The Whipping Boy

Writers: Kaysea, Rochelle
Date Posted: 13th January 2008

Characters: J'ritem, Badaral
Description: Ari decides to approach J'ritem, and retreats in disaster
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 7 of Turn 4

"I saw you sitting here, and figured you may like a drink." Badaral had approached from behind, not giving J'ritem a chance to avoid him or advanced warning of his approach. He placed a mug of hot klah down in front of the rider, and pulled out a seat for himself.

The talks he had had with M'nex had given him a little insight into what he was getting himself in to, but he wouldn't give up unless told to, directly, by J'ritem himself, and that would only happen once the rider knew his feelings.

J'ritem blinked, and when the face didn't change, turned his head a little so he could get a better look at the candidate with his good eye.
Badaral again. The kid was everywhere it seemed. But what was he sharding doing at his table? Sure, he was the only one here at the moment, and it wasn't strictly reserved for his friends or anything, but nobody sat with him unless they were other disabled riders.

"What are you doing?" He demanded harshly, his fingers closing of their own accord around the mug of klah. It did smell good, even if he'd already had some earlier. His mother made sure his table had fresh klah available as often as possible.

"Making a friend? Keeping you company? Or just sharing a drink with you, like I would any other friend I have here at the Weyr. Take your pick."
he was full of bravado, he just hoped J'ritem couldn't see he was all bluff. Lifting his own mug he took a quick sip of the hot klah, and had to stop himself spitting the hot liquid back into the mug. **So much for bravado.** he thought to himself.

J'ritem blinked. Friend? He didn't even know the kid. Faranth, he wasn't sure he _wanted_ to know the kid the way he kept popping up in his face all the time! "What gave you the idea I wanted company?" He demanded, pulling the klah a little closer with a frown. He didn't really want to talk to the candidate, but he didn't want to leave the table either. His shoulder was sore after trying to catch himself before he slipped.

"Nothing gave me the idea you wanted company." Ari replied, "I just took it upon myself to give you some. Actually," he paused and took another sip of klah, "I wanted company." he stated baldly. **Now why did I say that?** he asked himself, figuring he was more surprised than J'ritem at his answer.

J'ritem stared at the candidate. M'nex had to be wrong, he decided.
Badaral had to be trying to get in his good graces because of Tatitem.
Why else would he be so determined to be near him all the time? "There are other tables to get company at than here." He said harshly, glowering at the candidate. He was hardly the only one in the dining hall with a near empty table.

"Yes I realise that." Ari answered, a smile on his face, as he slipped onto a chair facing the rider. "But there's no challenge in sitting with them. They'll accept my presence, you don't, and I don't quite know why." he looked intently at J'ritem his eyebrow lifted in question.

"Then you're an idiot." J'ritem snapped. "Find your challenge somewhere else." He sipped the the klah, stewing. The kid was trying to butter him up, and it wasn't going to work. He didn't want to see the pity, the derision, disgust, and fear that would eventually slip out. Better to get rid of him now.

"I didn't mean _challenge_ in that way." Ari felt a deep flush rise up over his face, **Shards! Why had he phrased it _that_ way?**

"Please, I didn't mean to offend you." All sense of bravado blinked /between/ like a scolded flit. "It's the last thing..." he pushed back from the table, knocking his chair askew when he felt the heat behind his eyes growing. "..sorry..." he mumbled and stumbled away from the table and towards the cavern doorway.

}:Why did you do that?:{ Lecitrith demanded sleepily. }:He just wanted to sit with you.:{ J'ritem watched the candidate go, stumbling hurriedly away from him through the cavern. **There wasn't any other way, love.** He thought back to his green, feeling beaten down. He saw the faces enough, saw the fear, the disgust, the unwanted reminder that he brought to the other weyr residents. He endured the triple ridicule and humiliation of being a male greenrider in an increasingly Hold-valued world, crippled, and unable to fly every single day. He didn't need some snot nosed candidate trying to improve his own standing through him, only to let the fear at his hideously scarred face slip out. He was a monster, by nearly every definition. Why else would someone whole try to get to know him?

Ari made straight for the ablutions on leaving the cavern, ignoring the strange looks he received from those around him. He was unaware of his ashen complexion, but felt the need for cool water on his face and hoped it would remove the feeling of nausea that had risen in his throat. How could he have made such a gaff, he had thought to push a little, ignoring the caution M'nex had suggested and look where it had landed him?

He leaned with both hands on the edges of the basin, waiting for the nausea to abate. His stomach roiled as he pictured the disgusted look he had received from J'ritem. Would he ever again, be able to even stay in the same room as the other rider for longer than a moment? He bent his head again and flushed his face with cold water, the iciness clearing all thoughts from his mind as it took his breath away.

Voices could be heard nearing the wash room, so he stood and quickly brushed his hair back down over his forehead and into his eyes - all the better for no one to see he had been crying. His complexion was now ruddy from the ice-water, but he atleast looked half normal now, he noticed from a glance in the looking glass above the basin.

He shuffled along and edged his way out of the doorway as the others entered, grateful they barely gave him a glance as they hurried inside.
He was making his way across the bowl when he heard someone hail him, but with his head down he made a hasty escape to the candidate barracks.

Sanctuary.

Last updated on the January 19th 2008

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The Whipping Boy