Vibe Check

Writers: Aaron, Sia
Date Posted: 19th January 2025

Characters: A'khal, Ç'pier
Description: A'khal welcomes C'pier to Cyclone Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Saedyna

Ç'pier

A'khal took his time unbuckling the riding straps from Denebith's shoulders. Drills were well flown today, and he stopped to chit chat with a few wingriders as they wrapped up. Eventually, with cords of leather tossed over his shoulder, he jogged to catch up and then fell into step with the newest brownrider of Cyclone Wing.

"You've had a few Threadfalls under your wings now." He said cheerily. "How are you findin' it so far?"

Ç’pier hunched over even further than he usually did, trying to make himself as small as possible.

“No complaints from me, sir,” he said. Everyone in the wing already knew who he was. What he was. He did not need to give them any reason to follow through on letting him get eaten. “Is there… anything we need to work on?”

"Nah, you're doing all right. Fine flying, really. You and Yuliuth know what you're doing." A'khal added. "Just checking in with all our new weyrlings. Must've been raring to go, being grounded for so long. Any issues with your sweep schedule?"

“No. No issues. I, uh…” Ç’pier’s eyes wandered to avoid making eye contact. “Speaking of sweeps, I’m planning to volunteer-- there’s the… well, you know about the watchrider who was murdered at Emerald Falls. I’m going to volunteer to do that, since it’s not exactly the hottest destination right now. Actually, if I can just talk to _you_ about that?”

A'khal considered him for a moment, "You could." He said evenly, "You want to do watchrider duty at Emerald Falls instead of Sweeps, is that what you're asking?"

“Oh, it doesn’t have to be _instead_ of,” said Ç’pier. “I’m not trying to get out of anything.”

"Well, there just ain't enough candlemarks in the day for that." A'khal said, "There's a reason it's mostly older or injured pairs, or wee weyrlings. It's long shifts and requires lots of sitting in one place. If we gotta add in active duty riders we pull them off their other tasks."

“Right. Of course. Well. I don’t want special treatment. I was just… trying to take care of something that might be less desirable these days. It kind of sounds stupid when I say it out loud.” Ç’pier wished he had not said anything.

"Ain't stupid. You're new. I can put your name forward for consideration if you feel strongly, but that means I gotta take other duties off you. Still have to sleep and eat and all that good stuff. And since you're still in the fighting wings it'd be mostly evening shifts, so Yuliuth won't be around many dragons outside of 'drills and 'Fall."

“I’ll keep the usual duties,” said Ç’pier. “But I’m not allergic to extra.” The only issue would be losing out on marks to give to Saedyna. That was not a small issue.

"We'll keep that in mind." A'khal said. "Maybe there's a short shift here and there to slot you in, but we won't put you in rotation. I know you pick up a lot of extra work, but if you got time I'm having a little Cyclone shindig at my weyr. Nothing rowdy at my age, but it'll be fun. You're more than welcome."

Ç’pier was genuinely surprised, and it showed on his face. This guy wanted him to come to a social function? _Him?_

“Won’t I depress attendance?”

"Pff, nah. Lots of us have done unsavory things before we Impressed, and some of us did them after." A'khal said dismissively, "I ain't a harper to judge, nor the Weyrleader to punish. You're part of the wing now, and best we start actin' like it."

Ç’pier wanted not to be skeptical, but he could not help but suspect that this was going to end up being some kind of hazing situation.

Well. He was going to go anyway.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it. I'll be there.”

Last updated on the January 27th 2025

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