Semblence of Normality (2/2)

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 30th May 2007

Characters: Dargan, Xara, Aveery
Description: Dargan and Xara help in the clean up operations and fall into discussion about Impression and what they plan to do if not successful.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 23 of Turn 4

It didn't take the pair long to sit down and start in on the meal. "How are you
coping?" Dargan asked, quietly.

"I'm getting there. I just keep plodding on, and trying not to think of what
has happened. I have this to work on," she said, indicating the kitchens and
dining cavern, "once we're back to a semblance of normality, then I think it'll
hit me."

"Been outside?"

"No, and I'm not going to just yet. I can't face...what's outside, right now."
she shook her head. "That...it could have been us Dargan. We both Stood with
them at the last Hatching." she swiped at her eyes. "Look, I can't go there yet.
Please, think of something else to talk about, please?"

"Impression?" he asked, knowing it may not be the right time, but what else was
there to talk about, besides the devastation that surrounded them.

Xara rolled her eyes, "Not quite what I had in mind."

"Well you did ask me to change the subject. So, is this your last chance as
well?" he asked, not sure if she had been there the first time he had walked the
Sands.

She nodded distractedly. "Yes, it will be, but there's no way I will be walking
back out of the Weyr if I don't Impress." her voice hardened with
determination. "Not now, not now that I have this to fall back into."

"This?" Dargan looked around the cavern. "You don't mean being a kitchen
worker?" he pulled a face, "You could do better than this, not much more than a
drudge."

"No -" she shook her head, "so much more than a drudge, I've been offered an
apprenticeship. As a cook. Aveery wants me to stay here, and train with him."

"What will your family say?"

The look on her face was as though someone had slammed the Hold door. "My
father will probably try to drag me back to the hold. He may try, but it won't
work."

"He can't force you. You're Weyrfolk now. There's no such thing as
interference with Hold matters since you're not a part of any Hold while you are
here."

"I know that." she replied, her face losing some of its hardness, "But it will
be interesting seeing how my father reacts." She took a sip of her klah, "Then
again, he may have forgotten all about me, by the time Impression happens.." but
she didn't think so.

"Well he wouldn't want to start anything..." Dargan bridled.

Xara laughed openly at his bristling, "Oh Darg, you are funny."

"What do you mean?" he asked, looking offended.

"If you bustled up to my father and told him he wasn't to take me home, he'd
think you were soft in the head." she covered her mouth to try and stop herself
from laughing again. "No one has ever wanted me. My father couldn't even give
me away. The only reason he would want me back was to use me as his own persona
drudge around the cot. No more, no less - just a drudge." She looked at him
for a moment, "Tell me honestly, do you remember me when I first arrived here?"

He considered her words, and tried to picture just who had been among the first
candidates he had walked onto the Sands with. He couldn't place Xara amongst
them. "I don't think we were in the same group for my first Impression." he
shook his head.

"We were Darg, but you just don't picture me correctly."

"What do you mean? I can't see you _there_, in my head."

"Do you remember the large, clumsy, shy girl who walked onto the Sands with us?"
she asked, cringing inside for the girl she had been.

"Ummm..." he thought hard and a face appeared in his mind, "oh, yes. I remember
her, she didn't Impress, but - what happened to her? Was she a friend of yours?"

"She was me, Darg." she held out her hands, as though allowing him to look at
her for the first time. "I am she. Can you understand now, why my father
couldn't give me away with his stock? Why you don't remember me? I was so shy,
I couldn't understand why I had been chosen in the first place, and my father
thought it was a joke."

"But you can bet your top mark that he'll be here when he hears the Eggs are
about to crack."

"If they crack." Dargan looked doubtful. "We still don't know if they'll be
viable."

"Well regardless, I'm staying put. Impression or no, I'm going to become a
useful part of this Weyr."

Dargan lifted his mug, "Here's to Impression! Because without it, I may not be
here much longer."

"Dargan, you don't need to return to the runners station, you could stay as well."

"And do what? I'm not trained for anything, and I'm getting too old to start
thinking of apprenticing. What would I do?"

Xara was lost for words, "Then if you don't Impress, will I see you again?"

"You'll see me again. Even if I don't Impress, I won't stay away from the Weyr,
I have made too many friends here, not to come back and visit occasionally."

"Hey! You two! You going to get back to work, sometime soon?" Aveery called out.

The pair looked up and realised everyone else had started back to their chores.
Xara began to collect their plates, and took Dargan's mug off him. "You just
make sure you Impress, Dargan. Because that way I know I'll be seeing you
regularly, not just when you can make time to visit!"

He laughed, though he could tell there was some emotion behind the directive.
"I'll do my best Xara. I'll do my best."

He turned and made his way back to the entrance to the cavern, colllecting his
mop and bucket on his way. "You busy after chores?" he called back across the
room, but she was already gone. Shrugging, he turned away again, may be he
wouldn't be as slow next time.

Last updated on the May 30th 2007

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Semblence of Normality (2/2)