Fraternizing With the Usurper

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd November 2005

Characters: Dantial, Karaleigh
Description: Dantial gets defensive when Karaleigh accuses him of not spending time with Traelyn because of the gossip about her.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 20 of Turn 3

"Ok, good, well now I know you are alive at least," Karaleigh said to the surprised healer that opened his weyr door. "I brought klah cakes.
Interested?"

Dantial's stomach rumbled as he glanced at the snacks, and he gave her a tired smile. "I suppose if I said I wasn't, you'd _know_ I was lying! Come on in." She smiled and slipped past him. "So where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you for a while."

"I've been working odd shifts in the infirmary," Dantial replied, closing the door behind her. He led her to the couch, where he'd been dozing with a book open on his chest. "I've got tomorrow off, but my sleep schedule is terribly confused now." Karaleigh smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. Should I come back another time?"

"No, I could use a visitor. Have a seat. There's some klah in the pitcher there... still warm." He sat on the other end of the couch from her, marking his place in his book with a scrap of hide and setting it aside. "How have you been?" "Oh fine." She pored herself a mug and set the plate of cake on the cushion between them. "I've been getting to know our new Weyrwoman a bit. Have you met her yet?"

Dantial nodded, thinking it was good Karaleigh had been getting to know Traelyn. If he'd ever meet a woman who needed friends, the new Weyrwoman was it. "She seems to be very nice." "Yes," the harper nodded as she picked up a piece of cake, "well there certainly seems to be more to her than people would expect."

"Does she seem to be settling in all right?" Dantial asked, refilling his mug and taking a sip. "She seemed tired the last time I saw her." "Yes, I suppose so. But you're right, she is tired. But who wouldn't be taking care of a gold dragon and an entire Weyr teetering on the brink of chaos with rumors flying around her all the time." Karaleigh shrugged. "So what are you reading?"

"A book on herbs and some of their less common uses," Dantial replied, grinning. "Guaranteed to put anyone to sleep in under a quarter candlemark."

She smiled. "And here I always thought it was your _brother_ who was the wild one in the family."

"Well, with him trapped in a bed, I had to make up for it somehow..."
Putting his mug aside, he reached for a slice of cake. "So what did I do to deserve sweets?" Karaleigh shrugged a shoulder. "'Cause I hadn't seen you in a while I guess. And it was better than eating all this cake alone. You're saving me from myself."

"It's a pleasure," Dantial assured her, eating half of the slice in one bite. He'd been too tired to go down and find dinner, and while cake wasn't exactly the healthiest meal, it did taste good. "I don't get a lot of visitors... or any, really. It's nice to have someone to talk to who isn't sick with something!" Karaleigh rolled her eyes as she grabbed her second piece. "Like I have so many visitors? All I have to talk to is a feline and classrooms full of children, until one of them misbehaves and then I get to talk to their parents about the children."

"You talked to the Weyrwoman," Dantial countered, finishing off his slice of cake and reaching out for his mug again. "She doesn't have a child in your class, does she?" Shards, he hoped not. The girl had enough on her mind already! She shook her head as she swallowed her bite. "But it sounds like you have talked to her too."

"As her healer," Dantial corrected. "We're hardly social companions." Karaleigh's eye brow rose in surprise. "That was a rather quick defense, Healer. Are you afraid your reputation will be ruined if you're seen fraternizing with the usurper?"

"Karaleigh?" Dantial gave her an amused look as he reached out for another piece of cake. "Do you _remember_ who my brother is? Don't talk to me about ruined reputations. I've gotten enough misery for simply being who I am." "I see," she said as she broke a piece in half. "So you think being friendly towards the new Weyrwoman would only reinforce your reputation?"

"That is unkind, Karaleigh," Dantial chided, looking more than a little hurt. "Do you honestly think I'm that sort of man? I don't socialize with the new Weyrwoman because I don't socialize with _anyone_. I don't even fully understand why everyone seems so shocked by her, to be perfectly honest." "Then what is stopping you from socializing with her? Why don't you like being with people?"

"Why don't _you_ socialize with people?" he retorted, wondering what had brought on the avalanche of questions. "Because I spend all day with classrooms full of little people so I'm exhausted. And when I do have the energy... Well, then I don't know anyone to socialize with. And when I go down to the dining hall I seem to attract all the ones who want to socialize a bit too much..."

Dantial nodded in understanding. "So why are you getting all snappy with _me_ about feeling the same way? Did I do something to upset you?" "Oh Dantial." Karaleigh reached forward to place a hand on the Healer's knee. "I wasn't snapping at you. I was teasing you, and then I was asking you. I'm sorry if you thought I was criticizing you."

"Oh." His ears turned slightly pink as he took another gulp. "Well, I _don't_ socialize a lot, so maybe I'm not so good at telling the difference." She smiled apologetically. "Well, I don't socialize much more... Maybe I said it the wrong way." "No harm done," he replied, wrapping a fond arm around her shoulders and giving her a half hug. "I suppose we can both learn how to socialize together." The harper leaned into him companionably. "I'd like that. But you know that means you'd have to see me more."

"For you, I'll make an exception," he promised, reaching between them for another slice of cake. "Especially if you keep feeding me!"

Last updated on the November 2nd 2005

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Fraternizing With the Usurper