At the End of the Day.

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 13th December 2017

Characters: Talwynn, A'kua
Description: "I'll get by with a little help from my friends."
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Ilyssia, Firelloa, Eionen, Shastia

A'kua felt thoroughly wrung out and listless. He didn't have much of
an appetite, either, but he had promised Ilyssia and Firelloa that
after some time alone, he would join them for dinner because he knew
they had been worried once they'd received the news of Eionen's
passing. But now, sitting in the dining hall, all he could do was
stare at the carafe of red wine left in the middle of the table within
easy reach. He'd never touched alcohol before -not after what it had
done to his mother-, but tonight, it was looking mighty tempting.

Talwynn was uncharacteristically upbeat as she swung into the dining
hall. She couldn't believe how well everything was going in her life.
She looked around the dining hall, wondering if any of her friends
were available to sit with. She spotted A'kua, who seemed to be on his
own at the moment.

"A'kua, how is it going with you and Zeiranth?" she asked as she
dropped into the seat across from him.

The bronzerider jumped on his bench, blinking up at his staff-fighting
teacher stupidly. "Oh. Hey," he said. "You joinin' our li'l party? Lys
and Firelloa should be here soon."

"Do you mind if I do?" she asked.

A'kua had to think about that. "No, I don't," he finally said. "I've
had enough of bein' along and small amounts of people for one day. And
Firelloa would love to see you again." It was true. He found he did
want more people he trusted and cared for close by. "I just can't
promise I'll be good company."

"What happened?" the greenrider queried as she took a seat. A'kua
sounded uncharacteristically sad.

The bronzerider eyed the carafe again before dragging his stare away.
"Eionen died last month right after I visited. I didn't hear until
today, when I was s'posed to visit again. His da went the same way. We
were just startin' to fix things and he's gone. I'm not sure how to
handle it. This's the first time all evenin' I've wanted to be around
folks."

She hadn't known until now, though it sounded like A'kua had been
trying not to talk about it.

"That sounds very difficult, especially since you'd just begun to talk
again," Talwynn said. "Almost like things waited to kick you."

"Story of my life," her student sighed.

"Are you glad you at least began to reconcile, or would you have
rather stayed mad if he was just going to die on you?"

A'kua actually had to think about that. "I think- I think it was
better to start lettin' go of the hate. It kept me goin' at the hold,
but out here, it didn't do me any good."

"Anger is a useful fuel, but sometimes it festers and becomes a
poison," Talwynn agreed with a half-shrug of one shoulder. "'least
that's what the mindhealers wound up telling me."

"And it burns hard." The bronzerider looked about and flagged down a
drudge. "Take this, would you?" he asked, handing them the carafe. "I
could use some fruit juice instead."

"Yes sir," the drudge said promptly, and disappeared into the crowd
with the wine.

"Sorry if you wanted some," A'kua apologized to Tal. "It was just
gettin' too temptin'."

"You've got no interest in finding your answers at the bottom of a
flask? Good on you. I never found them there, myself. And believe me,
I spent almost a Turn drinking heavily."

The bronzerider gave his teacher the saddest smile he'd ever shown
her. "Glad ya stopped. My ma never did stop, and it killed her. I
don't touch the stuff 'cause of her. You've always been a good person
to know, so it's great that didn't happen to you."

"I needed to stop feeling sorry for what I lost, and move on to
recovery. I couldn't do that with spirits in me," Talwynn said
somberly. "They just numbed it and then I felt worse."

"You did well," A'kua said honestly.

"Talwynn, hello!" a new voice piped, and Firelloa came into sight with
Ilyssia. "Are you joining us?"

"I'd like to, if you don't mind," Talwynn said, glancing over at the newcomers.

Ilyssia gave her a respectful nod. "It will be nice to catch up," she said.

"And I want to know how Riveth's been," Firelloa added, beaming up at Tal.

A'kua felt his shoulders unknot slightly as his loved ones sat down
with their meals to become a welcome distraction. He still wasn't
happy, but for right now, he could cope. He nodded thankfully to Tal,
and finally picked up his fork.

"I have some news about Riveth and myself, actually, that I think
you'll all like to hear."

Ilyssia straightened in the seat she had taken. "What is it?" she
asked curiously.

"Remember how I started doing firestone delivery again in month 13? I
spoke to Weyrwoman Saibra about the queen's wing last month and have
been drilling with them since then," she said.

Ilyssia let out a pleased laugh and briefly clapped her hands. "That's
wonderful, Talwynn!"

"I knew you could do it," A'kua praised, feeling his darker emotions
lighten faintly.

"I bet Riveth is so proud," Firelloa gushed.

"She's very excited. She wants to flame Thread for real, not just
deliver firestone. But it's small steps to be doing firestone and
drilling, and it's more than I expected Turns ago."

"You'll get there," Ilyssia said, and started on her dinner.

"You really will," Firelloa promised, beaming.

A'kua gave his weyrmate's shoulders a brief squeeze, nodded to his
little sister where she sat next to Tal, and finally smiled. The
coming days weren't going to be the least bit fun, but for tonight,
focusing on the people he cared for was helping, and he was grateful
for them all.

Last updated on the December 21st 2017

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At the End of the Day.