Here's The Thing

Writers: Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 8th September 2014

Characters: A'kua, Yanley
Description: Sometimes one needs another person's perspective. Especially a woman's perspective.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Ninaine, Luneth.

Yanley

Lunch had tasted a lot like sand today. So had breakfast. No surprise,
really, since he was still feeling about as low as a tunnelsnake's prick.
He dearly wished there was someone he could discuss this with. He knew the
Weyrlingmasters would at least listen, even if they couldn't help. But he
had not yet had the chance to approach one of them.

However, he almost felt hopeful on seeing Lady Yanley in the Headwoman's
office again, ready to hand out assignments. He waited until he was the
last Candidate in the room, and tried to think of the best way to broach
the subject.

"Aluka, how are you today?" Yanley greeted with warm smile when she saw the
boy.

The tall youth didn't answer at first. He had to gather his courage, which
felt kind of shaky since he had walked away from the weyrling barracks.
"Not good," he finally said. "I.... I could use some help." The tone of his
voice indicated how hard it was to admit that. "I hurt Ninaine's feelin's,
and I dunno how to fix it, 'specially since she said somethin' that made me
uneasy."

"Oh, dear. Why don't you tell me all about it?" Yanley was all warm
compassion and motherly concern. She gave him a chair and pushed a plate of
cookies nearer. She liked helping youngsters with their problems and she
was kind of person people found easy to approach and confide with.

The redhead sat, looking at the cookies with blank amusement. What were
those for? He wasn't five Turns old any more. But he took one anyway,
though he didn't eat it, instead turning it over in his fingers. He just
thought it would be rude to refuse it, and it gave him something to do
while he talked. "She thought I was courtin' her 'cause I wrote letters and
brought her sweets when I visited. I was just tryin' to be a good brother,
make her feel less alone. I told her I'm not courtin' anyone, and if I had
been courtin' her, she coulda told me no 'cause she's not interested. But
she didn' say no, 'cause that's what good holder girls do. If I had been
interested, and Luneth willin' to leave me alive, then it.... it woulda
been bad. I wanted to apologize for hurtin' her feelin's, but I couldn'
bring myself to see her, and I'm not sure she wants to see me. I dunno what
to do now," he finished quietly.

Yanley had sat down too. "It's easy to see how she got
her....misconception. In a hold, bringing girls gifts is pretty much as
good as proposing her. Being juniour weyrling, she's strickly no-no for
courting," Yanley frowned. "Perhaps she wanted be courted?" it was just a
thought she blurted out.

"I thought 'bout that. If she was interested, and I missed it, then maybe
now she thinks I misled her." He looked at Yanley helplessly. "How do I
make this better? She's my friend, Lady Yanley. The only friend I've had. I
don' wanna lose her over somethin' so stupid."

"Talk to her, that's only advice I can really give. Explain her what you
explained to me. Let things cool off a bit but don't wait too long," Yanley
replied. "Friendship is a valuable thing. Neither has she too many friends
to loose one."

"But I did tell her I was just tryin' to be brotherly. That didn' make it
better. I know I gotta say I'm sorry, but I'm not good at apologizin'. How
can I- aw, fardles," the redhead broke off, realizing he had crushed the
cookie. He wanted to say something worse, but he had already messed up by
swearing in the presence of a true lady, one he liked, so he bit his tongue
and looked for something to clean up the mess. "How can I even be sure
she'll let me close 'nuff to say it?"

"Or that Luneth doesn't bite off your head?" Yanley remarked. "You just
have to be patient and presistent. She's rather set in her ways," she
continued. "Give her a book, she likes learning."

Wasn't gift-giving what got him into this mess? Not to mention he wasn't in
a position to give something of true value. Food and bits of cloth were
easy to acquire. Books not so much, and the only one he had was his
composition book, and shards if he was going to give that up. "Got one ya
could donate?" he asked, since he had no better ideas, and found a broom
and dustpan to sweep up the unfortunate cookie.

"I think she's already red thru my collection of books," Yanley replied.
"Forget it, it was not a good idea," she gave herself self-ironic
headshake, "You'll just dig yourself deeper with more gifts."

Aluka deposited the cookie bits in a dustbin and put the broom and dustpan
aside. "I guess I'll try writin' a letter," he said, "and deliver it
person'lly. Apologize best I can and see it if helps."

"You try that. I would like to offer to talk to her for your behalf
but...last time I talked with her it didn't end well," Yanley said with
rueful smile.

"Luneth?" Aluka guessed, and shook his head. There had to be a way to make
that green more secure in herself, so she wasn't so possessive of her
bonded. But there was nothing he could do about it; he was no expert on
dragon psychology, and it wasn't on him to do anything anyway. "Thanks for
your time, Lady Yanley. Guess I better ask what's next on the chore list
now."

"Luneth," Yanley confirmed. "As for the chores, you're lucky, you get to
help at the creche. To take the little ones out to play," she replied with
a little smirk.

Kids weren't so bad, especially if they were polite. And they got a huge
kick out of riding on his shoulders, which he didn't mind indulging them
in. Aluka half smiled. "I'll be goin', then. Thanks 'gain." He nodded to
Yanley, and absently took another cookie before he left, biting into it. It
still tasted like sand, but he could taste the oats and raisins and
cinnamon too.

Last updated on the October 3rd 2014

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