Practicing Moderation

Writers: Bree
Date Posted: 28th February 2007

Characters: Abrei, Jynrek
Description: Jynrek calls Abrei into his office to ask why she has been rescheduling her appointments with the mindhealer.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 4

Abrei

Jynrek tried to hide his weariness as he slid back into his office with Abrei's file in hand. "I'm sorry it took so long, my dear. I'm afraid I've had quite a morning."

Abrei thought it was quite mature that she didn't point out just how badly _she_ wished she'd had his morning. "That's all right, Jynrek. I know how it is."

"I know you do." He slid into his chair and flipped the file open. "I never got to ask you... how was the wine that Ar'lis went and picked up from your cousin?"

"It was wonderful. You should have him send you some." Whatever Journeyman Jio was doing with Talrian to produce such delicious medicinal drinks was brilliant, in her opinion. "Better than some of the regular wines I've tasted."

"Good. I know it can be trying to have a restricted diet." Jynrek pretended to read over the notes from her last visit, but he didn't need to. He already knew what he had to talk to Abrei about, and it wasn't likely to be a very pleasant confrontation. "I see you've had to reschedule your last four appointments with Nietonan."

Abrei went from relaxed to wary in the space of a few heartbeats. "Things came up."

"Things came up?" Jynrek gave Abrei a stern look. "Things came up _four_ times, Abrei?"

"Yes," she said stubbornly.

Jynrek sighed. "Abrei, stop it. I'm not a fool, and you know that. I understand that it can be uncomfortable to talk to people about our problems, but you have suffered quite a few serious blows. Sometimes people can manage their feelings and move on, but you haven't seemed to have much luck with that."

"I'm doing better," she insisted, not meeting his eyes. One hand came up to twirl a lock of her hair around her finger, a habit she'd picked up since she'd cut it short. "I sleep more, and I've been eating all right."

The Weyrhealer turned a page in the file. "You came into this infirmary a month ago because you'd sliced open your hand while trying to cut your hair off _with a knife_. You haven't talked to Nietonan once since that happened."

"I wanted shorter hair," she muttered, still not looking at him.

"Abrei." His voice was gently chiding. "Do you honestly think you're fooling me? Or are you trying to fool yourself?"

For a long moment Abrei said nothing. Then she looked down at her lap. "I wanted to try to be someone else for a while."

Tired as he was, Jynrek rose to his feet and circled around to lean back against the desk. Then he took both of her hands in his. "Abrei, you are very intelligent. I think no one would argue with that fact. But you have absolutely no sense of moderation. You made some mistakes, and you went through some difficult times. That doesn't mean you need to change _everything_ in your life, though. Just the parts that were hurting you."

"But--"

"No." Jynrek squeezed her hands. "Abrei, look at me."

After a few moments, she lifted her head and met his eyes. "What?"

"Moderation," he said again, giving her hands a little shake. "Study, but don't do it all the time. Enjoy a man or two, but don't fall into bed with everything that looks at you sideways. Drink, but don't do it until you pass out. Work, but know when the day is over and you can _stop_ doing it. It doesn't take a mindhealer to see that, Abrei. It doesn't take anything but a little common sense."

She stiffened and tried to jerk her hands away, but was surprised by how strong his hands were. "I didn't ask you for an evaluation."

"Actually, you did. You came into my office." Jynrek smiled and lifted one hand to brush the hair back from her face gently. "Abrei, I don't want your job. You were good at it. And some day, you will be again. You just need to spend a little while learning how to have more in your life than just the job, or it will kill you."

She softened a little and sighed. "You're going to make me go see Nietonan, still, aren't you?"

"Yes," Jynrek said, releasing her other hand and moving back to his chair on the other side of the desk. "And I'm afraid I'm going to be firm about it, Abrei. If you fail to go see him again, I'm going to have to take the matter to the Weyrwoman. Your mental health is directly affecting your physical health, and I'm not going to take either lightly."

"Fine," Abrei conceeded with very little grace. "I'll go and see him."

"Yes, you will," Jynrek replied, giving her another smile as a reward. "And who knows, Abrei. You might just find it helps you feel a little better about things."

Last updated on the March 1st 2007

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Practicing Moderation