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Post by D'gellin on Jun 4, 2009 16:25:59 GMT -5
Only pride kept Trilia from crumbling at the sound of laughter that followed her out of the chambers, no doubt one of the other girls recognizing the bloomers for what they were. Why laugh at her though? She hadn't done anything that was worth ridicule. Perhaps her high and mighty act, in retrospect, had been a little over the top, but it was better than whining like a wounded canine. Anger and haughtiness was simply her way of dealing with embarrassment. Besides, Trilia was only applying to logic, and logic demanded retribution.
The little girl faltered in her steps, feeling like a lost child as she glanced back at the barracks just down the hall. Her face was still burning with distress at the whole panty incident as her fingers absently wove together and apart, together and apart. She didn't want to get her fellow candidate in too much trouble. It was Rannell who had been out of hand, and yet also properly dealt with not long after. Trilia sighed, biting her lip. She already said she was going to tell.
So that's what she was to them now, a tattle-tale.
Fine...There was nothing she could do to make up for it now but finish the job.
Her tiny knuckle raised to rap gently on the Candidatemaster's door. "Daddy?" Trilia took it upon herself to step inside, smiling just a little at the sight of her father. The rider was was half asleep at his desk. His chin was propped in his palm, opposite hand clutching the lifeline to consciousness that was klah. Trilia supposed he'd been stressed over the recent Weyr events, and hadn't been sleeping properly again. "Daddy." She tried again.
Q'tris jolted back to awareness, eyes darting up, first stern then at ease. "Trilia." He smiled faintly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Trilia glanced away, rocking on her heels. "It's that baby in the girls' barracks." She admitted, eyes flicking up at Q'tris and back down. The Candidatemaster sighed, running a hand over his face. Trilia wouldn't have brought it up unless something unpleasant had occurred. Q'tris couldn't keep turning a blind eye if the child was causing trouble. He'd been avoiding this issue for as long as possible...
"What happened?"
"He caused a mess of the barracks. He broke into trunks and stole peoples' stuff." That sounded worse... "I don't think he meant to but..."
"I understand." Q'tris assured the girl, rising wearily from his chair. "I've been meaning to address this for a while now. I suppose now is as good a time as any." His hand lingered on the cup of klah, now cool to the touch. Given Rannell and Auria's history, Q'tris had been lenient. Splitting them up had never been a notion he felt comfortable with. Considering the upcoming hatching however...If she impresses, she will not be able to care for both Hers as well as the boy. Minth voiced the greatest concern.
Q'tris was long over-due for a conversation with Auria.
At the entrance to the girls barracks, the candidatemaster knocked in the doorway to alert the girls to his presence. "Auria." He called, gesturing for her to join him. Trilia hovered behind him shamefaced.
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Post by **Auria (etc)** on Jun 4, 2009 20:33:45 GMT -5
When Katalyn addressed Rannell, hinting for an apology, Auria relaxed ever so slightly. It wasn't so much that she thought any of the girls would harm her nephew, it was just that his presence in the barracks had been a source of silent tension since they'd arrived. Everyone seemed to understand the need for them to be together ... but the occasional glance of pity was almost as bad as anger would have been.
"I would like to hear a 'tory," the child said, his large eyes looking sweetly into Katalyn's.
Auria couldn't suppress the sigh. What a little swindler this child was. "Ranny, I think you need to say you're sorry."
He rolled his head in that awkward way that only a child could do without getting a horribly stiff neck and met his auntie's gaze. "But I not torry."
Her jaw dropped and her cheeks turned bright red. "Well, you SHOULD be sorry, young man. You ripped the girls' nice books and tore their clothing out of their trunks and got dusty boot prints on their beds and THIS," she took the bloomers from the tot's head and folded them neatly, laying them on the bed, "Is simply inexcusable." She couldn't hide the anger in her tone and scowled sternly at the boy.
Tears welled in his eyes, and Ranny looked to Kinga, as if seeking rescue. "But that big-girl going to tell me a 'tory," he said and began to sniffle.
"We do not damage other peoples belongings," Auria continued, refusing to give in to his manipulations. "We do not take other peoples things. And when we do something naughty we apologize."
The child looked from Kinga to Katalyn and then back to his auntie. "I was naughty?"
"You know you were naughty."
Wizzerd, still seated on her human's bottom, chirped indignantly at the thought.
"And YOU were naughty, too!" Aury said to the little green, the blue clutchmate on her shoulder chiming in with a trill.
Ranny looked up at the two remaining girls, opened his little mouth, and said, "Wizzerd very torry 'bout being naughty."
At that moment there was a rap on the door, and the candidatemaster's voice was heard to call out a name.
Her name.
"Oh, my," she gasped, and looked into the faces of Kinga and Katalyn, with almost the same "rescue me" look her nephew had worn a moment before.
Well, there was nothing to do but to get this over with. She rose, and in one practiced motion flipped Rannell onto her hip. Wizzered screeched in complaint, flapping her wings frantically to keep herself from plummeting to the floor. Squaring her shoulders, an act that Safari echoed by raising his head high and spreading his wings proudly, she strode to the door and peered out into the face of Q'tris.
"Yes, sir?"
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Post by D'gellin on Jun 15, 2009 0:43:20 GMT -5
((gaah, I'm sorry, Gayze. I was waiting for someone else to post, and by the time I realized no one else was going to I couldn't quite figure out how to properly approach a response. D: ))
Q'tris brought a thoughtful fist to his mouth as Auria approached, the babe balanced on her hip. He was uncertain as to how Auria would handle this particular situation, and he didn't want to add extra stress by unsettling the child. "I'd appreciate a word, if that's alright." He replied after a moment, though the inclination in his voice indicated opting out wouldn't be a wise decision.
"Trilia," He added, a little more gently. "You've taught Ronin how to do tricks, haven't you? I'm sure Rannell would appreciate seeing a few. Perhaps you can help him teach his fire lizard as well." Already feeling indebted, Trilia nodded mutely, glancing up at Ranny and Auria. Q'tris offered an encouraging smile to the boy. "Would you like that, Rannell?"
Whether or not the child went along with the distraction, however, the matter of where he would be staying still had to be addressed. Q'tris didn't want to make a spectacle of Auria just outside the barracks, but was hesitant to bring her to his office, lest she feel trapped. They could always move there after he brought up the concerns.
"I hope you understand that I've been very lenient in regards to your situation." He started, his tone likely a little more stern than intended. "But I think it would be appropriate to discuss Rannell's immediate future. Balancing childcare on top of chores and preparation for the Hatching is going to take it's tole quickly." He explained, noting the young woman's tired eyes. "And in the event that you Impress in the upcoming Hatching, and I have the utmost confidence that you will, I promise you taking care of a hatchling is a full time commitment. Rannell will have to be placed under someone else's care." He stated carefully, though his eyes remained stern. This, at least, wasn't a negotiable issue.
"I suggest we begin looking into this now so that the adjustment can be made without that added stress." Although he could sympathize, it wasn't in Q'tris' nature to drag things out or sugar coat. "The boy cannot continue to stay in the barracks with the candidates."
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Post by **Auria (etc)** on Jun 15, 2009 7:16:27 GMT -5
Rannell had tired himself out, and when Q'tris mentioned teaching Wizzerd tricks, he simply yawned and held his hand out to the girl who had been upset about her bed. "O'tay", he said, and smiled sweetly, every bit the Ranny Auria wished he could be all the time.
She set him down on his feet, and looked sadly at Trilia. "I'm so sorry for the trouble he caused," she whispered to the girl. "He'll behave for you now ... anything about firelizards will hold his attention very well."
Wizzerd chirped happily as she settled herself firmly on the boy's shoulder, gripping a lock of his hair in a forepaw for balance.
Aury, knowing Rannell would be in safe hands ... far safer than those of the drudge who'd managed to let him slip away! ... turned her attention to Q'tris. Her hands started to shake, so she folded them behind her, and raised her chin. It was not that she was being prideful ... it simply made it easier to swallow the lump in her throat.
As the Candidate Master continued to speak, Aury blinked faster and faster, to keep the tears that always seemed to betray her at the worst moments at bay. She knew his words were true. Today's episode certainly confirmed the fact that her jobs at the Weyr were not such that she could keep Ranny in the barracks any longer.
She sighed deeply as she finished, and turned her gaze toward her little nephew. "We're all we have..." she whispered, looking back to Q'tris. "... Sir. I do understand. He's been my only-- I know he causes trouble, but...."
She closed her eyes, and did her best to will her tongue to speak logically. "I know you're right. I'd see him? Whenever I need to? And his caretakers would bring him to me if he really needs me?"
Now her mind was going too fast, and her words tracked with it.
"Would he go to the nurseries, or would he have a foster mother? Who would care for him? He has so much energy, but he really is a good boy. He's very smart, and just really starting to come around, thanks to Wizzerd. If his foster mother would have a firelizard, that would help, especially one who is older and can teach-- Oh, my...." She clasped her hand over her mouth, wide eyed. "I, I'm sorry, it's just...."
The tears, they were trying their best to fall, to show her weak before her superior. Her eyes grew glassy, but she willed them back, and sniffed hard, for as she refused their exit from her eyes, they did their best to escape out her nose.
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Post by D'gellin on Jun 18, 2009 17:03:54 GMT -5
"Mm-mm" Trilia shook her head when Auria apologized. "I'm sorry I got so upset." She held out her hand for Rannell, offering a little smile. "My name's Trilia. And this is Ronin." She introduced herself and her fire lizard quietly, leading Rannell back into the barracks.
Q'tris couldn't suppress the sigh of uneasy sympathy as Auria floundered for words. Anger, he could deal with, frustration, he could confront, but the honest fear the candidate displayed was something Q'tris struggled with. Perhaps it reminded him of his daughter...He let Auria compose herself, nodding his head as she voiced her initial concerns.
"This isn't to permanently separate you two." He assured her, attempting a gentler tone. "It will give you more room to grow into your new position at Araelen and ensure that Rannell is given as much attention as needed." He smiled an uneasy but knowing half-grin. "Children are a handful and a half. But we'll arrange it so that you can visit him at your discretion."
A carefully placed knuckle covered the little grin on Q'tris' lips as Auria covered her own mouth, stemming her flow of rapid verbalized thought. "That's why we're talking this through." He replied calmly, attempting to ease the gravity of the situation. "So we can find the best place for Rannell. Believe me when I say I understand. You can think it over a little longer and talk to Rannell about it while I look into interested foster parents, if you would like. If he has as much energy as you say he does, and judging by the state of the barracks, I think the nurseries wouldn't be quite right." He chose to take this time to look into the girls barracks, where Trilia was showing off how Ronin answered (or in this case chose not to answer) to certain commands, not unlike a very energetic canine. Auria's teary eyes were making it very difficult to be the disciplined candidatemaster he was supposed to be.
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Post by **Auria (etc)** on Jun 19, 2009 12:29:51 GMT -5
Auria listened carefully to Q'tris, nodding in silence, swallowing back the tears. Then, as she watched Trilia lead Ranny back into the barracks, her eyes lit up and she met the CandidateMaster's gaze.
"Your child was raised by foster parents?" Blushing suddenly, she looked quickly away again, "I, I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry, but.... "
She again looked to where Trilia and her nephew focused their attention on the firelizards. The young candidate certainly seemed happy and well adjusted; far better adjusted than she herself was to Weyr life. In fact, since he'd connected with his little green, even Ranny seemed to be adjusting better than her.
Q'tris's words eased her sorrow some. Logically, she knew that her life was so busy, visits with her nephew might be hard to come by and if she Impressed they'd be nearly impossible. But the CandidateMaster was right. Her eyes took in the mess he had made in the barracks.
"I really appreciate that you want to find him a good foster family, Sir."
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Rannell happily followed Trilia, gazing all the while up at the handsome firelizard who accompanied her. He listened with more attention than most two-turners could muster, for his love for the flitters had filled his little heart.
"Ronin very smart!" he said, after listening to what Trilia was saying. "Wizzerd smart, too, they can be friends?"
He turned to the other girls in the barracks and, eyes bright with wonder, waved to them. "Ronin very smart pretty!" he called out, happy to show off Trilia's friend for her.
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Post by D'gellin on Jun 20, 2009 11:04:05 GMT -5
Q'tris' mouth pulled up at one corner. "Yes, Trilia was raised by foster parents." He replied, unperturbed by the question. Sometimes he had to remind himself that common Weyr practices weren't as widely known these days. People were still learning. The fact also gave his argument extra support.
"It wasn't until we came to Araelen that I took up full responsibility. But by then she was able to act independently and fit in with the other candidates." Meaning that although she was special to him, she was fitted into a position that didn't necessarily detract from his duties at the Weyr. It was a balancing act really.
Despite his best efforts at breaking this easily for Auria, he certainly wasn't expecting gratitude for his role in separating the two. Q'tris raised one brow at the girl, before replacing his hands hind his back, discussions closed. "It comes with the job, dear." Well, technically that wasn't true, but as Auria was under his jurisdiction, it was close enough to truth. He hesitated before giving her a wink. "Who knows, maybe Rannell will be joining us someday as a candidate himself."
Trilia was finding it hard to keep from smiling self-consciously as Rannell stared in open awe at Ronin. She directed the flitter to land on her outstretched arm as Rannell complimented the brown. When he mentioned being friends, Trilia smiled behind a hand, holding her arm out so Rannell could touch Ronin if he wanted.
"Didn't you know? I think they're already friends." The brown chirped merrily, feeding off the happy emotions as he reached a little nose out to the toddler. Oh how could she have thought badly about Rannell before? Trilia smiled, a little embarrassed as the boy directed attention to her firelizard, but pleased at the same time. He was too sweet. She almost wished he could stay now! So long as he stopped nicking bloomers...
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