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Post by veritas on May 1, 2011 1:03:13 GMT -5
(( This is set shortly after the wher hatching. Arrivals and acquisitions around the very end of the season haven't arrived or been acquired yet. ))
The crowds were a little easier to bear, now; Jerrith hadn't noticed the headache that had built up over the course of the Hatching until well after it had finished. Or maybe that was just the intensity of the situation. At any rate, so long as he kept to the edge of the dining hall, he could get by all right.
He hadn't had much appetite for a full meal tonight; it was another need that had brought him here, after the dinner hour proper - late enough that the whers were awake, not so late that he himself felt any real need to sleep yet. Lyra perched atop his harp, preening, showing off as she so often did; Magpie stayed on his shoulder, tail around his neck, dozing.
The strings quivered under his fingers - now a mournful song, now a joyous one. He kept his eyes on the diners and passersby; he could hardly figure out for himself if he ought to grieve or celebrate, but maybe he'd find the answer in the people around him.
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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 May 6, 2011 5:44:09 GMT -5
Contrary to what his roommate thought, Corian had been awoken by the younger boy. Unfortunately for Corian... Or perhaps fortunately, he had then practically passed out once the door had been shut and had completely missed the entire hatching. That had been a short while ago now and, from what he'd heard, it was probably a good thing he'd missed it. People were still so unsure of what to expect especially with the coming Dragon hatching. He'd always thought Whers a little scarier... More terrifying... But when he thought about it, perhaps it was the dragons who were really the creatures to be feared. They were almost three times the size of the Whers. He rubbed his eyes and looked about the hall.
Cirrus fluttered into the hall and immediately took to flying up near one of the lights while Corian made his way over to grab some food. He took a chair and sat near the Harper. Even though he had failed miserably in Harper Hall he still loved to listen to those truly gifted individuals. When the boy finished a song, Corian clapped enthusiastically despite the somber tone. He knew that something bad had happened, that a Wherling had died. But at least he'd impressed and done what he came to Dalibor to do. Not to mention, Corian found it difficult to do just about anything but remain cheerful. Cirrus landed for a moment to grab a piece of Wherry from Corian's plate and then Flitt off again to search for some more interesting things.
He turned sharply in mid air and then looked at the other two Flitts, one Black and one Pink. He chirrupped a 'hello' and then darted off once more to look at the lights. Corian let out something of a cheer when the Harper finished one of his more cheerful songs. Corian just loved the songs with a little bounce to them. The ones that just made him want to dance. He, thankfully, wasn't in the way of others but he wasn't precisely at the table either. He was just enjoying the music so much! "Wonderful! Amazing! Let's hear another fifty!!" He exclaimed, somewhat loudly but only so that those closest looked at him strangely.
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Post by veritas on May 6, 2011 21:49:08 GMT -5
In spite of himself, Jerrith had to laugh at the other Candidate's antics. All right, so he'd seen the other youth around enough to get the impression that that was just how he was, that nothing could dampen that exuberance. But really, was that such a bad thing?
Grieving was important, yes, but was it wise to dwell on matter beyond that?
The pale blue's greeting made Lyra look over, but she let out a disapproving squawk and went back to listening to the music. Stupid blue. Fluttering away to look at the lights. Honestly! They were just glows. Couldn't the stupid blue see that she was much prettier than some stupid lights?
Magpie, on the other hand, woke up and peered after Cirrus, standing up on Jerrith's shoulder and stretching out his wings. There were tasty smells here, but he'd already eaten well before his nap so that wasn't all that interesting. There were some pretty things, but His insisted that all of them were someone else's treasures. Hmf. They didn't seem to be properly appreciated... but he could find better treasures anyway, ones that nobody had claimed.
So when he leaped off His's shoulder and took to the air, it was for no more reason than to flutter around the pale blue, chirruping back at him. He was playful! Would he play with Magpie, just dancing through the air between all the shiny glowing things?
Jerrith smiled at the black's antics, and considered his next move. So the boy liked the brighter tunes, did he? Jerrith was of a mind to play something with matching energy - something with a beat, something that people could dance to. Something to remind everyone that whatever flaws had darkened it, a Hatching was supposed to be a happy occasion. The harp wasn't really the best instrument for the piece he had in mind... what he wanted was a gitar, but he didn't have one of his own, and not nearly the materials to make it, even if he'd thought himself up to making one that wasn't rather poor.
Oh, well. He'd have to make do.
His hands drove over the strings in a strident chord that made Lyra yelp and mantle her wings in protest, but he put her scolding out of mind, plucking out a lively jig. So Corian wanted to be happy; maybe a good round of music - maybe a dance, if people felt inclined to nudge a few tables aside, though he couldn't really get that much of a beat out of his poor little harp - would help others to follow his lead.
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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 May 7, 2011 8:19:21 GMT -5
Cirrus noticed that the Black had followed him up to look at the lights. They were pretty, weren't they? Perhaps they could search for the prettiest one together. He chirrupped back at the Flitt and sent an image of a light changing colours and even changing to another object, a cloth. They would have to find the most interesting thing in the whole Hall and play with it! At the moment Cirrus thought the lights most interesting, and happily Flitted around them in a circle before flying around the Black with enthusiasm. He was still young but his energy was almost as boundless as Corian's. Of course, he had been sleeping prior to entering the Hall for dinner.
"Oh ha ha! I see what this one is!" Corian exclaimed happily when the Harper, a candidate for sure, began playing a more upbeat song. He jumped to his feet and pushed the chair aside, nearly shoving it into a passerby. He apologised and looked around sheepishly, placing his food on a table before rushing back to the Harper. It was tough, he realised, to play a truly loud and exuberant song on the Harp but he certainly marveled at the talent before him. He knew how to play himself... Just not very well. He knew about two songs and both of them had their lyrics substituted for food. Specifically Benden Baklava. In all honesty, if he managed to impress another Flitt he would call it that especially if it happened to look like the food in any way.
He cleared a space for himself, which wasn't too tough as people were eying him with some concern and backing away, then began dancing happily. He didn't care that he looked a fool. Who cared about that? Someone would join in eventually and even if they didn't he'd have fun. Dancing was perhaps the only thing he had ever really been decent at and even then, it wasn't really dancing. It was a mix of moves really and although they seemed agile they were certainly no moves recognised universally, or even anywhere, on Pern. "I shall dance until I can't feel my feet!" He proclaimed lightly.
Fortunately for him, there were really not too many people paying attention to him. Or not as far as it seemed. Sure, a few eyes were turned his way thinking him quite insane. In all truthfulness he probably was. But most people didn't notice him dancing before the Harper. Maybe they assumed it was part of the entertainment. Perhaps they just didn't care. It wouldn't have mattered to Corian either way.
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Post by veritas on May 9, 2011 0:44:20 GMT -5
With the harp no longer safe, shifting to and fro far too much, Lyra fluttered onto her person's shoulder instead, curling up into a tight sulk. It wasn't fair. Why didn't he care how pretty she was anymore? She had been listening to the pretty songs and everything had been fine, but now she couldn't enjoy her perch on the pretty-music-thing and Hers was paying attention to a human-thing that wasn't nearly as pretty as her!
For the moment, Jerrith was much too into the music to reassure her. Tugging that many strings with that much force took most of his focus; his toe started tapping out the beat in a habit he'd thought long quashed, but instead of stilling it, on reflection, he amplified it. His efforts were repaid when someone a few seats down started tapping toes in time, then clapping; such simple, omnipresent instruments took up the percussive sound that the harp was lacking, and while people kept it soft enough that the harp could still be heard, it definitely added something that had otherwise been lacking.
Nobody quite had the nerve to get up and join Corian on the floor - maybe they were worried about taking a finger in the eye; that wasn't exactly the most restrained dancing on Pern, and none of them knew the steps even if he did look like he at least wasn't just flailing around. But people watched, and listened, and the mood in the hall grew a little bit brighter.
Jerrith kept playing, though he was breathing hard and his fingers were already starting to feel sore. If he kept playing like this for too long, he'd work them raw, and he didn't want to stop entirely just yet; but he could at least see this song through to its proper conclusion.
Then that conclusion came; one last triumphant strum, the notes hanging in the air; one last stamp of his foot, harder than the others, signalling the finale; and Jerrith drew a deep breath, sucking on his fingers. "Shards," he laughed, "a harp isn't supposed to do that!"
Magpie, darting to and fro in an odd dance with Cirrith, looked over at the sudden halt to the music. He swooped down to a fluttering landing on Jerrith's unoccupied shoulder, chirping half in query, half in demand; still chuckling, the harper reached up to scratch Magpie's eyeridges. "Impatient little thing. Give me a few moments, here."
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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 May 10, 2011 17:38:06 GMT -5
Corian continued to dance, becoming a little less flail worthy towards the middle. No one seemed to want to join in but he could hear the beat being bashed out on the tables and it made him pleased to know that at least they weren't about to kick him out of candidacy for spinning around like a fool. It was something that constantly worried him. He loved life and didn't particularly want to wind up Holdless because he'd accidentally knocked the Weyrwoman's eye out while dancing. Then again, if he'd managed to do that he probably didn't deserve a dragon. For safety's sake, he stopped spinning near people for fear that he just might be the unlucky one to get eaten by an angry Copper because he'd poked an eye out.
He could hear chatter and laughter. It was his element. It was what he was able to best live with. He loved it! His dancing became a little more restrained the more tired he became. However, it also became a little more Pern-based rather than... Whatever it was he'd been dancing before. The music was being played a little louder, clearly working towards the finale. Corian had to round off his own performance soon! He knew just what to do. Although he hadn't really been dancing for long he had been a candidate. He had been a pirate, a thief and a hero all in one. To that end he was a daredevil of sorts and, being a sixteen year old boy with nothing better to do, he had learned a couple of tricks.
The space was clear, people preferring to watch from the safety of a few meters. Thus, as the candidate finished his song, Corian managed to round off his own performance with a flip. He landed and stumbled a little but it didn't matter to him, so long as he didn't smash his face on the floor. He clapped extremely enthusiastically, feeling a little sweaty but not particularly caring in the slightest. He bustled forwards and smiled broadly at the candidate, scar pulling his face in the strange way it did. He laughed. "Well it should be able to. That was an amazing bit of playing! You must have been a harper then. Probably a pretty good one." He spoke with breathlessness, "Corian, I was a harper too but If I'd tried to play that harp like that it would probably be smashed to pieces!"
Cirrus had fluttered down now to land on His' shoulder not that he was certain he wasn't going to be flung across the room. He took off immediately and examined the harp, chattering happily. Clearly he had found the most fun thing in the room.
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Post by veritas on May 11, 2011 13:59:52 GMT -5
Jerrith really ought to have been used to firelizards suddenly making themselves at home on his harp, by now. It hadn't been a completely unknown thing even back at the Hall; then there'd been that pink, Thing. Now he had Magpie and especially Lyra vying for space on it when he was playing.
Sitll, he knew where both of them were. Having a different flitter suddenly so close to him made him start upright.
"Well, hello to you, too," he said to the blue; Magpie turned his head and gave Cirrus a chirrup of greeting as though they hadn't just been playing together, while Lyra, agitated at the sudden movement, contributed a much less melodious squawk before curling up and lowering her head again in a very exaggerated "I am trying to sleep" manner.
"What's this about 'was', anyway," he asked of Corian. His tone was more distant than it was challenging, but... shard it, for the past half a turn he'd been struggling not to lose his identity as a harper in spite of being a Candidate. It was a silly little thing to seize on, but... this boy talking like he'd left it all behind him the moment he came to the Weyr was kind of unpleasantly jarring.
Oh, well. He didn't know. Not his fault; don't blame him for poking a sore point. "I'm trying to be one still, after all. Not sure I'll be ready to walk the tables as soon as I would haev been if I'd stayed at the Hall, but I'm making progress."
He shrugged, reaching over for a goblet. "Jerrith," he said for his own introduction. "I think I've seen you around lessons, yes." For that same sharding half-a-turn... if Jerrith was that forgettable, it didn't speak well of his prospects as a performing harper!
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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 May 11, 2011 17:34:41 GMT -5
Cirrus chirped happily at the greeting and flew around the Harp in circles attempting to discern what the strange contraption was! He just didn't know. He'd never seen it before. His didn't have one of these. Why didn't His have one!? It looked so much fun! This was probably the longest Cirrus had ever spent looking at something without darting off to look at something else.
Corian breathed heavily, catching his breath from his exertions. He waved his hand a little when Jerrith picked up on the 'was'. "Oh, hoho no. You would have wanted to tear your ears off at my singing. Sure, it was fun to sing but the whole memorising stuff? Not for me. I mean, I help out sometimes in the Caverns but most of those songs I make up as I go along and hope the kids know what they're doing. But, yeah, if I'd been better at it..." He shrugged and laughed, "Well, walking the tables will be awesome for you!"
He thought he'd heard Jerrith's name around. He probably knew him from lessons too but, as he'd just said, memory was not Corian's strong point. It was probably the primary reason he had been so happy to become a candidate. He'd also only been at Harper Hall for a short while and, whilst there, had managed to mess up in just about every class except drumming. Something about hitting the drums with such energy had always made his day.
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Post by veritas on May 12, 2011 10:43:09 GMT -5
"I suppose it wasn't so much the 'was' as the 'must have been'," Jerrith admitted, running a finger along one of the strings. Had it been a little bit off? He plucked it, head cocked, and then tugged a few of those around it as well, and finally gave a very slight twist to one knob. "I mean, I kind of hope I've not been away from it so much and so long as to not look the part anymore myself!"
But, well, all credit for those who knew their own strengths... whatever those happened to be. Enthusiasm had to count for something, especially when things started to turn unpleasant; if nothing else, it was good to be reminded, sometimes, that it was still possible to be happy.
Maybe that was the lesson he should be taking to heart, today...
He sighed softly, folding his hands over the top of his harp. "I hope I do get the opportunity, anyway. For all I've done what I could here, between chores... it's not the same as dedicated study. And it's so much easier to get distracted - I'm mostly used to seeing dragons, by now, but..." He shrugged. Probably wasn't the best time to go into detail about some of the aspects of Weyr life that did confound him. "It's still a lot to take in."
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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 May 12, 2011 19:11:25 GMT -5
"Right, I think I understand." Corian nodded a little, "Yes, it would be tough to study with all the things we have to do." He was just about stuffed from dancing. He could hardly imagine how Jerrith felt having to play the song as he had. With the beat to it. He watched at the other male plucked a string of his Harp. "That's sharp." Corian interjected seriously.
He then grinned, "Actually I have no idea whether that's sharp or flat or broken in half by a saw. That was probably one of the reasons I liked playing the drums more. At least it was fairly obvious if they were wrong... The skins would be broken from the top." As Cirrus jumped onto his arm and chirrupped, Corian petted the little Blue Firelizard with a smile knowing that the creature would fly off sooner or later to look for something else interesting. Well, apparently he was still fairly happy with the Harp for he had attempted to perch himself on it along with the other two Flitts.
Corian turned his attention back to Jerrith. "Oh yeah. The Dragons. I grew up in a Weyr but... Well, it's still something of a shock when one speaks to you. They never used to bother speaking to Weyrbrats but... Yeah..." He trailed off and shrugged.
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Post by veritas on May 14, 2011 8:23:18 GMT -5
Jerrith blinked at the other candidate's interjection about the off-tune string, and was about to comment when the follow-up came. At that point, he couldn't help but chuckle a little. "I was going to say... actually, it was just a little bit flat."
With Jerrith's pair of firelizards occupying his shoulders and only his hands on the harp, there was, in fact, a fair bit of room for the little blue; at any rate, Jerrith studied the energetic firelizard for a few moments. Hmmm. He wasn't an expert on the species, but... well, maybe he could find an opportunity to ask about that.
For now... well. "I haven't had them speak to me very much... and with this pair putting pictures in my head, some words here and there don't seem so quite so startling as they might. When it gets to emotions, though..." Like every sharding time a green or pink or cyan Rose, say... not that he really wanted to bring up that aspect of things, certainly not until he had a better idea of where his own thoughts on the matter lay, but it did make certain of the Candidate rules chafe a little more. "...It can get a little overwhelming," he concluded a bit weakly.
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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 May 15, 2011 4:07:47 GMT -5
Corian's grinned stayed practically plastered to his face when Jerrith joked along with him. It was one thing he constantly worried about, whether or not what he was saying was insulting anyone. Unfortunately for Corian, he never noticed when he was frustrating someone and when he was truly having fun with them. Jerrith seemed not all that frustrated so Corian could only assume that everything was fine.
Corian had noticed the emotions of the Dragons on occasion. Perhaps it was those times that he was at his most hyperactive, but the last hatching had been something of a shock for him. It had been his second one and the keening of the Gray, Noyth, had been somewhat horrible to perceive much less to feel. He couldn't imagine how it would have been for her Rider. Then, of course, there had been the death of the Queen. "Oh, I've only had them speak to me a couple of times. But a voice in your head telling you there's a hatching is enough to just about make you fall out of bed." Corian responded.
Cirrus was pleased with his place on the Interesting Thing. He then proceeded to turn to the Pink and watch her intently. He turned to the Black and chirped at him. Why hadn't the Pink wanted to play? Poor Pink. They would have to include her next time. Maybe they could play with the things on the table. Those tasted nice but it was always fun playing with them too.
"I've gotten a few bruises from those times." Corian continued after a pause, "But, can't go to the next hatching with a bruised behind."
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Post by veritas on May 15, 2011 17:27:50 GMT -5
Jerrith spread his hands, stretching out his fingers. Hm. He just might dare to try another round... maybe something more sedate, this time; something a little more serious. Not sombre, no, he didn't want to go quite that far, but... something befitting the gravity of resent events.
And something that'd be more sharding appropriate for a harp.
"Well, if everything works out for us," he reflected, plucking out a few soft chords, then stilling the strings and working some of the levers along the harp's neck. When he dragged his fingers over the strings again, it was in a different cord. Satisfied, he went on, "if everything works out, we'll have ample opportunity to get used to it, hmm?"
At least, he hoped they'd have more opportunity than that poor wherling had...
He shifted to a more anthemic piece - an old, traditional one. What carried was the harp; but still, he sang one line softly, almost under his breath. "Drummer, beat, and piper, blow..."
With his fingers settling into their rhythm, he returned his attention to the other Candidate. "Haven't been around long enough for a dragon Hatching, myself," he admitted. "I think I'd just missed one by not very long. I... was here for the wher hatching, of course."
Now that he was playing again, Lyra roused herself, cocking her head and listening to the music (and steadfastly ignoring the unfamiliar blue flitter; he wasn't nearly as pretty as the music!). Magpie was a little more friendly, chirruping back at the blue, but after his wild turn around the dining hall, he was more content to stay with His. Food in here wasn't a suitable treasure for him to take, he knew that by now!
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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 May 15, 2011 18:30:27 GMT -5
Corian nodded and realised that Jerrith was about to play another song. Corian wasn't so daft that he couldn't recognise the chords as being ones of slight solemnity. He supposed it was only fitting. Jerrith had just played his fingers off with a jaunty, upbeat tune and Corian suspected that another would just about either cut the other candidate or ruin his Harp. Corian figured that, if Jerrith still intended on remaining a Harper, Walking the Tables, he probably didn't want his Harp destroyed.
He sat down, fidgeted a little but eventually calmed himself to show something of a somber mood to reflect that of the song. He would have joined in, possibly with a harmony, but he hadn't sung properly in quite some time. He had a decent voice, this much was certain, but he lacked the training to make it any better than a very basic vocal addition to the song. He hummed along happily enough but quietly so that he wouldn't distract Jerrith or those listening to the tones of the Harp.
Jerrith was apparently more skilled than Corian could have imagined. He was able to talk whilst playing!? Corian had never been able to multitask like that! As it happened, simply paying attention to what Jerrith was doing and speaking to him was difficult enough for Corian. He nodded a little. "There were a few candidates who came in just after the last hatching. It was an... Interesting one to say the least." He replied.
A Queen dead on the sands. The thought still shocked Corian a little. They needed Queens still, even with all the mutations that had come about. Unfortunately, the Reds, Tans and Oranges did not always clutch. That much was certain from when the Red had risen a couple of seasons ago... Still, he pushed the thoughts from his mind. He would not be distracted like that again on the sands, no siree. "But the hatchings are usually so amazing. Seeing friends impress and watching faces light up when the Dragon speaks to them is quite rewarding." Corian continued.
Even if he didn't impress and Ezekiel, Varan and now Jerrith did he would feel so happy for them. He wasn't the type to begrudge a friend for achieving something he hadn't. No. He took it as more people he could spend time with.
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Post by veritas on May 17, 2011 15:21:02 GMT -5
Jerrith wasn't exactly playing vigorously, nor was it a very intricate sequence that his fingers picked out; and, to be fair, it did take him a few moments to parse what the other Candidate had said. Part of that, though, was simply that he didn't have much frame of reference. He'd been at the wher hatching, yes, but... his experience had been rather soured by its bloodier moments.
At length, he said, "I hope it won't be too long before there's another. I know how it felt when Magpie cracked shell, of course - then Lyra, vain thing though she is - but... I'd never seriously try to compare them to an actual dragon. He might not know that much about the Weyrs, not compared to someone born and raised there, but he liked to think he wasn't completely ignorant anymore.
"Though," he mused, "I suppose there's some benefit to me that there hasn't been. Not that I'm fool enough to claim I'm sure to Impress the first time I Stand," he added in a hurry. "But if I do... well, I don't think I'll be very well able to keep up my studies. Certainly not until the dragon's grown... if then." Just a little over a Turn, now, until Thread started falling. Even if he Impressed the next day, he'd not be done as a weyrling by that time. Would the Weyr be able to spare him for a harper's duties and studies if he wasn't already a journeyman by then? It didn't seem too likely, yet.
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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 May 17, 2011 23:38:10 GMT -5
Corian wondered himself just how much time he would dedicate to his Dragon if, no, when he impressed. Corian had not yet lost hope. But he was curious as to the Weyrling duties. He’d always heard about the Heroes of Pern and it only crossed his mind ever so rarely just how much work those Heroes had to do just to even fly on the backs of their dragons and travel Between.
He understood also what Jerrith was talking about when mentioning the Flitts. Corian had barely slept with the Firelizard egg hardening where he placed it on the Hearth. He’d watched it closely rarely touching it unless he needed to. The most excited he’d been was when it had started moving the day it had hatched. Not to mention the day when he thought it had moved but, in reality, he’d just moved it and forgotten about it.
Cirrus was happily watching the movements of the Harpers hands and moving his tiny claws in much the same way as though trying to mimic the manner in which the large creature was obviously having so much fun. He seemed to think that there was something about the Harp that was a game and wanted to copy it. It was the longest Corian had ever seen the Flitt focus on something.
“Well, of course they’re not dragons but I think that they can sometimes help the transition.” He just realised that it was the most serious thing he had said in some time and laughed, “But I guess that trying to fly on them and fight Thread might be just a little tough.” He hoped to impress earlier in a hatching rather than later so he could leave the sands before all the larger Dragonets managed to dig their claws into the others… Then again, he would just need to focus on staying focused rather than what was happening with any violence. “But, I agree… I’ve been in a Weyr long enough to know at least that comparing the two is a little silly.”
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Post by veritas on May 22, 2011 8:02:52 GMT -5
((Augh failpost is fail. Sorry for the delay and for the brevity, I'm still trying to rework Jerrith somewhat.))
Shards. Jerrith shouldn't have thought so much about his Craft and the future of it; that was a stress at the best of times, and in spite of the other Candidate's exuberance, after that bloody hatching was far from the best of times.
He picked out another chord, this one in a minor key, and let it hang on the air for a few moments. A few levers pulled and the harp was properly in that key; he touched the strings, though not enough to sound them again, not yet.
"The more I learn here," he sighed, "the more I realize I don't know. About dragons, my own course in life..." He shook his head, playing another wistful arpeggio. "I'm sorry. I'm just... not sure. I never wanted to give up my Craft, so I keep hoping I can push it a little farther in the time I have..." A crooked smile. "After all, I wasn't about to turn down a sharding dragon. I'm not quite that far gone."
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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 May 23, 2011 17:01:02 GMT -5
Corian was a little curious about the other candidate now. He didn't understand quite what he was concerned about. After all, he'd never had second thoughts about his craft and impressing to a dragon instead. Jerrith almost read his mind as he clarified that he wasn't so silly to say that he didn't want a dragon. After all, if one had the chance to become a Rider one should probably take that chance. Not too many people had the opportunity and there were plenty of people who truly desired it.
As Jerrith spoke, Corian came to realise just what he meant. Of course, if he impressed at the next hatching, which Corian had no doubt he would, there wouldn't be any time really to train in his craft. He would be forced to spend a lot of time with the hatchling. Corian couldn't believe it had taken him this long to figure it out. He could always walk the tables after he had become a Rider but who knew whether he would be able to do that. The dragon might be one more or less confined to the Weyr... Or one who didn't want to leave...
"'Course not!" Corian grinned, "I would have many concerns if you had turned down a dragon." He laughed a little but had come to understand a little better what Jerrith was going through. Him, having never really been all that concerned with his Craft other than hitting things, had never really been the slightest bit concerned with what impressing a dragon would mean. He should have probably been more worried about not impressing a dragon but he had confidence in himself and just about every candidate he met.
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Post by veritas on May 28, 2011 10:47:05 GMT -5
Jerrith tugged another sad chord into being. Now that his mind had gone that way, it was proving awfully hard to divert. Magpie crooned softly, nuzzling at His's jaw; Jerrith diverted a hand to give the black a caress, and shook his head. "It's just... Pass isn't far off, now. From what I've heard, the first years of Pass are the worst - nobody's met Thread before, and all the studying on Pern, all the drilling, can't quite prepare anyone for it." Another arpeggio, this one picked out one string at a time, as he went on, "Is the Weyr really going to spare a new rider the time to go and learn a craft?" The more he thought about it, the less sense it made.
"So." A brisker chord. "I've been trying to learn as fast as I can. I'm not aiming for a mastery, not now, so... I don't know, maybe I was hoping that could be kept in mind deciding how much is enough. Maybe I could go through it faster than usual, if I work at it..." A light shrug; with the pair of fire-lizards often on his shoulders, he'd become used to making that gesture a subtle one. "I just don't want to live out my days as an apprentice."
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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 May 29, 2011 18:38:04 GMT -5
Corian listened to what Jerrith was saying and frowned briefly when he said something about not wanting to live out his days as an apprentice. Corian had practically resigned himself to living out his days as an apprentice long ago. When he had failed at almost every single instrument he simply accepted that he did not have the mind to actually Walk the Tables. Still, it did smart a little to have someone else speak so low of his fate. Not to worry! He was going to be a Rider! Third time lucky! Right? Corian smiled once again. He didn't need to be a Harper if he could be a Rider!
"Well, hopefully the Dragon you impress to will enjoy music and you can study with him or her." Corian replied, cheer returning. He had no doubt that if a dragon enjoyed music it would enjoy Jerrith's playing. Hopefully he would at least be able to keep some of his skills up. Even if he couldn't study as much as he was now being able to just play every now and then might just allow for the maintenance of some of his skills.
Corian, on the other hand, was hoping he would impress a dragon that would really like his imagination. They could have so much fun together if the Dragon was like the Flirtatious Steed. He had not seen Catori of Koketeth in some time but when he impressed he hoped dearly that the two of them could play Thieves again. Maybe with that nice Wher candidate as well! "What kind of dragon do you hope to impress?" Corian asked curiously.
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Post by veritas on May 31, 2011 2:17:51 GMT -5
A soft, maybe somewhat rueful laugh; a chord to suit, edging toward discordant while not actually going so far as to be nonmusical. "I rather hope so myself," Jerrith said with a sigh, shaking his head. "It's... an itch." It'd be hard enough to just carry on as a rider knowing that pretty much any ambitions as a harper would need to be left behind. If he had to give up even music because his dragon didn't like it... he wasn't sure what he would do.
"...What kind?" He blinked, coming back to the present. "I'll be honest, I really haven't given it much thought. Sometimes, I think it still hasn't quite sunk in that any dragon might want me." He plucked at a few strings, idly. "I don't know. I've heard blues are nice and friendly - or browns, but with so few of them to go around I wouldn't presume. I'm not much worried about the color, though. I mostly hope I get one that's... well... reasonably kind." Not indiscriminately violent, at least, please, Faranth...
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