That Helvar Business

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 22nd February 2009

Characters: Lineal, Xerxen
Description: Lineal checks up on his crewmember and cousin Xerxen.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 18 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

"Want to talk to you," Lineal said, turning to take a few backwards steps so that he could still head for his office and yet finish addressing his cousin. "Come to my office when you have time. Not urgent. Nothing wrong."

Before his father could appear from the dead to admonish him for the foolishness of walking backwards on a boat - even a riverboat - Lineal swung back around and continued on his way. When Xerxen had a moment he would turn up but until then there was plenty of work to keep Lineal occupied.

~ ~ ~

Xerxen did turn up a couple of hours later, once all his duties were completed and he could be done without for a few moments. He knocked upon the door, then entered, poking his head in first before the rest of him followed. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"You know that 'sir' thing scares me half to death, don't you?" Lineal said, waving his cousin into the long room. "Come and sit down."

"I know we're family and all...but you _are_ the captain." Xerxen grinned and moved into the room and took a seat as he was told. "So...what did I do wrong this time, eh?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to chat about ... things. And, really, stop the 'sir'. It was all right for my father but we're the same generation." Lineal considered his statement and then added, reluctantly: "Practically." He would be forty this Turn and would become a father for the third time. Perhaps he wasn't exactly a contemporary with Xerxen, though they were technically the same generation.

"Force of habit." Xerxen shrugged. He would at least try to comply with Lineal's wishes. "So what exactly did you wish to chat about s...Lineal?"

"That Helvar business, really." Lineal shrugged. "Not worrying you, is it?"

"No sir, it's not." Xerxen shook his head then raised his eyebrows at his cousin. "Should it?"

"That's it!" Lineal exclaimed, laughing. "A thirty-second mark fine for every time you call me sir." He waved a dismissive hand at his cousin. "If it isn't, then it isn't."

"We all know Eliste's story." Xerxen's expression darkened as he thought of it. "While I did not intend for such a thing to happen, I can't say I'm not glad he's not gone."

"Me neither. I wish it hadn't happened aboard though." He considered whether that sounded selfish - the the good of the riverboat was the prime concern of the family who made their living and their home aboard her. "And that you didn't actually have to be the man responsible."

"Better me than Fog or anyone else." Xerxen stated flatly. Especially Fog. Xerxen had a feeling his cousin wouldn't have taken things too well had the roles been reversed. Of course, had things been different, it was entirely possible that Fog could have gotten severely injured. Helvar hadn't been a weakling, and Xerxen considered himself to be quite strong.

"Certainly better than Fog," Lineal agreed. "Well, as long as it's not bothering you." He nodded. That was good because by all accounts the man had ruined enough lives before he fell to his death on the Sungazer. "Has Eliste said anything to you about it?"

"She's thanked me multiple times." Xerxen gave Lineal a lopsided grin. "And insisted on making a quilt for me. I was forced to tell her my favourite colours."

Lineal threw back his head and laughed. "Forced to? She'll fit right in here, won't she? Not every woman on Pern is a quilter but nearly every woman on the riverboats is."

"I think she's fitting in quite nicely." Eliste had taken to the riverboat as if she had been born on it. In his experience, that was pretty uncommon. "She'll be fine here."

"Good. And hopefully we can put this troubled start to her marriage with Fog behind us." He certainly hoped so. That was no way to start a marriage - with such big, terrible things happening.

"Yes, I agree." Xerxen stated eagerly. He knew that Eliste would love to simply forget about her now dead ex-husband. Xerxen knew that could never happen, but he wanted to prevent reminding her as much as possible. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?"

"No, that was all," Lineal admitted, getting to his feet. "And now I'm going to sit in the pilot and pretend that I'm working."

"I guess I'll go back on deck and pretend that I'm doing something useful." Xerxen grinned, his teeth stark against the darkness of his skin, and stood from his chair.

Lineal's matching grin was conspiratorial. Cargo handlers did very little while the riverboat was underway, and there was some belief that captains did very little at any time but both made an effort pretend otherwise.

Last updated on the February 23rd 2009

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That Helvar Business