Enough Potential
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Sia
Date Posted: 16th February 2025
Characters: O'rosin, S'kand
Description: S’kand offers to mentor O’rosin
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 19 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Z'ku, R'lor
S’kand had been an assistant weyrlingmaster for Turns. He knew that sometimes, the pressure of being in the wings proper and the anxiety of fighting Thread on the front lines could cause a bit of reversion. It was most likely no fault of R’lor’s. It was just not possible to fully prepare someone before they were in the thick of it.
O’rosin knew everything he needed to know from an academic standpoint, and even from a practical standpoint. He just needed a little extra help to put it all back together with Thread breathing down his neck. Metaphorically speaking.
And so, after drills one say, S’kand laid a hand on O’rosin’s shoulder before he had gone on his merry way.
“O’rosin. Let’s talk for a minute. I’ll buy you a drink.”
O'rosin straightened, immediately tense. Aside from correcting Aeoluth's wandering attention span, he thought he'd been doing well in drills. They'd been doing just fine in Threadfall, too, with only a couple light burns from their first few 'Falls. "Sir?" He asked. "I signed up for transport duty, but I have a little time. What do you need?"
“Oh.” S’kand was actually a touch disappointed. He had not realized how excited he had been at the prospect of having someone to really teach. Oh, he supposed Z’ku was that in a real sense, but at the same time, the lad hardly seemed to need him. Not _him_, in particular, anyway. And teaching him how to lead the wing in his absence was somehow different in his mind than helping O’rosin to overcome whatever everyone else seemed to think was holding him back.
“Well, I won’t keep you from your duty. But I wanted to make you an offer. I’d like to spend some time mentoring you.”
O'rosin froze in his tracks. "Am I not doing well enough?" He asked, dread settling deep in his gut, "We got 'scored a little, but the dragonhealer said we moved quick and we didn't have to sit out any 'drills."
That was not exactly the reaction S'kand had been expecting.
“You’re not in trouble,” he said. “And I won’t twist your arm if it’s not something you’d be interested in.” He tried not to take it personally.
O’rosin exhaled, slow and measured, trying to force down the tension coiling in his chest. He wasn’t in trouble. Fine. Good. But the offer still sat strangely with him, like a boot that didn’t quite fit.
S’kand was watching him, patient but expectant. O’rosin didn’t know how to take that, either. Mentoring. It wasn’t a punishment. It wasn’t a warning. But then why did it still feel like he was failing all over again. "Then why me?" He blurted out, stress making it sound more forceful than he intended and he'd stress about talking to his wingleader like this later, "We're fine. We're staying in formation, we're burning Thread. What else do we need to do?"
“Nothing. Not if you’re content with that. I asked for you. I wanted you in my wing because I see potential in you, and I wanted to help you bring it out,” said S’kand. “You can take as much time to think on it as you need. No pressure.”
Potential. That word made his stomach twist. Whatever that was, he didn't have it. It was hard enough getting through weyrling training. He didn't have anything left. He wanted to do his drills, fight Thread, pull transport duty, and send his marks home. That was the job. That was enough.
"I'll think on it, sir, but no." O'rosin finally managed. "R'lor already had me with a mentor. N'tan does help, really. But I don't know what else there is. Aeoluth and I are holding formation. We’re burning Thread. We’re not a risk to the wing. I don’t need special attention.”
“You think I’m offering this because I think you’re not up to the task,” said S’kand.
O'rosin stared at him, momentarily confused. "I think if I were doing well enough, you wouldn’t feel the need to offer at all.”
“I told you. I see potential in you. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested. But I don’t want you to take my asking you as a dig. I’ll let you get back to your business.” S’kand offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He had been told he had resting jerk face.
Potential. As if O’rosin were something unfinished. He didn’t want to be unfinished. He wanted to be competent, to be left alone without someone looking at him like there was more he should be reaching for.
His fingers twitched at his sides, but he forced himself to relax. “I just want to do my job,” he said, quieter this time, though no less firm. “That’s all.”
“That's enough.” S’kand nodded. Perhaps he was wrong.
"That's all I want."
“Hey. That’s enough,” S’kand repeated. His features softened all the more. “You’re enough. Just as you are. All right? I’ll see you at drills.”
"Yes, sir. I have to get going anyhow. Transports and mail." O'rosin nodded, then quickly and awkwardly turned to go. Still, the offer sat uneasily in his chest.
Last updated on the February 21st 2025