A Last Resort

Writers: AmajoS, Heather
Date Posted: 6th May 2019

Characters: Dorana, Chaysea
Description: Dorana brings the problem she's had with Tisafelle to Chaysea.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Tisafelle
Directly follows "Why on the First Day?"

Dorana straightened her skirt and her new shoulder knots and then her
skirt again. She was standing in front of the Headwoman's door, trying
to knock on it, but her nerves kept getting the best of her. Finally,
she swallowed hard and did it. Maybe the Headwoman wasn't even inside.

"Come in," Chaysea called, the knock at the door had already set
Company off, the flit was flying circles about the room, ready to
greet whomever entered.

She opened the door and stepped inside, her hands clasped in front of
her to keep them from fidgeting, "Headwoman, I hope this isn't a bad
time? I need to tell you about a situation that came up today in the
barracks."

"Oh sure, Dorana, have a seat," Chaysea indicated, not quite looking
up from the letter she was writing.

Dorana took the offered chair with relief. She was nervous, but hoped
it wouldn't be as obvious if she were sitting. "I had a bit of
difficulty with one of the new Candidates," she began.

The corners of the Headwoman's mouth twitched a little. "I see. So,
which one of our lovelies is being a pain in the butt?" she asked,
rocking back in her chair.

Dorana relaxed a bit after that. The Headwoman couldn't be too upset
with her needing help on the first day of her new duties if she was
cracking jokes, after all.

"Her name is Tisafelle." She sighed and added, "I saw she had been
assigned to cleaning the barracks along with a couple of other
candidates and thought that since she was so new, she might not know
where the supplies were yet. So, I offered to show her. I was informed
that she was not here to be a drudge, but to Impress a golden dragon."

She rolled her eyes. Six turns of Standing for Impression and failing
had taught Dorana one thing, if nothing else: No one was guaranteed a
dragon. "I informed her that all candidates had chores unless they
were crafters, so she said she would find a craft to join," she
finished.

Chaysea laughed out loud at this. "There's always one in every group
that believes they're Faranth's gift to Pern." The Headwoman shook her
head. "Well, Assistant? How are you going to handle the situation now?
What if she doesn't find a craft and continues to neglect her chores?"
Chaysea was interested to see what Dorana's solution would be.

"I suppose going after her with a wooden spoon is out of the
question?" Dorana asked, only half-joking. The girl's tone had really
gotten to her and now that she was past her nervousness, her annoyance
was having a go.

Then, in a more serious tone, she said, "More chores wouldn't work,
she'd just refuse to do them too. Privileges though... there are a lot
of privileges at the Weyr that holders don't have. Even with all the
classes and chores and so on. Cutting some of them might work."

Chaysea propped her chin on he hand. "Or you could tell her that if
she isn't formally apprenticed within a sevenday she will be returned
to whatever Hold she came from. The Weyr accepts everyone, but
everyone is expected to work. If she's not doing chores as a
Candidate, or working at a craft, then she's not working and has no
reason to be here."

Dorana frowned a bit, "Wouldn't that be a bad idea except maybe as a
last resort? I mean if I were a dragon I wouldn't pick her," and
wouldn't it just be the height of irony if this unpleasant girl
Impressed a dragon when she herself could not, "but you never know who
a dragon will choose."

"This is the last resort, Dorana. If a Candidate won't work, or craft,
then they have no place here. The Weyr isn't a free ride or else we'll
attract everyone spoiled brat who wants to run away from home so they
don't have to do work. With the Candidate's current attitude could you
imagine her butchering meat for her own dragonet? Shoveling excrement
until the dragonet is old enough to take care of it /between/? If she
can't work and do the simple chores of a Candidate, how will she do
the chores necessary to ensure her dragon's health?" The Headwoman
lifted her hands. "It was your altercation, and your decision on how
to handle it, for now. I won't turn a blind eye on her indefinitely,
however, so a solution needs to be found, quickly."

Dorana nodded in understanding. "I'll keep you informed, Headwoman."
With that, she rose to go. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten herself
into this mess. When she arrived she was worried that she would be
viewed as incompetent because of a spoiled child. Now she might wind
up being the only thing that seemed to be standing between that same
spoiled child and being sent home. She would have to find the girl and
have a conversation with her.

Last updated on the June 15th 2019

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A Last Resort