Communication Breakdown

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 24th July 2013

Characters: Cyradis, Jeyme
Description: The Weyrwoman's meeting with Jeyme does not go as either planned.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 16 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, Sh'dori, R'enh

Cyradis

Jeyme

Jeyme wasn't entirely sure why Cyradis had requested her presence at
her office. Whatever the reason, the green Weyrling found herself
nervous as she smoothed her palms over her breeches, straightened her
tunic, and knocked on the Weyrwoman's office door.

"Come in," Cyradis called out and then proceeded to shoo Shadow off
her stack of hides. "Silly flit, will you move!"

Pushing open the door to the Weyrwoman's office, Jeyme smiled as she
saw Cyradis waving her firelizard off of her desk, a few hides
floating to the ground in the process. Picking up the hides, Jeyme
placed them on the Weyrwoman's desk, "Good afternoon, Weyrwoman, you
wished to see me?"

"I did," Cyradis said with a friendly smile. "And thank you, I think
he likes to lie on whatever hide I want to pick up." She got up to
get a cup of tea from her sideboard. "Would you like a cup?"

"Oh, no thank you, Weyrwoman." Jeyme declined politely as she took a
seat in the chair in front of the goldrider's desk. Turns of etiquette
training were put to use as the green Weyrling demurely folded her
hands in her lap, crossed her ankles, and waited to hear why Cyradis
had called the meeting.

Cyradis couldn't fail to see the natural grace and fine hold manners
of the young woman. Of course she had records and knew her background
so it wasn't surprising. She couldn't help but feel that had they a
gold egg on the sands when she'd come to Stand she would be having a
very different relationship with this girl.

She came back toward her desk with her cup but turned toward her
comfortable couch "Why don't we sit over here dear."

Jeyme wondered what sort of conversation they would be having as they
moved to the couch. She had never really been around the Weyrwoman,
other than the brief moment after she had Impressed Quinneth.

"How are you settling in," Cyradis asked. "I know it can be a bit of
an adjustment coming from the hold."

The green Weyrling's hand lifted automatically to her hair as Cyradis
asked the question. Jeyme had shorn off her long hair in protest of
her Hold life, and since that day, she had worked hard to adapt as
quickly as possible to Weyrlife. There were still some things that
made Jeyme cringe, and there were times when she felt shy and unsure,
but she was working on being just as bold and carefree as any weyrbred
Weyrling.

"I am fine, and I think I am adjusting really well."

"Good," she smiled. "I hear Quinneth is doing quite well," she added.
"It can be difficult to adjust to all the work that goes with caring
for your lifemate." Of course she herself had much _more_ lifemate to
care for than any greenrider could ever imagine.

Jeyme smiled at the mention of Quinneth, "Yes, she is doing quite
well, growing like a weed of course." Coming from the background of a
'lady', it had taken Jeyme some time to get her body conditioned to
the work, but through her Weyrling exercises, she had finally toned
her body enough to be able to handle the work without collapsing.

"I came from a Hall, so I know how difficult the change can be to
handle, but don't throw all your hold values out the window. You'll be
happier in the long run if you pay attention to your own morals and
seek advice from your Weyrling master when there's a conflict. I'm
also here to help if you have need."

After the way her family had behaved after her impression of Quinneth,
Jeyme did not know if she could ever respect the Hold life again.

"Wingleader D'hol suggested that I speak to the Weyrlingmaster about
finding a man to be with before my first flight." Oddly enough, Jeyme
found it more awkward talking to Cyradis about it than she had D'hol.

She only winced internally at the mention of the bronze rider though
she knew that the advice would have been the same coming from her.
"That is true," she said carefully. "You don't want to wait until
Quinneth's first flight or you will not enjoy the experience as you
ought. I can also suggest several possibilities and you can see who
you like."

Jeyme was pretty sure she already had someone in mind for the 'job'
but she was curious as to who Cyradis would suggest, "You have men you
would suggest?"

"Well," Cyradis smiled. "This is the Weyr, you pretty much have a
great selection though for your first time a more serious mindset is
probably best. So, I'd suggest a brownrider. Sh'dori is gentle and
very interested in making your experience as enjoyable as possible."

The hint of a blush crept up Jeyme's neck, "I was thinking of asking
Wingleader D'hol." She admitted, not telling Cyradis that she had
already told the man of her intentions.

She couldn't help the clench in her gut. "D'hol? Isn't he a little old for you?"

"D'hol is younger than Sh'dori." Jeyme pointed out lightly, her eyebrows raised.

"Yes," she said softly. "But Sh'dori is a nice man." She put a hand
over her mouth and closed her eyes a moment. "If you are set on a
bronze rider, I'm told R'enh is quite patient."

Jeyme did not miss the slight toward D'hol and it made her wonder if
the rumors about the bad blood between Cyradis and Wingleader was
true.

"It is not the color of the dragon that concerns me, milady, but how
comfortable I am with the person. I trust D'hol. He's dealt with me
far more honestly than anyone I know, no matter how blunt it may come
across."

"I see," she said and she did see. "The color of the dragon _does_
make a difference you know. It speaks to the character traits of the
rider. Bronze riders are strong but prideful and ambitious they have a
single goal...leadership. Believe me, I've experienced my share.
Including our blunt wingleader." Her eyes became black pools as her
ire rose.

"I wonder then why you asked my advice if your mind was already made
up?" She knew her tone was clipped but here was a young woman who was
on the verge of becoming one of _her_ fighting dragon riders and the
sharding bronzer had already turned her head. Fury burned just beneath
the surface. "Do you perhaps have second thoughts or are you firm on
your choice?"

Jeyme was surprised by the tone of the Weyrwoman's voice and she
mentally reviewed what she could have done to induce such behavior.
Having been bred to showcase etiquette, Jeyme was sure that she had
not been rude with Cyradis.

"Beg your pardon ma'am, you said you had men you could suggest after I
told you D'hol had instructed I discuss the matter with the
Weyrlingmaster. I never said I didn't already have someone mind. I was
merely curious, this entire idea, of men loaning themselves out to a
virgin, is completely foreign to a holdbred girl, as I am sure you can
imagine."

Cyradis was amused that the girl hadn't picked up on her own admission
that she'd been with the bronzerider herself. Usually hold bred girls
somehow imagined men in the Weyr could have been the faithful sort and
not sleep with anything that said 'yes.' But there was so very much
Jeyme couldn't yet begin to conceive about life in the Weyr.

"You did just ask for my suggestion," Cyradis reminded her. "Which
implied to me that you were open to consider someone other than D'hol
when it turns out you are not. I don't have to imagine your situation.
I've been there myself so I can see quite clearly the pitfalls
awaiting you here and suggest you not make up your mind before
speaking to the Weyrlingmaster. Remember that I have been in exactly
the same position in which you find yourself. After many turns of
flights some of the faces will run together in a blur. But do not
doubt you will always remember your first. Select him wisely."

It was obvious to Jeyme that Cyradis clearly had issues with D'hol.
She never dreamed she would be arguing, with a gold rider of all
people, about who she could, or couldn't, sleep with. Where were those
loose sexual morals that the Weyr was so famous for? Jeyme also
decided that she wouldn't reiterate that Cyradis had offered to make
suggestions of men. There was no point in making this worse, she
decided.

"Is there anything else Weyrwoman?" She kept her voice carefully
schooled, thankful now that her mother had been such a stickler for
etiquette.

She saw the greenrider close down. It was written all over her no
matter how well she hid it. "Yes," she said evenly. It was clear to
her that D'hol had won this round. She could only hope he wouldn't
break the girl's heart or spirit, but her own function as Weyrwoman
went far beyond who the young woman decided to allow into her bed.

"Do you have any interests beyond your dragon? Are you a healer
perhaps, or would you like to learn a craft?"

The change in topics was refreshing and Jeyme relaxed a bit, "I
haven't decided yet. I was never allowed to think about crafting
growing up. I think dragon healing is interesting though." Caring for
the creatures was natural, and Jeyme could see herself enjoying
learning more about them.

"Excellent," the Weyrwoman smiled her approval. I'm sure our
Dragonhealers would love to talk to you. Why don't you stop by the
healers cavern, preferably before a Fall, and talk to them. Perhaps
they'll allow you to observe." Of course the aftermath of Fall might
be difficult for her lifemate to handle until she was a little older.

Jeyme nodded her head, "We have visited there briefly during Weyrling
training, but I haven't had a chance to really observe the way I would
like." The Weyrling glanced up, "I had better be going now, Weyrwoman,
I have a lecture to go to." She smiled as she stood, "Thank you for
giving me your time."

Well that didn't sit well with Cyradis. First the young woman blew off
her advice and then excused herself from the meeting. But the
Weyrwoman didn't flinch. The young woman would learn that by Hold
standards _she_ was the Lady Holder and N'vanik it's Lord. She would
watch this one carefully in the future.

Her lips curved in a smile though it didn't really reach her eyes.
"Good day Jeyme," she said.

Last updated on the July 24th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Communication Breakdown