Did I Say That Aloud?

Writers: Leigh M-F., Suzee
Date Posted: 29th October 2015

Characters: N'call, A'kua
Description: A chance meeting leads to uncomfortable subjects.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Ninaine, Ilyssia

N'call

A'kua felt disconnected from reality due to the sheer volume of surprise he
had experienced. Zeiranth falling asleep in the weyrling barracks helped
restore a measure of clarity, but not nearly enough. It took conscious
effort to remember he had to go to the hatching feast. Ilyssia would want
to see and congratulate him, and his other friends might be there too. And
getting food wouldn't be a bad idea. It was something to do, anyway.

Mechanically, the new weyrling discarded his sandy pants -his Candidate
robe had been sacrificed to the bathing and oiling process-, and since he
didn't have anything particularly nice to wear, he just put on his dark
gray tunic, red pants, heeled boots, and deep blue accessories before
wandering to the dining hall, where people were already carrying out the
celebrations in full swing. There was food and drink and dancing and
chattering, and families and friends clustered around weyrlings to offer
congratulations. A'kua numbly moved past all of them toward the serving
line.

"A bit overwhelmed," a voice asked from behind him in the serving line.

"Huh?" A'kua looked over his shoulder, finding a lean, green-eyed man
there. The oddly-shaped scar on his face was fascinating. The redhead
almost felt a kinship with him, since he too had scars. "Overwhelmed. Good
word. Feels right."

N'call smiled. "I know the feeling," he nodded. "I felt exactly the same
way. Never expected bronze."

"Wasn' s'posed t' happen. S'posed to ride brown," A'kua said, attempting to
pick up a serving tray with his left hand, but the appendage was shaking so
badly he wound up dropping the object with a clatter. He hissed a profanity
and tried again with both hands.

N'call chuckled and put a hand on A'kua's back. "I thought the same until
the moment Haloth chose me. Hey," he added "it will come to you but right
now you need some hot food."

A'kua took a shuddering breath and tried to focus, but it wasn't easy. At
least the other rider's touch was somewhat calming. "Thanks- uh-" Oh, they
hadn't been introduced, had they? "Wha's your name?"

"I'm N'call," he said. "Bronze Haloth's rider." He supposed A'kua might
not recognize him by sight even though he knew the guy was friends with
Ninaine. But he imagined the name might jog him out of his shock.

The redhead's eyebrows lifted. "You're Ninaine's man? Glad t' meetcha. Even
gladder you're helpin' take care of her. She was so scared an' ashamed when
she found out she's preg'ant that she wanted me, of all people, t' be her
weyrmate, when I've called her 'li'l sis' too many times t' count. She was
that desp'rate t' avoid bein' disowned if'n her family ever came 'round
again. You'll help protect the li'l one, right? I'm worried her family'll
try t' kidnap it, though that could jus' be me bein' crazy again."

A beat later, a look of horror crossed A'kua's face as he realized he
really, _really_ shouldn't have said all that. Ninaine was going to murder
him in his sleep.

N'call smiled and lifted an eyebrow at the younger man. He looked back at
him and nodded. "The child is mine and I'll care for them both," he assured
A'kua. "But she needs your friendship too."

"Not anymore," A'kua said quietly, shaking his head. "She's gonna hate me
for tellin' ya all that."

N'call shrugged. "If I tell her. But who says I have to do that. Believe me
I know how she gets."

A'kua was so relieved his knees nearly gave out. Maybe he could escape the
destruction of his relationship with Ninaine after all? "_Thank_ ya," he
said fervently. "Really, thanks. I- I do worry 'bout her, an' her
friendship means a lot t' me. She's one of the few I can trust."

"She's stronger than she lets on at times but as prickly as a needlethorn
bush." Then he grinned. "But don't you tell her I said that."

The weyrling shook his head. "'S not her fault. Her worthless family made
her that way," he stated, taking a plate, cutlery, and a mug onto his tray.
"Holders tend to destroy their daughters. I jus' hope she can be happy with
ya, however long it lasts."

"I hope so too," N'call still held his cards close to his chest when it
came to feelings. But he also knew about her sharding family and if they
ever showed up on his doorstep they would get a piece of his mind.

"Well good luck to you A'kua, and remember you were chosen for this so you
can do it." He picked up his tray and started toward an empty table. "Why
don't you join me."

"Sure." He had nothing else to do, really, until his friends found him. And
it wouldn't be bad to get a better feel for the older bronzerider. A'kua
absently nodded thanks to the servers for the food, and followed.

Last updated on the October 30th 2015

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Did I Say That Aloud?