Passed

Writers: Joy, Yvonne
Date Posted: 27th October 2005

Characters: Arcon, Tsaera
Description: Arcon is called into the Weyrwoman's office for the official greeting.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 3

Arcon smoothed the shirt he was wearing as he approached the Weyrwoman's office. He'd been taken by surprise when he'd received word that she wished to speak with him and for a moment could only think that he must have done something terribly wrong and not realized it.

The girl who'd delivered the message must have realized what he was thinking from the expression on his face, because she took pity on him and let him know that the Weyrwoman often invited new candidates to visit her. That offered a great deal of relief, though he was still understandably nervous as he knocked on the door.

"Come in!" The Weyrwoman was seated behind a large desk piled high with hides arranged in an arcane filing system. She stood and held out her hand. "You must be Arcon. Welcome to River Bluff Weyr."

"Thank you Weyrwoman." Arcon shook her hand politely. He waited for her to resume her seat before sitting himself in one of the empty chairs in front of the desk and tried to appear calmer than he felt.

"You've come from a cothold, if I remember correctly?" Tsaera asked.

"Yes ma'am," he replied, impressed that she'd taken the time to remember that. There were several newly Searched candidates like himself after all.

"And how are you adjusting to life at the Weyr? It can be a bit of a shock for some."

Arcon nodded, "That's an understatement." It quickly occured to him how that statement sounded, and he rushed to qualify it. "I mean, it's great, the Weyr. It's just different. Really different." He paused a moment before adding "I'm trying to get used to it best I can though."

"There's no shame in culture shock." Tsaera smiled. "Hold and Weyr are very different places, for all that they're both inhabited by people. What made you want to come here?"

Arcon thought about how to answer that. "Well, ma'am, I didn't want to at first. But my father reminded me of my duty."

He went on to explain, "I came because I was Searched. And if I was Searched, there could be a chance I'd Impress a dragon if I came. And I know what happens to dragons who don't find their mate." He spoke the last part softly.

"Do you...?" she said quietly. There were fewer Candidates this turn than in others, which worried her. "You have a duty to Pern to Stand, and we thank you for it. But as a dragonrider, your life will be vastly different from what you were raised to expect. I want you in my Weyr, Arcon, and I want you in my Wings, but not if the only reason that you came here was to obey your father. We need you here, but if you don't think that you can do it...?"

"My father reminded me of my duty... but it's _my_ duty. I know things will likely be different for me if I do Impress, but my life is already so different, I don't see how that matters. Like I said before, I'm trying to get used to all the changes the best I can." He kept his voice level and polite and did his best to hide the worry that had crept into him with her words. It had sounded awfully close to a 'thanks but no thanks' to him. And after he'd left the only home he'd ever known, set his mind and energy to adjusting to a lifestyle so alien to everything he'd ever known, accepted what he honestly believed to be his duty to the very world he lived in... For it all to be for nothing...

"Good." The easiest way to get Candidates to adjust was to make them realize that being a dragonrider _wasn't_ easy, and that it was a privelage. They tended to work harder if their hearts were into it and not on the home that they'd left behind. She supressed a smile.
"I do have to remind you, however, that Impressing is not garunteed.
Will you Stand for the next Clutching if you do not Impress this time?"

"If I may," Arcon answered a little surprised. He hadn't realized that one could Stand more than once. He thought they'd send him packing if he didn't Impress.

"Good." Tsaera let herself smile then. "You sound like a sensible young man. It's good to have you here with us."

"Thank you Weyrwoman," Arcon said, smiling. He was relieved, feeling as if he'd passed a test or made his way through some sort of obstacle course.

Last updated on the October 27th 2005

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