Can You Do The Job?
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Avery, Clancey
Date Posted: 6th March 2006
Characters: L'pin, J'darin
Description: L'pin approaches J'darin- words are exchanged as L'pin defends himself and J'darin challenges him.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 11 of Turn 3
L'pin squared his shoulders as he knocked on the Weyrleader's door. This was going to be interesting, he thought wryly. He knew people weren't happy with Y'sani's selection of him, and had heard of the Weyrleader's policies, and was thus nervous.
**Best not to judge.** he reminded himself, putting away his notions and waiting to be admitted. "Weyrleader?" he called.
"L'pin." He nodded once, looking up at this man who had disrupted his strongly held beliefs and caused his own Weyrlingmaster to rebel against Tradition. It was not in his nature to make polite small talk when both men knew the truth, and knew why L'pin was here. "Let's be honest with each other, hmm? You may be the best bluerider on Pern, and I have no reason to believe either way, yet, but blueriders do not become Wingseconds. They do _not_. A blue cannot do the same things a bronze or even a brown can do; if they could, we wouldn't have blue dragons or green, or any other colors at all if they all had the same functions."
"Y'sani thinks quite highly of you. Tell me why. Tell me why I should believe you can do the job that is before you." He was trying not to just hate the man on sight because he rode a blue and was now Wingsecond of not just any Wing, but the Weyrling wing. The most important Wing in the Weyr! Trying.
"Y'sani has known me for nearly thirty Turns now, sir." L'pin replied, struggling to keep his equanimity. Was the man attacking him? He surely hoped not! Yet it seemed and felt like he was. "I have worked as his Third before, and he knows that I am competent, reasonable, and organized. I have always made up for his particular weaknesses- where he cares not for hidework, I do. Where he is blunt and direct in his approach, I am subtler and diplomatic. I enjoy teaching the youngsters, and I have done a fine job of it so far. Really, sir, is there much difference between a Second and a Third in their duties? Both instruct and protect and demonstrate the young."
He put all of his Harper charisma and logic into his words, trying to make J'darin see that he could do the job. "As for Chaneth, he is capable of doing the work. He's as large as the smallest browns. He has a patient manner and a sort of draconic charisma. When I was a Wingthird all of the new dragons in the wing looked up to him for guidance and listened to him- the bronzes and browns just as much as the blues and greens!"
He shook his head slightly. "I don't see that there's anything a brown can do that Chaneth can't. All bronzes, blues, greens, and browns do the same thing. Flying is done the same way in all colors. So is going /between/, and flaming. The differences are in how long they can handle flying, perhaps, and if needed Chaneth /has/ lasted an entire Fall. He doesn't always rotate out, like the other blues and the greens. He can teach them everything a dragon needs to know, and since he's as big as a brown, he can catch a falling dragon, too. Not on his own, but with the aid of a queen or a brown, even... We're good enough, sir. We're capable of teaching them anything they need to know, and handling all the physical tasks. You only suggest we can't because you haven't seen us yet."
J'darin listened rather calmly - for him - despite his animosity to this entire idea. His eyebrow raised when L'pin claimed there was no difference other than stamina between the colors. There were more than that, but now was not the time to argue them. It would sound like a bias against lesser colors, and he didn't -quite- have that, or so he thought.
"Neither Hasaarth or I are convinced. You will have much to do to show us, and I will expect as much or more from you. Even a brown has a bit of trouble sometimes as the dragonets get larger. And Chaneth is as big as a -small- brown, perhaps yes. You are justifiably proud of your lifemate, as you should be. But blues do not belong in a 'Second place." He almost choked on the savage echo of his words to Y'sani.
Was he wrong?
"As I said to Y'sani, if my Weyrlings are -not- harmed by your presence as their teacher, then I will relent. Both of you are here because I allow it. No other reason. No Weyrleader has ever forcibly removed a Weyrlingmaster, but if this does not work... I will not hesitate to do what is best for my Weyr. Not for one heartbeat, no matter the virtues of your fine Chaneth."
"We have a fine new group of Weyrlings and will soon have another once Jyramikah's gold Rises. You have a chance. One chance. Prove all what you claim to be true and I will bow my head and apologize for doubting." He finished coolly, his eyes narrowed. He would do whatever he thought best for the Weyr. No matter _what_.
L'pin nodded once, tightly- showing his respect for the position of the man. It took a lot for L'pin to dislike someone, but J'darin was about to push that. "Yes, sir!" he replied crisply. No one could fault his precision or his courtesy, he was determined.
Feeling he needed to prove that he understood, he continued. "I will make my best of the chance that you're graciously allowing me, sir." he said, waiting to be dismissed. He made sure that his tone could not be deemed as insolent- his Harper training was good for that.
J'darin watched this bluerider for a moment. He searched his heart quietly, trying to find the truth of his position. "Let me add one thing, then you are dismissed." The Weyrleader paused, thinking ironically that D'cal would laugh in his face if he heard him now.
"If you and Chaneth are as fine as you claim to be, then you are what we need. What is best for the Weyr works both ways, L'pin, even if its on the wrong side of Tradition. I am serious in my plans to have only the best in my Weyr, even if that means a bluerider in a position never before held by one. You are dismissed." He nodded to the man, feeling the burden of his position weigh heavily on his shoulders.
L'pin's eyes widened slightly as he absorbed the import of the Weyrleader's words. **He's not inflexible, just one of those who believes that Tradition is Tradition because it's the best way.** the bluerider realized. "Then I will be the best, sir." L'pin promised quietly.
He stood up, gave the traditional dragonrider salute, and then turned crisply and left, determined to prove his worth.
Last updated on the March 6th 2006