You're Not Quitting...Are You?

Writers: Ames, Miriah
Date Posted: 1st February 2014

Characters: J'ackt, D'naz
Description: D'naz is able to challenge Jenackt into not quitting
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Slightly backdated :D

J'ackt

Jenackt sat on his cot and looked at the satchel in his hands. He had
been staying here, just as the Weyrleader had insisted, but when

the other candidates had risen and gone to their first classes, he had
not. They looked questioningly at him, but none bothered him; most had
learned to leave the reclusive young man alone.

Instead, he had taken his knots off and laid tossed them beside him on
the bed. Agreeing to N'vanik's bargain had been a mistake. Sure he
could read some now, but what good did it do him? What use was it? And
doing figures.. Who cared? He'd never really needed to use them before
he came here.

He swallowed the surge of frustrated anger. At least when he hadn't
had a roof over his head and he was on his own, he hadn't had to rely
on anyone but himself. He hadn't had to answer to anyone but himself
after he father had died. He had been achingly alone true, but here,
shards, he felt more alone than he had when he'd actually _been_
alone.

D'naz had just popped into the candidate barracks to check on a few
things when he noted the solitary figure sitting on the cot. The look
on his face told him he was deep in thought. He'd been keeping an eye
on the boy since his arrival as he'd seemed to be having some trouble
fitting in with the others.

He moved over to him. Leaning against a wall, he cleared his throat
and asked, "No classes this morning?"

Looking up, Jenackt shrugged noncommittally. "I guess there are." He
glanced at the knots beside him.
"For everyone else."

D'naz frowned, but kept his expression as neutral as it seemed. "So
you're giving up?" He knew there wasn't much that could be done if a
candidate _chose_ no longer to Stand. It happened from time to time.
"Mind if I ask, why?"

That stung a bit and he frowned. It wasn't giving up. It was accepting
reality. "No point to it. I don't belong here."

"Tell me what makes you think that," D'naz replied, "I mean if you
don't belong here, then where _do_ you belong? The Weyr has always
been a place where people of all types, sizes, and pasts can find a
home. We are an accepting group, as we all know there are reasons we
are all here. What are yours? You don't have to answer that, but at
least think about it."

"Accepting..." Jenackt scoffed openly, but didn't elaborate, but kept
his face stubbornly away. "Don't belong anywhere."

"I see, well if you don't belong anywhere than where are you going to
go if you leave here?" D'naz asked, curious as to the boy's plans.

He eyeballed D'naz with suspicion. If he told him, would he tell
N'vanik or the other leaders? Would it make a difference? He frowned
and then looked down. He would go back to the woods. "Back to the
forests." True, he had to worry about how and where he would eat;
sometimes he was cold and sometimes he was hungry, but it was what he
knew.

D'naz contemplated that with a slight frown. "Well, at least you have
some sort of plan. Can't say it's one that appeals to me, but I prefer
human company to that of trees and animals." He paused and pushed off
the wall. "I guess if you truly want to live all alone hidden among
the trees than who am I to stop you? I'm sure it won't be easy, but
I'm sure you've considered that as well."

"It's where's I've always lived. I know it." He lifted his chin, and
then slumped a little, staring down. "But N'vanik won't let me leave."
He shook his head. "I'm stuck here, I guess."

"Hmm," D'naz replied, "I can't speak for the Weyrleader, but he cannot
control all the lands of Pern. If you truly want to leave, there will
be little he can do if you get far enough away. Of course, that means
leaving the places you're familiar with and finding new places to
hide. Not much of a life if you ask me, but to each his own." He
shrugged and made to turn away from the young man, hoping his tactic
may work.

"Then again, you could just stay here and give things a _real_ try for
awhile. What would it hurt? You could always leave in the future if it
doesn't work out. But then again, it's really up to you."

Jenackt fell quiet and stared after D'naz. That had felt like a
challenge; his eyes narrowed into slits. Damn that man.

Last updated on the February 28th 2014

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You're Not Quitting...Are You?