Prospects Rising

[cynath]

V'rak smiled to himself. He'd just finished spying in on one of the classes of the older Weyrlings. Ahh the lessons brought the memories back. He'd since followed some of them to the Weyrbowl and now stood a short distance off, legs braced apart, arms crossed over his chest. It was a casual, relaxed stance as he watched some of the Weyrlings cool off. They'd worked hard. A well deserved break.

Elisha had made him really think about his picks. He hadn't been rushing, but now he was watching with a more critical eye, trying to decide who would best fit in Triveni, as well as balance the colors out. This was all swirling around his brain, his stare almost fixed in his concentration. He might as well have been counting on his fingers.

He had a couple blues that would be retiring this turn... and another Wingsecond wouldn't hurt. Maybe a young brown or bronze. Hmmm....

[thedreamerlady]

R'net was not usually the sort of man to be quiet. Even today, after Torenth had sprung after some green and the man still wasn't able to stop his usual chatter. The Wingsecond knew he had a meeting with his Wingleader, and he'd hurried as much as he could to be there on time. Seeing the man standing tall, much as he had for the last few turns he'd been Wingleader was a fine site, and he didn't look angry at R'net for being late.

"We need at least two new blues, and a few greenriders are always welcome." Greenriders with the right temperament for Triveni didn't come along every class, so it made sense for the Wing to jump on them as soon as they showed. "I think there's a smaller green with a good rider- and there's a good brown too. Dunno if he's quite as serious as he plays at though. I don't think the Bronze for us though."

He nodded his head, hoping that would make up for the proper salute he nearly always forgot to do.

"You see anything you like?"

[cynath]

V'rak didn't react at first when he noticed that his Wingsecond finally arrived. He glanced at the other man when he spoke from the corner of his eye. He gave a simple nod. He agreed. He'd noticed the small green. An excellent pair. The bronze was definitely not for them... too hot-headed... plus, three bronzes in one Wing was almost a recipe for disaster.

The Wingleader stroked his stubble thoughtfully. Blue eyes looking down at the Weyrlings again.

"Tell me what you think of that blue." he said pointing down to a somewhat larger blue, contrasting to it's small rider. V'rak had watched him closely. The boy was calm, patient, his dragon rather clumsy yet, but getting steadier.

[thedreamerlady]

"He's not as smart as he thinks he is." R'net said slowly, thinking about what he knew of the boy. "He's not very imaginative, but he takes what he knows and does it. He needs to work with visualization- he relies to much on drawing images from others." He paused slightly.

"The other one, over there, with the spots, he's another good solid one. He has a problem with being a pushover, but we can cure that." It was true- a year or two in a supportive wing, and most learned to stand on their own two feet. Especially if their dragon was given a little encouragement on the side- one of the Wing-seconds or -thirds would have to take him under their wing.

"The green I was talking about- that's him over there. He's a solid fellow- taller than I am, bigger than that ex-smith brownrider even." He nodded his head towards a yellow-green, with a large rider next to her. "Hear anything about him?"

[cynath]

V'rak nodded again. And this is why R'net was a good Wingsecond. Sharp eye, good judge of character. He watched the spotted blue for a moment thoughtfully before his eyes flicked to the green.

The Wingleader had also watched that Weyrling very closely. He exhaled a slow breath. "Talented. Top of the class I hear." He mused a small smile touching his lips. Greens were always hard to pinpoint on character, but always valued in a Wing. He looked over the pair from a distance. Another good pair. The green was large enough to be in proportion to her rider. Wonderful.

Now he finally looked over at his Wingsecond. "Have you heard anything that I haven't?" he asked. R'net was probably more up to speed on any gossip bouncing around the Weyr than V'rak. Another good asset to be utilized.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net pondered that. He was always in the thick of things- and not just with those his own age(or rank). Mari kept him up to speed on somethings, Torenth others, and he, himself, had a way of finding things out. He sorted quickly through his mind, thinking of who was retiring, what other wings were getting short, who else was in the other class of Weyrlings.

"Nothing really important- usual gossip mostly. You know how it is, Sir- most of the ones we'd want don't tend to end up with much gossip about them."

He shifted into a more comfortable position on his feet, still thinking. Two turns of Weyrling training usually brought out a weakness in rider(to hopefully be cured). He vaguely remembered something about the brownrider, and pursed his mouth. It had to do with candidates and was not a temper problem. The mans eyes brightened as he remembered.

"The Brownrider had quite the reputation for getting himself in good with the weyr's women." That wasn't exactly a problem in their Wing- someone(like himself), could be good with the ladies and still be good and solid. "He'll fit in fine. We may have problems getting more than three though, sir. More than a few riders are retiring soon- and everyone wants the replacement trained before the teacher's gone."

R'net gave his Wingleader a long look. The man, he was well aware, was not that bad looking- not as smooth as himself, but that couldn't be helped. "If you could get in good with Elisha, maybe we could finagled all four." Realizing he was chattering too much(again), R'net silenced himself, and listened once more.

[cynath]

The Wingleader had listened patiently, his expression placid. However, at the mention of Elisha the blue eyes hardened, the rest of the expression lax. The eyes were the only reaction he gave for a long moment, then a slow somewhat devious smile curled his lips.

His eyes left the Weyrlings and flicked to his Wingsecond, that devious sparkle gleaming in his eyes. Then all together the expression faded as quickly as it had come, the placid expression returning.

"You know... Adeloth will be flying again soon." A complete change of subject, but not a bad one to have between bronzeriders. V'rak shifted his gaze back over the lake, looking at the young bronze.

Bad turn of topic, Bristith cautioned in his rider's mind. V'rak gave no immediate reply, giving no indication that his dragon was speaking to him. The Bronze was sunning himself at the far edge of the lake.

Adeloth would like you to visit her V'rak paused, a small smile touching his lips, And compliment her, of course.

Bristith gave a mental snort, but made no other reply.

"Surely Torenth will fly?" he got back of track.....well, sorta.

[thedreamerlady]

R'net's eyes widened when V'rak mentioned Elisha's Queen rising. Very few of his friends knew of his ambivalence to the Weyrwoman, much less his working partner/leader. And the way he'd said it- V'rak didn't think he was trying to slip past the Wingleader role straight into being a Weyrleader?

"'Course Torenth will fly. He flies for everything- Green or Gold." That was almost true- Torenth did have a bad habit of flying too often, but he still had standards. With the Weyr at a good occupancy, it was easy for the both of them to be picky(Though that rarely meant female riders).

"Bristith as well, eh?"

R'net had shifted out of punching range. It wasn't like him to say anything stupid, or for their Wing to misbehave, but he wasn't going to risk getting hit by staying close to the other man. V'rak could probably fell him with a blow or two, not matter how fast his wingsecond was. He wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but he doubted it was good.

[cynath]

V'rak let an easy chuckle fall from his lips.

"Aye." the Wingleader agreed. "Bristith is the least fussy male you'll find in this Weyr."
The dragon, of course, had something to say about that....
And you're one of the most fussy, the bronze snorted. The last time Bristith had successfully flown, V'rak had ended up with a daughter... much to Bristith's unending amusement.

The bronzerider could only sigh in agreement, and rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully as the eyes roved over the Weyrlings again.

"I'm sure you have better things to do than stand up here and chat," he said, glancing at his Wingsecond, "But, R'net, it wouldn't hurt you to get in good with Elisha either." the smile had returned, a less friendly one, but a smile nonetheless.

V'rak just smiled. Look what had happened the last time Bristith had successfully flown... V'rak had ended up with J

[thedreamerlady]

R'net nodded slowly. He was sure it would do well to get in good with Elisha- except for the fact that he didn't want to win her. It would be weird, and improper. And if he was forced to spend time with her, she might decide she wanted him as a Weyrmate or something. And he didn't want to be transferred away for getting a roll with another girl!

No, he'd stay away from that insanity as well as he could. Though, if V'rak won, he'd probably end up Weyrsecond, so he'd have to deal with her. No problems, he thought to himself quietly, he could be as crafty as any when it came to hiding his feelings. He just had to be prepared, that was all.

"I still think you'll have a better chance than me, sir. But- you never know." He blinked once and returned to his face a smile that never left for long. "By your leave- I think I'll be going now. I'll see if I can find anything else out 'bout them." He inclined his head back toward the Weyrlings, just to be perfectly clear who he was talking about. With conversations going off topic, he wouldn't want to start a misunderstanding. The Bronzer then ambled away.

[cynath]

V'rak's smile twitched in its place. He didn't need any reassurance on a flight. He never worried that much about it. However... This Weyrwoman didn't have a Weyrleader as of yet. A thought to mull over later.

The blue eyes flicked to the Wingsecond and then V'rak nodded, allowing R'net to dismiss himself. He watched the other Bronzerider for a moment as he left, then looked back at the Weyrlings again, lost in his own thoughts.

He memorized the green, and brown, along with their riders. He'd be watching them closer from now on.

[cynath]

[Done]