Xanadu Weyr - Weyrleaders' Office
Office and retreat, this is the domain of Xanadu's Weyrleaders. The door is in the eastern wall, quite close to the southern end while the northern wall is dominated by big, expansive windows, framed by sumptuous deep blue drapes edged with a brilliant gold braid and tied back with a thick rope of braided gold and blue cord. In between, the eastern wall is covered floor to ceiling with shelves that house all sorts of records, manuals and supplies that are used on a day-to-day basis. The southern wall has the Weyrleader's desk — plain fellis wood, well polished and masculine. From behind his desk, the Weyrleader can look straight through the windows and out onto the main airspace of Xanadu. The western wall is where the Weyrwoman's desk resides: a lovely piece of furniture made of warm cherry wood. From her seat, a glance sideways gives her an equally good prospect out the window. There are a few other seats, some comfortably arranged around a low round table for small, informal meetings while there also some that can be drawn up to one of the desks.
On the south side of the door, the space is occupied by a low oblong table where refreshments can be set without someone needing to intrude. There is also an 'incoming' tray where incoming correspondence or similar items can be left.
The best part of waking up is hot klah in your cup! .. Not quite. For Ka'el, the best part of waking up would be saying in bed for lazy hours more, which is where he'd rather be now. But, he's here at work. Behind his desk with a mug of klah set to the side of it. But instead of poring over the papers that are demanding his attention or contacting those who have been set to meet with him today, he's leaned back in his chair, eyes set straight ahead towards the windows that look out over the airspace of Xanadu. The sky is pale with the light of morning, and it's breezy out there if the swaying of trees are any indication. A dragon pops in from between. A Comet rider on early rounds. He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, head tilting back and up. Just a few more hours under the warm covers would've been nice!
Mur'dah was up early with some of the weyrlings, supervising more unmanned flights and hunts, so when he knocks on Ka'el's door (with only the briefest of hesitations) he's a bit wind swept and dressed in his working leathers, well tailored but also well scuffed. Hastily running his fingers through his hair, he steps in when (presumably) Ka'el bids him to enter, closing the door behind him and snapping off a smart salute. "Sir, if I might have a moment of your time…"
Yup. Someone will tell him to enter. And that someone is likely Ka'el, which is why when Mur'dah arrives he's no longer with his eyes closed or leaned back in his seat. In fact, he's standing now, fingertips rested gently upon the smooth wood of his desk. "Mur'dah," he greets with a return salute, gesturing to one of the assmbled chairs near the desk area in invitation for him to sit. "Of course," he answers with a nod, reseating himself now and fixing him with an inquiring look. "What can I help you with?"
Mur'dah moves forward and sits down, one leg crossed over the other as he tugs fingers through his slightly too-long hair again. "Honestly I don't know if you can help," he admits, "but it's about Zi'on, and the party, and his behavior towards Kiena." Dark eyes lift to watch the Weyrleader for a moment, silently questioning if he noticed.
Ka'el, unable to help? His brows lift a little in question, but he doesn't voice his confusion, allowing Mur'dah to continue without interruption. Zi'on. The name alone has those raised brows lowering again. Past neutral, settling to a briefly-formed frown. But again he doesn't interrupt, listening, which is usually the best road to take when one hopes to gather information. The party. Kiena. His mouth twitches, though in the end he shakes his head. "I'm afraid my interaction with Zi'on was very brief and only moments before he left. But … given what I know of his past experiences with Kiena, I can guess how it may have went." He drums his fingers once against the desk. "Tell me?"
Mur'dah nods. He figured as much. It was a big party and honestly, Mur'dah figures if Ka'el /had/ heard, things would have been dealt with then and there. "He was just…very rude to her. Again. You know their history," at least what Kiena has told him, "and he…every time they're together he gets in these /digs/. It's cruel. And unnecessary. Especially at a formal meeting of candidates and weyrlings, of two weyrs, and she is the /Weyrsecond/." He settles back in the chair, fingers drumming against the armrest. "He was a dick. Telling the Candidates to ask Kiena about his, uh, 'sausage', and then introducing her as his ex - instead of Bluerider Kiena of Xanadu, Weyrsecond and rider to Ujinath, as would have been befitting her rank."
Rude. Unsurprising, that. Ka'el nods at the word, eyes remaining on the brownrider as he continues on, not happy about anything that he's hearing. He knows the Western Weyrleader is a fellow with little tact. Who causes trouble for his Weyrsecond when he comes to 'visit his kids'. But to be outwardly so at a public event? It's obvious that Ka'el had no idea what happened at the dance, considering the expression that etches over his face now. An incredulous look of shock. "He did what?" He cringes, eyes tensing around the edges. "Shard it, it's too much to ask for the man to act like a man instead of a child desperate for attention for once in his life, isn't it?" He scowls, leaning back is chair only to lean forward again, the frown on his face deep. "No person, Weyrleader or not, will come to our home and belittle our people. Our leadership. How is Kiena? Have you spoken with her since?"
Mur'dah snorts, his mouth twisting up in a wry smirk. "Apparently it is far to much to ask," he says dryly. "I'd have rather had the twins there." And they're /5/. Harsh. "It's just been building, Ka'el. Just one more thing on top of every other sharding time he's been a dick to her - here /and/ in Western." He meets the Weyrleader's gaze, expression hardening ever so slightly. "She's upset. Or was. It's just…time after time after time. And she's strong. She endures. But she was hurt by it. Again. Honestly," his fingers tap against the armrest again, "I'm half tempted just to go over there, buy him a drink and tell him to knock it the fuck off."
"Yes, I know. I know it has been and I've told her before that putting up with it isn't something that she has to do or should do, for that matter. But you know her as well as I do. Asking for or accepting help doesn't come easy to her." Ka'el falls quiet for a moment, eyes looking past Mur'dah now as he thinks. "But now, it's out of her hands. Zi'on came here and made a spectacle of himself in front of Weyrlings and Candidates alike. Publicly belittling her, a ranked member of our Weyr.." He's speaking aloud to himself, as if mentally checking off offenses, making sure that the offenses are, in fact, offenses and not merely personal disgruntlement. Politics. It's always about politics when in a political position. Eyes refocus on Mur'dah now. "I'd skip the drink, personally." A vague smirk, but it's not long-lasting. "He's brought this upon himself. His actions won't go ignored. Not this time. He'll need to be spoken to about it. And I…" Am overbooked, if the look to his desk-calendar says anything. What can he dismiss to make room for a Western visit? Or… Blue eyes shift to Mur'dah contemplatively.
Mur'dah continues drumming his fingers for a moment before they still. "It wasn't like he slapped her or called her a whore, but it certainly wasn't how he /should/ have been behaving. And it's just one more time, one more incident…" The straw that broke the camelid's back? There's a little smirk at skipping the drink, and he nods. Ka'el…? What? Mur'dah waits for him to finish that thought, brows lifting when Ka'el looks at him.
Ka'el thinks about it before answering. It could be a bad idea. But then again, who better, if not himself? And as much as he'd love to flit on over to Western and give Zi'on more than a piece of his mind, perhaps the initial contact shouldn't be Weyrleader to Weyrleader. Yet. Ka'el folds his hands, eyes still on Mur'dah. "Would you like to go?" he asks. "You heard the comments. You witnessed the behavior. From me, it could be argued as hearsay. From you, there'd be no question of its truth. His behavior was and has been unacceptable, and we won't tolerate it on Xanadu any longer. You can bring those words directly from me. Do you think you'll be able to go as a representative and speak to him? As an assistant weyrlingmaster, you've every right to voice your concerns of his behavior in the presence of our Weyrlings."
Mur'dah looks, well. Startled. Ka'el is asking /him/ to do something? Mur'dah quickly masters his surprise with a small nod. "I'd be more than happy to go and speak with him about his behavior towards Kiena. And let him know that it will no longer be tolerated." He was in Comet, he can deliver messages. This one is just a bit more…complicated.
“Good. I know that having been trained with Comet, you know the .. uh, intricacies of handling yourself with people of different ranks. I haven’t had the … pleasure of speaking with Zi’on much, but if his behavior with Kiena and women in general is any indication, I can assume what kind of person he is and the sense of entitlement he believes he ha. So … be careful,” Ka’el advises. “If he causes any trouble for you, have Kalsuoth reach Kanekith or one of the queens. If you wish, you can bring someone with you. A member of Quasar might be a good choice. When you return, report to me and debrief me. If I need to meet with him myself, I want to get that out of the way sooner rather than later.”
Mur'dah sits up a bit straighter in his chair as he receives his orders. "Yes, sir. I will, certainly." He pushes to his feet then, fingers tugging through his hair again, thoughtful. Contemplative.
Ka'el looks momentarily wary. Maybe he should drop everything and go himself. Shuffle around the seemingly endless amounts of things to do and fly over to Western and .. no. He can't do everything himself. Mur'dah can handle this, and although there were things he hasn't trusted him with in the past, he can't continue living there. So, he'll trust him with this. He rises too, exhaling a slow breath. "Thank you for bringing what happened at the dance to my attention, Mur'dah," he says, extending his hand to him. "And remember, Xanadu backs you."
Mur'dah extends his hand to grasp Ka'el's, giving it a firm shake. Faranth he hopes he doesn't mess this up. At least he's not taking a glitter bomb to Western? *cough* "Thank you, sir. I'll report back as soon as I've returned."
Depending on how the Western leader handles himself, maybe the glitter bomb will be the next step in Xanadu’s handling of him. That thing has got to be good for something. Ka’el nods to Mur’dah and offers a light smile before he sits back down and picks up a pen to jot down notes to remember. Mur’dah, Zi’on, and Kiena are noted, as is Thea’s name, all of which are circled. Now…about that klah. Hopefully it was an ‘extra strong’ batch that was made!
Mur'dah steps back, salutes, and then takes his leave. HMM. Gift? No gift? Brass knuckles? Should he dress up? Go to him as an official AWLM from Xanadu? Or just try to talk to him man to man? Hmmmmm.