A Meeting (Open)

[hrsegrl]

Marisol sipped her klah, cooly leaning back in her chair. The 75 turn old was far from senile, even if the Headwoman was treating her thus. The woman was a thorn in Marisol's side at times. If she was not so good at running the Lower Caverns, Marisol might have reason to dislike her. As it was, she did admire the woman's organiztion skills. Still the task at hand was too important for the woman to say she was thinking about it.

"Look, you really ought to have two assistants. The Weyr is growing and Weyrwoman Elisha is of the belief that thread is coming. We don't want you buring out. I will even help conduct the interviews if you would just commit yourself to the idea."

Oh she hated these visits but really, women in power were stubborn. Another quality she admired. "I think you will find that if you train the woman she can be a greater help to you. Honestly I think its in your best interest." The headwoman was posign all sorts of questions, which Marisol answered. "We are not replacing you, we are simply trying to make your life a little easier. You saw Adeloth's last clutch. And just look at the numbers of Weyrlings who are actually not dying in trainign accidents the last few turns. The Weyr is simply growing and theres no help for it. The Headwoman at Fort has three assistants." She added, almost smugly.

[brimstone81]

D'ian couldn't help but over hear the conversation. He knew of a woman that would jump at the chance to become the Headwoman's assistant. And he smirked at Marisol's persuasive counter that Fort's Headwoman had three assistants. D'ian had known the Headwoman vaguely but guessed that could be the sellar. This woman hated to be outdone. Yet, D'ian had owed a favor to this young woman, and perhaps this would be how to repay it. He had searched a young woman a while back and now it's hard for girls to stand and she needed a place to go. Plus she beat him at Dragon Poker once and he owed her a favor. Otherwise D'ian wasn't that compassionate about helping the less fortunate. Namely women who couldn't Impress.

He came up to the Weyrwoman and the Headwoman, "Miladies, I think I might offer a solution. I have in mind a woman who would suit your needs. She is in the lower cavrens now, but has taken up a nanny spot. She has a son, but I am sure she'd love to be your assistant. Her name is Venaru."

(Yes, I am seriously thinking of bringing her in.)

[hrsegrl]

(She'd be fun and after this post you should so make her and assistant to the Headwoman . Plus all those Bronzers need a woman to warm their beds... muahahahaha)

Marisol smiled. Perfect. Now the woman would have no choice. Trust a rider to come to her aide and a handsome one at that. The older woman turned to see whom had spoken. "D'ian, it is a pleasure to see you. Where have you been hiding that brown of yours?" She stod with a grace that old age had given her. She might seem delicate at times but she was far from brittle. She had many turns ahead of her. Dragonriders were much healthier than the rest of Pern.

"Well, if you can fetch this lovely young woman, we can intervew her now. Then I'd like for the both of you to join me for my midday meal. I'll make the necessary apologies to your Wingleader." Marisol would not be gainsayed. She was a bossy woman almost as bad as her Beynath. Besides at her age it would be rude of them to refuse her.

Her fawn brown eyes, were looking over at the Headwoman, who knew that she ahd better get used to Marisol running her life. Now that Bey wasn't mating, Marisol had switched positions with her junior. Elisha had no junior Weyrwomen to help her thus it was up to Marisol to help keep the Weyr going. Most women her age were allowed to resign to mediocre tasks but part of Marisol's spirit would never have allowed that.

[brimstone81]

((Hehehehehee, yes, and Venaru's the lovely lady for the job ))

The brownrider chuckled, Marisol always did have a way with people. And she still had that charm. "Why the pleasure is all mine, Weyrlady. And Stronth is doing well, I believe he is sunbathing at the moment. I'll be sure to have him greet your lovely Beynath, if they are not already sitting together now."

D'ian tipped his head a little in thanks, "I'm sure she'll be very pleased. And I'd be pleased to dine with you. I'm sure my Wingleader will not have the slightest protest. How could he? Probably jealous of me, most like." Boy, he could be such a schmooze in front of Marisol. She amused him, and it had to be because of her good nature.

"I shall be right back with her." He strode from the room and after some moments he returned with a woman. She was pretty, like most female candidates taken for queens, and she was well curved, not dainty looking. She bowed, her eyes wide with surprize. The least D'ian could have done was to give her a little bit of warning. Here she had been just putting one of the kids to sleep and the brownrider came bursting in and rushing her out to meet with the Weyrwoman. And if that wasn't daunting enough, she had to meet her about a potential job. Not that she was afraid she couldn't get the job, but she just didn't look very professional, there was a little spitup on the shoulder of her dress. She said softly, "Hello, I am Venaru."

[hrsegrl]

"Beynath always did enjoy the company of other dragons. Good to hear that Stronth is well." She wasn't going to be rude to the non dragonrider of the office. "Now, my dear Headwoman, we shall make certain you recieve the help you will need. Besides, its high time you trained people to take your place when the time comes. You won't be able to handle the job forever you know." Marisol looked slightly agitated with the other woman. Yes the Headwoman was younger than Marisol but the woman really could not last in that job forever and have a quite a few assistants of different ages would benefit the Weyr.

As always she thought of the Weyr first. When the young woman entered with D'ian, Marisol's gaze landed on her. The fawn brown eyes scanned her as if judging her character by simply looking at her. The Retired Weyrwoman smiled after a moment.

"Venaru, I'm sure you know the Headwoman here. I, of course am Marisol of Gold Beynath. We were wondering if we could do a quick interview. The Headwoman has decided its time to take on a second assistant, with the comming of thread in the next few turns." MArisol was used to being in command and therefore she spoke for both herself, the Headwoman and the Weyr.

"I'll ask the first few. If you'd rather D'ian not be present its up to you. Some of my questions will be very personal." Marisol was honest as ever, even if honesty was hurtful at times. "What is the most important thing on Pern, in your eyes? Please answer truthfully and don't be a smart alec and say whatever you think I want to hear. If I wanted to already know the answer I wouldn't have asked the question."

[brimstone81]

Venaru looked at D'ian, she wasn't afraid of what he might hear. They weren't that close, and this chance was a bigger favor than she thought he would give. "Yes, I know you all. I have nothing to be embarassed about, the brownrider can stay or leave at your pleasure, Weyrwoman." What sort of questions would she be asked? Couldn't be any thing too horrible.

The most important thing on Pern to her? That was a little tough. "I spose life would be the most important thing on Pern, I mean, we're always trying to save it and make it better, aren't we? If it wasn't so important, we'd let thread eat all the green spaces, or we'd stop trying to better our lives or something. Maybe that's too obvious an answer?" She looked to Marisol, wondering what the woman would think.

[hrsegrl]

Marisol listened to the girls answer. It was good until she ruined it for Mari by her question at the end. "Why should it matter if it was obvious. I'm only asking your opinion. Leave other people's out of it, including mine." If it was one thing that Marisol could not stand it was people who spoke according to what they thought other people wanted to hear, or who spoke and then excpected someone to tell them they were wrong. A Headwoman's Assistant would need to be sure of herself and her decisions.

The older woman cast a sly glance at the Brownrider. She was determined to make this a hard interview. She didn't want the Headwoman to think she was just pawning some drudge off on her. The next question was a bit more normal and probably slightly more personal. Marisol didn't see it as all that personal. Afterall, her three children were all Fostered.
"I hear you have a son. Would you be willing to give him up to Fostering if you took this position?"

This Venaru had no idea what was soon to come at her. Marisol enjoyed her position, she had since she impressed. Even as a child she had wanted more than a simple farming life. It was hard for anyone at the Weyr now to see a country drudge in the woman that was now one of the most powerful people on Pern. It amused her when people asked. Most thought her well off but she had had to earn it hadn't she? Beynath was more important than her position however she didn't think a Weyrwoman or Headwoman for that matter should be without ambition.

[brimstone81]

D'ian grimmanced. The girl had been doing well, except for the want of reassurance at the end. He wanted Venaru to do well, since he had been in the Search that had brought her in. He didn't want to look bad in front of Marisol, or the Headwoman, for that matter. He was responsible for his choice in girls to make good assistants. He caught the look from Marisol and wondered what she had in store for Venaru. . .

Venaru had looked at Marisol's eyes breifly before fluttering them down. She would not be getting any reassurance for humor from this woman. Venaru could not screw this up. She had no want of being a nanny for the rest of her life, nor did she want to be a simple and common drudge. One day she might even become Headwoman if she played her cards right. And Venaru was an ambitious girl, who had hit a rocky patch thanks to the lure of the opposite sex.

Marisol asked about her son, could she give him up? Venaru said without much pause, "Why yes, Weyrwoman, I could. I am a nanny now, but I had dreamed of being a rider. When I was searched as a candidate I understood and accepted that I would not get a chance to rear my own children. Since I am not a rider, I have gotten the chance to care and look out for my son, but I am in the same mind I was when I was searched: I can live with out being a full time, hands on mother." There was no doubt that she'd find her way to a riders' bed and mother again, but she didn't have to be the one taking care of it. Venaru wanted to climb the rank ladder a bit. She wasn't afraid of sacrifice, even if that meant not getting a chance to be a mother to her children. They would understand eventually.

[hrsegrl]

"Excellent. Now I can tell you are an ambitious woman and are willing to set personal obligations aside. I am sorry about not impressing dear. Surely though it has opened up different opportunites for you." Marisol wasn't going to say too much more to make the girl comfortable but it was hard for her to hear of women not impressing because of pregnancy. She should have taken a ride.

In any case, on with the interview. "What is your understanding of the job a Headwoman's Assistant does? Are you prepared to do as much work as it will be with more Weyrlings surviving training and thread on its way?" Elisha and she both agreed on that subject. Thread would return. It was the purpose of Dragons. If the dragon race continued than so did thread.

She looked at the Headwoman, who was intently listening to the younger woman. If it wasn't one thing it was another but the Headwoman had always annoyed her. Other women in power generally did. That was just her temperment.

[brimstone81]

"Well I know the general gist of the job, and I am quick to pick up on things as I go." Venaru took pride in her intelligence. She was not born to well to do parents, but hard workers Her father was educated from a young age, and in turn he had taught her as well. "I am hardworking and able bodied. I will not shame you or dissapoint you."

((Ick terribly short. My apologies.))

[hrsegrl]

Marisol was tired of meetings. All this questioning was boring her. She looked at the Headwoman, mostly annoyed that the woman had yet to ask a question. The woman just nodded at Marisol, so she took it as an acceptance. "Well my dear. Looks like you have impressed the Headwoman. Starting tomorrow at dawn you are a Headwoman's Assistant. We have a three strike warning. If you do not work out as an assistant you will be back where you started, in the Creche. You will be training with the Headwoman the first sevenday. After that, you are on your own, asking questions when needed."

The Retired Weyrwoman looked more bored as she went on. "Be sure to where comfortable clothes. Oh and see me tomorrow about getting you access to the records room." Faranth knew the Weyrwoman guarded that place like the records were her own personal library.

"Now I do believe that there is a handsome Brownrider escorting me to a midday meal." Marisol stood slowly, excusing herself from her present company. Shards she had been sitting much too long. No doubt Beynath would like to go for a nice flight later... her legs weren't what they used to be.

[brimstone81]

"Yes, milady," And Venaru curtsied deeply to Marisol and the Headwoman. She would do well, she was determined to. Who knew? Perhaps one day in the future she might succeed in being the Headwoman.

D'ian smiled softly, and then said teasingly, "Oh? I thought you were having a meal with me, Lady Marisol?" He stepped to her and offered her his arm, "I am thinking of a good hearty stew and bread. What do you think?"

[hrsegrl]

"There will be room for the both of you." She took his arm, a sly grin on her face. She was most likely up to no good. "Something warm would be welcome. I swear these Caverns get colder every turn." Beynath woke from her nap then. Marisol knew the moment it happened. Sleep well dear?Yes. Tlanth keeps me warm. Marisol wondered where Q'tre had wandered off to. He was looking for you a little while ago but did not wish to wake me. He may be eating.

Well that ought to be fun. Marisol was never short an escort, which Q'tre well knew. He wasn't an overly jealous person but he often wanted to be the one to escort her everywhere. Such was love, she supposed. Seventy five turns on Pern and she still felt like an apprentice on the matter of love.