Meeting Candidate Master

Writers: Clancey, Miriah
Date Posted: 23rd April 2012

Characters: Paetri, J'darin
Description: Paetri reports to the Weyrlingmaster for her Candidate class schedule.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 6

J'darin

Scrolling through his pile of hides, as usual, J'darin noted the latest
Candidate listing. He pulled it free and examined it, checking for new
names, or conflicts with any Crafting or Chore schedules. So far, he'd
been able to stay off the liquor except for the odd glass, and his eyes
were sharper, his mind clearer, and his face more alive looking than it had
been at any time in the past months. Cardella had graduated with the
others and he didn't have to look at her achingly attractive face as often,
and that helped him cope with the day to day issues of being Weyrlingmaster.

Still, he'd often hoped she would stay his friend after graduation. So
far... well, he didn't know yet.

With a sigh, he pulled his supposedly clearer head back to the Candidate
listing and found a couple of new names. One, Paetri, was due here
shortly for her orientation with him and the class schedule. He really
should look at his own schedule more often; it appeared he'd been notified
of her arrival and time to meet with him at least a day ago.
Perhaps he was getting old...

}:We are not. :{ Hasaarth said in his implacable 'don't argue with me'
mindvoice.
Ignoring him, though this time with fondness than desire to be along in his
head, J'darin focused on the hide once more and began making notes. She
was holdbred, he saw, and that always meant trouble, sometimes more so for
the girls. He was minded of another holdbred girl who outperformed nearly
everyone in her class, but he locked down that chain of thought right away.

Oak, wrapped around his chair as usual, chittered at his person in
encouragement.
J'darin was laughing aloud when he thought he heard a noise outside.

Paetri was understandably nervous as she checked, then rechecked her
clothing and stroked her braid to make sure every strand was neat in it's
place. Her father's firm, uncompromising voice came to her as she double
checked everything. **Now remember, back straight, hair neat. Every line of
cloth must be emmaculate. You want to make an impression with your
demeanor. Faranth knows your body can't.** Paetri's lip quirked slightly
and the rememberance of her father's gruff tone. He was right, of course
and she had long since learned to accept the sting of that truth.

Delicate hands smoothed down an already perfect braid as she glanced at her
shoulder where Marli sat. The little blue already knew what he was supposed
to do. Behave. Paetri stroked his little head and gave him a gentle smile
as he wrapped his tail lightly around her shoulders. He too had been
through this before.

Taking a deep breath, Paetri approached the office door and stared at it
for a long moment. Again, her father's gruff voice came to her. **Remember,
men like demure lasses. If they want brains, they go to a Harper. Speak
when spoken to. Be polite. That's m'gal.** Lifting a hand to knock on the
door, she paused when she heard laughter within. Perhaps she was
interrupting another meeting? She glanced at Marli, wondering if she should
wait. No...she decided. It was right and proper to be prompt. She knocked
lightly and waited for the Weyrlingmaster to answer.

J'darin stopped his chuckles as the knock came, but was still smiling when
he called out. "Come on in." He eyed his guest as she arrived, taking note
with interest of the blue flit twined about her shoulder, and of the way
she held herself, the way she looked, and the fact that she was right on
time.

He smiled. "Would you be Paetri, lass? Come on in and sit down. I'm
afraid you caught me laughing at my flit. Sometimes he sends the funniest
pictures or emotions." He nodded to the brown fire lizard on the back of
his chair. He paused before diving into further explanations, letting
her get all the way in and settled a bit.

Stepping in, Paetri couldn't hold back the slight lift to her lips at the
greeting. "Yes, Weyrlingmaster. My name is Paetri. I was told to come and
meet with you." She did as she was asked, taking a seat, but remembered her
posture as her hands folded together lightly in her lap. She was nervous,
but having been chided so many times in the past, she was able to refrain
from tightly winding her fingers together. Instead, she was as she was
taught; she was the image of decorum.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Her downcast eyes flicked to the side to
watch as her little blue craned his head to view the other resident
firelizard in the room. "My Marli does the same." Before the sentence had
finished, Marli gave a little chirrup of curiousity, eyeing the other
brown. He gave his bottom a little wiggle, eager to go meet this new flit,
but a gentle mental nudge from his pet stilled him. The blue gave a
long-suffering sigh and flicked his tail; he held still, but kept his gaze
on the brown.

My, she was a well-mannered lass. That could be good. He hoped it didn't
make it harder on her to adjust.

Oak raised his head curiously at the blue and chittered back, but that was
all the response he made. He was too well trained to go and bother the new
flit, though he was clearly interested. J'darin eyed his brown flit with
obvious fondness. "If you wish to go and play with him, ask nicely." he
said, aloud, for Paetri's benefit. "If he's willing." and sent a picture
of the two flits flying around each other in play, but _not_ over his desk.

"Aye, welcome to Dragonsfall, Paetri." He went on, leaving it to the flits
to decide if they wanted to play. "My flit's name is Oak, and its a good
sign you've a flit already. It will help a little once your dragon comes
to live inside your head." He smiled at her, in a kind manner. "A
little, mind. A flit is to a dragon what a tame baby feline is to a full
grown wild feline with a mind of its own."

"Now, you're from a small cothold in Amber Hills territory, right?" He
didn't wait for an answer, he knew she was, he was just starting off the
conversation that way so he could explain. "Adjusting to life in the Weyr
may be hard at first; its very different than you are used to at your
family's home. You will have duties, chores really, assigned by the
Headwoman, and you will attend the Candidate classes." He pulled out her
schedule and handed it to her; it detailed the Candidate class schedule
times and locations.

"For you, coming from the Hold, it is vitally important you attend all your
Candidate classes. They will help you become more comfortable here. They
will help you understand the differences. I, too, came from a Hold, so I
know how it will be for you." He didn't say that it would much harder for
a girl. It often was, especially one who seemed to have been brought up so
well, and so properly. "Also, I want you to see me or the Headwoman
immediately if you are having trouble adjusting, or if you have any
questions, okay?" He watched her, sitting so properly, and smiled again.
"Now, I expect you may have some questions already. Now is the time, if
you would like. "

Marli turned to nudge his Paetri and gave a soft croon. Paetri turned and
glanced at the Weyrlingmaster before murmuring softly to her flit.
"Alright. Just behave, please." Marli hopped eagerly and bobbed his head in
agreement before leaping off his perch and winging towards the brown. He
landed with a little wiggle and chittered at the brown, bobbing his head.

Paetri looked back at J'darin and inclined her head slightly. "Thank you.
The blue is Marli. You'll have to excuse him. He's still young." Her lips
lifted slightly, relieved that possessing her flit would not be an issue.
She was lucky enough that her brother had thought of her when he'd been
offered an egg.

She listened carefully as J'darin continued, her fingers flexing slightly
as she fought the expected battle with her nerves. She would have to pay
close attention, for to be sent back home for a mistake would cause her to
yet again be a burden on her kin. She'd not want that. She took the list
from J'darin and flicked her gaze over it quickly. Some of the
classes caused her to pause and her brow to furrow slightly. She hadn't
really had any classes before, other than reading and her numbers...

As he finished, she finally looked up, her fingers fidgeting against the
list as she nibbled at her lower lip. "Weyrlingmaster, I have never had
classes like these before..." Her face flushed as she cleared her throat.
"Not to say I could not keep up, of course. I've had my letters and
numbers, but I suppose my family never expected me to do much else than
marry." She frowned slightly and shook her head, then continued softly. "I
suppose I shall have to learn then. I apologize."

She looked back up and sat straighter. "Can you perhaps tell me what may be
most difficult for me? So I can be prepared? How exactly will it be for me?"

"No apologies, lass. You were being brought up just as you should. Of
course you were expected to marry. That is what women who are not
dragonriders _should_ do, really. But, the Search dragon who found you,
found something he liked in you, and that is a wonderful thing. And have
no fear of your classes. Myself and the other Weyrlingstaff will see to it
you have any and all help you need to learn what you are needing to learn."
He paused as she went on with her next question, the true heart of the
matter.
It was going to be difficult. She seemed shy and self-effacing. And while
that was a wonderful quality in a Holder's wife, she might have trouble in
the Weyr. But she was brave enough. He could tell that by the way she
sat up straighter, as if deciding to face her life.

"The hardest thing for you will be the...lifestyle... at the Weyr. Here,
women are expected to be just who they are, whoever that may be, and are
given the freedom to do so. Here, also, you have hundreds of dragonriders
who are now facing Thread. A killer of an enemy. It takes and takes and
doesn't give back anything but sadness and empty places at the table." He
didn't usually give this speech so early to younglings who were just
Candidates, but she had asked, and he would tell her.

"Because of that, our lives are shorter and more dangerous than any other
lifestyle on Pern. And dragonriders live their lives knowing they may
die... so they celebrate life. With many ...ahh...romances. Some at the
same time. Many times at the same time. Or they may come to you one
evening then not again for months. And that is just a small part of it.
You'll learn some about dragon mating flights in your classes, but since
the dragon chooses, and can choose different male dragons each time she
Rises, it can result in some ... interesting ....combinations."

He paused, knowing he was throwing a lot at her. Maybe far too much. But
he hoped he could get out in front of any rumors she heard, unlike the last
group that went through, thinking the worst much of the time.

"Lass, life here is very different. The major difference is ...freedom.
Freedom to be who you are. You find your place at the Weyr by deciding
what you'd like to contribute to our life here, whether its Crafting - and
you can Craft if you are inclined - cleaning, cooking, washing dragons, or
caring for little ones. And then, the Weyr finds its place, in you.

"I tell you what... you go through your classes for a sevenday, and tend to
the chores the Headwoman assigns you, and then come back and visit me and
we can talk then about what _you_ think is most difficult for you. How
about that? I've talked at you way, way too much!" He was a little angry
at himself for pouring all this information into her young head. What must
she be thinking?

This was a part of Weyr life that her brother had never spoken of; though
in truth, she did rarely see him. As she listened to J'darin, her face
paled. Though she remained upright, she stiffened and her face tightened as
her hands clenched in her lap. It had never occured to her exactly how much
fighting Thread would cost a rider, or how dangerous it truly was. It had
been taken for granted that Weyr life was an easy one. Now she was facing
the abrupt and very real truth.

But, it was a life that she had chosen, or more to the point, had chosen
her. She could not return home to be a burden on her family. Her
expressions were varied as she digested J'darin's words. There was fear of
course, then discomfort, and then surprisingly, confusion. One phrase had
called out to her, more than the described possible death, more than the
discomforting thought of unattached romances. Women were expected to be who
they are? She blinked and with sudden realization, she paled; she didn't
know who she really was.

She swallowed roughly and looked down at her clenched hands, then slowly
took a deep breath. Licking her lips, she spoke softly. "I understand."
There was no help for it. She was here and she would make the best of it.
"What..." She struggled to find the right
words. "What do I do if I don't Impress, Weyrling Master? I have few skills
and..." she blushed and struggled again before finally looking up and
speaking more firmly. "I don't wish to be a burden on anyone."

"Oh, lass!" was his soft voice, kept purposefully soft, so as not to add to
her distress. He approved of her looking up and firm tone, though, it
boded well for her future handling a willful dragon.

"Oh, Paetri. Do not worry about that, hmm? If for some reason, you do not
Impress, you can turn your hand to anything you like. You could Craft,
even, if you liked, here at the Weyr. But, if you did not want to Craft,
you could help with cooking or become a foster-mother. We are always
looking for someone with a kind heart to care for our youngest residents.
You'll have been taught how to run a household, surely, and those skills
can be used here, too. All thats required is that you find something you
enjoy - whatever that may be - that contributes to the welfare of the Weyr
and its residents, and you can stay here and _not_ be a Burden at all."

He paused a moment and added one other thing. "That is what I mean when I
say women are "who they are" at the Weyr. You can become who you most
wanted to be, whoever that is." He smiled then and reached a comforting
hand toward her, though he did not touch her.

"But, you, lass, were Searched, and that means the dragons will see
something they like in you, and I bet you'll find that "who you are" is a
new dragonrider. But if not... don't worry. I'm always here, and the
Headwoman, to help you find your way in this stange, new place."

She didn't react to the comforting hand, though inwardly, she wanted to
take it. She spoke simply. "I was never asked what I wanted to be, Weyrling
Master.It wasn't an option for me. Even though I am not adepquate enough to
be a desirable wife or mother, I did my best to do my duty towards my
cothold and to my parents. And I'll do my duty here." She tucked a stray
strand behind her ear. "Many people are Searched, but not all become
riders. I know that. I can't place all my hopes on that chance, as much as
I may want it. I have to be prepared for the possibility that I may be one
who does not." There was only a trace of bitterness in her voice, but it
was easily masked by a carefully schooled expression of acceptance. Her
upbringing and her parents expectations of the future had taught her all
too well that dreams often caused more pain than joy.

She then lapsed into thought, pushing the previous statement away from her
mind for the moment as she considered what she had enjoyed most at her
cothold. It seemed as though she had always been with her mother, helping
with the running of the household. She couldn't honestly say she had
enjoyed it. It was more of a necessity of her life than anything else. She
then looked up at Marli, who was currently chattering softly toward's
J'darin's little flit. Her lips quirked at a rememberance and she looked at
the Weyrling Master. Would it be proper to ask? "There was one thing I did
enjoy doing when I could." She gestured upwards to the flits and a wistful
smile came to her. "When I had time, I would help the Healers with flits if
they were hurt. " She looked up at Marli, who noticed and crooned lovingly
down at his pet. "The Healers said that I had a calming and kind touch."

"In that case, lass, you should definitely lend them a hand. Calming and
kind touches are valuable things with flits who start at the lightest
things. See the Dragonhealers and ask if they need a hand, and also
mention your desire to the Headwoman. She will handle your out-of-class
schedule and be watching out for you for the most part. But, Paetri, so
will I. Don't hesitate to come to me with questions or concerns, alright?
Its bound to be an adjustment for you here at the Weyr. But, you're going
to do just excellent, I know." He smiled at her and pushed her schedule
toward her. "I'll send you along now, unless you have any more questions?"

Paetri shook her head slowly. "No, thank you. I think I understand
everything for the most part. I'll be sure to come to you or the headwoman
if I have any more questions."
She picked up the schedule and folded it neatly, then looked up at her
flit. "Come down, Marli. It's time to go. " She rose and dipped a polite
curtsey as Marli leapt down to her
Shoulder and wound his tail lightly around her neck. "Thank you for your
time, Weyrlingmaster. I'll consider all that you've said and speak promptly
to the headwoman about working with the dragonhealers as well. "

He smiled warmly at her, and stood as she left. She would make a fine
Candidate, that one. "Do, lass. My door is always open, alright?" Oak
chittered to say goodbye.

Last updated on the April 30th 2012

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Meeting Candidate Master