed and I will get him cleaned and cared for before your return."

Kain, obviously, had no choice in the matter as she began working the fighting straps free. "You will both be fine, in time, though I may require you to sit upon your rider when he grows foolish again."

Kain pouted a little at the comment, especially since Zephith approved quite loudly of her idea.

"I'll be all right..." Kain reached out a hand to touch his dragon's scales ever so briefly. They both tried to ignore how much that hand was shaking as he did so. Zephith gave Kain another glance, but seemed to calm down some after a moment.

You're in good hands.

I won't argue that for once.

The dragon moved aside, preparing to take off.

"For your pride, lord, I will pretend that was a wince," she noted, slipping an arm about his waist as his dragon stepped away. "And you are for the bathing pools yourself." To wash the ash and soot away to better show the damages.

besides, he would likely sleep for a while after and best to do so clean. "I would offer you a touch of dignity lord but I do not know if you were able to stand on your own."

The dragon wished him luck before taking off so he could go about cleaning off. Kain meanwhile was trying hard to not fall over. He was at least succeeding for the time being... but only just managing.

"I should be able..." He trailed off. "Should be" and the reality weren't matching up too well, and he was definitely needing to use her support right now.

She did appreciate him not falling over; really, he was a far heavier person than she was. "Should, Lord, had you returned sooner." SHAME ON HIM! "We shall see once you are undressed as to whether I will be joining you in the bathing pool.

No use having him drown after all.

He planned to try this upright thing for as long as he could manage. He was almost regretting what he'd done, but on the other hand, they'd gotten rid of so much Thread up there. They'd made a difference. Saved people. That's what mattered.

"But I... all right." Kain knew better than to argue, much as he wanted to. He was too weary to do much, and though he hated needing so much help, it wasn't like he could afford to refuse it.

Yes, and what happened next time? When he compromised his ability to fight in the next fall by pushing minor wounds into major ones?

"Then by all means Lord, into the bathing pools," he had a few moments to strip himself before she did so for him? At least he could be assured no other would hear of his undignified moments from her? She was one of the most closed mouthed healers in the weyr.

"Right, of course..." It was certainly good that no one else would need to know about this. This was bad enough for his manly pride, to be so weak right now.

Though it's a bit slow going as he starts undressing, wincing a great deal at even small movement. Ow.

Ah, yes, she thought that wound across his back would pull terribly through the shoulders. She clucked softly when she saw the wince and helped slide his damaged flight jacket off, followed by his shirt. The sleeves ever an issue when blood and sweat caked. Thankfully his pants were unlikely to cause him as much pain?

"The water will no doubt sting and burn lord, but we cannot get more numbweed on the wound until the wounds are clean."

The help was needed and appreciated, before he slowly went to slipping the pants off as well, taking his time with every movement. He would have to keep his tough demeanor in place once he was within that water.

"Very well... I should be able to handle it."

The gold, clinging to the braid the healer had woven her hair into since they last met, hummed in worry as she saw the full extent of the injury. The ones upon shoulder and back were worst, true, but that curl just over his hip would scar. There was no avoiding that. "I do not wish you pain," she admitted softly. "For now it is simply unavoidable. You can no more take fellis juice while in the waters than numbweed might stick well enough." Because the healer could not lift him from a bath when the juice knocked him out!

"Wine may take the edges of the pain, and that you may have if you wish?"

Kain almost refused, in some vain attempt to show how tough he was to face it without. But he was in just enough pain that any more might ruin whatever dignity he had left, and he wanted to cling to that little bit right now. So if it would help him keep his composure he would allow it.

"Yes... if you please... That would help considerably, I'm sure."

"Or at least well enough for your dignity?" she noted, turning to the tray she had brought up for him. "Into the waters, Lord, then wine for you as I work on that back." She settled on the edge of the pool, skirt hiked to her knees and feet dangling in the water as she waited with a goblet for him.

"Well enough for that, yes..." Kain sighed a little, but then began to get into the water. It wasn't done without considerable wincing, and he took his time to settle in. Once there, he reached for that goblet.

The goblet was close at hand, and Khemrys's little gold took it upon herself to start bringing tidbits over for Kain to nibble as he was able. "A healer never sees people at their best," she admitted, bracing her legs against his ribs gently to keep him from jerking as she bent forward to start cleaning his back. "Ever at their worst, their bitterest, and their pained. Forgive me if it makes my humor dark at times."

Kain thanked the gold for her help, munching on what she brought in between swigs of the wine. He tried his best to remain upright as she began on his back. So far, so good...? The ache was definitely lessened some by the drink. "I don't envy you that duty... especially since it means dealing with people like myself."

"People like yourself are not the worst," she admitted. "You will tell me honest and true what you intend. You will lie to yourself, yes, and push yourself foolishly, but you will tell me you intend to do so and that things must be done. I would worry more should you assure me you would obey, and rest, and recover, with every intent to lie." Those were the ones that needed to be watched more.

His back, to put it lightly, was a mess. And the original thread score along his front was little better. At least she was gentle in her scrubbing, though the waters tinged pink at each swab upon his back. "And better dragonriders, Lord, where a healer may be heeded, than a woman like myself among holders or lord holders. They are...unkind."

Kain would just keep silent on the couple of instances where he'd done something like that, going back out there when he was supposedly 'resting'. It wasn't as if it ever happened often! Honest!

He winced and made just a couple of silent pained gasps as she scrubbed, but he was thankful that the worst of it was dulled.

"I've no doubt of that... you're truly far better among us." His tone indicated that he had perhaps had his own issues with some certain lord holders.

She would have watchers on him. It was her policy to set one or two of her fire lizards watching over injured riders who had more drive than brains.

Just in case.

"Yes, far." she admitted softly. "It was a kindness for the weyrs to take me," scooped up on a candidate search no less. It was no matter she hadn't impressed, she'd carved her own niche for herself. "And while there are fools even here, often they are a softer, kinder sort. Lift your arms lord, as high as you might? I wish to see how deep the damage goes."

"I hope you don't think me much of a fool..." He feared he must be easily seen that way, considering his stubbornness. Although he certainly didn't think himself foolish.

Kain grimaced as he lifted his arms. It was a slow, pained motion for him to lift them by much, but he wasn't about to seem a weakling and not do so. He still didn't get them as high as normal, definitely impaired by injury.

"A stubborn fool," she noted easily. "But if such were a crime against man then there would be little left for us healers to fuss over." Indeed, she could accept it as long as it didn't get him killed on her watch.

Or didn't interfere with his recovery.

Hmmm, that wasn't good. She touched the top of his shoulder when it was alright to drop his arms into the water once more. "No flying for you for several weeks at least lord, I'm sorry. You are clean though, if we can get you from the waters."

Kain nodded, a bit morosely, at the thought of being stuck on the ground for so long. But it ached too much to put up as much protest as he otherwise would have.

"If you're truly sure about that..." It took him just as much caution to start moving along so he could get out of the water. Though it had certainly been soothing, and relaxing in there.

"Wounded as you are, Lord, flight would rip, and tear, and cripple you." Best he knew now just how very bad his life could get if he did not mind her. "And then you will be a teacher, or a stone runner for all your years." What better way to ensure the rider of a bronze took care? Bronze riders died in threadfall or they chose to retire to a calmer life.

They did not do well having said choice taken from them.

She waited at the end of the baths, holding a hand out to steady him as he rose. "You will sleep after this, lord, and that will be soothing as well. You may have fellis juice and numbweed now." The better to stitch and bandage him without overly much wincing.

It did seem to be important for him to hear that, because it actually did sink in. It truly was a fate worse than death to Kain, to think of a permanent injury taking him from the skies. He belonged up there, upon his dragon. There was nothing else he needed as much.

"Then for as long as needed..." He took her steadying hand as he carefully moved up and out of the bath. That numbweed would feel particularly good right now, finally, to dull the last of the remaining aches.

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