The Right Start

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th November 2006

Characters: Larken, Ojisan
Description: Larken rouses her determination to start the new Turn off right
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

"You played wondrously tonight, Ojisan," Larken told her husband, watching him as he set down his instrument case in the usual corner. When he turned to look at her, she made herself smile at him, trying not to think about what she and M'tone had been doing _while_ he'd been playing... Dropping her eyes, she turned, making as if to straighten the throw blanket on the sofa before settling back against it. She didn't want him to see the guilt and regret she held.

"Thank you, my dear," he smiled as he walked towards her. Ojisan was happy to see she had taken his advice and not had as much to drink as in the previous celebration. "I wish we could have shared more dances. All those encores, though..." It was amazing he still had fingers and not worn down little stubs!

"You and your partners certainly deserved them!" It was better to keep the conversation going about him. She didn't want to talk about herself and if she had fun, what her favorite part of her first Turn's End at a Weyr was, what food she enjoyed the most, which dance she had preferred above all others... Taking one of his hands in hers, she looked down at his fingers, gently pulling him down to sit beside her. Curling closer, she studied his palm, softly rubbing her fingers against it. "I know you've told me it doesn't hurt, but shards...your fingers are just so red, love."

"It does hurt a little, but more in the tired joints than the calluses. My hands are getting older," he chuckled, wishing it wasn't so.

Gently she fitted her palm to his. "Mmm... But I don't think you'd want to trade in your experience for youthful joints."

"Not yet. Give me a few Turns." His other hand played along the backs of her fingers. "The Turn seemed to fly by so quickly at the start. But it sure dragged on after the fire."

Larken begged to differ. She kept her eyes on their hands, determined not to think about M'tone. It was over between them...it had to be. "I suppose it did," she agreed quietly. "But it hasn't been so very terrible...."

"No, I suppose not," he smiled, releasing her hand to wrap his arm around her. "Things have worked well for us so far at the Weyr. There are still moments when... well, I still don't agree with everything the weyrfolk seem to believe but, even still, I have enjoyed our neighbors and I accept our differences of opinion and they seem to accept ours."

**They seem to....but they don't understand.** Swallowing thickly, she rested her head against his shoulder. And because they would never understand, it was best not to try and explain it. It was best not to get too close.

He looked down at his young wife. "How have you adjusted to living here, Larken? I know things have been difficult."

"Well enough," she smiled, forcing her tone to be softly neutral. "I do like the Weyr, Ojisan. It's different from anything I've ever known." As he well knew... "I have yet to experience a dull day here."

"I'm still not sure if its the place to raise a family, though," Ojisan said thoughtfully. "Perhaps it wouldn't matter for a few turns, but, it would be nice to live in a proper Hall or Hold when they are old enough to know better."

Larken closed her eyes. "How old is old enough, Ojisan?"

He shrugged a shoulder, slipping his fingers between hers. "Oh, you know.
Old enough to know the difference between right and wrong."

"Mmm..." She slid her fingers along his. "You mean about relationships?"

"Yes, I suppose that's most important. I don't want my child to grow up thinking that two men being together is normal. Or that it's all right to kiss and touch each other in public, and that marriage and family is not as important as self-gratification." As grateful as Ojisan was for the protection of the dragons, and as much as he could understand a dragon's needs, he just could not understand how that gave them such moral freedom.

Larken tried not to wince as memories about what she and M'tone had done together drifted through her thoughts. Suppressing her guilt, she forced herself to nod. In a way, she did agree with Ojisan, but even still....
Shards, she really was a hypocrite. "Sometimes...sometimes I see dragonrider couples exchange a few light kisses, or a touch on the cheek. I think it's kind of sweet."

"Oh yes, a touch on the cheek is fine," he ammended. "But they touch each other in places that just should not be publicly touched. And perhaps a peck you can over-look, but they kiss each other passionately in public. That is what is wrong, love. They do in public things that married couples should share only with each other. I do not want my children growing up to believe that is right."

"Our children," she murmured, looking up into his eyes.

He kissed her forehead softly, hiding an amused smile. "But of course, Larken, _our_ children. Who else would be mother to my children? You're my wife, and I am your husband. All that is yours is mine and all that is mine is yours. It goes without saying, they will be _our_ children, love."

He was amused with her, and Larken couldn't figure out what was so amusing. She ducked her head, trying to hide her embarrassed flush. It was during times like these when she sometimes didn't feel like his wife. There were just so many Turns separating them... She had managed to bridge the gap pretty well--they both had. But it would always be impossible to fully bridge it. Knowing M'tone had made her acutely aware of that.

"Now," he sighed as he pulled his arm out from behind her and got to his feet, "I'm exhausted. Shall we go to bed? There's still the Dolphin Hall Concert tomorrow. We should be well rested for that."

Fleetingly she wondered if M'tone would be making love with a woman tonight. It hurt to wonder--and to know that he probably wouldn't be alone. **It's over, Larken. You can't think about him anymore.** Trying to force his face and the memory of his hands on her body out of her mind, she rose and followed Ojisan into the bedroom. When he paused, she took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to the back of his shoulder. She had to drive M'tone out of her thoughts...and this was the only way she knew how to do it. It was the start of the new Turn, and she had to start it out right.

Last updated on the December 1st 2006

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The Right Start