Xanadu Weyr - Weyrsecond and Jr Weyrwomans' Office
Office or study? Perhaps this room is a little of both. It is spacious and airy with the big windows opposite the door looking northwards, a perfect aspect when one is this far south. Those windows are framed by dark forest green drapes, soft ribbons and braid in dark, rich gold sewn along the edges to give them a sumptuous look. The back wall is covered by shelves that hold a variety of things - mostly records and reference material as well as writing tools and sheets of hide and paper. Tapestries, including several lovely scenes of the terrain around Xanadu Weyr, cover the rest of the wall-space while a soft, plain off-white rug hides the stone floor. A small, low table sits by the door and usually has some refreshment set out on it.
Several broad desks are arranged around the room, each one set so someone sitting at it doesn't look directly at any of the others. Small screens can be set up on each desk to give a little more privacy and each has one comfortable chair that goes with it. So far, it looks like one desk has a permanent claimant. There are also several other chairs, which can be used by visitors.
Midafternoon at Xanadu finds most of the Juniors and the Weyrsecond off doing other things, leaving Thea in peace and quiet for once. She's overdressed for the office today, her dress a more tailored and formal thing than she usually wears, hair carefully bound in a net to match. Cheeks are flushed from the cold of *Between* and her jacket still on - both indicate she hasn't been here long at all. She's seated at her desk, which has one of those computers sitting atop, taking up the space, but apparently unused as of yet for the cord is wrapped around it, left unplugged. The Junior is working on papers off to one side, still doing things the old-fashioned way.
"Thea," D'son says simply as he comes to the door, knocks on its open frame. "You wanted to see me?" he asks, looking likewise windblown, as if he w as out and about someplace too.
Thea's in the process of shrugging out of her jacket, having warmed to the point she can't wear it any longer as that knock upon the doorframe catches her attention. "Oh, hey D'son. Yeah." She frowns, a quick glance sent to the empty Weyrsecond's desk then back to the Weyrleader. "I'm wondering if either you or Vivian need this computer before I send it back. I… won't be needing it."
"I've got one and the laptop and this," D'son answers, tapping the PDA on his belt, then looks out towards the hallway, pulls the door closed and approaches, drawing a chair up to the desk. "Just don't like computers or …"
That jacket is flipped over the back of her chair as D'son is pulling up a chair. A handwave dismisses the computer. "Um. It's not that," Thea's answer is evasive with some uneasiness to go along with it. She's pulling a small drawer open, selecting a small notepaper and pen as she answers, obviously choosing her words with some care as her eyes lift, "I… just won't need the extra time learning to use this contraption would give me." She shrugs, adding simply, "Not training."
D'son sits, listening, brows slowly wrinkling together. "Don't … need it?" His head shakes, not following.
Thea's eyes had dropped to that paper, writing a note to return the thing to stores. She lifts her head, "Oh, yeah. I'm not training for the flamethrowers. Or Search and Rescue stuff." The note regains her attention for a few seconds before she looks back up and hastens to assure, "I'm still working with the smiths on the flamethrower readiness though." There's a nod following that and not one trace of sulk in her face or tone.
"So … you don't need a computer because you're not going to learn to use a flamethrower?" D'son says, dubious. "You know, those two things really don't um — go together? Logically?" The Weyrleader's head tilts to the side. "Also, if you want to learn to use one, you should. Just in case. Even if you don't do the S&R exercises."
Thea nods, "Yes, I suppose they don't appear to, do they?" She blows out a long sigh, "I only wanted to learn the computer so I'd have more time to train. Since it turns out I won't be…" she lets that trail off with a shrug. Her hand taps the pen idly, her clear-eyed gaze on the Weyrleader, "I want to do both. I just… um… shouldn't."
Lips press together and D'son looks up at the ceiling for a moment, then back down. "It'd make it easier to share reports and stuff with you without having to print them out," he says gently. "But I'm not going to make you learn," he says about the computer. "As for the flamethrower … because of Niva, or because of D'had?"
Thea considers this. "I… never thought of it that way." Her eyes assess that computer for a moment before lifting back to him. "I could… try?" His question isn't answered directly, "Niva's never really gonna let us help, but…" Her eyes slide towards the Weyrsecond's desk for a moment. "I think… I'd be more of a liability than a help in a crisis," she says with some uneasiness there.
"Hold onto it and if you want to learn how to use it, you can," a nod to the computer. D'son is quiet for a few moments, looking at her solemnly. The question that follows is simple. "Why?"
Thea nods once more, assuring him, "I will." A tiny frown forms as she considers her answer, "Well, he," a nod to indicate the absent Weyrsecond's desk, "uh, was really upset when I disagreed with him about Search and Rescue." She sheepishly, adds, "We both were, but-" a hand waves that away, "that's beside the point." Her eyes have real concern in them, "I've never seen him that way, D'son. He was near panic."
"Okay," D'son says with a little shake of his head. "That's your personal relationship. It has nothing to do with what you do as a professional as a rider," the Weyrleader says with a tip of his head to the side. "Are you telling him he can't teach Siebith to flame?"
Thea shakes her head quickly, "Of course not! I've no qualms whatsover about any of that." She fidgets with that pen in her hand, studying it closely for a time. With her eyes still lowered, she adds, "He didn't say I couldn't train. He doesn't know I've decided not to. But what's the point of training if I cannot use it? He doesn't want me in Search and Rescue. He was adamant about that."
"Okay, as wingleader for S&R he does have that right, but you don't have to be /in/ S&R to learn the techniques," D'son points out. "As for using it … you never know what might come up when you're out there on hold rotation. And well, if you're on hold rotation, aren't you technically kind of under /my/ purview?" Brows lift again.
Thea mulls this over. "He does. I… see." A handwave towards the far-flung places beyond the Weyr, "I guess I am under you when I'm out there and the training would come in handy for that, yes, but…" Conflict reigns in her expression, troubled eyes lift to his. "If I do help, he will be…" She shrugs. See, she doesn't really know how to put it by the frustration on her face.
Again D'son waits Thea out, blows out a breath, nods. "Well — I can't really get between you and your weyrmate, Thea. But I'm your Weyrleader and his too. And as your /Weyrleader/, if you want to learn you have the right and I support that. I have to bow to Niva's decision not to let goldriders patrol, but if you want to learn … I'll — teach you myself."
"Yeah, I wouldn't ask you to do that," Thea hastily assures D'son with a nod of understanding about Niva's decision. She sighs, thinking aloud, "He did say start with training…" One hand reaches towards the computer, a finger idly tapping on a key before flickering an uncertain glance up at him, "Probably be more dangerous -not- to know what I'm doing out there in the holds, huh? Maybe if I told him that…"
"Yes, it would be," D'son says firmly. "Not knowing what you're doing and trying to guess," the Weyrleader says with a serious air. Breath out. "So. If you want to learn, I'll teach you."
Thea's finger still taps that key, thoughtfully silent is she. "Well, sure if you have time to teach me how to use the thing sometime, I'd appreciate it." She snickers suddenly, "I'm having a hard time understanding the diagrams the smith gave me and he adds a barrage of detailed information with it that just loses me." She shakes her head, "Can't just point and shoot. Must know how to build one!"
"I have time," D'son says with a grin. "Or you know, you can join the general goldrider flamethrower group for those basics." Ha laughs, nods. "Yeah. Well, just to use it … it's not that hard, but you do need practice for accuracy I guess."
Thea snorts, "Yeah, that's what I told -him-. We just use them and -they- build them." Her face clears and she's standing, tossing her jacket over one arm. "I need to go find that computer crafter and… see that smith and…" A hand scoops up a paper from her desk, "get this hold report to Niva…" She's chattering now, her face animated and shoulders relaxed once more as she grins at the Weyrleader. "Hey, thanks D'son."
Rising too, D'son grins. "All right then, I'll see you later or tomorrow. And if you want me to help you out with techniques, we can do run-throughs on third-days before dinner." Beat. "You're welcome, Thea." He lets her precede her out of the room, turns down the hall to his own office after.