Hello. [1/2]

Writers: Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th October 2017

Characters: Eionen, A'kua
Description: Cautiously reaching out.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 1, day 28 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Ilyssia (ONPC), Firelloa and Tinate (ONPCs), Shastia (NPC), Maerin (NPC), Falior (NPC), Bailan (NPC), Nokala

Eionen literally couldn't remember the last time he'd sprinted like this. His heart was pounding faster than the rhythm of his boots, and he didn't stop until he'd burst into the sunlight and could finally see the bronzepair. Oh, Ancients! Eionen doubled over, hands braced on his knees, and caught his breath before summoning the courage to approach. Up close, A'kua hadn't changed much. He'd taken off much of his flight gear and was pacing, cracking his knuckles in an achingly familiar way. Eionen opened his mouth, but the bronze made a small noise, and A'kua turned to face his sire in response.

For a long moment, they just stared. It was like seeing his son for the first time all over again. "You really came," Eionen whispered.

A'kua shifted uncomfortably, running his left hand through his hair. "My weyrmate said it'd be a good-"

"You've been hurt," Eionen interrupted, eyes widening.

"Huh?" A'kua glanced at his forearm. "Oh, that." He shrugged and lowered his hand to hold up his right arm, displaying the near-matching scores there. "First time ferryin' firestone in Threadfall. A tendril came at my head, so I put my arms up. Zeiranth took us between right when it hit me."

Eionen covered his mouth with both hands in order to suppress his gag reflex. A'kua was acting casual about it, but the harper felt cold at the thought of how close his offspring had come to being devoured. "I'm so glad you're all right," he said when he thought he could speak without losing it, and looked to Zeiranth. "Thank you for making sure A'kua got home safely." He cleared his throat and tried not to think about it anymore. "Um, would you like to come in? Maybe have a tour, or something to eat?" he offered, unsure what else to say.

A'kua shrugged. "Sure, I guess."

"Do we need a mediator, like last time?"

"No, I don't think so. I don't particularly want to cut your throat right now." Oddly, A'kua winced a moment after he said that.

Eionen laughed awkwardly, and said to Zeiranth, "I would invite you as well, but I don't believe you would fit."

"That's fine. The person who went to tell you I'm here said some kids'll be playin' out here soon, so Zeiranth can watch 'em," A'kua said, and scratched under Zeiranth's chin before falling into step with his sire. Their paces were the same.

"How is Firelloa?" Eionn ventured after a moment.

A'kua smiled. "It's like she's always been part of my life. She fits in beautifully at Dragonsfall, and she and my weyrmate adore each other. Firelloa got herself apprenticed to the harpers to learn more about singin', and she loves it. She doesn't ask about you, though. You're not her concern." He paused, then added, "I found a wild fire-lizard clutch by accident; the blue who delivered the song is hers. She's really happy to have him."

"Is there a chance she could visit at some point?" the harper questioned.

The dragonrider shook his head. "She's disinterested in you to the point of bein' apathetic. Her real father -the man who raised her- died and she's not interested in havin' you as one."

"Oh." Eionen looked at the floor as they entered the Hall. "Did you tell her about this?"

"I did. This isn't a secret I could keep from her. She just shrugged and said 'Don't kill him; it'd be a pain to deal with.'" A'kua half laughed. "She understands me nearly as well as my weyrmate does."

"Would you have really killed me?" Eionen asked before he could stop himself. "Literally, that is."

"Aye," A'kua said bluntly, and motioned to the side of his own throat. "There're two large blood vessels here; a deep slash and you'd bleed out and die in minutes. It's how animals were butchered at the hold. That's the merciful way I could end your li-" He broke off on noticing the harper had turned a little gray and had an extremely hurt look on his face. "Oh, come on. Bailan told you I'd gladly murder you if I could get away with it, and she meant it."

Eionen swallowed hard. "Well, yes, but I didn't realize you would get so specific."

"I had far too much time to think about how I'd want to do it."

"If you loathe me that much, why did you even accept my invitation?" Eionen asked in frustration.

"I told you: Hatin' you is gettin' too tirin'."

The harper and the bronzerider stared at each other. Eionen was the first to look away. "I guess I deserve it," he mumbled. "I've done a lot of wrong in my life."

"Aye, you did. But it sounds like you've had enough," A'kua said. "Besides, I-" He hesitated, then reluctantly went on. "I knew back then you were tellin' the truth about everythin'. I just wanted to hurt you too much to care."

Eionen gave him a startled look. "Then you believe me?" The bronzerider nodded, and the older man's shoulders drooped in relief. "It's- It's habit, isn't it?" Eionen guessed after they had walked a little farther. "To say such cruel things. To want to hurt me."

"A bad habit," A'kua agreed, sounding relieved that his sire had caught on. "It's not somethin' I can just get over, but it's- it's gotten somewhat better." He had other things to occupy his mind, for instance, so he wasn't obsessing over this as much. "So, a tour?"

That was more manageable at the moment, so the harper led the way. He showed A'kua the housing wing, the classrooms and workrooms, and then took him to the Great Hall. The younger redhead was impressed with the layout, and even took the steps onto the stage. The way he stood, with feet braced confidently and his hands on his hips, made him look almost like a performer about to make a dramatic start to a performance. Eionen's throat tightened again at the thought.

"Would this have been it?" A'kua slowly turned around, gesturing about the Great Hall. "Would this have been my life if things were different?"

"Maybe." Eionen crossed his arms loosely over his chest. "If I'd been able to convince Shastia to come with me, I would have brought her here, and if you'd wanted to pursue music or some other form of art, I would have encouraged it."

The rider half smiled sadly. "Ma had a pretty voice. She would've liked to learn to sing properly, I think. But all she had were lullabies. I never truly thought about bein' a harper for real; even learnin' from Nokala was mostly catchin' up on everythin' Falior didn't teach me. It was a good career choice if I hadn't Impressed, but I had too many other things to worry about to really consider it."

"Like what?"

A'kua tapped his right temple with a fingertip. "Tryin' to fix everythin' up here, so I could make myself into a slightly better person."

Eionen almost protested that there was nothing wrong with him, but caught himself. Of course years of abuse and scorn would leave a mark. Instead, he found himself asking, "Would you come with me to one of the offices?"

A'kua shrugged and left the stage, following his sire to the place where several Masters and journeyman did their work. Eionen knocked on the door of one, his fist accidentally pushing the door open a few inches. "Oh, I guess Maerin's not in. Come on anyway; he won't mind," he said, and entered the office.

A'kua whistled upon seeing all the instruments inside. "Nice," he said approvingly, and approached one of the gitars, flicking his fingers over the strings to make them sound.

"Maerin is a man I knew before I started wandering. He got his mastery due to making instruments," Eionen explained. "This is where he works."

"Did he make all these?"

"The majority of them, I'd say. Others are here to be fixed or replaced."

A'kua took a bass gitar off its pegs and slung the strap over his shoulder, trying the strings and adjusting one of the tuning pegs. "So if I ever had to replace the gitar I stole, I could come to this Maerin fella?"

"Of course, if Dragonsfall didn't have one to your liking. He'd be glad to help you." Eionen watched his son fiddle with the instrument a moment longer, then cleared his throat. "Maerin is the person I asked to play your song."

"He hated it, I take it."

"No; he thought it was unusual, but he didn't say anything bad. I just had to hear it from him because I'm hopeless at playing." The harper wet his lips. "I- I'd like to hear it from you, though. I want to hear everything."

There was a pause as A'kua stared at him again. Eionen supposed he was weighing his options. "I'm not doin' this alone," he finally stated.

Another challenge. Of course. Eionen just nodded acceptance and encouragement for his son to begin.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2017

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Hello. [1/2]