Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman 
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Jan 16, 2013 17:18:18 GMT -5
[ OOC: Cath told me to make this kinda despite all the other meetings going on. Basically, assume this takes place after all the mini-meetings on the Hatching and the Candidates' conduct.
This thread is open to the following: Candidatemasters, Weyrwomen, Q'sis, Valha. There is no post order. Anyone may butt in with a point at any time. Anyone may start the official proceedings and later tags just assume your character is already present.
A continental breakfast is included but Q'sis has already eaten the yummiest portions. : D Weyrfolk will gradually replace. ]
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There would be Thread in the evening, one of the cruelties unique to Summer, when even the night winds ran warm. Q'sis had already enjoyed one return flight in Mayday Wing since the Hatching. The other participants in this meeting would have met the Thread from substantially lower in the sky, or on the ground in the case of the Priderunner. But male greenhandlers were not people the tanrider would ever have special quarrel with, only the sort of distant appreciation he might give his own shadow. Aside from the lucky pair of them, it would also be a meeting of women.
He absconded from pre-dawn running and sack-hauling to arrive excruciatingly early. A few Weyrfolk that had been requisitioned to set-up the cavern adjoining the Records Room gawked up in terror, but found the man swiftly placated when they brought out the tastiest selections form the breakfast about to be served. Q'sis had just handed off an entire duck-sized skeleton belonging to an excavated roast wherry when the next member of the council showed themselves. He had used utensils, but ran his fingers over one of the cloth napkins provided to him anyway. He was, despite various unfavorable caricatures, a neat giant. The communal breaking of fasts had not been his idea, but he could understand its purpose: to soothe waking tempers. As he sipped a mug of klah, he thought it might work. No one had died. All of these women had reasons to keep up professional appearances.
What all this mattered to him was questionable. Naireth had not even Risen since her Hatching almost three Turns previous, nor Demeth. All tans so far had a penchant for hopping up the moment they matured, but further capacity was so far unproven. The personal effect of this debate was dubious.
He could not say he was here for only the food.
The ex-Holdless, sitting in the high meeting hall of the Weyr, had a palm-sized slate to his right, but nothing written on it. His notes had been taken in previous nights, memorized with only a look, as his old talents suited. His beard was shaved to a smooth black shadow, fading into the mane of hair he wore uncommonly long for the season. He had darkened with age, and liked the appearance. A new jacket of pressed wherhide, dyed to Unath's color, hung off the back of the throne-like chair he'd had the Weyrfolk appropriate. He had the grandest seat at the round stone table, though it was partly the fault of his sheer size. His tunic ran too dark and dull a blue to play at being a Harper's, more like the ocean's heart on a stormy day. A cloak in burgundy overlooked his shoulders, the back of it pressed into the throne. Only the brown leggings and boots spared the touch of caravanner color. The outfit ran heavy for summer, but not for a cool, inset cave where their business would take place. He would change out of it later, for that short bliss between discussion and death.
Unath was roosting not in her usual Rim crown over their weyr, but a few dragonlengths along the rock, so that she sat in line with the Records Room. Her head did not twist after movements and flashes that might otherwise intrigue her, if only for a second. Her wings were closed and her eyes were possessed of a motionless blue.
Q'sis held out his empty mug to one of the Weyrfolk, then leaned forward to decide which of the largest and tastiest portions of the meal he would scavenge next.
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster 
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266 
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Post by Lan on Jan 28, 2013 18:05:10 GMT -5
Another meeting... Nimara yawned as she tread the connecting tunnels that led from her personal weyr to the meeting room. She hadn't far to walk, at least, her residence located on the north side of the Bowl. Still, it felt like her entire existence since the Hatching had been meetings: meetings with Weyrwomen, meetings with her fellow Candidatemasters, meetings with Weyrlingmasters, meetings with Weyrleaders, meetings with the unfortunate Holders that had to watch their daughter being toted about like a common child's toy. All this rehashing of something they had all watched was beginning to give her a headache. It didn't help that, despite what others may say, Nimara still believed she was the one being blamed for all this... and she wore that responsibility as if she deserved it. Waroth's mental presence, so close and warm despite the red's physical location high on her sunning ledge, was what gave Nimara the strength to keep going. It was not the usual, Waroth being supportive and strong, but her confidence was exactly what the Candidatemaster needed to keep moving forward without breaking down. Too many things had happened at once in her life. Waroth, R'len, and Kaezeth were the only family she had left or would ever have.
Nimara's partners, Jasmine and Yuri, would be attending with her, at least. They would provide a much-appreciated buffer between herself, the anger of the Weyrwomen, and whatever attitude Q'sis had cooked up specially for the event. Oddly, perhaps, Nimara was far more afraid of the Weyrwomen's moods than that of the tanrider. Even if only Avalle and Rayna would be in attendance, Nimara was wary of anyone intimitely connected with Fajra. She respected and admired the woman and they had no problems sharing the same Sands when Kalith and Waroth clutched, but there was still an awkwardness of manner that Nimara could never depart from regarding anything close to her. It didn't make any sense, really. The brusque encounter about O'sho was many, many turns ago and Nimara had even once been Fajra's Wingsecond. Fajra had even chosen her for the position of Candidatemaster. There were no hard feelings on either end... Nimara just still felt embarrassed.
When the redhead arrived, she noted only Q'sis was in attendence so far. Her hazel eyes scanned him briefly and the throne he had appropriated and then she hurried herself to the table and the seat that would be appropriate. She did not sit directly across from him (a place she assumed was reserved for Avalle or Rayna), but sat at a ninety-degree angle in what might end up being the demilitarized zone. "Good morning, Q'sis," she spoke civilly, using the serving fork to scoop some slices of spiced herdbeast meat onto her plate. Without speaking another word she proceeded to fill her plate with a roll and then some sliced cheeses. As she did so the others filed in and she smiled and nodded to each in turn. She remained silent, still, as she satisfied her hunger with bites mixed with each of the categories that made up her breakfast.
As she began to feel full, the redrider looked up to catch the glances of her fellow Candidatemasters and then to the Weyrwomen themselves. Although she was just as eager as anyone to get the meeting over and done with, she knew that she didn't have a right to start the meeting. She certainly hadn't been the one that had called it. She could certainly guess what the meeting was about, but it wasn't her place to speak for the Weyrwomen and their concerns... nor was she about to bring up her own disagreements before Avalle and Rayna had a chance to bring up theirs. So, with a sigh, she served herself another roll and continued eating in silence. |
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Nia
Sr. Weyrwoman
niact[M:-790]
Posts: 991
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Post by Nia on Jan 28, 2013 20:27:47 GMT -5
This was the one meeting Avalle wasn't looking forward to. Well, no, that wasn't quite right. She didn't look forward to any of the meetings, and they were all becoming massive thorns in her side. She'd been putting off dealing with Q'sis, at least as much as she had to. The other meetings were a lot easier and were mostly for the sake of the Candidates, which meant they were working together. This meeting was basically just to tell Q'sis what he'd done wrong and what they were going to do about it. Avalle was not exactly the most creative with punishments, but she'd come up with a few she felt suited nicely. She wasn't cruel, but she liked to think she was fair.
She'd been up for a little while before the meeting was set to start, conversing with Callistath and making sure she knew what she was going to say. In her anger she tended to forget things easily, so it'd be nice to have Callistath there for backup. As well as keeping her calm, which was going to be incredibly important. She must not lose her cool, no matter what Q'sis said. That was incredibly important. It was normaly Fajra's "job" to deal with Q'sis, but the Senior Weyrwoman was luckily off visiting her family at Bay and unavailable for the meeting. She'd left it to Avalle and Rayna to take care of, and while Avalle was thankful for her fellow Goldrider's help, she'd always seemed kind of distant and hard to talk to. Avalle had a much easier time working together with Fajra. It made her a little more nervous about the whole thing without the Copperrider there. Oh well, she was just going to have to deal with it, wasn't she?
Now that there was nothing left to procrastinate about, Avalle stood up from where she sat on her floor next to Callistath. With a deep breath to settle her mind, Avalle was out and down the hall.
It didn't take too long to get to the meeting room, which was fine because she was already a little late. Or so she'd thought, but actually entering the room she noted that only Nimara and Q'sis had gotten there. She gave a nod of acknowledgement to Nimara. "Good morning Nimara, Q'sis," she said, keeping her tone as even and calm as she could. The sight of Q'sis made her temper ignite, but she managed to keep herself looking calm and collected, sitting down in the seat directly across from him. Which, from her stomach's perspective, was not the best place to sit, because he'd clearly eaten the best parts already. It only served to irritate her more.
Ignoring the other two for the time being, Avalle sat in what seemed like an awkward silence as she ate. She'd managed to take a couple slices of meat and some rolls, eating them slowly and glad that the food was there. It gave her something to do while they all sat around not talking. Others came in and she gave them a slight nod of acknowledgement, but there was no smile on her face. The food was good, though Avalle didn't eat much beyond her original portions.
When it seemed like everyone had arrived and eaten their fill, Avalle pushed her chair back and stood up. "I assume you all know why this meeting has been called," she began, glancing around the room, "But to clarify, it pertains to Q'sis and his behavior at Mith and Unath's Hatching." She didn't really need to clarify, as it was obvious, but she didn't want to risk the chance of anyone being confused. Avalle gave a slight pause, and continued. "Q'sis, your behavior was completely out of line. It may have been your dragon's clutch, but the Candidates are not yours to control, nor are the dragonets yours to touch. Furthermore, you blatantly ignored orders and gave one of your own instead, one that was unnecessary and served only to try and override the previous ones." She was referring to "Unath's" command to get the Candidates back in line, which she had personally taken offense to. What WAS the point of repeating something Callistath had already said, though much better phrased, if not to try and assert himself? Dialing back her temper, Avalle continued.
"Due to these, it has been decided that if your dragon is to clutch again, you will be constantly under watch. You will not have nearly as much control, if any at all, and you will not be allowed to touch the Candidates, dragonets, or eggs." That wasn't enough, though. Which was why the others had all been called to this meeting as well, so they could get their own piece in. "The rest of you gathered here may make your own disagreements known, and you may also decide on a suitable punishment for those behaviors if you want. Q'sis," she directed her attention back to the Tanrider, "Nobody here is entirely unreasonable, so you may try to defend your behavior. However, we will have the last word." It seemed like the right thing to do. Afterall, they weren't tyrants. If he had a good reason, which she highly doubted, it was within his right to make it known. Not that it'd help him any, really. With her grievances done and the stage set, Avalle sat back down, opening the floor for whoever wanted to go next. [/size] |
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Jan 29, 2013 13:55:07 GMT -5
Nimara was R'len's. That either said something about R'len's taste, or vouched for the women in some small way. His lips wrinkled, started to relax into compliance, then straightened out as the junior goldrider joined them.
"Good morning, Weyrwoman," he answered immediately, glancing at Nimara to indicate that would suffice for acknowledging her too before he returned his gaze to Avalle. Rider of his dragon's mother, and the best-behaved of Dalibor's three "queens." Avalle was a little shorter than Samael, and he considered her torso without passion as she took a seat across from him. The framework just wasn't as good. She did have long hair though. Moistening his lips, he relaxed against the back of his seat and began peeling open a fruit.
He was still nipping off pieces of the same fruit when Avalle got to her feet. Q'sis tilted his head a little, then threw the entire remnant into his mouth and snapped it down to nonexistence. The tanrider touched the back of his thumb to the line of his lips, then rubbed it against one of the table's cloth napkins. As one of the Weyrfolk materialized to squirrel the napkin away, he seized her arm and leaned toward her ear in the pause between Avalle's declarations. "Refill your Weyrwoman's glass, so she does not become parched," he demanded in a low almost-whisper that would avoid a challenge to Avalle. Then he released the girl, and straightened in his seat to give the goldrider his full attention.
Behind Avalle, the Weyrfolken lurked for a moment before cautiously reaching in under the standing Weyrwoman's arm to pick up her glass. She refilled and replaced it so hastily that a few drops splattered on the stone table, and she had to lean back in to scrub them up, a terrified grimace turning her face white. When Avalle was done speaking, Q'sis' dull green eyes were resting on the clean-up operation as if it had distracted him. He smiled back at Avalle after a moment.
"You may watch, my Lady, as much as you like," he replied. He did not rise out of his seat as she had to speak. "But I question this council's wisdom. We have in this room: the one who is so caught by lust she lets her dragon maul guests to the Weyr in Flight, the one whose gold is known for tantrums both egg-related and not, the one who let one Candidate come to my Sands with no idea she had to obey my command without question and another come with knives." His eyes lingered on Jasmine longer than the others, but the cold that could have been in them was stifled by certain brief remembrance. "And of course there is Yuri." He raised his palm to the wherhandler, whom he did not know beyond his possession of green Yusk. A favored man already.
Q'sis smiled at him, but continued, "Candidatemasters who try and strip Candidates from my hatchlings rather than recruiting from an ample supply of healers to deal with mauled fools, Candidatemasters do not teach them any proper conduct- perhaps none of you noticed, but our little eggsmasher is a brigand. I'm sure of it. You let a brigand near my dragons. I will do what I must." He returned his eyes at last to Avalle. "And the head of this meeting let her dragon savage a perfectly good Candidate for the great crime of approaching the Sands late."
On her Rim perch, Unath's lips had pulled back off her teeth. By contrast, Q'sis' voice lacked the acerbity of anger, and he propped an elbow up on the table, knuckles to his jaw as he waited out another artful pause. "When I was a Candidate, my belt-dagger was taken from me and not returned till the end of Weyrlinghood. Do the current 'Masters believe weapons lose their edge when a girl holds them? A scarred girl with dark skin like mine?" He pursed his lips, skipping a stare with Nimara to level on Yuri instead. "Do they truly believe that indulging the emotional whimsies of brats responding to an expected hazard of the Hatching overrules the need to keep Candidates close and accessible to the dragonets? Tell me. I am very curious. This was my first time, after all."
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Jan 29, 2013 16:15:51 GMT -5
When Avalle spoke Nimara felt some easing of the tensions, if even for a moment. It was a daunting thing, however, to know the truth of her appearance at the meeting. She was a Candidatemaster... it was not her place to decide the proper punishment for the treachery Q'sis had caused. However, as the man himself began to spoke Nimara felt her heart darken. Waroth listened through her ears, listless on her ledge but not yet making a sound. She and her rider were of one mind, now... and whether through her age or through this closeness she had learned something akin to patience. Yet, as she waited, a fire of emotion bubbled within her. The dragon made a pact with herself, as she had made a pact about so many other dragons and riders... she would outlive this Q'sis, by claw or by time.
Nimara could not lie to herself and say that Q'sis words didn't hurt. She could not deny the aching in her heart in the truth that he spoke about her dragon and her Flights. For a moment she almost allowed herself to get lost in it, collapsing into the dark crevices of emotions she buried away for the sake of others. Instead, however, she found Waroth's presence, and she returned to the present again just in time to hear Q'sis' spiel about the candidates--a particular thing that she knew to be false. Her own guilt was pushed away at the injustice of his lie. So this was the first male Queenrider of Pern? He hadn't half of the strength of any of the women in this room. He hadn't a quarter of the strength of the kitchen's worker he threw around. He certainly didn't have an ounce of the honor she had seen Yuri demonstrate day after day.
She was done being timid. She was through with being in the shadows.
"You speak of a brigand and doing what you must... but what punishment from you did that girl receive? A slap on the wrist? A frown?" She raised her eyes up from the table and stared at him, unafraid and unmoving. "And the two girls that did receive your punishment, what did they do wrong? Stand in the wrong place? Move?"
"You speak of wisdom... but you exhibit none. Do you believe that because you were blessed with a pliable dragon that you are better qualified in the dealings of all things dragon? Wisdom comes from experience. Strength, from hardship. You haven't the strength to even command respect on the Sands." She paused then, turning her attentions to run a hand over the cold metal fork that lie on one side of her plate before she settled it tangential to the round dish and continued.
"Our oversights and mistakes as Candidatemasters have already been addressed. We will live with our faults and strive to do better in the future. But let me make one thing perfectly clear: we do not force candidates to stand. Accepting candidacy is voluntary and they are free to leave at any time. Having candidates on the Sands that don't want to be there is just as dangerous to the health of young dragons as having a brigand smashing eggshells." You would know this, of course, if they were your Sands to control. Nimara left the last part out, sure that Avalle would have this covered. She turned her attention away from Q'sis once more and observed what was left of the food on her plate. Suddenly, she wasn't hungry. |
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Nia
Sr. Weyrwoman
niact[M:-790]
Posts: 991
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Post by Nia on Feb 1, 2013 15:39:09 GMT -5
The refill of her glass went largely unnoticed. Avalle's full attention was on Q'sis, and her growing displeasure. She had really expected him to be civil, rather than resorting to cheap shots at her "council". The only real thing that might, might disqualify one of the members was Jasmine and the allowance of knive on the Hatching Sands. This wasn't something Avalle knew about in detail, however. They could have been concealed by the Candidate in question. Though she really had to fight back the urge to smirk at his final comment towards her. That was all he had to say? It wasn't even anything the two of them were ashamed of. They'd been in the right. Plus, Callistath hadn't even used that much force. The girl was a drama queen....
She was regretting letting him defend himself at all, though. It should have just been a quick "this is what you did wrong, this is your punishment". But no, she had to be diplomatic. Ah well, Q'sis was fighting a losing battle here, as "valiantly" as he tried. Though she was fairly irritated already, she made sure not to show it on her face, keeping her expression calm and collected.
Nimara spoke next, which was a relief. She was still calculating her own thoughts, and Nimara's response towards the Candidate's behaviors was better than anything Avalle could come up with. She wasn't here to defend the Candidates. She didn't even like them, really, which was mostly why she'd called the Candidatemasters here as well. The Weyrwoman didn't know the full details about most of the Candidates and their backgrounds, nor did she care to defend them. But Nimara was doing an admirable job.
She gave a nod of agreement at Nimara's last statement: Dalibor certainly does not force its Candidates to Stand. "Nimara is correct. Furthermore, while the clutchmother may be yours, the hatchlings and particularly the Hatching Sands are not yours, or yours to control. The Sands are Dalibor's. The Candidates are the responsibility of the Candidatemasters. As such, you have no right to control who Stands and who does not. It's not like the Candidates have to be standing in a perfect line for the dragons to find them, and they were not going far. The chaos caused by mauling is difficult to control, and there will always be those brave fools who think defending their friends is the best way to deal with a situation. That is not the fault of the Candidatemasters, it is simply the fault of being young. It would cause far more damage to the dragons to have panicking and worrying Candidates, rather than Candidates who have seen their friend attended to by the Healers." She gave herself a moment to gather her thoughts again, taking a short drink from her cup.
"As for your earlier statements, Q'sis," she narrowed her eyes at him, moving the conversation back to his first comments, "Do not try to move blame from yourself by attempting to defame the others in this room. Keep yourself civil. This is not about them, or even me, it is about you." She felt like scoffing. You'd think the man would enjoy having all the attention on him. While his voice had seemed "civil", his comments were certainly meant to provoke. She would not be having any of that at this meeting, nor would she put up with Q'sis insulting her and her council. [/size] |
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Feb 3, 2013 4:55:43 GMT -5
Before dawn she had been awake. Before even that she had been awake. For the entire night, Rayna had stayed awake, running over things in her head. Planning. Recently she had written to the Steward of Lemos Hold in the hopes that she would receive information regarding the infant sister of the young boy Draolor. In addition, she had been considering the last hatching. The twin tans. For a whole night, she ran through in her mind what she wished to say and what needed to be said. However, all that came to mind were challenges to the man who thought himself above all. That was all well and good and if she were in charge there would be no hesitations to raising them but for now, with Avalle mostly taking the role of head of this meeting, Rayna had decided she would only interject with what was necessary. Plus, in all honesty, she was sick of this drama. She wished for it to be over as soon as it started now and although she disliked Q'sis on another level, she blamed inept search dragons more than she did others. That said, Q'sis had acted abnormally at the hatching.
You look horrible Rayna. Ugh whoever will think we are wonderful when you look like that!? You will not neglect my appearance will you. This is just totally unfair that you have to leave looking like that.
Rayna brushed a hand over her face to try and wake herself up a little more and then looked at Couineth.
I have to go. We have a meeting to attend to.
EW those horrible, disgusting dragons are still trying to steal all of my attention! They're so mean and rude! They are all so annoying. It's totally unfair that we are even still talking about them.
Not them... Their rider.
Rayna shook her head and blocked out further complaints as she made her way to the tanrider's Weyr. When she arrived, a couple of their group had already turned up, including Avalle herself who would be spearheading this event. Rayna took her seat beside the other Jr Weyrwoman and picked at some fruit before replacing it and sitting back in her chair, gaze fixed unseeingly on Q'sis.
It was only when Avalle stood that her focus returned to the situation at hand and Rayna was almost certain she had just about fallen asleep with her eyes open. Certainly her mind had drifted back to the hatching in question. When she considered it, most dragons that took to the sands for the first time had done so with another. Callistath and Kalith had flown close to one another and thus clutched at the same time. The selfsame clutch that had produced her own dear Couineth. Naireth had been on her own... So had Couineth and they had support. Sameal was also far more sensible than Q'sis and far less presumptuous than the petulant man seated before her. She had dealt with petulance... She knew it when she saw it and just as this thought crossed her mind, her own dragon's conduct was brought into question.
Certainly, Couineth had her faults but she would not erase all that made Couineth what she was and take control of her dragon as Q'sis did. No one would abuse their dragon in that way. It was a struggle and one she fought with every day but she was working on it. Rayna had always been working towards a goal. One in which Couineth would learn... The Weyrwoman could not stop her darkened gaze as she closely surveyed the tanrider.
"Your disregard for the candidates chosen was far more likely to be what drove them away," Rayna supplied, agreeing with what had been said thus far.
She so wanted to suggest he join the Queen's wing so he might learn better how to deal with such events as this but refrained for the moment. Rayna could not help but notice the conduct of the only rider that had not been in said wing was now being held to question. Perhaps that was the determining factor here. All other riders had the confidence and support of other women and even men in similar positions. Q'sis's disdain for them had perhaps been the whole cause of this.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Feb 4, 2013 16:29:30 GMT -5
"I had assumed that, she being a Weyrling by the time I got to her, her punishment would be dealt with by the Weyrlingmasters," Q'sis replied to Nimara. "I won't speculate on what would have happened had she not Impressed." The corners of his lips lifted just a little, smile calm as a portrait's. "Irohvyne was standing in the wrong place. I didn't hurt her in the slightest, though as I've mentioned..." And he looked to Avalle. "Other queens have found themselves entitled to maul Candidates over similar offenses. That is the relevance I believe you were seeking, Weyrwoman. The other girl was out to do the same as the brigand: smash eggs and get in the way. She also had no lasting injuries at Hatching's end. Had we detailed Records kept by at least one of the Candidatemasters for the events of every Hatching, I expect even those who did not attend every last nuance would be able to review them and obtain a clear perspective on what actually happened. In fact it may be worthwhile to string up a few harpers for the task."
He filed the women's notions about Candidacy for later. They had a timid attitude about it here, but the quality of the Candidates brought in after the plague spoke to unvoiced desperation. "I do not seek to blame, I seek to improve," he informed Avalle. She was not like Fajra. Her tractability stood out like blood in the water. "I only bring up the past transgressions of this group because I assume you will be applying these new standards of yours to every Hatching from now on. An unaffiliated person, one of the Candidatemasters perhaps, should be present from clutching to Hatching to advise and regulate the activities of the clutchmother and rider. It would be good for certain of our queens to learn to accept the presence of others on their Sands, and for their riders to learn control over their more bestial impulses."
Though he had not struggled to retain a serenity of tone through his responses, Rayna's quip earned a sharp rise in offense, so timely it could almost be theater. "Junior Weyrwoman Rayna," he said, recognizing her position a little more accurately than Avalle's. "Do not be foolish. I gave every regard to the Candidates from the first moment. I allowed them to visit the Sands so they would know what to expect, and let them lay hands on the eggs in a strictly controlled experience. Notice that for all the Touchings, nothing went wrong. I barred that brigand when she showed up with her knives, and similarly dismissed those that disobeyed." He turned his head toward Jasmine for a moment, then glared back at the goldrider. "There were no disasters until the very same Candidates stumbled into the Hatching witless and unprepared, poorly trained and, as your counterpart would have it, young. Now I could have gone over the lessons to them myself when they visited, as I was a Candidate here for over a Turn and could recite them in my sleep. But I assumed the 'Masters would handle that. That assumption turned out to be incorrect, and now I am asked to appreciate that next time will be better."
The tanrider settled in his throne, floating his acknowledging gaze back across the others- though always skirting the redrider Nimara. "And I do. I expect the Candidatemasters will handle their flocks better in the future. I expect all the queens will be adapted to the presence of observers on their Sands. Even those that have executed their clutchings and hatchings flawlessly, like Samael, should enjoy the benefits of a new standard in management." Q'sis turned up his cracked palm to Avalle. "Is there anything else, my Lady?"
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Feb 4, 2013 22:50:53 GMT -5
Avalle's words were a comfort once more and Nimara found herself rather taken with the Weyrwoman she had become. The redrider remembered when the goldrider had first Impressed and had watched her from a distance as she felt unsure in her surroundings. Now, however, the Junior Weyrwoman was a shining beacon. She was in control of the meeting and in control of herself. This qualities made Nimara admire and respect her. She was a woman that the redrider could easily follow. Rayna's addition was noted with a kind nod, but she was far more taken with the way Avalle had composed herself.
Of course, Q'sis had a way of turning everything to his own benefit. Nimara listened to him, not looking at him any more than he looked at her, and a sourness grew in her heart. It was a terrible bitterness, felt only for those that had threatened the Weyr and never for those that had been considered a part of it. Even R'cat had been granted some leniency, his actions likely driven by desperation of despair. Nimara had felt bad for the pinkrider, even as she sought to wash his appearance from her mind. Q'sis, however, was a new breed of terror. He had a way of speaking truths that twisted and distorted reality. Nimara wasn't really sure how he could sound right and yet still seem so wrong. Two insults were given to the Candidatemasters at the table and as he gave the second her heart sank into total darkness. Bitterness. Anger. His words were poison to her, threatening to sink her to abominable levels of retribution and vengeance.
If her life had not been what it had been in the past couple of months, she might have had the strength not to rise to his bait.
When he finished talking she glared at him, her eyes dark and foreboding. By this time she had caught on to his feigned ignorance of her and it made her all the more angry. She didn't care what he thought of her next. She didn't care what the Weyrwomen or her fellow Candidatemaster decided to deal in retribution. Too much sorrow and despair had touched her and threatened to turn her cruel. Too much had happened in her short life for her to sit back and take any more punishment, the kind and lovely redrider she had been. Perhaps someday she could be kind again. Perhaps someday she could learn to smile once more. For now, though, all she could feel was the anger that passed between herself and her wher-built red dragon out on the ledge. Waroth, herself, was seething. She caught on to the anger the boiled like a sickness in Nimara's heart and amplified it. Yet, Nimara would not let her scream out her defiance. She would not let the red try to tear the Weyr apart to get to Q'sis. Instead, she would take matters into her own hands.
Abruptly she stood, the wooden chair creaking loudly against the stone floor beneath it, and with a fork in hand she tossed it at the tanrider's plate. It clanged loudly, sputtering across to carry his own utensils with it as it scratched against the plate and tumbled over the edge of the table to the floor. Once the clatter had faded away as the metalware scraped to a halt on the stone floor, she spoke with vehemence in her voice. "You show disregard and disrespect for all domestic aspects of the Weyr and then you attempt to control them? You are not a Weyrwoman. You are not a Candidatemaster. As far as I've seen, you have no desire to truly become either. So don't come in here insulting everyone and pretending to be on the side of the righteous. You are no better than the renegades that threatened everything this Weyr held dear... You seek to destroy, not to build." She pushed her chair the rest of the way back, its plaintive moans filling the room once more. She turned to stood behind her chair and gave one sad glance to her Candidatemasters before she turned her attentions to Avalle and Avalle alone.
"If there are so many people who find my being Candidatemaster inadequate... perhaps you should consider finding a replacement that is not so repugnant." Although her voice was filled with disgust and ferver, there was a regret in her eyes. She didn't really want to step down. Being a Candidatemaster was the only thing that truly gave her purpose in this world anymore. She had lost everything else. But what was there to do? She had failed in her duties. Even if no one but Q'sis was saying it, she could feel the judgmental glares and could hear their whispers behind her back in her dreams. Now, to top it all off, she had behaved badly at a meeting. She felt her life slipping from her, but it was too late to turn back now. "With your leave, Weyrwoman." She remembered her manners and bowed low, partially to hide the glistening that threatened to turn to tears in her eyes. Then, without waiting for a response, she hurried herself from the room and into the corridor.
Her throat constricted tighter and tighter until she finally made it into her personal weyr. She slammed the door behind her, tearing off her jacket that bore the symbols of her rank and throwing it haphazardly onto the chair at her desk. Waroth had made it to their weyr by then and Nimara ran to her. Only once she had found herself snuggled in the red's embrace did she allow herself to breathe, although tears still didn't quite form in her eyes. She was a failure and was acting like a child--she would not allow herself to cry. And yet there was something in her that told her that man was more of a monster than the red she had shared her life with. Waroth, at least, could feel love for something. Waroth, at least, was on her side. I will kill him, NimMine. I promise this, the red growled, but quickly dissolved to a sorrowful hum as she encircled her rider with her forelegs and her large head.
Nimara wasn't even sure she wanted to stop Waroth's plans. She snuggled closer, drinking in large breaths of the dragon's spicy hide, and asked her lifemate to summon R'len and Kaezeth to meet them later. Not now, though. Now all Nimara wanted was Waroth. |
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Nia
Sr. Weyrwoman
niact[M:-790]
Posts: 991
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Post by Nia on Feb 5, 2013 0:59:36 GMT -5
Avalle was furious. Q'sis' words were making her angrier than she'd been in a long time, though she managed to keep herself stone-faced and composed. The only thing stopping her from exploding at him was knowing that it was what he wanted to happen. Of course he was trying to provoke them. He wanted control, and the best way to get control was the make the other person lose control. Simple. She'd enjoyed using the tactic often in her younger days, and the thought of that only made what Q'sis was doing anger her more. She she had to keep calm, but it was getting progressively harder. She was greatful for Rayna's comment, as it did make sense. It was somehow different when the dragons controlled what happened with their eggs, but for Q'sis himself to get involved... well, it left a sour taste in Avalle's mouth. She didn't like it, it felt wrong. That was the entire point of this whole thing, really.
His attempt to try and set down his own guidelines was what really set her off, though. It wasn't his to control. But before Avalle could lose her own temper, Nimara snapped first. She watched the Candidatemaster speak and completely agreed with everything the Redrider said. Except the last part, that is. The Junior Weyrwoman felt a tinge of anxiety at Nimara's statement, though she kept the Redrider's gaze without breaking it. She cared too much about what the others thought. Nimara had done an excellent job during this meeting, standing up to Q'sis as she did. Without her help, Avalle would have been fairly lost trying to combat Q'sis on her own. But she felt bad. Avalle didn't say anything, merely kept her eyes fixed on Nimara and nodded when the Candidatemaster took her leave. They could talk later. Avalle wasn't going to let Nimara give up her position so easily.
That was a matter for another day, now. Nimara's outburst had, ironically, helped Avalle calm her own thoughts in order to focus on Q'sis. He was missing the point entirely, when she thought about it. It hadn't been the actions of his dragon. It had been the actions of him. Mother dragons were volatile, this was something that was known. But the Riders were not meant to interfere as Q'sis did.
She stared evenly at him for a moment, and then finally decided to speak. "I'm afraid you have missed the point, Q'sis. As we have mentioned, the "standards" that you speak of apply only to you, and not to anyone else. Including the dragons. Now, let's consider why," she gave a pause, "If we look at your Hatching compared to the many others of Dalibor, you'll notice that your Hatching had a lot more that went wrong. In fact, Callistath's last Hatching went off without any problems at all." Which Avalle was incredibly grateful for. The only issue there was the odd King and Sub-King Impressions, but that wasn't anything they could control even if they wanted to. "The problems in your Hatching were unique to yours and yours alone. So why should we "regulate" these "new standards"? They aren't new standards, Q'sis. They're the same standards we have had, and the same ones that you deviated from. The only one in this room that will need to be watched during their next hatching is you. Not your dragon, just you, since you seem to think that you have the right to control everything. You don't." She paused again, considering his words.
"The Candidates in your Hatching have been the worst that they have been in possibly all of Dalibor's history. Your Touching is very likely the cause, despite how you may think it went flawlessly, as it was the only thing different about your Hatching than any others. It's easy to narrow down." Her voice grew harsher, rather than the lofty tone she'd been adapting. Time to get serious, now. "You will not expect anything, because it is not yours to control. It is not your Weyr. You have no standing, and deciding what the Queens on the Sands will do is none of your business. You are under our direct control, not the other way around. The way you behaved at that Hatching showed that you cannot be trusted to handle things on your own. Not to mention that during this meeting you have twisted our words around in an attempt to make yourself look better, rather than reflecting on what you have done wrong. There will be no more Touchings, and the Queens will do whatever they please with their Sands. You are not a Queen, despite how hard you try, Q'sis."
She stood up again, ready to take her own leave. She'd had enough of this. "For your disrespect and petty insults during this meeting, you will be doing Candidate chores for the next four sevendays. Maybe you will finally learn some humility," she looked around the room at the other members assembled. This had turned sour very, very quickly. She was sick of hearing Q'sis bend their words to his will, and it was time to end it. "That is all. You are all dismissed." She ended the meeting there, turning and walking from the room. There would be no fighting that punishment. She'd been wrong, though. He hadn't compromised or even admitted a tiny bit of a fault, as she'd expected. Avalle grimaced bitterly to herself. She'd expected him to be a decent person. She'd been wrong.
That went poorly, she said bitterly to Callistath, making her way back to their Weyr. There is no real way to reason with that man, [/i] Callistath commented. Avalle couldn't help thinking that this was all their fault, too. That sharding twin egg. She didn't think they'd seen the last of Q'sis, either. But for now... this would do.[/blockquote][/size] |
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