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 spring season on Xanadu hasn't been very … springlike lately. Rainy days have been followed by more rainy days, and the moments where the sun does shine and give a peek of spring are interrupted with sudden spring storms. Today? It's fog. A dreary blanket of gray has settled upon the weyr, making everything seem eerie and quiet. It's late afternoon now and the administration hallway is busy as usual. People deliver papers here and there. The radio is being listened to. Complaints taken. Ka'el has sent word via messenger for M'kal, and currently the young Weyrleader is alone in his shared office, standing by the large windows that look out on the foggy world. His hands are behind his back and his brows are dipped in a look that's either thoughtful or troubled, or possibly a mixture of both.
If it's not rain then fog? M'kal seems to mind neither for he was working on mending straps when the message was received. An excellent reason if he ever heard one to go chat with his friend. After all the two really haven't seen each other yet since the flight happens. So he traverses, eventually, to the adminhallway and it's on this door that he knocks before peeking his head in. "Don't jump?" he teases.
Ka'el glances over his shoulder at the knock and grins both at seeing M'kal and at what he says. "Can't. Double reinforced windows, y'see. Can't open'em." Which may or may not be true, but that's not the point! He grins as he turns around. "I think it's one've those occupational hazards the Weyr's grown wise to. Probably lost a Weyrleader or two back in the day." A smirk follows before he approaches the young rider and ex-wingmate, not hesitating to greet him with a man-hug. Manly hug! He claps at his back a few times, genuinely glad to see him. "Good to see you, M'kal. You want anything? Somethin' to eat? Drink? One good thing about this new gig is that I don't want for much. All I've to do is ask."
"Back in the days of Thread I would imagine." agrees M'kal as he steps in further. "Yeah? Anything you want?" a brow arches up doubtfully. "I'll take a drink. Anything you pick." he leaves it fairly wide open. The hug is returned though. Bros before…ahem. Bros forever? "How are ya doing?! I've not really talked to you since…well all this." a hand sweeps the room.
"Anything?" Ka'el cocks a brow. "What I pick depends on whether or not you're done with your sweeps for the night," he says, smirking as he moves towards the office door, opening it to peek out. Young runners are always at the ready. Ready for messages, notes to be delivered, whatever. Or in this case, drink orders! "Apple juice for rider M'kal and myself," is what ends up being ordered. The manliest drink of men! He closes the door as the kid skitters off down the hall and to the kitchens, leaving Ka'el with M'kal. "All this is…heh. Yeah." He shakes his head and waves his hand towards a sofa. Less formal than his big hulking desk that oozes 'official business' from its aura. "I'm … eh, alive," he says, smirking. "It's a lot. An' I've a feeling I've only just dipped a toe in, you know?" Just getting a peek of what's to come! "How about you? You're right, it's been forever."
M'kal feigns hurt but his green eyes twinkle with mirth. "What? Already concerned about my duties and me drinking??!" he's teasing though. He does look impressed though as all Ka'el has to do is stick his head out the door and give the drink order for the manly apple juice. He too moves towards the couch then to take a seat, crossing one leg over the other's knee. Howevrer guys sit. "You are alive…though damn…" he whistles with one more look around the office. "Plenty of time to jump in so I'd imagine dipping a toe in is the best way!" or so he thinks. "No worries for me though, Xeosoth's not likely to catch a Gold. SO far no greens either for him. I am good. Staying busy with sweeps and other duties for Galaxy."
Ka'el sits on the couch too. Not so close that it'd be weird. He drapes an arm upon the back of the cushion as he watches his friend, smirking at his awed state of the office. Yeah. He knows the feeling. "Hope so," he says in response to him having plenty of time. "With my luck though, Fort's going to start a war with us in the morning and it'll be my job to ready the riders and strategize." Meh. No wars please! "Xeosoth hasn't caught anything yet?" he says, a look of slight jealousy on his face. "Lucky. You. Kanekith has this annoyin' habit of goin' after golds. And winning." Two for two. Yay him? -.-; He waves a hand dismissively. "Anyhow. I'm glad you were free. I've been meaning to talk to you for a little bit about a couple things. First, you've heard about how N'shen wanted everyone in the wings to rotate between being Wingleader and Wingsecond, right?"
M'kal doesn't look put out on no catches yet. "nothing yet!" he says cheerfully. "Oh yeah…" he falls silent to listen a moment. "Oh yes, I had heard about N'shen wanting the rotating done. I never heard anything come of that though?"
"Shifting through paperwork on that right now, actually," Ka'el remarks with a glance to his desk on which indeed there are small stacks of papers. Some in folders. Some not. "Looks like some wings got it started. Galaxy never truly did, I think. Ers'lan is…" His nose is given a slight twitch, "not as…" Hm. Is Wingleadery a word? "…He doesn't show the leadership qualities…" Meh. Why the official talk? This is M'kal! "Shards. He's shardin' distracted and interested in everything else other than Galaxy lately. I've hardly seen him about, even before now. Most of my training came from riders beneath him since Graduation. I can understand N'shen's thinking behind rotating. To keep things like that from happening. Keep Wingleaders from bein' .. stagnant in their position, I guess? But before I do too much refiguring, I want to hear what riders think. How would you feel if Galaxy's Wingleader shifted every six months? I think that was the time frame. Would you feel comfortable with that, or do you see chaos?"
M'kal flinches a bit when Ers'lan's name is mentioned though it is hard to tell why. "I uh..yeah…he was never really around much. I mean he's there and stuff but not really all leader like." he agrees completely it seems. There is a flicker of surprise in the younger lad's expression though as Ka'el asks him about what he feels about the shifting. "I dunno…I haven't really thought about it." which means that the time to think is now! "6 months…" he gives a meh sound. "I would suggest that once all the different riders, of those who are interested in such positions, have experienced leadership then you choose from the ones who was the strongest to be the leader. I mean rotating aint bad I suppose but at the same time it will be hard to really learn and gain trust on who is in charge. I mean…like Galaxy." he is really warming up to this topic now. "We have times that we are really busy but then on the flip side there could be months when we're stagnant. During /that/ time it's hard to really get a feel for the leader if there is a different one than when the times were busy." he pauses, surprised at his long winded response.
A knock on the door signals the arrival of that young runner, carrying with him a tray of two frosty glasses and a pitcher of apple juice. He ducks his head a bit as he scurries on in, setting the tray down to pour two drinks, which he hands to Weyrleader and rider. "Sirs," he says quickly, bobbing his head to them both before skedattling out, leaving the pitcher behind for refills. Ka'el smiles, murmurs a thanks, then takes a drink as he thinks over what M'kal said. It's the most he's probably ever heard him say about anything! It's.. a good thing. "That's a good idea," he says of using the rotation as tryouts of sorts. "I honestly hated the idea when I first learned about it. I couldn't imagine havin' a different Wingleader and Second so often. I've people in mind who'd be a good fit, if I was just to choose someone. N'varre, for example. He's a bit older, but not old. Plus, he was Weyrsecond before, so he'd know how to lead and delegate, I think.." He pauses, tapping his fingers on his glass as he thinks. "But… I like the idea of seein' who's interested and watching before choosing." He smirks. "Any shining stars pop into your mind for Galaxy?"
Indeed it was most likely the most expressive M'kal's been! Perhaps Xeosoth is having a good influence on the lad or perhaps he's finally settling into everything very well and feel comfortable enough to state his opinions to Ka'el. After all the WL is now only a few turns older than M'kal himself. "I liked the idea. At first. But as I started mulling it over…" he shrugs. "I think for sure the pool should be chosen from those who express interest in the position." here now is where we cue awkward. Does he just outright say he wants a chance or… "Well within Galaxy I would like to express interest in rotating in as WingLeader for the trial period. M'nol and If'an would be my top two picks for position as well."
Blink. "You?" He doesn't do a very good job of hiding his surprise, but at least it isn't one of those types of surprised sounds that's followed by laughter of disbelief. Nah. Ka'el's just simply… surprised by his interest. "Honestly, I'd feel more comfortable with a Wingleader with more experience than either one of us currently have in Galaxy. But…" He smirks and gestures around his office, "here I am with absolutely none in Quasar, so who'm I to deny you a chance?" He grins, giving him an encouraging look. "Consider your name officially in for the trial, M'kal. Good luck. .. Now, if you've a little more time, there's a second thing I wish to speak to you about."
M'kal can't help but offer a faint smirk at Ka'el's obvious surprise. "Oh come on, really? I mean you're what? 17 and Weyrleader?" he jokes a bit. "And yeah, a trial run is all I ask for!" he grins lopsided, pausing in his talking to drink. "Ok, shoot." when Ka'el mentions a second thing.
Ka'el snickers. "And you'll be a twelve turn old Wingleader," he counters, brows lifting in a smirkish way. Xanadu. The Weyr of Youth! You must be nineteen turns or younger to ride this ride! "Might as well appoint that runner to Weyrsecond while I'm at it. He looks to be nothin' more than twelve, thirteen turns." He laughs again, imagining a Weyr run by nothing but teens and weyrbrats! He takes a drink and sobers a little, then sobers a lot when thinking of that second thing on his agenda. "Have you spoken to Marel?"
M'kal refrains from sticking out his tongue and giving a solid thbbbbt. But just barely! "I am 16 and nearly 17 actually." he points out, nudging his friend with an elbow. "Maybe you're so old you can't tell age anymore!" jibes M'kal. At the sudden sobering though he looks puzzled as Marel is asked about. "Have I spoken? No, not much lately. I've been fairly busy with sweeps and healer studies that…well no. Why?" suddenly he's all worried. "What's wrong? She okay?"
Ka'el would joke about being nearly twenty and too old to be allowed residency upon Xanadu, the Weyr of Youth. But. Things have shifted now. Towards Marel. Towards a little bit of seriousness. "I'd've brought this up first, but I figured if I did, we never would've spoken about the Wings," he says a little apologetically. "But don't worry. She's alright," he assures. "She's alright.. now. She wasn't before. I didn't know it then, but she wasn't okay during her ma's flight. Isyriath was there, but she wasn't. I didn't know til the day after, but she locked herself in her weyr. Barricaded the door. I can't even begin to imagine how she felt, but she was terrified that Isyriath might catch Seryth, and…well. You know." He frowns a little. "She tried to stop him from chasing, but he already started and wouldn't listen."
M'kal pales slightly at that. "I…she.. Oh damn." someone's neglecting their boyfriendly duties! He stands. "I'll go find her. Oy, this isn't good." he mutters unhappily. "Poor Marel."
"It gets a little worse yet.." murmurs Ka'el as he sets his drink down on a table top. "She couldn't get him to stop. Said he wasn't payin' attention to her, so … she took a blade to herself." His face turns grim. "To her leg. Was enough to get Isyriath off the chase, but she cut herself pretty bad. Guess she got to the infirmary the next day, cuz when I went by, she was bandaged up. Now, she already got it from me. Told her what she did was the stupidest thing she could've done. I'm keepin' a closer eye on her now, but with Seryth already risen, she should be alright for a few turns." He exhales, slumping against his seat a little. "Weyrleader or not, hearin' things from you is probably gonna hit home more, so .. visit her. Keep an eye on her, when you can. I haven't told her ma, but I know you should know." And there's nothing else Ka'el needs to discuss with M'kal, other than possibly consoling him a little and urging him to go to the brownrider now while he has a chance.
What little color was left now drains from M'kal's face. "…no…"his head shakes and with the barest of politeness he sets down the drink, mumbles something and then exits stage left.
Poor M’kal. Ka’el watches him leave with a sympathetic look. Marel may not be happy with him for telling M’kal, but … well, if it was Soriana, he’d want to know. He drains the last of his juice before rising, leaving the cup on the table to be collected later. He circles around behind his desk and sinks into the leather chair. For a moment, he just sits, allowing his mind to settle, clear, and refocus. What was he working on? .. Ah, right. The Wings. What to do about Wingleaders and Seconds. There are many things to consider. He inhales a slow breath and releases it through his nose. Prioritize, Ka'el. M'kal will take care of Marel. Ka'el … is learning to take care of everything else.
