The Right Thing
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 16th September 2005
Characters: Jio, Cinale
Description: Jio is confronted by Cinale for his treatment of Miryene
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 24 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows "Angry Words"
Jio had been expecting someone to come looking for him to chastise him for his behavior. The deepest part of himself was wallowing in festering guilt over the way he had treated Miryene, but he pushed it as far down as possible and refused to admit it, even to himself. To avoid the backlash he decided to hide in the safest place he knew - his workroom. It was his sanctuary, his hideaway. He was unpleasantly surprised to look up and see a particular cook staring at him.
And for once, there was so softness in her blue eyes. "Sit down, Jio."
"I'm almost done with this batch, Cinale. Can't this wait until later?"
He really didn't want to hear it from anyone, even his friend.
The silence that stretched between them was almost deafening, and when he finally looked at her again, she pointed to his chair. "Sit down, Jio."
"All right," he said evenly as he sank into the chair. The look he gave her was equally cold. He could not admit that he already felt guilty enough without her there to tell him that he should.
Cinale took the seat across from him and gazed at him for a moment before saying quietly, "I don't know exactly what you said to her, but she was quite upset, hon."
Jio knew he had no defense. There was no reason for the things he said to her, other than the fact that he felt hurt by her loyalty to another man. The vintner knew he had no right to feel that way, and even less of a right to say the things he did to Miryene. Still, he could not bring himself to admit that. "She lied to me, Cinale. I was her friend, and she lied to me."
She didn't even bother to mask the pity in her eyes. "Victims of abuse do tend to lie, Jio. And I know the facts don't really make this any easier to deal with and think about, and I wish she would've told you the truth when you talked to her. But she told Daigoro, and now she's out of that...situation."
"Daigoro! What does Daigoro know! _I_ was there everyday. I have been there for her all through that farce of a marriage and one visit from him and she spills her heart out! I get nothing but excuses and lies."
"Jio! Aren't you relieved that she at least told _somebody_?" His behavior was appalling.
"Of course I am! It's just..." He gave a frustrated groan as he stood and walked back to his work table. Cinale was obviously on their side and he was obviously wrong and obviously this was not going to be fixed.
"You just wouldn't understand, Cinale. You were not there."
"No, I wasn't. But I do think that you need to go back to her instead of hiding here in your office. You can't hide in here forever."
"Go back to her? Ah yes, how would that look - _me_ sneaking in to the room of a married woman," Jio muttered as he busied himself carefully measuring herbs into a mortar.
"You need to talk to her. I don't care where, just as long as you do."
"I very much doubt she wants to see me right now," he mumbled as he picked up the pestle and began taking his frustration out on the innocent herbs.
"Then do it later, when you both have cooled off some. But you do need to, Jio." She stood. "It's the right thing to do."
"I would have protected her!" Jio said, unhearing as he drove the pestle harder into the mortar. "I would have protected her from that man! If she had just told me! If she just had trusted me!" The table jumped and groaned under the force of his blows.
Cinale was silent as she watched him. And she let the silence stretch for a long moment before she moved, coming over to gently rest her hand briefly on his arm. "I know you would have protected her, hon. I know."
He stopped pounding and wiped away at the drops of sweat starting to form at his brown. Finally, Jio turned his eyes to Cinale. "Why him? How can she love _him_ after everything he's done? It's like... it's like I was never even there."
She didn't reply. How could she? He was asking questions she didn't know how to answer. Cinale kept her hand on his arm, and kept her expression soft and understanding - and open. She'd come to give him advice, but she was his friend, and would lend him an ear right now if that's what he needed.
Jio frustration was spent, and it was replaced by weary acceptance. She had made her choice, and he was not it. He was just going to have to live with that. Now he just had to decide if he could face her as a friend again. "I'll think about it, Cinale."
The cook nodded slowly, quietly. He would. She knew he would.
Last updated on the September 16th 2005