100 Sentences - Teyla
Teyla has always had to be strong. For herself as much as for her people. When the Atlanteans arrived she was scared. Scared to give up what she'd earned. Scared to give up her position. But Teyla has never been dumb. Even after the wraith attack, even after her capture, she knew what would benefit her people the most.
Her belief in the Ancients is strong. It isn't worship. Her people aren't the type to worship anyone, god or not. They do pay homage to those who came before. Teyla does the same, whether they be the Ancients or other Athosians. She has mourned more people then she can count. Not only her own, others as well. Part of being a trader, a traveller, is always mourning another's loss. Especially in a galaxy where there are wraith.
She was five when her father first noticed her negotiation skills. Teyla had sat watching him practice at bantos and insisted on being taught. It took her two years to convince him. She was still younger than most Athosians when she started to learn. Fear had been such a part of her life Teyla could not understand life without it. She had not lost a fight since she was twelve. She killed her first man at 16. But she'd killed her first wraith at 14. Teyla knew which one she regretted.
When she was ten Teyla was sent into the woods with a group of her peers. Two of the others cried, fretted and screamed, but Teyla never did. She marked the path they took from their first step. When it came time to eat their first night, she took charge, organising everyone. Not comforting. There was no room for comfort among the Athosians. Teyla made that clear to them all. The elders had been proud, so proud that everyone in their group had survived. That they had built into a team. Teyla had taken no credit until was pushed forward. Then she had pointed out each of the their strengths. They had never forgotten, but nor had she. She always knew that no matter how strong you were on your own, you were stronger as a team.
She began to go with her father on trading missions. Learning about the people through the gates. Teyla did not realise for many years that she was being groomed to be a leader. She simply did what came naturally. Teyla was always empathetic and caring, something her father watched for. He was the one who explained things to her. The differences between a lie and a misrepresentation. How you could always tell the signs of both. How to greet a friend. How to ameliorate an enemy. How to negotiate. How to placate. Tagan taught her almost everything. What he did not teach her Charin did. She taught Teyla sympathy and warmth. To have a softer side she would otherwise forget.
She was 17 when her father was taken by the wraith. Too young in some eyes to take his position. But Teyla had learned much in that time. Smiling when it was needed. Raising her voice when it was appropriate. As much as she mourned her father's loss, it seemed only natural she would succeed him as leader. Not only was she a keen negotiator, Teyla had her father's wraith sense.
When she was 13 kissed her first boy. Another Athosian. She was 14 when she first slept with one. It was right after a wraith attack. Her father had admonished her for not being careful enough, but Teyla had not cared. It was not until Teyla saw the boy culled that she thought she may have done wrong.
Her mother was always a distant memory. A voice or a scent. Nothing more. She had first cursed the Ancients and the wraith when she was old enough to realise her loss. Tagan had slapped her. He was right to, for no family among the Athosians had not felt some loss. It was cold comfort.
Teyla learned early the benefit of staying calm calm when others reacted. She was unforgiving of herself. She was just as unforgiving of others. When her father was taken by the wraith Teyla was inconsolable. It took days before others could even talk to her. It was Charin who made the difference. Without a mother, she was the closest thing Teyla had left to family.
Teyla learned early the value of listening. Of seeing each argument for what it was. Yet she also knew that she couldn't afford weakness. She has never been able to afford weakness. Teyla tends to believe the best in others. When she is let down it is hard to win back her trust and belief. Those who have her trust she would believe wholeheartedly. Teyla believes in the Atlanteans and their mission. There are few she has such a great affection for as John, Rodney, Carson and Ronon.
Teyla has always felt strongly about things. Some of the time she has even expressed that feeling. More often she repressed that. As she did many feelings. Yet sometimes she could not put them away. Because she was sympathetic. Empathetic even. Teyla has always been logical. Yet, she has also always been emotional. A fine balance of the two. She will never give in to the wraith. Her anger will overtake her at times, but it is rare. Sometimes her strength is her weakness. More often it is her comfort.
Her belief in the Ancients is strong. It isn't worship. Her people aren't the type to worship anyone, god or not. They do pay homage to those who came before. Teyla does the same, whether they be the Ancients or other Athosians. She has mourned more people then she can count. Not only her own, others as well. Part of being a trader, a traveller, is always mourning another's loss. Especially in a galaxy where there are wraith.
She was five when her father first noticed her negotiation skills. Teyla had sat watching him practice at bantos and insisted on being taught. It took her two years to convince him. She was still younger than most Athosians when she started to learn. Fear had been such a part of her life Teyla could not understand life without it. She had not lost a fight since she was twelve. She killed her first man at 16. But she'd killed her first wraith at 14. Teyla knew which one she regretted.
When she was ten Teyla was sent into the woods with a group of her peers. Two of the others cried, fretted and screamed, but Teyla never did. She marked the path they took from their first step. When it came time to eat their first night, she took charge, organising everyone. Not comforting. There was no room for comfort among the Athosians. Teyla made that clear to them all. The elders had been proud, so proud that everyone in their group had survived. That they had built into a team. Teyla had taken no credit until was pushed forward. Then she had pointed out each of the their strengths. They had never forgotten, but nor had she. She always knew that no matter how strong you were on your own, you were stronger as a team.
She began to go with her father on trading missions. Learning about the people through the gates. Teyla did not realise for many years that she was being groomed to be a leader. She simply did what came naturally. Teyla was always empathetic and caring, something her father watched for. He was the one who explained things to her. The differences between a lie and a misrepresentation. How you could always tell the signs of both. How to greet a friend. How to ameliorate an enemy. How to negotiate. How to placate. Tagan taught her almost everything. What he did not teach her Charin did. She taught Teyla sympathy and warmth. To have a softer side she would otherwise forget.
She was 17 when her father was taken by the wraith. Too young in some eyes to take his position. But Teyla had learned much in that time. Smiling when it was needed. Raising her voice when it was appropriate. As much as she mourned her father's loss, it seemed only natural she would succeed him as leader. Not only was she a keen negotiator, Teyla had her father's wraith sense.
When she was 13 kissed her first boy. Another Athosian. She was 14 when she first slept with one. It was right after a wraith attack. Her father had admonished her for not being careful enough, but Teyla had not cared. It was not until Teyla saw the boy culled that she thought she may have done wrong.
Her mother was always a distant memory. A voice or a scent. Nothing more. She had first cursed the Ancients and the wraith when she was old enough to realise her loss. Tagan had slapped her. He was right to, for no family among the Athosians had not felt some loss. It was cold comfort.
Teyla learned early the benefit of staying calm calm when others reacted. She was unforgiving of herself. She was just as unforgiving of others. When her father was taken by the wraith Teyla was inconsolable. It took days before others could even talk to her. It was Charin who made the difference. Without a mother, she was the closest thing Teyla had left to family.
Teyla learned early the value of listening. Of seeing each argument for what it was. Yet she also knew that she couldn't afford weakness. She has never been able to afford weakness. Teyla tends to believe the best in others. When she is let down it is hard to win back her trust and belief. Those who have her trust she would believe wholeheartedly. Teyla believes in the Atlanteans and their mission. There are few she has such a great affection for as John, Rodney, Carson and Ronon.
Teyla has always felt strongly about things. Some of the time she has even expressed that feeling. More often she repressed that. As she did many feelings. Yet sometimes she could not put them away. Because she was sympathetic. Empathetic even. Teyla has always been logical. Yet, she has also always been emotional. A fine balance of the two. She will never give in to the wraith. Her anger will overtake her at times, but it is rare. Sometimes her strength is her weakness. More often it is her comfort.