Opinions and Attitudes

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 31st May 2010

Characters: R'syl, M'galec
Description: R'syl has a question for M'galec about his thoughts on a weyrling.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 9, day 26 of Turn 5

R'syl knocked lightly on the doorframe to the Weyrlingmaster Second's
office to catch his attention. "M'galec, could I talk to you for a
moment? I have a question about your report."

"Yes?" M'galec was sure he had not made a mistake.

The Weyrlingmaster stepped inside the room, rifling through the papers
in his hand to make sure he had the appropriate ones on top. "You've
marked O'tris considerably lower than the assistants did, but there's no
explanation. Did you see something I'm not aware of?"

"His has a disregard for authority that I find offense and dangerous,"
his Second informed him. "I thought everyone saw it, so I did not go
into detail."

"He's abrupt, yes, but I haven't had a problem with him." R'syl
observed, raising an eyebrow and hoping there was more to this than just
a personality clash. "And no one else has mentioned anything. I've had
more difficulties with Fivvy than O'tris. What has he done that was
dangerous?"

"Well, it is not that his actions were dangerous as such. It is his
attitude which I think could lead him to act rashly, and therefore,
dangerously." M'galec did not like his cocky attitude. He never
actually crossed the line into undue risk, but he had skirted much too
close for the Second's taste.

This could be a problem. "He _could_ act rashly, or _has_ acted rashly?"
He inquired, trying to get something a little more substantial to go on.

M'galec snorted at the very thought. "He does not dare act rashly in my
eyesight. I have already cautioned him not to test me."

Anyone with any sense knew not to test his 'Second, which of course
meant that only about a quarter of the new weyrlings had figured that
out, but the rest were learning. But the fact that O'tris had managed to
get on M'galec's bad side without actually _doing_ anything was a bit
troubling to say the least. "If he's not acting up, how do you know that
he's posing a threat to his future wingmates?"

"Turns of experience," he answered simply.

R'syl hesitated. One the one hand, M'galec was notoriously difficult to
please and prone to clash with other strong personalities. But the other
hand, he was good at his job, and those turns of experience he'd just
alluded to had proven invaluable in the past. R'syl didn't want to
wantonly disregard his feelings or suggestions unless he had conclusive
proof there was a bias on his 'Second's part.

"I've seen a few weyrlings with similar attitudes become reliable
wingriders. You've seen this type of behavior turn dangerous before?" He
queried carefully.

"I think we have all seen how dangerous over-confidence and ignoring the
warnings of those in authority over you can bring." How many of their
weyrlings had been injured or worse during their first few months
fighting Thread? How many of those could have been prevented had they
listened and learned?

R'syl raised an eyebrow, trying to sort through the other bronzeriders
words for an answer to his internal dilemma. "So he _has_ disobeyed
orders? I thought you said that he had not done anything in your sight
other than being... overconfident."

"He has not outwardly disobeyed, no," M'gelc conceded. "But he has been
sarcastic, and snide. He has skirted the line as close as possible,
though not over stepped it. Some might consider his antics playful or
incorrigible, but I firmly believe there is no place for either when
speaking to someone in authority over you. He must understand that this
is serious business, and he must learn to respect those who are in
authority over him."

"Mmm." R'syl nodded. He still wasn't entirely certain whether the
problem was with O'tris or his second, but M'galec had definitely made
his point. "I'll check with some of the other assistants then, see if
they've noticed anything, and I'll keep an eye on him as well. If he's
really considering ignoring everything we're trying to teach him, we'll
find out soon enough." He promised, shuffling his papers to make sure he
didn't have any further questions.

M'galec took it for granted that his opinion would be respected by the
Weyrlingmaster. After all, he was rarely wrong, in his own humble
opinion. "Then we shall see how he fares. Hopefully he will wake up
sooner rather than later."

"Right." R'syl checked another page, then settled the stack back into
place. He had other questions, but not for M'galec. One of the staff had
reported an incident he needed more details on so he could finish the
report for the weyrling's file. "That's pretty much all I needed to
know. Thanks for the clarification." He added formally.

"I am at your service, as always, sir," M'galec said with a quick salute
and then turned back to his own hidework.

Last updated on the June 12th 2010

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