I Need to Make It Mean Something

Writers: Devin, Noli
Date Posted: 3rd July 2025

Characters: R'masu, N'vanik
Description: N'vanik interviews R'masu for the Wingsecond position.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 12

N'vanik

When Kannoth and R'masu emerged from /between/ above the bowl of Dolphin Cove Weyr, the warmth of the air compared to the Dragonsfall weather they had just left was slightly shocking. The sun was already shining bright and high in the sky here. As the pair cut a lazy descent towards the ground, R'masu noted the clean, sharp salt odor and the roar of the ocean as it crashed inexhaustibly against the shoreline. His recently deprived senses drank them up eagerly.

**Let the Weyrleader know we have arrived, please,** R'masu asked his dragon. Kannoth obliged.

}:Welcome, Kannoth. Mine is waiting in his office,:{ Loseth told the brown.

}: Thank you. Mine will be there shortly:{ Kannoth replied as he settled neatly into a landing.nfs

Not long afterwards, having stripped himself of gloves and goggles and even riding jacket in this comparatively warm climate, R'masu was entering the office after a brief knock and acknowledgement. He greeted the Dolphin Cove Weyrleader with a respectful nod. "N'vanik. Thank you for meeting with me today."

"I hope Kannoth is well?" N'vanik studied the brownrider, wondering if this man would be the right fit. He'd already met with an older bronzerider who acted like the job was his to take, and a younger brownrider who wasn't quite ready.

"He is indeed. Fit and in great spirit today. Though that is his norm, so it isn't surprising" R'masu smiled, thinking for the 1,000th time how lucky he was to have his lifemate. The calm, steady, optimistic brown had been his anchor over the Turns. Thanks in no small part to his dragon's compassionate and unwavering support, R'masu now found himself spending much more time in a positive frame of mind than a negative.

"And Loseth? He looks to be in fine shape from where we saw him sunning as we came in."

"Yeah, he's good." N'vanik couldn't help a fond smile for his dragon. "Go ahead and have a seat. So why are you interested in being my Wingsecond?"

"Thank you, sir." R'masu settled into an empty chair.

"My reasons for applying for your open Wingsecond position are twofold. Firstly, I have great respect for your leadership skills. I have quite a few contacts here at Dolphin Cove, and all of them are in agreement that you have a rare ability to not only lead technically successful 'falls, but that you are skilled at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of individuals within your wing and in providing personal development opportunities. I would like to not only fly under you, but also learn from and assist you in making Hurricane Wing the model of excellence for fighting wings everywhere.

"Secondly, I applied because of your reputation for not confining your riders based on strictly traditional roles. Dolphin Cove has a brown Wingleader and a blue Weyrlingmaster. As a trained Harper, one thing I see evidenced over and over in the histories is that adaptability is the key to long-term successes. I have worked hard studying both 'fall strategy and wing management texts from the archives, and I am hoping to be able to put that learning to good use, without being limited in what rank I can hold based off the color of my dragon's hide."

R'masu did not mention his third reason: that his mindhealer, though thrilled with his renewed progress over the past three Turns, had suggested that it was time to once again venture away from Dragonsfall, and had suggested that rank responsibility would once again help him feel a greater purpose in his life.

"You're makin' me sound real good," N'vanik said with a little laugh. Still, it was nice to hear he had a good reputation among his riders. "Tradition was never my strong point, and you're right that I don't limit people based on the color of their dragon's hide. Not any more than I have to for practicality." A blue or a green couldn't fly a full 'Fall, so making their riders Wingleader would be impractical. "You were a Wingthird for a bit, right?"

"Yes, for a little under a Turn at Riverbluff Weyr right before it closed," R'masu answered. "During that time, I was mostly in charge of integration of new riders to the Wing and recordkeeping. When I transferred back to Dragonsfall, it was as a regular wingrider. I know that puts me at a disadvantage on hide for this position."

He felt a flicker of the old gloom as he remembered that time in his life. There he was, finally motivated, making progress... and then the earthquake had taken it all away. R'masu had returned to Dragonsfall, right back where he had started-- alone, unseen, and in the midst of a crushing episode of depression that had necessitated weekly visits with the mindhealers of nearly four months.

He took a deep breath. "Look, I realize that you likely received a lot of qualified interest in this position. And truthfully, if you don't think I'm the right fit, I'd _rather_ you went with the rider whom you felt would be the best man for the job. I know my real-world experience is a bit limited. I've tried to fill the gap with text learning, but at the end of the day, I understand if it's too great a risk. I'm prepared to hear, 'thanks but no thanks.'" He did his best to keep that last sentence light.

"Hm. Being Wingsecond in the Weyrleader's Wing is more demanding than in other Wings," N'vanik said. "I'm not here to hold your hand. I'd need _you_ to do the work. You'd have to lead drills when I'm busy. You'd need to be ready to take over if I get hurt in Fall."

R'masu was trying desperately to pull himself back to the here and now. As N'vanik spoke, he quickly did one of the grounding techniques he had learned. Feeling much calmer, he nodded firmly in acknowledgement of the Weyrleader's warning.

"I understand. And I'm prepared to do that. The work, I mean. I'm a quick study, and will hold myself to the highest standard to refine the skills and knowledge I need to perform this job. You wouldn't need to hold my hand."

Hardly any leadership experience, but he seemed determined. N'vanik wasn't sure. "What kind of leader would you be?"

R'masu considered the question for a moment. "The kind that prioritizes the health of his riders. Not just their physical health, either. I'd like to be someone that the wingriders could trust, because they know that they were _seen_ and valued. Threadfighting is by its nature a hazardous occupation, and that takes its toll on both riders and dragons. I think that mental support from leadership is important for keeping morale high and minds sharp, which in turn improves safety outcomes. And bringing dragonpairs back from each 'fall safely is one of my top goals." He firmly clamped down on the memories of his own lost weyrmate. Now was not the time.

N'vanik found himself warming to the brownrider. "This life can make you hard, or it can break you. The hardest thing is finding a path through. To care, even though you know some of them won't make it back."

R'masu grunted in agreement. "Yes, that about sums it up. I have... personal experiences with the breaking. I fought hard to get out. And now, I need to make it mean something. I'm ready to work hard-- to show up in every way that matters-- so that I can do that."

There it was. Not words trying to impress N'vanik or make a case, but the honesty behind it. The truth of what drove R'masu to apply for a Wingsecond role halfway across Pern. N'vanik had broken himself, back when V'surin died. He'd scorched his whole life and wasted all the potential V'surin had seen in him. He hadn't even been able to dig himself out. He hadn't _wanted_ to. Not until taking care of Talryne had made him want to be a better man. "I admire you for getting yourself out, and for wanting to make it mean something. I can find someone with experience. I can find someone with ambition. But I like people with heart."

R'masu looked up sharply from where he had let his eyes fall onto the large desk.

Despite his sincerity and the confidence he had tried to project, R'masu had sensed that this interview was not going well. He was statistically under-qualified, and he had been around enough bronzeriders to know that the long gap since his last vie for rank would be interpreted as a startling lack of initiative and personal drive. Yet N'vanik had not cut the meeting short, and now had even expressed admiration. Could it be that R'masu had _not_ completely humiliated himself by applying?

"Thank you sir. It certainly wasn't easy. But it did forge in me a strength and resiliency that I didn't know I was capable of. And I'd like to help pass that on to other riders as the opportunity arises."

"You said you respect my leadership skills, but honestly I can be a pain in the ass," N'vanik said. "You prepared to deal with that?"

"I think I can manage," R'masu responded with a rueful grin. "That resiliency I mentioned includes interpersonal conflicts. Not--" and he hastened to add as he realized how that might sound-- "that I make a habit of initiating conflicts. But, I mean, if something comes up, I'll be able to handle it."

N'vanik chuckled. "Hope you're right about that, because I'm gonna be pissed if you make me regret my decision." He smiled to take the sting out of it. "You have the job, Wingsecond."

Last updated on the July 7th 2025

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I Need to Make It Mean Something