You'll Find a Place Here

Writers: Ames, Miriah
Date Posted: 27th May 2019

Characters: Aviday, Relkeyi
Description: Aviday checks on the new arrival and the two chat about what life in the Weyr is really like
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 11 of Turn 9

Aviday

--

Aviday liked infirmary duty. She stayed busy and as long as she stayed
out of the way and didn't distract from the Healers, she got to learn
a lot and meet a lot of people. She was refilling stock when she
glanced in one that she knew had just come in a few days before. She
peeked around the curtain and gazed at him. "Wow...you look like
you've been dragged through needlethorns upside down and backwards."

He _had_ been feeling better until the young healer's words made him remember
exactly why he was where he was.

"Um," was about all Relkeyi managed after hearing the description of his
injuries. He must look far worse than even he had originally thought.

"What happened to you?" She stepped past the curtain and peered at
him. "Did you fall or something? You're new here aren't you? I've
never seen you before."

Relkeyi looked down and picked at the bandage on his hand.

"Yeah, I'm new here," he finally managed, "My, um," he kept his head
down, feeling ashamed. "brothers did this."

"Really?" Aviday's eyes widened. "Your brothers? But why?" She scanned
him and then frowned. "They must suck rotten wher eggs. It looks like
it really hurts. Do you need anything? I can get you a Healer or
something to drink. "

Relkeyi ducked his head at her questions, "They feel I'm worthless,"
he murmured, trying to blink back the tears he felt at feeling so
alone in all of the world. He swiped at his nose, but kept his head
ducked so as not to embarrass himself in front of the other. "A drink
would be nice."

Her frown darkened, but she poured him a cup of water from a nearby
pitcher and handed it to him. "That's stupid. Nobody's worthless, so
don't you listen to them for even one bit of a candlemark. Not one
bit."

He looked up at the her again finally. "It's hard not to believe what
your family has told you your whole life. They don't like that I'm,"
he glanced away again, "different."

"Different how? You look normal to me, except with all the bruises."

He sighed. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell anyone, but at the same
time he wished so desperately to understand. "You'll probably hate me
too if I tell you. I...." he looked down, hiding his face and
whispered ,"don't like girls."

Aviday blinked, then frowned, confused. "So? Why would I hate you for
that? I know lots of boys who don't. There's nothing wrong with it."

He looked up and blinked at her, confused. "What do you mean, you know
lots of boys like that? Where I come from, it's _all_ wrong." **How
could it be so different here?** He wondered, feeling his first
glimmer of hope since being brought here. Could he find a life for
himself here and be accepted?

"Well, that's stupid." Aviday was firm in her declaration. "There's
lots here and some people who like men and women both. There's nothing
wrong with it. It's just who you like, that's all. It doesn't make a
difference in what you're like. "

Relkeyi thought he followed the conversation. "So, you mean there's
_lots_ of people here who are like me? Men who like men and men who
like both men and woman?" He found it so hard to believe. His family
had made him feel ashamed of himself and told him he was not normal
for his thoughts and desires. There was so much to learn about the
Weyr. "What about you?" His question might have been bold, but he was
very curious now. He looked at the young attendee, trying to figure
out if she was a girl or he was a boy.

"Sure there are. And people like them. They ride dragons too and
they're important. And they work in the lower caverns too. We've got
all sorts here." She smiled, liking the hope in his expression. "Who,
me? I guess I like boys too. "

"Oh!" He was curious, but decided to wait to ask more. **I guess he's
a boy like me,** Relkeyi thought, feeling pleased to know there really
_were_ others like him around the Weyr.

"I hope you feel better soon. What's your name? I'm Aviday. Where are you from?"

"I'm Relkeyi," he replied, "I'm for a small hold on the outskirts of
Emerald Falls." He looked at Aviday again, still feeling as if he was
missing something. Was Aviday really a boy? Something told him his
assumption was wrong, but he couldn't quite figure it out. His
curiosity winning he blurted out, "Are you a boy or a girl?" Then
Relkeyi blushed. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking away, suddenly
feeling worse than he did before.

**Again? Really?** She would have normally felt more irritated, but he
looked so contrite that she couldn't muster up anything more than a
sigh. "Don't be. It's okay, really." She took his hand. "I get asked
that _a lot_. I'm a girl." She gave a crooked smile. "Nice to meet
you, Relkeyi. And you're not gonna be alone here, okay? If you like,
once you get all better, I'll show you around and you'll meet lots of
people who're just like you. "

Well, at least he'd gotten _that_ part figured out. "I'd like that,
_alot_, Aviday. I don't know anyone here at all. I don't know what
will happen once I heal." Relkeyi was feeling _very_ uncertain and
afraid of what the future would hold. He was used to hiding who he
was, how would he find a way to shed so many Turns of learned behavior
to find a place here in the Weyr?

"You'll find a place here." She nodded with firm finality. "As long as
you contribute to something like a Craft or just help out, where it's
needed, you'll be welcome. Even little weyrbrats help do chores and
such. We just have to find you something that you like doing!" She
paused and tilted her head. "What _do_ you like to do? Do you Craft or
anything?"

He shrugged at that, "I was never really permitted. My family was not
letting me do anything other than our family farm. I wished...." he
looked down, picking at the blanket and shrugging, "Doesn't matter.
I'm sure I can help with chores and stuff."

"I've never been on a farm. I've only ever been at a Weyr." She
considered it. "Well, there's gardens here, but honestly, there's all
sorts of Crafts that you can try if you want. They're always wanting
apprentices. You can sort of just go around and see what really
interests you. That's one of the best things about the Weyr, besides
the dragons."

"Maybe you could," Relkeyi paused a bit and plucked at the sheet,
"show me around when they release me?" He knew no one and Aviday was
really the first person he'd really talked to since he arrived.

"Sure! I'll be glad to. I'll introduce you around too. Once you make
some more friends, then I'll bet you'll be really happy here."

Last updated on the June 15th 2019

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You'll Find a Place Here