Faking It... Indefinitely?

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 30th August 2024

Characters: Saibra, I'serin
Description: I'serin and Saibra have a business lunch the day after Chioneth's flight.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: R'enh, Oselle, K'ran

Saibra

I'serin

I'serin knew that he would be reviewing every line of dialogue, every
interaction from his meeting with R'enh for the rest of the day but
for now, he had to set it aside for someone a bit more important. He
took a look around his office, trying to gauge if it was presentable
enough to host, and then decided that presumption would be a poor
start. **Please ask Chioneth's rider where she would like to meet for
lunch. I have no preference, only what works best for her,** he asked
of Aluneth.

}:She is on her way to your office,:{ Chioneth told Aluneth.

Saibra was feeling a little more put together after her morning
meeting with Headwoman Oselle. Even if she wasn't, she had to
compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand - establishing a
working relationship with the new Weyrleader. Walking slightly behind
her was a kitchen drudge bearing a tray of lunch meats, breads, and a
pot of stew.

A loud crack of thunder boomed through the Weyr just as Saibra knocked
on I'serin's office door. **How appropriate for it to be storming
today of all days,** she thought. Unseen to her, I'serin had flinched
at the loud boom, hoping that it was not an omen of things to come.

"Enter," he called politely, rounding his desk to greet his visitor.
"Weyrwoman," he said with a bow of his head as she walked in. He
noticed the drudge carrying the food and stepped forward, "Allow me to
assist."

"Ah ah," she wagged her finger, "_Saibra_, remember?" She gestured the
drudge inside who set the tray of food down on the Weyrleader's desk.

He shot a puzzled look at her, then at the drudge. Perhaps she didn't
consider drudges within the parameters of their arrangement. Shelving
it for consideration later, he shifted his expression into a welcoming
smile. "Saibra," he amended. "Thank you for handling the food. It has
been...a very busy morning for me." He nodded his thanks to the drudge
before they left, then motioned for the goldrider to sit.

"Oh?" she inquired as she took the seat he offered. Even though her
stomach was tied in knots after her sleepless night and emotional
breakfast with R’enh, she
still took up one of the bowls of stew and a spoon.

He mirrored her with the same, blowing on it before taking a bite.
After swallowing, he recounted his morning's events, from the various
Wingleaders coming to pay congratulations and curry favor to the more
troubling admission that R'enh had decided to return to leading Cobalt
Wing rather than accept the Weyrsecond position. "I had hoped that he
would stay on, as a show of unity. Did I make the wrong move?" he
asked.

"No, I think offering the Weyrsecond spot to him was the right move,
even if he declined it." Saibra put a spoonful of stew into her mouth.
"R'enh enjoyed being a Wingleader. I don't think it's personal."

I'serin hoped she was correct. "When I would review this sort of
situation in my studies, it seemed as easy as moving pieces on a
chessboard," he admitted. "I assumed that riders would accept the
promotions offered. I...did not foresee possible other factors." He
put down the bowl for a moment and sighed. "But you came here to get
to know me, not listen to me postulate or have me encumber you." He
smiled apologetically.

"I enjoy listening to postulation, so you never have to keep that from
me. Sometimes brainstorming together is a good way to get to know one
another." Saibra raised another spoonful to her lips. "So tell me
about you. When and where did you Impress? What was your family and
upbringing like?"

Two out of three of those subjects were not entirely pleasant for him
to recount. But he did so. "River Bluff," he said, because there was
no avoiding that part of his history. "I was born and mostly raised
there. Aluneth found me there. When it was destroyed, my family came
here." A small quirk of a smile crossed his lips. "I rather like it
here, actually. At River Bluff, I was my Wingleader father's son. I
believe you should know him. A'len, Tirenth's rider." He paused to
take a bite while Saibra digested the information so far. "But here,
coming here meant that I was less in his shadow. I could progress
through the ranks apart from his reputation. I could...be more
myself." Which was another subject entirely and I'serin felt as though
he actually _hadn't_ been much of himself in the Turns here. It was
something he would figure out later. He had much larger issues to
tackle now. "Read different books, study different maps," he
elaborated with a contented smile. "Sounds rather boring, doesn't it?"

"Riverbluff fell a little over three and a half Turns ago... You still
felt in your father's shadow at thirty Turns old?" Saibra asked.

I'serin's smile turned rueful. "Some men possess a great deal of
charisma. Combined with a bronze dragon, it is assuredly a recipe for
popularity."

“So, do you have a weyrmate? Children?” she asked.

He shook his head. "Neither. But please, tell me about you and yours.
I would like to hear about it."

"Well, R'enh is my weyrmate, of course. He and I have twins, a boy and
a girl, Saihen and Brenha. From my former weyrmate I have to other
children, Ki'ben, he's a young bronzerider in the Weyrleader's Wing,
and then my eldest is another daughter, Saidrene, she's a greenrider
at Barrier Lake." Saibra's face softened with a smile. "I also have a
granddaughter, from Saidrene, a sweet little bundle named Saikera."
There were many times that Saibra wished K'ran and Saidrene lived at
Dragonsfall so she could see more of Saikera.

I'serin smiled as she talked about her family. The mention of Ki'ben,
now in the Wing that I'serin led, did not slip by in his mind. He
added to his overgrowing list to check in on the young rider. "A
granddaughter!" he echoed with polite delight. "You do not look nearly
of age for that but I am happy for you. Grandchildren, from what I
hear, are quite a joy to have." Perhaps one day he would have his own
family but that...was a very far-off dream. "Saikera is a lovely
name," he added.

It was the ending of a topic, not an open question inviting
conversation. And she had asked so many questions of him. He realized
belatedly how poor a conversationalist he was being. "When you are not
being Weyrwoman, what do you like to do?" he asked.

"When I'm not being the Weyrwoman, I like being a mother," she said
honestly. "I don't have nearly as much time to spend with my youngest
children. I was fortunate with Saidrene and Ki'ben. Thread wasn't
falling when they were little and I was only a junior goldrider then.
I had a lot of time to spend raising them." She was glad the Weyr had
foster mothers in place, but she would rather raise her own children.

Setting her finished bowl of stew aside, Saibra veered the topic back
to the Weyr. "Do you feel prepared for the upcoming Threadfall? I know
it's not a lot of time between becoming Weyrleader and leading the
Weyrleader's Wing."

He inhaled a slow breath and also set his stew aside. "Rarely are we
ever ready," he answered. "I have prepared by studying everything I
can and plan to speak with all of the Wingleaders this afternoon about
tomorrow. I will be honest, I had hoped that R'enh would accept the
Weyrsecond position so that I could lean on his knowledge for these
first few Falls but I understand why he isn't. I am aware that I lack
experience in this department -- it is the largest learning curve that
I will have to overcome. I will do my best. If you have any advice for
me, I am eagerly listening."

"I walked in to a similar situation when I came to Dragonsfall,"
Saibra admitted. "Although, I was fortunate that Teseada, the
Weyrwoman's Second at the time, had been a stable fixture at the Weyr
so she was able to fill me in on Sienna Wing formations. My advice
would be to let the Wing function and work as they usually do. The
Weyrleader's Wing has flown together in its current configuration for
a few Turns now, so they should know what to do. Of course, it'll be a
little trickier for you since R'enh and Mnoranth won't be in
Threadfall and E'kavas is a new Wingsecond to the Wing."

I'serin felt that only the power-mad would dare exert such brazen
authority upon the Wings so soon after stepping into charge. Or
perhaps, he was someone who would never fathom the overabundance of
confidence to try it. If the other Wings could handle their own
formations, then he would focus on his own Wing.

There seemed to be no end to the list of things he needed to accomplish.

But that was neither here nor now. He finished off his food. "If I may
request that we do this at least once a sevenday? It would be a
welcomed distraction from our meetings, I imagine."

“I think that is a lovely idea,” Saibra replied with a polite smile as
she stood. “We’ll get through this, I’serin. In a few months this will
all be old hat for you.”

He let out a small huff of laughter, disbelieving yet stubbornly
hopeful. "A few months?" he echoed. He gave her a small smile.
"Doubtful but I am willing to set myself a deadline. I certainly have
plenty of motivation. And plenty of support." That last statement was
emphasized by a small nod of his head towards her.

“Fake it until you make it, right?” Saibra winked and threw up her
hand in farewell. “See you tomorrow.”

I'serin smiled gently. "Until tomorrow Wey---Saibra."

Last updated on the August 30th 2024

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Faking It... Indefinitely?