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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:45 am
A'ram had reached a conclusion: the world was frustrating and its people were disappointing. Things were always changing, and the new was rarely as good as the old. Things had to be re-learned and he hated it. He always had. Acclimatizing and adaptability were neither of them his strong suits. He was reliable and dutiful. Until recently he thought he had managed to instill the best of his virtues in his grandson, but that did not seem to be the case. B'shir was supposed to meet A'ram and Rath half an hour ago, and as yet he had not appeared.
It's probably that bronze he Impressed, Rath remarked. He didn't like Sakneth. Though both he and his rider were firm supporters of Weyr hierarchy, they were not blind followers or slavishly loyal to the idea of metallics in charge. After all, there had been chromatic wingleaders and wingseconds in their day and they had been perfectly competent. Bronzes had taken commands from them, though the natural order was that chromatics followed the commands of metallics. The exception being adult chromatics and barely-hatched metallics, like Rath and Sakneth.
Rath and A'ram exchanged a significant glance. As with so many other matters, they were in agreement when it came to B'shir's Sakneth. The bronze lacked manners and the proper respect for age and wisdom, not to mention family.
"Another quarter hour," A'ram said to his bondmate.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:13 pm
Set free from lessons this day, Amelia was taking Sharath out for her meal after a particularly interesting sort of lesson. They were giving her much food for thought and the ex-excavator was quite eager to learn what the life of a Weyrling and her eventual rank as Junior Weyrwoman would entail. She was nervous, excited, and above all intrigued for it was a walk of life she’d never had the opportunity to truly learn about.
However, she had not left her roots behind her and she still visited her parents and peers frequently, even helping out as she could. The dust made Sharath irritable and prone to sneezing though so she could never really stay for long. That and, well, Sharath seemed to attract grease and grime as wool did hair. Baths almost always followed a trip into the worksites – which at least made Sharath more amicable to the idea.
Now, however, her feet were carrying her away from the Weyr and towards the Kitchens where the meat was prepared for dragonets, past where A’ram was waiting for his tardy relation.
Sharath lifted her head as they neared Rath, Greetings. Her sentiment was echoed closely by Amelia, though it was a habit the queen had picked up from Hers. The goldrider seemed to greet everyone cheerfully regardless of rank or position and Sharath had taken it upon herself to emulate her lifemate, recognizing the wisdom and propriety of such a thing.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:44 am
Sharath greets us, Rath relayed to his bond just as Amelia uttered her own greeting.
"Greetings, Junior Weyrwoman and gold Sharath," A'ram replied, inclining his head, "on behalf of myself and Rath."
Rath was surreptitiously taking a good look at the young gold. His view at the hatching had been less than spectacular and he had since had few occasions to see the newest queen. Despite his impeccable manners, Rath was curious, and maybe a bit of a gossip, though he would deny it to his dying breath. A'ram found gossip irritating at best and at worst contemptible. Rath would never want to be found contemptible by his bondmate, even though he knew it was very nearly an impossibility.
If you will forgive my asking, Rath said to Sharath, do you know if Sakneth's and his bond have any intention of coming by here at some point in the near future?
He was an old dragon, and used to dealing with younger dragons and young humans. He hadn't thought asking about B'shir would do much good, which is why he had referred instead to B'shir's dragon. In his long life he had known many humans and they all mostly tended to blur together, excepting the family of his bondmate. He imagined younger dragons had similar difficulties. After all, humans looked so very much alike for the most part.
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Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:41 am
Amelia blinked at that, still unused to the formal greetings she would get from riders and paused before the other, "You... don't have to greet me like that. I'm just Amelia. That works." Smiling, she bobbed her head in greeting to both A'ram and Rath.
Sharath felt the old brown's gaze on her and lifted her head to meet it easily, eyes whirling blue. Oh the brown was curious? Ruffling her wings, she stood a little more proudly, neck curved into a graceful and confident arch, I have not seen Sakneth, no. Have you not spoken to him? She tilted her head as if that was an obvious answer - you could touch any other mind in the Weyr so communication was easy. Perhaps though... and her expression shifted to mischeif at the thought, perhaps if Rath asked she might play her role as gold and inquire after Sakneth's location - and the state of his rider.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:47 am
One of the ones who wasn't comfortable with formality, A'ram noted. Then he recalled the circumstances of her Impression. A stands Impression. A'ram certainly had nothing against Impressions for those who weren't weyrbred - he had been born and raised in Igen, after all - but after living in High Reaches Weyr for better than two thirds of his life he was also aware that there were sometimes difficulties in acclimating. Having a dragon helped, of course, but it could still be difficult to adjust. A'ram knew that from experience, though he was also aware that he was worse at adjusting than most.
"If you wish, Amelia," A'ram agreed. He decided he liked her modesty. "How are you finding weyr life? If there's anything you need help with, I'm sure B'shir will be happy to help you."
A'ram had no difficulty volunteering his grandson to take on more responsibility. After all, he was the patriarch in the family, and all the others should accede to his wishes and go along with his statements. It had been so since he started his family.
Rath, meanwhile, was not unappreciative of the display Sharath put on. It pleased him to see a gold taking such pride in herself. It was her right. He had not been present for the moments where she had become downright imperious and he had forgotten the instance at the hatching, where she had demanded everyone bow to her. His rider remembered the hatching, but he had dismissed it as the eccentricity of a young gold, flush with being born and her own stature. Like Rath, he had not been around for any of the displays during lessons, and B'shir had never mentioned it.
I have not, Rath said. That is not the point. The point is for Sakneth and B'shir to be responsible enough to come on their own, without prompting.
Rath settled himself, and then wondered if he dared presume. She was only a weyrling, but she was a gold, whereas Sakneth was a bronze. It might work. And it would certainly be satisfying to think of Sakneth being bossed around. Sakneth had tried bossing him, and the only reason it hadn't worked was that Rath was more stubborn than Sakneth was authoritative. For now.
However, Rath continued, he is young, as is B'shir, and sometimes they need to be reminded of things. It was as close to asking Sharath to intervene as he could bring himself. He knew A'ram didn't want him to do this, he wanted B'shir to be completely responsible, but Rath liked his bondmate's grandson and didn't think he was at fault. It was probably Sakneth.
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:59 am
"Weyr life...?" Amelia blinked, confused. Why did everyone think she was from somewhere else? "Ah, sir, I was born and raised here. Weyr life is nothing new to me - rather it's the different sort of duty to the Weyr that is new. I was an excavator here you see. My mother and father help to maintain the caverns and tunnels all over High Reaches." She'd puffed up with pride at the mention of their work, "And I did too until I went to the Impression. Then Sharath chose me and life's been different since." Smiling, she cast a fond look to her bondmate, "But a good sort of different. I do miss being in the tunnels though, I enjoyed my work. I like to get my hands dirty." Flashing her calloused palms and fingers, the girl shrugged.
I see... you are testing them? She seemed intrigued by the idea, But why? Are they not good enough your eyes? For her, the only reason you questioned and tested someone was because you thought they fell short in some manner... and it was a sore spot for the small queen, something she could actually identify with.
At the mention of needing to be reminded she nodded, agreeing with the other. Reaching out, she touched Sakneth's mind and spoke pleasantly enough, Sakneth... you are expected to meet Rath and His. Come meet them, you are late. While it carried the tone of command with it, there was also the undercurrent of belief in the others. She did not think they were lacking.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:26 pm
A'ram was mortified. He ought to have known that Amelia had been raised in High Reaches. Someone ought to have told him. B'shir ought to have told him. Shards. The girl was a queenrider and he, another dragonrider, had not known that she'd come from the Weyr. While he could hardly be expected to know every single person in High Reaches, B'shir should have had the forethought to mention those sorts of details to his grandfather. After all, A'ram had as much right to know these things as everyone else. And if B'shir didn't know, he was even more at fault.
"My apologies. I assumed since you were not an official candidate that you were not of the Weyr, but clearly you and your family are an integral part of the Weyr's workings. And now you will play a different role."
Inwardly he cringed at the thought of women participating in mining. It was dirty, dangerous work that was best left to men, in his opinion. Women should really stay in the home, where they belonged.
Rath considered Sharath's question. Not testing exactly but that term would do well enough. After a fashion. My A'ram is always testing B'shir. He is a good boy, but it makes him better. Also, it's just common courtesy to be where you say you'll be, when you say you'll be there.
Rath wasn't entirely comfortable delivering that sort of lecture to the young queen. She was a gold after all, while he was only a brown who was in no position to dictate to the metallics, even if he had been inclined to break the chain of command to do so. Which he wouldn't do. Though he wasn't lecturing Sharath. He was just one of those dragons who tended to fall into pedantic styles of speaking sometimes. Rath was also careful not to mention his opinion of Sakneth. He guessed a criticism of one metallic could be interpreted as a criticism of them all.
Moments later, Rath heard Sakneth's sullen voice in his mind, informing him crisply that B'shir would be there as soon as he had finished bathing. There were some deliberate slights in the message which Rath ignored for the time being. They had probably been Sakneth's contribution to B'shir's message. B'shir was always polite to Rath.
Thank you, Rath said to Sharath. You're very good at that.
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:26 pm
She noticed his surprise and mortified expression and smiled, “It’s alright. Nobody knew where I was from or my name at first. It’s not a big deal – and it’s a pleasure to meet you. My responsibilities do lay in another direction now, I suppose. But I’m still learning. It’s like being an apprentice all over again.” Amelia chuckled, bemused by the thought as it fit well. As an apprentice, she felt a little out of place, small and inspired by the knowledge those of higher rank and now… as a dragon rider she had to start from scratch again and learn her way to whatever position she was supposed to fulfill; and whatever it was, she intended to do with the same gusto and skill she’d developed with excavation.
Sharath had to agree with Rath there… is was indeed simple common courtesy to be where you said you would be. If someone stiffed her like that… well, they’d get an earful! It would be as simple as respect. She huffed, He should show more respect. You are right, Rath – he should be here already.
The queen preened when he complimented her and the surge of pride that echoed along their bond made Amelia glance over at Sharath with an arched brow. Quirking her lips in an amused smile, she then turned her attention back to A’ram as Sharath continued to speak with Rath, Thank-you, Rath! I appreciate it. Why is Sakneth to meet you here? Training of some sort? Childish curiosity shone through then, a reminder that while the young queen made an effort to be queenly, she was indeed still young and prone to the whimsy of youth.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:52 am
A'ram was pleased that Amelia was capable of being gracious. From the display her dragon had put on at the hatching, he'd been a bit concerned. The danger with goldriders who Impressed from outside the Weyr was that they were more likely to abuse their powers, he reasoned, because they had only the stereotypical idea of what privileges came with the rank. However, Amelia's beginnings as an excavator indicated she probably wouldn't be one to make a nuisance of herself by putting on airs. He still disapproved of women working in mines unless they were criminals, but he didn't need to mention that. Besides, gold Sharath had decided Amelia was good enough, and A'ram wouldn't second-guess a dragon's choice of rider.
"I'm pleased to have the opportunity to meet you, too. I hope I'm not keeping you from anything pressing." He thought he might have said something to that effect already, but couldn't recall. He told himself it wasn't his mind going, but simply that he didn't hold on to insignificant details like conversational exchanges with young girls.
"Like I said, if you ever need any help with anything, B'shir will do anything he can to make things easier or clearer. He was born and raised here, so he's used to the way things work." Now she would probably think he was trying to arrange a match between her and his grandson, which was hardly the case. He'd be prouder than anything if B'shir ended up as Weyrleader someday, but he didn't think it was likely with that hellion of a dragon he'd Impressed. Though he wouldn't mind if B'shir became close with Amelia.
Rath, meanwhile, was extremely pleased with Sharath. She seemed to understand him perfectly, and he liked it when people agreed with him.
Now that you've summoned him, I'm sure he'll be here shortly, the brown said. And, yes. I have been training B'shir to be a good dragonrider since he was born. Now I am in the position of having to train Sakneth to be a good dragon for his bond. Someday they will be a great pair, but right now Sakneth is stubborn and full of himself.
He would not presume to extend an offer to Sharath to train with them. For one thing, he knew golds had different duties than other dragons and he could not teach her those. For another thing, A'ram would probably not like it if his dragon started inviting people to train with his grandson. The reason for all the extra training was so that B'shir would never have to seem to work hard in his actual lessons.
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:32 am
"No, nothing particularly pressing, actually." She smiled, "Sharath is hungry but she can't be more then slight so otherwise she would have complained about the hold-up by now. I rather think Rath has impressed her." Amelia glanced to their dragons, indicating the whirling greens and blues in her eyes.
The goldrider nodded, "Thank-you, I'll remember your recommendation." She was more interested in asking B'shir herself and him answering for himself but she could sense that might not go over so well - A'ram had the air of a patriarch and was likely the head of the family (even if she thought dragonriders didn't have families like others did). "Are there any pointers you might have for me A'ram? I'm interested to know - I have much to learn now."
The gold tilted her head at that tidbit about Sakneth, It is good that B'shir is loyal to his. But... Sakneth? What do you mean stubborn and full of himself? She'd only ever experienced a pleasant side of the bronze and the contrast made her question the side she'd been seeing. Ever wary of those who only saw her as a means to power, Sharath's tone held a slight edge about it as she regarded Rath.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:56 am
A'ram's smile wasn't a particularly attractive thing now that he'd grown old. When he was younger his white teeth used to stand out starkly against his darker skin, but his teeth had yellowed and become crooked over time. He had learned to accommodate for the turns' toll on him by smiling with his lips covering his teeth, but he always thought it made him look slightly condescending. The only people he knew who smiled without showing teeth were people who weren't really smiling at all. Very occasionally he thought maybe his grandson had the right of it, displaying no facial expressions at all.
No, Rath disagreed with his rider. What you do is just right. Many people are confused by B'shir's intentions when he speaks. No one ever doubts your meaning.
"Or perhaps she is simply being polite in allowing you to continue your conversation with an old man," A'ram guessed. Surely the young gold had learned by now that her imperious display just after hatching was not an appropriate way to comport oneself all the time. "But Rath thanks you for saying so."
The brown had, in fact, asked A'ram to thank Amelia for saying so, but he tended to think his rider had the right of it. He wasn't that interesting of a dragon. Particularly not to younger dragons, though he liked youths well enough. Being a bit of a closet gossip, and having a willing audience, however, Rath was tempted to elaborate on Sakneth's faults at length. But he didn't. Even if he didn't much like Sakneth, the bronze was B'shir's bond, and B'shir was family.
He is a young bronze, Rath answered with the mental equivalent of a shrug. It is a quality of youth to believe in one's own invincibility and wisdom. He will probably outgrow it to an extent.
"Your lessons with the Weyrwoman are probably more informative than anything I could tell you," A'ram said. He actually hadn't the faintest idea what sort of advice to offer a young goldrider. Or a goldrider at all. "I suppose the most helpful pointer I could offer is to make yourself known to those of the Weyr."
Listening in on his human's conversation, Rath borrowed somewhat as he said to Sharath, A'ram makes a good point. Many dragons would be honored to meet the Weyr's newest gold. It would be generous of you to interact with them.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:48 am
Amelia pursed her lips, "Possibly, but I rather doubt that. Sharath can be blunt when she wants things." In reality, Sharath still hadn't learned to conduct herself as the Weyr expected her to and it made Amelia frown. On one hand, she saw no need to contort oneself into an ideal and yet, on the other... Sharath did need to learn her manners. Looking thoughtful, she only nodded when A'ram mentioned Rath's thanks and murmured a distracted 'welcome'.
Sharath's gaze grew tinged with annoyance, a bright streak of orange with the blues and greens, You think it is a bad thing have confidence and ambition...? Obviously a baited question, she seemed poised to denounce this conversation and Rath if she did not find the out come favourable.
It said something of her progress that she did not throw a fit then and there but Amelia's voice, cool and strong broke through the gathering irritation, If you get upset with an opinion, Sharath, I will not go outside with you. Do not dishonour yourself here, hmn? They are good people.
Sharath looked to Amelia then, head held high as she scoffed. If Rath thinks I am less then I will correct him, Mine, because he will be wrong.
Amelia sighed, glancing to A'ram as he spoke, "Yeah... that's what I'm trying to do. Don't know how helpful I'm being, only able to socialize between chores, but at least I'm meeting a few folk." She chuckled softly, voice fond, "I never imagined it was this much work to care for a dragon."
Thankfully, however, Sharath's ire was swept away by Rath's next comments and she preened, the orange fading from her eyes rapidly, I agree. They should be honoured.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:11 am
"She may acquire some subtlety with age, but even if she doesn't, it's good for a gold to be comfortable asserting herself."
A'ram was willing to put up with a lot more silliness from dragons than he was from people, but that wasn't saying too much, since he didn't appreciate silliness in people at all. However, he understood very well the hierarchy of the Weyr and was able to see that it worked, and had worked for hundreds and hundreds of turns. So if a gold took it into her head to be imperious, that was fine. It wasn't as though the dragon determined Weyr policy after all. No, A'ram would have been more concerned if Amelia seemed the type to abuse the authority her dragon brought her.
"I suppose you'll reach a happy medium at some point. Most dragons do, anyway, though there will always be some who never cease pushing limits." He suspected B'shir's Sakneth would be one of those, and it didn't please him. His grandson had better keep his dragon in hand. It would not do for Sakneth to become such a problem that his bronze hide was outweighed by his difficult nature.
A part of Rath was a little irritated that Sharath was testing him, but not to the point where he would take offense. He agreed with his rider, that young dragons felt the need to push boundaries to learn how far they dared go, and he would indulge them to a point. There was also the matter of Sharath being a gold, and thus outranking him.
I think confidence is something that ought to come from the ability to perform well and consistently, Rath answered. And ambition is fine, providing it puts no one at risk. The greatest ambition I ever had was to serve well in my wing and help the Weyr to become better by doing my small part. Your part will not be so small.
A'ram gave his close-mouthed smile. "That you are making an effort will be a mark in your favor as far as many are concerned. Even if you did not anticipate the work involved in caring for a dragon, many of those at the Weyr are aware of it and willing to make allowances."
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Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:23 pm
"I think we will too... All the riders I've met seem to have settled in with their dragons, two halves to a whole, you might say. And I hope they don't make too many allowances... I never asked to be spoiled." It made sense to her and she smiled, "What was yours like when he was young? It's a personal question, I know, but I am curious. All of Sharath's clutch mates seem so fierce in their personalities... are all dragonets born with such character? Hers was the first Hatching I've watched so I don't have a base line to compare to."
Sharath's head tilted to the side once more and she rustled her wings, nosing Amelia's side, You knew you were Mine, Amelia, that is why you came to me. She was only half joking as she whuffed at Hers and Amelia chuckled, turning to scritch the gold's eye ridges.
You're joking, Sharath. I didn't know any more then you. She smiled fondly.
But I did know! Not right away... because I couldn't find you. But I found you, Mine. You knew like I did. Sharath didn't need to remember the exact events, she only needed to know what was now. And now was with Amelia - the precursors were obvious enough to the gold.
When Rath spoke again, her attention turned back to the brown and she looked up at the larger dragon, a silly smile playing across the dragonet's face. You are wise, Rath. And observant. I like you, my friend. Your part is just as important... I will not flame like you can and fight Thread like you can, Rath. I admire that. It was a built in thing for her, to know the Thread was bad, but to also know her role was not to do with fighting that. That job was for people like Rath... people who protected her, Hers, and others. And it was one of the few things she freely admitted to truly respecting.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:07 am
Privately, A'ram hoped they wouldn't make too many allowances for Amelia either. She seemed like a very nice girl, but that didn't mean she would make a very good Weyrwoman. Good leadership was something that had to be brought out of a person through experience and practice. And good decision-making skills were much the same. A'ram was a firm believer in practice. Probably because he lacked the creativity to do anything original, and had no choice but to repeat familiar patterns over and over.
"Rath? He was nothing special," A'ram said dismissively. The brown rumbled at him and he relented, visibly softening for the first time that day since his grandson decided to be late. "Well. He was very dignified from the moment he hatched. And very methodical. He made sure to look at all the candidates before he decided I was the best fit to him. He didn't make a lot of fuss or mess or anything. But that was at the hatching. After that, people used to tease that he had an old man's spirit. They said the same thing of me, though."
It had never bothered A'ram that people considered him an old stick-in-the-mud. He did what needed done and he did it competently. He never slacked off and he followed orders. Rath was the same. He was proud of his dragon. Rath rumbled again, happily. He liked to hear stories of his Impression. It was so long ago that he couldn't remember it at all, but he liked to hear of it. It was the best story, as far as he was concerned.
"As for dragonets being born with character, they are. All of them. Sometimes they're just not violent or showy. Sharath's clutchmates aren't really outside the norm aside from the obvious fact that they're dragons, and special because of that."
Rath was pleased. His human had told of his hatching, albeit briefly, and now the youngest gold thought him wise and observant. She admired him and had called him "friend." This was definitely a good day for the old brown. His eyes were a well-contented shade of turquoise, as though they couldn't decide between blue and green.
I am deeply honored to be called your friend, Rath said truthfully. He knew that she was young and probably didn't really mean to count him a friend, but it was something he would treasure for as long as he could remember it. You are very generous to say that my part is important, but by the time Thread falls I will be too old to flame and fly in a wing. I will do what I can to help from the ground though.
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