Suitable Distractions.

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 20th September 2017

Characters: Jessmyr, A'kua
Description: Jessmyr's pet training helps divert A'kua's thoughts.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Bellarria (NPC), Firelloa and Tinate (ONPCs), Yanley, G'nir

It had been a somewhat draining day; emotionally, at least. A'kua had taken Firelloa to visit her mother in Opal Cove for the day, and had been invited to stick around, so he had for a few hours. That had been enough time to meet Bellarria's new beau, one of the Hold cobblers. By A'kua's reading, he was a good man and would treat Firelloa's ma well, and he obviously made Bellarria happy. But Firelloa had conflicting feelings; while she wanted her mother to be happy, she wasn't sure she was ready for a stepfather, even if he was in the Hold and not the Weyr. A'kua had told her they would talk about it in the morning and see if they could figure it out, then tucked her in and left to get some tea from the dining hall to brood over. He really needed a distraction.

Jessmyr was sitting at one of the dining tables, his flit perched in front of him. He was trying to teach Val to carry messages. The flit accepted the message tube easily enough but when Jess tried to send him to some person, the firelizard just stared him with quizzical look and cocked his head with apparent confusion.

Tea forgotten at the sight, A'kua approached his friend. "Hey, Jess. What're you doin' there?" he inquired, motioning to Val and the message.

"Hey, A'kua. I'm trying to teach him to deliver messages. So far, it's not going well," Jessmyr replied with a greeting smile. Val stared A'kua, decided that he wasn't going eat them and warbled his own greeting.

"Is he just too young still?" the redhead asked curiously, taking a seat.

"Maybe," Jess replied. "He does accept the message without problems, but to get him to take it anywhere...not happening." Just to prove Jess wrong, Val twisted his head to chew the message tube.

A'kua frowned, putting his chin on his fist. Firelloa hadn't been trying that kind of thing with Tinate yet; she was working on his manners first. But maybe- "What kind of images and emotions are you usin' to communicate what you need?"

"I'm picturing the person I want him to go and try to convey that I do want him to go to her," Jess replied. Val left the message alone and went to headbutt A'kua's free hand, wanting a scratch. "Shameless beg," Jess remarked.

The rider thought that over, scratching under Val's chin gently. "How urgent are you makin' it seem?"

"Urgent? More like a frustrated," Jess snorted. "I just want him to go there."

"That might be part of the problem. When I was learnin' how to send images and emotions to Zei, the context was one of the most important parts. If I got frustrated, Zei wouldn't understand why. So I had to learn to be clearer than glass, provide all the context I could think of, so Zei could get it," A'kua explained.

"Thank's, I'll remember that," Jess said. "Right now, I think we both need a break from training," he continued and removed the message from Val.

"A break couldn't hurt," the other man agreed. "Aside from the trainin', is everythin' else goin' okay?" Val certainly looked healthy and well cared for, a testiment to Jessmyr's dedication to his pet.

"Yes, Yanley's keeping us terribly busy, that's all," Jessmy replied. "All those new riders and their families."

A'kua immediately sobered. "Aye," he said quietly. "I still can't imagine that level of destruction. Are you managin' okay?"

"Sure," Jess assured him. "Yanley started to teach me to do the hidework." Jessmyr may have lacked any kind of craft-training but he was smart and quick to learn.

"Ugh, hidework." G'nir's piles of papers, slates and hides were still an unpleasant memory. "Well, if anyone can figure that stuff out, it's you. Just let me know if you need any help with heavy liftin' or rides, or whatever."

"I will," Jess promised. He actually enjoyed the hidework and it allowed him to sit down in one place.

With that matter settled, A'kua turned his attention to Val momentarily. "So what happens if I stop coddlin' him?"

"He'll beg for more," Jess chuckled. "Unless you can figure out to distract him."

"I might be able to think of somethin'."

Last updated on the September 29th 2017

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Suitable Distractions.