20.Mar.13, 11:30 AM
Valerian never expected Talian at public gatherings. His friend wasn’t the type to be social and even with Impressing, he still wasn’t fond of the weyr or the inhabitants so it didn’t seem fair to expect him to show up. It was why he had gone to see Talian before the gathering to celebrate Khaduceth and his clutchmates knowing the Healer wouldn’t want to go to even that. Seeing Talian now earned a small smile as Valerian turned to greet his friend and gave a shrug. “Kind of.” That was about all he could say on the matter. He hadn’t fully worked out how he felt about the graduation and which emotions were stronger and he wasn’t sure if Talian would want to hear all of it aloud as he worked it out.
Instead, Valerian went with telling Talian about the one part he was definitely excited about since it was going to be the talk of the weyr for at least a day after, perhaps longer if nothing else happened that needed to spark the gossips. “You should definitely stick around for B’jin singing a song I wrote though. Sit where you can see him… and R’nd. You might like the show.” He gave an unusually wicked smirk that showed off he was up to something and Talian was now the only other person to know it. B’jin was likely going to kill him later but it’d be worth it for the reaction the lyrics caused.
“Thanks for coming out to see me,” Valerian added before he forgot his manners entirely. His mother and sisters loved to enforce those on him and even through his years of journeying and now down in Katila, he did try to remember to use them when appropriate with people he actually could tolerate. He was about to say more but a hush had fallen over the crowd and Valerian saw S’kef standing and about to start a speech. He frowned, having thought it wouldn’t start so quickly and without the graduates up on stage to be shown off or whatever it was they did for such things.
The frown only increased the more the Weyrleader spoke. If he wasn’t sure about his feelings before, Valerian was definitely filled with mixed emotions now. In one way, he could understand the change in when an honorific was received but in another, that announcement just defeated a large portion of the night’s purpose and even overshadowed the weyrlings about to graduate. There were two other classes without honorifics and now they would be running around to share their new names with everyone when it was supposed to be his class’ big moment. Valerian wasn’t one to crave the spotlight and all of the attention but he was still a Harper that loved to perform and didn’t like his talent and hard work overlooked. Far be it from him to say what a Weyrleader should do but couldn’t he have waited at least a day before making such an announcement?
“Sounds like tonight is your big night as well.” Valerian felt bad for Talian; no doubt his friend had realized he would have two turns to come to terms about changing his name and being counted as a true dragonrider and now he was being told he had to change his name now. Clearly S’kef wasn’t trying to win a popularity contest. Then again, the rule against women likely earned him a lot of points from older male riders.
Instead, Valerian went with telling Talian about the one part he was definitely excited about since it was going to be the talk of the weyr for at least a day after, perhaps longer if nothing else happened that needed to spark the gossips. “You should definitely stick around for B’jin singing a song I wrote though. Sit where you can see him… and R’nd. You might like the show.” He gave an unusually wicked smirk that showed off he was up to something and Talian was now the only other person to know it. B’jin was likely going to kill him later but it’d be worth it for the reaction the lyrics caused.
“Thanks for coming out to see me,” Valerian added before he forgot his manners entirely. His mother and sisters loved to enforce those on him and even through his years of journeying and now down in Katila, he did try to remember to use them when appropriate with people he actually could tolerate. He was about to say more but a hush had fallen over the crowd and Valerian saw S’kef standing and about to start a speech. He frowned, having thought it wouldn’t start so quickly and without the graduates up on stage to be shown off or whatever it was they did for such things.
The frown only increased the more the Weyrleader spoke. If he wasn’t sure about his feelings before, Valerian was definitely filled with mixed emotions now. In one way, he could understand the change in when an honorific was received but in another, that announcement just defeated a large portion of the night’s purpose and even overshadowed the weyrlings about to graduate. There were two other classes without honorifics and now they would be running around to share their new names with everyone when it was supposed to be his class’ big moment. Valerian wasn’t one to crave the spotlight and all of the attention but he was still a Harper that loved to perform and didn’t like his talent and hard work overlooked. Far be it from him to say what a Weyrleader should do but couldn’t he have waited at least a day before making such an announcement?
“Sounds like tonight is your big night as well.” Valerian felt bad for Talian; no doubt his friend had realized he would have two turns to come to terms about changing his name and being counted as a true dragonrider and now he was being told he had to change his name now. Clearly S’kef wasn’t trying to win a popularity contest. Then again, the rule against women likely earned him a lot of points from older male riders.