A Whole New Me

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 19th March 2013

Characters: D'hol, Jeyme
Description: Jeyme meets D'hol, and shows that she may be more than just a pretty face.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

D'hol

Jeyme

Jeyme was a little nervous, and was sure that the situation was going
to be awkward. The Weyrlings had been divided up and given a
Wingleader that they were to visit to discuss what was expected of
dragonriders once they entered a fighting Wing. The problem was that
Jeyme wasn't use to having one on one conversation with a man. The
Hold had been so bothersome about requiring chaperones, which was
ridiculous in her opinion. Since coming to the Weyr, Jeyme had not
regretted the move one bit.

Just the change in wardrobe was enough to please the woman. Gone were
the heavy dresses and skirts, replaced with comfortable riding
leathers, breeches and tunics. Jeyme loved it. The Wingleader she had
been assigned was D'hol, a man that came with a reputation for being
tough.

Arriving at his office exactly at her scheduled time, she knocked
politely on the door.

"Enter!" D'hol's voice rang out firmly. He shuffled the hides on his
desk and set them aside before picking up the information on the young
weyrling that he was supposed to be meetin with. He flicked his gaze
over the hide, his expression a trifle impatient and annoyed. N'vanik
would have been a far better choice for a hold-bred girl...especially
one so new to the weyr. He didn't even look up and gestured to the
seat across from him. "Sit."

Jeyme was nothing if not obedient, it came with being trained to be a
wife. Flicking her long, braided hair over her shoulder, Jeyme took
the seat, crossing one long leg over the other. So far, she could see
why the man had the reputation that he did. He had strong, serious
features, made even more rugged by the thread score.

"So...Jeyme, you're from Emerald Falls, is that correct?" D'hol
finally looked up, flicked his eyes over her long hair and stiff
posture and sat up. "Well bred as well, I gather?" He put the hide
down and centered his gaze on her face.

"That's correct," she answered regarding her name, but her brow
furrowed a bit at the obviously derogatory question regarding her
"breeding."

"I am not a runnerbeast, Wingleader, so I wouldn't know. My parents
were minor holders and I was raised in the traditional hold fashion,
if that is your question." Jeyme answered lightly, her voice still
bearing a pleasant conversational tone.

There wasn't a flutter of his eyes to even indicate that he was in the
slightest bit bothered by her reply. Instead he contined coolly. "And
that may just be an issue here. My experience is that nicely bred,
traditionally raised hold ladies tend to not have experience with the
strenuous work that riding in a wing entails. Tell my why I should
look at you any differently should you be placed in my wing?"

"I don't see how I am any different than some apprentice or journeyman
that has Impressed. Healers and harpers don't exactly do physically
strenuous work either. I promise you I can keep up." Jeyme spoke with
confidence, meeting the Wingleader's eyes. After all, Quinneth
wouldn't have chosen her if she wasn't meant to be a dragonrider.

D'hol simply looked at her, absorbing her confident answer and direct
gaze before he spoke. "All true. But most are not gently reared
women." He rested his chin on his hand. "We shall see how you do. In
my wing, you're expected to work hard and stay healthy. If you slack
any in the slightest, give any excuses, I'll see you flying sweeps
until you drop."

Jeyme felt like it was a challenge. She wasn't sure why the man was so
opposed to having a holdbred dragonrider in his Wing, and that was if
she even graduated into it at the end of Weyrlinghood. There was still
a long way to go before that... Still, there was a silent resolve
within the greenrider to become better than any of her weyrbred
counterparts.

"You won't find anyone that will work harder than me." And that was
true, Jeyme was nothing if not diligent.

He repeated himself. "We shall see." He considered her further, hazel
eyes flicking over her again. "Now. Do you have any questions?"

The Weyrlings had been given a list of possible questions to ask their
respective Wingleaders, and so Jeyme asked the first question that
came to mind, "What sort of leadership style would you say you have
with the Wing?"

The reply was prompt. "Strict but fair."

Jeyme raised an eyebrow, not surprised by the man's quick response,
"What would you say your strengths and weaknesses are as a
Wingleader?" She wondered how he would answer that one.

D'hol's lip actually lifted as he replied. "Experience as a strength." His
thumb rubbed his chin. "Weakness? I'm a sarcastic bastard and don't
care one lick about it. Don't think it's a weakness, but I've been told
that it is."

The greenrider laughed, surprised by the man's own admission,
especially since it was literally the phrase that most people passed
around about him behind his back. She could see why the man was an
asset as a Wingleader, even if his methods were unorthodox.

"At least you're honest about it then." She supposed that's one more
personality trait she could put beneath the man's name.

Surprised at her laugh, D'hol's mouth turned upwards. He had expected
her to be shocked at his language, but apparently the girl didn't have
the delicate sensibilities that most of her peers had. "Girl, I don't
believe in lying about anything. It's a waste of time."

Jeyme liked that about D'hol; she'd grown up listening to enough
flowery words from men around the Holds. The Wingleader's blunt,
straightforward nature was actually more refreshing than she had
thought it would be, even if he did think she was some holdbred
weakling.

"Well, we agree on that then." Her lips curved into a grin.

He'd yet to meet a woman that wouldn't lie to save her own rump.
D'hol's smirk was obvious. "Perhaps. And if so, probably the only
thing."

The woman waved her hand, "Maybe," she looked at him again before
standing, "well, sir, that is all of the questions I have for you.
Thank you for taking time to speak with me. It was nice to meet you."
Jeyme held out her hand, dragonrider style.

He stood and looked at her hand for a long moment before taking it
in a strong clasp. "I'm sure it really wasn't." His lips lifted in an actual
smile, though the mocking quality remained. "You may just do fine."
He flicked his eyes at her hair. "Oh...suggestion. Cut the braid.
Thread likes long hair."

Jeyme paused for a moment, letting that sink in before her eyes raised
back to his, "Duly noted." She turned to leave, but looked over her
shoulder as she opened the door, "Oh, and Wingleader, I will change
your mind about me." Jeyme promised confidently before closing the
door behind her.

"We'll see." D'hol spoke to the closed door, but gave a private
smile. The girl had spunk, he had to give her that.

Last updated on the April 18th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Whole New Me