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 Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:07 am
Bakarn was learning new things about his dragon today: she did not perform well in high-stakes conflict. She keened, very softly, under her breath, eyes still yellow-white with terror. He focused on projecting calm certainty at her, and all the love he could muster; she was safe. She was with him, and for all G’vian’s loud angry words, even he would not dare to harm an infant weyrling. Not where everyone would see. Not if he ever, ever wanted to hold power at High Reaches again. Bakarn had her, and she was safe.
He was also telling her this for his own benefit, to remind himself that they weren’t gonna die, because it would be really humiliating to lose his nerve now.
And then, thank every shell of the first gold’s egg – there was a blue next to her, pressing his flank and his muzzle to hers, and Blyth’s keen turned into a warm croon as she recognized Ankheth. Her brother was here! And that meant so was –
“Seytev,” Bakarn murmured, an almost inaudible breath. “You dimglow.” But the word was laced with fondness, as his fellow weyrling picked up the thread where he left off. Seytev’s words were a lot more strident than Bakarn’s, his challenge overt and explicit… but he’d said every word of righteous anger that Bakarn had held in his thoughts, and Faranth, it felt so good to hear them aloud. This was so stupid, and so dangerous, but he was swept up in it now and so was Seytev and it was too late for either of them to take back the words.
Yevalee was here to join them too, unexpected help from an unexpected quarter, and Bakarn gave him a grateful smile and a nod as he came to stand with them. Unfortunately, so was C’tis. Oh shaff, C’tis was mad. He was so mad. Probably because Bakarn was a moron, as usual.
Quickly, Blyth reached out to Malcarreth, relaying along her rider’s message… perhaps a little bit more literally than he’d intended it relayed, but that happened when you went with mindspeech, which was a good bit more emotionally colored than the other kind. Bakarn says: I KNOW SHARDS I KNOW I MESSED UP SO BAD BUT NOW I DON’T KNOW HOW TO BACK DOWN WITHOUT RUNNING AWAY. Also he is very busy trying not to throw up and embarrass you.
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:15 am
Mmmmrgh, perhaps it would be better for him to get closer. Letting out a heavy sigh Malcarreth dropped off his ledge, swooping over to circle above the feast-c**-argument.
Then, to Calanoth and Pycath; our posing proddy flitt, and he's several thousand times to be preferred to that hidebound G'vian.>
C'tis meanwhile was looking incredulously down at Yevalee. "What is it with this class? Did Venk give you all a special extra course in how to blabber at inopportune moments?" he muttered under his breath, but audibly to the three weyrlings.
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:20 am
C'tis was talking - Faranth, that was Bakarn's squiremaster, right? Welp, they were probably going to end up - Yevalee? Yevalee had arrived with Sleuth?
The sudden bloom of charity in Seytev's heart was warm and made his hands stop shaking quite so much, enough that he could reach out and grab hands with the other two Weyrlings standing with him. He was oblivious to the silent conversation between Blyth and Malcarreth, but C'tis hadn't shouted at them beyond grumbling, which meant that at least for now, the three of them were operating under some kind of approval. Probably not the best kind of approval, but still. An adult didn't hate them.
Yes, Ankheth chose to Bespeak an answer to C'tis's obviously-rhetorical last question in a tone of immense satisfaction and approval. The older rider hadn't forced them to stand down, yet, which meant he was an ally. Which was good.
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:23 am
Z'fer
"Agreed." Z'fer nodded as Re'ka joined him at the edge of the confrontation. He looked to Ko'ren, keeping an eye on his current Wingleader for a cue. Whatever First Wing thought of it'self, Second Wing could take them. Let the old man just try something. The majority of his attention was on T'gall and G'vian, and the weyrlings as they joined in the fray.
Z'fer gave a bark of laughter. "Sometimes balls are all you need." His teeth flashed in a grin that only grew wider as more Weyrlings seemed drawn in to defend their dragons. No matter what his opinions on them, he would be entertained watching this group grow up. That was for sure!
Outside, Calanoth lumbered to his feet and raised his voice in a deep bellow in response to the other males. His voice adding support to that of Balith. He passed on Malcarreth's message though.
"Get that?" Z'fer asked. He didn't wait long for a response before he was moving to C'tis's side, adding his presence in a more forward fashion than before.
Zarike
Right behind Yevalee was Zarike and Peth. The former glowering with barely restrained anger, the latter holding his head high and displaying the first hint of orange that had crossed the hatchling's eyes. He would apologize for the rudeness of leaving Vanavia later, but with the blast of Balith's voice ringing in his head, priorities changed.
"You want to train us in honor? In respect? We, all of us, are riders just the same as you and even if we weren't I would expect the leader of First Wing to have a shred of common decency and not make a scene in public! Have your own shaffing opinions. I don't care. But don't insult me, my dragon, or his clutchmates and expect us to take it lying down." He kept his voice as controlled as he could, trying desperately not to do anything that might cause Peth to have a fit right now. Neither he, nor the rest, could afford that.
Peth shifted from side to side. In complete contrariness, he was feeling quite fine and excited. What an event that all these people should be up in arms about him and his siblings. It was turning into quite a fine show! Looks like it's time to become whers! Our brothers don't think we're good enough to be dragons. Good News: We will be the handsomest whers in the Weyr!
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:31 am
“I’m sorry,” Yevalee murmured at C’tis and turned to G’vian, stepping somewhat around the elder blue rider so he had a good view. “Wingleader G’vian, please,” he said clearly, speaking to not only G’vian but the crowd. “You know this is not the way things are done. I understand you have the best interest for the Weyr at heart. A small clutch during thread is a difficult thing and you are so use to looking out for the entire Weyr. It must weigh heavy on you. But to overthrow the wingleader at our hatching feast? To demand Venk’s resignation? It looks bad, please… call a vote or an investigation with the Special Investigation if you believe that the Weyr is in danger and it is T’gall’s fault. ”
Sleuth sent a wave of love and moved over to her sibling, settling by Blyth to keep her calm.
Yevalee stood tall, hoping that G’vian would listen. He hoped that G’vian would understand what it looked like for the weyr, and back down gracefully. Though he could have done with out Zarike's comments.
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 2:57 pm
"...Well it's definitely a display NOW." Keralder's attention, for better or worse, was definitely off the drudge woman and her hair now, and he hadn't even thought to check if her breath actually smelled of booze, or just the area around her did.
He couldn't stand the brownriders golden showboating, but the claim that they were WORTHLESS???
"This isn't the first shaffing time Hiraeth's suffered since the plague, or did you conveniently forget that? Personally, I'd rather see an investigation on anyone writing us off as wastes of space before our partners spread their wings. Marloth's leg is short, not her brains or wings. T'gall may be a show boat, but at least he hasn't written us off to compensate for his aging dragons failure to catch an exhausted gold!
Oh wait, must me kidding. Clearly nothing was wrong with her before now. It was all trickery from people with..." He added a dismissive sneer to his voice. "Chromatics. Right? We should know our place. Like drudges and women."
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 3:46 pm
Alcine
Shard it, Bakarn!
Alcine tensed, watching him take his place on a table and say his piece. While the weyrling began to dread what sort of horrible punishment would befall the boy, Leoth squirmed as she warbled softly, eager to join in the gallant stand.
Waves of excitement rolled off the plucky green, who padded at the ground like a runnerbeast anxious to be let from its pen.
He's challenging the Wingleader, actually, came Alcine's response, slow and wary with mild tones of disapproval. This was not their place to speak, this was not the time, and he was adding fuel to the fire by trying to look gallant. They were weyrlings, they were weaponless and voiceless when it came to these affairs, what did Bakarn think he was going to accomplish here? And Seytev, too, of course the two of them would make such a scene--
Alcine had never had someone piggyback on her senses before, and the sensation flooded her mind, like sharing a very small room with a very large beast. Her vision blurred and the sound of the boy's voice seemed distant and echoes, and there was a strange pressure on her head that she didn't like. Leoth, you--have--you have to get off! It took an exhausting amount of effort to throw the green from her mind, and once she gained control of her senses, she saw the group had grown much larger--and also that Leoth was halfway to joining them.
Leoth, Leoth no!
The little dragon reached the side of her siblings first, flaring her wings in defiance at the wingleader with a trademark "KRAARK!", shrill and angry as it had been the moment she'd left her shell. Alcine tumbled behind moments later, her head still splitting but her posture tall. She was terrified, beyond terrified, to be at such odds with the man who was once weyrleader, but from this distance it would be impossible for him to notice her shaking...right? But she was here, and she wasn't about to leave, not when most of her weyrling class was already with her. There was no point in repeating what the others had said and choking on her own words, so Alcine did what she did best--stood in the back, one hand at Leoth's neck ridges. Besides, the little green had said enough already.
Shylla
Biran might have been young, but he certainly well-trained in diplomacy, and he knew when it was time to duck out. Her expression brightened and she leaned into Venk, leading the weyrmaster behind T'gall and towards the pair. There was something to be said for solidarity, but then there were swords and roaring dragons and Shylla was suddenly more than happy to remove herself from the situation. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Biran," said Shylla, her tone a bit rushed as she took her place beside the Lord Holder's son. "I think there is much we could discuss."
All Evmeth needed was an alert from Hiraeth; she'd been pacing in her weyr since the start of the hatching, and the moment she heard her clutchmother's wary call she began to break for the ledge with heavy footfalls. She was nearly at full gallop when she sprung into the air, pulling herself higher with a single thrust of her powerful wings and gaining altitude at a steady pace. With several dragons already aloft, Evmeth gave the Weyrbowl a wide berth, but her champagne silhouette glinted above nonetheless, gliding in slow and stately circles like a barge as she watched the scene unfold below.
Evmeth's eyes whirled a yellow of concern, and with as gentle a presence as a gold could manage she beseeched the huddled group of hatchlings.
Evmeth crooned, her voice as soft and as sure as the breaking dawn.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:01 am
So many things seemed to be happening. Their little dispute had parted ways, but no sooner had that happened than there was a hubbub occuring among the ranking members. It wasn't her business, she'd not even been here when G'vian had been in charge so she couldn't say if they Weyr had been better or worse before. Still when the brown went a yelled in Horteth's mind it went echoing into hers. Maybe it was her business? She couldn't change anything, but they were part of the Weyr now. Horteth had seen to that quite effectively, but what did she matter in the grand scheme of it?
Everyone matters, Vanavia. It doesn't matter if you have rank or what colour you are. We all matter.
The support of the blue brought a smile to her face. It was sweet of Horteth to say, but she doubted the people involved shared his sentiment. She could speak up, but there was nothing saying that they would listen. This was different to what had happened earlier. That had directly involved her, it had been her job to resolve it. Would've been easy too if that rider hadn't come barging in to it. She was addressed by another Weyling and she looked at the girl blankly, as much as she would have liked to roll her eyes at the comment.
As the other Weyrlings gathered, Vanavia was quick to join the group. She didn't have an stirring words to add to theirs, offering just a simple nod to them as she stood alongside them. She didn't know the other Weyrlings well, although she recognised a few as people she had seen in passing and as those that had stood out at the hatching. Vanavia and Horteth couldn't have agreed more with their sentiment. It was wrong for them to count the clutch out before they were even a day old. Perhaps Vanavia was just fueled by anger. Nobody had ever needed her defence before. She'd not cared about anyone who had been challenged this way, but she would not have people impling that there was something wrong with Horteth. They didn't know he wouldn't be able to fly thread. None of the dragons seemed to have damaged wings, who was to say they couldn't fight?
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:45 pm
"Yes... yes, fantastic, good idea, thank you Huntleader," Venk agreed, but though he moved with Shylla his eyes lingered on the gathering group of weyrlings. "Ah... my apologies," he flashed a tight smile to Biran, tearing his eyes away from the group, "I am a little tired, it's been a hectic time."
Somebody else with a lot of attention focused on the Weyrlings was trying to shove his way through an uncooperative crowd; B'tes' face was a mask of worry, teetering on the edge of panic. Sekmith rumbled like distant thunder in the young dragons' minds.
As the gold riders retreated T'gall spared a grim nod of acknowledgement to Natalya and made a note to thank her later. With them out of the way he should have had an open field to deal with G'vian without worry for bystanders but before he knew it more than half the new clutch had arrived, apparently to lend their support. T'gall turned away from his predecessor and inclined his head to the group as a whole but it didn't pay to take your eye off an angry man with a sword for long; his attention was near instantly back on G'vian, though not before he had clocked three rather large members of his former wing poised beside the Weyrlings.
Balith addressed the riders directly. With that matter dealt with... another. he quipped, still sharing his voice with all the dragons in the Weyr.
"This is no experiment," T'gall announced, projecting his voice clear and confident. "This is the way forward, G'vian. It's high time bronze riders learned that they are not born to rule, that it is the talents of the individual that matters not the colour of the hide. Will these Weyrlings fight Thread? I don't have the answer to that but they are barely shelled and they already show great courage; I will not dismiss them out of hand and I say again that I will not stand down. We cannot say why this clutch is as it is, but I find it interesting that you only care about the sickness Hiraeth suffers with clutching now that you are no longer in power. You were quite happy for her to clutch and suffer while you were Weyrleader, and I happen to know that there are some healers who believe those two huge clutches Hiraeth and Bulwarth produced were the very trigger for her struggles, the sheer exhaustion of it."
“You speak well” G’vian said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in his voice. The children at his back were ignored - as that was all they were. Children, with no concept of the sacrifice and the hard work and the messy (sometimes shameful) compromises required to run a Weyr. Let T’gall pander to their youthful egos - G’vian would not. It was no service to them to tell them pretty lies about their dragon’s capabilities and to sell them dreams that could never be realised. “It’s a shame that’s all you can do - flash and sparkle. You’re all mouth and no trousers, selling the Weyr on your own sharding version of reality”
There was a pause.
“I demand satisfaction from you, T’gall"
For the first time that evening T'gall look surprised. "You what?" he said, the question incredulous and rhetorical in equal parts. "There are rules G'vian, shards I thought you of all men were Weyrmated to them! Even if there weren't you can't mean to duel mere here and now in the middle of the feast!"
“Name a second” G’vian said heavily, his mind clearly made up. He had always been a man who did what he thought was best for the Weyr, not for himself - and he had always suspected that T’gall did what was best for T’gall. “O’ail will stand for me if I fall”
Bulwarth said succinctly, the massive bronze’s eyes growing red - but apparently happy to posture for now. He wasn’t stupid, and rather suspected that the first dragon to make a move would be battered out of the sky by an irritable gold.
"O'ail's on your side?" T'gall now sounded equal parts incredulous and worried; the wingleader of third one was known as one of the finest swords in the Weyr. T'gall was merely known as 'good'.
Balith growled, Whatever T'gall's abrupt doubts might be his dragon clearly did not share them.
Biran offered Venk his arm, the boy putting a bright smile on, then leaning across to whisper something in the man’s ear that was inaudible, but might have been a question - or an offer.
“You do look a little under the weather. Allow me to find you a seat and a drink?” He said more loudly, his eyes flitting to the stand-off, which seemed to be taking a more civilised turn… but who knew?
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:23 pm
Aldrey Ohshaffohshaffohshaff.... Aldrey pawed through the recent conversation, the undertones of violence he'd caught in words... things he'd interpreted as an thought toward possible future, possibly more... subtle... violence. Not... not this. Not a challenge for 'satisfaction' in the midst of a hatching feet over hurt feelings. Even normally bubbly, permanently excited Pippith was unnerved by the aging bronze's fury and boasts, his weighty tone that landed like a craggy boulder in the splashing bright water of Pippiths mind-space. It's not. It's not good. I don't like it. He called him out in a feast. He could do anything. If he backs down someone might see it as weak, he might decide to... he might not stand down.> He didn't want to say that G'vian might... stars forbid... do something dishonorable except that he really kind of was saying that and felt as though he should scream it loudly to anyone who would listen. Only then G'vian might turn on him. And that would be terrible. And terrifying. and possibly very permanent. He wasn't sure if Pipith would understand enough to relay the message, or not clearly, but he was so rattled that his thoughts zipped around inside his skull like fast moving insects, flickering almost too fast to know. Everything had just turned particularly incindiary and there were sparks -everywhere-. <...I... ok? ...Balith... Balith... Aldrey is very smart. He listens to everything and he remembers EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD and he thinks G'vian will not uh.... He thinks he will not be nice. He wishes you and yours to be very cautious and keep your eyes on him.> The bubbly blue offered, cautiously, optimism bleeding back in slowly. Aldrey had ideas. Aldrey had a long memory and figured out all sorts of interesting things, so obviously it would be alright. He was pretty sure. ------------------------------------------- moved yourself.> Marloth hissed, pressing closer to Keralder, who took a step back, eyes glittering like volcanic glass, their stare just as sharp. For a show boat, T'gall had picked the wiser angle, though Kidder wasn't convinced that they weren't both just as twisted, one of them just looked less dingy right now. He hated being dismissed, but he knew they'd been heard. Not answering him, his accusation... or T'gall's rephrasing of it (he was stoutly certain the Weyrleader had berry picked that from his own words...) would sink slowly into minds and find small discontent places to fester. They'd remember which one here had stood for the imperfect, the less noble of birth, even if... said individual... did not survive. If T'gall went down today, or tomorrow, but more powerfully now, in the hatching feast, like it seemed as though it would, G'vian would have set shock waves in motion that might later topple him from the foundation he was trying to build for himself.
Even if he had to seek out and nurture every drop of discontent himself.
Even if he and Marloth and the rest of the Eight... or.... sixteen...as it were... had to train themselves in secret. G'vian would never give them a chance. He had already written them off and, from the stares, so had others. Getting anyone to share information with them at all would be an excercize in pity and bemusement, and even more difficult if it became forbidden, but shaff it, they could do this.
If it took a damaged clutch like theirs to bring down this corruption than he'd fin a way to turn them into the best damn weapon he could and watch it's swing cut the head from the beast, even if his hands weren't on the hilt.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:36 pm
C'tis blinked at the unexpected voice in his head and looked down at the young blue dragon. "Apparently so...." Satisfaction? "And apparently somebody's even more of a bonehead than I thought." Challenging the Weyrleader to an illegal duel? Right in front of everyone? And Balith was barging into his head with instructions too, just great. C'tis shifted his weight, fingering the hilt of his sword restlessly.
_________________
"You know," Re'ka muttered loudly enough for the gang of weyrlings around her to hear, "they'd find it real hard to fight if they had a bunch of delicate baby dragons in between them. Just saying." It would be a stupid thing to do of course but, well, she didn't really care all that much about the kids and if it stopped the two fighting....
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:47 pm
Keralder
..."You know, that is an idea sharp enough to cut yourself with, and for once, I'm not kidding at all." Keralder noted, snapping his fingers and grinning wickedly at Re'ka.
These were the kind of good ideas he needed. He'd follow her as a wing leader if they had one for their ragged little ruin, just for ideas like that.
"Yev, Zarike, Ladies... care to join this dance?"
He really didn't like being ignored. Really really didn't like being ignored, and Marloth didn't like this breech of important rules. It was THEIR night, the attention did, after all, rightfully belong on Them.
He had every damn right to be a brat about this if they could save someone's life in the process.
He beckoned to His fellow Weyrlings
"I think someone should ask for a tune and we should resume dancing." He noted, offering out a hand for anyone who was willing to take it.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:02 pm
Sleuth murmured, and gently nuzzled her rider forward.
Yevalee stepped forward carefully and set his hand in Kidder, giving a small nod of acknowledgement. "A slow dance, perhaps." He murmured with Sleuth followed at his heels.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:10 pm
He had ignored them! Like they were just some insignificant insects not even worth his acknowledgement. Vanavia wasn't used to be ignored and she may have wanted it more and more since she got to the Weyr, but shaff if he thought he was going to do it. All the hatchlings were perfect just the way they were and they deserved to be treated that way. It just made her so angry. Horteth on the other hand was more concerned about the growing situation between the two men. What if somebody got hurt? Nobody should have to get hurt, or worse, die over this. Couldn't they just talk it out?
Re'ka's comment had Vanavia turning her head, before her gaze then shot back to Keralder. Was he really trying that? Would it work? The rider had a point, they couldn't fight if there were people in the way. The girl looked down at her blue partner with a clear question in her mind.
Well, if it stops people getting hurt, it's worth a try.
Worth a try indeed. Stepping forward Vanavia smiled brightly. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Anyone care to join us?" She couldn't well dance alone since the boys had paired up. Horteth looked to the other hatchlings and bowed his own invitation to them. No reason that only the people could dance. He would even try very hard not to stand on them.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:24 pm
Zarike
"Mind if I lead?" Zarike asked, getting in on the plan quickly and offering his hand to Vanavia.
What are we doing now?
Dancing... and hoping to prevent something really bad. Get between these two but don't get too close to him. Zarike pictured G'vian. He didn't know what the man was capable of. His current actions and attitude towards their clutch suggested to Zarike that if pushed, he may strike against them anyways. He saw them as failures, shameful and worthless, sports at best.
Peth didn't know if dragons danced, nor did he care. The brown took his cue and wove between the pairs, stamping his feet in an odd manner that didn't resemble any sort of dancing Zarike had ever seen. So long as he was near T'gall rather than G'vian Zarike wasn't going to correct him.
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