Just Desserts
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th February 2014
Characters: J'ackt, Alina
Description: Alina has something to say to Jenackt after his fight...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 6 of Turn 7
Alina had avoided Jenackt when she'd heard that he was Holdless. Holdless were always Holdless for a reason-- and usually a bad one. Thankfully the boy hadn't seemed like he'd wanted to talk to her, either, and they'd managed to move around the same spaces without ever really interacting.
But then Jenackt had showed up for breakfast with bruises and a black eye, and Dayf hadn't shown up at all. The girls' barracks had been a-buzz with news of the fight that evening, but Alina hadn't really believed it until she'd seen Jenackt with her own eyes. And even then...
She ate quickly and returned her tray and bowls to the kitchen staff. A quick whisper and a wink to the drudge behind the counter, a girl she'd befriended over tuber-chopping duty, and Alina walked away with sticky bun studded with raisins. Her heart thudded painfully as she approached her quarry-- Elana would be horrified by what she was about to do. Which made her more determined to do it-- she had to have _something_ to write home about! Taking a deep breath, she slid into the bench across from Jenackt.
Absorbed in his morning meal of fruit, Jenackt looked up through the heavy locks over his brow to look at the sudden arrival of company. His brows snapped down for only a moment before he took another bite; he knew few of the other candidates and though he had seen this girl in the same lessons as he, he'd never really paid that much attention to her. He stopped chewing and gave her a questioning look with his one good eye. "What?"
"Is it true you beat up Dayf?" Alina asked.
He chewed for a minute more and swallowed before giving a curt answer. "Yes."
Alina did her best to hide a smile, but couldn't quite. Dayf had never treated her nor her sister terribly well, and he had no doubt deserved what he'd got. He'd always acted like he was more than he was. Elana would laugh when she read her next letter...! Alina leaned across the table and placed the second sticky bun next to Jenackt's plate. "Good for you," she said quietly, then rose to leave.
He immediately frowned suspiciously at the girl and looked down at the sticky bun before pushing it slowly away. "Huh?" He looked around and then back at her. "You're kidding right? Didn't you come with him?"
"So?" Alina arched an eyebrow and pretended not to see his reaction to her gift. "I'm sure he deserved it."
Jenackt sat back slowly, staring at the girl. "He did deserve it." He wasn't sure what to make of this girl, or her attitude towards the confrontation with her fellow. "I guess he's not your friend, then."
"I guess he's not yours, either," Alina replied.
Jenackt spat out an immediate curse and denial. "I'd rather have a green wher in heat straddle my calves."
Her eyes grew round and her cheeks developed two bright spots of colour. "Well. Um. Yes. That shows good... sense... Uh... I should go. Enjoy your bun!" she squeaked, then tried to beat a hasty retreat. That was the worst thing she'd ever heard come out of anyone's mouth, and there was _no_ way she could write it down to share with her sister-- even though she desperately wanted to. With a mouth like that, no wonder he was Holdless!
"But...I don't like buns..." Jenackt stared after her and grabbed the plate holding it out. "I mean...thanks, I guess, but you can have it."
Alina whipped around, marched back, took the plate and set it firmly down on the table in front of Jenackt. "Stop making a scene!" she hissed. "People will stare. It's a gift. Be gracious and accept it, then throw it into the garbage when I'm not looking-- I don't care!"
"Hey! I'm not the one making a scene." Jenackt shoved it back stubbornly. "You're the one who's slamming the bloody thing down and hissing like a tunnelsnake! What's your problem?"
Alina's pink cheeks went white with humiliation. If Elana were here, she'd know what to say. It was her own fault for trying to talk to someone Holdless. It was stupid of her for expecting to have a decent conversation, or at least a moderately polite one. "Fine," she said quietly. As crude as he was, he was right. Graciousness went both ways. She picked up the plate, turned her back, and walked over to the garbage. The bun went in, and Alina left the dining cavern with her chin held high and her pride in tatters.
He watched her walk away with a furrowed brow. Shards, he had just been trying to not waste food. What was wrong with these people?
Last updated on the February 28th 2014