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+--- Thread: [G] [C] 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green (/showthread.php?tid=4332)
740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - B'jin - 24.Jan.19
While B’jin had been teaching Indivara’s class while she recovered, he’d had a lot of time to study the young dragonriders-to-be, and he had not been at all immune to the ups and downs of the young female greenriders. He had noticed that Daelyne would, naturally, be fine. He’d had to stop more than one fight, and he’d seen more than young fellow Weyrling and no shortage of others sporting a black eye or bruises that he was quite sure had been the result of the spitfire’s fists. Not that he ever stepped in to stop it; B’jin figured that there wasn’t a lot he could do, not seeing it, and even if there was, well, it did a greenrider – especially a female greenrider – good to be able to defend herself.
Tala, he felt would glide along; with her two fellow classmates, she didn’t stand out much or call attention to herself. B’jin felt that she would probably handle being a greenrider well enough – she wouldn’t call attention to herself out int eh world, but at the same time, he had seen her stand up for herself and her friends. B’jin had no doubt that she would be fine. Her dragon had her back, as she should, and the girl seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. B’jin rather liked her, to be honest, and was quite proud of how she was coming along.
It was Vessaelia that worried B’jin, and as he stood on the outskirts of the class while Indivara led them through a series of exercises, he watched the girl in question with a quiet seriousness. She was lacklustre and uninvested; her relationship with her dragon was clearly (to him, at least) one sided. B’jin had no doubt that Vessaelia loved her little Tiath, the same way B’jin loved Larrikith… But he could see the lingering distaste, the lack of joy that was supposed to come with Impression. B’jin could relate to that, on a level he didn’t really think anyone but, perhaps, the girl would understand. B’jin knew his relationship with Larrikith was completely unknown by most, and utterly confusing to those who did know – R’nd tried, and B’jin had tried to explain – but it just wasn’t the same.
B’jin made his way through the class as Indivara went over the end of the lesson and dismissed them. He nodded to the young woman, and she watched him approach Vessaelia before turning her attention to someone else. B’jin continued until he was beside the girl; was it weird that the first thing he really noticed about her up close was the fact that her hair was even more vibrant when close? She was pretty, and that worried him almost as much as if she had been ugly. An ugly woman would have been abused; but a pretty one would be conquered in a whole other way, by men he had no doubt she should definitely keep away from. Hopefully she could find herself a weyrmate, if she didn’t already have one, or her dragon would mate to a brown or bronze. Keep them both safe.
“Vessaelia,” B’jin greeted quietly, smiling at the girl softly so that she’d know it was not a disciplinary visit, though it wasn’t exactly a social call, either. “Would you mind spending the afternoon with me? Larrikith would like to teach Tiath some hunting tricks, if she may.” B’jin offered his arm to Vessaelia in a courtly manner that he felt he didn’t get to play up very often. It was fun, and so familiar, to play the gentlemanly role that being a greenrider simply didn’t let him be often. B’jin missed all that might have been, had he never Impressed Larrikith, and he had a feeling Vessaelia was in that small, uncomfortable boat with him.
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - V'lia - 27.Jan.19
Despite the gentle way B'jin approached her after the class, Vessaelia still felt like she was in trouble. She got that feeling a lot when B'jin or Indivara were around, though looks were typically only given instead of words of chiding. But those looks always conveyed so much. She swore they were disappointed in her, maybe for Impressing green instead of gold or that she didn't interact with Tiath that much, or just judging her for the same reasons. How could a pretty girl with all the right skills to be a goldrider end up on green? What did she do wrong? Then there was despite the fact that she was a woman and Impressed green, she wasn't as close to her dragon as was expected. Sometimes she wondered what the greater sin was; being a woman on green or not being as cuddly and connected with the dragon that lived in her head. Everyone in a Weyr was trained to crave such a bond and they couldn't understand why she couldn't complete it as well as she was supposed to.
"G-good day, sir." She stuttered a greeting at B'jin's approach which showed how nervous she was. She found herself to typically do well at speaking but when nerves got the best of her, words tripped over her tongue and caused her to end up flustered. At B'jin's offer, Vessaelia studied him closely for a moment. She believed Larrikith did want to spend time with Tiath as she had seen the elder green dragon mingle with others in the class but why did her rider want to spend the afternoon with her? Wouldn't they both like an afternoon away from their other half?
It wasn't like she could say no to him, as Tiath was also quick to point out. He is your superior, Vessaelia. It would be rude and rather impractical to turn down such an offer. It is not often young ones get such a chance to learn from their betters and you would do well to start studying about what our life will entail. Vessaelia shot a side glance to the dragon and only replied with a mental sigh. She didn't want to know what life as a lowly greenrider would be like and she never would have to learn if Tiath had been gold.
"We would like that," she smiled, which grew into a genuine one as the arm was offered to her. She took it with a practiced ease, something she missed doing from her old life. Not that many men courted her, but she did practice such things with friends and her brother used to humour her when she was young and let her cling to him as they went to the market. As Tiath went off to meet with Larrikith, Vessaelia cocked her head to look curiously at B'jin, again wondering what she was getting into. She thought to distract him from whatever it was that prompted the offer and went for the easy topic that would hopefully keep him rambling for a while. "How are you and R'nd doing?"
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - B'jin - 02.Feb.19
B’jin lead Vessaelia quietly to the blanket he’d prepared just before making his way to Indivara’s class; it was located in the shade of a large tree, but not too close to the trunk. A skin of between cooled water was resting just off the blanket beside two sturdy cups. B’jin smiled gently at the question the young greenrider posed, but didn’t stop their travels towards the picknick as he responded. “Well,” B’jin smiled, tilting his head to wink playfully at Vessaelia, “I’m quite sure you don’t want more details,” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” B’jin invited, when they reached the small blanket. He settled himself down beside his guitar, setting it carefully aside along with the cared for wooden box within which his paints, brushes and some parchment was kept. He’d been painting some of the young dragons as they went through their lessons; B’jin rather enjoyed giving the images as graduation gifts, and figured that Indivara wasn’t really the type to take to such things, even if their graduation was still quite a distance away.
After pouring the water into the two glasses, B’jin handed one to Vessaelia and took a sip from his own as he studied the young woman thoughtfully. After a long silence, as he internalised about the best course of action when it came to talking to the young woman, B’jin leaned back on to one elbow on the blanket, and stared up at the sky. It was clear, but there was still the cold sting of winter in the air, and the snow under the thick blanket wouldn’t stay frozen forever. “I was never meant to Impress,” B’jin said mildly, still looking up at the sky. “I was attending the Hatching along with the Lord and Lady of Telgar. We were chatting, Amarilla and I,” B’jin was quite lost in the past, still staring up at the sky as a fluffy cloud appeared.
“And suddenly… Larrikith.” B’jin grimaced with deep distaste at an event that usually caused people exponential joy. He turned to look at Vessaelia. “You are doing better than I did,” he said softly, grimacing, “it was months before I would say her name, and she refused to share it with any of the other dragons or people. We went by a number of interesting names in the meantime.” He didn’t bother to say that at least she had wanted a dragon, even if it wasn’t the one she ended up with. That would have been callous, and wouldn’t help Vessaelia come to accept her new lot in life.
“Vessaelia…” B’jin sat up a little bit, and met the Weyrling’s eye seriously. “Your relationship with Tiath may never be what you imagined, or what your classmates have with their dragons. But I want to try to help you; I don’t want you to have what I have with Larrikith.” An undertone of anxiety rippled through B’jin’s words and across his face. He didn’t know how he’d explain to Vessaelia his relationship with Larrikith, but he would if she asked, and he sincerely didn’t want the girl to spend the next seventy plus turns struggling with a dragon she couldn’t stand on a day to day basis.
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - V'lia - 24.Feb.19
Vessaelia quietly sat on the blanket, glass in hand as she waited for the lecture she was bound to get. Why else would a Weyrlingmaster pull her aside? It certainly wasn’t to chat about their days and she wasn’t even sure what they might have in common; other than being greenriders. She had a feeling she was going to be told to suck it up and deal with reality, like many others had already told her. Indivara didn’t have time for whining and everyone else either told her she should be lucky to have a dragon at all—when they weren’t telling her girls shouldn’t be on green. Then again, she knew some blue- and brownriders that were happy to have some women on green for Flights. Honestly, she agreed with that sentiment. She wasn’t a fighter and had no desire to be one.
When B’jin finally spoke and showed she had been right, Vessaelia barely refrained from rolling her eyes. She hadn’t known all that about B’jin and felt a stab of pity for him, knowing how wonderful he was at being a Harper. What would his life be like now if he hadn’t Impressed? Would he be the Master Harper now? It was easy to see why he would resent Larrikith and refuse to acknowledge her for so long, but their situations weren’t that similar. “We’re fine but thank you for your concerns.” Vessaelia took a sip of her water, doing her best to convince them both that she was indeed fine. Truthfully, they were doing better than the days following the Hatching. “We talk and she’s not that horrible of a dragon. I’m even working to forgive her for not being the right colour. Since A’dis isn’t repulsed by us yet, she’s won some favour from me.” Not much, but it did keep her from flat out hating the dragon. Still, she would never be Weyrwoman to A’dis’ Weyrleader. Not that they ever discussed such ideas and he was young still, but Vessaelia knew he’d one day lead his own Weyr. His sister was Ista’s Weyrwoman and he was just as strong of a person as she was—he just had to believe it.
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - B'jin - 02.Mar.19
Vessaelia’s mild reply had B’jin frowning, though he hid it mostly behind a sip of his own drink, turning to look out over the scenery before them. The frustration he felt at her answer surprised him, and yet, it didn’t. It was, he knew, unfair to expect more of her than he had given when he was in the same position but… Well, B’jin hadn’t known anyone who didn’t want their dragon when he’d Impressed to Larrikith, and he wondered if things might have been different between his own green and their relationship if he had.
“You’re not fine,” B’jin said firmly, though there was no heat in his words. “Your classmates are thriving; you are struggling to get through each day.” B’jin was fairly sure the only reason Vessaelia wasn’t wallowing in unwashed smelly glory was because neither she nor her dragonet would let her fall into that pit. Which, honestly, was a good thing, but that didn’t mean it was that way for the right reasons.
Sighing softly, B’jin finished the last of his drink and set the glass down. “Look, Vessaelia, don’t fuck up your life.” B’jin said firmly, frowning as he stared at her, hoping the strong language would make the girl stop and listen to what he was saying. Sometimes shock factors like that worked, and she was delicate and feminine and ladylike in a way that made B’jin quite sure she would be wide eyed at his swearing, though he had no doubt she’d heard it all before. “If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine; but you aren’t alone.”
Turning his gaze away from his dragon, B’jin pulled himself into an upright sitting position, and poured some more water into his glass, wishing he’d brought some wine with him. Wine would make everything so much better! “It could be worse,” B’jin said dryly as he peered into the glass of water sadly. “She could have been a blue.” Lifting his gaze from the cup, even as he took a sip, B’jin gave Vessaelia an amused look.
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - V'lia - 10.Mar.19
Since Impressing, Vessaelia had quickly learned that Hold and Weyr were identical. Everyone wanted to control her and hated her because she didn’t meet expectations and was thrown into something she didn’t want, yet somehow that was still her fault. She was doing the best she could with her new horrible lot in life. She still took care of her dragon and spoke to her and she didn’t see the issue with the fact they didn’t speak nearly as often or as openly as other pairs. It wasn’t even like she was failing in everything she did, despite B’jin’s obvious impression of her. They weren’t a flashy pair and they were obnoxiously loud like her classmates. Why draw more attention when she was already on green and known as the girl that cried because she Impressed? Did B’jin not see her hugging her damnable dragon at Impression? She didn’t hate Tiath but Tiath also wasn’t what she wanted so of course there would be some issues between them but the dragon wasn’t dead, now was she?
She glared at B’jin, silently daring him to continue talking shit about her and Tiath as his arrogant ass continued to believe he was perfect and knew everything. He didn’t know everything; he barely knew anything at all and the way he belittled her and practically mocked her situation by saying she could have landed on blue showed that. How was she supposed to believe he was actually a Weyrlingmaster if this was all she had to go off of? Lucky for his precious ego that she had been at the Weyr long enough to know he was one and had a reputation for being a rather decent one—though she did love hearing about how he always brought in blueriders to teach subjects he had no taste for.
You are angry. What has happened? Vessaelia glanced over to where the two dragons had settled and saw Tiath sitting as regally as ever and she had no doubts the little green was judging the larger green for the way she flopped like a peasant on the ground. She could say that about Tiath; she may have been green in colour but she was gold in personality. Everything is fine, just the usual song but sung by someone new. She was quite tired of hearing it and knew even if she was louder, smiled more, and made it look like she was trying harder than she already was, people either wouldn’t believe it or they would mock her for pretending she could actually do anything in life as a female greenrider. She already knew she was doomed and didn’t need to hear it from everyone.
“Thank you for the encouraging words, sir. Now, if you will excuse me,” Vessaelia set the cup on the ground in front of her and got to her feet, “Tiath and I like to have her hide oiled before I go for dinner.” She gave a little curtsy, that may have been a tad on the sarcastic side thanks to the less than sincere smile she gave B’jin, and spun on her heel to head for her dragon. They may not have had the perfect relationship but it was theirs and Vessaelia wasn’t going to continue sitting still when someone tried to tell her it was wrong and insult either of them.
RE: 740.01.20 | Unwanted Green - B'jin - 17.Mar.19
B’jin lifted his eyebrows slightly in return to the glare that Vessaelia was levelling at him, the ability to hide his desire to smirk only achieved through years of having to mask his expressions while living with his previous mate. He could feel Larrikith’s growing amusement in the back of his mind as she lounged beside the hatchling. If his eyebrows hadn’t already been arched, they likely would have lifted at the clipped words Vessaelia issued as she set her cup down.
“Well,” B’jin murmured softly, as Larrikith closed the distance between them and flopped down once more, settling herself so she created a windbreak for B’jin to finish off the bottle of wine in the weak winter sunshine. “I think they’ll be just fine.” Larrikith spluttered, choking on her amusement, as Shimmer popped out of between with a curious chirp, and settled on B’jin’s lap.