Old Friends: Familiar Face (2/4)

Writers: Devin, Duskdog
Date Posted: 13th May 2025

Characters: N'vanik, G'zan
Description: N’vanik remembers running into a familiar face when he was transferred to Dragonsfall.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12

N'vanik

G'zan

Dragonsfall Weyr, Month 6, Turn 3

When N'vanik was introduced to his new Wing, one of the faces seemed
vaguely familiar. His name, too, pulled at something in N'vanik's
memory. It wasn't until drills were over that it finally clicked, and
when N'vanik realized who his new wingmate was, his guts went cold.

Flame it all to the back of /between/! On top of everything else, why
did _he_ have to be here? N'vanik's sharding luck was so terrible, and
if this guy blabbed about their past . . .

"G'zan, can we talk?" N'vanik tried to keep his tone neutral and only
partly succeeded.

"Oh yeah, sure! Welcome to the Wing, by the way!" G'zan agreed
cheerily enough. He had noted that this guy looked familiar, but
hadn't thought too much about it -- after all, dragonriders came and
went, and N'vanik could have easily just been someone he'd met in
passing before, or just seen around somewhere. Now though, close
enough to get a better look and to speak and hear his voice, it
finally registered. "Oh! It's _you_!"

"Let's go somewhere quieter," N'vanik said through gritted teeth. He
headed off away from the rest of the Wing.

"Sure, whatever you want." G'zan followed him willingly without
thinking too hard about it. Private conversation? Sure -- some people
were just quieter than others. "What's up, pal? You've done pretty
good for yourself, huh?"

N'vanik crossed his arms. "Look, I've got enough problems right now
without you blabbing about how we met. So just keep your mouth shut,
all right?"

Of all the things that G'zan expected, it wasn't that. "Uh... what?
What's wrong with how we met? Are you, uh... you doing okay, buddy?"

"I do _not_ want anyone knowing I was holdless, and if I hear people
talking about it I'll know they heard it from _you_." N'vanik jabbed a
finger toward G'zan.

}:You are my rider now,:{ Loseth interjected, sending N'vanik
soothing, loving feelings. }:No one cares what you were before.:{

G'zan blinked, stunned. It had never occurred to him that someone
would be ashamed of being Holdless, because _he_ wasn't. But then, it
was all he'd ever known. "Wait a sec... what's wrong with being
Holdless?" He couldn't quite keep the heat out of his tone,
bronzerider or no.

"People got all kinds of ideas about what holdless folk are like,"
N'vanik said. "I don't need any more judgment." It wouldn't be long
before there were rumors about why he transferred, and he didn't need
more trouble on top of that.

"People got all kinds of ideas about everything," G'zan replied. "They
got ideas about what greenriders are like, too, but I'm not stressin'
about it. You did sharding good for yourself -- that oughtta speak for
itself, and everybody else can go hang!"

"Yeah well it's none of their business, so if you keep your mouth shut
I won't have to worry about it," the bronzerider said.

Loseth rumbled his disapproval. }:Dragonsfall will be good for us if
you let it. Arguing with Panghuth's rider is not a good way to
start.:{

G'zan frowned, unable to keep from grinding his teeth a little as he
regarded N'vanik. He just didn't understand what the problem was.
But... well, the bronzerider clearly thought it _was_. So would it
really hurt him to just keep himself quiet about it?

"Yeah, okay," he said finally. "I'll pretend I don't know you, I
guess. Whatever makes you happy."

"Good." N'vanik's anxiety eased a little.

}:I'm sorry my rider is being mean to yours,:{ Loseth told Panghuth.

}:He'll be fine,:{ Panghuth replied, unconcerned. }:He does not stay
upset for long. He's only confused.:{

"See you around then, I guess, stranger?" G'zan said.

"Yeah." N'vanik looked at him a moment more with a slight frown, then
he turned and left.

Last updated on the May 26th 2025

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Old Friends: Familiar Face (2/4)