Pern AU, though it's been a long time and my memories of it are faint. Maybe because of that, this turned into age difference, arranged marriage-y KasaKise. I'm not sure how; sorry about this ._.
Not following Pern's naming conventions either, sorry. I wasn't sure how it'd work with Japanese and gave up orz Also why none of the dragons' names are mentioned; Japanese doesn't even have a 'th' sound.
It's a big day for Kaijou weyr; the queen they have been waiting for is finally on her way. Kasamatsu runs over what he knows about the new queen one more time. Hatched from the first and last clutch of Teikou's young and inexperienced queen who, from what Kasamatsu had heard, only managed to avoid the same fate as Teikou through the quick thinking of her rider, Akashi Seijuurou – who must be a pretty capable kid despite his inexperience, because Kasamatsu hears that the two of them are over at Rakuzan now.
What really matters is the fact that Kaijou's incoming queen also manages to escape the destruction of Teikou, both the hatchling and her rider are coming ahead of time thanks to that – instead of maturing on home ground like they were supposed to.
Kasamatsu dreads the thought of having to deal with a hatchling queen, especially since her rider – one Kise Ryouta – was apparently a harper's apprentice of all things. He will have to explain everything to the kid. Kasamatsu has no idea how much Kise's learned by now, but he doubts it's a lot. The worst part is that he can't even push the task off to someone else. As the youngest bronze rider, his age is the only one that comes anywhere near Kise. Kaijou's a small weyr, and fair. It sees no need in forcing a new queen to be with the oldest and most experienced bronze for stability, or with the strongest bronze that can beat up the rest. Kaijou weyr prefers to have the leadership shared between those that seem like they would work well together – which, for now, means someone with less than a decade's difference in age with Kise.
Moriyama, who had been chattering about something with his green, turns at the sound of Kasamatsu's heavy sigh and claps him consolingly on the shoulder. "It will be fine, I'm sure the new queen will be great! In fact, it might even be a better strategy to have the queen come here as a hatchling and get used to everything first before taking up her duties."
Moriyama means well. Kasamatsu cannot fault him for that. But.
Beyond their little balcony, Kasamatsu's bronze looks over at them with an unhappy snort. I do not want to mate a dragon I knew as a hatchling!
Kasamatsu can't help but agree. Physically, Kise seems to have reached adulthood already, but on the experience front he is still a baby.
Perhaps realising that his encouragment isn't working, Moriyama looks around for a distraction and finds- "Hey, I think they're here soon!"
Turning, Kasamatsu finds that their dragons have now been joined by two blues. Which means Kobori and Hayakawa should be making their way here. Which means-
Kasamatsu takes a deep breath. "Now or never, huh."
"We will be with you all the way," Moriyama tells him solemnly. The most reassuring thing he has said all day.
"I know, thanks." Kasamatsu gives him a nod. "That's what's important. That we're working together for the weyr. All of us. New queen included."