There are Always Rumors

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 17th November 2007

Characters: R'syl, Honalyse
Description: R'syl confronts rumors about Honalyse's indiscretions
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 16 of Turn 4
Notes: This followed "The Right Thing" and is extremely late due to LOAs. Sorry!

Honalyse paused outside the Weyrlingmaster's office long enough to straighten her skirt. Somehow she knew this wasn't a usual summons. It certainly wasn't her day to run messages, and to her knowledge she'd been doing fine in classes. It made her feel a little nervous as she wiped her hands on her skirt once more before reaching up to knock on the large wooden door. "Sir? You asked to see me?"

R'syl looked up, and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk as he set the hide he was working on aside. "Yes, Honalyse. Please close the door and take a seat."

"Yes sir," she said as she gently closed the door and slipped into the offered chair. The weyrling crossed and uncrossed her legs nervously, waiting for him to tell her why she had been called down.

R'syl studied the weyrling for a moment, her nervousness apparent as he mulled over how he wanted to address the issue at hand. "Honalyse, I've called you in to discuss your behavior. It seems like you've been getting a little too familiar with some of your clutchmates, and you know that is not acceptable while Tibith is still young." He said firmly.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Familiar, sir?"

"Holding hands?" He said neutrally, raising an eyebrow. "You were seen, Honalyse. And I have to admit that I am concerned."

"But we're _allowed_ to hold hands," she pointed out. At least that was what had been explained to her. It was just kissing and other forms of intimate touching that was not allowed.

He nodded. "Yes, you are." He admitted. "But I'm bringing it up because I've heard some things that indicate you, or others, may be going farther than just holding hands." He leaned back in the chair. It was easily possibly that she was innocent. But then, it was also easily possible that she was not. Either way, he had to find out.

Now Honalyse was mad. "Has someone been talking about me behind my back?"

He leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his desk as he asked blandly. "Is there a reason why they should?"

"No!" She responded immediately, vehemently. "I would do nothing to hurt Tibith!" Though the fact that she had often been tempted did add an edge of guilt to her voice.

An edge that was not lost on R'syl. You couldn't raise five children and work with weyrlings for turns and not pick up some of the signs. "But you've thought about it." He filled in gently. So far, having watched her closely, he was inclined to believe in her innocence. But he wasn't sure yet, and if she was he needed to discover the source of the rumors quickly. "I think every weyrling is tempted at one point or another, Honalyse."

"It's only human to be at least _tempted_. But I never _did_ anything!"

He nodded, feeling reassured by her vehemence this time as he privately asked **Usaeth?**

}:Tibith is confused, but remembers nothing that upset her.:{ Usaeth admitted quietly.

"Can you think of any reason why someone might think you were considering being more than tempted?" He asked gently. ""There's always rumors in a weyrling class, but I want to be able to set the record straight, if I have to."

"I have spent time with people, and I certainly can't help how other people look at me." Or the fact that she enjoyed it when men watched her... "But I never did anything that would hurt my dragon."

R'syl nodded. It didn't really look as if Honalyse was guilty, but he had probably scared whatever temptations she'd been playing with out of her mind for a while. "And I can tell that you have been taking good care of her. But I suggest being extra careful until after you have your own weyr, Honalyse. I'm still trying to determine where the rumors are coming from, and there's no reason to let imaginations run wild."

"But sir, I've done nothing wrong!" Why should she change her behavior just because some people can't figure out how to keep their nose out of other people's business?!

"I know." He said smoothly. "But wouldn't you like for me to find out where the rumors are coming from?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Well... yes, I suppose so. But I know I didn't do anything," Honalyse said, a bit more sulky than angry.

"I understand." He nodded. "This sort of thing is never pleasant, but it needs to be dealt with." He smiled warmly at her. "I promise I'll take care of it as quickly as possible, and soon Tibith will be old enough anyway that it won't be a problem."

"Yes sir," she murmured, standing to her feet. "Is that all?"

"That's all." R'syl reassured her, rising as well. There were others that he needed to speak to after she left.

Last updated on the November 28th 2007

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There are Always Rumors