Logs:Politics. Again.
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| RL Date: 25 March, 2015 |
| Who: Farideh, K'del, Keysi |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Egg-watching and conversation. Mostly political. |
| Where: Galleries, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 9, Month 5, Turn 37 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Aishani/Mentions, Azaylia/Mentions, Irianke/Mentions, Joremy/Mentions, Quinlys/Mentions |
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| It's a cool, damp spring afternoon, and despite the fact that most of the Weyr surely has duties to do, there are a fair few people up in the galleries. K'del's one of them, though at least he's brought a stack of paperwork with him... even if he's not presently reading it. Instead, leaning forward, he appears to be listening in to the conversation of a handful of weyr children sitting a few rows ahead of him, their high voices carrying through the caverns as they dream of dragons. It had been a handfull of days since she'd accepted the white knot, though it'd taken Keysi quite a bit of deliberation to determine exactly how she feels about everything that's occurred. And throughout the proccess, the healer apprentice had somewhat avoided the galleries- until today. The climb up into the galleries that seemed to go on forever skyward was slow as she came to the railing at a pause. Grey eyes took in the other observers too before settling on K'del and his paperwork as she looked for a quieter spot. "G'day sir. May I join you?" It's not surprise that greets Keysi's request, though K'del's pale blue eyes are thoughtful as they climb upwards to consider the apprentice-turned-candidate; it's not hesitance, either. Instead, there's a single moment of consideration-- of study-- before his mouth curves into a smile and he gestures towards the bench upon which he sits. "Of course," he says. "We've met, haven't we? I'm just... I don't think I remember your name, if I knew it at all." Keysi completes the short climb with slow intention, not quite hesitant, but as if not quite sure she should be up here. She takes a seat near him, perhaps a bit stiffly. Neutral expression is lacking the severity that backed it that particular day in the living caverns as she shakes her head to his inquiry. "I'm Keysi. I am.. was a healer apprentice. We met very briefly. Over K'zin, that is." She paused as if the thought had a twinge of humor in it, "When everyone left in a hurry as soon as you walked in." K'del's. "Ah," shows a definite sense of recognition. "Yes, of course. That." It's clearly not an occasion he looks back on with much pleasure, and yet, he manages, now, to put a wry smile onto his face. "Is your Hall going to be terribly upset with my Weyr for poaching you?" he wonders. "We've taken a few of your kind, over the turns. Congratulations, in any case." Keysi is quiet a moment as she gauges his reaction, observant until a smile returns. "They did send me here for Hall-Weyr relationship purposes, so I don't think they're allowed to be upset." She notes in what should be humor, but she doesn't seem very good at having notable inflections in her voice and seems ever-serious. She leans back, her glance turning over the sands. "What do you think about Crafts, hobbies, anything after Impression? Is it impossible? Do you really lose contact with everyone you ever met prior?" Obviously the conversation is spurred on by something she's been told already. "I guess you in particular are a bit busy most of the time." Is added as an afterthought. The corner of K'del's mouth turns up, just slightly, but it's not quite a smile-- not, at least, until that last comment, which draws a huff of laughter. "Just a little," he agrees. "But as to the rest: yes, certainly. We had a healer Impress a few turns back; greenrider. His whole purpose in asking to Stand was because he wished to continue his craft training and be able to deliver emergency medicine; having a dragon can be useful to that. If you Impress, continuing with your craft in some context is certainly possible, after you've finished your weyrling training. For a healer - you can imagine how useful having a healer involved in search and rescue, for example, can be." "He did? Did he succeed in his goal?" That stiff non-expression she carries so well seems shifted by what might be excitement. Keysi internalizes much of her reaction, however. "It seems like some of the hesitation to stand from those I've spoken to stems from the thought of losing everything you've already worked for." That response is added in a lower voice, as if there's another subject she's really aiming for and is slightly distracted by it. "What are you working on?" The once-apprentice asks, indicating the papers. "He never made Journeyman," answers K'del, "But he's been a useful rider and healer." He gives Keysi a sidelong glance, watching her reaction-- however subtle-- with a keen eye. "It's difficult," he agrees. "The prospect of starting over. Some crafts suit ridership better than others. And it'll never be the same; nothing ever is, after you Impress." Dropping his gaze towards his papers he adds, "Oh, just wing reports. Sweep reports. Keeping myself up-to-date with what is going on in each of the wings, and what they've seen out through the area." "I guess I can't imagine it could be the same," Keysi responds, "But there seems to be a lot more tied up in it than I knew before. I've always been so focused on my own training, I suppose I never really paid attention. Dragonriding was always heroic Harper stories." Nor has she ever really been in a Weyr for a significant period of time until now. "Politics, I mean. There's a lot of side-taking." She stops herself, though, glancing at the bronzerider to gauge his reaction. K'del's mouth opens, but he stops himself from actually commenting until Keysi has finished; it's clear, however, that the whole topic is a complicated one. "There often is," he agrees. "And, for better or worse, I've always worked better being... open to discussion about things. At Igen, for example, there's a lot more 'shut up and take orders' whereas, here..." He shrugs. "It has pluses and minuses, especially at times like these. But," he says, after a moment, "I imagine there is-- are?-- plenty of politics going on in Halls, too, even if you're not necessarily aware of it." "I'm sure your right," The young candidate notes, "I was always content studying, training, focusing on myself. But after what the weyrlingmaster said." Keysi shakes her head in thought, "I guess I never cared before." And now, apparently despite her steady voice, she cares a lot. "Does what's said in those discussions you have with the wings matter? Do the other riders have a say in what happens to them?" Something in K'del's expression twitches at mention of the weyrlingmaster, but he refrains from actually commenting on the bluerider; clearly, that's another issue altogether, and for now, he's more interested in Keysi's thoughts. "When you Impress," he says, slowly, "You give up some level of control over your life. A dragonrider's first duty is to their dragon, of course, but their second is to their Weyr. A rider might request a transfer, but there is no guarantee it will be granted; in the end, what's best for the Weyr is more important than the preferences of an individual rider. Which is part of what makes my job so difficult." Keysi didn't miss the unspoken reaction, but files it away instead of bringing it up again. She leans forwards a little ways, elbows on her knees, staring at the sands again. "What if they don't agree what's best for the Weyr?" She pauses and seems to disregard her own question, "I suppose I mean, something like the weyrlings that are going to be sent away. What if someone doesn't want to go?" Keys sighs and briefly closes her eyes, "Can't imagine having your job." A tone carries with the last statement that's somewhere between amused and apologetic. It's the middle of the afternoon, and K'del and Keysi are sitting a few rows back from the sands. The galleries are relatively busy, despite the time of day, but the pair are relatively isolated. "Not my job to force everyone to agree with me," K'del says, slowly. "But... part of accepting Search this time is acknowledging that you might end up being sent to Igen. No one should be going into this unawares. I'd rather send people who are willing; that's definitely first preference. But if I have to, I'll send who I need to. That's my job." A very small glimmer of annoyance is apparent by slightly clenched teeth setting her lips in a narrower line as Keysi continues to look forward, but it grows no further. His diplomatic wording seems to sedate her enough to do so. "Aye, and beyond losing my Craft, that was the other concern. I don't like it, but it sounds like a necessity that can't really be argued with. I'm guessing it hasn't been the easiest deal to handle." She pauses, shrugs slightly, "I didn't expect to like High Reaches as much as I do when I was transferred here." From the bowl and into the galleries, a distracted looking laundress walks, her fingers nimbly braiding her damp-but-swiftly-drying hair over her shoulder. Thoughts clearly occupy her mind, but as Farideh steps heavily from stair to stair her eyes idly sweep the seating, and land pensively upon Keysi and K'del. She moves into their direction, at least once bumping someone's knees while she side-steps along the stone benches and has to apologize vaguely, before sidling up next to the former-apprentice with no small amount of relief in her face. "Hi," she greets, at first, and on the heels of their words, "Igen isn't that terrible." There's a frowny-frown for extra emphasis. K'del's mouth opens to respond, but Farideh gets there first; he laughs. "Igen's not terrible," he agrees. "They run their Weyr different, but it's not a terrible place, far as I'm aware. It's more-- I get people not wanting to transfer. Not wanting to leave their home. High Reaches became my home pretty quickly, too. But." His shoulders shrug. "We need that gold egg out there; Irianke will go home eventually, and goldriders aren't meant to work alone. It's one of those occasions when... when what I see as best doesn't necessarily match what other people do. Hello," he adds, to Farideh. Keysi is so deep in ever-serious thought that the sudden laundress beside her is almost startling. Almost. But at least it's a rather pleasant surprise. "'ey." She greets in return and then considers, "Aye, I've been near it, but not very long. I'm sure it's fine." Hot versus cold, or something of that degree. "It just seems.. bond-breaking to Impress in one place and then jump off to somewhere else shortly after. Wouldn't matter where to." Attention drifts from some of her own personally eye-catching eggs to the gold egg he'd indicated. "Will that one fix everything?" "I don't know a single person who's lived at Igen and hated it," Farideh replies (un)helpfully. "There's a lot of sunshine, sand, and the ocean isn't far. I think about it when there's snow up to my shoulder, here," with another frown. Her eyes flick to the gold egg when the former gestures to it, and then, after glancing over Keysi, back over to K'del, awaiting his knowledgable judgment on that matter, her lips pursed in consideration. "Won't be easy," agrees K'del. "But people move all the time. And once you've Impressed... you can travel anywhere, just like that." His expression suggests he's well aware that this is not a perfect solution; but there's also steel, there: this is just how it is. Of the gold egg, he's careful in his reply. "Everything? No. But... can you imagine, Keysi, being the only healer in a place? Responsible for all things healer-y? And sure, you have infirmary aides to help out, but... they're not the same, are you? Being Weyrwoman is a lonely job. You're in charge of making sure everyone stays fed and clothed and sheltered. And certainly, you've the Headwoman and her assistants, and all the people under the Headwoman, but... without other goldriders? That's an even lonelier job. It's a lot of responsibility, and a lot of pressure. It's a job best completed with a team to support you; who can back you up, and who can take the lead if you're unwell. Or if your queen is on the sands. Having two queens is vital for Weyr morale, in my opinion - not just for the goldrider, but for everyone." "Sunshine is nice." Farideh manages to get something of a light grin out of the once-healer- awkward though it may be on Keysi's serious-set face. "So you'd go to Igen without a second though?" Is turned on the laundress, intense grey eyes on her prior to K'del starting in on his answer to her. Some comment on her lips gets stiffled as she listens to 'how it really is.' When semi-directly questioned, she can do little but shake her head. "So in essence, no matter what, there's going to be a lot of time before anything can be remotely smooth. But it will be better." Stressful if at all similar in a smaller scale to a bad day in an infirmary, but better. "With all the candidates coming in, I haven't met them all. Are there many you think could hold the job?" The question, for some reason, is given to the both of them. The question Keysi poses to her catches her somewhat off guard, and there's an initial widening of eyes. "Me? I--" Farideh presses her lips together, taking a moment to sort her thoughts, and then scrunches up her nose at the candidate, lips curving winsomely. "It doesn't matter where I'm from, but I've been at High Reaches for almost two turns now and it's home. I wouldn't leave it so easily. Still, the choice could be taken from me--" She's looking at you, K'del. "I wouldn't stomp my feet and throw a tantrum, though. Igen is lovely and you'll find the people very loyal, wanting to live their lives to the fullest. Just don't go to the Hold." Her nose-scrunch turns into a grimace, her fingers whisking away the baby hairs at her temples into the sides. "What job?" She's not following along that well, it seems. "Not a fan of Lord Joremy?" K'del wonders, having listened to Farideh's words with some bemusement. He presses his hands to his knees, considering the words of his two companions before he comments further. "No new goldrider is instantly prepared for the job; that's true. It can help morale pretty quickly, though, I think: knowing that someone is in the wings, getting ready. As to... shells, it's always difficult to tell. Not sure I would've picked any of the gold Impressions we've had in the time I've been at High Reaches. But I have confidence that, between Azaylia and Irianke, whoever she is will be well-trained, and will grow into the job." "Anyone you've met you can see riding that." Keysi clarifies to the laundress, her hand rising in the general direction of the gold egg. "Or if you have secret aspirations for such." Unfamiliar with Igen Hold and its Lord, she's quiet for a moment as she listens, "I haven't met Azaylia, but I did meet Irianke after she sprained her ankle. I'm concerned about her choice for fashion. I hope she doesn't teach that to the new one." For all her seriousness, that certainly seems like her dry humor rising. "Lord Joremy did the unthinkable. I'm not ready to make nice yet." It's half serious, half amusement, and hefty dose of self-deprecation; what does a Lord Holder care what a laundress has to say anyway! "I don't know that I'll suddenly think the Weyr's ready to take on the world, just because someone Impressed a gold," Farideh replies, leaning forward, with her elbows on her thighs, so she can take in both Keysi and K'del at the same time. "Not Weyrwoman Azaylia? Not that other one-- Aishani?" Keysi's comment on fashion foibles and Irianke gets a furrowing of the laundress' brows. Calmly, "Weyrwomen aren't perfect. They don't become ideal leaders the moment they Impress; not sure anyone's an ideal leader, anyway. But they learn. They get training. And as long as they can work together..." Clearly, this is the key, given High Reaches' goldrider history, which is rather strewn with bodies and banishment. "Having another goldrider isn't a panacea - it won't fix everything. But it'll be a good thing." Or, at least, K'del has convinced himself of such. With a sigh, he stops to pick up the papers he's long since abandoned. "I ought to get back to work, but-- have a pleasant afternoon." "Aye, thank you sir." For everything. Mind at ease about some things, more in turmoil about others. But it helped. Keysi shifts to allow him easy passage to leave their bench before turning back to the laundress. "Nothing about goldriding sounds appealing." Is added with a slow shrug, "Don't you think so? Especially this gold. Not that I'm adverse to pressure and a challenge or anything." And she really isn't, but not this sort of challenge. "I should probably go check in. I told my journeyman that I'd be right back... a few hours ago." Candidate or not, her off days are still spent at the infirmary and the training room. What's down time? K'del's departure is met with thoughtful eyes, but as soon as she can't see him anymore, Farideh's turning back to Keysi. "Any position where you're in charge of a lot of people, of their survival, sounds unappealing. Weyrleader's just as bad, if not worse. Rounding up a bunch of riders and making sure they don't make a mess of things." Her chin falls on her fist, her mouth quirking in a smile. "Go, then. Don't get in trouble. I doubt anything of note will happen anytime soon, and--" She sighs, softly, wrinkling her nose again. "Well. I'll see you around? Soon?" Sooner, her tone seems to imply, along with the shine of amusement in her eyes. She wiggles the fingers on her free hand in a wave. |
Comments
Edyis (21:41, 25 March 2015 (EDT)) said...
Love the title.
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