About J'len
Name: J'len (Formerly Jalen)
Age:Twenty four
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Rank: Crimson rider
History: J'len, rider of Crimson Hyweth, was once Journeyman Jalen, of the Harper Hall; she was born a holder in Trine, but was quick in her lessons delivered by a hold-harper. The harper in question saw the girl's potential, and a few turns afterward, took the then eleven turn old girl to the Hall where she was bundled with other apprentices. She specialized in singing, as was quickly noted by her masters, though Jalen desired to know a bit of everything. She picked up guitar, but never was very good at making his own. She learned how to play the pipes, but had trouble finding the right type of reeds and grasses without assistance. She could drum messages, but the long pauses between each beat might have made them difficult to understand.
It was only after she walked the tables that Jalen realized what she was meant to do. Teach. She embraced the chance to travel to the Hold and teach children their teaching tunes. She was only there a few months when a dragonrider came to call. She was wanting to speak to one of the masters, and Jalen was more than happy to help him. It was only afterward that the dragonrider explained to the eighteen turn old journeyman that she could be taken to Trine. As a candidate. That she would, perhaps, be able to Impress a dragon of her own.
The chance to become a dragonrider outweighed the chance to become a masterharper. Jalen accepted the dragonrider's invitation. She would be a candidate. She would Impress. The determination to Impress seemed to diminish the excitement she should have, and perhaps would have, if not so firm in her mindset.
At the age of twenty, when she'd just started to worry that she would not Impress at all; when almost every egg had hatched--the Weyrwoman broke open the egg of a crimson (and a black, a silver--but those hadn't gotten J'len's attention). The crimson had to declare herself to her, in order for her to get the attention she sought.
Mine! You look terrible. Come, we must amend this. I am Hyweth, J'len, I will make sure you look your best, always. Upon first Impressing, J'len had been concerned about her dragon's well being. Atypicals were known for being weaker than the standard colors, for being sickly and needing extra care. Unfortunately for J'len, when attempting to provide this extra care, Hyweth would argue with him. Didn't she know that Hyweth was strong? That though she tended to get sick (and claim she was dying on various occassions, to her rider's distress), she would prove herself? Didn't J'len know that she was just as good as any other dragon?
As a Weyrling, Hyweth made a point in deciding to become a breeding crimson, rather than a fighter. J'len had no say in this matter (Hyweth was absolutely determined! Besides, chewing firestone might have marred her shining hide!), naturally, not that she would have cared much one way or the other. Hyweth, even as a Weyrling, was less interested in lessons and more interested in--getting her rider to fall for the right man. Finding the right dragon for her.
So far, however, Hyweth has not been successful when it comes to clutching. J'len is grateful. The dragonrider does not like the potential stress clutching might put on her crimson, though she is currently allowing it. There are some regrets; J'len is a quiet sort, and not the type to argue with her beloved dragon, but she feels she might have had some adventure if Hyweth hadn't insisted on becoming a breeder. She's very concerned, especially due to the recent death of a crimson that had successfully clutched. She worries if Hyweth clutches successfully, the same thing will happen again.
Description:Jalen has long messy, brown hair that falls into her gray blue eyes. She's got a face that seems like a smile would be better placed than the frown she usually wears. She is muscled and tall; seeming to be in denial of the subtle curves she possesses. She is tan and freckled; and could perhaps be considered pretty, if the woman didn't seem to try so hard not to be. This dragonrider seems to care little for how she looks. Unfortunately for her, Hyweth tends to refuse to let her out of their weyr until she looks at least "decent".
Personality: J'len has always been studious, even as a young girl. Being quick to learn, and having easily picked up the teaching tunes the hold harper was teaching the children over at Trine Hold. She quickly became one of the journeyman harper's favorites. Even as a young girl, however, she was always in a rush to get things done. She wants to reach the goal as soon as she starts a project, causing her to be rather slap-dash. She'll leave one thing if it isn't finished in the amount of time she's set and start on the next project. She sets goals to be done by a certain date, and when she fails to reach the goal, she leaves the current project and starts a new one. J'len usually returns, in time, to her original project.
J'len is not the nicest person. She tends to be independent; she wants to be left alone, she doesn't want pity, she doesn't want help. She's not above bribing people into leaving her alone if they get too obnoxious. Not quite antisocial, Jalen has few friends and fewer enemies (according to her, anyway). She attempts to keep herself hidden in crowds and her head down unless she's teaching or spending time with her beloved Hyweth.
J'len avoids talking much in front of other people. It isn't that she's unable to; she's wonderful at speaking, she simply doesn't like to.
Around children, she's a completely different person. Or almost. The grudgingly gregarious nature she had as a candidate and a younger harper shows itself. She is gentle with weyr brats and (certain) candidates than most of the surrounding people in the Weyr. She extends this gentleness, this love, to her dragon. Her social life is thus most active when he is near children. Her voice becomes gentler, and she'll tell stories of how Pern was long ago. She may be only twenty four turns old, but the young woman is well read from having spent many years in the Harper Hall. She feels that by teaching and inspiring children, she can somehow make up for her past failures.
This dragonrider, despite usual harper reputation, does not seem to know how to handle romantic advances. She finds love desirable, and she hopes to find the person for her eventually, but like the hopes she had while she was younger, she may start doubting her ability to find them. Failing to reach various small goals she's set for herself has made her self-esteem all but vanish, and at times, feels that people should not wish to be around her. Generally reassured by Hyweth, these thoughts are short lived and usually do not interfere with day-to-day life.
J'len has never gotten along with (most) candidates, for obvious reasons. They're loud. They're obnoxious. They ask too many sharding questions! In fact, she may attempt to avoid them, now that she's a rider.
Other: J'len has some skill with pipes and guitar. She sings and teaches.
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