Politics is being taught by WHO?

[Omnia Munda]

J'fel did not dream that Jh'na would be the one to leap upon that last opportunity to ask a question, but he was pleased to have it be so. The question, though, that threw him for a loop.

No one cared about the flights of greens - at least, no one cared about them before they happened, and no one cared about them after they happened. But during - J'fel knew that then, people cared. Without even thinking of weyrmates broken up by the outcomes of flights gone awry or of the alliances some men made based on who shared their beds, J'fel thought of that one thing: the moment when winning meant everything.

"Their flights don't have the obvious implications of rank that a senior's flight has," agreed J'fel. He was smiling a little, but more serious than he'd been through some of the question-and-answer lesson. He was thinking on the fly, and Jh'na was winning his respect for making him do it. "Nor will a green's flight make its winner the sire of a clutch like a junior's, and there's no opportunity to bond with one of the weyrwomen, either.

"But that doesn't mean there's no opportunity to make friends - or to make enemies." Now J'fel's smile broke into something a bit more of a grin. "How you behave while the dragons fly, who you speak to and what you say - those things matter. Not everyone will remember everything every time - flights do tend to muddle the brain - but believe it when I say someone's always paying attention.

"And there's more to it than bad behavior. A bronze who wins more greens than his fair share - " And here J'fel grinned wider, while Jordeth across the Weyr snorted mentally at the very notion that a bronze's fair share could ever be too large. "Wins status - other riders might expect that his luck will extend to queenflights, too. And even a brown or blue who wins often will be looked up to for his speed, strength and stamina - features that will serve him well in the games and in drills, too. Or in threadfall."

That last, of course, was a one-hundred-turn-old afterthought. J'fel rolled his shoulders in a stretch and a shrug, then poured himself standing from his chair and turned to I'dalyn. "I'll leave 'em to you."

An exchange of salutes - J'fel's was so stylized that it could have been well replaced by a secret handshake or a slap on the shoulder - and the weyrleader headed for the barracks exit.

[anhydrous]

I’dalyn, who had been making good use of his non-involvement in this lesson, might have been considered asleep if his eyes had been closed completely. J’fel’s sudden exit gave him cause to shift in his oh-so-comfortable seat; legs extended as he returned the salute from his seated position and smothered a yawn.

Well, they hadn’t embarrassed him too much. Some of them had even asked some insightful questions. Perhaps they didn’t deserve the scolding that he had been crafting since Ez’ki’s backtalk. Then again, he had it all planned out… why waste the thought?

With all the elegance he could manage, I’dalyn stood and addressed the class. “Don’t think for a second that any of you can get away with disrespecting him.” He, of course, had waited for J’fel to leave the room, but the weyrleader would probably be happy to see the man he had so carefully chosen doing his job by making sure their loyalties laid where they should. “I’m not asking you to like him, but you might keep in mind that those are Jordeth’s babies that have so lovingly sought you out. If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be where you were now.” With that he sat back down, arms crossed upon his chest. If he hadn’t been impressed with a few of their questions, his hand might have fluttered out to shoo the weyrlings back to whatever chores he had assigned to them.

Instead he sat there, eyeing them all with the most placid of reproach glossing his face, and asked a question that could very easily tie him up for the rest of the day. “Now, do you have any questions for me?” He only hoped that J’fel’s explanations had satisfied his weyrlings’ curiosity, and they were as bored with this as he was.

[dragon]

T'rad did have some questions of his own that only the weyrlingmaster could answer. He knew things from the weyrleader's position, but what was his weyrlingmaster's stance on things.

"Yes, if you don't mind. Since the lesson is on politics, I was wondering if you would give your own insight on some things as well. I think it would help us weyrlings to know where our weyrlingmaster stands on such things as well", came a request from the ever curious bluerider. He decided not to continue, allowing the man to decide if he'd answer some similiar questions that J'fel did. Truth be told, T'rad only had a couple in mind, but he felt they were necessary to ask. T'rad wasn't expecting his opinion to be influenced by any other, but the boy was one who explored things, who observed, who had a curiousity that couldn't be permanently satisfied. These questions would simply be to learn more about his weyrlingmaster and allow the rest of the weyrlings this insight as well. And who knows? Maybe it would open the floor for more questions aimed at the weyrlingmaster.

[anhydrous]

I’dalyn’s eyes narrowed on the weyrling who was now holding up the conclusion of the lesson. T’rad. And he had been late. The brownrider pulled his eyebrows together neatly, as if the weyrling would be able to sense his displeasure.

Regardless of the slight irritation in that gaze, I’dalyn nodded to T’rad and then sent his next words up over the boy’s head, directed at the class as a whole. “Ask away,” he said simply.

If they thought that he was going to speak poorly of J’fel, they had another thing coming. The bronzer might have his quirks, but I'dalyn had gained a lot since his rise to power.

Respect aside, Telgar's newest weyrlingmaster didn’t agree with everything that his weyrleader had said. Not entirely, anyway.

[dragon]

"Well the two major concerns would your opinion of the weyrleader and of the caminar that are here. Both seem to be hot topics at the weyr, each person with their own opinions. I would like to hear your opinion on both subjects, if you don't mind", the weyrling spoke up, too curious for his own good. Sure, both were touched on by the weyrleader himself, but their weyrlingmaster was a different person entirely and with each person being decidedly different from the other, he was bound to hold atleast a slightly different opinion from the rest, once again thinking on the desire to understand his weyrlingmaster more.

[Xinnai]

Salina had been set to reply with the normal mumbled, "no sir" when T'rad spoke. She sighed in disappointment. Why draw out the unwanted and unwished for? The egnimatic J'fel had left and she could feel the weyrlings around her descending into archaic boredom. None of them wanted to be here; the lesson was eating into what little free time they had. Why did the bluerider insist on continuing it?

The goldrider could see I'dayln felt the same. Eyes were narrowed and he seemed minorly piqued, whether it was from the continuation of the lesson or the questionee, she couldn't tell. But there was the glimmer of the riled.

When T'rad's question came, pale brows winged upward and Salina actually swiveled in her chair to look at her fellow weyrling, hastily controlling her want to gape. Was he mad? To bring in the question of Weyrleader and Caminar at once was absolute insanity. Staggered by this, she turned to look at I'dayln, wondering what his possible answer to that could be.

[Invisible]

The Weyrleader’s departure was watched by K’mar and Volsteath. When he was gone Volsteath asked Did you notice everything he did? His words were not as important as who he looked at and when.[/color] K’mar suppressed the sigh that threatened to spill from thin lips. I watched. It’s hardly surprising he was wanting to look at the new weyrwoman. And glaring at her little friend. We should just steer clear of that whole mess. Volsteath was silent, thoughtful, as he directed his attention towards the two dragons in question. When he spoke it again he just said Yes, for now it would be wise to remain out of it. We must see who will win.[/color]

T’rad speaking up was a surprise. He had thought the boy would be silent since he rarely said much. Always watching though which could be kinda creepy. Now, K’mar. We watch as well. Finding out the reasons for their watching is important. We must be most careful. If we know what others will do we can behave appropriately. We must always be seen to be perfect.[/color] K’mar could agree with that. Even if he did not possess the desires of his brown he knew he spoke the truth. People would be watching them and they could not make a mistake. There could be no better weyrlings than K’mar and Volsteath. There are none better than us.[/color] That certainty was enough to settle K’mar’s nerves once more.

[anhydrous]

It would have been impossible for I’dalyn’s eyebrows not to rise as T’rad delivered his questions, tact discarded as he waded determinedly into issues that were really none of his concern. Both things mentioned were out of the weyrlings’ hands and over their heads.

However, it was his job, he supposed, to answer such questions. His reply was level enough, pauses sparsely punctuating his various thoughts. “My opinion of the weyrleader will not give any of you something to gossip about. J’fel has offered me a respected position on his staff. I stand behind him just as any good dragonrider of Telgar should.” He let that brief answer serve as his opinion of the man, less sincere than the weyrlings might have deserved, but the proper thing to say when addressing them as a group.

“The Caminar,” he began, eyes purposely trained on those who had been inducted into the weyr’s ranks, “Are certainly not weyrfolk.” This wasn’t meant to offend, but rather to state that there were differences between the two. His next carefully constructed point served to make such things clear. “We lead different lives, but both deserve respect and civility.” He almost gagged on how generic he sounded, and tried very hard to keep the underlying reproach out of his voice.

“We have found no proof that these people deserve the injustice that the Holders have inflicted upon them, and if I catch any of you behaving inappropriately towards these guests, you will earn chores that are far worse than shoveling out the muck piles.” It was sickeningly obvious that he was using his ‘opinions’ to teach a lesson in respect, but that thought wasn’t the dominant one in I’dalyn’s mind. He mostly hoped that there wouldn’t be any other politically curious weyrlings.

Begrudgingly, he glanced around the room to smother any other hopeful talkative glances. “Any other questions?” I’dalyn asked roughly, attempting to make it quite clear that he would prefer not to answer them. He hadn’t had breakfast, and the protests of his stomach were winning out over duties for the moment.

[blueaid]

...just as any good dragonrider of Telgar should...

That's what the man said. And that's right when Z'dayi stretched a none-too-secret smile, one that he hid by lifting his wrist to cover his smirk, pretending a sudden need to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand. As I'dalyn's eyebrows had crept, so had Z'dayi's, but to a much different end: he looked amusedly impressed by T'rad's frank questions, giving the other weyrling a new once-over with only half-an-ear turned to the Weyrlingmaster's lip-service responses.

At the any-other-questions prompt, the bronzeling finally chimed in with one of his own. "Yessir. Is anyone else starving? 'Cause I'm dying here." The entire political polish of the lesson was lost on him.

[Selvagem]

(OOC> Haha, neither did I ever dream that Jh'na would ask the last question - but then Mirabeth reminded me he had one, just in time )


Th'dis, H'tio & Jh'na
J'fel's reply left Jh'na deep in thought, so much so, in fact, that he completely missed the Weyrleader's exit, and was surprised to find only I'dalyn present when he looked up again. Neither did the Weyrlingmaster's reprimand have much impact on him: Mirabeth had started speaking at the same time, and there was no doubt at all who Jh'na would listen to first.

He was caught off by it, my Jh'na, but I think he answered well. You are very concerned about his words.

Indeed, he was. Jh'na was beginning to grasp, for the first time, just what it might mean to have Mirabeth fly - and be caught. What it might...no, would, mean for him. And for his friends. He caught his thoughts, grimaced once, and licked his lips thoughtfully.

Well, love, he's right about more than one thing. But that's still a long way off yet. Let's listen for now.

Mirabeth yawned, ducking her head under one wing to hide it, As you wish, my Jh'na. I, for one, cannot see anything more of interest in this tirade.

Jh'na smiled, as ever, and lost his fears as he settled back into the almost aromatic silkiness of his green's thoughts. His conversation with his bonded had already cost him the chance to hear T'rad's question, though that was certainly not the case with Runimeth and H'tio. The brown dragonet was stifling a growing sense of indignity at the thoughts of certain dragonets who were reflecting their weyrling's ideas about the Caminar, and H'tio suffered the sense of righteous upset alongside him. As I'dalyn spoke, Runimeth snorted once, and reached out for Daisulyth's mind.

Yours speaks well and with eloquence, brown Daisulyth. The Caminar, I believe, deserve so much more respect than what we generally accord them, it is indeed such a pity that people do not...

There would have been more, but H'tio sat up with a jerk as he realized what his dragonet had been saying and was about to say, and his shock was sufficent to choke Runimeth to a halt. The brown glanced quizzically at his weyrling even as the teenager smiled tersely at I'dalyn.

"Runimeth believes strongly in respect for all things living, and at this age he speaks that clearly," he tried a lopsided grin, "He'll learn."

Whatever am I to learn, H'tio my lad? Are these not thoughts you would agree with as well?

Yes, my wonderful Rune, but you must understand that not everyone will agree with you.

Why should they not?

They...they just don't. And they may choose not to agree, and then turn on you later simply because you don't follow their views.

Why?

I...H'tio faltered, I don't know. I think it has to do with what they have experienced in life, and with their upbringing. Some are just plain stubborn.

Runimeth was silent a long moment, eyes whirling in contemplation. At length he brushed his wings softly across his feet with a low warble, Perhaps, then, they are to be pitied as well, for they certainly seem to know no better.

Guiyath, following the flow of the lesson, turned to look as Z'dayi commented on food, and looked away again with a suppressed snort. Th'dis smiled wryly, enjoying the other boy's nonchalence and easy humour. His dragonet bumped him lightly as he caught the train of his thoughts.

Do not admire him, Th'dis. Tremaith is a fine dragonet, noble despite his appearance, but his weyrling will never amount to anything, mark my words. I don't think I'll ever see a more layabout sort .

Come now, my great one, Th'dis chuckled, He can't be all that bad. At least he knows how to speak up for what he wants.

Indeed, the only problem being that his wants are all the wrong ones, Guiyath whirred his wings, He should be eager for knowledge, for strength, for influence and reputation. Instead all he can say is that he is starving.

Well, food is impotant too. Reputation and strength can't help you if you died from starvation.

Hmph! Guiyath snorted out loud, You say that to justify yourself. But if you will have greatness, your hunger must be for other things.

Th'dis shrugged, and reached out to stroke the broad snout lovingly, True. But it is, I think, also good to have hunger for both. That way, you'll get the best of both worlds. You havn't lived all that long, Guiyath. Neither have I, but I've been around longer.

I've seen impatient bronzes get dashed from glory by a moment of impatience, and steadfast browns who carry more authority than their lazy Wingleaders. Be patient, my great bronze: remember, you taught me about greatness. I desire that now, too.

[anhydrous]

Daisulyth stirred from his customary place outside the weyrling barracks, tail twitching as Runimeth sought his mind. Sleepy pride infused his reply, slightly amused at the careful words his little brown brother had chosen. Mine is very reputable, he agreed, keeping the mocking scoff that he would normally tack on to such a statement absent.

The Caminar are also to be respected. It is pleasing that one so young already sees this. While the dragon considered forwarding such a thought to his rider, I’dalyn was already receiving the information from the little brown’s bonded. He smiled politely, as if encouraging such talk, but offered no reply. He was hungry, and that was really the only thing on his mind.

Catching Z’dayi’s words, the weyrlingmaster surprised himself and probably everyone else in the room by agreeing. “Yes, for once your inattentiveness is not misplaced.” He stood, inclining his head briefly to the roomful of weyrlings, and said the two words that most were so anxious to hear. “Class dismissed.” I’dalyn was surely the first out of the room, his swift exit marking the unmistakable fact that talk of politics was to be done for now.

[neopanther]

((ooc:: Xin - I <3 your icon... severly. over and out))

Ez’ki kept his own peace, and opinion unto himself from that moment, he kept himself silent, task as sit was, but his mind was working all the while, J’fel left, he gave a half hearted mark of respect in the man’s’ general direction, then I’dalyn took his turn to speak. He conversed deeply between this one and that, a few ass-kissing remarks were made, but Ez’ki felt no reason to be rude, nor inattentive towards their weyrling master. Sure, Ez’ki might be very selective in those he does give his ‘comrade’ status to, and even more picky as to those who gain his ‘respect’ and then his friendship status are gifted to; but somehow he liked I’dalyn.

These thoughts made his thought towards J’fel slowly change, that and a few words towards them from the brown weyrling master, about how he told them if it was not for J’fel, they would not be where they were sitting.

But to say that was to act as though I’dalyn knew of alternate options, as though, if S’lyn’s had again won Pelegaoth’s flight, that none of those before the weyrling master would currently be impressed. Something told Ez’ki that wasn’t the case, he glanced sideways at Sassie; he could not envision her not bonded to a queen. He glanced in the opposite direction.
Z’dayi. Another he would never pit as failing to impress anything but his Bronzen companion. He then look down to his side, where Xyruth sat, unearthly still for a dragon with his buzzing energy. The blue turned his gaze to his bonded. Ez’ki looked away, abashed from the gaze of his bonded, as though embarrassed.
I thihnk it could be time you chose another path mine, this one seems to give nothing but bother.[/i] Ez’ki sat, solemn for a moment, as I’dalyn dismissed the class. He smiled up at Sassie, winked, hoping that she was holding no concern for his silence, and that if she was, this would put her at ease.
Perhaps Xyruth. But I won’t let it dissipate. I will never like that man. I will never gift him respect. He must earn it. Even if he is my Weyrleader The blue shifted, agitated, his momentary solemn phase had already passed. The blue – though wise – and perhaps a little intolerant – had been distracted off again by his clutch siblings.

[Xinnai]

((Aww, I know, right? I had like a million I could have put up. Hehe.))

Salina had listened absentmindedly to the rest. It hadn't mattered, not really. And if it had, she'd ask someone later. She stood, with a cracking of bones as she stood and stretched, arms pulling up over her head to stretch unused muscles. Catching Ez'ki's wink, her arms fell and she smiled, teeth flashing.

Well, that was interesting.
The beginning was. Daisulyth's did not seem very interested in it. He certainly sent us off fast.
Faranth thank him for it, too. I thought I was going to go numb, sitting there for so long.

Salina passed through the door and then stopped, to what for the red-haired bluerider she'd made up with. Shoulders rolled in a stretch again as she stifled a yawn. She'd definitely been sitting there for much too long.