Rational Discussion

Writers: Bree, Yvonne
Date Posted: 5th March 2006

Characters: U'val, Tsaera
Description: U'val talks to Tsaera about the situation with Lenala and Ar'lis.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 3

A light knock on Tsaera's office door caused her to look up, and when she saw who it was - to smile. "U'val, it's always good to see you. Business or personal? Because if it's the latter..." she gestured to the pile of hides in front of her, "it'll have to wait a little longer, unfortunately."

"Much as I wish it were personal..." U'val sighed and closed the door behind him firmly. "It shouldn't take long, but I want to talk to you personally before this situation gets any more out of hand."

Tsaera set aside her pen. "Oh?"

U'val took a seat heavily, feeling every one of his turns today. "I understand that K'sedel wants Lenala and Ar'lis to discuss their mistakes with the mating flight with the weyrlings. And I understand that M'galec has decided to storm around the Weyr making it his business."

"K'sedel mentioned that M'galec went to see him, and the meeting didn't go well." That was putting it delicately. "Quite frankly, I'm not impressed with any of them right now."

The bluerider's lips twitched. "I tell you in all confidence, Tsaera, that I have never wanted to strangle a man so badly before. M'galec is..." He restrained himself with obvious effort. "Well, it doesn't matter. What matters is that I agree with what he told K'sedel, even if I deplore how he went about it."

"About Ar'lis and Lenala?"

U'val snorted. "I doubt M'galec bothered to include Ar'lis in his recommendation, but yes. I would appreciate if we could hold off any public discussions of the incident until I'm confident that it won't cause more harm than good. That's certainly not to say forever, but Lenala is hardly confident _or_ encouraging right now. Putting aside any emotional upset to _her_, I hate to think what a young weyrling would assume about flights while watching one of the Weyr's goldriders fall apart over the experience."

The Weyrwoman pursed her lips. "K'sedel did not suggest that they discuss their- personal issues involved in the flight, although I wouldn't be surprised if M'galec made that leap of logic. He merely asked them to discuss the importance of control in a flight. And while I agree with you that Lenala isn't confident in her ability to do so, I do not agree that allowing her to avoid the issue will help her any. Ever since she's moved here Lenala has displayed the tendency to run away from anything that she doesn't want to do, whether it is hidework, Wing work, or something else.
And if she doesn't get her way, she resorts to emotional manipulation."
Tsaera held up her hand to forestall U'val's reply. "Not that I'm saying that her feelings aren't real, only that she uses her apparent fragility as a crutch. And the only way that she's going to learn to stand on her own feet is if she's forced to do it, since she certainly hasn't displayed any sort of initiative. M'galec running around and picking fights on her behalf is just another example of this."

Frowning, U'val leaned forward. "Forgive me, Tsaera, but my opinion has nothing to do with M'galec and everything to do with the fact that I have sixty turns of experience in mindhealing. I am quite immune to any emotional manipulation that child has attempted on me--and yes, she has tried. There will come a time soon enough when facing this is going to be the best thing for her, and for Ar'lis as well. I ask you to trust my experience when I tell you that this time is not now."

"And if I let her run away from this as well?" Tsaera sighed, not wanting a fight. "I respect your opinion, U'val, and I will take it into consideration. But nobody but myself seems to ask Lenala to lift a finger, and I'm tired of it. I'd be much more sympathetic if she'd shown a little backbone and come here to ask me herself, but the fact that M'galec has been making a fool of himself on her behalf hasn't impressed me one bit. And like I said - no one is asking them to talk about their _personal_ experience within the flight, just to talk about control which is a perfectly reasonable request for a 'Second."

"And what do you think I've been doing with her?" U'val asked dryly.
"Patting her on the head and encouraging her to let that... arrogant sharding arse make all her decisions? No one would like to see her standing on her own two feet as much as I would, Tsaera, but some things are simply counter productive." He sighed, leaning back in the chair. "If you're determined to do this, I would appreciate you at least give me time to help them separate their personal experience from the rest of it. I don't know if you've actually thought about what you're asking, but that's no simple task even at the best of times. Our emotions affect our control, and her emotions are what got her into this." Tsaera thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "It can be put off until right before the Hatching, if you wish."

U'val relaxed a little. "Then I'll do my best to make sure they're both ready for it."

"All right. But I _have_ thought about this, U'val, even though K'sedel suggested it spontaneously when we met with the pair of them after the Hatching." Tsaera smiled slightly and leaned back into her chair. "Everyone here wants what's best for the Weyr... and I just wish that there was more time to achieve it."

"I know," U'val replied, but his voice still sounded tense. Not _everyone_
wanted what was best for the Weyr. M'galec wanted what was best for him, and the damage he'd done by parading around and screeching at the Weyrleaders might never be undone. For the first time in his very long life, U'val was feeling the temptation to solve his problem with another person with his fists. It was too bad his fists were so old.

"Thread doesn't make things easy on any of us, does it," the Weyrwoman said quietly. "No, it really doesn't." U'val sighed and shook his head. "Thank you for listening to me in any case, Tsaera... I'll do what I can to help Ar'lis and Lenala, and I'd appreciate it if you'd come to me with any concerns you have about them. It makes it easier to do my job."

"Make sure that you extend me the same favour - it makes it easier to do _my_ job as well." Tsaera smiled. "On that note - are you free tonight? We could play a little cribbage. It's been a while since we did that."

"I'd like that," U'val replied, returning her smile. "I could pick up dinner for us in the kitchens if you like. Save you a little time."

Tsaera smiled. "That would be appreciated. Have Lyolth tell Tabanirth when you're on your way. Otherwise I'll be in here all night."

"And that would be a pity for both of us." Standing, U'val gave Tsaera a deep, dramatic bow. "Until later, my lady."

Last updated on the March 6th 2006

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