Escaping Trouble

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 18th November 2009

Characters: Im're, E'naer, T'mahl
Description: Imarre seeks permission to try his luck at River Bluff Weyr, mostly to escape his broken heart.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 5

Imarre went first to the Weyrlingmaster's Third for help and advice. After the very public show at the dining hall, his life had turned into a misery. Not only was he butt of the jokes around candidate barracks, but he also regretted his breaking up with Maret. He did love Maret (as deeply as any sixteen Turns old did.) But Maret spurned all his attempts to reconcile.

There wasn't much E'naer could do but offer comfort and wise words. The boy's dilemma touched the kind-hearted greenrider, although he was well aware it would pass on it's own after some time. The lad was sixteen after all, and in that age, love came and went, sometimes with a storm. It did occur to him that a time away from the Weyr could do good for him. The letter from River Bluff Weyr, requesting candidates, actually gave him the idea. So, he took Imarre to see the Weyrleader.

"So, I thought that if Imarre spent few sevendays in River Bluff weyr, would help people to forget the incident and move on to the next scandal," E'naer finished his explanation and glanced Imarre.

T'mahl nodded thoughtfully, understanding the situation, though only superficially. He could not say he had been in the boy's shoes at that age. He hadn't had his heart broken until he was turns older, and had been slightly more mature in his way of handling it. Or at least, had done so more privately. But, he had watched the ways of the world enough to know just how devastating it could be for a boy that age. "Is that what you want, Imarre?" he asked the boy gently.

"It can't be worse than what I have now, sir" Imarre said, hands pushed deep into his pockets and shoulder's hunched.

The Weyrleader smiled his understanding, but his mind had it's doubts. Though he might leave one problem behind, he would carry many with him. "And you fully realize and accept the possibility that this may not be a temporary move. You may not come back to Dragonfall, you know. Are you ready for that?"

Imarre hesitated for a while and then nodded. "Yes, sir. My family lives in hall and would be equally far off whether I lived here after Impression or in some other Weyr. I haven't made so good friends here that I couldn't bear to leave them." The only one was Maret actually, and he had ruined it.

He was right. Adragonback it would be the same distance whichever Weyr he Impressed in. "And if you do not Impress? Would you like to return to Dragonsfall or stay there?"

"I... can't really say that yet. Much depends what happens in River Bluff weyr," Imarre said honestly. If he felt more home there or even more out of his place.

"May I ask, Imarre, just what happened between you and Maret? I don't mean to be too personal, but I would like to better understand just how this situation came about." To hopefully give the River Bluff Weyrlingmaster a little notice if there was something he should be aware of.

"I got jealous, and accused him of all kind of stuff. In cluding corrupting me," Imarre winced. He certainly hadn't won any new friends with that remark. And unfortunately, quite few had overheard it.

"Corrupting you how?" the bronzerider prompted.

"To sleep with another male," Imarre blushed. "Not that I need much corrupting," he continued with very quiet voice.

"But you do feel that it wasn't right for you to sleep with Maret?" T'mahl asked gently, feeling like they were finally getting somewhere.

Imarre gave E'naer an embarrassed look before nodding.

The greenrider had seen too many holdbred candidates turning into confused blue- or greenriders to be offended.

"There are a lot of boys who come here and feel just like you do." As Weyrlingmaster and Second, T'mahl has seen more than his fair share of them. "That also is normal. But Imarre, that feeling will not go away just because you change Weyrs. You are not wrong to be attracted to other boys, nor are you wrong to act on those feelings. It's natural for you. It's natural for _many_ people, even in the Holds, though they want to pretend they don't feel it. I would recommend you speak to a mind healer, not because you are wrong, or crazy, for thinking that way. But I think talking to someone, telling them about your feelings, will help you feel better about yourself."

Imarre nodded again. Perhaps a mindhealer would help him to learn to control his temper too.

Well, that was all the advice T'mahl could really give the young man. Now it was up to fate to decide his future. "All right, Imarre. We will notify River Bluff of you request. We wish you all the best of luck there, but of course hope to see you back here soon."

"Thank you, sir," Imarre said, he felt like rock had fallen off from his heart.

After Imarre had left, E'naer stayed. "Should we warn R'syl about him in case he Impress? I can predict problems, not perhaps while he is junior weyrling, but least when he becomes senior weyrling," he asked.

"There's is no reason to keep that information to ourselves. It is in the boy's best interest that R'syl should know." Despite the natural rivalries that grew up between Weyrs, they were all on the same side of the same battle.

Last updated on the November 21st 2009

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Escaping Trouble