A Real Conversation

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 18th February 2019

Characters: D'hol, Jeyme
Description: An actual conversation commences.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 9

D'hol

Jeyme

D'hol knelt, watching Dheymin scamper around Yumath's talons. They
dwarfed the small child, but the bronze was infinitely gentle, letting
the child crawl on him in what may have been considered a most
undignified display. The smile that wreathed D'hol's face was warm,
but tinged with something else less definable. "Easy there, lad." He
rose and caught Dheymin up in his arms before the child tumbled over
one of the large fingers. Faranth, but the child was determined to get
at least a few more bruises before the end of the day. "Your mother
would roast me alive if I brought you back with lumps on your head."

"I don't know, she might overlook it if you asked nicely," Jeyme spoke
up with a grin as she happened upon the scene. She had been hesitant
to interrupt. It had been a long time since she had seen a smile on
D'hol's face and she knew that when she appeared it would disappear.

D'hol pressed a quick kiss to his son's brow as he began to demand to
be put down. He looked up at Jeyme's voice, and was surprised when
Dheymin didnt immediately go to her, but returned to Yumath, trying to
find a way up to his neck ridges. The smile did fade, but the coldness
that he had habitually used simply wasn't there; instead, there was
just acceptance with a hint of something else that wasn't clear.
"Well, he certainly doesn't need one, he's just trying to get them."

The wingthird came to stand beside him, arms crossed loosely over her
chest as she watched Dheymin play, "He likes Quinneth, but he worships
Yumath... And besides, a few bruises builds character."

"Not on the head, they don't. But Yumath won't let him climb too high."
He glanced at her briefly then turned his gaze back to his son. "Most
boys do like bronzes, if I remember. " He certainly had as a child.
"Where is Quinneth?"

Jeyme jerked her thumb over her shoulder, "Trying to flirt and catch
Volaith's attention, I believe." The green didn't seem to favor any
color- blue, brown or bronze- but at the moment she was enjoying the
weyrsecond's attention. Her gaze followed Dheymin, whose eyes were lit
with adoration and laughter as he scrambled over Yumath.

D'hol gave a brief snort of slight amusement. "Good for her." He too
watched as Yumath's hide twitched, sending the boy sliding down his
side once again. "He's determined, isn't he?"

"Well, he has stubborn parents, I suppose he got it honest." Jeyme
glanced sideways at D'hol. It was the nicest conversation they'd had
in a long while.

"Hmmm. Indeed he did." He felt her eyes on him and his brow twitched
upwards, but his own didn't waver from his son. "What?"

"Nothing," she replied, turning her eyes back to Dheymin. "I don't
want to jinx it."

That brought a snort. "Jinx what, exactly?"

The corners of her mouth twitched with a smile, "This conversation.
You seem to be thawed out at the moment."

He paused and exhaled through his nose. "Perhaps so." He went silent
as he watched Dheymin stroke Yumath's side and lean against him. His
next words were quiet "And perhaps I've realized that I should hate my
past actions more than trying to blame and continue hating you."

Outwardly Jeyme didn't show a reaction, but inwardly she was reeling.
D'hol admitting regret for his actions? Perhaps he was sick with a
fever. "There was plenty of blame to go around, but life is too short
to hold on to it," she agreed. It was something she had learned with
A'dan when she'd lived at Far Island.

Life was short indeed. D'hol couldn't help but inwardly agree to that
statement. And he had lost three turns with his child that he may not
be able to make up. He said nothing in response.

"Do you want to take him to dinner? He's having such fun I hate to
take him away from Yumath." Jeyme said sincerely. She wanted Dheymin
to have as much of his father as time allowed.

That made D'hol's brow quirk up. It would have been nice if that had
been allowed at Far Vista. He had to bite back the accusations and
frustrations that had plagued the previous three turns. He still
bitterly resented Dheymin's previous foster mother and couldn't help
but suspect that Jeyme had had a direct hand in it. His jaw tightened
as he swallowed the words that threatened to spill out. "He can play
with Yumath any time he is free and is agreeable. But I can't this
evening as much as I'd like to say yes."

"Okay," Jeyme walked toward Dheymin. "Come on, silly boy, it's time to go."

Yumath lowered his head to exhale lightly over the child at his side,
the looked up at Jeyme, his large, gently whirling eyes locking on her
as she approached. D'hol followed, then stopped Jeyme with a grip on
her arm. He looked down at her, jaw tense. "Wait."

She froze, "What is it?"

"I am sorry for hurting you, Jeyme." He let her go immediately and
stepped away. The apology had been more difficult than he thought it
would be, but it needed to be said.

This time the surprise did show on her face in the lift of her
eyebrows. Her green eyes searched his. She had never expected an
apology from him, ever. "I am sorry, too, D'hol. For leaving with
Dheymin. I wasn't mature enough of then to handle the situation
properly." A'dan had taught her how to do that. "I want you to know
that no matter what happened at Far Island, I have always wanted for
you to be a part of Dheymin's life. I am proud that you are his
father."

Neither one of them could entirely erase the hurt that had been given
to the other. He supposed that he had deserved much of what had been
dealt to him in response. It was difficult, however, to let go of
resentment and wasn't sure that he was entirely able. Instead, he just
nodded in response, then turned to his son. He knelt, giving the boy a
quick embrace and laid his hand against Dheymin's cheek. "I'll see you
soon. "

Dheymin responded by throwing his arms around his father's leg, "I
love you, Papa!"

D'hol's smile was warm and a hint of sadness in them as he ruffled his
hair. "I love you too, little man."

Jeyme smiled as she watched them together, thinking how Dheymin looked
like a miniature version of his father, except with her eyes.

"Buhbye, Papa!" he said, waving as he raced over to his mother.

D'hol lifted a hand and then turned away to lay his hand on Yumath.

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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A Real Conversation