Recognizing Potential

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 14th March 2019

Characters: D'hol, R'nar
Description: D'hol sees potential in R'nar, as long as R'nar doesn't ruin it.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 26 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'deren, Timassa, Cyradis, Ranni

D'hol

The end of the drill couldn't have come sooner. Integrating the new
weyrlings had proven to be a bit more problematic than he had
expected, but he planned on discussing the matter with Timassa and
K'deren the next morning. Perhaps, he thought, K'deren's previous
suggestion of pairing them with more experienced riders would be
necessary. Some simply hadn't meshed as well as he would have liked
and weren't used to the pace that the wing set. He twisted his head
slightly, feeling the pop his neck release, then slung his straps
across his shoulders. The heavy weight was familiar, but less
strenuous to carrry.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" R'nar asked as he came up to walk in
stride with D'hol.

"Yes, I did." D'hol mused for a moment. "The new riders are having
problems adapting and I'm considering pairing them off with the more
experienced in the wing. Pairing with an older rider, especially for
the younger may be too intimidating, but you're closer in age to them.
" He looked over at the young man. "I'll most likely pair you with the
new bronze lad. He's trying too hard."

R'nar felt a little swell of pride that D'hol had chosen him from
among the other bronzeriders in the Wing. He tried not to focus on it,
but he had a need to please the Wingleader. Not just because he was
his superior, but because he had the faintest memories of D'hol when
they had all lived at the same Weyr together. Of course, he also had
faint memories of his father having nothing good to say about D'hol
either. "Yes, sir."

"It'll be up to you to help him during and between drills. K'deren,
Timassa, and I can't take the time to constantly correct him. " D'hol
stopped and turned to face R'nar. "You think you're up to it? If he
falters, I'll have you both in my office to know why. "

"Of course, sir," R'nar agreed. This was his chance to prove that he
could handle a little bit of leadership, and he didn't want to blow
it.

D'hol paused, studying the younger man for a long moment. He
recognized him, knew who he was, but had never brought it up
previously. He doubted that the young man remembered who he was.
"Good. You'll lead his nine next drill. "

The Wingleader's pause made R'nar pause. Was D'hol remembering? R'nar
wondered. Ever since he had been tapped into D'hol's Wing, R'nar had
been nervous that one day the bronzerider might recall all those Turns
ago when R'nar had been young, young enough that the memory was fuzzy
around the edges. Back when a much younger D'hol had ridden much
younger "Ranar" around on his shoulders while visiting with Cyradis.

"Iorath has been chomping at the bit to lead a nine, he will be
pleased." R'nar answered.

"Good. He should be." D'ho replied just as easily. His brow knit as
his gaze flicked over R'nar. Faranth, but the boy looked like his
father, except for the eyes. In that, he was all his mother. "I won't
make it easy on you, R'nar." His brow lifted slowly. "But if you've
grown into the man I expected you would, you'll meet the challenge."

The compliment was unexpected. R'nar couldn't remember his father ever
having said something as meaningful to him. No, with N'lon it was
always how he could have done it better, how he hadn't done it as good
as N'lon had when he was his age.

"Of course, sir."

D'hol inclined his head. "You've not much of your father in you
besides looks." Personally, he was thankful for it. N'lon was a decent
enough rider, but the egomaniacal arrogance of the man had won him few
friends.

"No, I don't have a lot of him in me, he's quick to let me know that."
R'nar's lips twisted in a sardonic grin. It was something he was still
coming to terms with, but had improved since his Impression to Iorath.

In D'hol's mind that wasn't such a bad thing. He had personally hated
the man and not simply because of his personality. His lips barely
twitched in response. "Hm. Well, he's not here, is he? Keep up with
the wing, and do your duty, and I'll see to it that you'll get the
leadership experience that you need. Agreed?"

R'nar already had his eyes set on a Wingsecond position. He and Iorath
were still a few Turns away from that, but this was the start, and if
he could please a demanding Wingleader like D'hol, it would look even
better when he applied for the position. "Agreed. You won't regret
it."

"No, I won't. You will." D'hol arched a brow. "I'll bust you down to
flying with your mother if I have to. I'd really rather not."

The younger bronzerider winced. "Ah, the perks of having the Weyrwoman
as your mother."

That brought a wry grin. "One of the necessities of leadership. Use
what you have to."

"It does make me work harder at times, or maybe, more carefully,
knowing that she'll hear about whatever it is I'm doing." R'nar
admitted. He'd always wanted to make his parents proud.

"Not from me, R'nar. I don't report to her about my wing or its
activities. I can't speak for K'deren of course. If you have concerns
about that, you can go to him. I believe he would be more
understanding about the matter than you think and could understand
your need for...privacy."

"Oh, no, I wasn't insinuating that you or K'deren would tell her,"
R'nar rushed to say. He tried to never think of D'hol and his mother
interacting, it was awkward enough that D'hol had probably seen him in
diapers.

Brows quirked upwards. "Well, just be assured that I don't." He tilted
his head. "But, it may not be a bad thing that she watches you,
especially if it makes you more careful and less apt to behaviors
common to young bronzeriders." He actually chuckled then.

R'nar wasn't sure if D'hol was thinking of young bronzeriders in
general or if he'd heard about what had happened with Ranni. "Yeah, I've already
imagined how embarrassing it would be for the Weyr to see her dragging
me around by my ear, so I tried to avoid doing anything that could
warrant that."

That brought a short bark of laughter. "Oh no, lad. When she's that
angry, she handles matters in private and it's always worse than what
you just imagined. She'll not shame you in public and you're a man
now, so let me give you some advice. If she's ever that angry with
you, avoid trips to anywhere she can get you alone. Your hide will
thank you for it."

"Noted," R'nar grinned. "Thank you for the advice and the opportunity
in the Wing."

"You're welcome, R'nar." He lightly clapped the boy on the shoulder.
"You'll do well, I think."

Last updated on the March 19th 2019

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Recognizing Potential