Keep An Eye Out

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 11th January 2020

Characters: N'vanik, J'ackt
Description: J'ackt brings a problem to N'vanik
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 25 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: R'fal, Alina, Cyradis, Cosani
Backdated

N'vanik

J'ackt

The conversation with R'fal ate at J'ackt the more he thought about
it. He'd been the cause of so much conflict between the Weyr and Hold
that was still ongoing; despite not knowing for certain and having
any evidence, his gut told him that despite any orders he might have
given, R'fal might just do something monumentally stupid just like he
had done and make matters worse. He could order all day long, and
Faranth, he'd hated to do that, but he and Zith weren't always in the
Weyr to watch the kid.

So, he found himself at N'vanik's office and rapped on the door frame,
peeking in. "Got a moment, N'vanik? Need to talk to you about
something."

"Sure. Have a seat."

J'ackt came in, sitting down in the offered chair. "You might have a
problem. I'm not certain, but if it's what I think, it could blow up
like dragonfire in the Weyr's face."

"Really?" N'vanik had thought he might complain about being stuck in
the Queen's Wing, or talk about something personal, but this sounded
like it was about someone else.

"It's about R'fal. Had a talk with him a few days ago. He's that
weyrling whose da' was arrested. My gut's taking me something's off.
" Describing the conversation with R'fal, he then continued. "Ordered
him not to do anything and he was right pissed about it. Anything like
that, well, it'll reflect badly. Shards, a couple of turns ago, I
might've helped him, but he's not looking at the consequences of
whatever he's planning. Learned my lesson. I told him that I wouldn't
say anything, but figured this was too important to hold back. "

"Thanks for letting me know. I'll talk to Cyradis about it, too.
Panitath can compel Marlath to stay away from the mine."

"Yeah, well, I don't want to get the kid in trouble. He's not done
anything yet, but don't want him to either. Seems like he's a good
kid, but he's not thinkin'." J'ackt's lips lifted slightly. "Had to
learn that the hard way m'self. Cyradis could, I suppose. It worked on
Zith plenty well."

"We're not going to ground him or punish him, just keep him from
acting out on whatever ideas he might have going 'round in his head."
Both R'fal's weyrling record and his Wing record so far were solid,
but that didn't mean the boy wasn't capable of doing something rash.

J'ackt nodded. "Good. Sorry about not bringing this to you before,
but..." he shrugged, "I promised him, but if he'd done somethin',
well...doesn't seem like that sort of promise was a good idea in the
end. Wasn't worth it and Faranth knows that I've got a reputation
about no honor anyways. I can live with him being pissed off at me."

"Do you think it's dishonorable to tell me about this?" N'vanik asked.

J'ackt shrugged. "Still working out that honor stuff, to be honest.
Don't figure it's good to break a promise, but done it before, so..."
He waved his hand in the air. "Just figured that something like that
was more important than keeping my yap shut about it."

"Sometimes you need to break a promise for the greater good. You're
protecting the Weyr, and even protecting R'fal, trying to keep him
from maybe doing something reckless." N'vanik didn't want him to think
he was doing wrong. J'ackt was a grown man, but he hadn't been
socialized until recently and emotionally he was very much still an
adolescent. **And what was my excuse at his age?** N'vanik thought
with amusement.

"Hm." J'ackt rolled his shoulders again. "Maybe so.I hope so. Just
keep an eye on him. I'll check up on him when I can." He rubbed his
temples. "Got another problem I need guy advice from, if you have
time."

"Sure."

"You know I got weyrmated, right?" J'ackt sighed. "It's Alina. She's
still having problems with greenflights and she hates that I'm so
close to Cosani. I think she's jealous. I'm not sure how to make sure
she's happy."

N'vanik made a face. "That's a difficult one. You're spending time
with her? Doing nice things like spending restdays together and such?"

"Of course I am." J'ackt exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "I
love the girl. She should know that."

N'vanik considered what to say next. He was terrible at
relationships... or at least he used to be. "Did you make any promises
that you would be exclusive? Or make her think you would be?"

"Not exactly. I'm exclusive to her except with..."He cleared his
throat, eyed N'vanik and muttered, "Cosani. Alina knows about that,"
he hurried to continue. "She doesn't like it, but she knows."

N'vanik gave him a little smile. "You don't have to worry about me
flaming you for sleeping with my daughter. If I did, she might flame
_me_." Then he turned serious again. "So you made that clear to Alina
before you weyrmated? That's the important thing, honesty. If you're
honest with her and you make it clear she's the most important woman
in your life, I don't really know how to fix it. This is a Weyr, we
get to make the relationships we want."

"Sure I did. Didn't lie to either of them." He sighed, then rolled his
shoulders. "I guess we'll figure it out as we go. Thanks for listening
though."

"Maybe talk to Cyradis, if you're comfortable with that. She's got
more romantic relationship experience than I do, and she'd have a
woman's perspective." Until Talryne, his relationships had been
unstable and messy, and Tal had no problem with N'vanik sleeping with
other women.

J'ackt sighed. "Good idea. She's given me some good advice about Alina
before." He nodded, then rose. "Do you want me with you when you talk
to R'fal?"

"No, I don't want him directing his anger at you. And I think this
should be private, anyway." N'vanik also didn't want the boy to feel
like he was being ganged up on.

It wouldn't be the first time that J'ackt had had anger directed at
him, but he appreciated N'vanik for thinking of it. "Yeah. Probably
right. I'll leave you alone then. Just let me know when to have Zith
stop watching him."

"I will. Thank you again for bringing this to me."

"Welcome." J'ackt offered his hand, relieved to have passed the
problem of R'fal off on someone better suited to deal with it.

Last updated on the January 18th 2020

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