Important Integration

Writers: Devin, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th July 2017

Characters: Cyradis, N'vanik, J'ackt
Description: Cyradis and N'vanik are serious about getting J'ackt integrated
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 2 of Turn 8

Cyradis

N'vanik

J'ackt

J'ackt sat at the end of the table, ignoring the chatter from those on
the other end as he stabbed at a piece of meat and sliced it
carefully. The others had learned not to expect conversation from him,
though on several occasions, his other wing members had tried to
include him. They had learned that he preferred to keep to himself and
he liked it that way.

What he wasn't expecting was the clatter of a plate in front of him
and he looked up, brows raised.

"You're getting company today." N'vanik said it with a teasing smile,
but in a tone that said 'and you don't have a choice about it.'

"Maybe a little more than you expected," Cyradis chucked as she slid
her own plate a little more quietly onto the table.

His fork paused in the motion of scooping up a piece of vegetable as
he peered at the two of them. He slowly put it down and rested his
forearms on the table in front of him. "Okay, what did I do this
time?" His gaze flicked back and forth between them and his lip curled
in an almost smirk. "You don't both come at me like this unless I've
done something."

"I'm annoyed that you aren't in my Wing yet," N'vanik said before
taking a bite of his fish.

A fork full of mashed tubers lifted off Cyradis plate and she smiled.
"I wonder why that is." She took her own bite.

"Not my fault." He gestured with his hand at the pair of them. " You
all make the wing assignments, not me."

Humor shone in her eyes as she looked at N'vanik and lifted a brow.

"Yes, and we discuss your progress. We need to be sure you're going to
work well with the rest of the wing." N'vanik knew J'ackt wasn't going
to like this.

A blonde brow arched. "I do."

"Which is why you eat alone every day." N'vanik mirrored his expression.

"Mmhmm," Cyradis observed. She knew N'vanik was more adept at pushing
J'ackt than she was and he'd learned enough from her perspective to be
ready for the upper wing.

J'ackt sighed and put down his eating knife. "I like eating alone."

"Which is fine," N'vanik said. "I get it. But maybe you could have
lunch with your wingmates a couple times a sevenday? Or maybe you
could go to a party and actually _talk_ to people?"

J'ackt looked at N'vanik for a long moment, then Cyradis. "I don't
like parties. They're noisy." He exhaled. "Look, I get it. You want me
to be a part of the wing and for people to think they can count on me.
But I'm not a chummy person. I don't really like most people that much
and I can't pretend that I do. If I can't prove that I'm reliable
during drills and Threadfall then I'm not going to be able to prove it
to them outside of them. I'll just end up pissing them off and you
both know it."

"And yet you'll never know unless you try," Cyradis smiled sweetly.

"How many parties did you go to when you were holdless? How many times
did you each lunch with other people?" The Weyrleader asked. "How
often did you interact with people without worrying they were going to
send the guards after you? How often did you talk to people without
calculating how you were gonna steal from them?"

A brow rose. N'vanik and Cyradis already knew the answers to the
questions, so he didn't bother answering them. "I've been to parties
here. I don't like them. And when I am here," he gestured around him
at the dining hall, " I just want to eat and go. I don't like the
crowds and I would rather be by myself."

N'vanik held back a sigh of frustration. "J'ackt, you've been cheated
out of a regular life, why not give yourself more of a chance to
interact with people? Come sit with my Wing at lunch."

"I interact with people." When he had to. He didn't think he had much
in common with most of the people he'd met and couldn't relate to many
of their conversations. J'ackt sighed and rubbed his temple, closing
his eyes. "This is going to be one of those things that you're going
to make me do whether I like it or not, isn't it?"

"Pretty much," Cyradis said softly. "It's easier if you want to do it
of course. This is one of those things most parents tell their
children is for their own good. And it is whether you believe it or
not."

"If it makes you feel better to see it as some sort of trial you have
to suffer, then fine," N'vanik said. "But it's really not meant to be
a punishment."

"Well, I don't want to." He replied simply. "But I'll do it." J'ackt
shrugged. "If I try it, then will you leave me alone about it next
time?"

"If you really do try," Cyradis smiled. "Then yes."

"And I'll be there to help ease you in," N'vanik said with a teasing smile.

J'ackt didn't return the smile, instead jabbing at a piece of meat
before answering. "I get why you think it's important, but it's just
not me. Besides.." He popped the piece of meat in his mouth, chewing
and swallowing before continuing. "..it's not like I'm going anyplace.
Can't get back all those turns, N'vanik." He looked at Cyradis next.
"I can't try to. I'm not like other people people here."

"J'ackt," she shook her head. "Everyone is different here. It's our
differences that make us interesting. Besides," she looked at N'vanik.
"All of us wish we could do some turns over again. But none of us have
that option. So you're not unique."

"It's not about trying to get the time back, it's about taking
advantage of opportunities you didn't have before," N'vanik said.
"Maybe you're really not social, maybe you don't like parties or
eating lunch with people. Or maybe you've just convinced yourself
that's true. How many times did you tell yourself you couldn't be a
dragonrider?"

"I'll try it," J'ackt replied, not able to hide the cynicism in his
voice. "Can't promise more than that, okay?"

"That's all we ask," she nodded.

Last updated on the September 1st 2017

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Important Integration