All You Need is Confidence

Writers: Allison, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th July 2007

Characters: Renner, Laram
Description: Renner decides Laram's confidence needs a little work
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 5, day 3 of Turn 4

Laram had just finished his morning swim and was toweling his hair off when he noticed Journeyman Renner walking along the beach. He trotted over and said, "Journeyman Renner! Do you have a moment"

"Yes, Laram," Renner nodded, stopping and waiting for the apprentice to catch up. "Sir, I've been practicing the techniques you gave me and I really do think it's making a difference in the way I view the rescue and salvage aspect of being a dolphineer," Laram said, slinging his towel around his neck. "Well, you did well." Once he had realized that the more he struggled the worse it got for him. It usually took one failed attempt for an apprentice to learn their lesson. "Thanks sir," Laram said, blushing from the praise. "Since I've been doing my breath exercises under water, I've become better at controlling my breath and how long I can hold it. It seems that I don't panic as easily because I'm starting to become comfortable with my limitations and know how far I can go."

"That's important," Renner nodded. "If you know just how far you can push yourself, you have no need to panic."

"Yes, I'm finding that out!" Laram said animatedly. He thoroughly enjoyed the tasks that Renner had set him and had been practicing any free moment he could.

Renner looked at Laram thoughtfully. The apprentice had taken great strides, but he still needed confidence. "Let me ask you something, Laram. Do you have a girl you like?"

Laram turned bright red and stammered, "Er, well, um, kind of sir."

"And have you told her how you feel?" Renner asked curiously.

Laram heaved a sigh and shook his head. "No, whenever I talk to her, I just can't tell her. It's like my tongue just gets tied up and I can't get it out. Besides, I don't want to ruin our friendship."

Friendship always seemed to make things complicated. "You think she doesn't like you?"

"Well I don't know. I know we're really good friends and she's been helping me with any problems I have in lessons, but I don't know if she likes me more than friendship," he said, scuffing his toe through the sand. "Have you tried flirting with her?" Laram gasped and sputtered, "I can't do that! Besides, I don't even know how to do that!"

Just as Renner had suspected. Confidence problems. "It's rather simple, actually. Flirting is the way you judge another person's interest in you. If you flirt with her, and she flirts back, you can assume she likes you, too. There's nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting."

Laram sighed and kicked at the sand in frustration. "But how do you initiate it? I just don't understand."

"Well, its not that hard, really," Renner shrugged. He might not have been that interested in women, but he had learned how to flirt same as the other boys. If he hadn't he wouldn't have fit in very well. "Its pretty much teasing, but with a bit of... sexual meaning behind it."

Laram blushed again and looked up at the sky, mumbling, "Well, I guess I can try, but it's not like I have a lot of experience or anything."

"Well, what you need more, Laram, is confidence. Confidence in this area can spread to all aspects of your life. In fact..." **Shards, I can't believe I'm suggesting this...** "Why don't we go down to the Weyr sometime and see if you can't find someone to practice flirting with."

Laram's mouth dropped open and he opened and closed it a few times before he could catch his voice. "We can really do that?" Laram asked. "I don't think we should tell the Hallmaster that's what we're doing..."
Not unless he wanted to get sent back to the Mindhealer Hall! "But on a restday, why not? Its just a walk down the beach."

Laram nodded determinedly. "Well, I'll do it! You just let me know when is the best time for you."

"I would say a restday." Since that was the time he had off. "I will talk to... my wife," that was still odd for him to say, "and see if she has no plans for me."

"Thank you sir," Laram said fervently. "That would help me out so much."

"Yes, well, that's what I'm here for." If nothing else this could prove... interesting...

Last updated on the July 31st 2007

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All You Need is Confidence