Experience is the Harper

Writers: Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 14th November 2015

Characters: F'lin, Y'gel
Description: F'lin goes looking for allies
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Briata, K'sedel, Rhosyn

Y'gel

Another late evening working-- but a calculated one this time. F'lin had conscientiously visited the Healers and Dragonhealers after every 'Fall since before K'sedel had promoted him, and now he was hoping it would pay off. The bronzerider filled his tray with bread, cold meats and sliced vegetables before turning to face the Dining Cavern. Y'gel didn't always eat in the dining cavern, preferring to spend his evenings with his weyrmate and child. But sometimes he did after a long day working his Craft... and today was one of those days. F'lin made his way across the Cavern until he stood before the Weyrdragonhealer. "Hi, Y'gel. Mind if I join you?"

Since his mouth was full he stopped chewing long enough to press his lips into a sort of smile and sweep his hand toward the empty chair. Then he finished chewing while the other man settled in his seat. "Evenin' F'lin" he managed after a moment. "Long day."

"You too, I see." F'lin sat across from the older man and set down his tray. "Was it Gaulisith or Pytarth keeping you late again, or did someone else need a little extra care today?"

"Pytarth, poor girl," Y'gel shook his head. "I had to debride her wound again. She didn't like it at all."

F'lin made a face. "Yikes. Poor Pytarth, indeed. Hopefully this time she won't get infected again. Life in a tropical Weyr has its downsides."

"It does," Y'gel smiled. "But we made sure we got enough redwort into it that there should be no necrosis. The ichor was flowing smoothly by the time we had the wound closed. How was your day?"

"Busy." F'lin shrugged, seemingly casual. "Wingsecond has been a bit of a learning curve, but I feel like I've settled into a routine now. So, hopefully fewer late nights."

"You can do it," Y'gel assured the younger rider. "Nothing like a learning curve under pressure," he smiled. Not that he would have appreciated that though after that first disastrous day Thread fell. Dealing with real Threadscore was far different in practice than in theory.

**A perfect opening.** F'lin smiled. "I'm glad you think so. I'm enjoying the work... actually, I was hoping to ask you for a favour. K'sedel gives me regular updates on my performance, but I'd also like to hear it from my Wingmates. Like you. Be honest. How do you think I'm doing?"

"You're doing well," he nodded. "There has even been a slight decrease in injuries due to flame over." One of Y'gel's pet peeves with the way some of the formations overlapped was the singing some of the riders and dragons took from higher layered wingmates.

F'lin shrugged. "It's something I try to keep an eye on. I've lost too many helmets to flame over. But... if you have the chance to mention that directly to K'sedel, I'd be grateful."

Y'gel smiled and nodded with a wink. "Already have. Those are the kinds of things I always report to the Weyrleaders. I'd imagine Rhosyn keeps her own records on that kind of thing as well."

He twisted in his chair to ease some tension in his lower back. "You know how involved she is with Dragonhealing. In fact if she had more time to spend on crafting I could see her gaining her Master's knots in time."

"And a Weyrwoman who understands Dragonhealing is never a bad thing for her Weyr." Even if Rhosyn's bedside manner could sometimes use a little work. The younger bronzerider made a mental note to rethink approaching the Weyrwoman to ask her to advocate for a permanent position as Wingsecond. He'd thought that she had dismissed him as too young and inexperienced to lead, but maybe he was wrong. "Y'gel, if K'sedel asks whether or not you think I should keep my knots permanently, what will you say?"

Y'gel chuckled. Politics obviously weren't F'lin's best skill but he was learning. "I'd say," he rolled his eyes to the side as if in deep thought. "You need a bit of seasoning but over all you're doing a pretty good job." His eyes dropped back to the younger bronzerider to gauge his reaction.

It wasn't the ringing endorsement that he'd hoped for, but it was better than nothing. F'lin nodded. "A fair assessment. I appreciate the honesty." He debated asking Y'gel to tell K'sedel that, but quickly discarded the thought. It was too obvious, too eager.

Well the lack of a plea was in the younger man's favor. Then Y'gel gave his head a mental shake. When had he taken on the role of mentor instead of dreaming of the job for himself? Perhaps he was more aware of his own limitations than he'd thought. "You _are_ doing a good job," he stressed. "Experience is the harper here F'lin. You'll learn it."

Last updated on the November 30th 2015

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Experience is the Harper