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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:20 pm
I can't believe he thinks I need more practice! Roseth was fuming, her tail lashing and her eyes tinged with red. I did better than Kannaroth and Nellath combined.
"That's why he's singling you out. He knows you have the potential to do much greater things, and he's trying to help you reach that point."
Jasrai sighed. Roseth had grown a great deal since hatching in all the ways one could grow - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even so, she had never learned to take criticism well, and the fact that Jasrai wasn't backing her up in this instance infuriated her. Jasrai was sorry about that, but J'ev was correct. Roseth was being lazy during practice, and it manifested in apparent incompetence.
But you know I don't need to practice. I know what I'm doing. We don't need to find this L'pin person. We don't need his help.
Jasrai turned around and stared at her dragon. When she spoke, her voice was hard. "I almost fell off today, at sixty feet in the air, because you could be bothered to warn me that you didn't intend to stay level while changing direction."
Roseth backed down and ducked her head apologetically. I will be more careful. I don't want to ask for help.
"And if J'ev checks with L'pin? We'll ask for his help. Maybe you'll luck out and he'll say 'no.' Stay here while I find him, please."
Locating L'pin actually wasn't difficult, which surprised Jasrai and disappointed Roseth. She'd seen him in passing a few times, and so recognizing him wasn't any difficulty. Making herself ask for help was harder.
"L'pin?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:51 am
L'pin had a small bundle of items in his arms as he scurried from place to place, his chores today in the Weyr forcing him to be indoors and mostly on the move. He wasn't being punished for once, Shamth having been able to respond properly for about a sevenday or so now, but that still didn't mean he could be idle and just loiter around the halls. He badly wanted to go and find Y'ul, to talk to her about several things (mostly her dragon), but it seemed like every time he tried to get to her she was off doing something or he was called away. It was a little irritating, but what else could he do? Two riders never got to spend much time together unless it was a pure stroke of fate.
Anyway, moving along and moving around, he was stopped when a voice he thought he recognized hailed his ears. It wasn't echoing inside his head so it certainly wasn't Shamth, but whomever it was knew his name and addressed him by it properly instead of using that annoying title of Sr. Weyrling. He stopped and forced a smile to his face, one that actually turned more natural as L'pin got a view of who was speaking to him.
"Oh. Jasrai, isn't it? What can I do for you?"
He hadn't expected to see the Greenrider any time so soon, or rather any time at all, since their last encounter together that ended with him spending several hours relaxing with Shamth in the hot springs to soothe both their moods.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:45 am
Jasrai fixed her eyes on a point just above L'pin's right shoulder when he turned around. Asking for help was easier if she didn't actually have to look at the person, she'd found. It was in situations like this one that she cursed her parents for raising her to be so proud and herself for being so bad with people. Needing help was difficult enough, but having to actually ask was excruciating and humiliating. Even during her days of playing stupid - which were long gone by now - Jasrai had never been very good at asking for help.
"Yeah. Jasrai," she said. Her gaze flickered away, shifting downward and sideways for half a second before she forcibly recalled it to where it had been. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
"J'ev found fault in Roseth's performance today, and he suggested I seek you out and ask you to help us." She managed to get it out without flinching or wincing or looking away. The small victory encouraged her. It had been a long time since she'd asked for help.
"If you aren't otherwise occupied, that is. I don't mean to take you away from your assigned tasks."
Tell him what else he said, Roseth suggested, hoping that if Jasrai did that, L'pin would be too insulted to help.
I won't. He doesn't need to know that. Because, really, who wanted to hear that they had been named specifically because they "wouldn't have anything else to do"?
Tell him anyway.
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:42 pm
"If J'ev sent you to me for help it must mean you're either really desperate for it or else he thinks I have nothing better to do. Correct me if I'm wrong on either point."
There was a hint of chuckle in his voice as he thought fondly of the old Bluerider, remembering his Turns spent as a Jr. and Sr. Weyrling under his guidance. J'ev had always treated him well even when Shamth started to show signs of trouble, and it pleased the man to see that he was still showing the same amount of care towards all riders now as he did back then. He'd never thought J'ev the type to be picky around rider genders, but he wasn't going to press that issue right now since it seems still slightly the same.
I'm not willing to help, even if you are. I want no part in assisting the failure of a dragon and its equal failure of a rider. Mine, you should know better then to even think you may want to help.
He sounded really irritated and really close, Shamth's words echoing through L'pin's mind as if he were standing right next to him and whispering in his ear. Of course the Blue had been listening in to the conversation, L'pin's mind always open to share thoughts with his dragon, and it really was no surprise the amount of hate that was dripping off each fading tone.
We'll see what they need, then we'll decide. You seem to forget that I'm bound by the Weyr to help when asked for it, Shamth. All Dragonriders are this way, even those on the ground.
Pfft.
"But if you say you need help, what exactly is it you need? Is it with taking off or landing, because those things get better with self-practice rather than someone showing you."
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:26 am
Jasrai's gaze flickered once again to the side and admitted, "It was closer to the second one."
She pushed a flyaway hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear in a nervous gesture. Like Roseth, she wasn't incredibly eager to ask for or receive help on something she knew her dragon was capable of doing when she concentrated on it. After all, a level direction change had to be easier than the off-balance version she and Roseth practiced in private. From her point of view it certainly was, as it wouldn't require her to perform any fancy maneuvers to stay on Roseth's back.
It's not difficult for me, either, Roseth explained. We don't need their help. Isn't he the blue that's too stupid to fly with a wing? What would he know about flying anyway?
Just because he doesn't fly in a wing doesn't mean he doesn't know how to fly with a rider, Jasrai replied irritably.
Her dragon's adamant refusal to accept or even ask for help had turned this into an issue on which Jasrai would not back down, even if she wasn't particularly thrilled about it herself. Maybe there were some definite disadvantages to being paired with a dragon as proud as Jasrai herself was - and she was proud. Her pride had been bruised, but it remained. Was this how other people felt when they dealt with her? No. She wasn't usually so recalcitrant or petulant.
"No, we've been taking off and landing for some time now," Jasrai replied. "Roseth's not keeping level while she changes direction. I mean, I know in practice, with Thread, being perfectly level can't make that much difference, but flying in formation, apparently, it's important."
She shrugged. Sometime she wondered if Thread would even fall during her lifetime, and if everyone was just wasting their time training for an eventuality that they'd never see. Of course, someone would see it, and that was really why they continued to train. She understood that. But it wasn't as though Telgar would ever allow her to help in training future generations. Between her lack of a p***s and her disappointing history, she was hardly ideal material for such an important position as passing on knowledge to future generations. Just as well. She didn't like children.
I don't like them either, Roseth added. To Jasrai's knowledge, Roseth had never gotten close enough to a child to know whether she liked them or not, but she appreciated to show of support. Maybe Roseth was right.
"Look, it's stupid," she said. "If you're busy, you don't have to do this. I can just tell J'ev I asked and that you were otherwise occupied. It's not like it's difficult to tell when your dragon's not flying level. I'm sorry I bothered you."
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:57 am
L'pin had to laugh at Jasrai's admittance that the Wyerlingmaster knew he'd be free to do things, and he almost wondered if he'd been set up to have free time on his hands lately just for this reason. He wouldn't put it past any of the old timers in the Weyr to think that far ahead and make it so whatever they wanted done came to pass. L'pin could only hope he was crafty like that when he got older.
"You're not a bother at all, in fact I think you're just what I need to get out of this hump I've been in. Shamth has been wanting to take to the air as well lately since he says his wings are getting sore and he may be getting out of shape which leaves me to offer both of us as assistance to you."
I would rather chew sand.
There it was, the familiar 'no way on Pern' feeling that Shamth gave out whenever it came to assisting others that he wasn't fond of. He'd been quiet in L'pin's mind for a while, probably listening in to the shared thoughts they'd been having, but after His agreed then the blue could no longer stay silent.
Mine, you've made a mistake. Tell them no.
Think of it this way, you get to be in the air for once not carrying something other than me from point A to point B. We get to fly fast and far and do as we please without having to worry about being spoken to. Also-
There was a pause and then a brief lock of thoughts before L'pin continued with his ideas all in a row.
If we do this, I finally get to be with just you in the air. She's along for the ride, and you can show that Roseth what a real dragon is capable of when they take to the skies. Sound good?
Yes.
That was easy enough to get Shamth back onto his side, and L'pin nodded with a smile towards Jasrai when the discussion in his head was all over.
"Shamth says he's willing to lend a hand in any way he can, so what say you we stop dallying around and get out to our dragons?"
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:45 pm
Jasrai was relieved that L'pin chose to laugh rather than get huffy about J'ev's assumption. Personally, she would have been more than a little insulted, though she supposed she probably would have laughed it off, too, had she been in L'pin's position. What else could a person reasonably do?
Tell the other person to sod off, Roseth said. I would have been angry with him if he'd said that to you, but I wish he had refused.
I'm sure Shamth wishes he had, too. I don't buy that he's 'willing to lend a hand in any way he can.'
Roseth snorted in response. She, too, doubted the blue had said anything of the sort. She didn't remember their last meeting, but she could borrow Jasrai's memories, and they weren't exactly pleasant, though Jasrai didn't seem to dislike L'pin. His dragon, however, was a terror. Roseth decided J'ev had to be out of his mind, to think Shamth would be of any use to her.
"Thank you," Jasrai said. "And please thank Shamth for me as well. I know he would probably rather do just about anything else. If it's any consolation, Roseth wants nothing to do with this, either."
You don't have to tell him everything, Roseth complained. Now he'll think I'm lazy.
You were being lazy. That's why we have to do this in the first place. And by the way, you will play nice with Shamth.
"Roseth's in the bowl. Or she was when I left her," Jasrai said. "Should I wait for you there while you get your leathers and harness?"
True, Jasrai frequently flew without a harness, but it wasn't something she chose to advertise about herself. That sort of thing could get a person in trouble, and lots of it. So she played the role of a conscientious weyrling. Whether or not L'pin chose to wear harnesses was his lookout, as far as she was concerned. Given her aversion to being cold, however, it was unlikely Jasrai would ever take to the air without her leathers.
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:34 pm
"I'm ready to fly as is, since my gear is always with Shamth. I don't leave my weyr without having everything prepared just because I'd rather not get caught flatfooted when the time comes to take to the skies. It's better to be overly cautious and stay on my dragon than it is to forget something and fall to my death. I'm sure you understand."
She probably doesn't. You're using big words.
L'pin snorted a little and tried to lay it off as a sudden sneeze, just greatly amused at how much hate his dragon could be spitting out so effortlessly. He could almost image that Shamth was just laying down wherever he was and probably watching herdbeasts or something, not even focusing. The was an amusing thought all together, and he asked Shamth was he was doing.
Waiting for you, Mine. Hurry up so we can get this over with.
There was a hint of impatience in his dragon's tone that made L'pin actually start to move faster, and he stretched his arms as the pair (assuming Jasrai was following close behind) got out into the sunlight of the Weyrbowl. The blue dragon was on a patch of grass not to far from the entrance, his red eyes clearly standing out over his hide.
"I'll meet you over there near Shamth, or rather - let's meet in the air."
The bluerider gave a tap against his temple and started towards his dragon, quickly ready to mount and get this over with.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:54 pm
"Makes sense," Jasrai said. Though privately she thought it highly unlikely that anyone was going to be required to get into the air so immediately that they couldn't spare time to change into their riding togs.
It wasn't as though there were frequent emergencies that required instant conveyance. True, there'd been an outbreak of plague at High Reaches, but in that instance it would have been preferable to keep everyone grounded and communicate by firelizard or harper drums. Firelizard being more discreet, if there was a recipient waiting. Someone should really see about setting up a messenger system with flits
You're as bad as Kannaroth, Roseth remarked. Always thinking about firelizards. As if you don't have a dragon to occupy your thoughts.
I assure you, Jasrai thought dryly. You are always in my thoughts.
Once they were outdoors Jasrai perked up noticeably. She preferred to be in the sunlight whenever possible. Every so often she still considered transferring to another Weyr, and when she did, the Weyr which came to mind was almost invariably Ista. Oh, to be perpetually warm! Roseth always got distressed by these thoughts, however, and so Jasrai had learned to keep them to herself. They wouldn't be going anywhere. Not really. Roseth would rebel at the thought of leaving her sisters.
"In the air, then," Jasrai agreed, making her way to Roseth, who had been perched on a ledge.
When she saw her rider approaching, the green swooped down and landed with deliberate care, showing that she was a perfectly capable dragon and didn't have any need of Shamth's help thankyouverymuch. It took a firm mental nudge from Jasrai to remind Roseth that thanks were, in fact, in order, and when she voiced them, they were utterly unconvincing.
You're so magnanimous, Shamth, sharing your hard-won knowledge with a lowly green such as myself, she simpered while Jasrai climbed on with surprising nimbleness for a girl her shape.
As soon as Jasrai was settled, Roseth leapt into the air and beat her wings a few times very hard to get some lift before clearing the weyrbowl. On her back, Jasrai grinned. She would never tire of flying.
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:19 am
It didn't take long for the man and his Blue to be in the air, L'pin and Shamth actually proving on that they weren't such a useless pair. Back in the days of Weyrling hood, when the pair were first allowed to fly together without anyone else, L'pin had eagerly devoured any and all chances to improve his skills in the sky. Having a dragon with little to no social skills was a crippling move against him ever joining a wing, a wound that did prevent them from becoming part of one, but it wouldn't prevent them from still owning while flying.
It was in the skies that both of them found a sense of peace and belonging, and the Blue let out a roar of enjoyment as they tore into the air, massive wings beating and carrying them ever higher. L'pin let out a little whoop of his own, albeit telepathically and to the already chuckling happiness of Shamth. The pair stopped a good bit above the Weyrbowl and away from other dragons, awaiting their companion to show up. Shamth was more than willing to show a failure of a Green how a real dragon flew, even if the others didn't think he wanted to help.
Well, it wasn't so much helping as it was showing off what he was capable of as something they'd never be able to accomplish. L'pin was a hundred, no, thousands and thousands of times better than a female on a fighting dragon, even if L'pin insisted that gender for riders didn't matter. He said they should pay attention that his relative Impressed Green and Y'ul was certainly no one useless. Shamth would have to see on that, as the dragon certainly looked it.
Now we wait for them to join us. Shamth, go easy on her - I don't want either of them to fall and get hurt. Failures or not, we cannot cause a death in this Weyr.
. . . . understood.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:55 pm
Roseth hovered. What are they waiting for? she asked Jasrai. We are in the air. We have been in the air. Let's do this.
Jasrai smiled and patted the green's shoulder. She didn't expect the gesture to calm her dragon much, but it was a show of sympathy on her part. She knew Roseth was not enthusiastic about this, but she was hoping that with enough cajoling on her part she could get her through the experience without any excessive displays of snarkiness, Jasrai would be satisfied. Much as she wanted to like L'pin, because he seemed like a decent sort, Shamth's evident animosity made it difficult.
Should I tell them we're ready? Do they know what we're working on?
Yes, I told L'pin. And mind your manners when you let them know we're ready, Jasrai reminded Roseth firmly. She had to remind the green of her manners on a regular basis, to the point where she wondered if Roseth even noted it anymore. It wasn't as though it made a significant impact on her behavior, at any rate. Mostly Roseth did and said what she pleased without any regard for how others might take it.
We're ready when you are, Roseth told Shamth. You have some idea what we're doing, haven't you?
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:26 am
I may never have flown in a wing, Green, but I know all the patterns and drills by heart and memory. Mine is a good man, he has kept and taught me well. Come, let us see if those wings of yours can really work to carry your Rider.
Instantly Shamth gave his wings a strong downbeat and soared high into the sky, L'pin nearly whooping with joy again over the delight that always came with being in the air. Despite being so large the Blue moved with grace and skill, the terms he made as he spiraled about in fun holding no more motion then they needed. Everything was tight, everything was precise.
Shamth, let them know I'd like to see what they can do. I need to know their level before we move on or else there's a chance we could put them both in danger.
Understood.
Shamth quickly relayed the message, minus the bits about danger. His mostly came out as 'show us what you can do, we're waiting' but that served well enough for L'pin's needs. No need to get overly chatty while in the air, they were here to fly and learn, not socialize.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:21 pm
Why would he bother? Roseth asked Jasrai after relating Shamth's reply. They will never be in a wing, and so there is no reason for them to know the drills and formations.
"It's lucky for us that they do," Jasrai said. Her words would be lost in the wind, and so they would never reach L'pin's or Shamth's ears, but Roseth, sharing her mind, would know what she had said. "A little extra practice won't hurt us. You liked practicing with Feylith. Remember?"
Hmph, Roseth grumbled. Feylith is more pleasant, I think. And he says I'm good-looking. I remember that.
It didn't surprise Jasrai that her dragon would remember being complimented, but wouldn't remember much else about the sporadic interactions they had with Feylith and Tethis. Jasrai continued to be pleasant to the female bluerider because Roseth got along with her dragon, but she wasn't terrifically keen on the woman. There was something vaguely unsettling about the way she regarded her dragon.
The green gave Shamth a vaguely disdainful look and said simply, Watch.
Giving Jasrai enough warning that the rider could be ready to shift her weight to accommodate her dragon's movements, Roseth gave a few flaps of her wings to propel herself forward on a level plane, and then she held one wing out straight from her side and pumped harder and faster with the other, pivoting almost completely level, but for a slight dip and wobble toward the end because Jasrai shifted her weight a little too early.
See? We know what we're doing.
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:57 am
Mine, did you see? It's not that impressive what this pair can do. We were much better when I was that age, right?
Shamth's words prompted quick memories of being in flight as a Sr. Weyrling, and it was true that the Bluerider pair were quite skilled in the sky. To make up for Shamth's rather troublesome ground manners they had to be amazing in the sky - only that hurt them in the end as well. Now they both were on whatever chores came for the day as well as Eternal Watch Dragon Duty. Written just like that, were he to write it out for someone.
It doesn't look like it's the dragon's fault in this case. It looks to be more along the lines of the rider if we were watching well enough.
L'pin's observation was passed to his dragon, though with a warning not to speak it to the Green just yet. Instead he mentioned that she needed to go again, at a different position.
Green, Mine says he wants to see you try another pattern before we pass our judgment.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:52 am
"Sorry," Jasrai muttered to Roseth.
Don't be, the green said dismissively. You almost never do that. They want to see us do something else now, by the way.
Jasrai sighed and took a moment to consider what L'pin might want to see. She could feel Roseth's desire to show off and wondered if she dared. Her mind raced, trying to weigh the risks of letting the bluerider see some of the tricks she and Roseth had been working on. On the most positive end of the scale, she didn't really think anything they did would impress either L'pin or Shamth, which would probably disappoint Roseth. In the worst case scenario, he would turn her in for being reckless with her life and the life of her dragon.
"Show them the two-level weaving pattern. Right is up," Jasrai decided. It was something new they were learning in class. Well, to be accurate it was something that they would probably be learning in class eventually, but for now they had only seen wings practicing it.
That's boring, Roseth grumbled.
"Then you should be able to do it perfectly," Jasrai retorted. "Do it."
Roseth flicked her tail to convey her scorn for her rider's caution, but she began the opening maneuvers of the pattern, flying in a series of tight, interconnected S-shapes. When her curve was to the left she deliberately angled her wings so that she would go lower, and to the right she angled her wings to gain lift. That was how the drill was supposed to work, and once she stopped grumbling she remembered that it was a challenging thing and focused intently on her task. Jasrai's part was simpler, and she did it well - she didn't distract her dragon or bite her tongue during the direction and altitude changes, which were abrupt enough that it was a potential hazard, and she shifted her weight at the right time to be helpful.
At the end of the run Roseth circled back to her starting position and cast a So There glance over her shoulder at Shamth. Jasrai was just grateful that her dragon hadn't decided to deviate from the pattern. Sometimes they modified patterns, though Jasrai was always hesitant to do so for fear Roseth would learn bad habits.
Pass judgment on that, Roseth said to Shamth, proud of her performance and ignoring Jasrai as she mentally reviewed it for errors. Her human always found things to work on, but that didn't mean that she hadn't done well on this run.
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