All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

22-12-00: Sympathetic
Pushing the door aside, you pass into redolent chaos. Bouncing footsteps bring Hanneke into the Dining Hall, her presence made...

Pushing the door aside, you pass into redolent chaos.

Bouncing footsteps bring Hanneke into the Dining Hall, her presence made clear by the high-pitched giggle that is a precursor to her: "Hihi!" Oh, ugh.

Davad pretends not to notice the high-pitched noise, instead concentrating on drinking his blasted klah...

Sass emerges from the main hall.

Another day ends late: Sass comes yawning in, fingertips propping up her forehead.

Byre returns from the kitchens with a bowl and spoon, pushing his pack aside and reclaiming his seat. "Hey," he says as Sass enters. The rest barely get a nod - he's tired today.

Hanneke flounces -- yes, it's a definate flounce -- into a seat at the apprentice table, giggling just as squeakily as she waggles fingers about the table. Seems like everyone is tired...except Hanneke. "What a -lovely- day!"

Davad continues drinking his klah; he seems to be the only one here not tired, and not entirely from the consumption of the drink...However, he does look over at the overly-happy Hanneke oddly before turning back to the all-important job of warming himself at the fire...

Sass smiles wanly, silently, and ultimately briefly at Hanneke. She goes up to Byre, puts her palm up to his forehead, and then back to hers.

Byre frowns. "Are you sick?"

Hanneke rewards Davad with a brilliant smile, as she catches his odd glance, and flutters her eyelashes cheerfully, swivelling her head back in time to give Sass the same treatment. At least the giggling stops -- long enough for her to take a drink from the mug she snagged on her way.

Davad sighs...looks like his peaceful quiet evening of relaxation is going to be ruined...wherever Hanneke is, there is almost no chance of quiet...

Sass nods. She is sick. She is also careful not to spill her breath out onto much of anything, seeing as how this place would be the perfect hotbed for all the best communicable diseases.

Davad is probably not wrong. Since the table is fairly quiet -- apprentices study too much, even when eating, or so it seems -- her attention automatically returns to Davad. "How're you? Are you talking much yet? Done anything interesting?"

Davad blinks at the straight-out questioning of him, of all people...he thinks for a bit, and says simply, "...Fine, a bit, and no."

The corners of Hanneke's mouth droop only slightly; evidently, the answer will sufice, even if it's not something lengthy and intelligent (not that anything she says is intelligent -- only garbled and lengthy). She leans closer, pointing towards Sass, "She looks sick. I think she is. We should do something to make her better!"

Sass tunes into a bit of the conversation behind her. A smirk winds up on her face. "Davad really wants to be a challenge," she tells Byre, with the muffled, nasal voice expected of a sore throat.

Davad blinks at the mention of his name...

Hanneke, too, turns her head, catching mention of Davad's name. "They're talking about you. What's it like to be talked about? I don't anyone would ever talk about me; I'm not interesting enough. Perhaps I should try not speaking, too."

Byre can't entirely resist chuckling, at Hanneke's enthusiasm, at Sass' ribbing, at Davad's aggressive silence. He responds to Hanneke, but looks pointedly at Sass. "That's okay. I think that's why we have healers here."

Davad chuckles slightly...For some reason, he doesn't seem as cold and withdrawn today as normal... "...Don't. Who'll talk about ME then?"

Sass points her finger at the ceiling. "I'm going upstairs. Bed. Byre, bring food."

Hanneke ohs, vaguely disappointed at Byre's response, although she nods. "All right." Davad is given another glance, and a long, knowing nod. "I suppose you're right, there. I guess it must be a lot of fun, being talked about."

Sass shuffles herself out. "And Hanneke, if you get something written, shove it under the door or something. Okay?"

Sass heads out into the main hall.

Davad sighs... "Not as much as it seems..."

Davad takes another sip of his klah...

Hanneke opens her mouth to say something to Sass, but if alls upon deaf ears: "I wi-- Oh well." She crosses her arms, regarding Davad with a vaguely thoughtful, but mostly vacant visage, "Oh."

Byre glances down at his food, then back at the kitchen, then, somewhat irritably, goes to get a second bowl of stew. Both bowls in hand (and pack secured to his shoulder again), he heads out, pausing for a brief nod in farewell.

Hanneke seconds the knot with a big smile: "Look after her well, Craftsecond!"

*sigh*...Davad seems to have gone all silent again...He takes another sip of his klah, staring at the fire...

Byre chuckles again, despite himself.

Byre heads out into the main hall.

Hanneke watches Davad carefully. "You're not going to talk to me anymore, are you? You've said your quota for the evening, or something, and now you're going to be really quiet. Figures."

Davad looks over at Hanneke out of the corner of his eye, and chuckles, sipping his klah again...

Hanneke's full lips pull themselves into a pout, as she turns away, "It figures! Just when I was getting a conversation out of him, too."

Davad hehs. "Excuse me? I'm still here..."

Hanneke blinks, once, and turns around quick-smart. "I know that. But you said nothing, so I assumed that you weren't going to say anything more, and that our conversation had ended. I suppose it hasn't, has it? So I can still talk to you, and it won't be like talking to myself."

Davad chuckles. "...Not sure how /much/ it won't be like talking to yourself, but..." You begin to notice the soft, half-hidden musical undertones of Davad's speech...Odd...

Hanneke wrinkles her nose, offering, with a toss of tawny-hued curls, "But not completely? I still don't like talking to myself? Mother always said that it's not good to talk to yourself, it induces madness. Father said the same thing; and he said he never, ever wanted to treat me."

Davad chuckles. "It might at that...I wouldn't know, though..." He thinks to himself, <>

"No," decides Hanneke, shortly. "I suppose you wouldn't. What's it like, not talking? Do you just think all the time? I don't think I'd be able to do that; it makes my head hurt if I think too much."

Davad sighs. "...It's...rather lonely sometimes...'specially if you...can't tell people how you feel..." He stares off into the depths of the fire... "...Sometimes...thinking is all you can do...and you wonder..." He pauses... "...You wonder...why...why you are...different..." His smile has dissapeared, and there is a look of deep, hidden pain on his face...

Hanneke wrinkles her nose, resting palms down on the table, "Why do you do it then? I mean--it's easy to talk. You just open your mouth, and the words come flowing out. I do it all the time."

Davad sighs, not really paying complete attention... "...Sometimes...you wish you could...but...everytime you open your mouth, it's like...something...grabs your voice, and...you have to...st-struggle to get the w-w-words out..." The musical underlining has faded, leaving Davad speaking normally...He seems to struggle at points, but doesn't seem to really be paying attention...

Hanneke's face takes on a frown; she doesn't understand this, and never will. "I don't get it. I mean, I don't have that. Ever."

Davad suddenly chokes back a sob, as he continues, not seeming to even notice you're there... "It's n-n-not fair! Ev-ev-evryone ar-ar-around c-c-can t-talk norm-mm-mm-mmally, but y-y-you have to, to...p-pause and st-st-stumble through e-e-each and ev-ev-every s-s-sent-t-tance you s-s-say! I-i-i-it's n-n-n-ot f-f-f-f-FAIR!" With the last, he slams his hand down on the table, and closes his eyes...He breathes, slowly and rhythmically, until the tears go away...When he opens his eyes again, they are dry, with no sign of the emotion once in them...he slowly turns to look at Hanneke... He says, carefully and slowly, "...Anyway...that's...what it's...like..." He slowly stands up, and heads towards a chair by the fire, away from people...

Hanneke just---blinks. For a long moment. Even that, however, can't make her less than chipper: "Sorry!" Insensitivity, thy name is Hanneke.

Davad doesn't even look back as he sits down in the chair, oblivious to the sudden silence following Hanneke's single word...

Hanneke, in an action that really can't be forgiven, sniffs. "No one likes to talk to me, do they? They all leave." And, amazingly, so does she.

Drawing open the door, you pass into the yet more chaotic outer hall.