Problem children
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: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 9th February 2008
Characters: Almonteo, Thanja
Description: Almonteo and Thanja have a couple apprentices to deal with...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 8, day 3 of Turn 4
"Thank you for coming down so quickly," the Hallmaster said as he opened the door for the Hallsecond. He cast an annoyed eye at the two apprentices sitting outside his door as he waved her inside and closed it behind her.
"I see," she said. The two youngsters outside hadn't escaped her notice, nor had the looks the pair had exchanged as she approached.
"You can guess why I sent for you?" Almonteo asked with a sigh as he offered her a chair.
"A boy and a girl in their teens sat out there with those looks on their faces," she said taking the seat. "I take it someone found them together?"
"Oh yes," the Hallmaster said with a wry smile. "And they were not happy. Well, the Master who discovered them in the instrument room was not happy, shall I say. The young lady, I'm sure you recognize."
"One of our more promising apprentices, I take it the boy is one of yours?"
"Yes, one of our less than promising apprentices." He always had been a bit of a trouble maker. Now it seemed he was being a bad influence on others as well.
"Well it does take two for these kind of things," commented Thanja. "Did the Master say if," and she paused wondering how best to phrase it. "If it looked like the girl had been persuaded to do something she didn't really want to?"
"The Master didn't say she seemed to be objecting to... his physical...
attentions... But he didn't watch long enough to make that determination on his own."
"I see," Thanja understood. "He asked them to stop what they were doing and marched them straight here?"
"Well, I think he gave them time to look presentable," the Hallmaster said with a roll of his eyes. "The girl, at least, had the decencey to look ashamed. My lad, on the other hand, just looked annoyed." Or frustrated, might be the more accurate phrase.
"Sounds like they need a good talking to," mused Thanja. "You won't be able to stop youngsters getting together at their age, but they need to be told what is and is not acceptable."
Almonteo snorted. "I think at this age they've figured out what is and is not acceptable. But I also know at this age their hormones are raging and how in Faranth's name do we fight _that_?"
"I'm guessing that appealing to their better nature is not the answer here," began Thanja. "We could start by talking to them, and giving them a first warning that repetition will lead to being sent home in disgrace.
As for now, extra chores, separately and under supervision. They'll hate it, but it might get the message home that this kind of thing is will be taken seriously."
"Yes," the Hallmaster nodded thoughtfully. "I'm also thinking a divide and conquer tactic might be called for. Let's call them in seperately and see if we can't hit them each where they're most vulnerable. I think for sure we should remind the young woman that being a female crafter on the Southern Continent is hard enough, but to also be the disgraced young mother of a bastard child, she can kiss her career good-bye. You might also want to through in pregnancy, birth and motherhood from a woman's perspective. That should instill a bit of fear into her."
"It may do, unfortunately there isn't really an equivalent talk for a young man, is there."
"Besides reminding him that if he gets her pregnant he shall have to marry her and his covorting days will be over? And his knots probably delayed because of taking care of the baby?" That thought had been enough to keep Almonteo on the straight and narrow at his age. "I think also the threat of sending a letter home to his father might have some effect. He might at least stay away from _Hall_ girls for a while."
"We can but try to speak to them."
Almonteo nodded. They could only hope. "Let's call the boy in first. Let your girl stew a bit. I think she's the one we'll have the most success in convincing to make better choices."
"Makes sense."
"Right. Let's call the lad in." Almonteo molded his face into a look of stern disapproval with a hint of real anger. Hopefully he could scare the boy enough to see a marked change in behavior. After all, they might live in the Weyr, but they were still Harpers, after all.
Last updated on the February 9th 2008