A Little Talk

Writers: Ames, KC Free
Date Posted: 18th April 2011

Characters: C'jex, T'aesh
Description: C'jex talks to Taeshin about his feelings and actions
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Janani

C'jex sat comfortably on the bench, enjoying the sun as Malty barked and
nipped playfully at his heels.

"We'll play soon, mutt, I promise, but the Weyrwoman has asked me to meet
one of the candidates. Something about my not Impressing on my first
attempt." The bluerider shook his head even though he was grinning as he
bent down to scratch at the pup's ears. "You _could_ go play with Charen,"
he told her with a playful pat. The look the pup sent his way had him
laughing out loud. Clearly she was not interesting in laying atop Ohoneth
the way the little green flit was currently doing. Picking up a small stick
he had, he tossed it a short distance away and watched as Malty bounded
after it with a happy bark. He glanced up and saw a figure coming in his
direction. He wondered if this was the candidate he'd been asked to meet
with. Leaning back on the bench, arms draped over the backside, C'jex simply watched and waited.

Taeshin slowly walked towards the bluerider. Weyrwoman Janani had told him
when and where too meet the rider, and what they were to discuss. She had
also assured Taeshin that she would expect a full report from both the rider and himself later on that day. He was also quite sure that the blue dragon would be listening in, and reporting everything to the golden Angdelouth as well.

Taeshin tried as hard as he could to put on a brave face as he approached
the rider and his very energetic canine. He inclined his head in greeting,
his eyes and mannerism quite sullen and nothing like the normal jokester
Taeshin; this whole ordeal was taking its toll emotionally on him.

"Hello" he said simply. "I'm Taeshin, Weyrwoman Janani told me to come and
talk with you, about not Impressing right away."

He gave the boy a friendly smile, trying to help put him at ease. "I'm
C'jex, though you probably already knew that. Why don't you have a seat?" He indicated the bench beside him. "I must say the request from the Weyrwoman was a bit of an unusual one, but I'm happy to do what I can." He moved his arms from the back of the bench to make room for the candidate. "So, why exactly _did_ the Weyrwoman think we should have this discussion?"

Taeshin visibly flinched at the question. He had hoped that Janani had
informed the Bluerider of why she wanted the two of them to talk. It was so degrading to have to say it out loud. "She wants you to talk to me
because...you didn't Impress your first time Standing. She wants me to
learn how to deal with it. Apparently I've been rather rude to some
weyrlings; and it stems from...jealousy" he said.

Taeshin looked at C'jex in the eyes, trying to see what his reaction to this revelation would be.

"Oh, I see," C'jex replied easily. "I figured it might have something to do
with that, but I wanted to make sure." He paused, leaning forward, his arms
resting on his knees as he looked at the candidate. "I won't bite, I
promise. And truth be told," he shrugged, "I could talk your ear off or not. I didn't Impress right away. It took me a few turns."

Taeshin visibly relaxed, much of the tension in his body slipping away.
Taeshin knew that there were riders who didn't Impress right away, but he
didn't know if anyone had waited Turns like he had. Not that he was
guaranteed to become a rider, but lately it was all he could think of, it
was his driving motivation. To know that someone else had stood as a
Candidate for Turns, and eventually Impressed was a calming and relieving
thought.

"How did you deal with it, the waiting...and the disappointment for all
those Turns?" Taeshin asked, his voice shaking a little when he spoke of the disappointment.

"Well," C'jex started thinking back, "I grew up here in the Weyr, so I'd see many others wait out hatching after hatching. Some Impressed and some did not. I began to realize as I waited that all of them turned out better in the end, either because they had found a lifemate with a dragon or they had learned strength and endurance to continue on even in the face of hardship." He paused, then added with a snort. "It wasn't always easy though. Some of the hold-bred boys liked to tease me because they Impressed and I, living in the Weyr, had not been chosen. There were days I wanted nothing more than to hit them as hard as I could, but instead I put my efforts into my craft. Do you have a craft?" He was genuine curious about the boy and how else he could help him.

Taeshin looked at C'jex, a bit of pride creeping in his face and voice as he replied "I'm a Dragonhealer."

Taeshin thoroughly enjoyed his craft and was very good at it, if he didn't
say so himself. It was part of the reason he was so determined to
becoming a Rider. To be an effective dragonhealer, one really should be a
dragonrider as well. Without a dragon, Taeshin would never advance in his
craft, and he couldn't see himself doing anything else.

"Ah, I see," C'jex replied, "Tis a wonderful craft to pursue. Our dragons
are very precious to us and it takes good, kind-hearted, well practiced
healers to work with the amazing creatures." He paused a moment to let that
sink in, "So you know, that making riders upset with you, like what's been
happening with the weyrlings, can really harm a dragonhealer's career. I'm
just saying, if you can't speak to the riders without becoming upset, then
they will be less inclined to come to you for aide. That could be bad for
everyone involved."

As Taeshin took in C'jex's words he looked positively crestfallen.
Everything the rider said was true and Taeshin knew it. A dragonhealer who
couldn't practice his craft simply because no one wanted him near their
dragon was utterly useless to the Weyr.

"I don't know what the problem is C'jex, I really don't" Taeshin said with
all sincerity.

"Hmm," C'jex mumbled. "How many times have you stood the sands? How much
longer do you have before you will age out?" The answers to these questions
might help him figure out the best way to help the candidate.

Taeshin looked down at the ground, ashamed to speak of it out loud. "I've
stood at every Hatching for the past three Turns....another three or four
more Turns and I'll be to old to be a candidate."

"That can be hard," He reached an arm out and patted the boy on the back.
"But you've still three of four more turns! That's plenty of time. You just
can't let yourself get down because it hasn't happened yet. _When_ it does,
you will be so glad that all the waiting won't matter because your perfect
lifemate has chosen _you_." C'jex paused again and then asked Taeshin
another question, "Do you dislike riders like me as well or is the problem
just with the weyrlings?"

"No sir. Just weyrlings" Taeshin replied. Really it was a specific type of weyrlings. It was only those who had Impressed at a Hatching that Taeshin had stood at as well. Those were the targets of his ire, no one else.

"Well, then I guess we just have to find a way for you to accept them for
who they are and know that your time will come as well," C'jex wasn't really sure how else to help the younger man.

Taeshin was about to responded when he looked at the cast of his shadow. He looked into the sky, seeing where the sun was and gasped.

"I'm sorry C'jex, but I'm late for craft lessons" he said hurriedly. His
Master had told him, these extra tasks set to him better no interfere with
his lessons, or Taeshin would really pay.

He bowed low to the dragonrider before darting off in the direction of the
dragon infirmary. A few feet away Taeshin turned around, waving back.

"Thank you C'jex! Really!" he said.

Even though the rider hadn't really given Taeshin an actual solution,
talking to someone who sort of felt how Taeshin was feeling, and was being
judgmental was just what Taeshin needed.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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A Little Talk