It's the Little Things

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st February 2020

Characters: Y'gel, N'vanik, Briata, Nisheyl
Description: N'vanik has dinner with his daughter and her family
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 10 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Cosani

Y'gel

N'vanik

Briata

The door opened at the knock and Y'gel smiled as the little girl in
his arms squealed and grinned in recognition of her da. "I guess
she's glad to see you," he also grinned and caught Nisheyl's chest as
she practically threw herself at the big bronzerider in the doorway.
"Careful sweetie," he cautioned and held her toward N'vanik.

"Hi Nisha!" N'vanik grinned as he took hold of his daughter. It warmed
his heart to know that she not only recognized him but enjoyed his
company.

"Da," she said patting his face with both hands. Then she tucked her
head into his neck and molded herself to his shoulder.

Y'gel chuckled. "Come on," he said stepping aside to close the door
behind the Weyrleader. "Briata has dinner ready."

N'vanik made his way to the table where the meal was spread out. Since
Briata and Y'gel had moved to Dolphin Cove, N'vanik had been joining
them for dinner every few sevendays, mostly to spend extra time with
his daughter, but he also liked the company of both adults as well as
their son. It was all very domestic and not something N'vanik had much
experience with. "Hey Briata."

"N'vanik," she smiled and went to him for a sideways hug. "She's known
you were coming all day." She grinned up at the little girl and gently
smoothed a hand down her back. "I made you favorite tubers," she added
and returned to placing the dishes of food on the table.

"Da," Nisheyl demanded his attention and used both of her tiny hands
to turn his face in her direction. Then she began to babble something
unintelligible with a recognizable word thrown in here and there. She
pointed at Briata and continued talking as though she was discussing
the weighty issues of the world as she'd seen the adults around her
do.

N'vanik nodded very seriously. "Uh huh... uh huh." He had no idea what
she was saying and flashed a knowing smile at Briata.

Briata chuckled at Nisha's serious face and shook her head.

Y'gel came to help put the last of the dishes on the table and seat
Brigel before taking his own seat. "She has definite opinions about
the world around her N'vanik. Better listen carefully. There will be
a test."

N'vanik was simply glad that Nisha considered him an important person,
that even with limited time his efforts at being a good father were
working. He bent down to settle Nisha in her seat.

Nisha began bouncing in her seat anticipating dinner with gabble and squeals.

"Haven't seen Loseth for his checkup recently." Y'gel said as he
passed the mashed tubers to N'vanik. "Maybe you can bring him in next
week?"

N'vanik arched an eyebrow. "Springing this on me when I can't get away
from you?" He added a small amount of tubers to Nisha's plate.

"Well, that is my fault actually," Briata smiled brilliantly at the
Weyrleader. "Loseth was grumbling the other day about an ache in his
toe. So I thought maybe Y'gel should take a look."

"He mentioned it to me but hasn't said anything since. I thought it
was one of those little things that clears up on their own." Fighting
Thread was a very physical endeavor; little aches and pains were
common for both dragon and rider.

"Well then," Y'gel smiled. "Just bring him in," he said as he passed
the roast wherry and gravy. He took big helping of finger roots and
set them back in the middle of the table. "It's not like I'm looking
at _you_," he chuckled.

"Hmm. True." N'vanik passed the plate of meat around. "And I suppose
it's better to get it over with."

"I'm sure it's nothing more than a strain," Y'gel nodded. "But if he's
still grumbling it's a good idea to take a look."

"Well, he is overdue, as you said." **Does anything hurt?**

}:No,:{ Loseth's reply was sleepy. The big bronze was sunning on the heights.

**So stop complaining to _me_ then you big lout.** Briata's mind voice laughed.

}:When did I complain to you?:{ Loseth was half asleep.

She just rolled her eyes and grabbed the mashed tubers to plop a
spoonful on her plate. "No Nisha!" Briata exclaimed as the little girl
was about to toss a handful of her food at her da. "We do not throw
food."

N'vanik gently took Nisha's arm and directed it back toward her mouth.
"This is for you. I have my own food." It wouldn't be the first time
he'd been splattered during dinner, but he wanted to avoid that if
possible. "I'll be glad when she grows out of that," he told Briata.

"I think they do that just to see peoples reactions." Y'gel said. "It
seems to delight them to know they can influence their environment."

"And unlike baby dragons, we can't tell their riders to make them
behave." N'vanik had mostly avoided children, especially very young
children, until Nisha came along.

Nisheyl had pretty much finished her food and was just playing with
what remained so Briata plucked her out of her chair and began
cleaning her up. Brigel got down from his chair and went to play with
his toys. Nisha toddled after him once Briata set her on her feet.

Y'gel smiled at N'vanik. "Do you want to go play with them," he asked
as he rose and began to help his weyrmate to clean up.

"Yes, thank you." N'vanik got up to follow the children, and sat on
the floor amid a scattering of toys. He wondered, not for the first
time, what it would have been like to grow up in a Weyr, to have
loving foster parents and brothers and sisters. Nisha was blessed with
a life that he never got to experience. Cosani either, for that
matter.

Y'gel smiled at Briata and picked up his and N'vanik's plates and once
he deposited them back on the tray, he wrapped his arms around her
waist and kissed the top of her head as the watched the Weyrleader of
Dolpin Cove play with their son and his daughter. "It's the little
things," he whispered in her ear.

"Yes," she smiled and lifted her hand to cup the side of his face.

Last updated on the May 31st 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

It's the Little Things