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Blast From the Past


Date:  January 2, 2005
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Whee!  This was a fun scene even to start with, what
with M'tri coming in on a game of dragonpoker between Kassi and 
various NPCs, then Daikoth terrorizing a visiting girl outside.  Add
a visit from A'lex to that, and it just gets better. :)

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The Log:

M'tri walks in from the bowl.

"Which is about when I told him--again--that he ought t'just weyrmate t'her
and be done, instead of this off-again, on-again thing. I doubt it
*thrills* her that he's going t'be a father again. But she understands how
flights are." Kassima's the speaker in this conversation, held at the
Thunderbolt table over a hand of poker. Several other riders are in the
game; two of the other four have folded, though, leaving her, M'zir, and
Ylysse the only ones still bidding. Shiara makes a face as though she
agrees and toys rather remorsefully with her two remaining quarter marks.

M'tri is in rare form, it appears. Every aspect of his entry - from the
firm, thin line of his lips, to the stubborn cross of his arms - is grumpy,
tense, and stand-offish. He's not even above nearly running down an
innocent drudge as he stalks into the living caverns and beelines to the
serving tables, and makes a plate of wherry steaks, mashed tubers, bread,
and a bowl of stew; in a careful balancing act, he makes his way to the
table and, eyeing the game at hand, drags a chair out with his foot, and
spills into it gracelessly. Uncharacteristically quiet.

Kassima's focus is too much on her cards for her to note what's odd in
M'tri's entrance straight off, or indeed the entrance at all; it takes a
nudge under the table from S'cot to get her to look up. The various
players, save M'zir who's still chewing on his lip over his next bet, all
watch the bluerider's crossing of the Cavern with interest. Eventually most
of them do look back to their cards, but Kassi only gives hers a glance
before nudging a half-mark more into the pot and then addressing the
bluerider with a casual greeting: "Heyla, Trii. Something eating you?"

M'tri grunts belligerently, glancing at the cards in Ylysse's hand, then
mildly picking up the folded cards of Shiara and looking at them too. He
grunts again, folding the cards neatly and placing them back in front of
her, and stuffing a speared piece of meat into his mouth. Yeah, something's
eating him; that's why he's eating something else. It's half-hearted
revenge. He chews thoughtfully, washes down the bite in his mouth, and
replaces it with bread. "Yeah," he grunts before tearing off the piece.

Lysseth> Fadra walks here from the north.

Ylysse tolerates this without any particular sign of annoyance, but Shiara
slaps lightly at her Wingmate's hands with a vaguely accusing look: hey!
Her cards! And M'zir's, "C'mon, Shiara, we all know you wouldn't have
folded if they didn't suck," doesn't help her much. The normally cheerful
Thunderbolt greenrider takes her leave with a bit of a huff, heading for
the food table. "I'd say 'tis catching if'n she hadn't been losing all
night," Kassi remarks over the rim of her glass of wine. "I call... so are
you going t'be clarifying, Trii? Or am I going t'have t'borrow S'cot's
utensils t'be aiming mashed tubers at your head until you relent?"

"Daikoth tore up the weyr. Again. He demanded all my belt buckles, and
broke the bed. I spent all day worrying everything. If I didn't know
better, I'd think he were going to rise soon, honestly." M'tri's answer is
not lacking in severity towards his dragon. In Shiara's departure, the
bluerider drags his chair to where she had been sitting, carefully moving
her cards to place his plate in the vacated spot, and says, "Deal me in
when M'zir loses."

Lysseth> Daikoth looks like he's oblivious, but it is with great
deliberation that the huge, sleeping lump of sober blue raises his head
from the ground to peer at this person. Who in the name of Faranth is that?
Well, he'll just have to figure it out, won't he? Snorting, Daikoth
shuffles a bit, stretching his neck until his nose is but a few feet from
Fadra's teensy form, and, eyes whirling mischeviously, he snorts. Hard. And
then, as best he can, looks innocently towards his green comrade.

The Maelstrom brownrider takes a turn at shooting M'tri a dirty look. "Not
going to lose. I raise another half." Ylysse is folding her cards even as
the tossed mark clatters. Kassi taps the bottom edge of hers against the
table surface, then nudges in a worn half and a Tanner quarter. "See and
raise. He *broke* the *bed*, Trii? Did you nay explain t'him that 'tis
Lani's job?" S'cot ducks his head to hide his sniggers. After slanting an
amused look at him, the Wingleader adds, "I'm *really* curious as t'why
he'd want your belt buckles specifically. Any chance he's fretting over
something else? Over a green near t'rise, for that matter?"

Lysseth> Lysseth does not sleep, but her pose is a relaxed one, stationed
not far from the Bowl wall with her chin perched on crossed forelimbs. That
one set of eyelids she'd allowed to drift shut flicks open; she gives a
rather amused-sounding rumble, and turns her head to better watch the
spectacle of blue and human.

Lysseth> Fadra jumps very high. Not particularly dark to begin with, she
turns ghost-white, scampering away from the blue dragon with all the haste
of a person being chased by a herd of angry wherries. When she tries to
speak, she stutters, "G-g-good dr-dragon. D-dont eat me?"

M'tri shrugs a bit, shooting M'zir a look right back. Multi-tasker that he
is, he even manages to aim a kick at S'cot and keep shoveling food into his
mouth at the same time. Yay for him. "At least I've got someone in my bed
regularly, S'cot; which is more than we can say for you," is his response
to the greenrider across the table, since a kick simply doesn't seem to be
enough with his mood. "When Lani breaks the bed, she's got the common
courtesy to help me fix it, not sit there looking smug while I try and find
the missing pieces. As characteristic as that would be of her." He watches
anxiously for the brownrider's cards to be exposed, while adding, "He wants
the belt buckles because it's the only thing he hasn't taken. Or because
his pants aren't fitting properly. Or, maybe a green. He's never done it
before though."

Lysseth> Daikoth looks surprised. 'Good dragon,' hmm? He looks curiously at
Lysseth, then back at the small person he doesn't know. Edging forward, he
aims a gentle poke at her, spreading his wings a bit (all the better to
look bigger with).

S'cot's only too glad to kick right back at the bluerider. "I," he declares
in that thick brogue of his and with as much dignity as he can summon, "am
*this close* to talking Emriti into it, 'twill have you know." Which
statement is met by a series of quiet groans and 'yeah right' sounds from
the Thunderbolt riders near enough to hear. "Aye, and 'twere saying that
just... last month, wasn't it? And the month a'fore that? And a'fore that?
She's just pulling you along, San. If'n you'd stop chasing her you'd have a
better chance of catching." Kassima might have said more, but she's
interrupted by M'zir's mutter of, "Yeah, catch her like half the rest of
the world already has," and then S'cot's not listening to anyone anymore.
He's too busy getting into a glare-and-kick war with M'zir now. "For
Faranth's sake," the greenrider demands, "will you just *show 'em*?
Honestly. I feel oddly compelled t'be asking whether this fixing happens
a'fore or after you've completed whatever action broke the bed in the first
place, Trii; and whether, if'n nay, having it break leads to any
interesting bruises. Could it be a particular green? Does he have such
favorites?"

Lysseth> Lysseth is no help. Not to Fadra, nor to Daikoth. She simply makes
a vaguely encouraging sound--go get 'em, tiger!--and otherwise watches with
all the interest of a bored individual presented suddenly with unexpected
entertainment.

M'tri dodges S'cot's kick as best he can, making it into more of a graze
than a full on smack. He adds his own, "So sure," to the groans and huffs
from the rest of the group. He dodges thier kick war too, putting down his
fork and carefully pushing himself up so he can tuck his feet beneath him
on the chair, out of range of both riders, and anyone else who thinks they
need to kick at him. All attacks are coming above the table now. "I hope
not," is M'tri's groan in response to Kassima. "I really, truly hope not.
Because the last thing I need is for him to try and kick Tisiath off the
ledge because of some green he fancies - show your sharding cards, M'zir, I
want to play!"

Lysseth> Fadra's pleading looks with Lysseth are cut short when the green
doesn't respond. She edges further away from the dragon, tossing a
convenient rock at his nose, begging, "Please go back to sleep! You don't
want to eat me. I'm really gamey. Too many...bad things."

"I notice you didn't answer the question about the bruises." Kassi *would*
notice that. Her grin to the bluerider is wicked. "Is there something
you're hiding from us, sweet wife? Anyway, all you've got t'do is explain
t'Daikoth that all the good things in life should be *shared*. I'm sure
he'll believe that one." Right. M'zir heaves a long-suffering sigh, but
sets his cards down: two pair, threes and eights. His face falls when a
slow grin crosses Kassi's expression: the Wingleader's hand, displayed with
a flourish, is also two pair, but deuces and a Weyrleader and Lord Holder.
"I'm out, if'n there's t'be another hand," S'cot informs the table,
watching his Wingleader scoop up her winnings. "Got t'save a few marks for
the bracelet I'm buying Em. Don't say *one word*."

Lysseth> Daikoth grumbles as the rock thumps to his nose. Pulling back from
his pursuit, he makes a warble that exaggerates his not-so-injury, telling
the weyr that he's been injured until he's quite satisfied everyone who's
anyone knows. Then he snorts. And shows his fangs for just that: show. He's
going to eat you, grrr.

"One word," M'tri says helpfully, flashing a grin of extremely high
wattage. "I'm in, I've got marks, because I don't oblige girls who drag me
by a leash." Grin. Setting his plate down on one of the empty chairs, he
removes a bag of marks and leans forward, saying, "Ready to lose, let's go
guys."

Lysseth> Lysseth is no longer so amused after that rock goes flying towards
the younger dragon. Although the sound she makes next isn't quite a
growl--and she doesn't quite bare fangs--there's a warning note in it that
Fanra might catch, and her eyes take on a few brief-lived flecks of red.
Dusky wingsails half-unfurl, then fold again, as restless as her flicking
tail.

[Editor's Note:  There was a lot of fun knot chat before 
this point, when A'lex signed on, but I cut most of it 
because it was more about RL things and would have swamped
the log. ;)  I'm leaving in the good bits from here on,
though.]

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "But anyway, it's the new year, so I figured I'd
stop in and say YO"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima hugs and hugs. You need to stop by more often, 'Lex my
darling. Missed you! And, hey, you need to spawn with M'tri! I'm lining him
up to spawn with everybody who could have a kid with a cool name. You and
he could have... Matrix. ;)

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "I don't think the parts would work the right way..."

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "I'll add you to the harem when it is time, my
friend with the bronze that so makes the deal."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "You'd be surprised. Trii's my wife."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex laughs.

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "Yes...and there are more bronzers in the harem
than anything,."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Which is something I am always hard-put to
explain in a way that makes *any sense*."

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "The log makes sense!"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Which is par for the course around here."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima smooches. You know it better than anyone, Chunky Dog.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "(Proof that old nicknames never, ever die. I
can't believe I remember that.)"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex cackles. "Those were the days..."

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "That makes you guys OLD"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "In-frickin-deed"

Kassima's all-too-amused grin keeps S'cot from saying much. The male
greenrider just sighs and follows Shiara's path in abandoning the game in
favor of food and/or semi-dignity. "Remind me t'let Lanisa know how you use
your marks while expecting her t'spend hers," Kassi suggests dryly,
gathering up the cards and setting to a quick and expert shuffle. "Ylysse,
M'zir, you're both still in?" The riders confirm this, and she deals out
cards.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima will never be old. Ergo, everyone younger than me is
*always* young. Does that cover 'Lex? I forget.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Character, yes. Player, no."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Player, not by a LONG shot."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima grins.

Lysseth> Fadra was cowering moments earlier. Now she's trying to sink into
the ground with powers she doesn't have. She eyes the dragon pair closely,
looking around for anything she can hide behind, or under. Or anything at
this point. "Sorry...shards don't you have riders somewhere that will be
very disappointed you ate me?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "You should totally bring Nraith to Lyss's next
flight, 'Lex. Things just haven't been the same without him, or without you
to threaten with death."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex laughs. I may have to do that.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "You should've seen it, Trii. There was this one
flight when 'Lex and S'dar both chased. Oh, the glory."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Wow, 'Lex is almost 50."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Still in his prime!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima is in reminscence mode now. This is scary. So many
good times.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex grins.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "You really do still come up ICly, 'Lex. Last
flight, M'rek was asking whether ProddyKassi was going to make him pee
purple or something--I had never told him that story, is the scary
part--and she snapped, 'Do you *see* A'lex when you look in the mirror?' ;)"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex HOWLS! Nice!!

Lysseth> Daikoth's rider won't be disappointed! He was hit with a *rock*.
And just to prove it, he bares his fangs more, just a tad. Done playing
with her, he drops to the ground again, curls up, rests his head on his
forepaws, and just glares daggers at the girl on the ground. He's still
considering eating her, no doubt, but now it's wary - she throws things.

A'lex walks in from the bowl.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex sniffles as Pierron ignores him. That fickle beyotch.

M'tri watches as the cards drop to the table, resting his chin in his hands
until they've all dropped. "I think Lani knows," he admits. "I wouldn't
make her spend them on me, she's figuring it out." He fans the cards in his
hand, frowning at them, rubbing randomly at his nose, and then murmuring,
"Yeah, eat it then, I don't care; I'm busy." Obviously that was for no one
at the table.

Lysseth> Lysseth gives a response that does come closer to a growl,
although it's still not *quite* there. But she doesn't move out of her
place, nor make any particularly menacing motions towards the girl herself;
indeed, when Daikoth similarly relaxes--sort of--she loses a great deal of
her interest and dismisses the whole thing with a soft snort.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "He's all about M'tri's hot tuber now, 'Lex.
It's tragic and sad."

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "Though, I don't know why, exactly."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "But he still humphs at me. And I still think of
you reading that as missing the second H every time he does it. Damn you!"

A'lex makes his way into the cavern and heads straight for the Klah pot.
"It's getting colder earlier up here. I need to only visit in the Summer, I
think."

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "I'm little, stop talking dirty around me!"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex cackles. If only I still had builder access, I'd so
change that.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Trii, we didn't need to know that. That should
be your and Pierron's secret."

Telgar Weyr> L'han screams! A ghost!

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "In my pants!"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "errr..."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Nevermind"

Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "Not like that you nasty greenrider."

Kassima is seated at the head of the Thunderbolt table as is her usual
wont, playing dragonpoker... which is also her usual wont. Or close enough.
"Just as well. You don't really want t'make her dig around in your pockets
t'get 'em, on the off chance she decided t'be a wee twinge vindictive."
Pause. "And he really shouldn't eat the poor lass, Trii, for all that Lyss
thinks she has a scare coming." She gathers up her cards, but doesn't look
at them yet--she's been distracted by a very familiar voice. "*'Lex*!
Shells, man, is that you, or am I hallucinating again?"

A'lex snorts, "You only wish it was hallucination, Greenrider." Then he
breaks into a smile. "How goes it, you old coot?"

"Nay, nay, but I have t'be checking. I hallucinate you so regularly,
y'know. And then I swoon at the hallucination, and people look at me so
*strangely*, and once L'cher thought 'twas swooning at him--big mess."
Kassima's very deadpan about this. She sets her cards down; poor Trii, it
seems unlikely she's going to be a very attentive player for awhile. "Watch
who you're calling old, you reprobate. But I'm well. Very, very well. Come
sit with us; meet m'wife! I've told her all about you. Haven't I, Trii?"
she asks, turning to the bluerider. "I did tell you about the man who
attended the winter masquerade in a loincloth, aye?"

A'lex pulls up a chair at the Thunderbolt table after retrieving what he
came for. The dreaded klah. "You have a wife now... funny, she doesn't
look... wifey." He extends a hand to the Bluerider, "A'lex, lifemate to
Nraith, retired old coot."

"Vindictive pocket rummaging? And then you wonder why I don't give you two
the chance to do non-vindictive pocket rummaging." M'tri shakes his head
sadly, sighing and looking at his cards while glancing up at the newest
arrival to the caverns - at least, the one who has Kassima's attention.
"Yep, you've told me, Kassi." Soberly, the bluerider looks at A'lex. "She
talks more about you than she does me - some husband I've got. Should have
listened to ma." This is said very soberly, and then he, too, places his
cards on the table, facedown, and looks straight at A'lex. "Are you calling
me ugly?" he asks, while crossing palms with the bronzerider and saying,
"M'tri, blue Daikoth's, young riff-raff and pain in the rear." And only
then does he let himself grin.

A'lex chuckles, "Ugly, not at all. It just seems that you have too much...
um... dangler to be a wife, that's all." He purses his lips and whispers
conspiratorily, "And the reason she talks so much about me is that she's
secretly loved me for TURNS." He pauses, "Oh, no, wait, that's LOATHED me..."

Kassima asks A'lex with a flutter of lashes towards M'tri, "Isn't she a
catch? Unfortunately, all the bronzers in the world seem t'recognize her as
a catch too. She's boffing most of them. Doubtless you'll be the next one I
lose her heart to, and we'll have t'add an 'ex' onto the name of the next
baby, whose name is already going t'be as long as this table t'include
everyone whose spawn it *might* be. But of *course* I talk more about him,
darling. He's my one true love in life. I've been pining after him for
Turns, ever since he licked m'hand and then told the whole Living Cavern I
couldn't kiss." She has to snicker--no, laugh outright, first at 'dangler'
and then at 'Lex's semi-confirmation of her own theory. "'Lex, we're
thinking alike. That is bloody terrifying."

A'lex just laughs. "Indeed. VERY terrifying. And my bluerider stealing days
are long since over. I'm a confirmed batchelor, and will be until I finally
go *between*"

M'tri grimaces as best he can through his laughter; he ends up looking
slightly ill. "Oh, well, thanks. You're not too bad yourself. I'll give you
a hip swish 'fore I go to bed, believe-you-me. I'm only boffing
four...maybe five. Not *everything* that looks at me gets my time of day."
Chuckling, he agress, "So far we've got Kasilanisanobayrektrii...ex. Poor
child."

<Bitra> M'rek greets!

"Huh. You *say* that. But I might've said that too, nay so very long agone,
and just look at me now. Married and having a long list of scandalous
affairs. Or something." Kassima does not sound particularly serious.
Imagine *that*. "Does this mean you have nay new children t'report? How
about the other things in life? Is Southern treating you well?" Pause. "You
forgot J'len, Trii. And Vel--or, wait, is that the 'ano' part? Or is that
Lani and T'bay?"

<Bitra> Cailin snugs SM :)

<Bitra> Kassima snugsaM'rek!

<Bitra> M'rek snugs, "How are you lovely ladies tonight?"

"Oh, right. Um..triiexjalbay. There. It's fixed now." M'tri grimaces. "I
think T'bay gets in there twice. I don't know now, just rest assured, the
kid has a very long name." Blinking, as though the thought of the name has
just bewildered him into stupidity, the bluerider turns to A'lex, shrugging.

A'lex snorts, "If there are more younglings, no one's informed me." He sits
back and enjoys the draught of hot drink, "I can't believe that Pierron is
still using Sahless's recipie for Klah. Makes me think of home... but no,
nothing scandelous, unless you count naked time on the beaches. Nriath is
so out of fighting trim that I doubt he could catch a rock if one decided
to go on a mating flight."

<Bitra> Kassima is good! A'lex has come out to play! You remember, he's the
one I asked if you saw in the mirror, when you asked if Kassi would make
you pee purple? ;) Also, M'tri and I have been formulating a drunken
sledding plan. How're you? :)

M'tri gets a raised eyebrow at the 'boffing four... maybe five' comment
from the Telgari-turned-Southern Bronzer.

<Bitra> M'rek says, "Sounds like I'm missing all the good stuff. :)"

<Bitra> Cailin's been quite amused with just the watching of things so far :)

Kassima slants M'tri a suspicious look. "*Twice*. So you're boffing him
*twice* as often as the rest of us, are you? Slut. Sluttiest slut in all
the land. Hear that, 'Lex? This man is a slut." It'd be a more effective
accusation if her eyes would just stop sparkling. "Ah, well, more's the
pity," she says to A'lex about the spawn, but a smile crosses her face at
Salless's name. "There's good Benden red about somewhere, too, if'n you
want more reminders of home. I don't think naked time on beaches counts as
scandalous. It does count as another reason I need t'come down there, so I
can surprise you with a bucket of water from the Ice Lake. Has he often
*tried* t'catch mating rocks?"

A'lex laughs out loud, "No, he hasn't, yet. Yet!" M'tri gets another grin,
"Is she bringing in the Benden water for you, then?"

M'tri says "I think Daikoth may be the first blue to rise ever, if he wants
to try for that. Daikoth can't catch rocks either, as hard as he tries." As
for boffing anyone twice as much as everyone else, "Honey, only you. And
Lani. Oh shards, no one's getting boffed more than anyone else, so there."
- "She poured water on me for our anniversary...does that count?""

A'lex blinks a few times, "Anniversary? You barely look old enough to...
boff... and you've been together how long?"

Kassima announces, "The 'yet' scares me more than I can possibly express.
And gives me *such* mental images, I can't even tell you. Poor greens!
Deprived of his studly prowess! Oh, oh, but he should definitely chase
Daikoth. 'Twould pay t'be seeing that flight. 'Twould pay t'be let into the
Guest Weyr while the flight was happening, t'see the hijinks, in fact...
although the aftermath, nay so much." The talk of water gets another
snicker and a protest of, "He still isn't pregnant with m'child! Even with
the Water! Methinks 'tis all the whining about headaches that's t'fault."

"Since I was Searched, eh, Kassi? Two years? And I'll have you know, my
boffing prowess is much coveted. If you only knew, *you'd* covet it too."
M'tri nods sagely at that, sitting back in his chair to mope, "I *do* have
a headache. You. You're the biggest headache ever."

"Boffing prowess... I see." A'lex just nods, smiling (sort of). "And you
married Kassima while you were a candidate? That's a bit unorthodox, I
would think."

The headache comment, however, gets a barely stifled snerk-snort-choke.

"We married right after I met him," Kassima confides to her old friend. "At
first I thought we'd have t'keep our love a torrid secret from everyone,
because of the impropriety of it all. But, well, we didn't hide the marital
bickering very effectively, and he couldn't stop swishing his hips at me,
so everyone knew soon enough. But they didn't mind. They wrote songs in
m'honor. You're lucky 'twas Tear and nay Lyss who Searched you, Trii," she
adds, with a grin. "She did Search 'Lex, and knocked him on his rump, as I
rememb--*hey*. Stop that! I don't see why you're laughing!"

A'lex laughs out loud now, "Kassima, Lifemate to Lysseth, you don't know
why I'm laughing?! I was your Weyrleader for Faranth's sake, if anyone
knows how good you are at bestowing the gift of headaches, it's me." He
settles down and nods, "But yes, Lyssanth did Search me. Knocked me right
on my skinny teenaged ass. I'm still wary of walking to close to her."

"I just swish so well, though!" M'tri defends himself, shaking his head.
"Headache is right, Wingleader of mine. But, y'know what...that's okay,
because I still am married to you, and I will have lusty affairs with other
riders, but love you most!" He wipes away an invisible tear brought on by
such fierce emotion. "Lysseth is harmless...I think. Either way, there's a
girl outside being terrorized by Daikoth, and I think I should go before he
eats her...since I did give him permission and whatnot. It was nice meeting
you. If you ever want to be in the harem, just hollar." With that, the
bluerider rises from his seat, and heads out.

M'tri walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kassima makes a face at the bronzerider. "I'm a perfectly serviceable
Wingleader. I didn't cause a single out-Weyr Incident for you. The
headaches I gave you were surely on a strictly personal basis!" Pause.
"Which sounds kind of scandalous in its own right, actually. Anyway, you
certes did your part t'return the favor, what with the argument about butt
honor, and accusing me of making your mother cry, and... ach, y'know Lyss
loves you. How couldn't she? There are so few men who make her laugh quite
so much." She winks before blowing a raspberry after the departing M'tri,
protesting, "*Harmless*! I'd like t'see him tell her that. But at least he
loves me. Sigh. Sigh. I swoon with delight." Oh, not.

A'lex just chuckles, "Well, I should probably get over to Fort. Mykaa turns
twenty-four in a few days, and we're planning a party for her..."

A'lex stands and makes his way towards the door, giving his hips an old and
decrepit swish just before he exits.

A'lex walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

"Twenty-four *already*?" Kassima asks, momentarily disturbed. "Shells.
Clear skies, you old--" But she can't finish the parting call. She's too
busy laughing.