In Need of a Friend

Writers: Leigh M-F., Jelena
Date Posted: 6th March 2016

Characters: A'kua, Genna
Description: In the wake of K'ran's departure, Genna needs a sympathetic ear.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, Z'then, Rhosyn, Sinla, Nokala, ONPC Eionen

Genna

Now he was gone, really gone and off to his new life as Weyrleader of Riverbluff. As she pulled the door to her weyr closed, reality hit once more. The doubts about their future hit again with their full force, but also the anger at herself for the tears already clouding her vision. Once more she sank down on the couch in desperation.

Lissath, on the other hand, felt more exasperation than desperation. The gold felt quite offended still. Even though she had never displayed anything more than a passing interest in Rogueth, perhaps it was Genna's interest in K'ran that had her feeling like his chasing of the Riverbluff queen was a betrayal. Whatever her reasons, she could not understand all the other emotions Genna was going through right now. All she felt was anger and irritation and all the other stuff was.. ugh!

}:We don't need them, my Genna. I'll find you a new bronzerider.:{

Genna smiled just a little through her tears. **It doesn't work like that sweetheart. But thank you for the offer.** At least she always had Lissath, no matter what.

Lissath, however, wasn't so easily convinced. As a matter of fact, she knew just the bronzerider for her Genna.

}:Zeiranth. My Genna could use some company. Is yours available?:{

Genna was about to protest and explain to Lissath the difference between friends and lovers once more, but she decided against it. She really could use a friend right now and maybe Lissath needed to believe in one of her little schemes just as much.

Perhaps twenty or so minutes later, someone knocked on the door. "Genna?" A'kua called, sounding out of breath. "Can I come in?" Yes, he had been summoned, but it wasn't as if he could just go barging in.

"Of course, come in!" Genna called out clearly. She was curled up on her little couch with a blanket and a cup of tea, feeling the need for warmth and comfort above all else. Well, maybe a chat with a good friend ranked just a little higher. She was glad A'kua had the time. Hopefully Lissath hadn't summoned him away from something important.

A'kua came in, still panting and carrying a very small basket. "Sorry for the delay," he said, holding up the basket. "I had to swipe these first." Jam-filled pastries. When Lissath had called on the same day he had gotten news from Z'then, he figured the reason for his earlier worry had come true. "I- I heard the news," he ventured, coming closer with the treats.

"You're a hero," Genna said with a small smile as she invited him to sit beside her. It was kind of him to bring treats and even though eating was the last thing from her mind, she'd have a bite just to be polite. "Yeah, it's pretty earthshattering. At least to me it is. I still don't know exactly how I think and feel about it."

A'kua pulled back the napkin covering the pastries and took one that had a bit of orange jam seeping from one of the seams. "Big emotional shocks will do that," he agreed, having a bite and trying not to spill crumbs everywhere. "But you two can still see each other, right? There's nothin' forcin' K'ran to be with the Weyrwoman all the time, is there? Rogueth can call Lady Lissath any time K'ran is free, and you can have your outings and business lunches and fun." He hoped, anyway. But if it worked for him and Lys, it could work for Genna and K'ran. They were experienced dragonriders, so it wasn't as if timely travel was an issue.

"I don' t know, A'k ua. We hard so little time together when we were still both here. Now he's moving and taking on Weyrleadership, for Faranth's sake," she sighed and shook her head in confusion. "Lissath heard he'd spent quite some time with Rhosyn after the flight too. What if..." she didn't want to finish that sentence and looked at A'kua helpelessly. How could she ever compete with a woman like that.

A'kua sat down, put his pastry aside, and took one of Genna's hands, stroking her knuckles with a thumb. "Did you ever doubt his feelings for you before?" he asked very seriously.

"I did in the beginning," Genna replied, "at first I was afraid he was just being nice to me because of Lissath. I guess that old fear may creeping up again a little. I don't know why, he has never done anything to make me think such things." Was that was what really bothering her? Was she afraid he didn't need her anymore, now he was Weyrleader? It was a ridiculous thought and quite and insult to K' ran, but she couldn't stop it.

"If not K'ran, then did somethin' happen with an old boyfriend that's makin' you feel this way?" A'kua wanted to know, frowning in concern.

"No, I never really got the chance for boyfriends, my mom..." She trailed off as realisation kicked in. Her mother really had messed her up in more ways then one. "My mother cheated on my dad when she got bored of him."

"And now you're afraid history might repeat," A'kua said with a tone of complete understanding and compassion. "And of course logic doesn't help when you tell yourself K'ran's not like your ma."

"He is nothing like her. But maybe sometimes people just fall out of love after a given time. And if you have a woman like Rhosyn in your bed, perhaps that speeds up the process." Her eyes filled up again and to distract both herself and A'kua from her tears, she looked down and took a pastry, stuffing it in her mouth with force.

"Hey, easy, you'll choke," A'kua cautioned. "I didn't bring any juice with me. Lady Lissath, please tell your rider not to choke." He didn't have a scrap of cloth or anything to offer as a hanky, either. "Look, I think the best you can do right now is just let yourself be angry, let yourself doubt and wallow for a few days. And you can do what I did: Fight back. Any time you have a day off, ask K'ran if he can join you somewhere fun for a date. And then -and for the love of all the Ancients I can't believe I'm about to say this- I think you should talk to your ma. If you're thinkin' history's goin' to repeat, then it's time to clear that history out."

Genna shook her head firmly. "No good can come of meeting my mother, she's a manipulative shark. I'd walk out thinking I've won, then realize she's talked me into thinking things I don't agree with when I get home." No, her mother wasn't someone that was going to help her with this. Especially now she was feeling so vulnerable. "And I don't know, A' kua, it feels wrong to have to fight for someone's attention like that. Either he wants to see me, or he doesn't. I don't want to chase after him like some love-struck hold girl."

"You are a lovestruck holdgirl," A'kua pointed out gently. "And you're right that you shouldn't have to fight for it, but if you want to make your relationship work, you'll need to. As for your ma, well, would it help if I was there, like you were there for me?" he ventured. "Sometimes I can tell what people're thinkin' when I watch their faces and bodies. I cheated at so many card games and won because of it."

"Maybe, I'll think about it," Genna said slowly. "Right now I really don't want to think at all. I wish I could just forget about it all and pretend nothing changed."

"Take all the time you need." A'kua let her hand go and leaned against the back of the couch, searching his mind. "So, have you heard some of the other gossip?" Maybe she hadn't come across the information Z'then had. "And I didn't tell you about Nokala, did I? She said she would help me find my sister, if she is my sister."

"Oh, that is good news, do you guys have any leads?" Genna thought A' kua's father had been supposed to contact his supposed sister, but she decided not to mention that just yet.

"Not yet," A'kua said, shaking his head. "But Nokala's relatives are movin' faster than he is, so maybe we'll know something soon. Anyway, supposedly-" He kept talking, sharing the news and gossip Z'then had told him, trying to keep his friend distracted.

Genna let herself be sucked in to the gossip and stories, though the knot in her stomach remained, reminding her there was something wrong. But with A' kua there it was easier to ignore. She would worry about K'ran tomorrow.

Last updated on the April 4th 2016

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