Another Apology

Writers: Kenya, Sunrose
Date Posted: 4th March 2006

Characters: Jer'ic, Illiana
Description: Jerric apologizes to Illiana for his behaviour the previous night
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 3

After Jerric had visited the healer and confirmed that he would live to see another day, he began to feel a bit better around noon time. Well, physically. The clearer his mind got the more he remembered how foolish he had acted the previous. He noticed that Illiana had been avoiding him all day, despite the limited time they saw one another. By the afternoon though, he was able to rush through several decades of hides and for a while, his work a scribe was done. He checked the Candidate Barracks and the girls assured him that Illiana was not in the building and they had not seen her for some time. Not wanting to give Illiana anymore time to find another way to ellude him, he made his way to the stables where he was sure he would find the Beastcrafter busy at some task. "Illiana?" he called through the door, hesitating to go in for his fear of such animals.

Illiana looked up from the stall floor that she had been staring at for the past half a candlemark. She had finished her chores early and decided to go sit in a stall with a runner filly that had found a special place in her heart.

Jerric frowned and decided to face his fears temporarily. He took a few steps within the great stables and immediately noticed a scent of grass and even more so, manure. Not minding, he carefully proceeded so as to not venture too close to any potentially dangerous beasts. "Ill- Illiana?" he said once again. "I know you're here. Please come talk to me."

The red haired candidate sighed and stood up, she hated being angry at people but Jerric had been a lordly bugger the night before. "What?" She asked as she peeked her head over the stall door, the chestnut filly stuck her head out over the stall door and peered down towards Jerric. She then let out a little snort.

Jerric looked at the filly wearily as if it were some arch nemesis he had waited turns to battle. He stared down the creature and then, focusing on his goal, redirected his attention to Illiana. "I want to talk to you about last night," he began. "Would you come outside with me so we can talk?" Both knew well he was uncomfortable where they were and there was no use complicating an already cimplicated situation.

Illiana thought about her reply, she could just tell him to bug off, but that wasn't like her at all. She hated conflicts of any nature, and she did like Jerric, so she went with the more Illiana response. "Sure," she opened the latch of the stall door and let herself out kissing the filly on the nose.

Jerric led the way out of the stables, shuffling his feet ahead of her to get out of that place as soon as possible. Once they were both safely outside, Jerric spotted the nearby trunk of a fallen tree. "Here, sit down," he asked her softly.

Illiana complied and sat down silently, she instantly brought her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. She for once didn't have anything to say.

Bravely sitting down beside her, Jerric took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm really sorry about last night. To be quite honest, I can hardly remember what even happened but I know I was a jerk to you," he began. Perhaps hoenstly saying that he did not remember the night hadn't been a good step but he was trying.

"Why did you feel the need to drink so much? Doesn't it scare you to wake up the next morning and wonder what you did the night before?" Illiana had never been in that situation, but she had seen others, her brothers would sometimes come home drunk and pass out in the family quarters in random places. As much as they tried to hide stuff like that from her, every now and then someone would slip up.

Unable to withstand her glare, he winced and looked down at the floor. He shrugged. "I hadn't really thought about it that way... I've been drinking for some now. My father was that way too. I know I shouldn't but, I just can't help myself," he admitted, feeling like the low-life he was. "...If it makes you feel better... the Headwoman found me and I got into a lot of trouble." Perhaps if she knew he had been punished it would help her forgive him.

"I hope you didn't try to get out of whatever punishment she gave you." Illiana shifted her weight a bit, still hugging her knees.

"No, of course not... But I had to make sure I talked to you. You have to understand that I didn't mean to hurt you," Jerric said, stressing his point. He was on the verge of blantly admitting his already obvious problem when he decided to stop being stubborn about this. "I have had a drinking problem for the past turn. I suppose I take after my father but I will try harder."

Illiana looked up at Jerric, her eyes no longer hard and angry, she almost felt bad for him. "I . . . I could try to help you?" She offered, not 100% sure what she would do to help, but figured she could try something, anything.

Very strange evenings and sick mornings to follow flooded back to him in a series of horrible memories. Realizing the severity of his problem, he decided that for himself and for his friendship, he would have to accept his Illiana's proposal. "I would like that very much," Jerric admitted. Having her support was comforting. He raised his head, gaining a small drop of his dignity for having admitting his problem and plans to overcome it.

Illiana leaned over and decided to be daring and give Jerric's arm a squeeze. She looked up at him with one side of her mouth curling up in a little smile. "Apology accepted."

Smiling as well, Jerric responded by leaning over and hugging her in a tight embrace, nearly knocking her off the log. "Thank you Illiana! If I ever act that way again just hit me upside the head and put me to bed. I promise I will try very hard not to disappoint you!" he pledged.

The young woman giggled and poked Jerric in his stomach, knowing that it would make him flinch and allow her to get him in a head lock (just like her brothers had done to her many times) and rub the top of his head with her knuckles. "Oh don't worry! I will!"

Last updated on the March 5th 2006

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