Making friends > brooding [open]

[kaemi]

It was odd.

In a good way, of course, but nevertheless, still odd. Essa had been nothing but a holder's daughter- and an insignificant holder, at that. She loved her parents a great deal, and brother as well, but who knew if she would ever see them again? The expedition had completely reinvented her life, changing her friends, her home, her purpose. She wasn't going to be married off to some cotholder, nor was she going to help her brother run their birthright. All of that was left in the North. Now, for most-all intents and purposes, she was a Southerner. Instead of all of that, she was going to be a Junior Weyrwoman- once they graduated weyrlinghood.

She wasn't entirely sure what she thought about that. It was no secret to Essa that she didn't have a few of the inherent leader qualities. She liked to be around people, and she enjoyed talking. That didn't mean that she was the brightest around, or that she was the most fantastic under any sort of pressure. That was what her brother was for, or her father. Let them deal with it. Of no matter, what you were before, Rhiannoth voiced confidently, albeit sleepily, from her perch. It is as you said. We have all of weyrlinghood to develop your skills as a leader. For now, trust that I made my decision, and that you and I are perfect together.

I never doubted that... Rhiannoth brushed off the words with a flick of her tail, settling back in to go to sleep. Essa looked over at the gold, her form curled in around itself, and smiled. If there was one thing that she was sure about, it was that Rhi was the most beautiful, fantastic other-half that the weyrling had ever had. Which, granted, wasn't saying much. Fine- edit: If there was one thing that Essa was sure about, it was that Rhi was the most beautiful, fantastic other-half that ANY weyrling had ever had. That one was a little biased, to be truthful, but she didn't care. In her eyes, it was true.

Tiring of simply sitting and brooding, and with the knowledge that, due to the whirlwind of arrival, Candidacy, and Impression, she still didn't know many people (unacceptable. completely) Essa stood and walked out of the girls' barracks, which were nearly deserted, as the tail-end of supper was in session. She had eaten quickly, due to Rhi's mention of exhaustion, and so had missed socializing with some of the other weyrfolk. Maybe now some of her fellows could get back from dinners. It'd be nice.

[Ise]

Razia and her green Sulisanth entered the barracks, the girl grumbling to herself a bit. She had just come from her dinner, where she had spent most of the meal listening to her sister Akroma prattle on. Razia loved her sister, she truly did, but Akroma knew just the buttons to push to irritate her. Even when the older woman didn’t mean to do it, she still did it. Tonight it was the typical ‘you’re doing good Razia but you could be doing so much better!’ For some reason her sister expected her to be star of the weyrling lessons. Some how her sister knew that that brown rider from the North had answered more questions then she had. Finally Razia had given up and excused herself from the meal, claiming that her and Suli needed to get some rest before the mornings lessons. She had decided to return to the weyrling barracks, knowing her luck if she tried to wander around she’d run into that stupid N’var. At least she didn’t have to worry about that in the girls side of the barracks.

Razia’s grumbles came to a sudden stop as she realized that she wasn’t alone in the barracks. And her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized she was in there with Essa and her gold. Razia gave the older girl a nod of greeting.
“Hello, I didn’t think anyone would be back here yet. I hope we’re not interrupting something.”
Sulisanth slid out from behind Razia, mimicking her rider and giving Rhiannoth a nod of respect as well.
Good evening goldsister. I hope you and yours are doing well. We missed seeing you in the hall with the others.[/i]

[kaemi]

Despite her desire to 'make friends', Essa was soon zoning out into thought as the deserted room stayed...deserted. Something something something, Query had gone between this morning and she hadn't seen him since. He had done things like this before, disappearing for a good portion of the day and then reappearing to bombard her with images of all the things he had found that day. She wouldn't worry until she was getting ready to sleep that night.

Essa love, someone is approaching, Rhiannoth informed Hers, trotting out and twining her tail around Essa's ankle just as another girl walked in. I thought you were going to sleep, sweetheart. Which would be why we came back here. The dragonet huffed. I heard voices and became curious, she replied loftily, causing the weyrling to shake her head and smile at the new girl. She recognized her as a green weyrling, naturally Southern, but... that was entirely too obvious, as there was a green by her side and she hadn't been on the Expedition. The prize for skills of deduction went to...

“Oh, no, it's fine. I was actually just a little bored. We had come back early, because Rhi wanted to sleep... but apparently that's no longer the case,” she said, shooting a playful glare down at her side. Looking back up, Essa held out her hand. “I'm sorry, but I don't think I ever caught your name. I'm Essa, this is Rhiannoth.” Good evening to you and Yours, greensister. Mine and I are fairing well- how are you?

[Ise]

“Oh good, I’d hate to be bothering you if you were in the middle of something. We just got done with dinner. Not soon enough though if you ask me.”
Razia grumbled a little bit to herself before giving Essa a smile and shaking her hand.
“I know who you are, everyone knows who you are. There’s only one Weyrling with a gold after all. I’m Razia though, and this is Sulisanth.”
She looked down lovingly at her green, sure she wasn’t going to stand out in the crowd of weyrlings but that was ok with Razia for now. Sooner or later she’d get the chance to prove herself.

I am well, Razialove is less so. She is… cranky after the conversation she had with her sister[/i]
Razia could hear Suli talking to Rhi and frowned a bit.
“You’d be cranky to if your sister was trying to boss you around.”
The green cocked her head to the side a bit, glancing up at Razia, then glancing at Rhiannoth before looking back at her rider giving her a dragony ‘are you dumb?’ look. Razia only scowled a little more, realizing how dumb her comment had been. Of course, the gold was Suli’s sister. And a younger sister in a sense too. And Sulisanth would take orders from her golden sibling and follow them with almost no questions asked. She sighed a bit and tried to give Essa an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, I’m a little frustrated this evening. My sister lives at the Weyr as well as one of the Dragon Shield members. We don’t always see eye to eye on some subjects. Most subjects.”

[kaemi]

Essa couldn't help but color a little at the girl's words. She was used to being an innocuous younger sister... not a well-known figure with a gold dragon. “Good to meet you, Razia and Sulisanth.” Rhi did sort of stand out, it was true. “It's weird how we don't really know each other, even though our dragons are sisters and we spend so much time together, as a class. We share a room, and I don't even know half of the other weyrlings. Maybe it's different because I'm not from here, but...” she shrugged. Just an observation as she smiled at the other girl.

Thankfully, Essalove is rarely cranky. I am glad you are doing well. Her eyes whirled happily at the conversation turn on Sulisanth's Mine's part, as she found the interaction between dragon and rider amusing. It reflected the interactions between her and Hers, and she knew that would make Essa happier to find out that she wasn't different. Of course, they were, but Rhiannoth would be willing to allow Hers to ease into the fact.

Indeed, Essa didn't bother containing her growing smile. The look that Sulisanth gave Razia was absolutely priceless, in her eyes. “No, no, it's fine.” Laughing a little, she added, “I can claim understanding. In the North, my brother and I were pretty close, but he was older, and he was going to be the Holder... and he would occasionally try and take those facts and use them to pick at me. Thankfully, he usually was smart enough to recognized my superior intellect and back off.” By the last sentence, it had become obvious that she was joking by tone and the grin on her face, as she brushed her hair back out of her eyes. Oh, yes, she understood older siblings and their tendencies to be annoying quite well.

[Ise]

Razia shrugged to Essa a bit before glancing around the room, making sure there wasn’t anyone else around. She would be honest with Essa but she didn’t want everyone else to hear here.
“Well, there are quite a few of us in here so it’s no surprise that not everyone is buddies with everyone else. It probably doesn’t help that your from the North, as nice as you are some of the others are dimglow nitwits who need a punch in the nose. And well Rhiannoth is a bit intimidating without even trying. And I doubt the three girls she mauled are really interested in being friends with her just yet. Just give it some time and I’m sure things will get a little better. If nothing else, wait till you’re done being a weyrling and I’m sure every bronze rider will be trying to get your attention.”

Razia did feel kind of bad for Essa, this all had to be hard for her. And if she was like stupid N’var who claimed that everyone had loved him, coming to the Weyr must have been quite a shock since very few Southerners had gone out of their way to make the Expedition feel welcomed. Essa seemed nice enough, she wasn’t as big headed as N’var was at least. She would probably make more friends as more people realized she wasn’t stuck up as some of the Northerners.

Sulisanth chuckled lightly at Razia, her tail curling loosely around Razia’s leg.
Mine is normally well, there are just some people that set her off. Regardless of any help I try to offer her. But I don’t let it bother me, she’s not upset with me so others can deal with her when they anger her.[/i]
Suli knew that Razia was going to get herself into trouble sooner or later, most likely with the other weyrling N’var. Sulisanth had already told Razia that she wouldn’t get involved in those fights, she had no interest in earning the wrath of her larger green sister. And while Nemesyth had no problem being rather nasty to those she didn’t like, it wasn’t in Suli’s nature to be like that she didn’t care to make enemies.

“I have four sisters, two older and two younger. Akroma is the oldest and she’s the only one I don’t get along with very well. I lack the superior intellect to beat her mentally and well she can just kick my butt if she wanted to. She can be a very physical, hands on person if you get her really upset. Thankfully the fact that we’re family means that she’s honor bound to help protect all of us younger sisters which she does by telling us how we’re failing and this, that and anything else.”
Razia sighed a little and comforted herself by rubbing Suli’s head ridges. She wished it had been her sister Serra here instead.
“I’m sure that even when we’re dragon riders she’ll still be telling me how I should be doing this. ‘Tisk tisk Razzy, you should be oiling Sulisanth with counter clockwise motions, not clockwise. EVERYONE knows that’s the best way to do it.’ I can already hear her saying that. Actually I won’t be surprised if she tells me that tomorrow.”

[kaemi]

That was certainly... putting it bluntly. Of course Essa already knew all of that, but that someone else observed the same things was a little disconcerting. She could admit to having been a bit wary of the Southerners upon arrival, and thus, it was understandable that they were equally wary of the Northerners- but still. It'd been a good bit of time, both weyrfolk and Expedition members had Impressed, and shouldn't that make everyone more approachable? Obviously not. Her hand fell to Rhiannoth's head, caressing her headknobs as Razia called her 'intimidating', and mentioned the maulings. Those had really bothered Essa but... well... she had been so delighted with Rhi that she had sort of pushed everything else aside. Added on to all of that, the other girl tacked on what was apparently common knowledge- that bronzeriders would be nipping at her heels as soon as she graduated from weyrlinghood. Uncomfortable topic...

So, to Razia's comments, she winced. “Yeah, I suppose it'll just take time-” lots of it, “and all of us getting used to one another. One of the harder things is that I don't know a lot of the things about dragons that the Southerners do. We had something of a crash course, and of course, our dragons and the Weyrling Master are helping us out, but it's a little hard to figure out what we're doing when we weren't even sure that dragons existed more than a few months ago.” Shrugging, Essa lost the grim edge and continued on with a smile in her voice. “I'm sure we'll figure it out just fine, though- we have two turns!”

I will assist you, EssaMine, and all will be well, Rhiannoth assured, before turning her attention back to her greensister. That isn't pleasant. I am glad that Mine is slow to temper, or there might be many people encouraging her to become upset. Who is causing problems with Yours? The gold was honestly curious, worried for her sister and Hers.

Such a big family! “I only have my parents, who pretty much left me alone, and my brother,” she said unhelpfully, unable to fully relate but certainly able to sympathize. “Sellon was pretty good at the 'technical' aspect of everything, and so he left me alone. But, really, doesn't your sister know best? Not that I think there's much difference between counter clockwise motions and clockwise motions, but... is she a dragonrider?”

[Ise]

Razia felt kind of bad for being so upfront with Essa but someone needed to do it. It wasn’t the best situation for Essa but it was probably a necessary one, this was training for what it would be like when she became the junior Weyrwoman, or even the Weyrwoman of her own place if she went back North. Power was intimidating, and that didn’t even include the massive gold that Rhi was sure to be. That wasn’t going to help her make friends with everyone, people would be too scared to speak up for fear of making the gold angry.

She gave Essa a smile though and nodded along with what she was saying.
“Yea, just give it time. Everyone is still getting use to their dragons, but once they’re use to that then they’ll be more interested in getting to know everyone else. I’m sure that so long as you’re staying positive and are willing to go out there and try to make some friends yourself you’ll be fine. We have lots of time before we’ll finally be able to get away from each other.”

Sulisanth glanced up at hers then at the gold, fidgeting slightly at the gold’s question. It was an easy question but not one she wanted to answer.
I should not say. Yours and one of the people mine does not care for are friends. And I do not want to make trouble with another sister of ours or anyone else.
The green looked slightly sheepish at not answering the Rhiannoth’s question. But Suli didn’t want anyone to get angry with her. She felt better though knowing that Razia agreed with her, while it would be nice to try and get Essa and Rhi on her side when she had more problems with N’var (because, she knew it was going to happen with the two of them in the same wing), the young woman wanted to do it fairly.

Razia let out a snort of laughter and shook her head as Essa asked about her sister.
“No, if my sister was a rider I could understand and be a little more accepting. She’s part of the Dragon Shield, some of the people that found you guys out in the forest and brought you here. So no dragon, just her fire lizard that’s far too good at finding me when I don’t want Akroma to know where I am. That’s why it’s so annoying that she tries to tell me how I should be doing better at everything, she doesn’t even know what it’s like but she keeps trying to boss me around and tell me how to do everything. When I need help on learning how to stab someone or just kick their butt, then I’ll be more then happy to listen to her.”

[kaemi]

Oh, just think how miserable it would be for everyone if the Southerners and the Northerners didn't get along for all of weyrlinghood. Surely that wouldn't happen, not with them all sprinkled around as they were. It would just take awhile for them all to become accustomed to one another, as Razia was saying. Essa smiled. “It'll be up to the Expedition to win you all over, then,” she said with a shrug. A lot of the Northerners would have no problem making friends, hypothetically, being the cheery lot they were. Phae would be fine, as would Anaryn, R'gar, C'mar... yes, the majority of them would be fine. And Essa had never had problems with making friends, in spite of what Razia said about Rhi being 'intimidating'. They could figure that all out. Really, the only one that may have a problem would be N'var... and K'dyn. But they would be fine.

Meanwhile, Rhiannoth was piecing together bits of a puzzle. Sister- another green. There were a few greens that could cause trouble, but the gold had one in mind. Nevertheless, she would let Sulisanth have her peace. Then do not say, of no matter, she said sweetly. So long as this one does not cause problems. If it was Nemesyth's, and there was a problem, then the gold would, likely, have no issue with coming up with her own solution.

“That's like... a wher handler coming here and telling a rider how to ride a dragon, though,” Essa protested. She didn't understand- the only excuse might be sibling dynamics. Which was likely. As Razia had already explained, her sister was only trying to protect and teach her. Thank Faranth that her brother had known better than that-he would have become well-acquainted with her fist a very long while back, if not. “Could you sort this out? Or is it a permanent 'always has been, always will be' sort of deal?” A package deal: sister with advice.

[Ise]

Razia laughed a bit and nodded. Most of the Northerners seemed fine. A little quiet at first, but who wouldn’t be after being uprooted and shoved into some foreign land. And Razia figured it would be a good idea if she made a few friends from the North, or could at least talk to them. If D’seus came by at least he would see that she was trying to be better now while N’var would still be the same dimglow as always.
“Well I’m sure most of you won’t have any problems. I would like to think that most of us from the South would be able to be open minded about things.”
Well Essa likely wouldn’t have any problems with anyone, at least not to her face. And most of the others would likely be fine as well.

Sulisanth looked thankful at the gold. If the gold didn’t have someone in mind yet it probably wouldn’t take long for her to figure out who it was. Razia and N’var were in the same wing and would be forced to spend time together. While Suli hoped that Razia would be polite she knew that it would be pretty easy for everyone to figure out that Razia and N’var had a great dislike for each other.
Thank you Rhiannoth, I hope that there aren’t any problems but I do not count on it. Razialove can be very stubborn though I am sure they will at least behavior themselves while we are all in lessons.[/i]
Suli’s tail uncurled from Razia’s leg and swept back and forth on the floor a few times nervously. The green could only hope that she was speaking true and that Razia wouldn’t do anything too rash. N’var was good at provoking her but lessons would be a bad place to try and start a fight.

“I know, she doesn’t know anything about dragons aside from some of the stuff she hears from the riders. But it’s just a package deal. She’s always been like this, thinking she knows what’s best for everyone one about every subject. At least at home I could go whine about it to one of my other sisters and they would be sympatric since they had to put up with it too. But here… she’s nice to people and doesn’t boss them around. She’s probably doing it on purpose. Just to mess with me.”
Razia didn’t actually believe that. She didn’t think Akroma even realized what she did half the time. That didn’t make Razia feel any better about it, it just made her seem whiney that she complained about her sister when no one else really saw what she did.

[kaemi]

A grin wormed it's way onto Essa's face as she thought of something else. “You Southerners seem to be very open-minded- much more so than those from the North. I can only imagine how some of the more refined Northerners... the Lord Holders' sons and daughters, you know... how they're fairing with everything. I know that I was raised to having one partner, and staying with that partner forever. But I guess I don't mind as much that the Weyr doesn't seem to be like that, because it was never an issue for me back home.” It was true. She hadn't been planning on marriage or anything of the like before she left. She had always been a bit of a free spirit. The Southern lifestyle, including the lack of monogamy, didn't phase her as much as it could have. But some of the others- the girls especially... who knew how they were adjusting? Phae would be fine. As a trader, she probably hadn't had the propriety pounded into her.

Don't worry, greensister. I understand; Mineown has her own tenacity that I can't yet hope to combat with. Anyway, if there are any problems, I encourage you to go to Sarkith's, if you feel it best not to come to me. The gold respected her Weyrling Master, as she ought. I would regret there being problems with Yours and another of our class. Rhiannoth didn't quite understand her greensister's nerves, and thus she continued to sit composedly, curled around Hers.

Essa began laughing a little as Razia finished her rant. Hurriedly, she held up a hand- “I'm not laughing at you, I promise,” she was quick to amend. Once composing herself, still with a smile on her face, she put down her hand and explained. “I highly doubt that she's doing it on purpose. I mean, it's possible, of course... but I doubt it.” Then: “Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you- but you have no idea how many times I had the exact same rant to my friends back at the hold about my brother. Granted, your reasons are more valid than mine ever were. Usually, I was angry because he answered a question I wanted to during lessons, or something of the like.”

[Ise]

Razia grinned a little and shrugged. Of course they had to be a little more open in the South. When the dragonriders had first been exiled there hadn’t been a huge population to work with. To surivie things had changed. And then when it came to sexuality, the Weyrs had always been far more free then everyone else.
“Well when a dragon flies the riders always end up uh having some fun with each other. Even the losers of flights tend to find someone from the lower caverns to enjoy themselves with. But a lot of people also have their weyrmates that they stay loyal to outside of flights. For the riders it’s not really cheating if you have one mate but then sleep with someone else if your dragon wins a flight, it’s just normal and everyone understands it.”
Things were much more open in the South, especially in the Weyrs, it was kind of hard to hide what was going on when dragons started having their flights.

If there are any problems I’ll go to Sarkith. If they just make rude comments to each other I’ll leave it alone. We will see what actually happens, maybe they will actually be able to get along with each other. Or at least avoid each other as much as they can.[/i]
Sulisanh didn’t believe that that would happen but she could hope. If things got too bad between Razia and N’var then maybe they could be put into different wings.

Razia scowled a little as Essa laughed, she wasn’t upset with her fellow weyrling, but understood that her complaints were rather common for anyone who had siblings. What siblings didn’t have fights and disagreements?
“Yeah, I doubt she means to do it either. If she did it on purpose I might be less annoyed about it. But family is family and unfornuitly I can’t change that. I just have to put up with her and hope that when Suli gets bigger, Akorma doesn’t bug me enough to try and make Suli sit on her…”