Deliberately Cruel

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 17th March 2014

Characters: D'hol, N'vanik
Description: N'vanik protests D'hol's decision about Jeyme's baby
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 27 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Jeyme, Cosani, Rhosyn (not by name)

D'hol

N'vanik

N'vanik didn't even pretend to be polite when he summoned D'hol to his
office. "Sit."

D'hol entered into the office, his face a neutral mask of polite
civility. He sat, crossing one leg over the other and steepled his
hands in his lap. "Yes, Weyrleader?"

His eyes narrowed but he didn't raise his voice. "You can't keep my
child from me."

There was a slight upturn to the corners of D'hol's lips as he looked
at N'vanik. "I have nothing to do with your comings and goings between
here and River Bluff Weyr. That is between you and the leadership
there." He kept the same expression on his face as he continued. "But
if you happen to be referring to my child that my weyrmate now
carries, I am afraid that subject is not open to discussion. It is a
personal, private matter and not Weyr business."

"It might be mine." He was in no mood for games. "Bullying your
weyrmate into denying me. That's low."

"There was no bullying." D'hol's expression never changed. "She is
taking my feelings into consideration. And as I said, it's a private
matter and not up for discussion." He arched a brow. "Now, is there
something related to the Weyr you wished to discuss?"

"Yes, actually. I'm considering sending you back to weyrling class
since you seem to misunderstand how flights work." N'vanik was
considering something else as well. He didn't know if it would work,
but at least it was possible leverage.

D'hol just blinked slowly and his lips lifted just a bit more. He
didn't bother gracing that with a response.

N'vanik told himself he didn't have to solve this problem today. He
had time. "Faranth knows what Jeyme sees in you. She's a sweet girl
and I don't think you appreciate her enough. She certainly feels like
second best in your life."

One brow arched high at N'vanik's attempt to needle him. "Our
relationship is none of your concern, N'vanik." He sat up a little,
his lips remaining in that upward tilt. "And personal attacks against
me aren't going to change anything. I don't have to allow you any
access to my child, nor does Jeyme. You may control the wings, but
this is a domestic matter."

"You do realize that Jeyme and the baby are _actual people_ and not
prizes in a Gathering game?" How had this man become a Wingleader? He
was acting like a child that wanted to take his ball and go home.

"Of course I do." D'hol kept his half smile. "But I also know that all
you care about in this matter is getting what you want, which is
access to a child that is not and will never be yours. Jeyme doesn't
matter to you and you don't care about my relationship with her. None
of it mattered to you until you found out that she was with child. Are
you so desperate to have a child near you that you're willing to force
yourself into a situation where you aren't wanted? The child will be
loved and cared for, no matter who put the babe in Jeyme's belly. It
will be my child and will want for nothing. You aren't needed nor are
you wanted in this matter."

"I have a child near me. Her name is Cosani and she's in your Wing."
N'vanik couldn't believe the man was turning a child's life into some
kind of pissing contest. "I didn't know she existed until she was
fourteen and showed up looking for me. You can't imagine what that's
like, to have your child show up and realize you missed so much of her
life. I wish I could go back and be there for her." N'vanik shook his
head. "So if it's selfish to want to be a part of my child's life --
even just a _possible_ child-- then fine, I'm extremely sharding
selfish."

"I do know what it's like, N'vanik. I know all too well. I didn't
know Kielya existed until only two months ago." D'hol replied. "And
yet, she calls another man 'Daddy.' She barely knows me." D'hol's
voice sharpened. "So don't tell me I don't know what its like. I'm not
sharing this child, except with Jeyme. I don't give a damn about your
selfishness. Find your own weyrmate. Make all the babes you want. Make
more with your weyrwoman. You're not getting mine."

"So you'd deliberately do to me what was done to you? Why? Because
Loseth won a couple of flights?" How could you reason with someone who
wanted to be cruel? "I'm not trying to _take_ the child. I just want
them to know who I am, see them once in a while. You'll have to foster
anyway so you _will_ be sharing."

"This conversation is over, N'vanik." D'hol rose, his face distant. He
didn't like his actions being compared to what had been done to him,
and he knew that his decision had been based solely on deeply wounded
pride, but he wasn't going to bend to the man. The thought of sharing
a child with N'vanik, especially after the words flung at him from his
weyrmate, and then the incident at the tavern, grated on his very
being. He couldn't bear the thought of sharing anything more than he
already had with the man.

N'vanik wondered if that was a good sign or not. Had he made D'hol
uncomfortable? "For now." Time to play a little dirty... for the right
reasons, of course.

Last updated on the January 18th 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Deliberately Cruel