Logs:Of Airing Concerns
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| RL Date: 20 March, 2007 |
| Who: R'hin, Shalyn |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 28, Month 4, Turn 11 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 19:40 on day 28, month 4, Turn 61, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring evening. Weyrleader Ledges(#12138RJs) A flight of steps worn smooth with time lead up to a broad flat area with enough room for a gold and her consort to sprall and lounge. Openings lead to a room used for conferences, the Weyrwoman's private room, and the hatching sands themselves. A round table of well polished hardwood sits in one corner and is surrounded by chairs. Contents: Leiventh Obvious exits: Hatching Grounds Weyrwoman Weyrleader Council Chamber Bowl Shalyn comes up the steps from the bowl. Shalyn has arrived. Shalyn walks up the stairs from the ground level, she's wearing a dragonhealers smock and crarrying a notebook. R'hin's standing in the middle of the ledge, head down, frowning at a series of maps. They are, in fact, spread out across most of the length of the ledge floor, held in place by rocks - maps of High Reaches coverage, and some of all of Pern, showing fall patterns. The Weyrleader's looking different; his normally shaggy hair has been cut near to scalp level, giving him a more austere look. "Shalyn," he says, without looking up. Shalyn nods, "Evening sir." she peeks at the maps, "Trying to deduce where thread will fall next? The Weyrleader looks tired, but then that shouldn't be any great surprise. "You mean, trying to predict the future? Predict the unpredictable, when everything says this should not be happening?" a hint of anger in his tone, pale eyes flickering towards Shalyn, focusing on her with a frown, before he turns and gestures towards an empty chair at the table. "Sit. M'wen mentioned you had a word with him about some concerns you have." The expectant look seems to indicate an elaboration is in order. Shalyn nodnods, "I know how you feel, I have an infirmary full of seriously injured dragons 5 of whom will never fly fall again, ironic since they shoulden't have in the first place." she sighs and peeks at the map again, "Here... and here." she points first to Crom Masterminerhold, an Red Sands hold on the northern tip of Ista island. She settles herself into a chair, "Not concerns sir, a request. If M'wen expressed concerns I perhaps misled him." R'hin quirks a brow in response to Shalyn's seemingly random picks. "Why?" a tip of head, a faint wave of his hand, perhaps dismissive, but he waits, with a hint of impatience in the lacing of his fingers, for her explanation. Shalyn thinks, "I dunno... women's intuition. The first one was right here north in the reaches The second one was here over Ruatha twenty degrees south and 150 miles to the east." she pauses for a moment's introspection, "I remember something a starsmith once said to me about orbital drift patterns, I was only 12 so I barely remember but she showed me a chart it went kind of like this..." she traces a parabolic curve on the map. "Now following the time between the first fall and the second if you follow this path as Purn turns benieth it..." she traces a number of curves each progressing east, "Would bring you first to Crom, further north and Red Sands furthr north again. If I'm right then the two after that will be north of the Barrier Range where no on will get hurt and the sixth over Igen weyr. The two after that over the pole and Bitra hold." "Well, unfortunately, women's intuition," and there's a fairly strongly implied derision in R'hin's voice at that particular claim, "Isn't solid enough information for me. Or anyone." His hands clap together, as if to focus Shalyn's attention, then, "We're not here to discuss fall right now. You wanted a meeting with me. Then talk. I have work to be getting to." Shalyn shrugs and crosses her legs and places her notebook in her lap, "Well sir, it's really very simple, since the wing restructuring snowstrike's been on an opposite rotation from Avalanche. I harely spend any time with my Weyrmate and we spend next to no family time with our daughter. It's been putting an unnecessary strain on our relationship an on our family. I'd like to be reassigned to Avalanche wing. I've already spoken with Melata and C'len about it, though C'len is probably under a wrong impression as to why." "That seems to me to be something that could have been solved by asking for a slightly different rotation," the Weyrleader points out blandly. However, a sharp gesture from R'hin seems to indicate that Shalyn should continue, "Why don't you explain what wrong impression C'len got, and why it was wrong?" Shalyn shrugs, "He approached me asking if I had a problem with his leadership, I've had a few complaints but nothing serious so I shared them. He never asked me why I wanted a transfer. And I coulden't ask you to put the whole wing on a different rotation just for me." "So he had the impression that you had a problem with his leadership. That's interesting, because I've heard you've been telling people that's exactly why you wish to transfer," the Weyrleader says, gaze level on the greenrider. Shalyn says "And I've heard that all of Snowblind wing wants to transfer to Honshu weyr. Doesen't mean it's true. My gripes may be part of it, but it's a small part."" R'hin offers a level look at the greenrider, hint of irritation visible as he pushes up from his seat, pacing part of the length of the maps that line the floor. "Many people speak of loyalty, but few understand what it really means, Shalyn." A pause, then, "Some of the time it means being honest with your opinion. Of your Wingleader... or your Weyrleader," he casts a pointed glance over his shoulder. "That said," he frowns down at one of the maps for a moment, as if his mind is on other matters. "I will allow you to transfer, if and when," his hand holds up, "I receive approval from both Wingleaders personally. But, I wish you to consider this, greenrider. You are an adult. You are not a child anymore, and adults do not run from their problems. They deal with them." Shalyn's own eyes flash with the same glare of irritation, "Are you questioning my loyalty... or my honesty? Is is easier for you to believe weyr gossip than the simple fact that I wish to reduce the stress in and on my family? If I wanted to run from my problems I would have asked for a transfer to Ista or Igen. "Instead of discussing your concerns, you've make demands. It's not a particularly encouraging sign, greenrider." R'hin's ceased using her name, deliberately, invoking her title with a hint of sharpness to it. "I haven't forgotten your desire to transfer out of Snowstrike months ago, before this rotation, as you put it." A beat, then, "I will speak to the Wingleaders, and get back to you." There's a tacit dismissal implied in those words. Shalyn finally seems to loose it, but not her temper, she remains calm, "There! That's exactally it! You want me to discuss my concerns _Sir_, fine, lets. That's exactally what's been wrong with the whole bloody weyr lately!" R'hin's brow arches; that's it. Shalyn nodnods, "Yes! And it's not just me, many of us are feeling disenfranchised and dismissed lately. I'll give you a few examples if you'd like." "Go on," is all R'hin says. Shalyn says "When you and S'rist were discussing the wing reorganization did either of you think to ask us which of the other wings we might have liked to be reassigned to? When you were looking for a replacement for Snowstrike's wingleader did you think to inquire if any of us would like the position? You are the weyrleader and we'll follow you, but we'd like to, occasionally, be asked our opinion especially when our lives are concerned." R'hin holds a hand up. "First, as I've said -many- times. The wing reorganization was done by S'rist, and by Josilina. So, no, I did not ask, because I was not involved in the initial stages, only the final outcome." The second question causes him a pause, and a bemused sort of look. "As for the position of Wingleader-- don't forget, greenrider. This is not a place where everyone votes for most popular person for the position. I am the Weyrleader. It makes it -my- decision alone, who should be Wingleader. Not yours. Not the Weyrwoman's. Not the Weyr." While his voice hasn't risen, there's a definite sharpness to it. Shalyn says "Who said anything about votes _sir_? Did you think that perhaps Divya, Elie, Emilly, R'sel, S'din or even myself might have liked the position or might have been asked if they would like to be considered for it? _That's_ what I ment by inquiring as to who would like the position. And I'm not blaming you for what S'rist did to the wings, but if you were responsible for the final outcome you could have posted a note saying something along the line, "After due consideration it has been decided that... blah blah... at this time we'd like to be considerate enough to ask you into which of the weyr's other wings you'd most like to be placed. If we are unable to meet your request we will have to place you in the wing that will most benefit from your talents." she inhales, "Things are your decision, but you can't expect people to be all 'yes sir, no sir, right away sir, how high sir, is this enough blood for you sir' without you giving something back to them. Would you like to be told what to do, not given any say and told to go along and play nice with no rhyme or reason? If not, then why would you expect it from us without resentment? And for the record R'hin, I have a name, I'd appricate it if you'd use it."" "I could have asked them, true. But I didn't want them," R'hin says, blandly. "Or they wouldn't have wanted it, or they had commitments, or just stood down from commitments. There are a dozen reasons beyond your understanding, Shalyn," he uses her name, as requested, but there's a drawl to it. "And if we're dictating terms, if you're going to accuse me of being a poor Weyrleader, then at least do me the courtesy of addressing me with my title. But, yes, you're right. I didn't give people a choice. I put them where they're -needed-. Where the Weyr -needed- them. That's my job. If you don't like it, I'm not going to apologize." Shalyn says "And that's another problem... *you* diden't want them. Forgive me for saying this Weyrleader, but _you_ are not the weyr. You appoint your buddies and cronies as weyrseconds and wingleaders without asking if anyone else might have liked the position. I know my father woulden't have minded being considered for weyrsecond. But of course you diden't let anyone know you were considering anyone else outside your circle of friends. We're more than just little soldiers for you to order about, we're a family, comrades, brothers and sisters. And a dictatorial father who shows favorites to his children soon finds himself alone. Let us know we're needed, that you need us. That you value what have to say, occasionally ask our input is important to us. You don't have to consider what we say but at least listen to us." There's a tenseness to R'hin's posture, a hardness in his eyes that bespeaks growing anger. "I've appointed three people in my time as Weyrleader. -Three-. One a Wingleader. Whom, as a matter of fact, isn't a friend, merely someone I'd grown to respect. One a Weyrsecond. Who was, yes, a friend -- but a Weyrsecond is a specific position where you -need- a person you can rely on, and trust in. And Weyrlingmaster, who isn't a friend, has seen Thread, and is more qualified than anyone for the position. You're completely incorrect to accuse me of favoritism, Shalyn, and I would hope you'll retract the statement." The Weyrleader's voice remains cold throughout. Shalyns voice is actually soft and careing, "That's not the way things are being _perceived_ R'hin. Right now you're being perceived as dictatorial and distant. I know you're not but that's the way many of us are seeing things. And now others are following your, perceived, example. I'll retract the statement, but not the perception that was behind it." "Wait, you -know- I'm not? That's not what you said a minute ago," R'hin says, coolly. Shalyn sighs, "I'm not immune to perceptions, either. And just a minute ago you were accusing me of being dishonest and disloyal. Not a good starting point for a discussion of conserns." "And you're accusing me of nepotism and selfishness. Be careful how you step, Shalyn," R'hin warns. His head turns, sharply. "I have another meeting." Shalyn's brows furrow and her nostrils flare as she inhales, "So how about we both say that perhaps we both should take a look at ourselves before looking for fault in others? I'm sorry for takeing up so much of your time." A nod is the only response R'hin gives, mind already shifting back towards the maps that line the floor, shaved head bent as he studies them. Shalyn get's up and heads down the stairs muttering under her breath. Shalyn strolls down the flight of steps, towards the eastern bowl. |
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