Hello. [2/2.]

Writers: Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th October 2017

Characters: Eionen, A'kua
Description: Cautiously reaching out.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 1, day 28 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Ilyssia (ONPC), Maerin (NPC).

A'kua plucked the strings a few more times before he settled into the notes that had seared into his memory. His voice was a clear lyric tenor, rife with emotion. "Hello, it's me.
I was wondering if after all this time, you'd like to meet
And go over everything.
They say that time's supposed to heal you,
But I've not done enough healing.

Hello? Can you hear me?
I'm still where I was, thinking about how it used to be
Before everything upended
And the world broke at my feet.
There's such a difference between us,
And who knows how many miles....

Hello from the other side;
I must have scrapped a thousand lines
To tell you I'm sorry for the things that I've done,
But when I try to say it, I leave it alone.
Hello from the outside;
At least I can say that I tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart.
Does it matter? It clearly doesn't tear you apart
Anymore."

It sounded better and more haunting when sung by the composer. Eionen could hear all the hurt and doubt A'kua must have been feeling when he wrote the song. The older man swallowed hard and didn't have long to gather himself before the rhythm came around to what he'd written in return. He took up the lyrics in a robusto tenor, smooth and experienced: "Hello. How are you?
It's so typical of me to talk about myself; I'm sorry.
I hope that you're well.
Did you get comfortable with those knots?
Or has something happened?
It's no secret that I truly feel
This provocation's out of line.

But hello from the other side;
I must have scrapped a thousand lines
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done,
Yet I can't breach the wall you've built up alone.
Hello from the outside;
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart.
Does it matter I won't let you tear me apart
Anymore?"

A'kua played on, not looking at him, instead focusing on the refrain. At the right beat, they sang together, voices blending beautifully. "Hello from the other side;
I must have scrapped a thousand lines
To tell you I'm sorry for the things that I've done,
But when I reach out, you never seem to be home.
Hello from the outside;
At least I can say that I tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart.
Does it matter? I can't let it tear me apart
Anymore.

Hello from the outside;
At least I can say that I tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart.
Does it matter? I can't let it tear me apart
Anymore."

A'kua swallowed hard, and sang the second to last line quietly as the notes began to peter out. "Hello? It's me."

Eionen followed with the ending, echoing him. "Hello? It's me...."

Silence fell. The older man sucked in a sharp breath, choked on it, and crossed the floor, unable to stop himself from throwing his arms around A'kua's shoulders, clinging to him. "I'm sorry," he gasped. "I'm so sorry- for everything."

He broke down, shaking, and after an awkward pause, the rider slowly lifted his arms, closing them on Eionen's back. "I know," he whispered, and let his sire cry.

Eionen managed to collect himself soon enough, pulling away and wiping his eyes. "I'm a disgrace, really. I probably don't have any right to weep over this," he said thickly, approaching the water jug and goblet Maerin kept at hand while he worked. He poured some and gulped it down. He dampened his fingers next and patted at his eyes before wiping them dry with his sleeve.

A'kua shrugged and hung up the gitar. "It doesn't matter if you do or don't."

Eionen straightened his sash and nodded to him. "Well, I- I don't suppose you're hungry?"

The rider let him change the subject. "Famished."

They talked more over dinner. Eionen spoke of his childhood in the Harpercraft, and some things about his own parents; they were good people he still missed. His father had just suddenly dropped dead one day, and his mother had taken a fall not long after. A'kua didn't say much about his own ife, sticking to short stories about the time he spent holdless and his early days in the Weyr. Eionen didn't press for details, deciding there was always later.

The sun had almost completely set by the time he walked his offspring out to Zeiranth, who was well rested and ready to go. "Could I ask you to stop by next week?" Eionen inquired as A'kua put his flight gear on. "You could bring your weyrmate; I'd like to meet her."

"If she wants to," A'kua said, and mounted up. "We'll see what happens."

"Of course." Eionen hesitated. "So.... Am I still dead and rotting?"

A'kua actually smiled. "Half dead, maybe."

"I can live with that."

"Same time next sevenday," the dragonrider said, and waved his father back. When he had enough room, Zeiranth launched and blinked between at a safe altitude.

Eionen let out a long breath, feeling completely wrung out, and went to his room to get to work. He had some homework from his students to look over, and he would probably be at it for a while. But he paused once more on finding an apprentice at his door, bearing a very battered piece of folded leather. It was sealed with wax that had a crest stamped into it; an orange held in two hands. He knew that crest well, and took the letter with a thanks. Sitting down at his desk, he cracked the wax and read the now outdated words inside, shedding more, bittersweet tears at the news. "This is the best day of my life," he said to the air, and picked up a pen to write a reply.

The next morning, Master Maerin came to collect his colleague for breakfast. When Eionen didn't answer to knocks and calls, Maerin opened the door to find the redhead slumped over his desk, skin gray and limbs stiffened. A trembling touch to the pulse point under Eionen's jaw confirmed he was dead.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2017

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Hello. [2/2.]