2024-07-20 - Forget me nots, second thoughts live in isolation

The High Priestess 21 / f
Everyone comes to the High Priestess for advice, and her advice is always the same, dressed up in new words for new people. ‘Relax, take a deep breath, trust your intuition.’ The High Priestess is a serene young woman who floats through the world as if nothing can touch her... and perhaps it can’t, because her affectation of peacefulness hides a heart that could pump flamespit and bile rather than blood, a heart that yearns to give the world a piece of its completely shuttered mind.

Auth felt very uncomfortable with the division of this candidate's outward and inward appearance. They did not like how she could lie so easily and manipulate those around her through deception. Authenticity was important to Auth, so they dismissed The High Priestess before she ever approached them.

The Emperor 15 / m
The Emperor is a young boy, and this is only his second hatching. Still he walks on the sands like a king, like a god. His father told him he would be chosen. His father said he was going to be the mightiest. Fathers couldn’t lie. The Emperor believes in the authority of metallics and clings to the structures of his life, lessons, the responsibilities given to him as one of the “mature ones.” Time will tell if he gets a taste for sneering lordship.

Auth felt this one coming from a long way off and mentally rolled their eyes. They knew the boy wouldn't stop near their egg, his hopes clearly set on "bigger" things. Just as well, Auth wouldn't have responded anyway.

The Hierophant 23 / nb
All they can think of is the starched, flat-pressed white robe in their dormitory trunk. How long its roots stretch back -- to the first hatching ever, perhaps? How they will look like no one and everyone when the sea of white stands at the Hatching. The Hierophant wonders with a mind far beyond their years what that means for the candidates’ personhood, that conformity, whether it is freedom or suppression. ...They decide they will pin a blossom over their heart on that hungry white cotton, when Hatching day comes.

Oh now this one was interesting. They had the correct kind of thoughts. Thoughts of the world and their place in it. Auth even felt a sense of their own balance in them. Yes. Auth liked this one. They opened their mind, allowing The Hierophant to feel their duality, to feel their desire for the world and to make their own mark on it.

The Fool 14 / m
So very young, the Fool skips through the door-flaps with a grin on his beatific face. There is nothing that can hold him down, not rain or shine or dark of night; his optimism is infectious. He looks over the eggs and sees so many new beginnings, so much promise and life. He does not see the empty hollows, the cracks and scars. The Fool lets the whims of his feet guide him around the clutch, almost at a run, not thinking how much he could hurt the fragile eggs if he happened to trip.

Auth felt in two minds about this boy. His exuberance was admirable, but his carelessness was a little disconcerting. Perhaps they would let him burn off some energy with their siblings before allowing him access to their mind.

The Lovers 22 / m
At first, they seem as one, but as the twins approach they are revealed as two wholes nevertheless enmeshed. The Lovers do everything together, and candidacy is no different. Apart they may peer at different eggs but their thoughts echo the other’s and with aural words each shares his findings. The Lovers look eagerly for the Hatching Day, but their inner thoughts reveal parallel fears: what if the will of fate pulls them apart? What if, one thinks but not the other, he’s the one left behind?

A pair. Interesting. Separate, but together. Auth enjoyed such unexpected anomalies. But would that mean the two would always choose one another over a bonded partner? Auth did not want to be considered second if they were forced to bond with someone, so perhaps this pair should steer clear of them.

The Hermit 21 / f
It may have been the Candidatemaster’s word that allowed her entrance, but being here, in the tents among the eggs in this moment, was all due to the Hermit’s fate. She had felt a calling to become a candidate; she couldn’t know whether this hatching would be her time, but the Hermit knew with a bone-deep certainty she was where she belonged. The truth of it, however much it bouyed her, was not warm and inviting. The Hermit was lonely and adrift, pulled forward by a capricious fate.

This candidate confused Auth immensely. Fate? What was fate? And why was this girl being dragged along by it? Why was she here if she felt so separate from her companions? Auth was a firm believer in freedom and clearly this candidate was not. She seemed to feel like her life was already written and to Auth that honestly sounded just crazy. As she approached, Auth made sure to quickly retreat as far as possible from her, they did not want that kind of energy around them.

The Hanged Man 20 / m
He was whistling when he stepped through into the tents, a jaunty tune that seemed like it was running too fast. The Hanged Man brushed his hands over the shells, eyes skipping over the cracks and dents, wondering which had a fighting dragon in it, which would fly and flame and carry him out in a blaze of glory. He wanted to live fast and die a hero -- what a relief that would be for him, for Pern. And glorious while it lasted...

Wait, what? Live fast and die a hero? Oh no no, no thank you! Why on Pern would anyone want that? Auth had heard of these tales of glory, but had presumed them to be only fantasy. They hadn't actually thought real people felt that way. Auth pitied this man. To desire only a fraction of life for the promise of honour...

The Devil 15 / f
The Devil was a young girl in an ill-fitting dress. The Devil clutched the front of it and wished it was a sumptuous gown, wished she could be somewhere with music and dancing and laughter. But she wasn’t. There was much her hungry eyes and heart desired, and when she saw the eggs she grinned, nearly skipping among them and playfully teasing each one she passed. The Devil wanted. And yet there was freedom in knowing she didn’t have a choice.

An intriguing candidate this one. Auth enjoyed the hunger in her heart, her desire for more and how she reveled in her lack of control in this situation. Her personality felt very strong and very enticing. She would be an interesting partner, someone to keep Auth on their toes. They mentally grinned back at her as she passed, interested to see if they'd catch her attention.

The Moon 19 / m
The Moon was a calm soul, stepping in among the eggs without any pomp or excitement. The young man seemed to be motivated by a subtle kind of curiosity; in a way, he seemed to hide his own feelings and wait to reflect those he heard. He followed his whim around the clutch, putting his hand out when the moment seemed right. Yet even when he did so, the Moon didn’t release his mental cloak. He was afraid to be seen.

Auth felt a very calm soul approach them in the form of The Moon. They sensed little from the candidate, as though he were purposefully withholding himself. Which, in truth, Auth was doing also. Auth was judging each candidate before sharing any of themselves and so approved of how The Moon was similarly behaving. Auth felt that he went with his gut, that he followed his instincts. That was a good way to be. Auth allowed this candidate to feel their mind and hoped that they in turn would be allowed to do the same.

Temperance 19 / m
He had to admit the eggs were worth the songs and praises and hopeful exultations he’d heard of them. Temperance, a new candidate, approached cautiously and patiently, trying to find each egg’s individuality in the muddle. All of this doom and gloom had thrown the Weyr out of balance, but he thought perhaps the pressure put on these eggs to lift them out of it was too much. They needed to draw the meaning from the tragedy before letting a new joy bandage it away from supervision, where it might fester...

Temperance had a good direction to his thoughts, which Auth approved of. He felt wiser than his turns. Auth sensed they could do well with someone like this and so allowed Temperance to feel their individual presence among the others.

Strength 24 / m
Now it was time to focus. Strength put aside his reservations -- or at least, he tried, but his insecurities rode him like mud on his boots -- and went to meet the eggs. He didn’t try to trick the eggs as he went between them, he didn’t need to. Strength put his bandaged hand against the eggshells as if they could tell the difference, proud of the scars he’d soon have from helping the rescue efforts. He loved them, each and every one, but if they didn’t choose him, that was alright. Strength could soldier on solo.

Auth admired this one. He was strong, not just physically, but emotionally too. He was capable and comfortable with being alone too, which meant he would be a stable and supportive partner. It was always best to be content with oneself before inviting a relationship with another. Auth welcomed Strength's presence and wordlessly thanked him for his help on that awful day.

The Chariot 24 / m
The Chariot had an attractively direct mind, all power, all control, no confusing layers or misdirections. He knew what he was here for and he knew what he could offer any dragonet who wanted him. There was the seductive promise of the Chariot’s intense will to take for their own, his exquisite self-control, his impressively direct aims. But when he put skin to shell there was an undercurrent... The Chariot was an indomitable force, and he’d beat down any opposition in his way.

Oh no no. This was not a good candidate for Auth. Auth would not be beaten into submission of any kind and this candidate oozed superiority. There was a vast difference between confidence and arrogance. Auth closed their inner barriers and waited quietly for The Chariot to pass.