Three Six Five

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 7th July 2026

Characters: Nirian
Description: Nirian takes care of her father after an accident
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 13

Mentioned:
Notes:
~*~

"Breakfast!" Nirian said with a brightness she didn't feel that morning, even though the sunlight streaming through the windows defied her mood. "I've got your favorite. Fresh biscuits with some berry jam. I'll set it down and--....oh."

Her father had quite obviously had a bowel movement in the overnight hours. And had not made it to the chamber pot.

Nirian let out a long, suffering sigh. "Going to be one of those days, isn't it?" she muttered under her breath as she went to work on the problem. "Okay, let's...get you out of those clothes first," she said as she tugged him into a sitting position. He mumbled incoherently as he usually did. When he feebly tried to help her, she gently swatted his hands away. "I've got it. I've got it. You know you can always call for help, right? There's plenty of people nearby." Why hadn't her mother handled this? Or had it happened in between her mother leaving for work that morning and Nirian arriving with breakfast?

Oh, it didn't matter. She'd speak with her mother later. Maybe there was something the healers could give him to help. She knew her father hated being so unable to care for himself but what options did they have? The discussion about a mercy draught long before the symptoms had taken affect hadn't gone over well. And now, even if Nirian could muster the selfish courage to bring it up again, she was certain her mother would slap the suggestion down.

She closed her eyes and not just because she didn't want to see the amount of excrement on the sheets.

"I'm not a bad daughter, I'm not a bad daughter," she muttered to herself as she bundled up the ruined sheets and tossed them in a corner to be burned later. She wasn't a bad daughter, especially since she was the one taking care of him right now. But shells did she feel ashamed sometimes for wishing that she wasn't the one doing it.

She allowed herself a small amount of daydreaming about what a few days off would look like. A beach with some books and plenty of fruity, alcoholic drinks. She'd get a lovely tan. She'd catch up on that romance series she was really enjoying. Maybe she could get a ride to Sunstone Seahold and go to their market. When had she last time she had gone shopping for herself? She couldn't remember.

Or, maybe when all of this had passed (and she wasn't wishing for it to happen sooner rather than later!), and she had more control of her schedule -- what would that look like? Would she stay at the Hall? It wasn't like she had any real skills or a craft. Well, Healer Hall was accepting apprentices and had that nursing focus. She could apply for that if she was really in a bind but why would she want to take care of doddering old folk somewhere else? It'd be a change of scenery at best.

**Which might be better than this anyway,** she thought as she began cleaning her father off with a wet rag. "You're getting a shower," she decided after a second assessment. Shells, how had the old man had that much in him?! She held back a disgusted gag as she maneuvered him towards the small stall. He, at least, was able to help in that regard, fumbling with the pulls that opened the water flow. She let it splash all over him for a few, long minutes before even trying again.

"Stay there while I get you a towel or two," she said once he was clean. It wouldn't hurt him to just stand under the spray for a bit anyway. Actually, now that she thought about it, she was going to treat herself to a long hot bath before her shift. That would make up a little for this gross start to the day. She let him pat dry his lower parts while she did his head and shoulders, though she did check him all over to make sure.

Steering him towards his favorite chair, she declared, "Okay, _now_ we can have breakfast." She cut up the biscuits into manageable sizes and handed him the plate. She kept one of them to the side for herself, relishing it as she ignored the messy smacking sounds he made while eating. Shells, the infirm were almost just like big kids!

Maybe that was another reason why she didn't like this. She didn't want kids and here she was taking care of a very big one!

**Well, I'll leave the childbearing to my sister,** she thought, even though a part of her resented how her siblings had all found (valid) reasons to move away, leaving her stuck. Nirian could have taken that marriage offer from a few Turns ago but honestly, that didn't seem appealing either. She should have moved faster. Maybe she should have just run away. Shells, the Weyr had taken some of those Holdless. Why not her?

Her resentment replaced the sweetness of the jam and she exhaled. Damn. She really needed to take some time off. Every day seemed to sour like this so easily nowadays. She finished up her biscuits, brushed off the crumbs, and then went about cleaning to rest of her father's room while he worked through his meal. A luxurious bath with fragrant herbs for herself, she decided. "Now, no messing anything up while I'm on shift, okay?" she said conversationally. She said it every day. He always hummed a promise. She inevitably came back to that promise broken.

**I'm a good daughter,** she told herself in an effort to stop that resentment. **It's not forever. None of this is. I'll get out of here one day. Live my own life. On my terms. This isn't forever.**

She'd just keep telling herself that, every day, until it came true.

"Done?" she asked after setting up clean sheets, opening a window to let in fresh air, and grabbing a book for him to read while she was out. She kissed his leathery forehead as she took the plate. "Be good while I step out for a bit. I'll come check on you in a few hours." Hopefully no more accidents.

Nirian delicately picked up the bundle of ruined sheets, wrinkling her nose at the smell, stepped out in the hallway towards the refuse, and told herself that one day, one day, one day.

Last updated on the August 7th 2026

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Three Six Five