Do You Want to See Her

Writers: Aaron
Date Posted: 21st March 2024

Characters: Ç'pier, B'lyse, Saedyna
Description: Durek has some news to give Pierce about Saedyna.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 11 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Ay'ell

Ç'pier

«Don't worry about it,» Pierce signed. With the wrap on his broken forearm, it was mostly a one-handed affair, but he did his best. «You're doing just fine, and Santhiath will lay her eggs soon.»

«You really think I'll Impress?» asked Blue.

Pierce could hardly say no, nevermind the fact that he knew for certain that Ay'ell had never really checked either one of them for suitability as Candidates, and he had never heard of a disabled rider. Well, not one who had been disabled beforehand, anyway.

«Nobody knows for sure, right? But I know you _can_ do it.»

«This is your last chance,» signed Blue. His only chance. «What if you don't...?»

«I won't leave you. You never have to worry about�"» Pierce quickly �" and awkwardly �"turned his signing into running his hand through his hair when that Healer popped his head in. The one he had seen the day he tried to take care of the girl.

"Ah. There you are," he said.

Pierce's heartbeat quickened, thudded in his chest. It felt so loud to him that even Blue would be able to hear it. There was only one thing he could be there to say. Right? If she had woken up, it would be that overzealous guard come to get him, not a Healer.

"Is everything... all right?" Pierce kept his voice steady with only the appropriate tinge of worry despite the fact that his body was ready to make a break for it.

"I've got great news!"

Pierce's heart sank.

"Saedyna's woken up!"

"That's... That _is_ great news!" Pierce forced joy into his tone. He put his hand to his face and feigned being overwhelmed to the point of tears, which would hopefully cover any tightness in his voice.

"Would you like to see her?"

That could be a chance to run. But how far could he really get? And besides. He had just promised Blue that he would never have to worry about him leaving.

"She wants to see me? I mean... I would have thought she would blame this all on me..."

"Of course not," said the Healer.

"Of course, she doesn't want to see me? Or of course, she doesn't blame me?"

"Well, she didn't ask for you. She doesn't seem to remember how she got to the Infirmary at all. But I thought since you and she were, you know... You might want to tell her about what happened."

The temptation to visit was difficult to resist. If he could get the Healers to give them privacy, he could possibly finish the job... But there was no way he could hope to do it without anyone noticing. If she did not remember... well, maybe she would never remember. And maybe she would think twice about threatening to report Ay'ell.

"I told you before. We barely know each other. It was just the goldflight. But she does deserve to know what happened, and I'm probably the best one to tell her." He had to get out in front of what she was going to hear about what happened. False memories could be his friend if he was convincing enough with her about his story. He faced Blue.

"I'm going to the Infirmary to talk to Saedyna," he enunciated clearly. "She woke up."

"All right," said Blue. As Pierce stood, Blue did as well. He pulled him into a tight hug and held him for as long as he could. As they parted, he gave Pierce a curious look. Why was his heart beating so furiously?

Pierce followed along with the Healer at a decent clip. He had to look eager to get there. And then before long, there he was. Alone together in a room with the girl he had very recently tried to murder in cold blood. If she was going to remember when she saw his face...

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes as she stared at him.

"They said you were with me when this happened..." Her words sounded a touch slurred.

"Yeah." He held up his broken arm and then pointed at the yellowing bruise on his face. "He got us pretty good, didn't he? How do you feel?"

"Like shit."

Pierce had not taken her for the swearing kind.

"Why was I with you?" she slurred.

"There was a goldflight. We were going to, uh. Help each other out."

Saedyna stared at him again for a long, uncomfortable while.

"You were going to force me."

"Wh-what?"

"You wanted to use the flight to get into my pants�" I know how you fool around with the other girls. _And_ boys."

"Look, I... I thought you wanted it, too. We never actually got around to doing anything, so you don't have to worry about... about that. Whoever did this to us saw to that. But if you had said or done anything that meant you weren't a hundred percent into it, I would have left. I might enjoy a roll in the furs as much or more than the next person, but it's no fun unless the next person is into it, too."

Why did she keep staring at him like that?

"So you didn't... You didn't touch me?"

"No! Well, I mean. I touched you, but I didn't _touch_ you, touch you. Not like that."

"Don't ever try to follow me for a goldflight again."

"I won't." He could guarantee that.

"I don't trust you, _Pierce_. I don't trust people who don't tell anyone their real names."

"Pierce _is_ my real name now."

"Just stay away from me. I don't want you anywhere near my furs. Especially this is what I get when you are."

"Is everything all right in here?" The Healer poked his head in again.

"Yes," Saedyna slurred. "_Pierce_ was just leaving." She had already fallen asleep again before anyone could answer her.

"She doesn't want me to bother her again," said Pierce. "She thinks I was going to force myself on her."

"Thinks? What would give her that idea?" The Healer crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"Apparently, she thinks I'm a scoundrel." He absolutely was, but that was beside the point. "I... Look, I'm not from here. I don't know how much I can really blame on the proddy gold being in my head. But I didn't mean to force her to do anything." He rubbed his face with his good hand. "I don't do that. I thought she wanted to."

"I thought you said you didn't do anything together."

"We didn't! But... If it hadn't been for the attack, we would have. And... I'm not glad she got hurt. But I _am_ glad I didn't do that to her."

"Maybe I'd better suggest a refresher course for you Candidates on goldflights and consent, then." The Healer did not look or sound impressed. "If I hear one word from now on about you touching anyone who doesn't want it�" _one_ word, there are going to be severe consequences."

"Of course."

"Get outta here."

Pierce thought his heart would calm itself after he left the Infirmary. But it did not.

Last updated on the March 16th 2026

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Do You Want to See Her