Miserable For A While
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: Arale
Date Posted: 8th July 2012
Characters: Dannoty
Description: Dannoty's first evening at the Vintner Hall is as unpleasant as
he makes it.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 6
Dannoty unpacked his belongings into the chest at the foot of his bed
in the dorm room he now shared with three other apprentices. This was
new for him, this room sharing. He'd always had his own room. First,
because he'd been an only child for so long and then because both his
siblings were girls. They had to share, but he didn't. He'd always
felt a little smug about having his own room back home. The other
children he'd grown up with usually had at least one brother or sister
they had to share with.
Now, here he was.
It wasn't such a big deal, he knew, but it was just one more thing
that marked the fact that nothing in his life was the way he wanted
it. He wouldn't even mind the sharing if he'd been able to… But no. He
refused to think about that anymore. It wasn't going to happen and no
amount of wishing would make it so.
He'd met the boys he was going to be living with earlier and while
they seemed nice enough, the idea of getting to know them better was
unappealing. Why should he? Why should he 'make the best of it' as his
mother had suggested? Why should he make friends with these boys when
his best friend might as well be on the other continent, he was so far
away. He'd never see Krylin again, probably. Did that mean he should
just replace the closest friend he'd ever had with some other boys he
knew nothing about?
No. He refused.
He'd ignored the boys' attempts at striking up conversations until
they got the point and left him alone. Now the three of them were off
somewhere and he was here by himself, which was fine. That's the way
he wanted it. But, he couldn't help the pang of homesickness that
swept through him. This time, back home, he'd be with his friends and
cousins, slinking about the vines and trying to avoid being drafted to
help with some task. He had a feeling that his time here was going to
be lonely and unpleasant and it wasn't fair. No one had asked him what
he wanted.
That was the crux of the problem really. He wouldn't have minded
leaving home if he could have gone with Krylin. Sure, his singing was
only passable even before it started breaking, but there were other
things harpers did besides sing. But no one had asked what he wanted
and all the plans he and his friend had made were for nothing.
"It's dinner time," a voice suddenly announced from the doorway,
giving Dannoty a bad start. He turned to glare at the senior
apprentice who held his hands up in apology.
"Sorry. But, it's dinner time. Come on, I'll show you how to get to
the dining hall."
"I'm not hungry," Dannoty replied sullenly, turning away from the door again.
The older boy stood and stared at him for a long moment and then
shrugged. "Suit yourself, kid. But trust me, you'll want to eat
breakfast in the morning. You're going to have a long day tomorrow."
With that, the senior apprentice ducked back out of the room and made
his way down the hall.
Dannoty closed the door behind him with a bit more force than was
absolutely necessary, but he didn't care. He didn't care about his
busy day tomorrow or anything else, really. All he wanted was to be
left alone to be miserable for a while. Was it too much to ask?
He threw himself onto his bed and glared at the ceiling and after a
while he dozed off, still wishing he were anywhere but here.
Last updated on the July 17th 2012