How Good Are You At Pep Talks?

Writers: Duskdog, Halyonix
Date Posted: 8th October 2024

Characters: Nidre, B'nell
Description: B'nell meets the new goldrider at DCW
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 27 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, A'kades

Nidre

He was _not_ going to spill klah on his tunic. Or, more importantly, the books.

}: Are you sure you don't need help? :{ Vorath asked as he watched his rider precariously walk across the way to the new goldrider's ledge, balancing a pitcher of klah and some mugs on the books that he was also carrying. Histories of Dolphin Cove, volumes five and six, the more recent histories. Well, depending on what you considered recent.

**For the third and last time, I'm _fine_,** B'nell replied, concentrating. **I've got this.** And sure enough, he did, maneuvering his way up the steps without a wobble. Even managing a (mostly) confident greeting of, "Good morning, weyrwoman!" to alert Nidre that he was here.

Nidre hadn't been expecting any particular visitors, but she wasn't surprised to have _someone_ come calling. It was nice, actually. It was easier and less awkward than introducing herself to everyone.

"Good morning, I... Faranth, do you have all that? Do you need a hand? Come in, come in..."

"I've got a good balance on it, thank you," B'nell replied as he entered. He ignored Vorath's disbelieving snort. "I...don't think we've been formally introduced? I'm B'nell, Vorath's rider. I'm the Wingsecond. Um...I'm assuming Weyrwoman Cyradis probably mentioned me?" Hopefully she had. He was plagued with a sudden doubt even though he _knew_ that the Weyrwoman valued him. And then he was plagued with a sharp self-consciousness that he was being spoken about behind closed doors.

B'nell? Ah yes, she recognized the name. "Your name _has_ come up, yes," she replied. "Pleased to meet you in person, B'nell. You can put all that down on the table here. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The brownrider shook his head. "For no real reason, honestly. I figured that it was time for me to introduce myself because we'd be working together a lot more now that you're here. But also..." He waved his hand over the history books he had deposited on the table. "I thought you might like to learn more about the history of the area. There's always a lot to learn when you move somewhere new."

Ahh, he was the bookish sort. Nidre herself was not, but she had long since grudgingly accepted that knowledge _was_, indeed, power. She took the liberty of pouring herself some klah from the pitcher that he'd brought, and then pouring him one, too, since she had the pitcher in her hand already anyway. "That's true... and it would be helpful, actually. I'm intending to look into this holder-relations problem we're having, and I suppose I should know something about the history of the area first. Best case scenario, I get an idea of anything that's happened that might have unknowingly contributed to some ill will... worst case scenario, well, at least I get educated about the place I'm living." She cocked her head at him thoughtfully. "Do you have any thoughts on that front? I've been told to pick A'kades' brain, and I will, of course, but I'm interested in any perspective that anyone can provide."

He perked up. "I...well, yes I do!" he answered. He cleared his throat, straightened his spine, and poised himself just like his Harper training had taught him as he launched into an abridged history of the nearby Holds and their Holders, including some of their Weyr-political leanings as much as he was aware. This was all recitation though, not opinions. B'nell tried not to inject any bias into his words. "But A'kades would still know more," he said in closing some long minutes later. And just like that, the Harper faded and he was back to bespectacled, bookish brownrider.

Nidre hadn't expected so much information so quickly. Once it became obvious he was going to go on at length, she pulled over some hide to scratch notes on, trying to pay proper attention as she did so. She could write down the broad strokes, at least.

Once he was finished, she raised her eyebrows at him. "Well. That was... a lot to just _know_ off the top of your head like that. Do you study history specifically, or a variety of things? Do you do any writing?"

"I'm a harper by training," he said, as if that would explain everything. "I have a good memory, an ear for sounds. It...well, it helped me a lot while I was at Harper Hall. When I became a dragonrider, I figured...I didn't want to lose _all_ of my harper skills. And I haven't had as much time to write songs as I used to, which I miss but that's beside the point, so I just...began reading and learning the histories of the Weyr and its Holds because that..." He shrugged shyly. "That seemed like something useful, especially working with the Weyrwomen. They always need to know that sort of stuff."

"Apparently so," she mused, looking down at her notes before looking back up at him again. "I'm glad you're here, then, because I'm definitely going to need more help with this. Once I've learned enough to know which specific questions to ask, that is. Right now it just seems like a mountain of information, and I can't claim to have any useful harper skills like some people." She gave him a teasing smile at that. "I appreciate you taking the initiative here. It happened to be just what I needed, before I was even sure what I needed or where to get it."

The effect of her praise was obvious in his delighted expression. "You just let me know what information you need and I can probably get it for you, whenever you figure out those questions," he said. "I'm far better at this stuff than something like leading a Wing into Thread." He shuddered, not entirely theatrically.

"Leadership is both a delight and a burden," she snorted. "Depends on the day, mostly. On that note... is there anything I can do for _you_, B'nell? Or anything you think needs my attention? I'm not trying to imply that the Weyrwoman doesn't have things in hand, because she clearly does, but part of the burden is being forced to prioritize sometimes. That's part of what I'm here for -- to pick up those things that she may have to push to the side in favor of other things."

"Um...are you any good at pep talks?" he asked.

"Pep talks? I like to think so. For whom?" She paused thoughtfully. "For you?"

He shook his head. "No, no, for um...well, I'd like to get better at them. In case I have to give one to the Wing."

"You'd like me to teach a harper how to inspire people?" She grinned, amused at the thought, though not mocking. "I can certainly try. I never really thought about it before, but you're right, it's a valuable skill to have. I think we expect leaders to automatically be good at that sort of thing. And many are passable at it, since it goes along with the territory, but being _truly_ good at it? That probably does require work... and it's invaluable." She cocked her head. "You have an uncommon mind, don't you, B'nell? Ah, shards, I hope that didn't sound like an insult. It wasn't intended to be."

The bespectacled brownrider tilted his head. "I...didn't perceive it as an insult. It's the truth." Backtracking before it could be seen as hubris, he added, "When it comes to music, that is. But speeches? I...I don't really know what to say. On the spot. If it were a song or a ballad..." He looked sheepish for a moment. "I don't suppose that singing a speech would be very inspiring. It would probably look...silly."

"Well, music is certainly good for inspiration," she replied with a shrug. "But I get what you mean. It's not always what's best in the moment. I don't claim to be an _expert_, but I would certainly be happy to teach you what I know! In fact, you could probably teach me a thing or two at the same time -- your training may help you pick up on turns of phrase that are better than whatever falls out of _my_ mouth, once you've an ear for it. We can help each other."

"Deal," he said, nodding. That seemed like it could work. "I'll um...I'll let you work this morning and we can work on pep talks another day. If that sounds good."

"That sounds perfect," Nidre agreed. "We'll make the time to get together again soon. Thank you for stopping by, B'nell. I appreciate the books, the lesson, _and_ the welcome."

Last updated on the October 17th 2024

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How Good Are You At Pep Talks?