Just Thought I'd Offer...

Writers: Kaysea, Rochelle
Date Posted: 20th August 2007

Characters: Badaral, J'ritem
Description: Badaral offers to help J'ritem again, and raises the riders suspicions.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 24 of Turn 4

Badaral saw the greenrider sitting at the table with the other injured and
retired riders and wondered if he should approach or not, when he saw
J'ritem pick up the crutches and rise from his seat. It seemed as though
the fates were with him.

It was always a trick getting out of a seat, and J'ritem had to lean
heavily on the table to so. Fortunately the table in question was more
than capable of supporting eight or nine grown men in his position, and
none of the others sitting with him were going to comment. He paused for a
moment, eyeing his tray, and then gave a nod of thanks when G'farl
indicated that he would clear it for him if the drudges didn't. He swung
off for the exit then, trying to ignore the way people parted in front of
him by concentrating on his goal. Lecitrith needed to hunt.

"Exc...excuse me, J'ritem?" Badaral rushed forward, stopping himself
before tugging on the riders arm.

Startled at hearing his name, J'ritem stopped, looking around. Several
people flinched back at his scowl, but his gaze quickly rested on a
candidate who had helped him wash Lecitrith one evening. "What?" He asked
flatly.

"I was wondering..er.. did you need someone to bathe Lecitrith with you
today?" He could feel his knees trembling from the look he was subject to,
but something more was there, he could sense it.

J'ritem stared at the candidate, the boy's outline blurring slightly as he
tried to bring his mostly blind right eye to focus. No one outside of his
family or a few friends had ever offered to help him with Lecitrith unless
they were assigned to him. What was the boy thinking? Was he trying to get
in his mother's good graces?

}:A bath sounds nice.:{ Lecitrith sounded wistful.

**I thought you were hungry?**

}:I am. But a bath would also be nice after.:{

J'ritem stared hard at the candidate again, not trusting this act of
goodwill. True, Lecitrith would probably need a bath later, but M'nex had
already offered to help. "What's your name?" He demanded.

"Bad... Badaral." Badaral stuttered and inwardly cursed himself. He
needed to get his nervousness under control, without a drink inside him he
had no gumption, but Turoar was the only one who'd noticed so far. And he
hadn't had a drink in almost a month now, even though he no longer feared
punishment from the Headwoman, he realised that despite the bolster to his
nerves he felt wretched the next day, with or without a hangover.

"Badaral." J'ritem repeated, trying to engrave the boy's face in his mind.
Why was the little wherry coming back? He had done a good job, but no one
had ever asked to come back. No one but his family had ever dared to offer
without being ordered, period. What was he thinking? "I've got someone
today." He stated baldly.

"Oh." Badaral dropped his gaze, "Oh... Okay, I just - ." he swallowed
uncomfortably, "I just thought I'd offer, but if you have someone..." he
lifted his eyes again, his muddy brown meeting the greenrider's dark brown
eyes once more.

J'ritem watched the boy suspiciously, still trying to figure out why he
was offering. Was he trying to get into his mother's good graces? "But
she'll be by the lake in a few candlemarks, if you want to help." He said
abruptly. If Badaral wanted to help, it would be better to do it while
M'nex was there. His fosterbrother could at least give him an opinion on
why Badaral was so interested. M'nex was better with people than he was.

"Oh?" his demeanor lifted perceptibly, "I...you want me to come and help?"
He couldn't stop a hopeful smile begin sliding over his face again.

"If you like." J'ritem shifted on his crutches. He wasn't sure what he
should be doing. The candidate seemed... happy at the idea of working with
him. Or was it just the idea of bathing a dragon that enthralled him
enough that he had asked?

"Ye - yes, I'd like to help." Badaral replied, he was finding it hard to
meet J'ritem's eyes now, feeling that self conscious rush of embarrassment
wash over him again. "I'll ... I'd be willing to help whenever you need
me to." he said quietly, his voice barely audible over the noise of the
cavern.

J'ritem stared at the candidate for a moment, unsure of what to say to
that, and finally settled with a 'hmpf' "If you like." He repeated,
shifting his crutches forward again to leave.

"I'll ... er, I'll see you in a candlemark or so?" Badaral prompted,
realising J'ritem was about to leave. He knew it wasn't the riders looks,
or even sympathy for J'ritem's injuries so what was it that kept drawing
him to the rider, he wondered.

J'ritem grunted, uncertain whether the candidate would actually show. His
actions could be a dare. It had happened to some of his more battered
friends before, although not him. His monstrous face normally scared them
away. With a faint nod of acknowledgment to Badaral, he swung forward once
more, determinedly not watching the crowd part for him. Lecitrith needed
to hunt, and he was going to be there, even if all he did was watch while
she jumped the fence and sat in the pen while the beasts stampeded around
her.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2007

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Just Thought I'd Offer...