Absolutely Perfect

Writers: Avery, Dana
Date Posted: 8th August 2006

Characters: Traelyn, L'pin
Description: The Weyrwoman and Weyrlingmaster Second share an early morning together talking about the upcoming Turn's End celebration, and they both reflect a little on their pasts and their lives now
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3

"Faranth, L'pin, it's a restday," Traelyn smiled, looking at the Weyrlingmaster Second as he approached her table. Was that a gitar case he was carrying? "What are you doing up so early?"

"Breakfast and then, hopefully, music." he said with a smile. "I haven't played much in awhile, but now that the Harper Hall is here, there's a lot of new music I've never seen before. Besides, there's a dragonriders' ensemble for Turn's End celebrations; I need to get in practice. May I sit?"

"Of course you can. Almonteo spoke to me about the dragonriders' ensemble...I think it's a marevelous idea. No doubt you play well?"

"I'd like to hope so." L'pin said with a laugh, taking a seat. "I played as much as any harper did, but it wasn't my passion. So I'm probably a bit out of practice. My specialty was being an Archivist, actually, poking around in hides. Helped me well when I Impressed- when Threadfall started I used to always look up old tricks in hope we could use them."

**Like U'kaiah...** "And do you sing too?"

"I have a pretty good tenor, or so all my teachers told me." L'pin demurred. He didn't want to brag. "I like singing better than playing, and archiving better than singing," he admitted.

"I like to think that I can sing," Traelyn grinned. "Faranth knows I can't play an instrument well at all."

"You've tried, then?" L'pin asked, curiosity piqued. He remembered from before that she hadn't taken up any craft.

"When you're young you'll try anything once," she replied with a laugh. "I think I even tried the gitar...didn't quite take."

He laughed. "Not everyone has the talent for it. I just use it to back up the vocals. Is the rest of the Weyr as excited about the ensemble? I know everyone's been enjoying the musics from the Hall."

"Oh yes, and not _just_ for the ensemble--though it should be fantastic.
A Weyr has never housed the Harper Hall before...it will certainly be a Turn's End to always remember!"

"It should be. Music and dancing and I'm sure the Weyr's cooks will make a fine feast worthy of the combined celebration." Struck by impulse, though he wasn't sure he knew _why_ he wanted to, he suddenly hurried on. "If, perhaps, you're free during the night, and I'm not playing...perhaps, could we dance on Turn's End?" Surely it was a harmless enough offer, and he hoped she'd accept.

"I'd like that, L'pin," she smiled. "I love to dance. I would stay on the dance floor all night if I could!"

He smiled, relieved she hadn't taken it the wrong way. "I don't often dance, preferring to play. But when I have the opportunity, I enjoy it."

"Do you prefer the more...energetic dances?" She grinned. "Or the slower ones?"

"The more energetic dances are wonderful, but I can only do a few. Slower dances might seem more boring, but if you've got the right craft, they can be more enjoyable. So...probably the slower."

Traelyn smiled. "I'll be sure to save you one of those, then."

"Excellent! I'll make sure to spare the time." he added. "I'm sure you'll have many requests for dances, won't you? Your Weyrleader, anyone else who chooses to attend who knows you- don't you have a few friends from Dragonsfall who might come to see you?"

She nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "We're eight candlemarks ahead of them...it might just work out." She hoped they would...it would feel strange if she _didn't_ see them. "And you? Will you be expecting anyone to come to Dolphin Cove?"

"My weyrmates died before I came here- they would have been the only two to come. But I have my best friend around. Perhaps I can even convince him to dance." L'pin joked. He could try anyway.

"You could always try," she chuckled, her grin fading a little after a moment. "I'm...sorry to hear about your weyrmates, L'pin," she told him softly. "It must have been so hard."

"It was Minara first, and then Runard- harder the second time, as there was no one left to comfort." he explained quietly. "I wish it had been different. The three of us were happy together. But it's been awhile now.
And I'm not too old to weyrmate again." It had been awhile since he thought about it- missed them often, yes, but not really _thought_ about how lonely it could be.

"I gather you've never considered weyrmating yet. It would be harder for you anyway, wouldn't it? After all, you are the Weyrwoman, and there's the fact you're expected to have a reasonably close relationship to your Weyrleader, whoever he may be."

"No...I've never thought of weyrmating." Except for when she'd been just girl barely coming into womanhood... Traelyn looked down. "And even if I did take a weyrmate one day, I don't think it should have too much of an effect on our relationship--the Weyrleader's and mine, I mean." It was hard to picture herself as a weyrmated woman. She'd spent so many Turns with so many different men drifting in and out of her life...

"Hmm, perhaps it wouldn't. I'm not a Weyrleader, of course, so I have no idea- but I've read tales of it occasionally causing trouble in the past.
Of course, some historical records read just like fiction, so how can you tell what's real after a few hundred turns?" He laughed slightly. "I've never had this much responsibility before. I can't imagine what you or others might have... I'm just relieved to have time for my hobbies."

"It can be a lonely thing," she admitted softly, "to be at the top--to have so much responsibility. Giving up hobbies and a daily social life is only part of it. People who you've known your whole life can start to treat you differently. Your friends can become enemies, your lovers can become nothing more than power-hungry rivals, using their bodies and sweet words to try and ensnare you to choose _them_ over someone else..."

"You speak as though it's happened to you," he observed softly. "If that is what the most prestigious of ranks are, then I am glad I am but a bluerider and unable to reach them. It sounds lonely and sad..." His hand moved slightly as he nearly reached to take hers, but stopped himself. "Is that why you carry yourself somewhat aloof? To not be hurt by those who would use you?"

"Is that how you would describe me?" she asked with a slighty wry smile.
"Aloof?"

"At times you seem such- perhaps I do not know otherwise, because I am not close to you. I am sure your friends would see a different side then the average man of the Weyr. That is the case for us all, I suppose." He shrugged slightly. "There's nothing wrong with being a bit distant from the average person. People can expect that from their leaders."

"And what of their Weyrlingmaster Seconds?" she asked quietly. "You work so hard with our weyrlings and devote so much of your time to them, but it seems like you keep your distance from others too..."

"I don't know anyone here well yet. And at least most of the weyrlings respect me as a teacher, while some of the wingriders...well, they wonder how I got my job. Sometimes, so do I." He laughed slightly. "I'm not fool enough to think I was a popular choice, but opinion is slowly changing, I hope."

She had told J'darin that Y'sani must have had his reasons for bringing in a bluerider to handle the responsibilities of a Weyrlingmaster Second--usually a position given to bronze or brownriders. But the more she spoke with him, the more she thought she was starting to understand for herself. "Fom here on out you are helping to train each clutch hatched on Dolphin Cove soil. Soon, the voices of those dragonriders you'd taught when they were young will rise in your defense and outweigh those others, L'pin."

L'pin smiled gratefully. "I am glad for your confidence," he said softly.
"This group is going so well- Nyith must be so proud of them! The wings sorely need them, too."

Traelyn nodded. "She's quite proud. And so am I." Smiling, she reached out with her mind to lightly touch her queen's. Soon Nyith would rise again. Not this month...but soon. And they'd have more dragons to fill in even more of those vacant spots.

The weyrlings were always a positive topic to talk about. He grinned slightly. "You know, when I see Hatchings... I wish I was a brownrider, sometimes, so I could look at a clutch of eggs and know my dragon fathered them. But working with them is the perfect substitute."

"It is a...well, a wondrous feeling, really...when I look at Nyith's offsring, knowing that since they're hers, they're a little bit of mine too."

"They are, aren't they? Without your control she could never bring them to be so she could lay them." he said, delicately referring to the flight.
"Working with baby dragons are so much more exciting than flying Fall, I must admit."

"Is it in all aspects, L'pin? Or do you enjoy teaching them one thing over another?"

"Hmm." L'pin sat and pondered that. "I know I hate the /between/ teaching just because I'm scared of losing them. I like teaching things I know well, like maps of Pern, coordinates. And the thing I like best first flights. But what's really wonderful is being there emotionally. They come to me for support, and I like that. It's like being a father to over 30 children."

"Some people are lucky enough to be born with that charisma. I think you're one of them," she smiled.

L'pin grinned. "Thanks." he said. "My old teachers used to tell me I'd make a great arbiter. I think I can do them proud in this. But charisma isn't always a good thing, if people use it wrong."

"Granted. Now I don't know you very well, L'pin, but I don't think we're going to have that problem with you," she teased lightly.

He grinned. "I appreciate that confidence." He stretched back in the chair. "So, besides dancing, do you have anything else planned for Turn's End and Beginning?"

"I'm getting a gown specially made for the occasion, but other than that, not really," she winked. "I'll take whatever happens as it comes, I suppose."

"A gown specially made? That sounds like it will be lovely," he remarked.
"And I would see why you'd make one, since you're the Weyrwoman here and it's your first Turn here."

She rubbed the back of her neck a little self-conciously, remembering how it was she _came_ to be Dolphin Cove's Weyrwoman. "It's not often I induldge myself in new, fancy clothes. But I thought that this event would be a good excuse to."

"It's a celebration. It's the perfect excuse." L'pin suddenly realized all his formal clothes predated the death of Minara, even. Perhaps he should get something new...could he look shabby by her side? "Absolutely perfect."

Last updated on the August 9th 2006

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