Easier to Ask Forgiveness

Writers: Devin, Paula
Date Posted: 9th November 2017

Characters: Dessa, T'lin
Description: Dessa and Tyselin meet and talk about holder attitudes.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 12 of Turn 9

T'lin

After making sure her violin was in tune, Dessa rested the bow against
strings for a moment, closed her eyes and started to play.
The music that flowed out was not any known piece. It was music that
told of loneliness, melancholy, yet it had a tone of hopefullness and
undercurrent of passion. Then it shifted and became popular dance jig.
After few verses, she moved to a slow walz, those where you want to
press close to your dance partner and sway slowly. That she could do
the transition seamlessly, spoke of her talent.

When the young woman paused, someone started clapping. "That was
wonderful!" Tyselin said.

"Thank you," Dessa replied and rested the violin on her lap. Her eyes
had a far-away, dreamy look like many times after playing.

"And congratulations." He nodded to the new Candidate knots she wore.
Tyselin recognized her from when she'd been among the Harpers during
the time the Hall had been sheltered at Dolphin Cove.

"Thank you," Dessa said again with faint smile. She studied him
carefully. "Do I know you from before?" she asked. She got a feeling
she's seen him before, it happened a lot since this was her second
stay at the Weyr.

"I've been here for Turns. You were here with the Harper Hall before.
I'm Tyselin." He offered his hand.

"Well met, Tyselin," Dessa took the hand and shook it. "I*m Dessa and
as you figured out, I'm a harper."

"And a good one," he said with a grin. "When I'm not desperately
trying to get a hatchling's attention, I'm a technician."

"Weyr- or hall-trained?" Dessa asked curiously.

"Weyr trained. The Hall would have been a bad fit for me."

"i see," Dessa said with neutral tone. She was smart enough to figure
out what that meant. "Are your famliy here too or do they live at the
hold?"

"They live at the hold, but we visit each other." Having dragonrider
friends came in handy.

Dessa nodded. "So you're lucky to have parents who sent you here where
you can be yourself."

"I am." She seemed to be quite perceptive. "How are you settling in?"

"Quite weil. It's easier when you're already somewhat familiar with
the place. Although, when the Harper Hall was here, apprentices like
me were encouraged not to associate with the weyrfolk too much," Dessa
replied.

Tyselin rolled his eyes. "So I heard. Did you disobey?"

"Occasionally," Dessa admitted with faint smile. "Mostly so I could go
to the beach."

"And check out all the bodies on display?" he teased.

"I was bit too young for it," Dessa replied, missing the tease.

"Ah. Did you go to relax on the beach or do you like to swim?"

"Both. I learned to properly swim on that beach. " Dessa replied with
a smile filled with fond memories.

"Did you come from a hold inland, then? Or were you hallbred?"

"I'm from Emerald Falls hold, my father's a cot holder," Dessa replied.

"Is he supportive of you being an apprentice? A Candidate?" Some
Weyrfolk assumed all holders were hidebound, but Tyselin's family was
proof that they could be perfectly accepting.

"Not exactly," Dessa said with a wicked little grin. "He allowed me to
become student at the Harper Hall. But when they started to take
female apprentices, I saw my opportunity. Sometimes it's easier to ask
forgiveness than permission."

Tyselin laughed. He was really starting to like this girl. "That's
great! What about becoming a Candidate, was he against that too?"

"Oh, you should had heard him yell. My mothar wasn't all that happy
either. Something about ruined reputation and becoming
unmarriageable."

"As if that's the worst thing in the world."

"I do prefer ruined reputation for marrying someone of my father's
age," Dessa said with a little snort.

Tyselin made a face. "Ugh, right? And here you get to choose who you
want to be with, if anyone. And you could be chosen by a dragon. I
don't understand why Holders still act like that's a bad thing, as if
they can't see Thread falling." The way some holders viewed
dragonriders might have been a little more understandable before the
Pass, although he still wouldn't have agreed with them.

"I was born Holder and I don't understand it. Neither does my older
brother. I think things are going to change when our generation takes
over," Dessa replied.

"I hope so."

Last updated on the December 10th 2017

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Easier to Ask Forgiveness