Running with Scissors
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Duskdog, Halyonix
Date Posted: 1st July 2025
Characters: M'kayre, A'len
Description: A'len tries to talk to M'kayre about I'serin
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: E'kavas, Chioneth
Notes:
~*~
A'len unfortunately caught M'kayre at the wrong time but he did not know that in the moment.
"Weyrsecond, a minute of your time please?" the bronzerider said respectfully but insistently as he intercepted M'kayre leaving the Dining Hall.
M'kayre glanced at him. Ah. He didn't particularly have time for what he suspected might be foolishness, but he _was_ honestly interested in what the man might have to say. A'len had been a fine wingleader once upon a time, even if his recent behavior had been a touch pathetic. M'kayre could, at least, sympathize with how desperate being overlooked could make a man who was used to being utilized and respected. He'd felt it himself often enough these past few turns at Dragonsfall. And if it _was_ foolishness, well, at least he'd have the opportunity to tell him so.
"Yes, what is it, A'len?"
"Weyrleader I'serin," A'len answered formally, as though he wasn't talking about his son at all. "I have my...worries...about him. Especially after yesterday. I heard that he injured his hand?" It wasn't hard for A'len to hear such a thing from his weyrmate, who was a healer. And while he didn't take pleasure in seeing his son injured, it did give him strokes his ego a little to know that he had riled I'serin up that much. Maybe now the boy would see reason.
"Mmm," M'kayre acknowledged with a small nod. "He did. I'll be leading drills and 'Fall until he's healed up. For the best, I believe, since I do... share some of your concern, given the disaster that was Threadfall. I believe the break might do him good, though the timing of it is bad for optics."
"It was quite a disaster," A'len agreed with a sad shake of his head. "Teal Wing will be long in recovering." His mannerisms turned expressive, emphasizing his concerns. "If they recover at all! The timing is terrible. There's too much going on. Do you..." He paused, as though an idea had struck him just then but in reality, he had been thinking it all along. "Perhaps an extended break would do him good? Just another sevenday or so. Just enough take a bit of the pressure off."
The longer I'serin wasn't leading, the easier it was to convince others that he _shouldn't_ be leading. Especially if the Weyr did better under M'kayre's leadership.
M'kayre considered for a moment. He wasn't entirely sure what A'len was angling for, but that didn't necessarily mean he was _wrong_. "Perhaps. He may benefit from the chance to take ownership of his failings and redeem himself to his riders sooner rather than later... but if he doesn't seem to have his head in the right place by the time his hand recovers, I may suggest he take more time. I can certainly lead as long as is necessary." He eyed A'len. "And if he does, I think he'd also benefit from a break from _you_."
Shocked bloomed in A'len's eyes before he could school it.
"Me?" he asked quickly, quietly. His tone regained its usual confidence. "I will agree with you that he needs time to get his head in the right place -- he used to go to those Cyan Wing parties all of the time, remember? -- but a break from me? I'm his _father_." As if parents ever got a break from their children!
"You're also a clear distraction and -- if I have to guess based on his reactions to your intrusions -- probably supremely _annoying_," M'kayre said, unwilling to mince words at this point. Riders had _died_. "He Impressed his own bronze, and his own bronze is the one who caught Chioneth. You don't get any input into that, whether you're his father or not. If he wanted your counsel, you'd be wearing my knots, or E'kavas's. Or at the very least the knots of a wingleader. But for whatever reason -- just or not -- he hasn't chosen to give you those. I am well aware of how much that must sting. But the way you've been inserting yourself into his business is clearly causing him stress that the Weyr cannot afford for him to have. I'm not placing the blame squarely on you -- no, it's also the boy's failure to either ignore you or man up and shut you out entirely that's the main problem -- but you also have the responsibility to consider how your own actions are affecting the Weyr. You're an experienced rider, and an experienced leader, and frankly, you've been embarrassing yourself ever since I'serin took office. You look desperate to ride his coattails, and everyone can see it. Have some sharding self-respect, for Faranth's sake."
Fury flared within A'len. He restrained most of it but it flashed in his blue eyes. "You speak of things you have no business voicing," he said to M'kayre in a low voice. "Is that how you would recommend handling an inexperienced Weyrleader? A bronzerider who's never even led a Wing before? By suggesting that I _not_ offer my experience? That I am _lacking_ in self-respect, that I am merely riding his sorry coattails? I am the _best_ person to advise him because he is my _son_. I know him better than any of you! And I know that he is not cut out to do this! Today absolutely showed that!"
"Perhaps he is not," M'kayre replied tightly. "But if that's true, why should the fact that you are his father make you qualified to advise him _now_? You had his entire _life_ to advise him, and yet here we are. Clearly you didn't do a particularly good job of raising him the first time around, or else he'd not be so ineffective now." He narrowed his eyes. "Or do you only take responsibility when you think you stand to gain from it?"
M'kayre's words cut to the quick. They were true, a well-aimed arrow into the armor of A'len. Except that the first response of a person confronted with the truth was not acceptance. It was anger.
"You insult me, Weyrsecond. Saying such a thing," A'len growled hotly. "I have done my _damnedest_ to prepare him, despite his lack of ambition. What sort of bronzerider would rather go to parties than learn how to lead? One that should not be in charge, that's who! And yesterday showed that! So I'll be accepting your apology on that front because if I _hadn't_ trained him, the Weyr would be in an even worse spot!"
M'kayre couldn't help it. He laughed.
"No need to pre-emptively accept an apology that will not be forthcoming, A'len. I only apologize when I'm _wrong_." And not even then, if he were to be completely honest with himself... but of course, he was not. "Now, if you're quite finished, you can run along. I have a Weyr to run."
A'len had lost the battle and he knew it. His face purpled with emotion, both at M'kayre and himself. He should not have lost his head like that but how dare M'kayre insult him! "Good luck, Weyr_second_," he spat in closing, fuming. He would have to find another ally.
"Have an excellent evening, Wing_rider_," M'kayre replied. He couldn't, however, shake the feeling that this was going to become an even larger problem.
Last updated on the July 15th 2025