A Mixture for Disaster [Aparicus, Talian]

Aparicus had remained quiet for the conversation thus far, listening to both sides even as her face had betrayed most of her thoughts.  She was uncomfortable there once she realized that Talian had not really wanted them to be in his personal space.  Add that to the fact that the current topic of conversation had to do with the chain of unfortunate events of recent and she found herself silently shuffling her weight back and forth.  Perhaps it was a bad idea to follow her fellow candidate.  This was clearly men’s work and she was clearly not cut out for any sort of questioning or logical thinking.

Twice it seemed almost as if Nejerc was poking and prodding on the boarder of being rude and three times Talian’s own responses had made Apari visibly wince.  No, the more she heard the less she wanted to be there or involved.  The little bronze, who had been watching the blue with more interest than he had in the people, was beginning to pick up her anxiety and finally let out a questioning croon up to her.  While there were no words, she distinctly got the message that he would bite anyone making her so uncomfortable and she quickly shushed him before glancing nervously between the two men.

It seemed to come in perfect timing of the quiet threat that seemed to come from Nejerc and Apari’s jaw fell open and her eyes widened with as much surprise as the Healer seemed to display.  Taking a step further away from the men, the little bronze snorted, his eyes now glued on the two as the Healer began his rebuttle to their fellow candidate.

Why had Nejerc said that the way he had?  Asking that Apari herself not be mentioned in being there?  She wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing to hide that fact, especially now that she was sure she should be leaving all of this ‘investigating’ nonsense to the men of the Weyr.  It wasn’t Nejerc’s sudden little command that she’d not be mentioned that really shook her emotions, however, but Talian’s own reply.

And for the most part, his own reply was clouded out by one statement that stung and stuck in Apari’s ears making her wince and her eyes water.  ’… even though you have both clearly come here with the intention of harming me…’  Oh, surely he didn’t really think that?!  Ah, but his words and the way he held himself and the pain and anger she could even hear in his voice told her that it was exactly the way he had felt and it made it sting even more.

“I-I… I’m s-sorry, T-Talian…  You’re a H-healer.  A M-master H-healer…  I-I know you help people… I-I was only c-curious about the T-tansy.”  She said, the stammer more than clear in her voice as she tried not to choke up.  The bronze let out an angry hiss as he heard her and felt how she’d been upset by the two before her and Apari made a point of holding him tighter, lifting one hand to hold his head back against her collarbone so he couldn’t snap out at anyone. 

“I n-never m-m-meant to hurt you.”  She said, with a sob finally breaking through her voice.  Shaking her head, she motioned for Nejerc to move away from the door and she quickly opened it, slipping through it with as little space as possible before fleeing down the hallway, tears on her cheek.  If asking questions was going to hurt people, then she wanted nothing to do with this investigation.  Apari would never hurt anyone intentionally, and yet that was exactly what she had done by simply being there listening – she’d hurt Talian.