Someone Like Me.

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 28th March 2019

Characters: Ninaine, D'kere
Description: D'kere has a problem with a Weyrling that he believes Ninaine can help with.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: N'call

Ninaine

Ninaine found D'kere in a classroom and entered. Memories of herself
in that very room with a hissing Luneth flittered through her mind,
tempered with both fondness and regret. "D'kere, you wanted to see
me?"

"Ninaine," D'kere had a pleasant smile for the greenrider as he
finished erasing the blackboard where he'd jotted down notes for a
class earlier. "I was hoping I could ask a favor of you," the
bronzerider's blue eyes took on a begging quality.

"Of course." She frowned a little at his expression. "What's the matter?"

"Back when you Impressed Luneth, I had never met a Weyrling like you,"
D'kere said, waving his hand to assure Ninaine that he was going to
make a point. "Well, there's a senior Weyrling, Yhuna, her green is
due to rise within the next couple of sevendays but she's really stuck
on the way she was raised at the Hold. She's in complete denial about
what she and Isamoryth will be doing when a mating flight occurs. I
was hoping you could talk with her, help her see reason."

Ninaine winced at the reminder, but understood immediately. She had
heard of Yhuna, but had never spoken with her; at least her green
wasn't as neurotic as Luneth had been, but there were similar signs.
"Ah." Ninaine frowned. "Has there been an interest in her at all from
anyone?"

"Well," D'kere hesitated as he tried to figure out a way to delicately
word his description of Yhuna, "she's a bit... prickly? The boys in
her own Weyrling group are sick of her, I'm afraid. I have tried to
suggest to her that she allow me to set her up with a seasoned rider
who could show her the ropes a little before her first flight," he was
dead sure that Yhuna was a virgin, "but she's been completely
resistant to that idea."

"You mean she's like I was." Ninaine picked up on it immediately. If
she' hadn't had N'call, then she would have gone to her first mating
Flight untried. It would have been more than traumatic. "That won't
work, D'kere. Pushing her didn't work with me either, if you remember.
Is there any boy or man that's taken an interest in her outside of the
Weyrling group? " She had been more annoyed with her own classmates
and hadn't considered any of them. "I can speak to her. I think I can
understand how she feels."

"Like I said, I don't know of anyone that's interested in her, but
she'd be more likely to tell something like that to you than to me."
D'kere raised his shoulders in a shrug. "She's been told, and told,
and told that she needs to take care of business before her dragon
rises, and she's not listening. We want what is best for her and for
her dragon, but she needs to hear it from someone she feels she can
relate to." Having been weyrbred himself, D'kere couldn't begin to
understand why the holdbred Candidates and Weyrlings often clung to
their virginity as if it were gold.

"You have to frame it differently. I was taught that I was never to
give into anyone but my husband. That and my ability to have children
was the only value I really ever had, D'kere. You remember how I was."
N'call was just more persuasive, and loving, than her parents had ever
been. "What I'll have to do is come at it like she's married to her
dragon or to the Weyr. " Ninaine sighed. "I had to think of it like
that sometimes. You can tell her and tell her, but unless she feels
its necessary, she won't give. I'll see what I can do."

D'kere snapped his fingers and pointed at Ninaine. "That's exactly why
I called for you, I knew you would understand the best way to approach
her."

She wasn't entirely sure it would work. She chewed on her lower lip
and considered it. Every girl had a weak spot, even one that came from
a Hold. If that didn't work, then she'd have to dig and find it before
Yhuna's green rose. She hated the thought of manipulating the girl,
but wasn't it really necessary? "I'll do the best that I can, D'kere.
If I can't convince her, then..."

"If you can't convince her then she's on her own. We can't force
anyone, after all. I've told her it's the best thing for her lifemate,
so there's not any undue stress, but perhaps if she hears about your
experiences with Luneth, it will help her understand we're just
looking out for her wellfare."

She hated the thought of that, especially considering the memory of
her own first Flight. She'd never grown to really outwardly look
forward to them, but deep down, sometimes admitted that they could be
exciting, despite the embarrassment afterwards. She frowned at a
thought. "Does she have any friends?"

"I think she was friendly with Tarley, who graduated in the last
group." D'kere said, straining to remember. It was no easy task
keeping up with all of the Weyrlings and trying to get a good feel on
the Candidates, too.

She nodded in response. Surely there was a young man that had caught
her eye, despite outward appearances. She'd just have to dig for the
information. "I'll speak with her this evening. "

D'kere clapped his hands together, and gave Ninaine a little bow.
"Thank you so much."

Her mouth finally lifted in a smile. "Part of the job now, isn't it?
But you're welcome. "

Last updated on the April 4th 2019

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