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Blind Weyrlings' Bluff


Date:  June 4, 2003
Places:  Telgar Weyr's Central Bowl and 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:  Even though Kassi doesn't arrive on the scene until 
about halfway through this Weyrling exercise that Merielan ran one
evening, I've decided to include all the 'Ling RP in the log, for
those who might be more interested in the lesson period than in 
Kassi's exact version of events. :)  In summation, B'haus, Gay, and
their dragons perform an exercise in vision sharing under Meri's
supervision; Kassi, Zaidra, and Maylia come by to get a look at the
new dragonpairs at work.

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The Log:

TGW-Bowl>> Merielan comes out of the weyrling barracks.

TGW-Bowl>> Liabeth comes out of the weyrling barracks.

TGW-Bowl>> Gay comes out of the weyrling barracks.

TGW-Bowl>> On the ground is a blanket with several interesting looking
lumps beneath it, all different shapes and sizes but indiscriminate enough
so that you can't really tell what the shapes actually are. Meri's standing
by Alerith's fore-foot, running a blindfold through her fingers, and giving
Gay a wide, reassuring grin. "All right Gay.." She dips her head to the
small god "..Liabeth. I'm going to put the blindfold on you Gay--and then
lift the blanket. Have Liabeth tell you what the objects are...and if you
two do well with that--we'll move on--to something a bit more exciting. All
right?"

TGW-Bowl>> B'haus comes out of the weyrling barracks.

TGW-Bowl>> Onykath comes out of the weyrling barracks.

TGW-Bowl>> Gay looks at the blanket worriedly, then at the brownrider. She
nods, glancing towards Liabeth with a furrowed brow. "We'll try," she says,
more decisively than she looks. Liabeth, for her part, looks wholly
unconcerned, sniffing at the blanket curiously. What's under there? Her
rider tries on a smile. "Blindfold away!"

TGW-Bowl>> Merielan carefully ties the blindfold around Gay's eyes, tying
the knot tight--but not too tight. "Is this all right? Not uncomfortable?"
She asks Gay, before holding up a finger or two in front of the girl's
face. "Can you see my fingers?"

TGW-Bowl>> Gay touches the blindfold lightly as it's tied on. She shakes
her head emphatically, curls bouncing. "It's fine. And I can't see a
thing." A pause, as she finds Liabeth with one hand. "Can I sit down? Is
there a rock or something there?"

TGW-Bowl>> Merielan places a gentle hand on Gay's elbow, guiding the girl
to a perch on a nearby rock. "Watch yourself.." Meri murmurs "..if you hurt
yourself Liabeth will eat me, and then Alerith will eat her, and then I'sai
will curse my bones." There's a light-teasing tone in her voice, and you
can hear her footfalls as she steps back after Gay is settled. "There--now
can you see the blanket through Liabeth's eyes? Imagine being in her
head--looking out--can you see?"

TGW-Bowl>> Gay laughs softly at that. "She'd have to get bigger yet to
-eat- you." She still looks rather nervous, though it doesn't appear to be
due to Meri's steering or her sitting. On the Weyrlingmaster's
instructions, she nods, brow furrowing deeply. Very Serious. "Right."
Liabeth pauses her aimless wandering about the blanket, and sits back to
look at it. Doesn't stop her from nosing the edge, though. "I can see it.
This always feels -weird-."

TGW-Bowl>> B'haus walks in from the direction of the Lake, with Onykath
trailing not far behind. He sees Gay, Liabeth, Merielan, and some other
stuff, and looks at the AWLM with a look of confusion on his face. "What's
going on?"

TGW-Bowl>> "Of course it feels weird.." Meri continuies in that same, soft
soothing tone. "..you've been looking out -your- eyes for quite some time.
This is totally different. But your doing well--you've gotten her to
concentrate, that's fine. I'm going to take off the blanket now, and you
have her tell you what the objects are. " You can't see Meri's grin, but
it's there in her voice "I promise this is the easy stuff--worry about when
I run you through the maze." Maze? What maze?

TGW-Bowl>> Merielan turns to give B'haus a wave, tapping her finger agaisnt
her forehead in gentle reminder for him not to forget the salute. "I'm just
running Gay and Liabeth through their paces--would you and Onykath like to
give it a try as well? I've another blindfold around here somewhere.."

TGW-Bowl>> B'haus says "Well umm.. I suppose," he gives a bemused look,
before saying, "Paces?"

TGW-Bowl>> "I think she just wants to see under the blanket," Gay says
cheerfully, tightening the blindfold's knot at the back of her head. "And
it -is- totally different. Oh, evening, B'haus." She dips a nod towards the
other weyrling. "We're ready," she declares, sounding confident enough
until " - Er - maze?"

TGW-Bowl>> Soon, Onykath and B'haus were set, and B'haus focused on his
mind. "Whoa! I see something.." <<It's what I see!>> "Oh.." B'haus said,
grinning a little. He says, "Ready!"

TGW-Bowl>> "It's a test of sorts.." Meri explains to B'haus "..seeing how
well you and your dragon work together. I blindfold you--and your dragon
'sees' for you with -their- eyes." She wiggles a blindfold from her fingers
"Care to try?" Explanation made, she nods to Gay--trusting Liabeth will
convey her image, but adding verbally just in case "A maze--if you all do
well with this, Liabeth and Onykath will guide you through a maze." And
with -that- to look foward to, Meri whips off the blanket, revealing the
wonderous and varied objects beneath. Well more like mundane and
boring---but Meri did her best.

You head in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.

Lysseth lumbers into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

Javinia comes out of the weyrling barracks.

B'haus nods, and says, "Yes, I'm ready," as he puts the blindfold on, and
Onykath crawls beside the blanket with Liabeth.

Kassima must have returned to the Lake at some point, since it's from that
direction she comes, in fresh, dry clothing and with Lysseth's straps
buckled securely onto the green's clean neck; she also has two new items,
the red-trimmed black cloak worn over her jacket and her son nestled snugly
within his sling. She and Lyss skirt the edge of the lesson-ground,
choosing a place to hover that's hopefully unobtrusive for the moment.
"This looks new," she quips. "A private lesson, Meri, or can nosy spies sit
on the sidelines?"

Gay leans forward, as if that'll help Liabeth focus, or her her see any
better. "Um... Okay." Liabeth peers at the objects, first nosing one or two
of them. "Stop that. Please -look-," Gay pleads, and the gold examines the
objects Meri'd collected with bright, curious eyes. "Er..." She hears
Kassi's voice, and snaps off a salute that way; "Is that a bowl?"

"Good!" Meri encourages, edging around her objects to stand by Kassi, she
shakes her head. "No--I don't mind you watching if Gay and B'haus don't
mind--" Distracted for a moment, Meri leans over Kassi's little bundle of
baby, making cooing noises and grinning like a fool. "What a sweetie--" She
murmurs quickly to Kassi before turning her attention back to the
weyrlings. "What else can you see? B'haus is Onykath giving you anything?"

Javinia slips out of the barracks, a backward glance for the cavern. She
looks tired, somewhat harried, and her short waves are, for once, mussed
and disarrayed. Pulling on some mittens, she salutes the riders present,
but there's no greeting. She stays near the wall, slipping down it to a
cross-legged position on the ground, content to watch--sort of. One
mittened hand stifles a yawn.

B'haus says "He's giving me.." he seems to be sorting out the image.. "He's
giving me.. a fork? No.. a spoon!"

Ymedath backwings for a landing.

Onykath looks up from the objects to bugle a little, high pitched dragonet
greeding to Ymedath

Ymedath offers a warm rumble in exchange for the bugle. A greeting. His
rider waves, and calls, "Apologies if I'm interrupting a lesson," as she
dismounts.

Zaidra uses the riding straps to vault from her position astride Ymedath,
landing lightly on her feet, then giving him a friendly pat.

Kassima laughs softly at Meri's cooing, automatically adjusting Kaswyn in
her arms so the brownrider can better see; briefly, though. It wouldn't do
to distract. "He truly is; thankee--hopefully he'll be quiet tonight... and
g'deve, Weyrlings. G'deve t'you too, Zai." She leaves the greetings at that
for now, falling silent to observe, with interest, just what's going on.

Liabeth seems intent on the task at hand, an extension of Gay's own focus.
Both dissolve briefly at Zaidra and Ymedath's arrival; Gay trying to salute
in their general direction, Liabeth letting out a soft warble of greeting
to the brown, then to Lysseth. The pair switch back to the task at hand.
though it does take Liabeth somewhat longer than the girl. "No. I'm not
interested in that rock. Please. Back to the other things. Well, look at
the last thing you showed me then? Thank you, Lia."

Merielan turns, pivoting this way and that, observing her ever-growing
audience "Oh no your not interupting Zaidra--my victims are just testing
their new pairs of 'eyes'." She gestures to the two blindfolded weyrlings,
and the dragonets intent on the objects scattered across the ground.
Javinia is noticed and Meri raises an eyebrow her way "D'you want to join
Javi? Or are you tuckered out?" Meri doesn't quite wait for a reply
addressing Gay "Don't worry about saluting for the moment Gay--just have
Liabeth focus on the objects if -you- focus, it'll help her focus. Remember
she's like a young child--she needs you to direct her. What else does she
see?"

Javinia isn't in the midst of a drill like Gay or B'haus, so she rises from
her seat against the stone wall of the barracks to salute Zaidra when she
arrives. Merielan catches her up, and she admits, with no little chagrin.
"I'm -worn-." But more to the point: "Naelanth's asleep--just." She looks
as if she wishes she were, too. Settling back to the ground, she pulls her
knees up, clasping them for warmth.

Zaidra notes the blindfolds, then, helped by Merielan's explanation. She
merely nods back, though, to avoid further interrupting, and moves toward
Kassima to greet mother and child, though she returns salutes without even
wrinkling her nose - this time.

Onykath begins to nose a piece of paper, sniffing about it. His focus was
being half guided by B'haus, for now they seemed to be beginning to
function as a pair. "This is.. a map!"

Kassima looks decidedly amused as she returns the salutes given, likely
unseen. At least Lysseth's low rumble to the young dragons is easy enough
to perceive. "What are all the things for?" she murmurs to Meri, curious.
"Trying t'identify 'em through dragon-eyes, is it...?" She turns her head
though to flash a smile to Zai in likewise greeting. Kaswyn, being a bit
young for such social niceties, merely continues sucking on his thumb.

"Okay. I'll try harder," Gay says to Merielan, furrowing her brow deeply
again. She rests her chin in hands, elbows on knees. Liabeth turns towards
her, rumbling softly, then back to the array of - things. The gold leans
close in to one thing, then snaking her neck back, views it from a higher
angle. Gay attempts, hesitantly, "I think... A brush? Maybe?"

Merielan flicks her eyes to B'haus and Onykath, her voice encouraging,
reassuring "Good B'haus, very good. Can you tell me what map is of?" She
turns slightly, directing her voice in Gay's direction "You know there's a
map--does Liabeth recognize what it depicts? Or some other object here?"
Alerith curls up behind Meri, watching the lesson with whirling eyes and a
slightly smug expression on his muzzle. After all--he's been there and done
this. Meri drops down onto one of his extended feet, crossing her legs and
generally making herself comfortable.

B'haus says "Umm.." B'haus focuses really hard, so hard that it gave dragon
and rider a slight headache. "Oh! It seems to be a map of the bitran
region..?""

[Editor's Note:  B'haus disconnected here.]

Liabeth turns her gaze to the map now, a little more deft at finding the
objects. Or perhaps it's that Onykath was already looking there. No matter,
she's there now. Gay's quiet for a time before hazarding a guess. "Looks
like the weyr to me. Could be wrong, though." Her fingers tap lightly
against her temples, as she concentrates on the images being sent.

Zaidra pitches her voice low, and murmurs to Kassima, "I remember a
blindfold exercise during my weyrlinghood, but never the objects part.
Interesting." Then she turns returns to watching.

Kassima leans back against Lysseth's conveniently near shoulder, taking
advantage of the dragon's presence and warmth like the human heat leech she
is. "We didn't do this as Weyrlings, with m'group," she murmurs back to
Zaidra, "but I once did a similar exercise with Thunderbolt. I should run
it again sometime, perhaps--'twas a bit surprised then by how some skills
had gotten rusty with m'riders." Her eyes remain on the Weyrling pairs as
she speaks, keen in interest for all the casualness of her stance.

Merielan is looking quite relaxed in her perch on her 'Alerith seat', she
crosses her arms over her chest, shifts a bit further into Alerith's bulk
and watches. "No-no--your right Gay, it's a map of the weyr. Your doing
well.." She pauses for a moment, looking over the remaining objects and
then back to Gay "Tell me if you've a headache--" And then Meri falls
silent once more, paitently awaiting Gay's next revelation.

"No, no headache," Gay's almost too quick to assure the brownrider.
"Really, we're okay." She falls quiet as Liabeth moves around the edges of
the grouping - from the way her tail twitches, she might be a little bored.
She's -seen- these things already. "Please," Gay whispers, then sits up a
little. "Um... That's a - spool of thread?"

"Liabeth seems enthralled," Kassi observes to the other riders in an
undertone, sounding, if anything, amused. "A shame there's probably nay
good way t'blindfold *her* and make her do this in reverse."

Zaidra laughs softly, "A novel idea, and quite the image as well: a young
dragon with a blindfold on." More seriously, she asks, "You had your wing
go back to basics, really?"

Even the cold air in the bowl isn't enough to keep Javinia awake for long.
She yawns, again, and that decides it. Struggling to her feet, she rubs her
eyes with mittened fists, salutes, and slips back into the barracks.

"I was going to try something.." Meri murmurs to Kassi in an undertone,
eyeing the pair out of the corner of her eye. "Spool of thread.." She
repeats, pitching her voice a bit higher to make sure that Gay can hear her
"..that's there, can you see what else is near it? An object that usually
goes with thread--it's small--but I know Liabeth can see it."

Javinia walks through the entrance into the Weyrling Barracks.

Gay pauses, in deep concentration now, trying, "A needle, looks like. Ugh,
hate seeing 'em even now." Her nose wrinkles. Liabeth is, indeed
-enthralled-, sneaking the odd look up at the older dragons. The small gold
noses the bowl again, whuffing into it. "That's the bowl again - Is there
anything else we should look for, Me - er - ma'am?"

Merielan's eyes sweep over the objects, pausing here and there to mentally
tick this and that off in her mind. She pauses, biting her lower lip a
moment, and then answers Gay "Needle is right--there's one more thing.
Liabeth may not have much interest in it-but it's something that you'd want
to eat Gay."

Kassima unfolds one arm from its place tucked around Kaswyn to waggle its
hand back and forth in the universal gesture for 'kinda-sorta.' "The riders
went through a painted maze, blindfolded," she explains, keeping her voice
low. "With pushups assigned by how many paint smears they got on 'em in the
doing; Ylysse got overconfident and fell, and ended up doing 'em nigh
t'nightfall. 'Twas a tricky course, but still--'tweren't many that first
go-through who came through unscathed. We worked on sensory exercises for a
time after that." She salutes after Javinia before, intrigued, asking Meri,
"Truly? Oh, now this I *have* t'be seeing--" Lysseth isn't even bothering
to hide her amusement at the younger dragon's plight--at least, not until
Kassi aims an elbow into her side. It can't possibly hurt, but she reacts
with a sharp whuff anyway. "Have you told her about the sewing class idea
yet, Meri?" the rider asks, purposefully pitched so that the Weyrling might
hear.

Gay lets out a sigh as Liabeth sits down for a moment, eyeing the bowl
again, resentfully. "I promise, one more," she says, soothingly. "Just
one." The small dragon seems to concede, leaning low over the collection,
though impatiently. "Er - I think... It's fruit. It's round?" Liabeth's
already sat back, stubbornly. She said one. That was one.

Tierth backwings for a landing.

Merielan stands up from her comfortable seat on Alerith and walks towards
Gay. Nimble fingers untie the blindfold, and Meri's hand sweeps out
indicating all the objects on the ground. "Good job.." She says rather
unessacarily--but she believes in giving praise where praise is due. She
gives Gay a moment to see all the objects with her own eyes, and then
begins to collect them from the bowl floor. "..still feel all right? Gave
me a headache first time I did this.." She shakes her head at Kassi's
question, looking between the greenrider and Gay "No..I forgot to mention
it. I was thinking about teaching any of the weyrlings who wanted how to
sew.." Meri explains as she begins putting away the objects in a hide bag.
"We'll save the maze for later--" This is directed towards Gay "--don't
want to strain either of you today. And I think Liabeth's had enough."

Tierth curves to a gentle landing, not far from where Kassi, Meri and Gay
are. The green casts a semi-reproachful glance up at her rider, who snorts.
"No, love, I'm not going to watch you tear the innards out of herdbeasts -
oh, yes, you do! You eat, I'll talk."

Maylia slides to the ground, giving Tierth a parting caress and a tender
smile.

"More sewing - You'd mentioned about the straps, Wingleader," Gay directs
to Kassima, with a grimace. The praise from Merielan draws a genuine, wide
smile from the girl. "Oh - thank you. And I think she has." She barely
manages to cover a wide yawn, blinking at Maylia's discussion with Tierth.
Salutes all around, then, "I think I'll have to excuse us. We're both a bit
sleepy. Thanks again, ma'am. She liked it for a bit." A fond grin's aimed
at the gold, who's already headed for the barracks, before she follows.

Tierth waits until Maylia's on the ground, while May reminds her, "Try to
keep blood off your riding leathers, hmmm?" The dragon whuffffs hungrily,
and heads for the feeding grounds. "My mother always thinks it's *my*
blood, when we visit," May comments, heading Kassi's way. "Evening, Kassi,
Meri," Gay's given a slightly stern look, followed by the salutation,
"Weyrling." A salute is done crisply, none the worse for the lack of
practice lately.

Liabeth enters through the big entrance into the Weyrling Barracks.

Gay walks through the entrance into the Weyrling Barracks.

"Someone could probably bring willow tea, if'n your head did hurt," Kassi
offers over. "It might help a bit--aye, Gay, the straps are inevitable.
More's the pity." The grin she gives the Weyrling is sympathetic. "G'night
t'you both, hey? And g'deve t'you, May."

Merielan turns as Maylia comes up on the group, snapping off a salute of
her own, livening it a bit with a grin and a cordial "Heyla May--and
goodbye as well." She gives Alerith a pat, and reluctantly the brown
stands, grumbling and groaning as if asked to move a mountain or some such.
"I've got to get some food in me--I'll see you later--Kassi.." She gives
Maylia another nod, swinging up onto Alerith's neck.

Kassima repeats, thoughtfully, "Food. That sounds like at least half a
notion... but a'course, Meri; g'deve t'you too--and thankee for letting me
sit in. I enjoyed it." She doesn't wave, though, perhaps because her arms
are full of sleepy spawn.

Maylia's salute for Merielan's about as formal as ever, but she does at
least smile. "Don't let the weyrlings run you ragged," is her advice.

Merielan disappears upwards in the suddenly brown sky of Alerith's back.

Alerith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him
aloft.

Kassima has to snort at that, turning her head to eye May with amusement
from under her cloak's hood. "Have you ever," she wants to know, "known any
member of the Weyrlingmaster team whom Weyrlings *didn't* run ragged? Truly?"

Maylia, now that all that formal greeting and leave-taking is over with,
smirks. "Ah," she says, casually, "but I can pretend like I don't know.
Those weyrlingmaster's assistants, all they need to do is babysit,
donchaknow?" Beyond, Tierth swoops, taking her first kill before the herds
become too frantic. "So, how're you, how's Kaswyn? Might be a couple turns
before the wings get any of this crew, but any look promising?"

"I don't think anyone's going t'buy that sort of ignorance from *you* of
all people. Still glad t'be out of it?" Kassima indicates the Barracks and
trampled grounds around them with a tilt of her head. "Or should I be
expecting Is t'want t'throw dice with me for the privelege of having you
back any time soon? I'm well, if'n tired--decided t'do some
firestone-breaking after drills--and Kaswyn's recovering magnificently from
m'shameful neglect of him earlier. Such a brave boy, he is." Not that
anyone can look *that* brave while sucking his thumb. Not to mention
wearing a knit cap with a pompom on top. Suffer the children, indeed.
"Promising for our purposes rather than in general? That I don't know. I
haven't gotten much of a look at the blues yet. Promising overall, I'd say
there are a few. Though that green of Yselle's might end up being a handful
for whichever Wingleader has t'deal with her."

Maylia just brightly grins at Kassi's rejection of her innocent act.
"Neglect?" She asks, sounding doubtfull. "'tisn't neglect, to do what you
need to do, unless you left him unattended on your ledge?" Coming closer,
May warmly smiles at the little guy, then shrugs. "Too early to tell, of
course. About the weyrlings, I mean. Thought I'd ask, though." She gives a
long look towards the barracks, and though it's perhaps a little wistful,
she shakes her head. "Not likely I'd go back. Much as having twenty to
fifty-odd youngsters hopping-to and saluting me is tempting, the long
hours, yelling and grumping, and ... well, empty couches after a Fall, I
doubt it. And shells, can you imagine, me being *under* someone I trained?
Sure, I trained him well, and experience took care of the rest, but I'm not
about to be subordinate to someone my mind still sees with a muckbucket and
shovel, running after his dragon's tail!"

Kassima's headshake is immediate and emphatic. "Nay, nay--naught like that.
I'd never do that." Her tone leaves no room for doubt. Wrapped up warmly
within his sling, Kaswyn's too dead to the world to notice warm smiles, but
his mother does and automatically matches it. "I did leave him with 'Maeva
longer than usual, though, when I got caught up talking with some of the
Weyrlings. And Meri and K'ran. I should've gotten back t'him sooner... but
he's all right now. Fed and changed and warm and safe. Or as warm as one
can be, out here. Care t'go somewhere warmer now that the lesson's done?"
She grins, then, and attempts to bump shoulders lightly with her erstwhile
mentee. "You, under I'sai. Or anyone when it comes t'Weyrlings. You're
right: 'twould be an apocalypse in the making, and y'know, I should really
ask you for embarrassing Is-the-Weyrling stories. T'remind him of the next
time he's trying t'humiliate me by making fishing pole references."

Maylia goes on to ask, "Yselle. She's that girl," she hesitates for a
moment, looking for a polite thing to say. "uh. Candidate, she was, with
the toddler? What's her green like?" Now, there's a distinct frown. "Surely
nothing that can't be trained and controlled, mmm?" She grins, and allows,
"Certainly not, I'd've been shocked and appalled if you'd left him alone.
See, he was in good hands the whole time, doesn't seem worse for wear at
all." The shoulder-bump is well aimed, and May laughs. "Alright, warmth -
Tierth'll hunt on her own, just fine. And I'll gladly share stories of Is
and anyone else. Fishing poles, though?"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia ohgoodgods, May's almost forty!

Kassima's mouth corners quirk in a way that suggests she may have some clue
as to the source of May's hesitation. "Right," she confirms, "that's the
one. Lysseth Searched her, so I have an interest--might be we could use a
green, too, since with Yash and Ursa both back we're a bit brown-heavy, but
I don't know about this green. She seems very...." It's the Wingleader's
turn to grope for terms. "Confident? Ach, shards, let me just say
'overbearing' and be done. 'Twill have t'be seeing how she takes
t'training, for curiosity's sake if'n naught else. Truth, I'm curious how
all of 'em will turn out." Her fingers smooth briefly over the plump line
of Kaswyn's cheek. "Nay 'tall the worse," she agrees, with a smile that's
only a little silly. Straightening, she takes a step towards the South,
then pauses; "Living Cavern, then? Or Springs, or where? Fishing poles...
ah. Well. A bit of a long story, that." Pause. "And all I own for a better
phrasing."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima eyes May drolly. Don't tell me you expect pity. ;)

Maylia matches Kassi's step, nodding seriously. "Overbearing, hmm? Well,
that can change. Or at least Yselle can be taught to moderate it. I hope.
You said something about food being a good idea?" A glance is cast towards
her mentor. "Can't have you running yourself ragged. Can't blame it on the
weyrlings, you'd just blame it on the Wing, and that'd be hardly fair,"
she's clearly teasing, from her tone of voice. "Long story, hmmmm? Well,
I'm thinking maybe I can take a guess, but I'll let you fill me in on it,
sometime at the Lava lounge or something?"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia hees :) Naw. I just remember when it seemed like it'd
take forever for May to match me in age. Now, she's past it.

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Wait, wait."

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Kiran's pushing thirty, right now. This means
that May was late twenty-ish, when she taught his class?"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia says, "Probably. She started WLMing at 23 or something."

Telgar Weyr> Yashira says, "Yash has a three and a half year old. Whoa. And
Decarath's over 6 turns old."

Telgar Weyr> K'ran good gawds. She seemed so much older. :)

Telgar Weyr> Maylia hees :) It's the ageless drill-sargeant phenomenon.
Whoever's doing the yelling, holding the power, 'feels' older?

Telgar Weyr> Bronwynn says, "Fehuth is almost 20. Eee!"

"If'n Dianneth doesn't at least learn t'listen to her Weyrlingmasters,
she'll end up dead," Kassi darkly agrees, "so 'tis certes a thing t'hope
for. But 'tis early yet t'be worried about that. Still babies, these
dragonlings, with long ways t'go a'fore they fight. And so I did. Haven't
had much chance t'grab more than a bite today." She makes a face at this
admission, then another for May's teasing. "Wouldn't it, though! 'Twould be
perfectly fair. You saw Maidil in drills today, Faranth help us all--or
more like, Faranth help *her* tomorrow." Though it's likely clear she's
quite serious, there's a hint of amusement, and of rue, in that. "Why don't
you tell me what you guess, first?" she suggests en route. "Since I'm
thinking 'tis bound t'be entertaining."

You walk south.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Younglings, all of you. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Bronwynn gets Kassi some dentures.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Nawwww, I don't need dentures. I'm close enough
to being a dino that my teeth have fossilized."

Maylia walks here from the north.

You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Maylia walks in from the bowl.

Telgar Weyr> Bronwynn laughs! Night all. :)


Pierron looks up from his cooking to expound to you his opinions on the
latest news.
"Deplorable rumors, in my opinion. Oh, and did you see that Lord Holder
come by the other day, all unexpected-like? Lord.. Vorlin, yes, that was
him, of Bitra. He took that candidate back to his hold, the poor thing
looked fit to burst into tears at being recalled... You've heard by now
about I'sai siring that Craftmaster's baby? Masterweaver Katlynn, that's
the one. Sounds like she's decided *one* of the riders here is her sweet
tuber of love... but it's not Taralyth's! You know that vacation the
Thunderbolt Wingleader gave all her riders? Well, I've heard a
rumor--though V'dan was the source, so the Egg only knows how true it
is--that *she* won't be much able to enjoy it; the Healers have grounded
her, apparently. Though there's some argument over whether another
pregnancy's the reason, or she got into an odd accident that involved fish
somehow. I overheard C'vadan tell Cheni he was adding to his moderately
large brood. He didn't give a name, but did say the mother was a Fortian
Wingleader. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.  How many times do I have
to tell these riders? Know your limits! "


Maylia only grunts as comment on Dianneth's fate, if she doesn't smarten
up. Or maybe it's concerning Maidil. "Have her run around the bowl a few
times, some pushups, or precision drills or something? Remind her of
weyrling days." This, obviously, is about her wingmate. But the seriousness
clears, and the younger greenrider breaks into a grin. "Well. Theory? Let's
just say that that's a mighty odd looking fish you've got all swaddled-up
there, mentor-mine."

Kassima adopts a too-sweet tone that's almost a sing-song: "Mayhaps I could
be suggesting t'I'sai that I've found his Weyrlings an assistant in keeping
the Barracks clean, hmm? Ach, but nay... nay yet. Nay unless she *does*
make that mistake again tomorrow. Between you and me, methinks there's a
newly ex-Candidate she's sweet on--and he didn't Impress, so it could be a
lack of sleep that has her brain nay functional, if'n you get me." Wink
wink, nudge nudge, say no more; Kassi settles for wiggling one brow a bit
rather than such obvious gestures, though. She stops in her tracks at the
last, red flooding her face, and just splutters for a moment. Her, "I can't
imagine what you're talking about," when she's got control of her voice
again thus probably isn't exactly convincing.

Now in the warmth of the living caverns, May shrugs out of her riding
jacket. "Here," she says, hanging it on a peg, "Your arms are full, let me
hang your cloak?" The last bit comes out in a laugh. "Just as I thought.
I'll leave teasing you about fishing techniques till sometime when you've
had a bit of wine, though, I think. For Maidil, I could yell at her?
Refresh her memory of weyrlinghood, make her do pushups? That's the part
that I miss. 'Give me fifty -- no, a hundred!'"

"Would you?" Kassi asks, grateful. "The sling can hold him, but I hate
t'let go, though I'll have to t'be getting food--" She does free a hand to
work at the cloak's fastenings. "Methinks that's safer than trying it here,
aye, even if'n it means you'll have a ways t'wait 'til the story. Nay
drinking for me 'til Kazy's weaned. Which should at least give him some
time as the youngest ere he has any small sibs on m'side t'worry about,
knowing me. I appreciate the offer--" Her grin is rueful. "But the
yelling's for others t'do if'n need's proven. If'n you should happen t'be
socializing with her, though, and care t'bring up any fond old stories
about things you did t'Weyrlings foolish enough t'let mooning after someone
affect their duties, it might be well."

Maylia does her best to assist with the cloak, with an amiable teasing air
about her. "Well, that'll give me lots of chances to think up other fishing
references. Can't promise you they'll all wait, though. MMm," she nods,
considering. "Perhaps fetching that lad from Igen, he had a cold trip
*between* without his clothes. Couldn't call what he had a fishing pole, by
the time we landed. A twig?"

Kassima drawls at her very driest, "Somehow, mentee mine, I know deep fear
of what your fertile mind will spawn." Beat. "Pun absolutely intended. Call
it preemptive revenge. May!" She's spluttering again, but this time with at
least as much laughter as embarrassment: "I can just imagine what he'd make
of you telling the Living Cavern he had a twig, whoever he is, and for the
record I am *nay* going t'ask if'n he ever caught aught with such
equipment. Nay 'tall. Ooh, they've spiderclaws and peppers tonight!"

Maylia advises, "Keep it quiet, or you'll wake your little fish," but the
last words are marred with laughter. "And for the record, best as I know,
he's caught naught with it. At least, none that've claimed it publically.
It's a shame there's no way to trade in for better equipment. Spiderclaws,
really?" This is clearly a treat.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia says, "Sorry mentor-mine, Kaswyn is now 'the little
fish' to May."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "May is an evil, evil beast. And all the more
evil because that gives me a flashback to the Cat of Red Dwarf singing,
"I'm gonna eat you, little fishie!""

Telgar Weyr> Maylia cracks up :)

Telgar Weyr> Maylia, in a typo, discovers a command I never knew existed.
+here.

Telgar Weyr> K'ran used to play on a WoD MUSH. We had +where. And we also
had +were.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia says, "+were?"

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "As in, -wolf."

Telgar Weyr> Maylia AHS.

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Though I guess we could've used it to list dead
people, and it'd still have been an apt name. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia says, "That's what I was thinking, when I saw it. Who's
died in the last week, or something ;)"

Kassima fires May a dirty look. It is, however, a quiet dirty look.
"Y'know, methinks if'n you're going t'call him that, *you're* going t'get
to explain the nickname to him when he's old enough t'wonder." For now, of
course, he's blissfully oblivious. She keeps her voice pitched low to help
him stay that way. "Little *wonder*, I'd say... and who'd agree t'such a
trade as that? Honestly now. I've never heard of a man who wanted
t'exchange a pole for a twig, and I can't believe we're having this
conversation." Clearly, she's trying to keep from laughing outright even as
she extends a hand to scoop spiderclaws onto an empty plate.

Telgar Weyr> <Kassima> +were whispers, "I list dead people!"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia groooaaanns!

Telgar Weyr> K'ran menaces Kassi with an ocelot.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Don't make me get out my ring-tailed lemur,
K'ran. My lemur and I would totally pwn u."

Maylia snorts, dismissing the Fear of this. "I'll tell him he was an apt
swimmer. Or that he made fish-faces when he had gas." She's laughing, too,
doing her best to keep quiet. "You're right. I think, unfortunately, the
equipment you arrive at the lake with, is what you're stuck with. No
trade-ups." The wingrider sighs, shaking her head. "And I'll have to hope
we have spiderclaws again, soon. Tierth's done. And ready to call it a
night. Do get some sleep tonight, hmmm?"

"Mmm-hmm. And when I can't keep a straight face at those explanations, and
he gets suspicious, then what will you do?" Kassi's grin takes any real
concern out of the words. "'Arrive at the Lake.' This is me, nay even
wondering how t'interpret *that* metaphor, lest I be forever scarred. Give
m'regards t'Tierth then, would you? And get some sleep yourself? Noon
drills tomorrow, don't forget, so you can afford a bit of extra rest."

Maylia continues to laugh, fetching her jacket. "I'll tell him what he'll
have already figured out. That his mom laughs at the oddest things.
Imagine, laughing at a kid because he had gas as an infant!" She's soon
bundled up again, with a wrinkle of her nose, assuring that not asking
about that metaphor is a wise thing. "I will - but no extra rest for me.
Got strap mending to do. Take care!" With a brief fishy-face in parting,
she's out and into the bowl.

Maylia walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.