Ahead and Punch Me

Writers: Ames, Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 6th August 2013

Characters: Pierka, T'nom, N'vanik
Description: Pierka and T'nom talk again and he gets more than he bargained for
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 13 of Turn 7

Pierka

T'nom

N'vanik

Things hadn't been great for him in some regards. He felt like the
disappointment of the whole Weyr weighed on his shoulders at times.
The clutch had been small. He should have expected that after what
happened at Dragonsfall, but still it seemed like someone had thrust a
knife into his very heart.

Taldeth on the other hand was still more than pleased with his
offspring, so T'nom had had to work extra hard to keep his own
disappointments hidden.

He knew it wasn't _just_ the clutch that had him feeling rather low
today. He still hadn't figured out a way to talk to Pierka. He watched
those eggs be laid on the sands and knew in his heard that he wanted
to be there when his own child was born. But with the way Pierka had
reacted when they'd last spoken, T'nom wasn't sure there was any room
for him until after the child was born. Even then, he had no idea
_what_ sort of relationship he'd be able to have if Pierka didn't
really want him around.

Swishing his mug with a rather glum expression on his face, T'nom
planted his head on his head and simply stared at nothing in the
dining hall. No one bothered him. His whole demeanor gave off a 'leave
me alone' feel.

She watched T'nom from across the room. She didn't know why she put
herself through this. He'd already made it clear to her that his heart
was with Meledei. For herself she felt a resentment for the goldrider
even though N'vanik had transferred her to the Queens' wing.

But today what she saw aroused some sympathy. She'd heard about the
clutch and could see he was unhappy. So she decided to lighten up on
him. She picked up her tray and walked across the room. Sliding her
tray onto the table she sat down. "Hey," she said softly.

He looked up not wanting to get into the same discussion with someone
again. He almost told them to go away. Then his eyes fell on _who_ was
speaking.

"Pierka?" He said, his voice showing his surprise. "I didn't expect
you'd want to be around me anymore?" He said the last almost as a
question. She had been very angry with him the last time they'd
talked.

"I'm conflicted," she said with a humorous smile. "There are times I
want to punch you, I won't lie. But I really do understand. So I
won't
hate you forever." She had a naturally sunny disposition and
N'vanik had been more than kind in putting her into the Queen's Wing
so that had broken the depression that had been threatening to
overwhelm her.

"Maybe you should punch me. I probably deserve it. I've not treated
you the way I should, and now it looks like the whole Weyr thinks I'm
a disappointment, too," T'nom grumbled. He knew it wasn't actually
true, but it felt that way at the moment.

"And if I punch you will it make you feel better?" Somehow his
grumpiness over his situation made _her_ feel just a little bit
better. Not that she was glad he was unhappy. She really was concerned
about him.

"No probably not, but at least if I was knocked out cold, I wouldn't
_feel_ anything for awhile," T'nom replied, though Pierka's words had
managed to perk him up just a bit. He sat up a bit straighter, rather
than hunched over the way he had been.

"It appears that life is rather complicated right now," he added,
turning his gaze to look at her. He was worried about the babe. After
what he'd seen during Elleth's clutching, he was worried about Pierka
having trouble delivering the child as well.

She was under no illusion that she could knock him out cold but. "Ok,"
she said and threw her best punch straight at his chin.

He truly hadn't expected it. Her punch sent him nearly sprawling to
the ground off his seat. Gripping the table his eyes first flashed
with anger, then that anger dissipated. Reaching one hand to pull
himself back into a sitting position, he rubbed his other hand on his
chin.

His eyes met hers and then he actually chuckled. "That hurt," he
commented, "but I think I needed a little sense knocked into me."

N'vanik saw the commotion and hurried over. "Hey, hey ... what's going
on?" He didn't need wingriders fighting in the dining hall. It was
almost ironic that he'd been involved in one and now it was his job to
_prevent_ it. The Weyrleader was surprised to see Pierka in the middle
of it.

"Shard," T'nom muttered under his breath when N'vanik approached. He
turned to the Weyrleader and tried to act nonchalantly.

"It's nothing sir, really. Just a bit sense being knocked into my
rather thick skull," T'nom replied, hoping he could appease the
Weyrleader and not get Pierka into any trouble. He definitely _didn't_
want that to happen.

"He told me to do it," she said. Pierka didn't actually pout because
it had felt really good other than her smarting hand which she rubbed
under the table.

The Weyrleader looked between the riders. "I'd like both of you to
come to my office so we can discuss this."

Pierka looked longingly at her meal but she just picked up the tray
and stood to follow N'vanik. "Yes sir," she said quietly.

T'nom wanted to close his eyes and melt into the ground, but he knew
he couldn't do that. Rising he took his spot with Pierka.

"Yes, sir," he also replied and then followed when the others were
ready to leave.

N'vanik led the riders to his office and had them both sit down.
"Okay, what happened?"

Sitting, T'nom spoke first. "Like I said, sir. It's really my fault.
Pierka was actually _helping_ me get some sense back into my thick
skull. She's not to blame." T'nom wasn't about to let her take the
fall for this knowing he had pushed her to this point with all that
had happened and his own words he'd said to her in the dining cavern.

"And _why_ did you need sense knocked into you?" N'vanik asked.

T'nom wanted to hang his head and sigh, but he wouldn't do that in
front of the Weyrleader. "It's been a long few sevendays, sir. I've
made some choices that have left _many_ people angry, upset or
disappointed. I was feeling a bit self-pitying at the moment, and
Pierka here, reminded me to stop wallowing and thinking only of
myself."

"And he's the father," Pierka said quietly.

"Oh really?" N'vanik hadn't thought to ask that when she told him she
was pregnant. "So did you punch him because he was moping, or because
he was being a jerk?"

She looked up at T'nom who'd tried to defend her and N'vanik who had a
job to do, and she couldn't lie. "Both."

He looked between the two of them, realizing Pierka had already shared
with N'vanik her news. It made him mildly jealous. He knew the
Weyrleader had won Pierka's last flight. _He_ had wanted to be the one
to do that, but instead he wasn't sleeping with _anyone_ which just
made him grouchier.

"So now what?" He asked the Weyrleader, holding a tight reign on his
own thoughts and feelings so none would seep out.

"Now you stop being a jerk to Pierka or next time _I_ might be the one
to knock sense into you." He tried not to be too angry, but he felt
protective toward the young greenrider.

He _did_ feel a hint of jealousy at those words for sure, but he
continued to hide it well.

"Yes, sir. I assure you I won't do anything to hurt her on purpose,"
he looked slightly towards her, hoping she understood. He'd _never_
wanted to hurt her, but he had. He still couldn't give her what he
knew she'd wanted, but he hoped what he could offer would be enough.

She didn't know whether to feel pleased or guilty at N'vanik's words.
She hadn't wanted to get T'nom in trouble with the Weyrleader so she
just murmured "I'm sorry," to both of them.

"You don't need to apologize," N'vanik said. He looked at T'nom. "You
need to apologize to Pierka, and try to be nicer to the woman carrying
your baby." He kept his voice relatively even.

T'nom gritted his teeth. It wasn't like he was _trying_ to cause
Pierka problems. He held his tongue however as they were dismissed. He
didn't need to cause any _more_ trouble today.

Last updated on the August 7th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Ahead and Punch Me