Why You Have to Go

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th June 2015

Characters: J'ackt, Cyradis
Description: J'ackt tries his luck to get out of orders and fails miserably
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 9 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: R'enh, K'deren, D'hol, N'vanik

J'ackt

Cyradis

J'ackt strolled into Cyradis' office door, freshly bathed from the day
of drills. The summons to see Cyradis had come shortly before he had
finished, and perhaps he had taken a bit more time than necessary, but
he was sure that he hadn't broken any rules lately. Seeing Cyradis, he
paused. "You wanted to see me again?"

"I did," she smiled. She knew he had a much better relationship with
N'vanik that he did with her but she was also very aware how difficult
it was for the Weyrleader to remain objective regarding J'ackt. "Come
on in and have a seat."

He sat slowly, his gaze curious with a hint of suspicion. He didn't
say much; he'd avoided the woman ever since he had finished digging
the bloody trench.

"J'ackt, you've made some great strides since you've come to the Weyr.
I'm proud of you," she smiled.

J'ackt leaned back, unsure how to take the compliment. "Thank you."
The response was slow and drawn out, as though waiting for the other
boot to drop.

She didn't react even though she chuckled internally. So typical of
the young man, suspicious of everyone and everything whether or not he
had cause. She couldn't fault him for the habit given the way he had
been raised. **or hadn't been raised** "So L'pin says you and Zith
have had your first /between/ and it went very well."

That made his lips lift slightly, if only for the memories of what he
had done immediately after. "We did and it did." Even if Zith had
refused his request, which still annoyed him to no end.

"I know how heady it is to feel your independence for the first time."
She said slowly. "How did you handle the desire to run away?" She
already knew the answer of course. Zith had spilled the beans when
Panitath questioned him at her request.

How did she... His eyes narrowed slightly. Damn that dragon, did he
mention their argument to Panitath? His eye twitched. "It was
handled."

"That doesn't answer my question J'ackt, and this isn't something I
can just let go." Her voice was still gentle but there was an edge of
steel in her words.

His jaw set. "We didn't go anywhere we weren't supposed to." J'ackt's
face was resentful. "Zith wouldn't budge."

"I know that J'ackt," she said. "Panitath keeps track of Zith. He will
not leave the Weyr without her permission. You do realize that don't
you?" She shook her head. "Why do you persist in being so contrary to
the needs of Pern and the needs of your lifemate all because you're
angry with the world? Do you think that is good for him?"

"I know that now." It wasn't hard to see the resentment on his face.
"It wasn't about being contrary. I just wanted out. I haven't been out
of this Weyr for a Turn, I just wanted a little freedom, that's all!
We wouldn't have been gone long." He argued.

"That's not the point. It doesn't matter how long you would be gone.
It matters that you tried to leave in the _middle_ of a lesson. How
would L'pin have known he hadn't lost you? Did you think of that? No,"
she answered for him. "You don't think of anyone but yourself and
Zith. How can I trust you?"

"The dragons wouldn't have keened." J'ackt protested and fell silent
as she continued, then stiffened. "Because it's just him and me." He
replied stubbornly. "I already told Sh'del and N'vanik that we'd fight
in the bloody wings. What more do you want?!"

"I want you to realize that the entire world is not your enemy." But
she knew she wasn't going to get through to the young man and the way
he was now, was a danger to both him and any pairs that rode with him.
"So, we're going to try something I know you won't like, and don't
worry, you won't be digging another trench."

"But we didn't do anything!" He protested, sitting up straight. "Zith
didn't /between/ and we shaffing well finished the lesson. Nothing
happened!" What would they do now? Have him scrub the cess pits?
Shards! He'd just thought about it, not done it. Because of Zith's
refusal, true, but it hadn't happened!

"You're going to the mindhealers J'ackt," she said unmoved by his protest.

"The blazes I am!" He rose, eyes narrowing.

"Take care with your tone bronzrider," she said in warning and Panitath
growled her own low warning. "Remember who you are talking to. Sit
back down," she ordered.

He flushed and sat back down, eyeing her as his mind worked. He said
nothing, but it was clear that he was searching for a way to get
around what she wanted.

"You _are_ going to the mindhealers." she said in a matter-of-fact
tone. "And you will make progress. You will not stone wall them and
rebel. Otherwise, I can get creative again." The implied threat was
obvious. She was not going to brook his attitude. What he probably
didn't realize was that despite the attitude, she liked the kid.

J'ackt's eyes narrowed a bit. "I have nothing to say to a mindhealer."
Stubbornness clearly laced his words, but his eyes suddenly glinted
with a hint of an idea and he tilted his head. Would it work? She was
a woman and he had luck with women. His face relaxed and he sat
forward, a slow charming smile growing on his face. It was the smile
that worked so well on Saidrene, Saibra and a few others he could
think of. "Surely we can come up with another idea."

Cyradis own smile reflected his though it didn't mean what he might
think it did. She was too long in her position and perhaps a little
jaded by her own experience to ever accept such a sudden change in
demeanor as anything but a bronzerider trying to exude charm to
'manage' her. That and J'ackt had a little bit of a reputation around
the Weyr as a ladies man. Maybe not as mature or suave as say R'enh
but he did play well with the younger ladies. She decided to let him
play out his line a little more.

"What did you have in mind," she tilted her head in a studied flirt
while her eyes glowed at him.

That was better. He relaxed a bit and tilted his head, a move he knew
was attractive to the women he was around. He reached and laid his
hand on her own, his fingers light. "I could just come to you." His
eyes warmed. "I'd rather come to you."

**Well, there's nothing wrong with his people manipulation skills when
he wants something. Typical bronzerider.** She withdrew her fingers
and sighed. "But I am not a mindhealer."

"No," he agreed easily and instead of chasing her hand, left his hand
on her knee. "But we can figure out creative ways to help me out. That
would work much better than a mindhealer, don't you think?"

"I think you have something else in mind entirely." She lifted an
eyebrow and the corner of her mouth.

"There are better ways to deal with stress," J'ackt suggested. "That
are more pleasurable for the both of us." His thumb caressed her knee
lightly. "I'm pretty good in the furs."

She shook her head and chuckled. "So is K'deren, not to mention
N'vanik and D'hol. They're men J'ackt, you're a boy. I'm pretty sure
you couldn't handle me." Her eyes twinkled. "Don't you think I saw
this coming from a mile away? Trust me, you're going to the
mindhealer."

His winsome smile faded and a slow flush of embarrassment lit his
cheeks as he jerked his hand away. He had never expected to be refused
and then to be called a boy. J'ackt stared at her with
growing humiliation and just out of spite, ground out a stubborn. "No
way in fecking blazes."

"Alright," she said. "The no more sword practice until I get a
communication from the Mind healers that you are safe with pointy
objects."

J'ackt just stared at her for a long moment, wanting to believe that
he hadn't heard what she just said. His hand clenched, then unclenched
as he ground his teeth. That was the one thing he enjoyed most. He and
Zith weren't allowed to fly outside of the weyr and that was the last
bit of a sense of freedom he had. His face was beet red with repressed
anger as he slowly rose. Without a word, he turned on his feet,
stalked out and slammed the door behind him.

Feeling the rage in his rider, Zith was immediately alarmed and let
out a low keen of distress as he felt J'ackt stomp towards the privacy
of their weyr. The bronze didn't like the intensity of the emotions
and immediately questioned Panitath. }: Your rider greatly upset Mine.
:{ His mindvoice wavered between being accusatory and plaintive. }:
Must she anger him like that? :{

**Thus why you have to go to the mindhealer.** Cyradis sighed and
began writing up her notes. The kid was so smart with abilities far
beyond what he knew and she was determined to help save him from
himself if she could.

}:Yours refuses to obey.:{ Panitath replied calmly. }:Mine does not
allow that. I am queen, you obey or others die. Yours must still learn
this.:{

}: He is very upset. Angry. :{ As J'ackt entered their weyr, Zith
winced as his rider kicked a chair across the room and broke it
against the wall. }: Very angry. :{ There was a pause as Zith listened
to J'ackt break another chair. }: I can not calm him. :{

}:Is it because he didn't fly mine? Because he didn't chase her very well.:{

}: No. :{ Zith was certain about that. }: Mine didn't really want to
fly yours. Not really. He never thought about flying her before. :{
There was a pause. }: He doesn't want to speak to the mind person. And
he is angry about his stick. He likes playing with the stick and
hitting things with it. :{ Zith sighed deeply and sent soothing waves
of emotion towards J'ackt but his lifemate pushed them away. }: He
will be angry with yours for a while, I think. :{

Panitath knew from her experiences that her rider didn't really care
if one of her weyrlings was angry with her. }:I chose her because she
is wise. His anger only hurts himself. She knows what is good and
right for her riders. He'll get his stick back when he goes to the
mind person.:{ Obedience was the key though Panitath would have taught
a young one a different way. }:She will not be moved on this,:{
Panitath added after tasting her rider's thoughts.

Zith shifted back and forth on his ledge, his rider's agitation
getting to him. }: But must everything he likes be taken away from
him? I don't see how that helps him. :{ His claws scraped against the
stone with loud screeches. His agitation only grew as J'ackt slumped
down a wall, holding his head in his hands. }: I don't like this. I
don't like this at all. :{

Panitath soothed the upset bronze. }:Mine is trying to help him, she
knows how to help riders. He just doesn't like the way she's helping.
There was a time when mine didn't like the way she was helped
either.:{ She added in a sympathetic tone. }:But she did learn and it
got better.:{

Panitath's soothing did manage to settle the bronze a bit, but there
was an undercurrent of stress lingering in his mindvoice. }: I still
don't like it. :{

}:I know,:{ she sent back. }:Neither do I. Mine is not happy to take
away the stick.:{

}: This mindhealer person better work. :{ Zith groused, unhappy. }: He
doesn't talk to people. :{

}:He will if he wants his stick back :{ Panitath was a little bit smug
in her answer.

Last updated on the July 8th 2015

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Why You Have to Go