July 27, 2004
R'hyn's first official meeting with T'ren and Geraine goes surprisingly well, despite Kiora's absense.

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You head through a short tunnel to the council room.

T'ren enters from the anteroom.

R'hyn is already here - seated at the traditional seat of Fort's Weyrleader, with a mug of klah in front of him. There's a platter of pastries sitting in front of him, somewhat more towards the middle of the table, and a pile of papers closer in. For the early hour, he looks surprisingly alert, as though he's already been up a long time.

T'ren walks into the room, jacket tugged snugly around himself as he yawns. Eyes are rubbed at and he scowls faintly. R'hyn is saluted before the brownrider slumps into his own seat, looking across the table before muttering, "No Geraine?"

Geraine enters from the anteroom.

Geraine is just entering, still glancing over her shoulder as she does. The young goldrider looks as alert as R'hyn, implying that she has been up for some time. She is also carrying a mug of klah and a stack of hides under her arm, as if she came from some other task.

"She's coming, I assume," says R'hyn, nodding in greeting, though he's suddenly very busy looking at his various papers. "Have a pastry. Fresh, from the kitchens. There's klah, too - on the trolley." More footsteps - Geraine's - do, at least, draw his attention, "You must be Geraine."

T'ren shoots a look over at the mentioned trolley, grumbles and rises from his seat to pour a mug. It's carried back to his seat, and Geraine is given a slight smile, "Morning, Geraine."

The tall goldrider blatantly studies the new Weyrleader as she walks around the table, her expression completely neutral. "I am. And you must be R'hyn." She places her things down across the table from T'ren and gives him a small smile. "Morning, T'ren."

R'hyn picks up a pastry, and a plate from the short stack of them sitting behind the basket, and sets it down in front of him. "Er, yes," he agrees, sounding more than a little-- hesitant? Nervous? Both, perhaps, and more. With his head tilted to the side, he watches the door, as if waiting.

T'ren moves his head around staring at the ceiling, the door, Geraine, his cup. Klah is sipped as he tries to pull himself together for this. Fingers drum idly on the table.

Geraine sips at her cup and, after a moment of silent waiting, returns to whatever she was working on, shifting through the various things on the table. She ignores the pastries for the moment.

R'hyn, after a long, and - at least for him - uncomfortable silence, turns his gaze back to his own pile of papers. "Right, well - I guess you can figure out why we're here. I, er, want to go through some of my intentions, get us on the same page. Any... comments, before we begin?"

Gaze is tugged away from Geraine working and turned towards the Weyrleader. T'ren's jaw clenches as he grinds his teeth while the man speaks, and then he opens his mouth to mutter out, "Not at the moment," he pauses a few beats, "sir."

Geraine's fingers dart through several more hides before she looks up at R'hyn with a perfectly bland expression. "Not at the moment," she replies.

R'hyn lets the silence that follows go for a few very long moments. He nods. "Good. The -- uh, first thing is that I don't intend to change any leadership around, not at the moment. We need Wingleaders who have experience with their wings, so that they can get used to flying with all the new people. I think that's important. I have a few plans, for how we can make the process of getting used to the new members a little more smooth."

T'ren's mug is lifted, then set back down as he listens, well half listens. Nods are given and then he can't help but give a small chuckle, "At least you have half a brain," he mutters absently, filters not quite locking into place fast enough, "be your own suicide if you immediately started changing things around."

Geraine gives T'ren a quelling look before putting her full attention on R'hyn. "The sheer amount of change that our Weyr," and she seems to imply her and T'ren in that 'our' and not the new Weyrleader, "has had to go through is considerable. Adding more to what has recently occured would be /extremely/ damaging."

R'hyn stops. Short. Big breath. "No," he says, sharply - there's far more determination in his voice than he's shown thus for. "I realise that this is not, to your minds, the ideal result. This. Me. But," he lets the word hang, as if for emphasis, "For better or for worse, I /am/ your Weyrleader now, and for the sake of /our/ Weyr, I suggest you get used to that. I'm not going to go out and do anything to damage this weyr, because until such time as Siramyth is caught by another, this is /my/ weyr, too - and my responsibility."

Ooooh, look. There is a spine in there somewhere. T'ren straightens in his chair, taking a slow drink from his mug as both Geraine and R'hyn speak. The junior's words cause a slight tugging at the corners of his mouth, but R'hyn's little speech is given an arched brow, "You're right in that this is not the ideal result," he starts to retort back, but he stops and leans back in his seat, just grumbling out, "Right. You are the Weyrleader, sir."

"What's done is done," Geraine says simply, seeming to wave things off. "You are Weyrleader and that means you are in charge here." And speaking of that, she looks directly at him. "And where is the Weyrwoman?" Her voice is perfectly innocent as she asks that.

R'hyn seems to have forgotten both his klah and his untouched pastry, too busy trying to keep his head in the air. "Unless you /want/ to step down, T'ren, I suggest you learn to work with me. We have no time for antagonism." His satisfied nod, in response to Geraine's seemingly mature comments, comes up kind of short. "She-- she has some business to attend to," he finally says, lamely. "Hopefully, she'll be along later."

T'ren simply reaches for his mug, holding it against his chest as he nods. No comment is made on the lack of appearance by the Weyrwoman, "So. Same page, plans," is tossed out blandly.

"Oh good. Later. She ran away from me yesterday." Geraine nods slightly and tilts her head. "I think we all agree that we wish only the best for Fort." There's a moment of silence before she adds, "And without the Istan riders, we'd be in a world of hurt. I would like to help ease the transition for them." To her credit, she seems sincere.

"Kiora is a little embarrassed, by the turn of events. Hardly her fault - but she's young. She's learning." R'hyn's words look more certain than they sound, though he's trying pretty hard. Geraine's latter comment draws something of a surprised pause, the bronzerider scrambling for a response, "Oh! Yes, thank you. I really appreciate that, Geraine. It's going to be difficult for all of us - former Istans and Fortians both." He glances back at T'ren, and nods. "Right, of course."

Suprise marches easily across T'ren's face as he stares at Geraine across the table, almost like she's grown another head. He arches a questioning brow in her direction and then schools his face back into a bland expression, leaning forward in his seat to rest arms on the table. R'hyn is given full attention now.

Geraine gives T'ren a bland look. "Dovryth didn't rise first and thus is not Senior. Kiroa's gold is the Senior and R'hyn flew her. We can either make life exceedingly difficult without changing things or we can show some actual maturity and ease the Weyr, through a united leadership, toward a workable mindset." Her eyes skip over toward R'hyn. "But it will take maturity by the -entire- leadership." It is clear what she's implying.

R'hyn finally picks up his mug - though a closer glance would show his hands are shaking slightly, so after a quick sip, he sets it down again. "Thank you, Geraine, that's exactly what I'd like to see. I think I speak for both Kiora and myself, when I say that we're willing to work very hard to make that a reality."

T'ren heaves a sigh and just shakes his head, "It's all well and fine to present a united front from us," he looks around the table, and then continues, "it looks good on the surface, but," attention turns to R'hyn, "what exactly do you have in mind to help ease the Weyr into this new situation."

"I'll believe it on Kiora's part, R'hyn, when she shows signs of it. She's Senior Weyrwoman and she /ran/ from her Junior in front of a crowd in the lower caverns." It is clear that Geraine is less than pleased. "She's had more experience than I have. I am willing to help her but..." Her voice trails off and she nods to T'ren's words.

"From what I have gathered, the two of you are respected by Fort as a whole - if you are indicating your willingness to make things work, publically, many will follow. For the rest," R'hyn swallows, sweaty palms rubbed together, "I truly believe that it's mostly a matter of getting used to it. Not replacing any leaders will be a start in indicating that the transfers don't intend to take over, and I intend to do everything in my power to keep Fort successful. What else can I do?" He takes another deep breath, before responding to Geraine, "I understand your concern. I'll talk to her."

T'ren gives a mild grin as R'hyn asks the all important question and he jumps on it, tapping a finger on the table, "Fix the issue with Healer Hall." It's stated simply enough, "Perhaps with a new set of leaders they may be more interested in finding a better resolution." Leaning back in his chair he gives a slight shrug, "I'm sure it'd look good if you could find some sort of resolution."

"Sharding Healers," Geraine mutters under her breath before nodding reluctantly. "We were recommended to approach the Masterhealer directly with former Healer riders."

"I should have said," admits R'hyn, after a pause, "What else can /we/ do. That's an excellent idea, T'ren. Can you fill me in on some more of the details of the situation? I only know the basics - that they have refused any extra supplies, due to a disagreement. And have we any ranked former Healer riders?"

T'ren frowns as he contemplates and then glances at Geraine, "I think your junior weyrwoman can fill you in better," he finally says quietly, "she has been working to fix the situation and is more in touch with the details."

There's a moment of almost embarassed silence from the Junior before she speaks. "The day after the bad Fall, I witnessed problems between two Healers--Joiya and Xaiosen. I let myself get drawn in and there was a great deal of...shouting." And yes, the young woman is embarassed and looks more her own age. "The Craftsecond decided to punish us by refusing extra supplies other than the normal tithe and withdrawing apprentice help." She hesitates then glances toward T'ren, one eyebrow raising questioningly. There's obviously more.

T'ren gives the goldrider a subtle shake of his head in the negative in response to Geraine's questioning look.

R'hyn pauses, his fingers half wrapped about his mug. "I see," he says, finally. "You obviously have a temper. Go on." Intent on Geraine, he misses T'ren's shake of the head.

"Since then," Geraine says slowly, making it look like reluctance rather than reformulating of the explanation, "we've been making due the best we can with our supplies. We'll make it if there is no other disasterous Fall and once the seasons turn, we can send out weyrfolk to gather our own emergency supplies. I've already spoken with a Healer about it and the Headwoman and I can start plans." Regardless that the Senior should be handling that sort of thing.

R'hyn accepts this without question, and concludes, "But really, we'd be much better off if we could work things out with the Hall. I'm not familiar with the Healer Craftmasters, myself, though I know Kiora met them as part of a tour of the crafts, just after she graduated. As to my earlier question - are any of the Wingleaders or Wingseconds former Healers?"

T'ren jumps into the conversation at that point and gives his head a shake, "No, sir." He does pause though and gives a bit of a smile, "We could promote someone though if necessary." A scratch of his chin as he ponders, "I /think/ Dr'vell came from Healer, but that was a very long time ago." He looks over at Geraine, "Anyone come to mind?"

Thimking for a moment, Geraine finally says slowly, "There are a few wingriders who might be due some time as seconds, perhaps. I can think of a few Brownriders who spent at least a little time at Healer. But I don't think a change in leadership at this exact moment would be a good idea."

R'hyn fairly blanches at mention of Dr'vell - clearly, this name he did pick up and put to a face at some point. "It's not necessary for our chosen emissary to be of rank, I don't think," he allows, carefully, "Just that they tend to carry more weight. I don't think promoting at this time is a good idea, either. So, one of the wingriders, then, someone with a measure of diplomacy."

T'ren seems satisfied that he's managed to make the weyrleader a bit uncomfortable and he leans back in his seat once again, "There are a few good riders in the wings who have diplomacy down to an art," he murmurs quietly, "I'm sure any of them would be glad to assist."

"Arrangements can be made, to be sure." Geraine tilts her head slightly. "Though it would likely, for good or bad, be good to give Healer a touch more breathing room first." She glances toward T'ren again.

R'hyn, hastily, takes a sip of his now-cooling klah. "May I delegate the choice of emissary to the two of you? Given that you have more knowledge of the skills of Fort's riders than I, it would seem more appropriate. Er--" he hesitates, turning back to Geraine, slightly surprised. "Hasn't it been some time, already? What makes you think more time would be better?"

T'ren reaches out to snag his own mug, downing the contents easily now that it's cooled off some. He seems to consider R'hyn's question, returning Geraine's glance before responding slowly, "I'm sure we, " a nod given to the goldrider before he turns to speak to R'hyn directly, "can manage to find an emissary appropriate for the job." He turns to look at Geraine once again, waiting to see what she comes up with in response to the whole time issue.

"From what I know of the Craftmaster, a bit more time would be beneficial." Geraine doesn't elaborate how she knows but she is known to be from the Fort Hold area. Perhaps that's how. "And yes, T'ren and I can deal with this."

R'hyn finally breaks off a piece of his pastry, flaky crust spilling onto the table as he puts it in his mouth. "Thank you," he says, nodding his head. His expression is a little doubtful, in response to Geraine's words, but he shrugs. "If you say so, then I'll leave it to you. Keep me informed. Please."

T'ren gives a glance towards the doorway and then over to the empty chair that should be occupied by the Weyrwoman. He clears his through just a bit, "Perhaps the rest of this little meeting should wait until all parties can be present?" He shifts slightly, "No point in having to go through everything twice just because Kiora is," he stops himself and then adjusts his words, "busy elsewhere at the moment."

Geraine's expression cools a touch and she clasps her hands atop the small pile of hides. "Indeed, that could perhaps be the best option. All of our time is valuable, after all."

R'hyn gets that 'ack, I really don't know what I'm doing and these people intimidate me' look on his face again - for a moment. "If you'd like," he agrees, nodding his head. "I'll, uh, check with Kiora, and find a time that suits her better. I apologise for her absence - it's my fault; I, uh, didn't check with her for availability until it was too late."

T'ren eyes the pastries on the table for just a moment, then nods once, "No need to apologise, Weyrleader," he starts out smoothly enough, "I'm sure we've all had meeting schedules messed up due to miscommunications." He slides his chair back from the table and rises, giving Geraine a nod. Back to R'hyn, "If we're done here?"

Geraine studies the Weyrleader coolly before rising herself. "Well, we will, of course, correct future misunderstands, once we adjust to things and get a rhythm settled. Do pass on my...concerns and my offer of help." Not bad for someone reasonably fresh out of weyrlinghood.

"Yes, I suppose we have," agrees R'hyn, attempting a cheery smile, which fades a little at Geraine's words. "Yes, exactly," is what he finally comes out with. "It's just an adjustment - a big one - for us all. I'll do that, and get back to you both with a follow-up meeting time. Yes, of course - we're done. Thank you, for coming."

T'ren pauses for a moment and then, turns on his heel to head out of the room.

T'ren heads out the tunnel to the anteroom.

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