Talinal
"I’ll protect them. Even if it means to lay my life down for them."
BASICS
RETIRE INFO: Retire, adopt bonded
NAME: Talinal, also Tal
GENDER: Cisgender Male
PRONOUNS: He/Him/His, accepting of They/Them
ORIENTATION: Demiromantic Pansexual
BIRTHDATE: Spring of 2748
AGE: 29 as of Spring 2777
LOCATION: Semaca Weyr
OCCUPATION: Bluerider
WING: Nocturne Wing
APPEARANCE
EYES: Light Blue
HAIR: Black
HEIGHT AND BUILD: Lean muscled, roughly 6'2"
FULL APPEARANCE:
Despite a rough start to life and constant battle for survival, Talinal shows no sign of having been stunted as a result. He stands at an impressive height he has filled into nicely, with broad "masculine" shoulders and muscled arms making his life of physically taxing labor more obvious. And while definitely more lean, athletic muscle of someone quick and light on their feet than bulky, weight-lifting of someone who has only toiled in the fields, it's still something that is easily seen. Thanks to his generally high-energy and desire not to lose his "edge," he is frequently seen in the early mornings performing some sort of exercise routine, be it jogging a perimeter or push-ups in his room--or outside if the weather permits or his room is too small to do so without disrupting companions. It seems to help keep his energy levels in check.
His most striking feature is definitely his eyes. Bright, pale blue stands out brightly against his tanned skin and raven black hair. His front bears no scars, at least none other than an occasional defensive mark on his arm or a clumsy nick on his hand.
Talinal has shifted his garb from the bland encompassing beige and white fabrics beholden to those of low-income to things more free and colourful. Of course, they are still subdued in comparison to some fabrics of others--but now he wears splashes of colour: largely blues and soft greys, save the deep red cloth he keeps tied around his head to help keep the hair out of his eyes. He has had it with him as long as anyone has known him.
PERSONALITY
PERSONALITY:
For his origin in such a harsh life, Talinal is certainly a spirited young lad, full of life and energy often absent in the chaos of the times. And while not overtly charismatic, he does have a certain charm that seems to encourage people to want to trust him--or at least decide to follow him. Eager and energetic, he's often seen with a smile on his face and a spring in his step, even after a day of difficult work that leaves him exhausted and sore. He has no problem with physical or public displays of affection and has been known to hug good friends (and sometimes strangers if there's something worth celebrating), but isn't so obtuse to force it on someone who is clearly uncomfortable.
Typically forthright in his opinions or ideas, he's sometimes seen as being loud and overbearing and butts heads frequently with those in places of power. Tal is very strong-willed and incredibly hard to dissuade once he's set his mind to something, and while he will bow to those he respects, if he does not respect someone it is extremely difficult to get him to willingly obey. He's not afraid to speak his out when he doesn't agree with something or someone, and even less afraid to help take down someone considered to be a threat to the well-being of many--so long as their removal would in the end be "better" for everyone (which, despite his behaviour, quite rarely includes what might be best for HIM personally). Interestingly enough, he will also defend someone he has disagreed with or may not like at all with just as much vehemence if their continued existence brings forth a positive change.
Tal is actually a great listener and more than willing to lend an ear to someone who needs it. Even if he isn't any sort of mind healer, or particularly fantastic (as far as he's concerned) with offering advice, he does know that sometimes all that is needed is someone to complain to. He himself will rarely seek out such luxuries, however, so it is rare to find him speaking about his own (real) problems--even when prompted. Consistently speaking his opinion and butting heads with those "above" him leaves him looking arrogant--but he's really not so much as he seems.
Once truly befriended, one will find themselves a loyal companion who would move mountains and go to the very ends of Pern for them. Betraying that trust, however, will end poorly--while he won't seek revenge, his trust cannot be earned back once broken. He's not hard to talk to and not judgmental, so he would rather talk a problem out with a friend and part ways amicably disagreeing than be stabbed in the back by someone he cared about.
Despite his candid, outspoken behaviour, Talinal is actually an incredibly secretive individual when it comes to himself. One will often find themselves sharing much more with Tal than he does with them--and what they do learn is largely unimportant or insignificant information. While he may not outright lie, he is skilled at half-truths and giving only partial information while leaving someone thinking they know the whole story. This is not a skill used maliciously, however, and he will not share a secret given to him (especially not one in confidence).
Privately, he is quite sentimental and tends to keep tiny favours that will likely seem insignificant to others.
HISTORY
FAMILY: Tandrin - Father - Deceased (Presumed)
Elinal - Mother - Deceased (Illness)
SIGNIFICANT OTHER: N/A
BIRTHPLACE: Small Cothold near Bitra Hold
HISTORY:
Talinal, better known as Tal or Talin by companions, was born in a small cothold near the larger hold named Bitra. As expected, life was challenging from the start. Supplies were low at all times, and food was distributed in rations--any attempt to steal it was met with punishment. Their number fluctuated at all times, some leaving in hopes of finding better stakes, others coming in from outside. Unfortunately, if someone was willing to work, their poor little community wasn't exactly in a position to turn them away, so a handful of less-savory--though not criminally Holdless--individuals would make themselves homes here as well.
As soon as he was old enough to hold his own, Talinal was taught by some of the older Holders. They would teach him what they knew in minor reading and writing, and to draw a bow for hunting--yet despite his proficiency, he had no interest in hurting unless at the defense of others. Even just hunting game caused him some distress, though he would gradually become more accepting of the necessity. His mother, a much gentler soul than his father, had certainly cultivated these feelings in him. Words and stories of a life not spent on the knife's edge of starvation, in a larger Hold far from theirs.
At sixteen turns, his mother, already a frail woman for whom childbirth had been a heavy tax, would grow ill and pass within the following months. Although this was quite sad for him, Talinal was at peace with her death, as it allowed her to finally rest. His father, perhaps unable to deal with the grief of losing his beloved wife, would begin to become more hostile toward the others in the tiny Cothold. Promise of a particularly harsh winter crept in, and he began leading small parties to steal supplies from nearby cotholds and using their underhanded tactics to swindle traders out of their goods.
That was the final straw for Tal. Perhaps sensing the fate of the small settlement and its remaining residents, he chose to leave. He departed his father and the cothold with some of the older members he had grown close to, travelling with them to the nearby Bitra Hold. From there, after reporting the cothold's behaviour to the Lord Holder, the group would slowly begin to disperse themselves in search of their own futures. Tal himself was chosen (to his surprise) to stand as a Candidate by Searchriders, and while he would browse through several Crafts as potentials should he age out, but none of them really "stuck." He did learn to read fully, at the least, as part of his Candidate training.
In the end Talinal would find his candidacy transfer from Benden to Igen, and then to Telgar, following hopeful hatchings, before finding his ultimate end Fort, where at nineteen he would unexpectedly Impress to blue Kalzeoth.
Weyrling training was difficult, and the chaos the Weyr suffered in the meanwhile only taxed the pair further--but in the end they would pull through. Instead of remaining at Fort, however, Talinal would see them transferred to Semaca Weyr--intending to help the southern Weyr recover and rebuild.
