Keeping Them On the Ground

Writers: Devin, Kastaka
Date Posted: 12th March 2009

Characters: N'vanik, G'van
Description: G'van attempts to 'apologise' to N'vanik.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 16 of Turn 5

N'vanik

G'van awkwardly knocked on the Weyrleader's door, trying to look suave and sophisticated, but knowing he was cutting it fine to get in the air for next Fall as it was. He knew that N'vanik had said two weeks, but surely he could see by now that it wasn't doing any good keeping them on the ground.

"Come in!" N'vanik called. He was almost done with the urgent hidework, and then he could get out of this sharding office.

Opening the door, G'van took a quick look at the reaction on N'vanik's face before proceeding - he didn't want to stride in boldly if the Weyrleader was still roaring with anger, or shuffle in defeatedly if the Weyrleader looked reasonably pleased to see him.

N'vanik's expression darkened. "What do you want?"

Ah, right, slight irritation, not incandescent rage. G'van figured he could work with that. He didn't exactly slink into the office, but he cut out the swagger, too, going for 'looking genuinely concerned'.

"I saw you had quite a lot of injuries at Fall, and Gheleth's doing his nut being on the ground," he said with his best impression of concerned sincerity. It looked for a moment as if he was about to say something further, but decided at the last moment to wait for N'vanik's reaction before proceeding.

"We didn't have any more than usual." Maybe G'van thought it was more because he'd been down in the infirmary. "And you should have thought about your dragon before you acted like an ass." What was he going for, an apology?

"I know. I'm sorry." G'van was laying the deep-hearted sincerity on like a trowel now, with a side order of big, concerned eyes. He hadn't quite turned on the waterworks yet, or started on the sob story - seeing how this Weyrleader took him apologising like a man first.

"Really?" N'vanik lifted an eyebrow. "Maybe I'll reconsider extending your grounding."

G'van's eyes widened slightly at that, and he cursed himself inwardly for reacting in such an obvious fashion, although shortly after that he decided that it was probably the right kind of reaction anyway. He hung his head in sorrow for a moment. "Look," he said, with a carefully calculated hint of desperation, making eye contact again. "I'm sorry, okay? It's hard moving into a new Weyr, I overstepped the boundaries a bit. Now I know what's what, I'll be good. Just... give me a chance to prove myself, okay? In the air, where we belong?"

G'van reminded N'vanik of someone, and it was bothering him. Had been since he first walked into the room. Not what he looked like, but something about him ... A face, a memory flickered across his mind. N'vanik almost smiled, but not in a good way. He knew G'van's type, oh, yes. "Sure, I'll let you prove yourself."

Careful not to brighten up too quickly, lest his earlier contrition was seen for the fake it was, G'van nevertheless perked up considerably. "So I can come to drills today?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to overshoot his success and walk right into another zinger like the comment about extending his grounding.

"No. First, you need to prove that you can serve your punishment," N'vanik said. "I got a report from the infirmary, and it sounds like you're determined to endanger the lives of riders that are _already_ injured." He fought rising anger as he spoke.

"Aww, you know how healers are," tried G'van, going for the convivial option, although remembering to keep a note of contrition in his voice. "I've barely seen the inside of an infirmary before, 'specially not anything but a corner for a quick checkup, and suddenly I'm meant to know where everything is in a place I've certainly never been before?"

"Oh, is that the excuse? Carrying supplies back and forth and using a mop is too hard for you?" Shards, G'van must take him for a dimglow to fall for that. "I'm surprised you can manage to dress yourself."

Whoops, that hadn't worked. Time for a bit of abject begging. "Look, I know I haven't been the best infirmary assistant," he began. "But I'm not really an infirmary assistant, I'm a dragonrider, and... shards, man, just don't make me sit out another Fall. Think of Gheleth. It's not his fault that I've suffered a couple of... cultural misunderstandings..." He trailed off to give N'vanik his best pleading look.

"No. You'll spend the next few days in the infirmary, including Fall, and _if_ you do a good job, I'll consider letting you fly again," N'vanik said. G'van hadn't served his punishment, as far as he was concerned.

G'van tried not to let the relief show on his face - at least the Weyrleader seemed to have forgotten his idea of extending the grounding. "I'll do better," he promised with all the sincerity he could muster. A few days actually mopping floors couldn't be that bad, right?

}: Thank you, :{ contributed Gheleth.

**Yeah, yeah, he'd have broken eventually, but no, I'll be good and get you back in the air as soon as I can, you great wherry,** replied G'van affectionately.

"Good." N'vanik would just have to wait and see if G'van meant it.

G'van nodded, using the motion to hang his head in shame again, and made a motion as if to begin leaving the office, to see if N'vanik had any parting shots he wanted to use. After all, there was no reason for him not to let the Weyrleader feel good about the outcome of the conversation now.

"I'll check with the healers at the end of the sevenday." N'vanik said. "You can go."

Turning and slinking out of the room in what he hoped was a good impression of defeat, G'van caught himself before he punched the wall in irritation just outside the office, as he wasn't sure exactly how sharp the Weyrleader's hearing was.

**Shard it, Gheleth, the things I do for you,** he opined, somewhat sardonically, as he gradually picked back up into his normal swaggering stride.

}: We'll be back in the air soon, and it'll all be worth it, :{ his dragon promised.

Last updated on the March 14th 2009

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Keeping Them On the Ground