Logs:Not Ready
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| RL Date: 15 September, 2011 |
| Who: Meara, Rhaelyn |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Meara and Isath catch up with Rhaelyn and Amareth. |
| Where: Weyrling Training Cavern, HIgh Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 12, Month 10, Turn 26 (Interval 10) |
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| Weyrling Training Cavern, High Reaches Weyr All the furniture here has been pushed to one side of the room to allow a large pathway opposite: room enough to let weyrling dragons pass from the bowl's archway to the cavernous barracks at the back. None of the furniture matches, either: it varies from big cushioned, claw-footed chairs to those of plain wood, while the most seating is at the two stone tables ringed by low and equally hard stone benches. Without the tapestries that decorate many of the Weyr's other interior spaces, the room always echoes with noise, no matter how few are there. What it does have, however, are several colorful murals: on one wall, a detailed diagram of a dragon's anatomy; opposite, next to a creaky wooden door, a number of painted and labeled wing formations. Near the entrance is a large-scale version of the Weyr's badge, while the back wall, by the barracks, features a detailed map of the continent. The latter area's also home to one big, beat-up couch, black or maybe blue -- the thing's so old and filthy it's hard to tell, though it's certainly comfortable. Today's ground drills and formations practices have only recently ended, and weyrlings - excepting those who have extra leadership training sessions to attend - are now filing their way back into the barracks. Meara, who was not present during the afternoon's lessons, lingers near the doorway that leads into her office, arms crossed in front of her, tracking weyrlings as they pass. Like usual, Rhae and Amareth are one of the last to file their way back into the barracks. Likewise, Rhaelyn is introspective and silent, her expression neutral. The lean green purposefully moves slower than what is usual today though, her head cocked to the side as she watches several of the leadership dragons in training doing their routines, the ploy isn't changing Rhae's path or attention, no interest glinting in the girl's eyes in the least. « Amareth, » says Isath, though the green herself is not visible - not, it seems, present in the barracks at this time. Her rider, meanwhile, takes a half step away from the wall, reaching out to intercept the younger green's rider. "Rhaelyn," she says, her tone an unconscious immitation of her dragon's: firm, but without the sense that she's interrupting due to anything negative. « Isath » Amareth responds in turn, but her attention is one the other dragons, her calculations of correcting what she's seeing slowly cut off as the mature green distract her. « Do you need something? » Friendly and curious, though slightly distracted. Rhaelyn lets out a soft breath as she's singled out by the Weyrlingmaster and her shoulders give her away with a fraction of tightening. "Ma'am." Polite but cold in contrast with her lifemate. Is that a note of long-suffering in Meara's voice? "Shells, Rhaelyn, you're not in /trouble/ or anything," says the Weyrlingmaster, her eyebrows raised curiously. "Unless there's something I don't know. I just wanted to check up on you. On Amareth. See how things were going." Now, her hands dig loosely into her pockets, her head tipping just slightly to the side. « Only to check up on you, » echoes her green. « How are you doing, Amareth? How are things going? » "Oh, I wasn't thinking 'trouble' as much as walking into an invitation for more work, or lessons or a test." Rhaelyn's eyes narrow slightly, "It's not a test day is it?" Her gaze flickers to Armareth in irritation as the green answers Isath in her typical good humor, « I am well. Although, I really think that our lessons could be more effective if we get a little more time as a group. I don't want to speak ill of our wingleader, but I do wish he'd be a little more open to suggestions. » "No," says Meara, calmly. "It's not a test day." Her gaze does follow Rhaelyn's towards the green, though, and again, it seems to make her curious. "Something the matter? Now that I've got you here." « What would you propose? » Isath wants to know, a silvery thread of moonlight whispering through her tone. « I'm interested. Perhaps you'll get your own chance to be Wingleader, eventually. » « Well » Amareth begins after slowly and purposefully looking over at her rider for a private little conversation that makes Rhae roll her eyes, "Nothing is the matter. Of course not. I've just got a lot on my mind." And the green, eager to share her thoughts opens up with images of her plans, like carefully plotted schematics, like a play book. « If some of the smaller, more agile dragons would be allowed to use their maneuverability, it would give more flexibility to the wing as a whole. I think we would need additional training time to work out the new roles but if you look here...» Rhae closes her eyes and gives her head a shake, refocuses on Meara after clearly 'shutting out' her dragon. "I just have a lot on my mind right now." Meara? Totally paying attention to those exchanges between weyrling and dragon, though if she's concerned, it's not showing over much in her expression. "Anything I can help with?" asks the Weyrlingmaster, quietly, her tone encouraging - but not pushing - explanation. Isath listens to Amareth's suggestions with interest that doesn't /seem/ to be feigned, and asks, finally, « And Hiyanoth does not want to listen to your ideas? What does he say? » Rhaelyn motions a hand towards her dragon, though it's obvious that she's shut out the dragon and whatever communication is going on, "I don't think it's really anything you can help with. It's fine. I ...." Here the weyrling hesitates and then confides, "She is trying too hard." And while Rhae is saying this, Amareth breaks off on her dialog to prod at the wall that's gone up between herself and her weyrling with a flare of frustration, « He says to wait my turn and that I can try it when we are found 'worthy' to lead the wing. I just think he should listen. A good leader would listen and have better feedback. He needs the ideas to be his own I guess. I'm trying to be patient. » Which is a huge task for the driven little green. « I just know we have a lot to offer. My girl just needs some encouragement. » Meara flicks an imaginary piece of lint off of the top of her pocket, regarding Rhaelyn levelly. "Why do you think that?" she wonders. "Isath says she has ideas, says she wants to get involved. Is that a problem?" « A good leader /should/ listen, » agrees Isath, carefully. « Perhaps it is a lesson he ought to learn. Why does it bother your rider so much, that you want to push, and make change? Is she afraid? » There's a slight narrowing of Rhae's eyes, a tightening around her mouth that isn't a frown but not a smile either, "She's just encouraging more work for us." There's more there, just on the tip of her tongue but she bites it back, letting a smile slowly form. « She does not believe anyone will let her. Do you know they did not wish me to find Her? » Whomever these 'they' are, it's a common story told to the green, like a boogyman story, « I will just have to show her, it will be fine. She is strong and has purpose and drive. She doesn't like that I keep trying to tell Hiyanoth's my ideas, but how else are we to make things better? » "And you," begins Meara, curious, but not pushing the point, her tone still light, "would rather just float through, is that it? What would you do if /you/ were made weyrling Wingleader for a month?" « She's wrong, » is Isath's simple response, flooded with warm moonlight clearly intended to encourage the green. « She can be anything. You both can. You /did/ find her; you made it the way it ought to be. » Rhae must not have been guarded before, because at the dangled carrot of 'you could be boss' is waved around, the girl's expression cools even more, "Why would you do that? I mean, not you but The Weyr." She ends with a little knowing smirk. Amareth is looking at her, tail twitching in eagerness, but she's still closed out. « She would be a very strong leader. Very clever. » Pleased at the strength of will, even if it means she doesn't get to 'listen in' right now. « I know we would shine. She only needs to be tested. I know she would like it. » Amused but assured, her own desire to be leader doesn't need to be voiced, she's got lots of ideas to test out. That cooling, that smirk: these draw a furrow in Meara's already-lined face, enough to make it look as though she's outright frowning. "Why not?" she wonders. "There will be a new weyrling wingleader every month until you're senior weyrlings - that's a number of options. Is there a reason why I /shouldn't/ pick you?" Isath's touch is obviously intended to soothe; she's clearly troubled by something, but otherwise inclined to be positive. « Perhaps we will see. Perhaps. You'll have to make her work hard. » It's the small, high pitched croon from Amareth that breaks Rhaelyn's resolve and the wall of privacy she'd put up as well. "I don't know. I seem to be throwing myself into things but it's...not enough." She lowers her voice, "You didn't promote us for that....that program...." She shrugs up her shoulders, "It's fine. Let them be the wingleaders then." A meaningful glance at Amareth for the reminder that they were left out. For a moment the green is quiet, listening to something 'else' and then replies quietly, « She is working very hard. It...is not because of my wing is it? Because you don't have to worry about that, we are taking very good care of it. » The splinted wing is displayed, all well tended and everything. The line of Meara's mouth tightens slightly, and yet, the rest of her expression seems to soften. "Right now," she says, calmly, "you and Amareth need to concentrate on her wing. On making sure that she will be able to fly. That's not--" her gaze slides towards the green, and for the moment, it looks like she's addressing her directly, "a criticism. You're obviously doing a good job. If you /want/ the leadership training, Rhaelyn... prove it. Make us notice." « We're not worried, » Isath assures, quietly. « You're doing a very good job. » For a moment, Rhae watches the Weyrlingmaster and then slowly shakes her head, "Right. Not a criticism...." But she turns to Amareth and speaks aloud, "You see that Ams, you need to -stop- with your wild ideas and concentrate on your wing." Sounding tired she adds, "Because all your great ideas that you -bug- everyone with don't mean anything unless you can do the job in the air." The weyrling gives her dragon a meaningful look, "And I'm tired of hearing my fellow weyrlings whine because they can't block out your constant chattering at them. You've got to just....chill out." All of that? It renders Meara speechless. Not Isath, however, who reaches out again to tell Amareth, firmly, « She doesn't mean that. You need to be who you are. You /are/ who you are. » Finally, from the weyrlingmaster: "And you, Rhaelyn, need to support your dragon for who she is, and help her. That kind of attitude isn't going to help anything, and is probably an excellent example of why you /weren't/ put into the leadership program." She's a little snappier than she probably intends to be - indeed, it's highly likely she regrets her words as soon as they get out, because what she says next is softer. Significantly so. "Does it just emphasise what she can't do yet? What is it that upsets you so much, Rhaelyn?" Not upset by the outburst from her weyrling, Amareth responds softly to Isath, « They will not allow me to try to glide. She is angry at that. My muscles are stronger than a few of my wing mates. We spend twice as much time in the lake working my wing and using the *thing* » Meaning the brace with the awful bolts that sometimes must be pulled and tightened. These are not memories she likes to linger on though, thank goodness for short dragon memory, « She will feel better when she is not so worried. » Rhae takes a long breath, "You know I'm not in the leadership program because of that wing, not my attitude." Not cowed by the snappiness, chin coming up proudly, "I am upset because on the one hand I should be proving myself, but no one pays attention because of that wing. Everyone 'says' will be fine but I see the looks. She's strong and fit and able. You say we should focus on her wing--that's /all/ I focus on. She is so eager and has all these 'ideas'....she just needs to prove she can fly first and then people will take us seriously." « You're not ready, » explains Isath, albeit softly, with sympathy. « Soon. If we rush it, you could hurt yourself. And then you might never fly. I know you feel strong - and you're getting stronger, I can see that - but we have experience with these things. The dragonhealers and the weyrlingmasters. We'll know when you're ready. » There's a firmness to her, despite the sympathy: she's not going to be dissuaded from this. She really does know what she's talking about. "No, you're not in the leadership program because you only see things from your own perspective, and never anyone else's, Rhaelyn. I don't think you're ready for leadership. Perhaps we'll see, later on down the line. I'm not saying you don't have potential. But if you want that wingleader position - for Amareth, if not for yourself? You're going to have to prove that you're up for it." Meara's hands have dropped from her pockets: her whole stance has changed. "You can start by being less sorry for yourself. Go and clean up; it'll be dinner soon." There's disagreement in Amareth's thoughts, denial too and a youthful pride, « If I'm just given a chance. How will you know? I must take the chance. » But she relents after that, more determined than ever. Some of that determination bleeds off into her weyrling who looks at Maera in disbelief but she doesn't respond except for a nod for the advice. "Right." and with that she continues on her path inside, head shaking back and forth. Meara has nothing more to say, but Isath, just briefly: « Wait, Amareth. It won't be forever. Soon. » And then she's gone, as her rider turns to head back into the office. |
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