Consequences

Writers: Devin, Miriah, Nicole Bonvisuto, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th March 2014

Characters: N'vanik, J'ackt, R'enh, Pierka, Dayf
Description: Consequences of the fight
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentor approved. Follows 'Fight Fight'

N'vanik

J'ackt

R'enh

Pierka

Bloody and still aching, Jenackt resisted spitting another glob of
blood onto the stone floor outside of N'vanik's office. Glaring
daggers at the other boys, he was kept apart from them on the opposite
side of the door, waiting. His ribs hurt, his jaw hurt and his eye was
already swelling, but he noted with vicious satisfaction that he'd
left his mark on the other boys as well. The big one had a broken,
bloody nose and was still walking funny while another had the
beginnings of a dark bruise appearing around his neck. The third and
mottled bruises all over him. All in all, he decided, he'd given as
well as he had gotten. His attention went back to the door to the
Weyrleader's office.

N'vanik opened the door, looking none too pleased. "You first." He
pointed at Jenackt.

R'enh grabbed Jenackt's forearm to help him to his feet though it
wasn't a gentle grip neither was it punishing. He nodded to Pierka as
well to follow them into the office. He wasn't about to leave their
witness out with the other boys by herself.

"She says she saw the whole thing," he told the Weyrleader.

As soon as he was on his feet, Jenackt shrugged away from R'enh's grip
and met N'vanik's gaze. Turns of being taught not to display weakness
had him standing straighter despite the pain in his side; his chin
lifted, refusing to be cowed by the weyrleader's expression of
displeasure. He entered the office slowly, his jaw tightening with
every step.

Dayf snorted as R'enh pulled the pregnant woman inside. It wasn't like
they were going to hurt her. She wasn't supposed to be pushed down,
but women shouldn't interfere in such things. Couldn't anyone see that
this man must be a criminal? Who else changed their name like that and
lied?
But, the Weyrleader was likely to side with his pet, so he quietly
awaited his fate, and for his nose to stop bleeding.

With the three of them inside, N'vanik closed the door. He offered the
two chairs in front of his desk to Jenackt and Pierka, leaving R'ehn
to stand or take a seat on the small couch off to the side. "So what
happened?"

Carefully sitting, Jenackt flicked a gaze to Pierka, and then to
N'vanik before speaking softly. "He put his hands on me."

"In what way, exactly?" N'vanik asked.

Jenackt looked over at Pierka and then R'enh once again. His jaw
throbbed with dull pain and his ribs ached with every breath. "They
surrounded me. The big one shoved me. I think his name is Dayf." He
shifted in his seat and bit back a grimace. "Told you I wouldn't hurt
your people, but won't be walked over either."

"I didn't hear what they said at first. I was too far away, but they
surrounded him and then attacked," Pierka shook her head.

R'enh just crossed his arms and leaned against the door glowering at
both of them.

N'vanik sat in his chair and let out a sigh. "Personally, I don't
blame you. He got physical and you defended yourself. But as
Weyrleader I can't allow fighting, no matter what the reason is. I'll
have to punish you. I'll decide on what that punishment is after I've
heard what the others have to say for themselves."

In pain, Jenackt glowered right back at R'enh before turning back to
N'vanik. "So I'm just supposed to let them pound on me next time
because fighting's not allowed?" He caught R'enh's gaze and stared
back, jaw tightening. "Stop looking at me like that. It's not like I
bloody well asked for this."

Pierka had been shrinking in her chair until that moment. She was
sorry for her part in the whole thing but now her anger turned a
corner. "Will you just shut up and listen," her eyes snapped at
Jenackt. "It's your sharding attitude that get's you into trouble you
knucklehead." With that she crossed her arms and glared at him.

R'enh lifted an eyebrow and stifled the smile that threatened as he
looked at his friend for a cue as how he wanted to handle these two.

Jenackt turned his glare to Pierka, his eye now nearly completely
swollen. It gave him a rather ghastly look when coupled with a now
pasty face and swollen jaw. "Me? I told them to back the bloody blazes
off and you go charging in like an idiot and put your babe in danger!
Are you insane? You could have been hurt! That babe could have been hurt!"

"Why? Because I'm trying to save a wherry headed fool from himself...
_again_" she spat back. She set her jaw and turned to stare at a spot
on the wall above R'enh's head.

It would be funny if the situation was different. "I'd like to talk to
Jenackt alone for a moment," N'vanik said.

R'enh licked his lips and pushed off the wall with an elbow reach to
help the pregnant greenrider from her seat but PIerka was on her feet
before he got there.

"Yes sir," she said respectfully to N'vanik and turned toward the
door. In a moment they were through the door and it closed behind them
with a snick.

Jenackt watched as they left and could be seen visibly steeling
himself. He stiffened as if preparing for a blow, his swollen jaw was
set and he stared straight ahead, refusing for an instant to show his
dread of the coming conversation. He was tired, he was hurt, but he'd
be shafted if he let anyone see it and use it.

"You _can't_ get in fights. The Weyrlingmaster and Headwoman already
think I'm mad for letting you stay here. I don't need them to have any
more reasons to distrust you." N'vanik knew they'd be complaining to
him soon. "And you need to let it sink in that not _everyone_ is out
to get you. Pierka seems to want to get through to you, and she backed
up your story."

Jenackt frowned deeply. "I wasn't trying to! I wanted to be left the
bloody blazes alone and told them so. You can't ask me to let them
push me around and not defend myself." He then scowled at the mention
of Pierka and looked down at the ground, hunching his shoulders as he
muttered. "She shouldn't have gotten involved. Coulda been hurt."

"She was trying to help. I know you don't believe it, but people
around here _do_ want to help you. Not all of them, but the less you
try to push people away, the more friends you'll discover." It took a
long, long time for N'vanik to realize that. "If someone tries to pick
a fight with you again, you _walk away_. I know it's hard, but you
have to be smarter about how you solve your problems here."

**So now I'm to be a coward as well? Someone lays a hand on me and
they'll lose it next time.** Jenackt stared at N'vanik with bitter
regard, but bit his tongue before those words spilled out. He looked
away and gave a brief nod, too tired to argue any further. He wanted
this over and done with. "Yes, Weyrleader."

"You can go, Jenackt. Let R'enh know I'm ready to see the next one."
N'vanik wasn't going to be so easy on the other boys.

Rising with difficulty, Jenackt went to the door, opened it with a
glower and passed the message to R'enh. He walked by the other boys
without a word. He wanted to go lay down.

Dayf watched Jenackt pass and turned toward R'enh. The Weyrleader
would see them next. His face was sore, and his nose swollen and
crusted with blood. Dayf breathed through his mouth to ease the pain.
His nose must be broken. In that akward silence, he'd reflected on
Xandris saying that the Weyrleader would kick him out for this. But
Jenackt's reaction proved to Dayf the blonde boy must be the monster
he had suspected. All he'd had to do was admit why he'd changed his
name. Regardless, this was the moment of truth, and he waited for the
bronzerider to motion them inside.

R'enh simply made a sweeping motion with his hand and then followed
the boys into N'vank's office.

N'vanik offered the chairs again. He fought an urge to start off
yelling and accusing. "Explain to me what happened."

Dayf paused for a moment, considering how to explain himself. Tiaz
piped in and beat him to the punch.

"We were just asking him why he changed his name, and he just lost his
mind."

"So he was the first one to get physical?" N'vanik's tone was
carefully neutral. Jenackt might lie, the boy had been doing it his
whole life, but the Weyrleader trusted Pierka. If these boys wanted to
dig their own holes, he was going to let them.

There was a silence and Dayf let out a gurgling breath.
"I shwoved 'im," he stammered nasally around all the blood in his sinuses.
"A li'l. On 'is shoul'er. Not to 'urt 'im er anyting. We jus' wan'ed
'im ta a'mit why 'e ch'nged 'is name."

"We think he's a criminal, Weyrleader," Tiaz continued. Dayf glared over at
him.

"So it was _your_ job to question him? _Your_ job to punish him when
he wouldn't answer you?" N'vanik glared at the boys.

A thousand thoughts raced through Dayf's mind. That Jenackt could have
hurt someone in the barracks if he was a criminal. That Jenackt hadn't
needed to freak out. They would have roughed him up a little. Why
couldn't the boy just know his place? But, none of that would do them
any credit.
"No W'rleader," was all that Dayf stammered out.

"I'm worried that if I let you lot go back to the barracks, you might
get it into your heads to 'question' another Candidate," N'vanik said.
"You've proven yourselves to be a danger to others. It might be safer
to send you back home." There, let them think about that.

The body posture of the three boys lurched forward, as though someone
had simultaneously slapped them on the back.

" 'M not ah d'nger," Dayf stammered.

"It won't happen again, Weyrleader."

"We're sorry."

N'vanik studied them. "I _might_ consider letting you stay. You're
losing your free time for the next month and will get extra chores
instead. But first, you're going to apologize to Jenackt."

The three boys fumed silently. Tiaz glanced over at Tanlis. Dayf gave
a gurgling sigh.

"Yes, Weyrleader."

"If you cause any other trouble, I'll speak to the Weyrwoman about
having you barred from Standing. Fighting is bad enough, but I won't
stand for bullying. I'll send you home in shame, so don't sharding try
me." N'vanik wanted to choke the little bastards.

R'enh snapped his fingers and motioned to the boys to get out of the office.

Last updated on the March 16th 2014

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