Staging A Question

Writers: Chelle, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 6th April 2015

Characters: A'kua, Nokala
Description: A grand opportunity arises.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Ilyssia

Nokala had sent word she wanted to speak to him before the usual lesson, so
Aluka arrived early again, wondering what was going on. Maybe his teacher
had come up with a new lesson plan or something? If that was the case, he
hoped he could catch on more quickly than seemed to be his average.

"I have a surprise," she announced grandly while standing on her desk. One
had nothing to do with the other. Nokala was actually dusting off the light
in her office which wasn't hard with her height. She still needed the extra
height of the desk beneath her though.

The Candidate watched his teacher warily. A fall off the desk would not be
a good thing. "What kinda surprise are we talkin' here? Basket of
tunnelsnakes, or iced tea when ya were expectin' water?" The iced tea meant
pleasant. The tunnelsnakes, not so much.

"Well there is a Hatching coming aye? Which means lots of harpering fun at
the feast. And...if you don't Impress, you have an invite to play." She
grinned, pleased with herself.

Her student's eyebrows disappeared under his browband, and his eyes widened
so far, the dark blue really stood out against the whites. "_What?!_" he
asked incredulously.

"Indeed. Would you be interested in taking up the invitation then? Doesn't
have to be anything fancy. We mostly just do dance tunes anyway." She
shrugged and jumped down from the desk to be just a little more higher than
he was instead of towering.

Aluka felt a moment of blinding panic. He had no interest in playing in
front of other people, and he most assuredly wasn't ready for it even if he
did have the inclination. But.... But Nokala must have thought he could do
it, else she wouldn't have told him about the invitation. And in the back
of his mind, that whisper of **well, why not?**, the reason he had applied
to join the Candidates, was starting to wind up.

(But another facet of his thoughts, the one made of doubt, scolded him for
even entertaining the idea. He'd be bored out of his mind playing the
traditional dance tunes people loved, and even if he could play his own
compositions, who aside from Lys would want to hear? The Candidate
impatiently broke its metaphorical nose again and stuffed it in a trunk.)
"Do ya really think I can?" he asked, and mentally cursed himself. He had
meant to ask how much time they had.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't be asking you if you want to." There was that
doubt again-lack of confidence. So far the boy hadn't failed so she didn't
understand why he persisted in doubting himself and his abilities. He had a
long learning curve but that wasn't his fault and given the situation he
was doing quite well. "This is entirely your choice though. You don't have
to if you don't want to. I just thought it would be a great next step."

Aluka hesitated. His teacher believed he could do this. She was offering
him something grand indeed. He wanted to repay her faith in his talent, all
the chances she had taken on him, all the help she had given. And once
more, that whisper of **why not?** tugged at him. So what if he would be
bored? If the audience enjoyed it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He
straightened his shoulders and looked Nokala in the eye. "How much time do
we have?"

"Probably a few sevendays to judge by the way the eggs are hardening. Then
again, you've seen them more than I have." As a candidate, he would be
touching them. She also recognized that his question meant that he was
considering her offer. **Good. Maybe he has built some confidence after
all**

"That might not be enough. I know some traditional entertainin' songs, but
not as many as might be needed." He took his usual seat and settled his
gitar on his lap. "So let's get started."

"Okay...here are copies of the songs you should probably learn if you don't
know them yet.." Nokala dug into her folder and produced some hides with
compositions on them. They were in order and she didn't think they were too
difficult for the most part.

Aluka examined the first one intently for several minutes, and then began
the first of many rehearsals.

Last updated on the April 10th 2015

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Staging A Question