02.Apr.12, 03:00 PM
"I'm sure he's ruined stitching for quite a few of his students," Talian replied, more seriously than he meant to. He still remembered the day he'd revealed to his father just how much better he was at stitching; he could remember the subtle but distinct gleam of jealousy in his father's eyes. Talerian was a strict and mostly unwilling teacher, though, with little compassion for or interest in students. Tal hadn't thought much about others having to work under the old man, but it sounded like their experiences had been just as unpleasant as his own. Try living with him!
He didn't say that out loud, of course. He'd caused enough drama and moped about the Weyr enough to be somewhat self-conscious about his sob stories, and he certainly didn't want to turn a joking back and forth about such things into a serious 'who has the worst life' competition.
He shrugged a bit. "Larrikith and B'jin come as a package," he replied steadily. He still had mixed feelings towards Larrikith, but she made B'jin happy. That was enough.
A slightly flattered look crossed his face at Breccan's next words. "Adoring fan?" he asked sheepishly. He'd certainly had those in the past, but it had been a while, unless of course B'jin counted. "You are right, though. Everyone always wanted to meet me and ask the same old questions." He thought back about what she'd said before, about how Katila was something of a fresh start. People regarded him as an individual far more readily than they had at home.
He wasn't sure if he missed the attention or not. He wasn't sure if he liked the personal approaches people made, either. It was easier to act like a zombie and muddle through formalities back home. Around here, people were more honest, but those honest emotions were hard to deal with. Tal's sad streak was too wide, his nasty feelings about the place too easily dragged up to make candid conversation easy. Even now, he was well aware of himself avoiding certain subjects like a careful little dance.
It wasn't all bad, though. It was certainly better than it had been.
He inhaled reluctantly and placed his hands on the tabletop. "Unfortunately," he said slowly, "I have a patient that I need to return to." He honestly didn't want to; he'd rather sit and talk than aid the recovery of a dragonrider, though his tune might have been a bit different if the rider's condition was life threatening. Not life threatening, just high maintenance.
He rose to his feet slowly and smiled at Breccan one final time. "I really am glad to have caught you, though. It's lonely here," he said earnestly. Where had Val and Eri gone off to? Tal made a mental note to try and track them down later. For now, having more friends was never a bad thing.
He didn't say that out loud, of course. He'd caused enough drama and moped about the Weyr enough to be somewhat self-conscious about his sob stories, and he certainly didn't want to turn a joking back and forth about such things into a serious 'who has the worst life' competition.
He shrugged a bit. "Larrikith and B'jin come as a package," he replied steadily. He still had mixed feelings towards Larrikith, but she made B'jin happy. That was enough.
A slightly flattered look crossed his face at Breccan's next words. "Adoring fan?" he asked sheepishly. He'd certainly had those in the past, but it had been a while, unless of course B'jin counted. "You are right, though. Everyone always wanted to meet me and ask the same old questions." He thought back about what she'd said before, about how Katila was something of a fresh start. People regarded him as an individual far more readily than they had at home.
He wasn't sure if he missed the attention or not. He wasn't sure if he liked the personal approaches people made, either. It was easier to act like a zombie and muddle through formalities back home. Around here, people were more honest, but those honest emotions were hard to deal with. Tal's sad streak was too wide, his nasty feelings about the place too easily dragged up to make candid conversation easy. Even now, he was well aware of himself avoiding certain subjects like a careful little dance.
It wasn't all bad, though. It was certainly better than it had been.
He inhaled reluctantly and placed his hands on the tabletop. "Unfortunately," he said slowly, "I have a patient that I need to return to." He honestly didn't want to; he'd rather sit and talk than aid the recovery of a dragonrider, though his tune might have been a bit different if the rider's condition was life threatening. Not life threatening, just high maintenance.
He rose to his feet slowly and smiled at Breccan one final time. "I really am glad to have caught you, though. It's lonely here," he said earnestly. Where had Val and Eri gone off to? Tal made a mental note to try and track them down later. For now, having more friends was never a bad thing.