Stay Away

Writers: Aaron, Miriah
Date Posted: 5th November 2020

Characters: T'ner, Daturna
Description: T'ner tells Daturna exactly what he thinks
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 3 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: D'ale, Aviday

Daturna stretched as she left the flight room, hair mussed and looking
more than a little satisfied after the greenflight. Humming softly,
she pulled her hair up into a messy bun and adjusted her clothes
before heading to the bathing chambers. The brownrider, whatever his
name was, had proven to be most vigorous, and she'd enjoyed herself
immensely. Her mood much improved by the day, she sang off key to
herself as she headed in that direction.

T'ner had been hoping – for whatever reason – that the woman would NOT
be hanging around the flight rooms exactly when he poked around
looking for her. But to his simultaneous frustration and satisfaction,
there she was, walking off in the direction of the baths.

Of course, she was.

"Oy, there. Aviday's mum," he called after her. "I need to say
something to you."

"Hm?" Daturna turned, brows knitting. She'd never been addressed
_that_ way. Seeing the handsome young man, she offered a brighter
smile. "Sorry, young man, but unfortunately I was caught by someone
else." Her tone was light and laughing as she waved a hand towards the
door she just left from. "Maybe next time, hm? He just grabbed me
first!"

"Gross. No, thanks," T'ner spat reflexively. There was nothing wrong,
of course, with someone who had sex. After all, he was hardly the only
one who had sex with F'aen. And he could only assume that Ayressa had
or would take her opportunity to explore with other men.

Neither of those things bothered him, and the sex did not bother him
when it came to this woman. No, he found her gross because of the way
she treated her daughter. Like some kind of... weird vicarious sex
object.

"I'm here to tell you to leave Aviday alone. She doesn't want to see
you, and I don't want to hear from her that she has. Understand?"

Her mouth dropped in surprise and no little amount of hurt. "I'm not
that old! I'll have you know that lots of men are interested in me
and..." The blonde woman's voice trailed off as the young man
continued and she went still, staring at him in utter shock as her
eyes widened. "What?"

She shook her head, obviously not understanding. "And who are you? My
daughter would never say such a thing." Her gaze searched him and she
clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh! Are you her new man? Has she
finally got one? Oh thank goodness! I was worried she never would.
Were you the one that caught her Kobeth? After all that fuss and
crying, I was sure that she was just over-reacting!" She decided to
ignore those silly comments about not seeing Aviday. "I'm so happy for
her!"

"I'm her brother," said T'ner. And he had a feeling the woman might
not even know how many children Aviday's father actually had. So she
might believe he meant it literally.

"You saw her crying, and still this is how you talk about her? This is
why. I mean it. Leave her alone." By his scowl, he certainly did mean
it.

"You look nothing like D'ale." She laughed lightly. "Must be from one
of his other women, He had quite a few in his day!" Daturna waved a
hand, dismissing T'ner's concerns and his scowl. "Oh, don't be silly,
young man. She was crying because she just doesn't know how to control
herself and she made a silly mistake." She brought a hand to her
chest. "I did try to warn her. I tried to help her, but no....she's
just like her father. Stubborn and doesn't know what's good for her.
Well, now she knows better and now she'll be able to be a real
greenrider with plenty of flights and she'll love it. I've told her
over and over that she'd love it." She paused, waiting for him to
agree with her then realized that the young man was actually serious.

Her eyes flicked to his knots. Blue. Why did Aviday always surround
herself with other blue and greenriders? She drew herself up to the
small amount of hide she had, the only thing that it was clear Aviday
had inherited from her. "You can't tell me to stay away from my
daughter. I raised her and I know what's best for her. She didn't even
know about D'ale until the Hatching, so I've known her much longer
than you." She waggled a finger at him. "In a few days, she'll be over
her sulk. "

"How would you know why she was crying?" asked T'ner. "You've known
her all her life, but you've never listened to her for even half a
second," he growled.

"Always telling her who she should be and what she should love, never
caring who she actually was whether she actually did. If you care
about what's good for her, then stay away."

Daturna gasped. "Of course I know why she was crying! It's because she
didn't prepare herself for her flight. I've been telling her from the
moment she became a Candidate to do it and she didn't! She told me all
about it. And honestly, if she'd paid attention to her instructors
_and_ to me, it wouldn't have happened. "

This young man had completely ruined whatever afterglow from her
mothing that she'd had and it frustrated her. "And how long have _you_
known her? I know exactly what she needs. She just doesn't listen like
she should. I'm trying to help her like a mama should. What are you
trying to do? Keep her some little girl all her life? She can't be.
She's got to grow up. I was just trying to help her do it. I can't
help it if she just rattles off nonsense all the time!" She threw up
her hands. "I'm not going to stay away. I'm her Mama! And you..." She
lifted her chin. "are just a brother. Just you wait until I speak to
D'ale about this and then you'll see what's going to happen, hm?"

T'ner threw his head back and laughed at the unexpected threat.

"Tell him, then," he said. After all, Aviday had never said anything
to him about never wanting to see D'ale again. He had to be a halfway
decent human being. "If you hadn't been putting such pressure on her
to be a grown woman before she was ready her whole life, she might
have found it in herself to listen to her instructors about this!"

"If you ever cared about her feelings, then stay away until she says
she's ready to see you again."

The sudden laugh started Daturna and it finally sank in that this
young rider was serious. Her indignation dropped and she suddenly
looked distressed. "I...I was just trying to help her. I can't stay
away." Her lower lip trembled and her bosom heaved. "She's all the
family I have. She can't really want me to stay away."

"Sometimes even family needs space for a little while," said T'ner. He
could not help but feel a twinge of compassion for her now that the
woman actually seemed hurt. "Give her some. Please. That's what would
help her most right now."

"But...but..." Daturna floundered, tears welling up in her eyes.
"She's my baby. She _needs_ me. I can help her. I really can!"

"You can," T'ner agreed, "by leaving her alone. Let her find her own
path for a while, and once she does, maybe she'll be ready to see you
again."

"But...but..." Daturna pouted as she got weepy. "Fine. I'll stay away.
But, not forever. Every girl needs her mama."

"It's a start," T'ner sighed. "I'll come back to talk to you again if
I need to. Get yourself a hot drink. You'll feel better. Good day,
ma'am."

She sniffled. "Don't. And don't think I'll ever moth you in a flight
either. You've hurt my feelings." She turned and walked quickly away,
headed for the bathing chamber.

T'ner rolled his eyes as he turned to go back to his own business. But
he did feel a little twinge of guilt for having hurt the woman. A
little one.

Last updated on the November 11th 2020

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