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Post by twitchie on Jul 15, 2012 1:08:05 GMT -4
Mae was sitting with her legs pulled to her chest in a dark hall. No one usually came this way so she figured it was a quiet and good place for what she was doing.
A book lay open in front of her, and her whole face was scrunched in concentration and scowling at words.
Every letter was a confusing scribble on the white. Like little ants that squished on the pages...
Mae licked her lips, trying in vain to sound out word after word of the nonsense...
Her flits alerted her of someone coming, but she was so tense and frustrated she didn't notice....
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Post by Taylor on Jul 15, 2012 1:23:08 GMT -4
Ko'o still hadn't quite adjusted to this whole weyrling thing. Well...he'd accepted that he was never going to sleep again and was going to slowly wither away from lack of food, all his attention devoted to the amethyst who called him "Mine". But as far as...well...having that amethyst. Not having the bronze. That he wasn't used to. Might never be used to.
And so it was odd being up in the weyrling barracks, where everyone was so exhausted all together but most seemed to be utterly in love with their new lifemates. At least he didn't have to see the bronze - his bronze - around much, as the poor fool he'd bonded to had been hurt enough to be away from the real world for a while.
Away from the real world. It was where Ko'o was headed now. The amethyst was up in their room, fed, oiled, and sleeping. And he was down in the lower caverns, away from anyone who might know him and congratulate him on Impressing, as if finding yourself with a purple female was the most wonderful sharding thing since klah. He felt a slight stirring from Plumberth and tried to settle his thoughts. He'd noticed the dragon slept more lightly or woke entirely when he was upset.
He nearly walked right past Mae, only stopping because he spotted one of her flits. Huh. She seemed distressed about something. Helping someone would distract him from being angry and distressed about the hatching fiasco. He crouched down, giving Mae what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "Hey there little lady. You look like you're having a bit of trouble there. What do you need me to do?" Because of course she would need and accept her help - anything else was unthinkable.
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Post by twitchie on Jul 15, 2012 1:34:14 GMT -4
Mae's face jerked up from the book, face flushing red, jaw setting.
"I do not need help."
Her blue eyes glared at him, anger trying to hide her fear. Hastily she tried to shut the book, but her blue flit landed in the way.
"Shoo!"
She tried to spook Tiide away, but he sat.
She looked much more upset now, thinking fast of how to hide the book. Surely if the boy saw the book or had heard her trouble with words he would be able to figure it out?
"Don't you have a dragon to care for?"
She knew his face from the sands. She had no idea he hated his Bonded, however...
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Post by Taylor on Jul 15, 2012 1:49:09 GMT -4
Ko winked as Mae said she didn't need help. "Of course you don't, darlin'." Oh, women could be so silly sometimes. But okay, he would play along with the little game. They would keep this a secret. "Well why don't we just sit down and have a conversation where you happen to be telling me all your problems and I happen to be solving them?" He smiled in a way which he expected her to find quite charming.
As the blue settled on the book and Mae made a big show of trying to get the blue off, Ko'o realized that she needed help with something related to the book. And, typical female, she was going the roundabout method - drawing attention to it by asking her flit to sit on it. Maybe it was something with numbers. She probably needed help adding up the cost of some frilly outfit she was buying. Not, he realized, that she looked particularly frilly right now... She must be buying it so she could become the woman she dreamed of being. How sweet.
Well it was up to him to help! He reached out, pulling the book from Mae's hands and tipping the firelizard off. "Hmm what's this?" Where was the cost of the dress...?
His search was briefly interrupted by her question and he shook his head. "My dragon's no less independent than yours, little lady." He paused and then recognition set in. He'd known she was a Candidate with him, just hadn't realized which one. "Or...oh, you don't have a dragon, do you? You were the one that walked off alone at the end." He sounded sympathetic, at least?
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Post by twitchie on Jul 15, 2012 2:04:00 GMT -4
Mae stood up, being much shorter than Ko.
If he wasn't seriously ticking the Harper off, she might have found his flirty attention nice, but she glared at him.
"I said I don't need help!" [/b]
If she knew he thought this was a dress payment she'd have knocked a tooth out. If anything she was buying a new tunic, as her appearance was that of a boy's.
Her amethyst flit hissed and dove at the man twice before narrowing red eyes at him.
Even after being comforted by S'bel about not Impressing, the careless was Ko went about it struck a nerve.
"You know what? I've dealt with weyrbrats with quicker minds than you. How many times must I repeat--"
Then book was taken and she lunged for it.
Mae looked toward his crotch for half a second as if deciding if she would stoop that low....
"I don't want or need your help. Go feed your dragonet and mind your own business."
She was getting fed up now, and her hands turned to fists.
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Post by Taylor on Jul 15, 2012 2:40:21 GMT -4
"Mm, and I said I wanted to stand at that clutch. Sometimes, what we say does not actually match what is best for us. That would be something useful for you to learn." He flinched as the amethyst dove at him - couldn't not, after all - but it didn't seem she actually intended to do more than be a tempermental female. He still flinched on the second dive, just as a reflex, but it came with less alarm. He was bracing himself for a third but no, it seemed she had worked out whatever issues she was having. Perhaps she was about to rise...?
Mae's quip about, essentially, Ko being unintelligent had his gaze rising from the book. He'd figured out what the issue was - wasn't hard once he had the book - and he didn't exactly appreciate her words. He forced himself to bite his tongue, reining in his annoyance, but when he noticed her brief glance towards his groin, is eyes narrowed. "My dragonet is well fed and she is now asleep. Infants spend quite a while asleep, you see. Something you'd know if you were caring for one of your own." He closed the book and tossed it back to her casually. "If we're doing comparisons, by the way, I've noticed many weyrbrats are willing to accept help when they are offered it." He paused a moment then shrugged. "Must be why so many are literate." He spoke the words cooly, but his eyes were on her face. Some part of him hoped the words struck a nerve, simply because he hadn't liked her comment.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 17, 2012 19:47:09 GMT -4
F'ro almost regretted his decision to relax with a good book, almost. He could hear the rather ungodly voice of that harperbrat from here and it was easy to say he wasn't entirely in the mood to listen to her. He wanted to read though and, he supposed with a sigh, he could always just insult her until she stormed off. With Apperointh tucked in to sleep, like many of the other dragonets, F'ro felt he could finally give in and have a little fight.
Not to mention, the tall youth had energy to burn. He had been raised on a dragonrider's schedule, something that hadn't left him when he came to Trelis, so he was used to early mornings, late nights, and lots of physical activity. Add in the fact he had spent much of his life helping his father bath and oil Syphraelth, and there wasn't much going on that F'ro wasn't used to, save for the addition of a mind on his.
"Don't waste your breath with that airhead," The fifteen turn old spoke lazily as he waltzed into the room, quickly glancing to see who it was MAe had been yelling at. Ahh.. the boy that tried to walk off without his amethyst; what was his name again? "Believe me, Purple, you would have a more intelligent conversation with a dead wherry." Well, he couldn't remember the guy's name so the colour of his dragon would have to do.
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Post by twitchie on Jul 19, 2012 19:03:15 GMT -4
Oh! Look who it was!
Mae's most favorite person on Pern.
Her blue eyes narrowed sharply, glittering icily. The Harper snatched the book back quickly, giving both boys a stare.
"An airhead? Hmm interesting coming from a bastard. And see here, yet again you follow me."
Her jaw was firm but her lips smirked smartly. A hand slipped to her hip. Sure F'ro had a dragon and rank, but Mae didn't really care. Her chest burned with indignation and rage. And hate, most certainly hate.
She wanted to set F'ro off. He could say anything and he would get nothing. Her fists raised up, as if provoking a fight. She eyed Ko but focused on F'ro. He was the real enemy here....
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Post by Taylor on Jul 26, 2012 0:06:37 GMT -4
Ko'o hadn't noticed anyone in the area, and so he was somewhat surprized when F'ro sauntered into view. This girl was an airhead, was she? Not a particularly kind thing to say, particularly to one so vulnerable and unequipped to defend herself, but she did seem irksome, if nothing else. Such a trait could lead others to look past what positive qualities she might have, such as intelligence. Not that he considered her likely to be particularly intelligent. Mae was lashing out at F'ro now, though, and so Ko'o felt the need to step in and settle down some of the conflict. "Now now, that's not the kindest thing to say, little lady. He may have chosen his words poorly, but I'm sure he's just concerned, like I am. And he would surely be trying to help you if he had the faculties."
Of course, as soon as he said that, the newcomer boy went further with his insult. Ko'o frowned. "Well that's a bit out of line..." He looked back towards Mae, noticing her fists. Oh dear. He really didn't know what to do with this situation. "There's no need for all of this, both of you. Really, the girl just needs a lesson in reading and then we can all be on our way."
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Post by Zirin on Jul 26, 2012 17:18:16 GMT -4
"Yes, I am a bastard, so good of you to notice, but if you think I'm following you then your intelligence is even lower than I gave you credit for." He replied lazily, eying Ko'o as he stuck up for the silly girl. Really, if she wanted to play games with him then he would play right back. He certainly wasn't going to lose his temper over being called a bastard; it wasn't the first time it had happened, nor, he felt, would it be the last. He gave Ko'o a disappointed, almost disgusted look at the very idea that he would be concerned for Mae, and that he would help her. As if! He had better things to than babysit the girl.
"Truly Purple, the only one I feel any concern for here is you, for believing that teaching her would, in any way, be a good use of time." He paused and gave Mae a look of surprise, though if she thought that was a good thing then she had another thing coming!
"A harper who can't read? Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Are you even a real harper, or is it just some lie to make people think there's a brain hidden somewhere in that dense skull of yours?" Sure, he was going a tad overboard, but he was frustrated from other things and she had opened herself up to be his verbal punching bag. "Have fun with her Purple. if you successfully teach her I'll even give you a mark for your unending patience."
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Post by Elessar on Aug 1, 2012 7:21:25 GMT -4
"That's enough."
The stern words came from a dim area of the room, where S'bel stood lounging against a wall. He had watched the whole scene play out from the moment F'ro arrived. The Wingleader had come to think of Mae as somewhat of a daughter-figure, and seeing her being picked on and bullied by older boys who should know better... It was infuriating.
"F'ro, K'o. Both of you have better things to do. Especially now that I'm here." His eyes were cold. "I want both of you outside, in the Weyrbowl, now. You too, Mae. Fighting is not something well practiced. As you should all know, a dragon never fights another dragon unless dire circumstances are involved." He wondered briefly about the Rebellion. It was no dire circumstance, but... It was his duty to fight for his Weyr, so he would.
Shaking his head, the man continued. "As dragons never fight one another, nor should riders, or even potential riders. And believe me, boys, there are ways to keep you from ever becoming a full rider. I should not have to school any of you in manners. Out into the Weyrbowl, now! You're going to be running laps until you drop. Yes, you too, Mae."
He would go to the girl later and ask her if she wanted help with reading. It was indeed out that she should be a Harper apprentice and yet still have trouble reading. Maybe she just never learned properly? S'bel put the problem to the back of his mind. He'd deal with teaching her her letters after he had taught all three of them a lesson about what happens when the Junior Weyrleader catches you fighting.
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Post by twitchie on Aug 2, 2012 14:53:18 GMT -4
Mae didn't know what to do. She was ashamed S'bel had seen this, but glad he was here. If it was another other person, the girl wouldn't have cared.
But what S'bel thought of Mae suddenly meant everything....
She opened her mouth, to apologize. Bless the soul who thought it was to either boy nearby. No. This was an apology for S'bel..
But her words died on her lips, her gaping mouth closing.
Very slowly, Mae picked up her notebook and other things, trying to pretend Ko and F'ro were not here. There was fire in her stomach. She burned with shame, anger, hate... despair..
And she focused on S'bel. She wanted him to value her. To understand. For him to gaze at her proudly.. but.. would he ever? Not if she acted like this.. a stupid, illiterate Harper.. a hateful, lonely, confused girl.... a... a .. nothing...
Her blue eyes sought comfort in the Bronzerider, searching for something - anything to give hope of some pitiful future for herself... some fraction of fatherly nature.. something.. something......
Her lips were finely pressed together. Sharditall. She couldn't read, much less right. How would she ever succeed?
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