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 Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:21 pm
(OMG! That was just so dang funny!!! I about rolled out of my chair!)
Veyes could only blink as L'thor passed him running after the crab like a man on a mission but then suddenly that blink turned into a slow down and utter laughter as the army of flitted showed up Determined to HELP! Oh he would have loved to have heard all the sounds in L'thor's head at that moment and it took him several minutes to stop the giggle fit that gripped him especially when Rust grabbed it and almost sent it flying! But at least it ended up in L'thor's hands and soon as the giggles settled, Veyes walked closer trying not to laugh anymore while he opened the bag for the crab to go inside.
"Oh L'thor that was the funniest think I have seen in a long time! Your finger ok?" he grinned even as the flits started to fly off again in search of eggs. "You know you and your flits would make the perfect comedy! I almost could see what they were thinking! Mmm...but what to call it?"
He pondered titles as he tied off the bag again putting it back over his arm as soon as the crab had settled in with it's partner. "That one was a little bigger than the one I caught. We sure are going to have a great feast if we find a few more." His eyes started scanning around as he started to walk again down the beach. While the flit eggs were surely more important, he was having such a good time that if they didn't find anything; he really wasn't going to feel bad at all.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:34 am
L'thor laughed merrily and nodded. "Yes, my finger's fine thanks, and it should be called 'Crab!' Not in text though, flitts think in pictures, so a picture of a great big yummy looking crab." He hadn't had crab in ages, let alone so fresh! He did love sucking the meat out of the legs, and cracking the shell, and pretty much everything about them. Except when the pinched you with their pincers, that was distinctly less fun.
"If we're lucky we might find enough for the flitts to have a feas too," L'thor grinned as he moved on along, scanning now for crustations as much as flitts and eggs. "River and Dusk have had it a couple of times before, but Rust and Dancer haven't. Haha, if you thought watching them chase crabs was funny, wait until you see them eating. First time I saw the blues trying to break into a cooked one I spent about five minutes laughing before I regained enough control to crack it open for them."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:07 am
Veyes laughed again, "Crab! Got it." So now he knew that L'thor's head must have been filled with pictures of yummy tasty GIANT crabs. "I bet we can find enough. Seems like we've hit the right time of day for them. His head turned as he scanned the rocks for flits and egg but so far the golden flit and her clutch was far more elusive than crabs. While he would have much rather found flits in this day, crabs seemed to be willing to make a show and of course when one can't find the first choice, the second becomes more and more appealing every second that went by.
Looking down the beach, he spied wiggling legs! It was at least..." TWO CRABS!" He took off in a sprint down the beach; sand flying up at his heels as he leaped forward to landing close by as the water came rushing in around his feet. His hands shot down into the water grabbing at the bodies trying to scoop at least one out before the tide took them both away.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:19 am
Again? Agh! Crabs! Get'em! L'thor shrugged his bag into a more comfortable position and took off after Veyes. It looked like he had one, but the other was getting awa- Rust came to the rescue once more, popping out of nowhere to dive on the second crab. Rather than taking it to L'thor, he hovered before Veyes this time, waiting to pass over his prize. Well, looked like he didn't need to dive for them then! L'thor jogged to a halt just by the water's edge and looked out over the ocean. As he inhaled the smell of the sea, and as cool wavelets washed up over his bare feet the rider was struck by a sudden desire to go for a swim.
"Mmm, a swim," Raith looked down at the glittering water thoughtfully. "Sea water dries the hide out, but you could fix that with some oil... Maybe once we've searched a little more?" She would love a swim in the sea, and all the pampering that would come afterwards.
A swim soon, yes, that sounded like fun; maybe after their crab feast. L'thor grinned at Veyes. "Looks like Rust has appointed himself the expert around here. Maybe he'll even pass it to you in a way that will avoid pinching, eh?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:47 pm
Veyes scrambled to get the thrashing crab into his bag while the flit dove to get the other he had thought he surely lost. It was very convenient that the flits were able to target these little buggers so fast. "Thanks Rust!"
"Yes, it sure does seem like Rust has become the Crab expert today." He said with a smile and held out his hand to collect the crab hoping that Rust would offer him a side without pincers. "Well, I guess we will have a good feast for our troubles even if we don't find the eggs."
When he finally got the bag tied off again, he glanced out over the waters for a moment and took in the air from the tides. It was a hardy aroma - the salty waterborn air mingling with the slight scent of seaweed and wet sands. It brought him around to pondering the future and a few things that had stirred in the back of his mind, "Hey L'thor, how long do you think it will take me to learn the rest of the studies I need to know to be a good dragon rider? How long does it normally take a Weyrling to learn all they need to know?
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:28 am
Having passed over the crab, Rust fluttered over to L'thor and landed on his outstretched arm in search of a little attention before he went back to looking for eggs. The rider gave it to him willingly, ticking his eye-ridges and stroking his back. Once the brown had had enough fuss to keep him going for a short while, he jumped back into the air and vanished once more.
"Humm." L'thor turned back to Veyes, frowing thoughtfully. "Well. It takes weyrlings about a turn and a half to do it, but they're learning full time... Some of what they learn of course I can't teach to you; learning to block thoughts and pain form your dragon for example, and the actualy flying and betweening. I can teach you the theory of different fighting formations but with just two of us we couldn't march them out like weyrlings do. Still, to teach you everything I possibly can..." L'thor trailed off, still frowing as he pondered the question. "I'm not sure," he said eventaully, "I can't think off the top of my head what else there is to teach you. There's lots, of course, more detailed dragon anatomy, what we know about the Thread from old records, those formations, the basics about firestone... I don't know," he gave a lopsided smile and shrugged, "really I'm just making it all up as I go along. Suffice to say, though, I won't run out of things to teach you anytime soon."
There really was a lot to teach, and given they only had a couple of evenings a sevenday to meet up it was slow going. Still, slow progress was still progress, and when Veyes did Impress - if he Impressed - he would be one of the best informed weyrlings in the class. Particurlaly studious weyrbrats might rival him, but nobody else.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:51 pm
Veyes tied off the bag again with the crabs as he listened to L'thor. Yes, there were many things he could be taught about a dragon but a few important things would only happen once he had his life mate beside him. All he could do was nod and except the fact that only time would tell whether everything he had been doing would be worth it. He wasn't like Firyal, who didn't have much time left. He still had turns to go so optimism still played through his mind always reflecting on the mirror of his imagination.
"So, after making straps, comes dragon anatomy class, thread, formation and firestone. Mm.. sounds like quite a bit of memorization and I look forward to learning it. You know one day I think it would be nice to do this for others. Candidate lessons are a real drag for those who've been here awhile. They repeat the same things over and over because so many new people continue to arrive. I bet Ren and a few others would like to learn more on how to make straps....or take care of a dragon." He mused at the idea and wondered how much of a difference it might make for the scores of candidates that got stuck in this grind while waiting for that possible future. However, even with the idea of preparation for a dragon, there was the other possibility as well. One that no one prepared them for...the possibility of not impressing. No one wanted to think about it really but it was something that needed addressing.
"Maybe if there were mentoring like that, more folks that didn't impress at the Weyr would have a better understanding of dragons...maybe want to help dragonriders more than they do now...or at least be sympathetic to the needs. Understanding brings compassion..." He wasn't exactly sure of how to express everything he could think of as his imagination swooped in and took him forward... What if all candidates were taught like that? The percentage that returned home would be the future adult holders, traders...crafters. Just a better understanding of a dragon's world might bring better thoughts for the Weyr. Well, not always but knowledge was the key to making wiser decisions. His visions always showed grander things with broad brushed strokes and he had to wonder, what sort of world Pern would be if more people understood the ways of a dragon rider rather than it being some mysterious realm that holders rarely had contact with.
The light glinting on the waters helped him return to the reality around him and his eyes strayed up the beach once more looking along the rocks for flit or egg.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:29 pm
L'thor nodded, frowning around at the beach but not really seeing it. "When I was a candidate, ours numbers were less than half the current headcount. It's too much for one man to keep up with, even so a**l a git as Z'nal. We need two, at least, and even then... well it would be nice to be able to teach to the level of knowledge, like you say. You must constantly be hopping back to almost the beginning, but I expect the new people feel as though it's all going too fast for them... If you want to bring a friend or two, Ren for example, along to our sessions I expect I could cope with it. Maybe I could talk a few friends of my own into helping out. I'm sure I culd get hold of old harnesses without a problem. Maybe candidates would feel less disillusioned if they were learning more, felt they were really preparing to be riders. With a lot of candidates we could march out some wing formations, though people would have to nominally take on dragon colours and sizes... It would be a big undertaking."
Frankly not one he wanted to be major part of. He liked his free time. Teaching things to Veyes and a couple of others a couple of times a sevenday was one thing, but actually giving candidates what he expected most of them craved - more knowledge of dragons - would take time and effort he didn't have to spare for people that, frankly, he couldn't give a toss about. Veyes was his friend, Ren was as well though he saw less of the boy, and friends of theirs he would be happy to help too, but he wasn't the sharding candidate master, his duties weren't reduced to allow for caring for candidates, and he wasn't sharding well being paid to do it. Veyes was different, but Dark Lord L'thor was not about to give up his evenings of laughter, drink, games, and flying for a crowd of brats he knew nothing of and cared nothing for.
"It would take a lot of time and effort to help a lot of candidates," he said aloud, "either you'd need scores of volunteer riders, or more official appointments. If the Weyr brought in some sort of... I don't know, mentor scheme where riders needed to take on candidate protegees, or were rewarded for doing so in any case, it would work. As it is though, with times tough and everyone disgruntled I don't know how many would be willing to give up what spare time and energy they have to help out people they don't know. Or care about." It would be nice to wave his hand and have everyone pick up a candidate to teach as he had Veyes, but that wasn't going to happen. It was a nice dream, but only a dream.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:55 pm
Veyes listened quietly taking in L'thor's thoughts and letting them slowly work their way through his original idea. Yes, indeed something that large would take many people willing to work together to achieve a better world. Although, maybe L'thor was right, getting that many folks together for a project as such may not be as easily done. With the other problems in the Weyr, he had this strange feeling that any movement in this regard probably would be met with resistance.
He had no doubts that the candidates would love the opportunity but...getting mentors that had time to do such and effort might be more difficult. Veyes realized he would have to think on this plan a little longer and as he learned more about the Weyr consider ways that it could be done. Although he mused at the idea of L'thor as "Dark L'thor", the legendary candidate master...weyrling master...or whatever variation of two that his imagination placed him in. Even though L'thor grumbled at times about teaching, he was actually rather good at it. He guessed with students that wanted to learn any teacher would feel good about the job. But yes, there were many that probably didn't fit that category in the candidates.
"Maybe small mentored groups would be better to start if something like this became reality. I don't know...Sometimes I just try to think of ways to make the world work just a little better for everyone. But I do understand what you mean. It would be a pretty large undertaking and right now it's only a shell of an idea. I just think that there's is so many things that could be done better for candidates that could benefit the future of the Weyr. I think I will work on this one a little more and see what comes up. Maybe if Ren is around I will bring him to one of our sessions. I'm sure he'd want to learn more." Veyes smiled with that thought and was sure that the boy would impress one day. He had a few more years than Veyes...a lot more chances.
Although as he continued to think on the idea, he realized that if he and Con were still friends it was probably an idea that Con could have helped with. At least, it has the bearings of something he could of bounced off of Con, however, he doubted that any idea he had would interest Con now. But still Veyes thought about how candidate land could be better for the idea if it somehow could be brought to fruition In theory, with the right like minds, anything could be done - the idea just needed cultivating and preparation. He wouldn't run into it haphazardly like a few other things he had done in the past. Maybe after working it through awhile he could find a viable way of putting forth the idea...Time..yes, he had time to think on it.
He almost tripped on another crab as he was talking and walking. This one wasn't as fast as the others so it made it much easier to scoop up and toss in the bag. "You know we aren't having much luck finding the elusive flit." He said with a smirk. "But then again, there's so much beach to go. With my luck, I bet you she's hid them on the other side of the island!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:12 am
L'thor quirked a slight smile. "She might well be, or maybe she's following us around and hopping between every time we turn... It's a nice idea," he went on with a shake of his head, "if it could be put into action it would make such a difference. It would mean that new weyrlings had a better grounding on everything they needed to know, and those who never Impressed would at least go home understanding dragons rather more... They're looking for an assistant weyrling master now you know, really they could do with looking for a good few new candidate masters. Even with, say, five riders working in that post candidates could be split a little by how much they know. Nice practical things like making straps would still be had to get done in a setting like that but it would be better than nothing."
The mentoring idea was still good. Perhaps he should get Veyes to dream on it some more and then somehow get a chance for the pair of them to go and see Helirra. It was a good idea, and it could really work, would probably do lovely things like create good relations between those with an without dragons within the Weyr. Those candidates that returned to Holds might still feel affection to their old mentors, fostering better relations on the outside as well. It was all so wonderful in theory, but in practice? Honestly he had no idea if Helirra would see him in the first place, let alone want to hear Veyes' idea out, or if she did hear it out if she would care to do all the work that would be needed to get such a scheme up and running.
"If I were Weyrwoman - you may laugh at the mental image - I'd pounce on the idea like a rising gold on a herdbeast," L'thor said after a few moments, giving Veyes a grin. "Sadly however I'm not, though Raith wouldn't be half as pretty or agile if I were so I suppose that's a good thing really... Keep thinking about it though, if and when you come up with something solid, I could try to get an audience with Helirra. If that doesn't work... I don't know, I suppose I could try to bully my friends into taking on a couple of candidates and hope things catch on. It has to be worth a try, eh?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:00 pm
Veyes laughed and turned around quickly as if to catch the mysterious and sneaky gold flit that might have been evading them. "Yeah, she's really good at hiding herself." Then he leaned over and looked around a few sandy areas by some rocks. "Maybe she's just shy. She could be a sweet little flit that isn't sure of our intentions. Or she could be a lot like Raith, and thinks quite highly of herself...well if she did think that way she probably would have showed herself because she'd want everyone to know how pretty she was." He grinned at L'thor as he tucked a tiny shell into his pocket.
"Mm...I didn't know they were looking for a new assistant weyrling master. I suppose with that many hatchlings its hard to keep up. It would be nice if there was other candidate masters. Although, I really don't care for Z'nal that much and I'd feel sorry for anyone having to work with him...let along being taught by him." To Veyes, Z'nal was one person he'd detested for numerous reason but he tried to keep himself from trouble. At times, he was glad that the man was overwhelmed but then again it also seemed fit into the reason why his punishments were broad strokes rather than precise. Maybe he shouldn't be so annoyed but figure out how to solve that problem for future candidates and candidate masters well beings. Veyes knew he was capable of getting over things; just sometimes it took him awhile to analyze the reasons behind the actions.
He nodded as he considered L'thor's words, "You're right. Some folks like me have been through candidate classes enough that putting them in pre-weyrling mentor groups might be more productive. If someone learns how to make straps, dragon anatomy...and other ground level stuff early, then well, if they did impress...there'd be more to focus a bit deeper on other things that might be only touched upon due to time."
For a moment he resettled the crab bag as other ideas came forth from his vivid imagination, "Another thing that might be good for the Weyr....When folks are getting past 21 and cannot try for a hatchling anymore, maybe rather than sending them away as cast offs; send them off as ambassadors of the Weyr. Just because they didn't impress doesn't mean that they aren't valuable and it would leave a better impression on anyone leaving."
His mind whirled with ideas every time L'thor added thoughts to previous words. It was a very tantalizing brain storm session...something that Veyes seriously enjoyed. He could thoroughly envision a better Weyr with all these improvements. It might take a bit of dedication at first but if a few even started to invest some time in the adventure, he could see possible success. The whole thing probably should start small with a test group of riders and hand picked candidates...If it worked, it could be tweaked to fit a larger scenario. But then he burst into laughter, "You, as a Weyrwoman. Oh but that would make Raith a Gold! Oh no... that's impossible! A Gold only flown by blues!"
Once the laughter settled, he continued walking down the beach with L'thor keeping his eyes out for other places to search along the shoulder of the sand bar. "I'll keep thinking on it because if we could do something like this, it would make living here just a little better for everyone. Do you think Weyrwoman would listen to us??" He didn't know Hellira at all and couldn't even begin to guess what she might think.
"Yes, I think it would be worth a try. With a small start, it'd be possible to see how it would work and then we could study the process as it went along to see if it was expandable and what ratio of mentors to candidates would be needed to be effective." He could almost see the work in progress as the idea sketched itself more clearly in his head.
The idea probably would need more ears to hear it so the kinks could be addressed because he was viewing this plan from Candidate's eyes, but other people might have further knowledge he didn't have that could make or break the idea down. "So do you think we should talk to someone else to get a different view? I mean...I know from my end as a candidate what I would like to see and you know from a rider's perspective of what might be necessary. But is there anyone else that might have a different Weyr perspective that would help show possible pitfalls or maybe expose new ideas? I don't know everything on the Weyr's operations so what do you think?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:12 pm
Ambassadors. An interesting idea, certainly, but not one he cared to give much thought to; he had no interest in Holders. Helping candidates: yes. Smoothing the feathers of fat wherries who didn't want to do their duty to the Weyrs: no. Oh somebody had to think about things like that of course, but that was the duty of the Weyrwoman. What a dull job it must be, keeping Holders happy and seeing to it your gold produced as many eggs as possible. Oh, and running the Weyr; that would be fun to play with but he suspected that if he were a weyrwoman but still himself, people would find a way to depose him in short order, no matter that the only way to do it would be to kill him. The bronze riders would not be a happy crowd at all, he'd be knifed or poisoned within a sevenday.
Smirking to himself a little, L'thor turned his mind back to the present. "Well... Might be worth asking Weyrlings what it is they're finding hard so if possible that could be looked at; it's been a long time since I was in their place. Other people to actually make it work though," he shrugged and pushed his fingers through his hair, "more candidates, and more riders I suppose, just get some opinions on if other people like the idea, if they have anything to add to it, I don't know." It all still sounded like a great effort to him, far too great. Maybe though laziness would make it less so; candidates got so little time to themselves that most probably wouldn't want any extra work to do. No skin off his nose, that would mean only the keen ones needed to be taught, and that they would get a well deserved edge.
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:32 pm
Veyes nodded in thought, "Yes, I suppose I could ask around when I see them. Oh you're not that old, L'thor! Yes...we probably would need some help to make it work" He thought about it for a moment then realized that this conversation was very distracting from his original intent....the flit eggs. "It's going to take some time to work all this out. But...it might be rewarding for everyone." He'd like to think that it would help out all candidates but to be honest he wasn't sure how many would jump at the chance or want to work hard to get there. Most of the time he felt like the odd ball in the bunch.
Then, he glanced around poking his fingers in to the sand thinking he might of found something but his hands only pulled up a polished rock. "Gee...I think that the golden flit is doing a good job at eluding us. Maybe we should just collect some crabs. Better luck with them." he grinned as he tossed the stone out into the water watching it bounce once then sink. Turning around, he started to hunt for crabs, grabbing a smaller one that was scooting along a rock. "If Flit eggs were like crabs, we could make some real marks!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:49 am
L'thor laughed, adjusting the hang of his bag as he shook his head. "No, not old at all, but it has been ten turns now. I can forget important things withing a sevenday sometimes, I'm bound to have forgotten details from that far back." Ten turns. Had it really been so long? Raith, still soaring high above, gave a mental shrug; she was a dragon, it wasn't her job to remember things like that. "It was a rhetorical question love; I know it has been, it just feels odd that so much time has passed since you were a cute little hatchling."
"I knew it was a rhetorical question," the green responded with a rumble, "I was being silly."
"Yes, and I know you knew it was a rhetorical question, I was being silly too!"
"I know you knew I knew, I was still being silly!"
"I know you knew I knew you knew... this needs to stop, it's making my brain want to melt out of my ears."
"Oh good, I was starting to lose track of where we were too."
Giving a snort of amusement and shaking his head to bring himself back down to the beach, L'thor turned back to Veyes. "Too right we could! Maybe if we hunt for crabs, that gold flitt will get insulted that we're paying no attention to her and pop up to say hello!"
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:46 pm
Veyes nodded in complete agreement because angry little flits usually meant to a lot of attention whether one wanted it or not. He grinned as picked up a small stone and let his fingers run across it feeling the worn smooth surface. Maybe if they were lucky, the flit would show...fat chance...But the company was so pleasant and the day...perfect. He didn't mind so much anymore if they actually didn't have any luck at all. Being down at the beach had turned into a small adventure compared to the mindless work at the Weyr.
His fingers finally absentmindedly tossed the smoot rock out to the water and he watched it skip once...twice. "10 years isn't too long. You're not old enough to start forgetting things!"
Pausing for a moment he looked over at L'thor, so many years between them but he still found the man attractive. However, right now, it was just easier remaining just friends. Sometimes, he thought about asking L'thor what he thought of him...on a more personal level...but usually he found ways to avoid that conversation not wanting to lose the special bond they had.
"Oh! Look. I see a few crabs over there! Race ya to them!"
He bounced forward in a boyishly eager sprint determined to beat L'thor to the crabs he spotted.
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