Communication and Parenting are Both Hard

Writers: Heather, Shawna
Date Posted: 7th April 2024

Characters: Zariah, X'eri
Description: X'eri hasn't been spending time with Zerias, and Zariah is NOT happy.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 28 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentor Approved

X'eri

}:Relsath says her rider is on the way and she is _not_ happy with
you. I'd advise caution.:{ Kohath relayed to X'eri.

The bronzerider's head popped up over the canvas he was working on,
and sure enough, the curtain between his weyr and weyrledge was
fluttering - the telltale sign that another dragon was landing on his
ledge.

He couldn't imagine what Zariah wanted, unless there was something
wrong with Zerias. A knot of worry began to develop in the pit of his
stomach.

Relsath had the grace to bob her head politely at Kohath, while her
rider slid down to stomp back towards the living quarters of the weyr.
With a sigh, the green warned, }:I can't promise she won't yell.:{

Zariah had a note in her hand, although when she shoved it at X'eri,
more of it was crossed out than remaining, as if she'd been trying to
collect her thoughts and just gave up.

'I just want to know...

What are you thinking...

Do you have any idea...

OUR SON ASKED ME WHY YOU WERE MAD AT HIM. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?'

When he looked back up, she did her best to sign that message as well,
although the 'YOU' was angry jabs towards his chest.

X'eri blinked several times, as if he couldn't comprehend the message
she'd shoved at him. Fortunately, he had a pencil nearby where he'd
been sketching on the canvas. Grabbing it, he pressed the note flat
and wrote on the back, 'He's mad at me??' He handed it to her, his
brow furrowed in confusion.

"No, he thinks-" She stopped talking, made a frustrated noise, then
took his pencil, writing back, "No. He thinks you are mad at HIM. Have
you been avoiding him?" Zariah slammed the pencil back down, then
almost immediately picked it back up and added, "You can't just stop
coming around NOW."

The bronzerider winced. Obviously not at her volume, but at the
message she'd written. He imagined the crestfallen look on Zerias'
face when his father continually avoided coming to see him on
restdays.

[I know, I know,] X'eri mouthed the words as he signed them. [It's
been hard for us to communicate.] Kohath relayed the message to
Zariah, just in case.

[He learned to talk one way. He can learn another way.] The greenrider
had practiced her side of this conversation, and her signs were slow
and deliberate, but workable enough.

}: Thank you,:{ the green passed back to Kohath. }: She's been
practicing with Zerias but it's hard.:{

X'eri looked away from the greenrider, his shoulders drooping a
little. Zariah was right and he knew it. [I know he could learn. He is
very smart,] he finally said, turning to look at her again. Their son
was sharp as a whip. Before losing his hearing, time spent with
Zerias had been easy. They would joke around, go fishing, tell scary
stories that would end up with Zerias sleeping in X'eri's bed.

[I don't know how to be his Dad like _this_.] He pointed at his ears.

"Hey," that was outloud, but she reached out, squeezing his shoulder
to get his attention back to her. [You'll figure it out.] She frowned,
clearly searching for 'words'.

Relsath stepped in, passing on to Kohath, }: Zerias wants to learn the
signs. That's something they can do together. And she says they'll
probably fish better if they're quieter.:{

X'eri nodded as Kohath relayed the message. It was his own
insecurities that he had to get over in order to spend time with his
son. [I'll talk to him,] he signed. [Thank you for telling me.]

[Good. It ruins my evening with him when he's sad,] Zariah gave him a
smile to make it clear that that was a joke. [Sorry about all the rude
names I called you on my way here.]

[I'll teach you how to sign them sometime. That way, if you need to
say them to my face you can.] The bronzerider grinned a little. He and
Zariah hadn't planned on being parents together, but he couldn't have
asked for a better mother for his son. It made him glad that they'd
been able to maintain a good friendship over the last ten Turns.

[It's a date.] That last sign probably wasn't right, but she thought
it got the point across, she signed it with a grin, making it a joke.

[Don't teach our son any naughty signs though.] Zariah considered
leaving, her anger mostly let out now, but she stopped, [Are you doing
alright?] She'd noticed he was more reclusive, had let him be until
she realized it was affecting her son, but she wondered now if that
had been a bad choice. They'd been closer before, at least chatting
about their son regularly, but he was right. It was harder now to
communicate.

X'eri considered, for a split second, giving Zariah the sign for
'fine' but he knew she'd see it for the lie that it was. [No, but I am
working on it.] At least, the Weyrwoman was _forcing_ him to work on
it, and now Zariah too, in a different way.

[I'm here if you need anything. Even just to talk. Or,] she made
a scribbling motion for writing. [Just no fishing.] Zariah wanted
nothing to do with anything involving bait, or gutting fish. [Maybe we
can take the kid somewhere fun.]

[He would like that,] X'eri agreed. [How about next Restday?]

[Deal.] Zariah said.

}:We'll look out for something fun.:{ Relsath added, adding a little
sullenly, }:I like fishing!:{

Last updated on the April 11th 2024

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Communication and Parenting are Both Hard