Traditions

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 29th April 2006

Characters: L'pin
Description: L'pin, in a philosophical mood, comes to several conclusions about Tradition.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 3 of Turn 3
Notes: Mentioned: J'darin, Y'sani

L'pin sighed, feeling worthless. He'd been at the Weyr for about a month
now, and while most of the rumors had subsided, not all had. Of course
they hadn't; it was a Weyr, and anything could be gossip- but the most
unusual, the most tradition breaking things, those were always the ones
gossiped about the most. And L'pin was certainly that...it was no wonder
the gossip was flying.

Sometimes it was light and almost unnoticeable- the eyes tracking him
across the room as he carried his dinner back to his Weyr, or more
covertly watching him as he drilled the weyrlings. Sometimes it was
overt and blatant, people making no effort to hide the fact that they
were watching him, analyzing him.

People seemed to like watching him with the weyrlings, he'd noticed. On
days when he felt confident, he could shrug off their gazes and go about
drills normally. Those days he could pretend to himself they were
watching the weyrlings, looking to see how well they did. Some days,
though, they bothered him. Times like those, he imagined they were
watching him and his instruction, scanning every move he made for signs
of any weakness, any error, any failure; looking for an excuse to get
him in trouble, because if he got into trouble he would leave.

**What am I doing here?** L'pin didn't know why anymore. He'd come for
Y'sani- though he would never admit it, and especially not TO the man,
he'd had a crush on him when they were younger. It didn't exist anymore
in the same form. Mostly it was just a deep affection, a love for him
like a brother. **Passion mellows well sometimes.** he thought. And he
and Y'sani were a good team; that was why Y'sani had trusted him enough
to come here.

}:Working with Luthinath's rider makes you happy.:{ Chaneth interjected,
swinging his head slightly. L'pin saw the colors of warmth and comfort
in his eyes.

**Yes, it does.** L'pin thought back. He did like working with Y'sani,
since they complimented each other so well. And he was enjoying working
with the weyrlings. For the most part, they were eager to learn and
friendly. Sometimes they were overwhelmed, whether there was too much
work, or the flood of new things now that another mind and soul was so
completely linked with their own. L'pin was good at handling them at
those times. He liked working with them. He sighed again. **It's those
who aren't weyrlings that are the bother.**

Maybe he was just being paranoid, maybe it was just illusions that
people were watching him, wanting him to make a mistake, wanting him to
leave so they could get another Weyrlingmaster's Second, a more
traditional one. L'pin was a Harper, trained to observation- and he knew
that some people actively didn't like him. Not even just J'darin, who
disapproved strongly; some outright didn't like him or hated him even
worse than the Weyrleader. Sometimes L'pin worried. They wouldn't hurt
him- no man would harm a dragonrider- but they could make him miserable.
And miserable he sometimes was.

Why couldn't they just accept him and give him a chance to prove his
point? L'pin had as much of a respect for Tradition as any man, but as
an Archivist he'd also read records that proved just how wrong clinging
to tradition could be. Sometimes it caused stagnation in people's lives.
Clinging to traditions and not seeking a better way could cause serious
problems when it came to desperate times that, perhaps, required a new
way. Maybe Dolphin Cove Weyr didn't _need_ a new way, and maybe Y'sani
was wrong to flout Tradition as he had.

**On the other hand, why _not_?** L'pin thought rebelliously. It was
obvious that color prejudice still existed among some people- maybe even
most, considering the doubtful reactions he'd gotten. Some people were
outwardly biased against him simply because he was a bluerider. They
maybe didn't treat normal blue or greenriders that way, it was just his
position that lead to it. To L'pin, though, it showed that their
attitudes needed a change.

Of course, the Weyr was in for a change, now that they hosted the Harper
Hall. While some Harpers still had prejudices, it was a lot harder to
maintain them in that craft. The Hall had even modernized enough to
allow females to apprentice. They could surely teach the Weyr something.
In L'pin's mind, the Weyr was sometimes too out of touch with the
attitudes of the Holds and Halls; they preferred to look down on them,
rather than to consider them in any reasonable way. Maybe that was the
problem- perhaps the Weyr was too prejudiced that its ways were the only
right ways, and believed that they were right because they were morally
right, rather than born of draconic necessity. L'pin knew the ways of
the Holds and Halls had been born by necessity as well. Maybe they were
outmoded now, but they had their roots in survival, just as the Weyr's
ways had their roots in survival. **We're not so different in the end
after all.** he thought, startled by the revelation. Now, if only he
could convey that to them... L'pin sighed again, realizing it wouldn't
be easy. He might never succeed. Besides, he couldn't focus on
Weyr-Hold-Hall relations right now. He had to secure his place in the
Weyr first, after all- he had to show how well he could do.

L'pin knew he was good, after all. Whatever others thought of him, based
merely on the color of Chaneth's hide... it meant nothing, in the end.
L'pin would be as good whether they liked him or not. He still had the
job, for now- and as long as he had the job, he would do his best to
prove himself. Not try to make people like him, that wouldn't accomplish
anything, but he could do a good enough job to make people respect him
and his work despite their personal opinion. That would be enough for L'pin.

He stood and walked over to Chaneth, who didn't understand his rider's
melancholy and philosophical mood. All the blue wanted was his rider to
feel better about himself and his place. }I am good. You are good.:{
Chaneth told his rider. }:We will do well.:{ L'pin sat down in the
blue's forelimbs, while Chaneth shifted slightly. Sighing, he leaned
back and inhaled the smell of dragon, felt the feel of warm hide, and
let himself relax in the feelings of love, comfort, and rightness that
spread from his dragon in waves. Yes, they would do as well as they could.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2006

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