A Newcomer

[pirate]

Layden just now seemed to realize that everyone was against him, all except that girl who hadn’t said her name. Which didn’t help much since she was not talking, she actually spoke even less than Hasima. She had laughed though; Layden turned his full and complete attention to her, “What’re you laughing at?” he asked suspiciously.

He was waiting for the answer when Akki unsurprisingly began talking again. Yet another frown appeared upon his face, there seemed to be no way to win against Akki. “But if your Ebbeth is asleep he won’t be able to help you…”
Layden was soon confused by the strange growl like noise that came out of Akki. What did the “Rrrrr” mean? He had no time to ask the bluerider since she had begun speaking… again. “Well if you go by your theory that you shouldn’t count on anything when impressing a dragon… and you think I’ll impress a green then you shouldn’t count on me getting that. Nor should you be surprised if… no… when I impress a bronze.” Layden said pretty much confusing himself as he spoke. He shook his head, trying to clear it, by then Akki was on the ground.

The outspoken candidate was about to respond to Akki’s ‘Don’t make me start to hate you Layden,’ but surprisingly held his tongue. He gritted his teeth as he held back his retort.


((forgive the lateness ^#^ *dives under bed to hide*))

[Miki]

Miki gave a sigh. She really didn't want to get in a fight but her comment seemed fairly harmless. How long was she supposed to bite her tongue and watch? That simply wasn't her style. She wasn't passive at all.

The candidate rose her head a little, looking right at Akki. She dug up some knowledge from her time at the weyr her family was from and spoke in a very calm voice. She said, "Tell me, isn't it true that a person's personality matters a great deal on which dragon chooses them. I've heard many times. Most timid girls don't get Golds and most arrogant," she paused, looking at Layden for a moment before returning to Akki, "Don't get greens."

Miki was happy her comment came out clearer than the boy's, Layden's. She felt, though, she might as well say her name. Sure this was a somewhat awkward place to put it but she did anyway. Before anyone had time to react to her comment she said, "Oh, I'm Miki."

[Akki]

Akki lifted her head off from the ground and looked at Layden straight in the eye and said simply, "I like to talk. Alot. You'll notice that about me. It's probably not a good thing that I do though.". Akki lifted her hands in front of her and waved the slightly as she shook her head. "No, no, no. I didn't I think you'll get a green. I said it's a possibility. I won't know what you get until you Impress.". But as Layden continued on, a frown tugged at her mouth. She wondered slightly if the boy realized he had just lost her. "I'm confused now."

Normally Akki failed at noticing things, but this time she could almost see the restraint Layden had to use to not say something back after she told him not to make her hate him. "You can say it you know. What ever you want to say. I probably won't mind. I probably won't even get it actually." She said with a shrug.

Hasima and Akki both looked over at the girl, some what surprised. But Akki easily recovered and shrugged. "It's true that personalities do have some affect I suppose. But the last hatching, a really nice girl named Wolf Impressed a lovely Gold. Key word in what you said is most though, I guess. There's always the people that aren't included in the 'most'."

Akki tapped the side of her chin with her finger lightly and pondered out loud. "If that was true, what you said about nice girls getting greens and arrogant ones getting golds. Then what about mutants? Hasima is quiet, but really nice so wouldn't she get a green? And not Rimith?". She shook her head slightly, as if clearing all thoughts. "I'm getting a head ache from thinking about this now.".

[Miki]

Miki noticed the look on both of the girl's faces. Apparently they didn't think she was a talker. She recalled the greenrider who had taken her hear. She had given her a moutful. Miki shrugged away the thought and listened surprisingly patiently. She noticed the bluerider's slight misunderstanding about greens and golds but it wasn't enough to say anything. She just seemed to ntoice these things.

As soon as Akki finished, though, Miki had something to say. "Mutants are just that, though. They are mutants. Who knows what their taste is since they are not among the general fdive colors. Perhaps their personalities, unlike the main colours, vary greatly from dragon to dragon so there can be no status quo for them to choose from." unfolded her arms and allowed them to fall to her side but she remainded in her spot against the wall.

[Akki]

Akki waved her hand in the air, as if shooing off the conversation now. "That's enough debating for me. I'll get a headache if I contine on. I'll sum up my opinion quickly though, because I like doing that. You never know what dragon you'll get until the hatching, whether it be a bronze or green. Just remember to be thankful that you Impressed.".

Satisfied with the moral she just said, she nodded to herself. She propped herself up on her elbows and stared at Miki and asked curiously, "Where are you from Miki? By the way, I like your name. It's nice.". "Oh, right." Akki said with realization as she snapped her fingers.

She looked at Layden and shrugged, "If Ebbeth is asleep he can't help me. But trust me on this, it's nearly impossible at avoiding chores. Our WeyrWoman is very talented and finding people if they are hiding on her.".

[pirate]

Layden raised his eyebrow again as Miki glanced at him when she spoke the word “arrogant.” Why would she look at him? Was she insinuating something? Layden returned her look with a glare despite the fact that he agreed with what the girl was saying about the impressions.

He turned to Akki when she began to speak. When she commented upon her being confused he glanced at anything but her. “I got confused too,” he admitted quietly as his cheeks became slightly pink. He stared up at the ceiling hoping she would not notice. He was not one to become easily embarrassed but if someone commented upon the fact that he was blushing his face would turn bright red. Layden shook his head when Akki suggested he speak up and say what he had held back. He said nothing mainly because he had forgotten what he was going to say whilst he tried to stop himself from blushing.

The boy lay on the cot his head resting on his hands as he listened to the two girls, Miki and Akki, debate. Finally it seemed Akki had drawn it to a close and Layden waited for Miki to reply to Akki’s question for he too was curious. While he was waiting Akki had turned to him. Strange that she should bring up that again, he thought she might’ve forgotten him trying to get out of chores. Layden sighed it would seem there was no way to get out of the dreaded chores. ‘Back at my weyr…’ he thought before shaking his head, no, Dark Moon Weyr was his weyr now.

He looked at Akki and sighed again, “I suppose I should just give up and do my chores,” he said grumpily sounding very much like a spoiled little child. He then pointed to Akki and said, “But there better be time for stuff other than chores.” Layden then turned to quiet Hasima, “How much chores did you have when you were a candidate?”

[Spirithawk]

There are two new Candidates and one that you haven't met before that you need to tend to Mine.

Rhia glanced up, pushing a strand of auburn hair that had escaped from the runnertail at the base of her skull back behind her ear. Oops. I have been so busy that I forgot about the new girl.

Once Reinath rises and has her clutch you won't have time to deal with Sr. W'lings, Jr. W'lings AND Candidates.

Mneith's voice was stubborn. He wanted his rider to give the job to someone else. I can't do that to Christae right now. She needs all the help she can get.

What about Ebbeth's rider, Akki? She always greets the Candidates anyway. Rhia was surprised that the brown remembered the bluerider's name. Most dragons had trouble matching rider to dragon. Akki is a good friend to you and Ebbeth is my clutch brother. Why shouldn't I remember their names? Rhia smiled.

No reason not to. she said indulgently. I suppose I could ask her to step in and help if she wants. That way I won't have to deal with them until it is time for Candidate classes. I could start training Akki if she wants as well.

Mneith was pleased to see that his rider was seeing reason and willing to delegate some of her responsibilities to someone else. Now if he and the other dragons could just convince Christae that she needed help that would make things easier for all of them.

Rhia set her hides down and stretched before pulling on her boots and hiking down to the Candidate Barracks to greet her new charges. She was not surprised to find some of her Weyrling charges and Akki already making the acquaintance of the newcomers.

"Hello there." She smiled at the newcomers. "I am Rhia, rider of brown Mneith. I am the Candidate Master and the WLM. I apologize for not greeting you sooner but I have been rather busy with the new W'ling class." She waited for the two boys and the girl to introduce themselves. "Akki, I would like to have a word with you afterwards." She smiled at her old friend to show her that it was nothing bad.

((id say hello to all the w'lings but I dont feel like looking back to see who is still there so ill handle that next post))

[Miki]

Miki didn't feel too motivated to continue the conversationg so at Akki's suggestion she dropped it. Akki didn't seem so bad. She smiled mentally. She could tell her face was serene. She could feel herself emanating tranquility. She looked to Akki and listened to her finish.

What Akki said shocked her. She wasn't one to get many compliments. She had a string personality and nobody really ever got to close to her. Only her parents had complimented her in a way that she felt was sincere. Despite Akki's lightness, it still felt sincere. She let her slightly shocked fave relax into a smile. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Well, I was born in Inyia Weyr but I left. I lived in a Hold but I'm certain you wouldn't have heard of it. It's not very important."

Miki gave a slight shrug and turned her head to see Layden. His face was a pale shade of pink and he seemed somewhat frustrated. Miki felt the question pop to her head. Why was he blushing? She didn't let it come out, though. Akki would probably comment but if she didn't then Miki would. She didn't want to seem rude. She didn't have bluntness as an excuse. Miki silently cursed. Why did she always have to insult people? Miki let out a long breath and looked up. She really didn't understand why Layden and Akki were talking about chores. She didn't bother to ask.

Miki's head twisted in the other direction when another rider came in. Miki did not need the introduction to tell that she was important. She did listen to it though. She looked at the two other candidates but figured she would go first. "My name is Miki," she said. Her voice was quiet but still audible.

{Ah! It took forever for me to write this cause I keep crying from my stupid book!}

[Akki]

Akki grinned as Layden admitted his confusion too, "Would it be odd for me to say I'm glad you did? Then I don't feel so bad about being confused.". She cast a wink at the boy before looking at Hasima to hear her answer the question that was directed at her. "Oh." Hasima said almost surprisedly, just realizing he was addressing her. She bit her lip in deep though as she scratched the yellows eye ridges. "A few." She admitted, "But they weren't anything bad. Once you got them done, you had time to do things.".

Akki sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees and cherped a greeting of 'Hello Rhia.' to the brownrider as she came into the room. "You should be awfully proud of me Rhia. Layden here wanted to get out of some chores, and I was going to offer my help about avoiding them actually. But then I thought 'Rhia wouldn't appreciate me doing that probably.' and so I kept my mouth closed about that and tried to convince him to do them." Akki said with all honesty, with a grin to her rider friend.

"Afterwards afterwards? Or afterwards you greet them and they greet you back?" Akki asked as she picked herself up off the floor, brushing herself off. She could tell she wasn't in trouble by Rhia's smile, and was quite curious about why Rhia needed to talk to her. People rarely requested to talk to Akki formally, it just didn't happen much. Akki turned to Miki with a grin and shrugged, "No problem. Inyia Weyr, never been there. What's it like?".

Ooc|| Good book then? x)

[Spirithawk]

"A pleasure to meet you Miki. If you need anything you can come to my office. Ask anyone around and they will be able to show it to you. If not look for my big lug of a brown. He is hard to miss. He is soil brown and as big as our smallest bronze. I regret to tell you that I am the one assigning chores but it has to be done." She smiled. "Though if you came from Weyr life, you understand that."

"After you are through visiting with the younglings will be fine Akki. I am not in any hurry. I just have a proposition to make to you."

Greetings clutch-brother. I hope that you and yours are well? I think that your rider will like what my rider has to talk about today. Mneith bespoke Ebbeth.

[Riler]

Riler was rather amused, though somewhat irritated, by Layden’s bickering and retorting comments. Thankful, however, their small argument settled down, which was rather relieving. He didn’t want to be caught up in some argument on his first day at the Weyr. Something about getting on peoples bad side when he just met them didn’t really appeal to him.

At the sound of another person entering, Riler looked up to see a female rider walk into the room. Upon hearing that this rider was the Candidate Master, relief quickly succumbed to nervousness. Though, from witnessing her interactions with Akki, he concluded that she seemed to be friendly and kind. He remained quiet as she talked, carefully listening to her words, though staring up into her face with tense enthusiasm. When he heard that she’d be the one assigning chores, Riler had to stifle a groan. It was true, completing chores would be inevitable; Akki made that quite clear with Layden. However, that didn’t detract from the fact that he’d have to do them. He gave a small, wistful sigh. It’d be worth it in the end, he assured himself.

When she finished telling Akki that she could talk with her later Riler quietly, though assertively, introduced himself. “Please to meet you, Rhia of brown Mneith.” Trying to be as respectful as possible, he wondered whether a handshake was an appropriate gesture or not. Hoping that it is, and hoping that if it wasn’t he could play ignorant of the fact that it wasn’t, he held out his hand to Rhia. “My name’s Riler.”

[pirate]

Layden turned his head to the door so that he could see who was entering the candidate’s barracks. Yet another rider had arrived. He waited for her to introduce herself. So… she was the Candidate AND Weyrling Master, not to mention the fact that she was a brown rider. Layden could not help but to comment on that fact.
“Greetings Candidate Master Rhia,” he replied quite formally, “I am Layden from High Reaches.
He paused for a moment thinking of how best to put what he wanted to say, but failed miserably, he spoke again, “How on Pern did you manage to impress a brown dragon? You’re a girl.”
Layden had risen from his cot by now and was standing with his arms crossed watching Rhia and waiting impatiently for an answer to his question.

[Akki]

A proposition? Now that definitely intrigued the blue rider. "I'll be quite happy to see you afterwards then. You've made me curious." Akki said with a grin. Greetings to you and yours also. Ebbeth rumbled happily. We are doing well, as I hope you two are. I'll admit it, you've made me curious to see why your rider has asked to speak with mine. As long as she will enjoy it as you predicted, I'll be content.

As Riler introduced himself to Rhia, Akki looked at the brown rider and said with a wink, "You'll like Riler Rhia. He's nice. I already declared that him and I would be friends, but you missed it.". She paused for a moment, eyebrows drawn together in thought, "I think I have had more weyrlings friends than rider friends in my life.". She shrugged happily, she didn't have a problem with that. She slung her arm around Hasima and grinned at the girl, who shyly grinned back.

Akki looked towards Layden as he made her comment and sniffed with dignity, "What's wrong about girls Impressing male dragons like bronzes, browns and blues? Mind you, I guess we could say quite a few people were surprised that a girl Impressed a brown, but I like to think that she's one of the best brown riders that you might ever meet.".

[Spirithawk]

Rhia smiled and reached out to firmly shake the young man's hand. "A pleasure Riler and since you have already impressed our dear Akki, I believe you and I will get along fine. And for future references dear, you bow to your Candidate Master and the Weyrleaders, especially when there are riders from other weyrs around. I don't mind but we are supposed to follow protocol. Always show a rider the respect due to his or her station. Proper ettiquette is something I will teach you so don't worry." She gave the Candidate a warm smile.

Rhia turned to Akki. "Most of our riders left though and most of the riders here are either new transfers, freshly graduated riders or W'lings. I can see why most of your friends are w'lings." She smirked at the bluerider.

Rhia raised her eyebrows as the youngling voiced a rather impertinent question. "How did I manage?" Her voice was slightly inflected on the 'manage' part and rather cool. "Young man, I will grace such an impertinent question with an answer purely because it is one of the lessons you must learn. Gender has NOTHING to do with Impressing a dragon, nor does it make any rider better than another. I have proven myself in drills ten times over and I have proven myself capable of riding one of Pern's largest browns as well as earning the title of Candidate and Weyrling Master, which is more than I can say for some MALE brown and bronzeriders. Before I took the position of WLM, I was a Wingsecond and afterwards a Wingleader."

"Mneith chose me, not a male, because I was HIS soulmate, NOT a male. There were no males suitable to him on the sands. That does not mean that I am in any way less fit to ride a brown just because I am a woman. Now, I fully expect you to change your gender biased notions on dragonriding before you come to my classes. Akki is a bluerider. She is also a woman riding a male dragon. We have several males riding green dragons, which, if you do not know, are female dragons. Why is it so difficult for people to accept a female riding a male dragon when no one bats an eye at a male riding a female dragon?"

The brownrider's voice and grey eyes were cool as she regarded the impatient young man that she was to teach as a Candidate and perhaps a Weyrling one day. "Now if that has answered your question, I would like you to answer mine. Your name please. It is rather impolite to question a rider of a higher rank than you are without at least providing your name and hold Hold or Weyr."

Rhia turned to Akki with a smile. "No one was more surprised than I when Mneith chose me."

[pirate]

Layden smirked as Rhia corrected Riler on how to greet various important people in the Weyr, true he hadn’t bowed either, but he had not been corrected… yet. His full attention went to Rhia when she began to address him, though.

He shrugged when Rhia had finished and began to speak calmly, “In High Reaches they tend to stick to only letting girls stand at Impressions when there is a golden egg upon the sands. The weyrwoman and weyrleader tend to stick to traditions and with the weyrwoman’s queen getting older there are less and less Queen eggs so not so many girls stand a chance at impressing other colors. My mother, a gold rider, agrees with our weyrwoman.” He shrugged again, “I suppose I can see how a girl rider can impress a green and I guess a blue since they’re smaller and less … well they’re smaller,” Layden said quickly correcting himself lest he incur the wrath of both Akki and Rhia. “But a girl brownrider is still just… strange.” The boy kept his eyes on Rhia the entire time as he explained himself.

He had to admit he was impressed with how many high positions that Rhia had held in this weyr. “From what I’ve heard from Harpers and the oldest Dragonriders, the drills are nothing like real Threadfall,” Layden replied matter-of-factly.

“And my name is Layden of High Reaches Weyr,” he supplied his name with a quick bow.

[Akki]

Akki beamed at Rhia and shrugged, "Oh maybe that's why I'm friends with them. Or it's because they're impressionable at the candidate stage and if I plan things right, I can mould them into an army." She blinked a few times, sighed, "I think I have too much spare time on my hands, if you ask me.".

"Rhia has quite the number of title in our Weyr, and quite the impressive standing also." Akki said with a nod. "Also, she's one of the oldest riders here, so she gets alot of respect. I guess what I'm saying is, don't get on her bad side because more than likely the Weyr will shun you or something." She said with a grin, pretending she was teaching the candidate a life lesson. Akki tapped her fingers on the ground and crinkled her nose, snorting, "Yeah but knowing Ebbeth he probably mistook me as a male.".

Yes, I did. And now I'm wishing I could go back and choose another rider. Ebbeth snickered with amusement. Akki nodded, agreeing with Rhia. It was true, no one was more suprised than her.

Akki grinned slightly, "Traditions are boring over time. You do the same old thing, and the same thing ends up happening or at least something close to it. Pern needs to have a change at times, and Dark Moon I guess you could say contributes to that. Oh, and I don't mean any offense to your Weyr when I say that." She cast a wink towards Hasima and Rimith, "You can go right on ahead and not do any drills Layden. Tell us how that works out for you."

[Riler]

As Rhia grasped his hand, he felt somewhat relieve, believing that he didn’t do anything out of proper etiquette. It was also a relief to hear a Weyr Leader tell him he’d do fine in the Weyr, for whatever the comfort was worth. However, he felt his stomach plummet as she corrected him. She didn’t seem upset with him at all; on the contrary, she seemed rather understanding. Taking the moment in stride, he nodded as she talked, acknowledging the proper method. As they released hands, he gave her a quick bow. “Yes ma’am, I’ll remember that.” As he rose, he noticed that she was smiling. This was a great comfort to him; he got the feeling he would like his Candidate Master.

As Layden began asking Rhia how she Impressed a brown, Riler couldn’t help but give a small sigh. True enough, it was a fair question, but he knew the answer before she could even say it; the dragon chose her. Besides, it seemed rather rude to ask her for an answer, for she must have been asked this question many times before in the past.

Riler couldn’t help but grin at Akki’s first comment about befriending candidates. Just trying to imagine a candidate coup was rather amusing. When she began to talk about traditions, he couldn’t help but agree. He had always followed traditions when he was home. His traditions consisted of waking up, doing chores for most of the day and then having a little time to himself and his friends. He enjoyed the time with his friends, but the ritualistic process was dreadfully boring. He didn’t know if the Weyr’s needed to change, but that was only because he just got here. They had been here for years, so he took it that they knew best.

[Spirithawk]

Rhia had not missed the smirk that Layden had given when his fellow Candidate had been corrected. She sighed inwardly, she had enough with troublesome Weyrlings and from the looks of it, this Candidate was stuck in the old ways and showed the possibility of causing trouble here.

"You are no longer in High Reaches Weyr, Layden and I trust that you will not continue to base all of your opinions and beliefs on what holds true in your previous weyr. I wish to offer no offence but Dark Moon is a progressive weyr and although we hold most traditions true, such as our duties to Pern, we have come to see that some of the old traditions are out of date and thus need to be set aside. Many of our female riders Impressed in the Stands. We noticed an increase in females Impressing and so when our Search dragons say that a child might be acceptable, we accept that child, regardless of gender. There are too few dragons on Pern to be stingy on our Candidate offerings to them. We would far rather have a female rider than to have a dragonet suicide because his or her chosen is not on the Sands or in the Stands. Perhaps it is time for your mother and the other goldriders to see that times are changing. Thread is coming and we cannot afford to be so stuck in our ways that we fall when Thread begins its deadly rampage on our home."

Her grey eyes flickered with anger but the brownrider controlled herself. "One of these days, if you Impress, you will be forced to compete with female dragonriders. It is my hope then that you see that there is no difference between a female rider or a male rider. The only reason why females do not Impress bronzes is because the bronzes are the mates of the Queens. The bronzes and the Queens can not impress to other genders because that is the way they are made. The rest of the dragons are able to Impress to either gender. It is only the screwed up notion of the people in charge that has prevented females to Impress any but Queens thus far and it is past time that those prejudices be overcome."

Her voice softened. "We all know that the drills are nothing like Threadfall, but would you rather be trained to cover all eventualities or would you rather face Thread for the first time completely unprepared? We would rather spend our time competeing and training with drills so that we are at least a bit prepared when we face our ancient enemy. Drills keep our dragons fit and in top condiditon. They make them agile and train them how to use firestone. We will need that training when Thread comes. We will need to have those motions fixed in our minds so that we do not have to think about what we are doing, our bodies will do it automatically so that we can focus on the greater task of keeping Pern safe from the ravages of Thread. If doing endless drills saves at least one dragon and rider when we face Thread for the first time, then those drills are worth it. That notion is a traditional notion. All dragonriders from the dawn of dragonkind have done drills. If you set so much store by tradition Layden then you should appreciate this."

"Ebbeth couldn't have mistaken you for a male Akki." Rhia said with a quick change of mood. Her voice was lyrical and amused. "He may be a bit of a wherryhead from what you have always said but that does not mean that he does not have something behind those whirling jeweled eyes of his to think with." Her voice turned wry. "I don't think that it is such a good thing that I am one of the oldest riders in the Weyr. It could be to our benifit to have a few oldtimers here instead of relying soley on the drills they taught us and the crumbling hides in our records room."

"Now, if we are finished with this conversation, I would like to arrange for all of you to be showed around the weyr so that you can get to know your new home. Since we now have more than one Candidate, I will also begin assigning chores and I will post the assignments on your board in the common room of the Candidate Barracks."

((he he heee i like trouble like this...it makes for an interesting rp))

[Akki]

Akki couldn't help but snort with laughter as quietly as she could, which really wasn't very quietly, as Rhia lectured Layden. She really just couldn't help it, the thought of Layden's self-confidence might be lowering every time the Weyrling Master pointed out a decent fact. She was glad that Dark Moon didn't care of genders, the thought of one of her friends not being at the weyr with her made a small grimace cross her features. It seemed weird when she tried to imagine a life without Christae, Rhia, J'kel, Hasima or anyone else not being there with her.

"You'll meet people here Layden, maybe get a few friends. But think about it, what if we didn't do the drills? What if you lost a friend or yours? Would you really want to risk that. It's better just to do the drills, no matter what you think of them." She said said with a shrug. She had a feeling her words wouldn't help, the boy seemed...well, not really stubborn, just more sure of his opinion than someone elses. But the blue rider had to give it a shot, right?

Akki's hand shot up in the air, "I'll give them a tour of the lake.". The lake was the best place to give a tour, Akki had decided one day in her mind. You never knew what was going to happen there, or if someone would decided to jump in. "Of course, I mean if the lake is part of the tour." She said with a small, sheepish smile.

[Spirithawk]

((umm its Rhia lecturing him not Christae....))