Tesarel Interviews

[jennalyn]

Knocking firmly on the door to the Candidate Master's office, Tesarel glanced around the hallway as he stood awaiting permission to enter. No one was around at this hour, though the glows were burning brightly from a recent change. Hearing a muted phrase of assent from the other side of the door, he turned the handle and glanced in before stepping past the threshhold. Even with permission, he was rarely so bold as to enter another's personal area without a darting look at what he was walking into. This office wasn't likely to be bugged with prank traps, but again...better safe than wet or covered in refuse.

He nodded respectfully at the man before him, murmuring something indecipherable but respectful, and waited for instructions as to what he should do. Beyond being told that this was an "interview" of sorts, he had nothing to go on. The others who had gone through the process had teasingly told him that he would find out soon enough, and to pack clean underclothes. The first he believed. The second...well. No one ever said that weyrbrats were above a half-hearted jibe or two.

Tes tried not to shift from foot to foot while he waited, and kept his gaze squarely on the Candidate Master.

[jennalyn]

Have you got a Search token?

The first question took him by surprise. A Search token? No one had mentioned anything like that. He'd been told to go to the Candidate Master's office and answer a few questions after one of the Search dragons nodded its assent to his suitability, but they hadn't given him anything to prove it.

"No...?" he said, the word almost a question itself. "I wasn't given one by the dragon's rider. They just told me to come and see you. Er, sir." He hastily tagged the respectful title on the end, figuring that if he wanted to make a good impression, forgetting that probably wasn't the way to do it. He hoped the answer was good enough and the rider hadn't been pulling his leg when he sent him here.

[jennalyn]

Please list your name, age, and birthing day.

'I'm glad the token's not a problem,' Tes thought to himself in relief after the next question was asked. He'd always loved gambling, but taking risks on something as significant as this seemed a little foolhardy even to him.

Time to answer, then. "My name's Tesarel, sir, and I'm eighteen turns since this past fall. Been waiting for the Search for years now." He laughed a little, nerves getting the better of him before he quickly stopped and stood as still as his self-consciousness would allow.

'Gotta make a good impression. Just keep thinking that. Good impression for a good Impression. Heh. Er...no. Stop that. You're thinking like an idiot. This isn't a good time for jokes.'

[jennalyn]

Where have you come from?

Tes looked briefly surprised. "From Lateo, sir. I work in the lower caverns. You've probably seen me around come meal times. I've been here ever since I was born."

He was about to say more, but mentally kicked himself when he realized it was a routine question and he was probably required to ask every single one, even if he already knew the answer. 'Stupid, stupid, just shut up and answer the questions. It'll be over soon enough and if you do good enough, he'll let you stand. So...shut up. Just shut up until he asks the next one.'

[jennalyn]

Do you have any skills? Belong to a Craft?

Here Tes looked vaguely embarrassed and raised a hand to rub the back of his neck nervously before answering. "Well, I'm really just cleaning staff, sir. I serve the food and clean the caverns when the meal's over. Nothing special besides that."

He paused to think about it, hand still on the back of his neck. "I play a mean hand of poker," he added, hoping that would be taken in a good light rather than a bad. 'Just cleaning staff seems inadequate when you're up against people with real craft training or dragonrider parents they know the names of. I don't even know what color my father rode, much less his name...'

[jennalyn]

Do you have any valuables that you would like locked up?

Again, Tes looked surprised. 'Do I look like I have anything valuable to you? I'm just a poor weyrbrat. I'm barely paid anything.'

Outwardly he simply shook his head and answered with a negative. His cards were valuable to him and of fine make, but he wanted them on him at all times in case he ever needed them. What use would they be locked up where he'd never be able to get to them?

With no idea how he was doing or what kind of impression he was making, he forced himself to stand up straighter than his usual slouch and put his hands back at his sides. Hopefully this was almost over...

[jennalyn]

Finally, did you bring any pets with you?

Ah, here was one with a sure answer...and did that finally mean he could leave soon? He certainly hoped so. "I have a feline, sir, a torti named Rida. She mostly keeps to herself and won't bother any of the others so long as they don't mind a dead bird or two on my bunk every sevenday. She's been smart enough to stay away from the dragons this far, so hopefully she'll do the same to them."

Finished with the questions, as was proven by the Candidate Master's dismissal, he gave a respectful nod before high-tailing it out of his office with a sigh of absolute relief. He hated being put on the spot like that, especially when this man's opinion would determine whether or not he was ready for the Sands.

Looking at the sun, he realized what a short amount of time he'd actually spent in the office and was surprised. He had another hour yet before his shift started. His foster brother was probably by the beast pens. He may as well go and pester him until it was time to prepare for the noonday meal. Humming, stress of the morning put out of mind, he headed in the direction of the pens.