Change of Focus

Writers: Ainsley, AL
Date Posted: 19th March 2009

Characters: Nimroy, Ainyana
Description: Nimroy meets Aiyana while flying his son through the hall.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Jadorin

Nimroy lifted his his son above his head and flew him recklessly through the halls, "You are a dragon, Ailnim! Flaming thread and rescuing all of Pern," he told the little boy as gales of laughter echoed off the walls. Thread was falling outside the Hall and since he was due to leave for a trade negotiation tomorrow, Nimroy was taking some extra time to spend with his son.

"Awfully small dragon." Piped up a voice. Aiyana drew closer to father and son and offered them both a small, almost tentative smile. "Though a cute one."

"You will get no denials from me," Nimroy answered with a grin bringing his ten-month-old son to his hip. "Father's are allowed to think they have the brightest and most beautiful children, though, aren't they?"

"I suppose so..." Aiyana agreed pleasantly and wiggled her fingers at Ailnim. "I was wondering where he was today when I didn't see him in the creche."

"Well, I have to take a little trip so I wanted some extra time with him before I leave tomorrow," he explained. "Nandrie says that she's been taking him more and more to the creche and that he does very well for his age. I was a little unsure when she said she wanted to resume her previous duties and take both her daughter and Ailnim with her to the creche, but he seems to enjoy it."

"Interaction with other children is good for him." Aiyana stated in way of support for Nandrie. "He does enjoy it, and we enjoy having him there."

Nimroy tickled the little boy, making him laugh gleefully. "You are pretty good company aren't you little man?"

"Da," the boy replied patting Nimroy's cheek with a chubby hand.

"So have you done any work on your hand loom lately?" he asked thinking about the time they had spent looking at tapestries in the Family Wing. "Or has your work in the creche kept you too busy?"

"A little, usually after my duties and after dinner." Sometimes Aiyana stayed up late into the night to work on something, but that had its own consequences that she couldn't always afford to pay. "How have you been?"

The man gave this some careful consideration. With his father's death and the resulting turmoil in the Hold he probably had been far from his best. Still he supposed as he sorted through his emotions and continued to seek out the best ways to help keep the Hold intact that he was doing better everyday. "I've been busy, a bit sad, a lot confused, but doing better everyday." he answered honestly, while his son pulled on his ear.

"I'm sorry." Aiyana's voice took on a softer, regrettable tone. She had only in the last turn or so lost someone whom she cared dearly about - her paternal grandmother. All of her other grandparents had died before her birth or shortly after and she had no memory of them. Her grandmother had been a rock in the roughest of times but it was obvious at how much she loved her children and her children's children. "I truly am. I do hope things continue to improve."

"Of course they will," he answered with a bit more levity. "Especially with this little guy growing and becoming more and more interesting each day."

"Just wait until he can run faster than you can." Aiyana's eyes crinkled when she smiled, giving light to the fact that she made the gesture often. "That will be even more interesting."

"I don't know if I'll survive. Do you know I had to have an entire new shirt wardrobe made?" Nimroy reddened a bit not quite believing he was actually telling her this, but he did like the way her whole face changed when she smiled. "I...uh... left a bottle of ink where I was certain he could not reach...it turns out he can stand quite well now."

Aiyana laughed, her hands clapping together in her amusement. "I can just imagine! I can just imagine! When did that happen? What did you do until you could get new shirts?"

Nimroy found her laughter infectious and was chuckling as he answered, "Well it was not actually every shirt I owned, but as my clean shirts had just been delivered, it was very nearly so. Journeyman Jadorin was most helpful in seeing that I got replacements as soon as possible, but until that time I wore the same two shirts and this was just last month." The baby enjoyed his father's laughter and added peals of his own, though unable to comprehend that his own actions were indeed the cause of the hilarity.

"I suppose you learned the hard way that you have to keep certain things out of a baby's reached." Aiyana extended her hand and tickled Ailnim beneath his chin. "Fortunately I've had enough experience with children to know that ahead of time for once I have my own."

"You will be lucky to go into it with that experience. Don't you go telling anyone about that ink fiasco, now," he warned, leveling a mock stern glare at Aiyana, his blue eyes dancing with humor. "Only a handful of people know about the depth of my incompetence and I would just as soon keep it that way."

"I promise that I will never utter a word about it to anyone beyond you and your son." Aiyana promised with another tinkling laugh. "Of course, you are a man and men in general don't tend to have a lot of experience with children until they have some of their own."

"One would think I would have gleaned a bit more from having so very many siblings, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all," he said with a shake of his head as the child in his arms started to squirm, ready to be on the move once more.

"He's getting restless." Aiyana verbalized the child's feelings for him. "Perhaps he would like a walk. If you wish to take a break, I can take him for a little while for you."

"Thanks," Nimroy said, setting the boy down between his legs and holding his hands, "But I think I'll keep him awhile longer. Like I said, I'm really going to miss him the next few days." He looked up at the young woman, thinking that she had a really good laugh.

"I bet you will, and he'll miss you. I'll make sure to check in on him when I'm not on duty, if you like." Of course, the boy had a nurse, but Aiyana thought that maybe if Nimroy knew more people were looking out for his son, he would feel better.

"Thank you. I would greatly appreciate that. I know that Nandrie and Benani will take good care of him, but it is good to know that others will be looking out for him as well. It's very kind of you to offer."

"He's a sweetheart." Aiyana's smile came easily at the compliment and she added almost without thinking, "Much like his father."

That one little comment made his stomach flip flop, which was ludicrous! Aiyana was probably Benani's age! Still he couldn't help but remember the impassioned expression on her face when he had first seen her looking at that tapestry in the hall. If she could become so passionate about a tapestry...Nimroy quickly stopped that line of thought altogether. "Ha! Someone has been spreading slanderous rumors," he laughed.

"No." Aiyana shook he head, a bit of flush to her cheeks. "Simply stating what I see. I shall leave you to enjoy one another now. If I do not see you before you go, take care on your trip."

"My thanks, I'll see you on my return," He replied before continuing down the hall with his small son, his thoughts, however, staying focused on Aiyana.

Last updated on the March 21st 2009

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Change of Focus