Logs:Domestic Politics
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| RL Date: 30 July, 2012 |
| Who: Brieli, K'del |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: K'del attempts to recruit Brieli... subtly. He fails. Uneasy feelings abound. |
| Where: Kitchens, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 17, Month 5, Turn 29 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Azaylia/Mentions, Tiriana/Mentions, Iolene/Mentions |
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| Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr Polished marble and granite surfaces, gleaming metalwork and pale woods characterize the vaulted fastness of the kitchen. Several large hearths gape red-mouthed against the outer wall of the cavern, their fires almost always stoked for the constant cooking the Weyr requires to feed its denizens. Sinks line the wall to one side of the hearths, providing ample space to wash large quantities of dishes, while to the other, cabinetry and a deep pantry provide storage space for items commonly needed on a day-to-day basis. The remaining wall space is taken up by passageways and extra seating: swinging doors that lead variously to the main living cavern, the inner caverns and the storage rooms, a counter-height pass-through for food service to the Snowasis, and a series of nooks equipped with tables and benches for quick, out-of-the-way meals any time of day. It's a busy time for the kitchens, right around dinnertime - there's very little prep being done, but still food being made, bread being baked, trays being carried out as quickly as possible, people rushing around. And there's dishes being washed - there's always dishes being washed, and it's not terribly exciting work - so perhaps Brieli is doing a public service as she chats with the kitchen girls set to the task in what looks to be an idle way, grinning now and again as she picks over a bowl of fresh greens she's picked up somewhere. K'del may be on generally good terms with the kitchen staff, but he's generally not one to push the friendship and ask for anything special during busy times. It may then be surprising to see him sidle in, now, glancing warily behind him before he steps hastily around one of the hurrying women. It's a few steps later that he registers Brieli, surprise shifting into amusement as - without hesitation - he crosses towards that particular group of women. "For a former seamstress, you're awful drawn to the kitchens, Brieli," he remarks. "Evening, ladies." To her credit, Brieli merely looks up from her conversation and salad both with mild surprise; not a flicker of any other emotion or expression. Quirking a slight smile, "I find it's always wise to be on good terms with the people that feed you. Even if they're washing dishes at the moment." Her gaze shifts to the kitchen staff on dish duty, who grin, nod to the Weyrleader and offer greetings. The weyrling does have to add afterwards, "You seem to be in here at least as often as I am, however?" Her brows arch questioningly; not just a social call? "And often for much the same reason," is K'del's reply, issued without him missing a beat. Though his smile is aimed at the kitchen workers initially, he can't seem to resist glancing back at Brieli rather more purposefully. If there's another reason for tonight's visit, however, he's not immediately inclined to share it, given he so-quickly turns the topic towards, "Glad you're not being kept so busy you can't spare some time to catch up with old friends, in any case. Everything's going well?" That more purposeful glance has Brieli looking pained for a flicker of a moment, before she can maintain her more pleasant expression; she offers a faintly apologetic smile to the dishwashers - Weyr business, clearly - and starts to take a few steps aside, telling K'del, "Busy enough, but I find if I pick up dinner in here, I can chat a little. If they're not terribly busy. And things are going fairly well. It's nice to have the weather better, now that we're flying more." In reply, K'del's expression is immediately apologetic, and he says, quietly, "Didn't mean to take you away from your friends, Brieli. Only really wanted to check in, see how things were going." It's made him suddenly vaguely uncomfortable, though that impression fades after a quick furrow of his brows and, "The better weather is improving spirits all 'round, I think. And the prospect of eggs on the sands, too. Almost have to feel bad for your weyrlingmasters." Poking at her salad, Brieli shakes her head a little, noting, "It's not all that much of an issue. I'd been there for awhile, and I'm sure they're not all that interested in the finer details of weyrlinghood." Her quick smile for K'del is meant to be reassuring, as she spears a bit of carrot. "In any case. It's a lot of work, but I suppose it'll get easier. Eventually." With a wrinkle of her nose, "It'd be hard not to feel better with the snow gone. And I feel a little badly for them, but I suspect there'll be something nice about keeping busy as well?" Having secured Brieli, and been reassured by her remark, K'del tilts his head towards one of the little booths, leading the way there a moment later-- though he snags himself a bread roll from a passing tray along the way. "Most things do get easier, the more you do them, the more used to them you are. You're probably right about the weyrling staff. Mostly, they end up having to go back in to the wings between classes, and I think some of them find that frustrating. Do you see much of Iolene these days?" Managing to walk casually, and not as if to her death (or something like it), Brieli follows along with K'del to the booth after an easy nod. Bypassing the bread rolls herself, she notes, "I figured it might be something like that. And I can't imagine that there'll be a huge amount of crushing paperwork with four of us." As for the staff, as she slides into her seat, "I can see that, especially-- if it just disrupts your routine for a short time. And not as much as I'd like, to be honest. I have to catch up with her, actually." "No, you'll be lucky, really. Four's a good number, for an Interval. Couple of times it's been a single Weyrwoman doing all of it, around here-- though she'd usually have assistants, not to mention the Headwoman and her staff." K'del's quietly casual, picking pieces off of his bread roll and chewing them in between words, now that he's settled down into the booth. It's Iolene that he goes back to, then, sucking in a low breath before he exhales and says, "Good. I mean - not that you haven't seen her. That you want to catch up. Think she could use the support. You and Azaylia... I feel like you're better peers for her than Lujayn. Lujayn's older, she's got the expression, she's approachable... but she's already part of the machine. I'm hoping the three of you can grow together." And not take down the weyr in the process, kthnx. Setting her bowl down finally, Brieli continues to pick through the greens idly, more out of something to do than any actual hunger, it seems. "I wouldn't want to be in that position," she admits. "Even with assistants, and the others. It seems like there's quite a bit that needs to be overseen if not done, to sign off on, as it were? Details can get missed with all that incoming, through one gatekeeper." Her attention turns to K'del at that low breath, regarding him for a moment before she agrees, "I hope we can help her catch up, but I've told her - there's much she'd already learned that's useful. She's not as lost as she thinks she is." Or anyone else does. "I've been trying to help Io with what I can. It's the least I can do." K'del's nod confirms Brieli's remarks, and he says, quietly, "It worried me, when Ezalea transferred away and left Tiriana on her own. I wanted to try and convince her to stay, but Tiriana refused. Don't think it's right, really, to have only a single Weyrwoman. Better when you can share out the responsibilities, and report back." His fingers still, his head lifting to regard her levelly as he continues, "Glad to hear it. You'll... she's still getting her head around how things work, why they do. Know you and Azaylia can help with that. Make sure she doesn't get too lost in ideal worlds and what-ifs. You'll be a good team. I... care about her. A lot." It sounds genuine. "Don't want her to struggle. Want her to be happy." It's easier for Brieli to listen to K'del talk about the former Weyrwoman; she can nod once, perhaps even admit slowly, in a way that sounds difficult for her, "I can see... how it might be difficult on one's own. Even if you thought it might not be. It could change things." But that makes her purse her lips a touch, look down into the bowl for a moment before she feels the weight of the Weyrleader's gaze. Glancing up again as he speaks, head tilted slightly, she notes lightly, "I've never seen a problem with asking questions. Even what-if." But it's the discussion of emotion that makes her shift uncomfortably, and she can only nod at first. Then, "Some people have to struggle to find what makes them happy." Brow furrowing, K'del's steady gaze seems somehow surprised by what Brieli has to say on the topic of Tiriana, for all that he doesn't push the topic further. It's the other topic that has him hurriedly allowing, "Nothing wrong with asking questions, or thinking what-ifs. It's the getting lost in them that matters. The... just worry, that's all. Just don't want her to have to struggle any more than she has to. Her life's been hard enough already." But he's uncomfortable, now, and his expression more wary, studying Brieli as though he can read her intentions and thoughts if only he looks hard enough. "I'm not unwilling to consider new ideas, but High Reaches' stability is key." Unfortunately, Brieli's expressions very rarely give much to indicate what she intends or what she thinks unless she chooses, or in unguarded moments from time to time; as weird as her thoughts on Tiriana are, she doesn't have much to add, and on the other topic, she's just pleasantly conversational - as if she's not noticed K'del's shift at all. "I can see that. It's just... it's difficult to protect people from things they have to go through. Even if it makes life more difficult. It's just who they have to be, I suppose? People don't change." Maybe it's an attempt to be helpful, maybe a warning, but she'll easily allow, "That's understandable. People seem anxious. They also seem so willing to dismiss a perspective, a position they're supposed to respect, because the person in it thinks differently. And that won't look good either." Given the givens. "It's difficult, when people here rumours that threaten to dismantle the way they see things. People don't like change, especially when they can't see any reason for it." K'del's words are much more careful, now, and there's a hint of frustration in them; it's in his expression, too. "Leadership change is always difficult. It becomes more difficult when people have not yet had a chance to get to know their new leaders, to see that they're capable, before they hear hints of disruption and change." There's a beat of a pause, and then K'del is standing up again. "I shouldn't keep you." It's stiff. "Just remember, Brieli. Respect has to be earned. Trust, too. It's one of the most important things, as a leader, because you can never explain everything to your people: you need them to trust that you know what you're doing. Have a good night." Fine brows drawing together, Brieli listens - though her expression is a bit bemused, not quite sure what to do with all of this, how precisely to respond. As K'del rises, offers that stiff semi-farewell, she blinks, then notes smoothly, "You should talk to Azaylia." Things will go better. As for the last, there's a hundred things she can say, maybe ten things she wants to; without an indication of any one of them, she merely nods. "Thank you, Weyrleader. Have a good night. Say hello to Iolene, if you see her." Because she won't assume, not now - she'll just eat her salad. K'del's careful, "I will," could be in answer to a couple of things, and he doesn't specify. Instead, he takes himself (and his half-dismantled breadroll) straight out of the kitchens again. Brieli won't be able to see his unhappy expression, but it's there. } |
Comments
Azaylia (Dragonshy) left a comment on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:22:58 GMT.
Mmhmhm. Ze plot, she thickens! Ze lines, they are being drawn! >:3c
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