Comfortable

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 4th July 2007

Characters: Lineal, Fog
Description: Lineal and Fog talk after Jesten has another heart attack.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 28 of Turn 4

Lineal woke up when the first of the crew clattered through the common room on their way to the galley. He lifted his head stiffly from the table and answered them as well as he could when they asked after Jesten. Rahona had told him he needed to let people fuss over him, and learn how to accept sympathy, even if he didn't always feel he deserved it. After being away for so long it wasn't _him_ that needed the concern and the support - it was everybody else since they had had Jesten in their lives for so much longer.

With a mug of freshly made klah in his hands and promises of a special breakfast he accepted being shooed outside to the rail overlooking the paddlewheel - supposedly to enjoy the dawn.

Fog walked slowly along the walkway towards the galley, his steps were slow and considered, his thoughts not far away, settled on the man resting in the Captains quarters.

He spotted Lineal, arms resting on the rail, lost in his own thoughts or so it seemed. Slowly his eyes focused more closely on his cousin, there was no obvious sorrow in Lineal, which boded well for Jesten's health this morning.

"Mornin' L'neal." he spoke quietly, as he approached, not wanting to shock Lineal from his thoughts.

"Fog. Good morning." He nodded toward the common room and the galley.
"They've just made klah if you want some."

"Thanks, I'll be back." he moved off into the galley, nodding hello to the few gathered there. Quickly returning to Lineal's side with his mug of klah steaming in the early morning air.

"So, how is he doing?" He knew Lineal would know who he was talking about, and took a deep draft of klah while waiting for his reply.

"He's comfortable. The pain's gone again, but he's very weak. He said he will recover - but a little less each time." Lineal rubbed his forehead where a headache was already threatening. Sleeping at the table, he supposed. Or worry. About his father, about taking over.

"And you?" Fog watched Lineal from the corner of his eyes, taking a deep draft of the fast cooling klah, anything to keep his hands occupied, to not fidget with worry. "How are you doing?" He wanted desperately to ask if he could visit his uncle, and see for himself how the older man was recovering; but he also wanted to be here for Lineal, he was slowly coming to know this long lost cousin again.

"Me? I'm fine," he said, thinking again that it was kind of people to worry about him when they were facing a greater loss. "I suppose I grew away from Jesten while I was at sea ... Not that I don't care - I do -
but you must all be closer to him than I am." He glanced over at Fog.
"So, how are _you_?"

Fog shrugged his shoulders and gripped his mug a lot tighter than was necessary, "Okay, I s'pose." he didn't looked directly at Lineal, for fear the other man would see how emotional he really was. If he hadn't had some of the sleeping draught last night, he would have tossed and turned for yet another night, but Neke had seen how he had been, and almost forced it on him.

"I guess..." he started again, but stopped. "I'll miss him..." he admitted, finally. "I guess I'm almost closer to him than to my own Dar." Since the accident he had felt a marked distance from Barr, and Jesten had become a much bigger part of his life.

"I suppose it happens that way, sometimes." Lineal sighed. "He told me to make sure you weren't worried."

"While he's with us, I'll always be worried." He gave a small 'humph' of laughter, and took another draft of klah, draining the mug. "It won't be the same on the Sungazer, and please, Lineal, don't take that the wrong way," he said, turning and finally looking at his cousin.

"No, I know it won't. I couldn't replace him, anyway."

"May be, in a few turns.." Fog gazed out across the water. "But until he's well enough ... if that happens, you'll be Captain?"

"I'll be doing more of the work, but I'll never use the title 'Captain' while he's alive." Lineal managed a bit of a smile. "He thinks that's a ridiculous tradition, but -" He shrugged. "- It's not."

"No - it's not." Fog turned and looked at Lineal, "And I don't think the others would think it was right either." He gave a half smile, "But then again, it may just be me."

"Me too, so not just you. Do you want to come and see Jesten this morning? He said he'd like to see people after he'd had a sleep." When had that been, Lineal wondered. Obviously some time before he had fallen asleep at the dining room table.

"I'd like to." Fog nodded, "Just to satisfy myself that he's alright."

"Well," Lineal said with a sad smile, "he's alive, at least."

"That's something to be thankful for." Fog nodded, and clasp an arm around his cousins shoulder. "C'mon, we should break our fast, the mornings getting ahead of us."

Last updated on the July 8th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Comfortable