What Do You Do If?

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 16th April 2011

Characters: Janani, Meledei
Description: Janani continues Meledei's training as they discuss searching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 9 of Turn 6

"So how do you handle a holder who doesn't want his kids to come to the Weyr
even if the person searched wants to?" Meledei wouldn't have known how to
handle that. Of course, she didn't want to make a holder angry, but she
didn't feel it was right to keep someone who wanted to Stand from doing so.
"I mean, I know that's generally a Searchrider's deal," And Elleth was not
a Search dragon, "But...are there times when we step in?"

Janani looked at the younger goldrider and pondered her question. "Well, for
the most part, we _don't_ get involved, at least not straight away. The
searchrider would do everything in their power to help the youngster get to
the Weyr if that was truly what everyone wanted. When things get a bit
dicey, that's when some of the politics come into play. We, as dragonriders,
cannot just assume that everyone will want their children to come here.
Though it is a true honor. If the _individual_ who was searched wants to
come, then it would be their duty to either convince their family of their
desire or to run off so we could bring them with us." Janani paused, "That's
not to say we _wouldn't_ occasionally get involved further or take someone
who wanted to come even when the holder disagreed." She knew she had
probably not answered Meledei's question the way she'd intended, but hold
and Weyr politics could get very tricky at times.

Meledei nodded slowly, fingers tapping against the table. "So, if it _did_
come to that....who approaches? The Weyrleader or one of us? Or could we
send maybe another ranker? Perhaps a Wingleader? Bronzes I guess tend to
be pretty intimidating." But why wouldn't golds be too?

Janani mused for a bit, "I think the only time that the Weyrs have ever
pushed for a candidate so hard is when a gold egg is one the sands, or when
our numbers are very low. Most of the time, if we cannot convince the
candidate to leave with us easily, then the Searchriders are more apt to
move on. In the end we cannot steal possible candidates, and the candidate
is the one who must decide to come." Janani was still not sure she was
helping Meledei here, but she knew from experience how often those deemed
searched worthy did not come to the Weyrs, either by their own choice or
that of their families. Occasionally when the situation was clearly not good
for the potential candidate in their home they would find a way to sneak
them out and to the Weyr.

"It doesn't seem fair, though, that someone who might want to come can't
because his or her family keeps them from coming." And yet Meledei knew it
happened, especially with girls it seemed. She'd heard more stories about
them than about boys. "You said that sometimes the Weyr helps them run
away." And she'd heard that from other people too, but Meledei had never
been in a position to encounter it before. It wasn't necessarily going to
be something she _ever_ encountered, but she wanted to be prepared in case
it did. "How do we do that?"

"Well, oftentimes, the searchriders will try and talk to the youngster,
explain to them that they _can_ leave, even if their families don't approve.
If it seems like the other person is interested, sometimes the rider can
make arrangements to meet them outside the main hold and take them to the
Weyr. It doesn't always end well, but if the candidate is intent on coming
here and willing to do their part to get away, we will find them a place."
Janani knew it wasn't always the best situation, but it was what had to be
done. Once the candidate left and came to the Weyr, there was almost nothing
the holders could do about the situation.

"I really wish the holders were more open to things." Meledei visited
holds, she'd seen the way she'd been treated. It was better now that she
was a goldrider, but before that...well, it might have been one of the
reasons she didn't usually do much outside of Gathers and grounds. The
Northern Holds had been a lot more pleasant to visit in that regard. At
least now she had a certain amount of respect with her position, such as it
was.

"Yes, I do agree with you there Meledei," Janani replied. She hadn't
realized how different the Holds and Weyrs really were until she herself had
gone to Dragonsfall to stand.

"What's next on our agenda for today's lesson, then, eh?" Janani asked,
looking over the things they had already covered and wondering what Meledei
wanted to cover next.

"Well, weren't we going to talk about visiting one of the holds in a more
formal event and the proper etiquette we'll need to exhibit?" Meledei
pointed out, grateful that Janani was there, no on a permanent basis. She'd
had a lot to catch up on since most of her Weyrlinghood had been spent
without guidance and even now they were addressing things that should have
been address long before. But at least they were finally being addressed!

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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