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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 12:39:32 GMT -8
"The state of the weyr?", J'rad questioned, perhaps making sure he heard correctly and just what he meant by those words. Did he mean to speak of the current weyrleader? Perhaps these invading caminar? Only one way to figure it out. "That's a general statement. Care to detail?", J'rad added on, there was a lack of harshness in his tone that most would hear but rather it was replaced with an honest will to understand exactly what the older bronzerider meant. Of course, J'rad would be all too happy to express his opinions.
Oh but it is very interesting from my view point. Honesty came from the man's mount as well as the smaller, younger bronze spoke to the vetern dragon as he seemed to flinch from the headbutt. There was more that could obviously be added to his sentence, but Arcaith let it hang, trying to get more reaction and conversation that would satisfy Arcaith. It was interesting to see how his rider would now have to adjust himself to the events happening around him. The position was unlikely, yet fitting for J'rad. He had no problem receiving or giving orders, but he did have some problems with S'lyn's way of thinking. Arcaith invisioned many evenings of dragonpoker that J'rad would have to join in on and the many conversations he could hold with the other dragons. It was a dream come true for Arcaith, the dragon thought to himself.
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Post by Slim on Jul 30, 2008 16:33:15 GMT -8
S'lyn paused, a little surprised at himself. His new wingsecond might be arrogant at times, but he was certainly not brash. It had not even occurred to him that, undirected, such a question might lead down any number of unwanted paths. For him, the main issue of state concerning the Weyr was,
"The Caminar," he stated, setting the conversation on a safe course with a trace of a sigh. He did not like errors, even when they only turned into a near-miss. "And to be frank, I bring it up so that you're familiar with my leanings, not to acquaint me with yours. As my wingsecond, you can have any political allegiance you want, and I don't care. As a man and a rider, I may try to sway you to my point of view, but it's not part of the job."
At last, after making the other man stand for so long, he kicked out a chair and gestured for him to sit. "You must know, because everyone seems to, that as Weyrleader, I planned to send them away. I still plan to. If working on that interferes with or distracts from the wing in any way, I'm relying on you to let me know."
Chadath snorted at Arcaith's flinch, though he wasn't offended by the other dragon's odd response to this (to him) friendly gesture. He simply revised his evaluation to quite an odd duck. You will get used to it, he assured the other bronze blithely. When S'lyn decides, he acts quickly. Your rider was fit, so your rider was picked. So simple, right? He huffed cheerfully.
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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 16:58:00 GMT -8
J'rad's eyes narrowed at the reference. This was a subject that he held a strong opinion on. "I'm a man of my own opinion, S'lyn", the young bronzerider's straightforward answer was meant to reassure him. Once J'rad's mind was made it, it was practically impossible to convince him of anything else. Finally a chair was offered to him. He raised one eyebrow in question, as if to wonder if he meant to make him stand for so long. But J'rad took the chair without complaint and sat, deciding he would be here far longer than anticipated.
"I would be the first to let you know", implying that perhaps he was more serious about his duty than any other, also implying how important duty was to him. "However", he felt necessary to add, "My views then would be in line with yours. If you reall mean what you say about sending them away". J'rad was right, he wanted these leeches gone as quickly and abruptly as they seemed to have come. He already mused as weyrleader it would be his first task to kick them out, wishful thinking on his part. They were a traveling lot anyway, so why stay at this weyr, take from the weyr's resources, and dare to complain? This part of the conversation seemed over to J'rad. They both expressed their views and J'rad promised to keep the wingleader from straying from his duties. He could only wonder what the next topic would be.
Arcaith would grin if he could. Chadath wouldn't get what he was implying, but how could he? Only Arcaith knew his rider best. But he did like the vetern bronze's words. J'rad was fit, so J'rad was chosen. Right you are. He is fit, so he is chosen. Arcaith replied to Chadath, deciding it best to agree with him rather than have him chase what he could not grasp.
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Post by Slim on Jul 30, 2008 17:17:42 GMT -8
"I do intend it," the wingleader said about the Caminar.
The next topic would turn out to be the chair, since J'rad had appeared to question him on it. When the young bronzerider raised a brow, S'lyn raised his right back. Now he brought it up directly, with a wave of his hand towards J'rad's newly claimed seat. "The wing is not alone in needing encouragement to seek things that aren't given to them, Wingsecond." He used the man's new title to soften what might have seemed like lecturing: this evaluation was not meant as an affront to J'rad's new rank. "You can always ask to sit."
Out on his ledge, Chadath made a rumbling noise deep in his chest. At last, Arcaith understood. Determined to socialize him further, he disregarded the younger bronze's discomfort with the earlier headbutt and knocked a shoulder against him, not hard enough to move him, of course, just hard enough to bump him. Bronzes shouldn't be so brittle.
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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 17:28:59 GMT -8
"I felt no need to sit until the chair was offered, but duely noted", J'rad replied simply in the usual gruff of his voice. He stared at the older bronzerider intently, wondering what other pieces of conversation he held. The man certainly had his own agenda, but what all did it imply? Perhaps he wouldn't know the whole of it, but he knew enough so far. However, if he were looking for support of some sort to be the new weyrleader, it was not found in J'rad. He wasn't going to trust someone else to the tasks he, himself, had in mind. Ever opinionated and full of a do-it-yourself attitude, this was J'rad.
Arcaith didn't budge this time as Chadath bumped into him, but instead shouldered him back. Nothing violent, but enough for Chadath to know he intended the move and would retaliate in equal fashion.
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Post by Slim on Jul 30, 2008 17:51:44 GMT -8
From Chadath, Arcaith's new boldness met with more approval. He gave the other bronze an appraising look, a small hint of that approval contained within the contented blue whirl of his eyes, and settled back down with a snort, his side leaning idly against the other dragon's. Socialization complete.
S'lyn saw all of it, his attention having turned to the ledge after J'rad avowed disinterest in the chair. There was still a hint of a smile on his face, but it was a distracted one, and now it was aimed out at the darkening sky: they'd been talking for a long time, and evening was approaching.
"That would be all, but you asked for one more thing. At the start, if you remember, you asked why I would make you my Wingsecond." He looked back at J'rad directly. "The answer's simple. I pick men that can challenge me." Challenge him how, he chose not to specify. That assumption would be up to J'rad to provide, over time.
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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 18:05:10 GMT -8
Arcaith didn't shift or move as the other bronze leaned against him, still showing that he would meet Chadath's challenge.
J'rad nodded in approval at the answer to his question. Indeed J'rad would be a challenging man. He had no problem boldly stating his opinion or disapproval of something and would be quick to question, if necessary. J'rad already decided in his mind just what kind of challenge he would be to S'lyn.
"If that is everything, then I will be heading back to my weyr. Unless there is more you have to add?", J'rad spoke up, though hoping the conversation was done. J'rad made no movement to show he was ready to go or that he would, however.
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Post by Slim on Jul 30, 2008 18:26:00 GMT -8
"An invitation," S'lyn replied, but he shrugged. Not a very pressing one - or he would have made it a summons, right? "The day's over, and some of the wing are bound to turn up here in an hour or two. Consider showing up for this one." His eyes turned significantly to the knot on J'rad's shoulder - the Wingsecond's knot was not sitting there yet, but presumably it could be by the time he arrived to schmooze with his fellows. Getting an early start, perhaps, on that resolution to encourage unity.
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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 18:35:52 GMT -8
J'rad nodded, deciding it best to get to know the wing he was now wingsecond of. "Then I will be here in a couple of hours", was J'rad's short reply. Knot and place in the wing secured, as well as the conversation done, J'rad stood from his seat and extended a hand, a formality he would learn to get use to. "It will be satisfying to serve under you", the honest comment was spoken, wrapping up the entire conversation. He couldn't very well say pleasure, for J'rad was no person to please so easily, but the position under such a seasoned dragonrider as S'lyn was something satisfying.
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Post by Slim on Jul 30, 2008 18:48:47 GMT -8
S'lyn inclined his head, accepting the compliment graciously. "Thank you, J'rad. I will see you in a couple of hours." This time he did rise, to shake the other bronzerider's hand and seal him in as Wingsecond. He also sent a quick message to Chadath: Done now. Move.
Chadath lifted his head, turning it towards the inside of the weyr, and moved away from Arcaith. They're finished, he told the other dragon, though with the strange curiosity he had for these things, it seemed to him Arcaith might know that already. All the same, he pushed himself closer to the inner wall of the weyr, so that the other bronze would have more room to take off when he left.
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Post by dragon on Jul 30, 2008 19:30:12 GMT -8
Arcaith sent a thankful nudge to the bronze then prepared himself for J'rad's approach. He was so very excited to know that not only was his rider promoted, but that he would be returning to meet the rest of the wing. J'rad simply nodded his head to the older wingleader. He then released S'lyn's hand and turned to walk towards his dragon, each step reflecting the bronzerider's own character of pride and confidence, yet remaining casual and cold as usual. J'rad was on his mount. "We leave to our weyr Arcaith", he commanded his beast. Arcaith gave another glance at Chadath then took off to their destination.
A good chat, ridermine? The bronze questioned. "As if you weren't listening in and hanging on every word", was his rider's reply while they journeyed to their weyr. Arcaith simply gave an amused snort before putting full focus on making it back to their weyr.
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