Useful Skills

Writers: Miriah, AL
Date Posted: 9th October 2013

Characters: Vandor, J'ackt
Description: Vandor and Jenackt come to a sort of agreement
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 7

Vandor

J'ackt

Jenackt rubbed his eyes tiredly. After the sudden appearance of the girl
who knew him and knowledge that the Weyrlingmasters were trying to force
in his brain all at once, he was feeling the strain of stress. He stared
blearily at the scraps of hide in front of him. They had simple words on
them that he was supposed to study, but for the life of him, he was just
too sharding tired. It wasn't a muscle tired, or even an achy tired. He
sincerely thought that his brain was about to implode on him and he
wanted nothing more than to find a dark hole in the wall, curl up in it
with nothing but a flickering candle and sleep an entire day. Just an
escape for a little while.

He lay his head on the table and it thunked audibly as it connected.

"You know, if you keep putting your head down that hard, you're going to
wind up back in my ifirmary." Vandor slid into a seat across the from
the young man and laced his large finers together. "You look like you
haven't slept."

Jenackt grunted, recognizing the voice, but didn't lift his head. After
all, they'd played games to help with his boredom while in the
infirmary. "N'vanik is trying to kill me."

"Is that so? Well, I would hope not. Seems he should want to keep
candidates around." Vandor inclined his head toward the knot, though it
was for naught as the boy was not looking at him. "Tell me, how is he
trying to kill you?"

"My brain can't handle all of this." He slowly lifted his head, strain
evident around his eyes. "I'm supposed to learn how to read, all of
these lessons that I don't have the first clue about for the most part,
and then chores. I don't mind chores. I don't mind work." He frowned and
looked down at the now wrinkled hide. "But I'm not used to thinking
about all of this stuff. I don't know how I'm going to learn it all so
quickly."

"Well, look at it this way. Whether or not you learn it won't determine
whether or not a dragon picks you." Vandor reached forward to ruffle
the young man's hair. "Look, you're trying to look at the big picture.
I think you should break it up, day by day, hour by hour. Then it
won't be so overwhelming."

He was answered by a scowl as Jenackt stroked his hair back down. He
didn't like to be touched, but Vandor at least had a point. "And if the
candlemarks run together and you can't separate them?" His lips quirked
in a humorless smile. "Shards...I never had to worry about all this
before. Time, I mean. Not like this."

"Ah but things are different here." Vandor tilted his head to peer
intently into the young man's face. "And hopefully better?"

He considered that for a moment. "Well...I'm not starving, if that's
what you mean. I'm not..." He had been about to say something about
running, but shut that thought down just as quickly as it had began.
"In some ways, I guess." He shrugged and looked around. "I'm used to
taking care of myself. I'm not used to anyone wanting to know me or
anything. It's...different."

"Is it a good different or a bad different?" Vandor didn't know the
boy's story, though he would be willing to listen. He had a feeling,
however, that Jenackt was not quite so willing to share, so the healer
kept his questions fairly vague.

There was a long pause and Jenackt actually debated the answer. He
didn't talk much, didn't explain much to anybody. He didn't have
anyone he considered a real friend, just acquaintances here. In many
ways, he was keeping himself as alone as he could be; it was what he
was used to. "I don't know. I'm used to quiet." He glanced up and
shrugged. "I mean... the food is good here and I'm safe from Thread
and all that..." His brow furrowed. "I guess it feels almost like it's
too good to be true. Like I'm really not meant for this sort of
thing." He gestured to his shoulder knots. "I don't know if I can."

"Maybe you should let the dragons decide." The healer stated after a
moment of contemplation. "If you aren't suited for it, then you won't
be chosen."

"I keep hearing that." Lips turned down. "The dragons know. They
pick..." He shook his head and sighed. He didn't know what to think. He
just couldn't think of himself as paired with one. He wasn't what a
dragon would want. He was a criminal; but he couldn't tell anyone that.
N'vanik may have been holdless, but they were different. He looked at
Vandor. "And then what? Look...no matter what N'vanik says or what you
say, after this Hatching is over with, I've got to decide where I'm
going to go." He gestured down at the hides. "This isn't going to help.
I should be preparing for that."

"Well, what would you _like_ to do?" Vandor inquired as he he leaned
his elbow on the table and rest his chin in his hands. "You have a lot
of opportunities here for you if you want to stay."

Why was everyone asking him that? Frustration grew on his face and he
blurted out. "I want to be free."

"Free from what?"

Hands suddenly clenched and he scowled down at the hides in front of him.
There was so much bubbling inside of him. Frustration, uncertainty and
fear of being discovered...there was so much he wanted to be free of, but he
didn't know how to articulate it. And he couldn't, even if he figured out
how. It was too much of a risk. Instead, he just shook his head and remained
silent.

"All right." Vandor wasn't going to press, but he could see in the man's
face, the very manner of his body, the tension that strung through his
being. "I'm not going to force you to do anything or tell me anything,
but if you need to talk, I'm glad to listen. Why don't we change the
subject. Would you care to play a game during your free time?"

He stared at Vandor and finally a slight smile came to his face, though
there was no real humor in it. "What free time?"

"You have some. Not much, but some." Vandor chuckled. "You know, if you
want to look into a craft, this would be a good time to do so. You can do
that alongside of your candidacy. If you have any interest in the healing
craft, I wouldn't mind another apprentice."

He just stared at Vandor blankly. "Me. A healer?" He blinked. "You're
insane, you know. I don't have the temper to deal with hurt people. I'd
be more likely to smother them to get them to shut up." He shook his
head. "Besides, I figure that after the Hatching, I'll be off anyway."

"It's hard to say until you try. Of course, if you're not interested,
that's fine, I just thought I'd offer." Vandor nodded and ran his
fingers over his chin. "I can understand. Still, I could teach you
some useful skills in the time that you're here that would help you
after you leave - especially if you're going to be on your own. For
instance, what to do if you hurt yourself. Plants that can help you
heal or help you feel better when you get sick. Ultimately, though,
it's up to you."

He finally showed some interest in what Vandor was saying and visibly
showed it, his head lifting and peering at the man. That information
would be really useful for him. He wouldn't be as at risk if he knew how
to at least treat himself if he got ill. It was something he'd always
been vulnerable to. "I'd like that."

"All right. Why don't you come see me during your free period
tomorrow." Vandor suggested as he rose from his seat. "And I'll get
you started."

He nodded. "Alright. I'll do that." Jenackt nodded his head and looked
back down at the hides. Shards.

"And if you need any help with any of your lessons, I'll be glad to
assist with that too." Vandor stated with a chuckle. He nodded
politely to the young man, gave a wave, then turned to make his way
out and leave Jenackt to his studies.

Last updated on the December 10th 2013

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