Talk Loudly

Writers: Len, Paula
Date Posted: 18th March 2011

Characters: E'naer, G'wen
Description: E'naer brings G'wen into his office to tell him he and Neath are to be group leaders for the upcoming sevenday
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 28 of Turn 6

Standing outside E'naer's office, G'wen was struck by what a difference a few months had made. His life now was a far cry from that sad faced little drudge that had wailed to the Weyrlingmaster 3rd that a dragon wouldn't want him. Wondering what new thing his Neath done to annoy the man or Eillispeth now, he knocked on the door. Being called to the man's office could only spell trouble, right? He sighed as he waited to be called in. Whilst his life may have been different now, he still felt the same as he did standing in this same spot all those months ago, scared and uncertain.

"Come in," E'naer called. His checked the roster on his desk. "G'wen, sit down," he gestured with a smile.

The small boy did as he was told, looking at the Weyrlingmaster 3rd with a questioning look.

"So, how are you today? Did Neath sleep well?" E'naer asked, starting with small talk.

"Yeah yeah, she's well. Getting bigger by the minute, I think." The boy rolled his eyes. Everyday there was more and more of her to feed and keep clean and oiled.

"Well, you two are near the halfway mark, which leads to my business today," E'naer said.

"Yes?" Was he about to get told off for Neath's bossiness? He wouldn't be surprised; she seemed to rub more people than not the wrong way. But even though outwardly he acted like he was embarrassed by her, secretly he loved it all. At least one of them was bold. G'wen only hoped some of her confidence would rub off on him.

Well, he was certainly curt spoked today, E'naer thought.
"It's your and Neanth's turn to lead your group for the next sevenday," he said.

The boy relaxed and actually smiled. "Oh, okay! I thought we were in trouble there." He and Neath were actually going to be given a chance to lead! That was a surprise to him, considering her bossiness and the reactions of others to it.

"No, not in trouble, although your group may be in," E'naer chuckled. "Don't let Neath get carried away with the bossiness. I have no doubts of her ability to give commands. Just don't let her become a tyrant. She'll loose friends quickly that way."

"I'll do my best. She_is_listening better now...she just doesn't always take my advice." He chuckled, thinking of her behavior the other day with a senior weyrling's bronze. The poor male dragon had been so besotted with her that he had moped around her like someone's pet canine, doing everything she demanded. And yes, she had been a tyrant with hm.

"Perhaps she just has to learn it by the hard way. Or the responsibility of leadership can also mature her up," E'naer said. It was hard to know beforehand how a dragonet would react to being a groupleader. Some were natural, some learned it and some never get hang of it.

"It's not her I'm worried about with leading. D'you think anyone will actually listen to me? I mean, I'm like the shortest weyrling by a mile. Well, male weyrling that is." Cardella was slightly smaller, but the two_were_the littlest ones there. If only Catrien had Impressed; she would have been the shortest then.

"Your size doesn't matter. It's your presence and authority that counts. Those can be learned if you don't have them naturally," E'naer reassured him.

"So says the tallest green rider in the Weyr," G'wen teased.

"Okay, I'm tall. I have met few very short bronzeriders though, and they never had problems. Except maybe getting on their dragons!" E'naer grinned.

G'wen laughed at the thought. E'naer was_so_cute when he smiled. **No, no, stop that** Neath wasn't old enough to be entertaining such thoughts; she'd never understand and the last thing G'wen wanted to explain to E'naer was that idle thoughts of him was what upset her! As his eyes had started to stray up and down the Weyrlingmaster third, he blurted out, "so what's it like? Being so tall, that is?" Maybe that would cover it up, he thought, with a slight blush.

"It's easier to reach the upper shelves, otherwise I can't see any difference," E'naer replied with a shrug.

"Yeah really. Maybe when I get my own weyr you can come around to help me do just that," G'wen said.

E'naer arched an eyebrow for him. "Perhaps you should practice flirting after you have graduated to senior weyrlinghood," he cautioned, but his expression was kind and understanding. G'wen wasn't first weyrling to have a crush on him.

"Was I flirting?" G'wen turned a deeper red. He wasn't experienced enough to know what he was doing to males to attract their attention. "Sorry, I'm too ugly to flirt," he muttered under his breath, looking every inch of someone who believed what he said.

"That's how I interpreted it. And others would too. You don't give yourself enough credit. You're good looking and kind. In turn or two you'll mature into the bane of blueriders, breaking hearts left and right. Or you'll get yourself heart broken," E'naer replied with smile that soon became serious. Seemed like this talk came faster then he had anticipated. "For a weyrbrat, you're amazingly innocent and that has certain appeal. Unfortunately, it can also appeal to wrong kind of people."

G'wen nodded, a bit dazed that he was having this talk with E'naer. "I think that's why I stayed hidden in the kitchens...no stray eyes would know to look there. The whole thing sort of...scares me and is exciting too." Did E'naer just say he was good looking? Him? He tried to hide the small smile that crept up the corners of his mouth. Something the man said made him wonder though. "The wrong kind...how will I know what's the wrong kind?"

"Well, that's the problem. You don't always know, at least not from the start. And then you find yourself trapped in bad relationship. If someone tries to control you or manipulate you against your will..." E'naer paused, going thru some of his past relationship. Not all happy ones. "Wrong kind is the kind who tries to dictate what you do or who you can see. The one who prevents you meeting old friends. Or tries to black mail you with suicide if you threaten to leave him," he shuddered with a memory. "The kind who wants to _own_ you."

G'wen blinked hard at the sound of suicide. And ownership. Who would want to own him? "Well, maybe I'll stick with one night stands then," he half joked. S'vin_had_told him enough of his own tales to make the soft wave's in the boy's hair go straight. Half of him wanted to be like his friend, carefree with who he had sex with, but the other half was the painfully shy person who inhibited everything he did. He had to wonder who had hurt E'naer so badly in the past.

"That has it own drawbacks and benefits too," E'naer said.

"It's all so..." The boy laughed a bit helplessly and shook his hands out. He just didn't want to have to think about it too much. He wasn't bold like S'vin and he couldn't help that. Biting his lip a bit, he said in a low voice," I'm so scared of Neath's first Flight."

"Well, we have to do something about that before it happens. But that has to wait until you two are senior weyrlings," E'naer said.

"What? Throw me in the path of a blue rider who's just lost a Flight?" S'vin had been teasing him that he was going to do just that to him after they were allowed to have relationships again.

"No," the Weyrlingmaster's third smiled. "More like intense discussion."

"Well, before that, I still need an intense discussion on how all 5'3" of me is suppost to direct others as well as six and a half foot of you does!" G'wen laughed, finally as relaxed around E'naer as he used to be.

"Talk loudly."'

Last updated on the April 3rd 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Talk Loudly