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Harper's Tale - Monday, April 01, 2002, 4:23 PM
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Harper Office
The office is cheerful, the light reflecting off of whitewashed walls and ceiling. A pattern mimicking musical notation in colors runs along the tops of the walls, shelf upon shelf rising from the floor to meet it. Desks, cabinets and filing drawers are arranged about the room, workplaces for those whose job it is to keep the harpers and hall in order.
The air is fresh, tangy with sea and hides and well-seasoned woods.
Watching from a high shelf are five firelizards.
You see Staff Tackboard, Opree, Project Reference Book, Useful Facts for Harpers, and Oldeara here.
Jueann is here.
Obvious exits:
Ballroom

Jueann looks up at Liesana and smiles, "Afternoon, Liesana."

Liesana strolls in, looking alive with a twinkle in her eye and a lift to her step. "Afternoon, Jueann," she greets, giving nods to the others present. Even if Jeranium only replies with a sour look. "Faranth, I think I'm more excited about this than I was about mine. Mynd is right behind me."

Mynd walks with silent footsteps in from the ballroom.

Mynd
Drifting gentle in feather-soft tresses, pale hair bordering on white tumbles down from the head of this young man, who stands at around five foot, two and a half inches in height. Among the head of pale locks, a few streaks of a color almost bordering lavender reside. Someone's been into the dye lately? The feather strands fall down a gently sloping brow, meeting with equally pale eyebrows which reside above eyes a shade of blue-violet, changing slightly in the lighting, depending on bright or dark. Cheekbones are slightly high, prominent on delicately featured face, and a small nose resides in the center of his face, adding a touch of cuteness to almost feminine features. His hair reaches down just past his jawline, not yet brushing his shoulders, but getting there soon enough. Creamy skin coats this lad, evident of either a lot of time spent in doors, or that for some reason he just won't tan. His body is thin, bordering on bony, but toned musculature can be seen faintly in his arms and legs.
Midnight blue tones ripple throughout this simple shirt, from its open collar across the shoulders, along the full-length flowing sleeves and buttoned cuffs. Hammered metal buttons brightens the front allowing the shirt to tuck smartly into the waistband. The hip-hugging blue-black leather pants taper down to fit snugly into a pair of well-worn polished boots. Accenting the pants, a simple silver buckle livens this twilight colored outfit. A tab bearing the weaver craft stamp with a tiny 'sh' stitched over it tucks neatly under the collar. Two firelizards are perched on his shoulders.
He wears a knot of the Harpercraft, braided into the ranking of Senior Apprentice.
Carrying:
Ruins Mynd's Harp
Questions Dance the Stars
Shinbi Mattaki
Voldem Mynd's Project
He is a teenager of about 18. He is awake and looks alert.

Jueann
Jueann's gentle nature hides her true age. She seems timeless with her brown hair with streaks of grey. When asked about her true age, she'll smile and say, "A lady should have some secrets."
Her brown doe-shaped eyes glows darkly of love and warmth. Wisps of escaping curly strands of hair halo her face as the rest of her long hair is pulled into a single fat braid. A pair of lenses perch on her dainty nose. Around her her neck and rest over her heart, a gold chain peeks out.
Jueann is wearing a clean white short-sleeved tunic that is slightly unlaced in the front. A dark wide tightly-laced leather girtle the rest comfortably under her well-endowed bosum down to her slim waist, protecting her blouse. Her navy blue skirt shows past ink-stains, but try as she mihgt, she just can't keep it clean. On her girtle, a big leather brown pouch keeps her archives supplies and anything else she needs for the day. her tunic from most of the ink stains. A gold firelizard is perched on her shoulder.
Braided into her Harper Master's knot are the colors of Ista Hold.
Carrying:
Hand Mirror Jue's note
Ke'chara
She is an adult of about 40. She is awake, but seems rather distracted.

Liesana
Liesana's amber almond shaped eyes glimmer brightly amidst finely sculpted features, while crimson-pink lips reflect a shifting range of emotions. Despite a medium stature of 16.2 hands, her slim figure carries not a trace of extra flesh, although her muscles are toned and well defined. Wavy chestnut hair falls to the small of her back, outlining an hourglass figure with a well formed, if small breast.
A white peasant shirt topped by a grey cloth vest coordinates with a pair of black denim slacks and calf-length boots of black leather to produce an outfit suited for walking or riding and keeping the warm breezes of Ista bearable. Two firelizards are perched on her shoulders.
Blue and white twine in a double cord knot of single loop and long tail, bound with gold thread and sporting one tassel of blue and a ribbon of red accenting, denoting the bearer as a Senior Journeyman Harper, posted to Smith Hall
Carrying:
Brown Leather Carrysack Hippolyta
Chestnut-Wood Gitar Turnday Dragon Deck
Angelique
You see Liesana glance your way.
She is a young adult of about 25. She is awake and looks alert.

Jueann smiles at the grumpy journeyman. "Once again into the fray, right? Another apprentice thinking they can become a journeyman?" But as she asks that, Mynd walks in. "Afternoon Mynd."

Peeek. And there's a Mynd, head poking through the doorway. Oh..right. All of him is supposed to be /inside/ the office. Ahem. He moves, sliding through the doorway to stand, smiling faintly. Nervous little harper? Of course. "Good afternoon.."

Liesana has settled at a desk as well, any jubilation now tucked behind her game face, although she bestows an approving look on her mentee. "Good afternoon, Mynd. Would you care to take a seat?"

Jeranium awards Jueann a sour sort of smile, before glowering at Mynd. Harrumph. "They made /me/ stand with my back to the wall in mine." he notes. Sourly, of course. "For four hours."

Kryz walks in from the ballroom.

Ooh. Yes. Sitting is good. Standing is bad when nervous. Nodding politely, Mynd moves, lightly settling himself into a chair. "Thank you..." Eep. Scary man. Brows lift, the harper peering at Jeranium quietly for a moment before glancing around at the others present, trying to keep from figiting too much.

Jueann sighs softly as she readjst her papers, looking up at Mynd. "Ohh come in Apprentice and have a seat." she looks at Jeranium, Liesana, Krys and the other sitting on the panel. "Since you're Liesana' mentee, I'm going to let her run the exam."

Liesana stiffens slightly as Kryz moves in. But, this is business, so she relaxes into the task at hand, nodding at Jueann, and then focusing on Mynd, ignoring Jeranium's mutter about seniority. "Very well then. Well, Mynd, the Journeyman's Exam is basically a way for us to see whether or not you're ready to hold the rank of Journeyman. It will be a lengthy process, but is /not/ as bad as you've been led to believe. Answer questions fully, and after due deliberation." She pauses. "When you are ready to begin, please state your name, rank, specialty and voice range for the record."

Mynd breathes for a moment. Yes. Breathing is a good thing to do. Mmhm. Slowly, after a bit of thinking..or rather gathering his wits, the harper nods. "Mynd, Harper Senior Apprentice with the speciality of poetry. I range in upper tenor.."

Jeranium rumbles slightly, starting a ripple in his layers of fat. But he behaves, the aged Journeyman sitting officiously in his seat and looking ready to pounce on any stumbles.

Liesana nods at Mynd, briefly letting him know it it enough, before leaning forward. "So, Mynd. You've been an apprentice here for several turns now... We asked in your first interview what you thought a Harper did. Answer that question again. Now that you stand on the brink of becoming a Journeyman, what are your duties and responsibitilies?"

Mynd straightens just a bit. Yeah..this isn't /so/ terrible.. A slight nod is given at the question, head tilting as it's considered. "As a Harper, it is my responsibility to teach those who wish to be taught. To make sure that such knowledge is kept alive is vital. Also, it is a duty to provide entertainment to the people, whether it be through song, or moreso in my case, through written word."

"And what about those that don't 'wish to be taught'?" inquires Jeranium in a grating tone. "What if some day you find yourself teaching a class of ingrates?" Mercifully, he does /not/ launch into a rant about the Junior Orchestra. "Do you plan to run to your mama the instant you encounter opposition, then?"

Liesana spreads her hands slightly on the desk in front of her, clearly indicating to Mynd that he's on his own.

Mynd blinks slightly, tilting his head to peer at Jeranium, frowning just slightly. "No. Teaching can be done through many different methods, and I wouldn't consider myself a very good harper at all if I simply gave up without trying a different approach to the problem."

Jeranium glowers slightly, puzzles over the answer, and then allows it to stand, settling back into his seat with a dry "That will do, I suppose. For now."

Jueann hmms softly as she listens, "so you consider yourself a good harper, then?"

Mynd licks his lips for a moment, glancing at Jueann. "It really is for others to decide if I am a good Harper or not, but yes, I think myself to be a decent Harper.. I love what I do, that in itself is a large part of being a good Harper, even if one's talents aren't the absolute best in the world. I don't expect myself to be the best."

Liesana taps her fingers together. "That," she notes. "Is a rather refreshing change from some of the arrogance you see here. However, what measuring stick do you hold yourself against? How do you judge yourself to be a good harper?" See the mentor. See the mentor behave rankishly. Even if her expression still holds a decent trace of pride.

Mynd tilts his head somewhat, nodding. "Those that I look up to, who have worked hard to attain their rank. My mentor would probably be the measuring stick I use, as she is, for one, the Harper I am most well aquainted with. I have seen that she is a good Harper, and therefore it is with that reflection that I judge myself." A tiny smile is given to Liesana at that, though still slightly figity where he sits.

A loud harrumph from Jeranium suggests that he might beg to differ as to Liesana's skills. But, the foolish girl in the back of his class now outranks him, so the elderly journeyman confines himself with a grave and corpulant dignity to poking at Mynd instead. "So you're just going to turn into your mentor's younger and prettier twin then, boy?"

Mynd blinks rapidly, looking at Jeranium again. "Hardly, sir. I said that she is who I measure myself with, not who I aspire to be exactly like. She is who she is, and I am who I am, not to mention that our specialities are completely different. But I do think that she is a good Harper, and while I use her example as how I model myself to be a Harper, I will never be exactly like her. Nor do I wish to."

"Harrumph," replies Jeranium, but lets the question pass, apparently as close to satisfied as he's likely to get.

Jueann glances over at Jeranium and then to Mynd, "I see. And do you like teaching and being a harper? What about Andron's twins? I heard they are a handful. What are you teaching them?

Mynd nods slightly. "Yes I do..and yes..they are." He smiles a bit at that. "But they are a challenge, and I find that I like that. Currently, we've been working on the difference in right and wrong, so that they can be more aware of the things they shouldn't do. Also, I've been working with them on spelling and reading."

Jueann hmms softly and nods, "I see. And they are how old? Isn't philosophy a bit much for littles?

Mynd smiles a bit. "They are six Turns. It's something that they asked me to teach on their own, ma'am."

Jueann hmms softly again. "I see. Are they understanding it? And have you been giving reports to Andron on their progress?"

Mynd nods slowly. "I have. They seem to understand well enough many things that they shouldn't do. They want to please Andron, so it works well when they find out doing something wrong will upset him."

Liesana nods slightly. "Most children do. So... you teach philosophy to girls of six. What techniques do you use to see that they understand what's being taught?"

Mynd nods slowly. "I play games with them, that help to show why something shouldn't be done. Sometimes I ask them about how they would feel in Andron's position.. Simply by asking how one would feel if this happened to their sister. Using the other twin as an example seems very effective in showing them the reasons why Andron gets upset with them. I havn't heard of much of any 'bad' doing from either of them for a while now.."

Jeranium rumbles slightly. "Hah. That usually means they're up to something," notes the aged journeyman. Who's had experiance with nieces and nephews in his day, you know. "But I suppose you sound like you know what you're doing. Tell me, boy. If you could give one piece of advice to those teaching children, what would you tell them?"

Mynd lifts a brow just a bit. "Don't yell. While being firm with them is something that definately should be done, yelling will only frighten them. Children shouldn't be frightened of their teacher, and even if they can be exasperating at times, keeping calm is very important."

Liesana pointedly eyes Jeranium as Mynd speaks. Privately, she thinks that Mynd's lesson could be well used by the fat old man. She nods. "As a Harper, regardless of your specialty, you will be approached by people in order to mediate disputes. I give you a theoretical problem to solve:" She gestures slightly with one hand, as if calling the scene into being. "Two cotolders approach you. One is a farmer, and grows wheat. The other raises ovines. The ovines escape through an open gate and begin to eat the farmer's crop. He proceeds to cut their throats with his beltknife. A feud between two families is about to erupt. How would you settle this?"

Mynd frowns a little at that. One of those 'two wrongs' cases. Lovely. He sighs, head tilting a bit to the side. "Essentially, the owner of the ovines is at fault for the actual incident. His ovines got out due to the carelessness of a gate being left open. He should compensate the farmer for the crop lost. However, the farmer took matters into his own hands with the ovines, instead of seeking retribution on his own..." He pauses, frowning slightly. Law definately isn't the harper's great strong point, seeking to be 'fair' to everyone..

Jeranium's eyes narrow in viscious pleasure, sinking into the fat and florid cheeks of his face. A stumble. Ooooooh. "Well?" he prompts. "What will you do, boy? Wait for them both to grow old and grey and die, and solve your problem that way?"

Kryz shoots a glance at Jeranium and says very politely, "I don't believe Mynd was finished yet." He then turns back to Mynd and says, "go on."

Liesana glances over at Kryz as he corrects Jeranium, looking surprised, and then smiling slightly, before giving Mynd an encouraging smile. "We realize that Law isn't your specialty. Just... do the best you can."

Mynd frowns again, looking at Jeranium. "Yes, sir, please give me a chance to finish." Sighing, he thinks a bit more, nodding. "Both were in the wrong. The man with the ovines was careless, resulting in his livestock escaping and thus destroying the farmer's crop. However, the farmer was also in the wrong for taking matters in his own hands. Therefore, the two should help each other to replenish what was lost. They learn better to coexist this way, so that future disagreements might be averted."

Liesana gives a slight nod. "A good verdict," she allows, casting a pointed look at Jeranium. "So... how would you suggest they help each other?"

Jeranium blusters quietly at the corrections coming from two folks a third of his age. But, aside from ominous rumbling, sure to be taken out on his students later, he keeps his peace, raising a bushy eyebrow at Mynd.

Mynd nods a little. "They should work together in the farmer's fields to replant a new crop of wheat, and the farmer should help the other man to aquire some new ovines.."

Liesana nods. "A good answer, and a good effort. We'll now take pity on you and ask you questions you know the answers to. Journeyman Kryz," Schooled carefully, she leave the name inflectionless. "Will ask the next question." She doesn't look at the younger of the two journeymen.

Breathe. Yay...Mynd can breathe again.. He nods though, looking at Kryz quietly.

Kryz glances only at his papers before looking over at Mynd and flashes a quick comforting smile. He's not here to grill anyone. That's these other two's job. "So, tell us a little about what your project is about. Where'd you get your idea from, your inspirations?" A fairly easy question.

Oooh dear. And here it is. Mynd nods a little bit. "My project, and poetry, was about love. Inspiration is from the emotion itself, and my experiance with it."

Kryz glances back down as his paper. Ouch, ok, that was a bad question for this particular harper to have asked. He stays silent for Jeranium to start back up on his questioning that Kryz expects is about to come.

The phrase 'And my experiance with it' prompts some twitching of Jeranium's ears, his question restrained by a slim hand belonging to Liesana laid quietly and firmly on his wrist. She nods slightly. "So," she inquires easily. "What conclusions did you reach, about love?" She still refrains for even looking towards Kryz.

Mynd closes his eyes for a moment, a little surprised at the lack of any noise from Jeranium. Hm? Well..he'll take that silence for as long as he can. "Love... Love is a dangerous emotion. It can cause so much pain, and still, at the same time, it can bring more joy than anything else I've experianced before in my life. Love is a cherished emotion, one worth fighting for, one worth looking past imperfection to gain. It is the greatest and worst thing at the same time, the easiest and most complicated. And despite all the hurt that it /can/ and does cause, it's still something that I would never give up."

Liesana removes her hand from Jeranium's wrist and presses it to her lips, lost in thought for a long moment. The old man takes his chance. "Love. Humph. Useless emotion." he derides. "Why do you think that Harper needs to hear about love?"

Kryz continues to stare at the table in front of him as Mynd explains his idea of love. After a moment he says very softly, "I'm going to have to cut out a little early. I have a class I have to teach." He give Mynd one last smile as to say good luck before collecting his papers. He then stands and walks out the door without saying another word.

Lu-nar slithers in from the shadows from ::between::

Kryz walks out into the ballroom.

Mynd turns his head just slightly. "Because without love, people tend to become old and bitter people that see nothing better to do with their time than torment those that wish to find it." But he's not naming anybody. Noooope. Ahem! "In music, or writing, a Harper conveys much emotion with their work. Without love...without /knowing/ love at least, the emotion is lost when they attempt to portray it."

A strangled choking noise comes from Liesana, the senior journeywoman suffering from a case of suppressed merriment at her mentee's reply. She resist the urge to clap, instead offering a "Well said." and a quelling look to Jeranium.

Jeranium harrumphs, and bites his tongue. He gets his revenge in his next question. "I am curious, senior /apprentice/ Mynd... where you came by such... knowledge of said emotion, if you were following the apprentice rules..." he drawls acidly.

Mynd calmly looks at Jeranium. He's answered this before! Yay, he's had practice with it. "The rule against apprentices being in relationships was created with the purpose of keeping apprentices focused on their duties and classes, and not preoccupied with their lover. However, love is a natural emotion, one that isn't /chosen/ to be felt. It happens, rules or not, and depending on how a person deals with it, depends on how the rule should be applied. I have never had a problem keeping up with my classes, or my work, none suffered because of a relationship. It is only when it becomes a problem that action should be taken against a natural process of life."

Jeranium offers one of his patented lemon-faced looks in reply. "So you feel you're above the rules then, apprentice? Where was your mentor this whole time? Was she aware of your... activities...?"

Liesana maintains her relaxed air, and gives Mynd a single, encouraging, nod.

Mynd frowns at that. "Quite. I am not above the rules, but as I stated, the 'rule' is placed for those that can't seem to keep up with their work while being in a relationship. Yes, my mentor was aware of my being in a relationship. If you'd like to ask, I'm sure that you'll find that my conduct while in those relationships was kept discreet, and that my studies never faltered for a moment."

Jeranium turns a sour look on Mynd again. "I might just. Except that your mentor has so conveniantly gotten a high rank than mine. The Craft grows more degenerate by the day." he harrumphs, before subsiding.

Liesana steps into the breach, ignoring Jeranium's threats. "So, Mynd, tell me. What would you do if you were in my position?" she asks. "What if you, as a Journeyman, had a mentee that was involved in a relationship?"

Mynd turns his attention to Liesana again, smiling faintly at her. "I would inform my mentee that he or should should keep their relationship discreet. It wouldn't be proper for it to be flaunted around for one thing. Also, I would warn them what would happen if I found that their studies began to slip. If they are able to maintain their level of work, and remain in their relationship, then I see no reason to deny them that happiness. However, if not, I would have to take action on the matter."

Liesana tents her fingers together, and leans foward slightly. "So... what sort of action would you take, if it had to be taken?" is her next question.

Mynd nods. "My first course of action would be to inform them of what is happening, and allow them the chance to get themselves together and work again to their full capacity. If this is unsucessful, and the problem persists, I would have a talk with them, and ask that they stop seeing the person. Finally, if there is still a problem, I would take it up with the masters about what they feel should be done, whether the apprentice needs to leave the craft or not. I don't ever wish something to go that far, but if a problem such as that occurred, it seems pretty obvious to me that their interest in the craft is not genuine."

Jeranium seems somewhat mollified by the answer. "So, your questionable moral fibre aside... what would you consider the duties of the Journeyman to be?"

Mynd frowns at Jeranium again, sighing. "A Journeyman should be a guide to the apprentices, someone to look up to, and consider a teacher as well as a friend. Someone that the apprentice can come to if they have a problem, not someone that they should fear, or be afraid to speak to. A Journeyman should be there to show the apprentices how the life of a Harper is."

"And what of their duties to the larger group of all the Pernese people?" asks Liesana in a quiet, calm tone.

Mynd looks at Liesana again, nodding. "To mediate desputes when necessary, to teach people in the Holds and Weyrs the history of Pern through ballad and song.." He pauses, smiling slowly. "And to generally liven up the place during a festive event with music, as well as perform handfastings for people."

Liesana nods. "Very good." she intones. "Then, in that case, do you think you can perform those duties? Do you feel yourself ready to serve Pern? For that is what we are, you know. Servants."

Mynd smiles slowly, nodding just a bit. "Yes, I believe that I can. I already teach on one level and I'm growing more confident with my ability to do so. I feel that I am ready."

Liesana pauses for a long moment, glancing to Jeranium and Jueann, three rankish heads pulled into a low conference as the prospective journeyman is left to squirm.

Mynd does squirm! Eeee... While most of the time he had managed to keep still, now the harper squirms, biting down on his bottom lip lightly.

Abruptly, the conference breaks up, Jueann, the master, giving Liesana a slight nod. Liesana fairly beams, and pulls something from a drawer. "Senior Apprentice Mynd!" she barks, getting to her feet. "Stand to attention, if you please!"

Jueann has disconnected.

Mynd squeaks slightly, hurriedly getting to his feet at the..barking. Yeah. Lip is removed from being squished by his teeth, the harper trying to keep himself calmed.

Liesana lifts her head, and strolls over to Mynd. "Excellent." she clucks, looking him over with a proud light in her eye. "Senior Apprentice Mynd, you have proved to us that you have learned your lessons well. You are a talented and competenent member of our Craft, and it is wil great pride that I confirm you in your new rank of Journeyman of the Harpercraft. Take this knot and wear it with pride and honour in in your Craft and in yourself."

Blink. Mynd stares at Liesana for a moment, eyes widening a bit. "I..did it..?" Wait. Was that supposed to happen? Yes. Duh. Slowly, the harper grins, looking downright shaken..and almost like he's going to tackle Liesana. Nono. Yes. Stay still. "I..I will..thank you.."