Genial Conversation

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 27th August 2008

Characters: Irlani, R'haran
Description: R'haran and Irlani sit with their children and have a bit of conversation.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 21 of Turn 4

"Hello Irlani," the Weyrharper said as he approached the table where
the foster-mother sat. "Alone today?" He wasn't. Trailing in his
wake were his five children and when he stopped to address the woman
they crowded around him, peering at the woman with undisguised
curiosity.

"Just for a little while." The greenrider was treated with a smile and
Irlani waved her hand toward the chair across from her. "Care to join
me? Gyta's off with the woodcrafters today, though Ravyan's here to
keep company as well."

R'haran nodded and glanced down at the children. "Can I trust all of
you to get yourselves something to eat and settled down within line of
sight?"

Sahna looked indignant. "Of course we can. Except Tibby," she added
with exasperation as the youngest of the family was already putting his
arms up to the greenrider, indicating plainly he preferred not to go
with his siblings. "He always wants to stay with you."

R'haran already had the boy in his arms and ignored Sahna's grumbling.
"Could you bring something back for him and I, then? And Irlani -" He
looked questioningly at the foster-mother.

"I ate earlier with Gyta." Irlani lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers
playfully at the youngest child. "Ravyan and I were just enjoying a
bit of juice before we go get her."

"Doos!" Ravyan picked up his cup and took a careful sip, then grinned,
the liquid staining his upper lip.

"Nothing for Irlani, then," R'haran said, watching Sahna shepherd the
other children away and settling down in the chair opposite. "How is
your fosterling doing?"

"They're both doing well." Irlani took a napkin and dabbed at the
toddler's face, who scrunched up his nose, but suffered himself to his
face. "She's improving quite a bit. Ravyan here is also giving her a
bit of excitement these days."

"Well I know Tibby gives me more than enough of that." He smiled down
at the boy on his lap and was rewarded by a wide smile in return.
Though he might not recognise it, the likeness between the pair of
them was noticeable, despite the gap in their ages.

"Toddlers are like that." Irlani mused with a smile. She beeped
Ravyan's nose which sent the boy into a fit of giggles and he batted
playfully at her hand. "They certainly keep life interesting."

"I thought my life was running along quite nicely - interesting enough
for a man my age in these times." He ruffled Tibby's dark hair and
grinned at the foster-mother. "Then I gained five children."

"And children can make your world turn upside down." It was true, but
it was a pleasant experience, in Irlani's opinion anyway.

"In the nicest way," R'haran said, unconsciously following the woman's
thoughts. "Do you mind me asking how Gyta's lessons are going?"

"Quite well." Gyta seemed to blossom over the attention. Even though
she had Ravyan now, Gyta was still growing. She still had a long way
to go an who knew what sort of scars she would retain, but Irlani felt
confident that the girl would be able to eventually get past her past.
"She's improving every day. I think pulling her from harper classes
helped."

"You won't get any argument from me. Teaching in a class works for
most, but not special children. Special in any way." One of his own
adopted daughters was 'blessed' with his own exceptional memory and he
was considering how to train that.

"She's very smart, she's just seen too much for one so young. No
Ravyan, don't spit the juice. Swallow." Irlani tapped the child's hand
lightly. "I may do the same for Ravyan. We'll have to see how that
works, though, and what his mother thinks of that."

"Ahh," R'haran looked around at Sahna's appearance with food for the
pair of them. "Thank you." He looked at Irlani and her foster-son.
"Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"I'm fine." Irlani assured him, but motioned to Ravyan who was reaching
out toward the plates with an insistent 'uh uh uh', "But evidently
Ravyan would like something."

R'haran selected a small fruit tart and handed it the boy. Tibby
immediately reached for the matching one. "Savouries for me today, it
seems," the greenrider said with a mock grumble in his tone. Tibby
laughed.

"Say 'thank you', Ravyan." Irlani encouraged gently. Ravyan looked
over to the greenrider, seemed to contemplate Irlani's words for a
brief second, then uttered an enthusiastic 'tanks!' before taking a
big bite of the tart. "Thank you, R'haran." Irlani echoed, "If you
like, I'll go get replacements."

"No, there's more than enough for an old chap like me," R'haran said,
winking at Sahna and the other children at the next table. They seemed
to find his description funny, but he supposed to them it was true.

"I suppose you want to be careful how many of those you eat anyway."
Irlani stated with amusement, "Got to watch your figure, after all."

"What with Evie being injured the way she is, a fat rider is the last
thing she needs," he agreed with a twinkle in his eye.

"You'd better watch it then." Irlani pointed to the sweets upon his
plate. "That's not going to help."

"I think the little hands will get to them first."

"Perhaps." Irlani laughed softly. "But will that stop you from going
back for more?"

"What stops anybody? When I've had enough I stop eating. As dragons
do. As young dragons sometimes need to be _made_ to do."

Irlani chuckled at that. "Oh yes, I remember those days. My husband's
dragon would have gorged himself silly when he was a hatchling had he
been allowed."

"Serrinth," he said, identifying the dragon now lost to the Weyr. "He
out grew it, though."

"Yes. Yes he did." A strange expression softened Irlani's features.
It was part sorrow, part nostalgia, and part joy at the good memories
that she had. "Well, Gyta's going to be ready soon. I should probably
start heading that way." Irlani took up a cloth that she had kept at
her side, knowing she would need it eventually, and began to clean
after her foster son. "Perhaps we can get our children together to
play some time? Gyta needs to be around some children who aren't
going to make fun of her because she's different."

"I can't give guarantees about my lot, but they're pretty even-tempered
and usually too busy enjoying themselves to bother with hurting others.
You let me know when and where and I'll get them there."

"Certainly." Irlani stood and plucked Ravyan from the highchair. "I'm
sure I'll see you soon, R'haran."

"We'll look forward to it."

Last updated on the August 29th 2008

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