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Man, I Feel Like a Woman!


Date:  March 8, 2001
Place:  The Rusted Hulk
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:  Here it is at last, by popular demand:  Ofira's bridal
party. ;)  Only women were supposed to be invited--save, of course, for
the... special... male guests--but there's some evidence that *someone*
(or someones, eh, Hugette?) may have found a way around that 
restriction.  Regardless, between the gifts, the strippers, and the
miniature sausages, it was certainly a remarkable occasion. ;)

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The Log:

You wander over to the The Rusted Hulk.

Thalia stands up and smiles brightly, as her long-term friend Ofira walks
in. She's actually cheering. Wow, did she get tanked up real fast. At least
they let her here, unlike at the Hall.

Dendra spins around and yells, "Surprise!" at the top of her lungs. Once
again giving Merry a good look at her legs.

Kaimi adds her cry of "Surprise!" to the others.

Is- 'Merry' - chimes in, "Surprise!" with the others.

Kerellen calls out "Surprise!"

Keara chatters away to Ofira as they walk in, breaking off into a wide grin
at the welcome, then says quietly, "Surprise, Ofira!"

Ofira pauses mid-story, chatting to Keara on her way in, visibly startled,
stepping back, "Oh my! What - ?" She looks at Keara, "What?" She looks back
at the others and then laughs, "Oh my!"

"Surprise!" Everyone's calling it, so Thalia has to as well, late as she
is. She makes up in noise-level as she is clapping. This might get one
embarassing evening. Mostly for Sauscony.

Sauscony is slow, but she too yell. "Suprise!"

Ofira laughs again, amid the cries of surprise, "What exactly is the
occasion?" She greets friend after friend, "I can't believe you're all
here..."

Keara grins towards Ofira, "It's your bride-party. We have food and alcohol
and the most cunning pastries, and games and strippers and all sprts of
things!"

Ofira goes rather still once more as Keara explains, "Oh....my. Food,
alcohol...strippers?" she murmurs.

Dendra grins angelically and says, "Keara organized this. Just be glad
we're not all dressed in pink tonight."

Kaimi giggles as it is suggested that they might have all worn pink.

Thalia goes to get a refill for her now empty glass of wine, picking up
pastry along the way. She carefully kneads it with the tips of her fingers,
with something close to medical interest, and then with great relish bites
the tip off, eyes gleaming. "Strippers? When? Where? Oh my, my Craftsecond
never does such things for me? Did you hear that, Sauscony?"

Ofira shakes her head, "Keara...I have never even heard of such a thing - a
bride party!" Then she just laughs, "Bt I like it. All right. Who's going
to get me a drink then?"

Is stays fairly silent through most of this, even the mention of such
fearsome things as strippers and, worse, _games_, though then 'she' asks
brightly, "Oh, are you to be handfasted soon too, then? My cousin didn't
tell me about -that-. Naughty, naughty Sauscony. Just wait till you see her
basket."

"Let's just get you a pastry and a glass of wine," Keara suggests with a
chirple. "Shall we?" She tugs Ofira's arm towards the table, "We'll get our
own. And can't the apprentices have a glass tonight, don't you think?"

Dendra follows the Craftmaster, saying, "They should be able to. How else
will they properly toast your upcoming happiness?"

Kassima steals belatedly into the room, muttering something about dragons
that won't shut *up* making people *late* of all the indecent yadda yadda
yadda, and why Lysseth would make a good dragonhide rug. After this quiet
tirade she manages a sheepish, "Duties, all--and felicitations, Ofira,"
before finding herself some place to sit and hide in the usual
embarrassment of the late-arrived. That strange deep-voiced woman gets a
curious glance, and Keara gets a worried one. "...Strippers."

Ofira lets Keara drag her towards the table, where her eyes go wide as she
surveys the food. "Oh...-my-" she says once more, staring. "Uhm...oh yes,
wine...certainly," she says absently.

Thalia sits back down, eyeing 'Merry' warily. "Been there, done that. Used
to be handfasted to the Masterseacrafter. Our son is a baker. Lijan." She
sips at her wine, then pushes the rest of the pastry into her mouth with
one finger and licks it. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy a party with
strippers. Ofira always had all the luck."

Dendra says agreeably, "Strippers are good. And fun." She takes a pastry
off the tray and bites off one end with a great deal of relish.

Is rubs gloved hands along throat; by that expression, perhaps the
hoarseness was caused by the auntie's yelling at too many littles in her
youth. "Oh," 'Merry' says cautiously, venturing a nervous smile Kassima's
direction. "Is that so. What was dear Ofira like, before?"

Ofira finds herself with a glass of wine in her hand, "Oh, Kassima! You're
here too" Is gets a rather curious look, but she is soon distracted,
"Thalia! Oh, all my friends. Keara - this is really wonderful!"

Keara beams at Ofira, delighted as usual to be on the receiving end of
praise. "Well, we tried to get everyone here. And the strippers'll be here
in a while, after we're all halfway to being drunk." She reaches for a
glass of wine.

Dendra gets herself a platefull of food and a glass of Tillek white wine,
and settles back to amuse herself by openly speculating on the possible
stripper show. She just loves making some of the more shy apprentices blush.

Kassima flashes Ofira a rather sheepish smile from her corner. Her nice,
safe, surely-no-scary-things-will-find-her-here corner. "Guilty as charged,
Ofira, but 'tis always a pleasure t'be celebrating a friend's luck." She's
good and doesn't add, 'Particularly when the Hulk's alcohol is involved.'
Nervous 'Merry' gets a curious look that lingers a moment. "You don't know
aught about these strippers, d'you?" she asks a bit hopefully.

Ofira does justice to her own glass of wine without delay. "Perfect," she
says to her craftsecond, "I'd say that what this entire wedding planning
has been lacking is sufficient alchol!" She makes her way over to Kassima,
sitting down by her for a few minutes,"Oh, I don't know that Keara is
serious about strippers." she says to the rider. "I mean, I've rarely heard
of such a thing. It was good of you to take time away from the Weyr to be
here," she smiles, draining her glass with alacrity.

It's not just the apprentices who blush, and Is pulls out a little fan,
employed with terse, reasonably smooth motions: someone must have
practiced. "Not at all," says the affected alto - is that accent
reminiscent of Nabol? - "Not at all. We never had such things in my day.
But cousin Sauscony, she insisted. And it's for the craftmaster, after all.
I do hope they will be fresh."

Thalia turns around to give Ofira a bright smile. "You know I'd not miss
your party. After all I took my first vacation after 10 turns, just for the
occasion of your handfasting." She turns back to Merry, sipping on her
wine, and cheerfully says "She always got the adorable kids, the biggest
hunks drooling over her, and all that. Isn't she my personal hero after
all? Even her son is a bronzerider. I hope her luck rubs off on my son.
That's why he's a baker, you see." She laughs lightly. Seems logical to her.

Keara's glass of wine is quickly half-emptied, and she refills it and takes
a pastry before trailing after Ofira, tugging her skirt slightly.

Kerellen sips at her glass of wine and makes a face.

"I should hope nay," Kassi confesses to her old friend, with a wry grin.
"Strippers sound rather disturbed t'me. People who take money t'be taking
their clothes off? What sort of job is that?" Shaking her head, she adds,
"Scarcely a problem, though. My pleasure in very deed; I just hope I can
make the wedding... I'd ask how things are going, but methinks Keara's
wanting your attention." The woman's astute. She then squints at 'Merry.'
"Sauscony's your cousin? Welladay, you're lucky in your relations
then--wait a moment. *Fresh* strippers?"

Shoshana did say surprise when the craftmaster came in, honest. It just
wasn't that loud. And she stays in the little appy-corner, talking softly,
"Have you been posted?" she asks of Kerellen curiously. Hey its her attempt
at little chatter.

Kerellen shakes her head. "Not yet. I might have been, but then everyone
got recalled to the Hall."

Ofira turns to Keara, smiling, "Yes?" She waves over to Thalia, and then
remarks to Kassima, "Oh, I hope you'll be able to. I had the nicest note
from Kindre, saying that she'd be there, but A'lex felt that he couldn't be
away from the Weyr."

"He should be a baker, so he can be a bronzerider?" Is inquires of Thalia.
"I'm afraid I don't follow, dear. Hunks, now. _That_ stands to reason.
Sauscony has told me what a darling man her Jorenan is," fibbed with the
healer not quite in earshot. "Well. Of course fresh! One wouldn't want them
smelly, now would one?" The pale gaze drifts briefly to the apprentices
over there.

Kaimi smiles encouragingly to Shoshana and says to both her friends, "Do
you think there serious about this stripper thing?"

That journeyman sister of Keara's busies herself with the drinks, and if
she should switch a few bottles for contents less innocuous, who's to say?

It must be all the wine. Thalia does have incredible speed tonight and
always manages to get refills. It's so nice to lose all inhibitions, just
once. "Fresh strippers! Fresh meat! It's been turns, other than in an
infirmary! No sickly pallour, no festering wounds, just simple nice fresh
meat. I tell you, Ofira always had all the luck." It's her personal theme
tonight, ayup. "And my dear Merry, you misunderstood. I want my boy to be
lucky. Though he would be rather handsome on a bronze dragon."

Ofira peers over at Thalia and raises her glass to her, not quite
overhearing. And it's already the end of glass number two. "And a fine
baker Lijan is turning out to be!" she toasts her.

Kassima chuckles under her breath, leaning back in the chair. "That 'Lex
needs t'be learning t'lighten *up*, Faranth's sake. If'n he can come get
drunk with us every once in a pair of blue moons, he can surely make your
wedding! Mayhaps you should come beat him with a frying pan 'til he
relents." She crinkles her nose at Merry. "I *suppose* nay. I've never
actually seen a fresh stripper... or smelly stripper... or any other sort
of stripper."

Kerellen looks a little apprehensive. "I hope not."

"Oh. Well," Keara says, really just following Ofira around. "Do you want to
play a game? I hear it's traditional at this sort of thing."

Ofira laughs, "Oh, Kassima! Do you remember what he did to my frying pan,
all those turns ago? I think he's -still- afraid of me." She looks at Keara
interestedly, "A game? Really?" She considers, but glass two has begun to
do it's work, "Oh well, why not? I'm sure the apprentices will enjoy it.
Look at them over there, such nice young ladies." She raises her glass to
Shoshana, Kerellen and Kaimi."

Is whitens a shade as Thalia goes on, looking back to her. "Oh, I _see_.
How clever." One lace-gloved hand lifts to fluff beribboned hair. To
Kassima, brightly, "They say there's always a first time! Those
apprentices, they'll remember this for Turns."

Shoshana 'ahs' and nods in understanding, "Yes I bet that got in the way."
at Kaimi's question she peers out of the little group to the 'outside', "I
haven't the faintest." she replies, turning back, though she has a sinking
feeling they are serious. You'd expect less from the bakercraft?

Thalia smiles amiably at Ofira. "Yes yes, so he keeps writing me about.
Though I still wonder why he always wants to go to Boll. Do you know anyone
at Boll?" She shouts that out rather loudly, then turns back to Merry. "You
don't look well. Are you alright? I should have my equipment somewhere."

From the look on Kaimi's face she appers to agree, how ever as she look's
back at the goup of masters she also seem's a little bit intreged. THen she
smiles as she sees Ofira looking before turning back to her friends.

"I remember that he named a 'lizard after it," Kassi quips, laughing, "and
that he feared it greatly--the moreso after he... pounded out the dents,
wasn't it? Poor man!" She takes a moment to smile at the nice young ladies,
unknown to her though they are, and wiggle her fingers. "Game. Sounds
interesting--and, hmmm, methinks there are first times for many things.
What *was* your name?" she wonders of Merry.

"A drinking game," Keara says brightly. "Let's see. Any time someone says
the word 'Ofira' or 'Craftmaster' or 'sexy' they have to take a drink!"

Ofira laughs, "I know a lot of people at Boll," she calls back to Thalia,
"But if your son is up to anything he shouldn't be, I'll be sure to find it
out." She gets up and goes over to study the food, "A drinking game....oh
that sounds a lot like an idea Tierigal would have. Well, go ahead!" She
laughs again, "I certainly won't be saying any of those things." She
cautiously takes a sausage, "Do I want to know who did the cooking? "

Is's frozen a moment - and then leans forward, "So kind of you to ask,
dear! No, not well at all. Why, let me tell you about the ache I've been
having, in my elbow, it just keeps paining me when the wind turns a certain
way, and my, my bowels, they aren't as swift as they should be, if you know
what I mean, and I think you do. Sauscony's so good at helping me to the
necessary at such times..." but luckily is deflected by the wingleader.
"Oh, my name, please call me 'Merry,' dear. 'Craftmaster,' you say?"

Is clears 'her' throat, "Did she say, I mean?"

Thalia blinks at the instructions and then quickly says "Ofira, you're such
a sexy Craftmaster!" She waves her empty glass. "Red wine, and more of
those lovely pastries that nicely fill the mouth." She giggles. She will so
regret this in the morning. She purses her lips at Merry. "You will have to
tell me everything about your bowel movements, please? Let's drink together
though, first, good for your bowels!"

Shoshana gives a hesitent smile as well when Ofira looks over at their
little grouping. She actually keeps half an ear on the conversation with
Thalia though, could that be the all famous Lijan-mother? Oh well...as the
conversation shifts to drinking games she looks back, giving the others a
'oh boy' look.

Keara takes up a wineskin and begins to patrol the crowd, 'offering' it to
those who say the wrong words. "Oh! Oh, you, Soz's whatever, lover wasn't
it?" She grins wickedly at Merry and wiggles the wineskin, "I heard that!
Here's your drink!"

Kassima repeats in a slow, too-thoughtful tone, "...Merry. Mmm-*hmm*." She
might comment further, particularly on that dearing, but then Thalia's
asking about bowels and it seems a good time to steer her attention
elsewards. Like towards food. Which she abandons her seat long enough to
fetch, returning with sausages of both sauces and a tall glass of brandy.
"Methinks I'm afraid," she comments to no one in particular.

Ofira looks over at Kassima's glass, "Oh, now what have you got there? That
looks like it would go well with these sausages..." She helps herself from
the table and then shakes her head, "Keara will have them all passed out
within the hour." She drinks deeply from her glass and heads towards the
apprentices. "Well! Good evening! I hope you're enjoying yourselves! NOt
often we let you have an evening like this one, is it?"

Is takes a deeper breath, stuffed bosom heaving, as Kassima of the
too-thoughtful tone departs - even so briefly; to Keara, all fluttery-like,
"You're not supposed to know about things like that, dear. But please. I'll
have a full glass."

Kaimi gulps as she realizes who just addresed them from behind her. She
turns and smiles, "No Craftmaster it isn't often. This is wonderful thank
you."

Ofira nods pleasantly to Kaimi, "I'm so glad." She turns and calls, "Oh,
Keara? I believe someone over here just said "craftmaster". She laughs and
winks at the apprentice.

Thalia waves her empty glass at that saucy wench. She blinks somewhat. Oh
right, that was Ofira's Craftsecond. "And Ofira, the sexy Craftmaster, has
a sexy Craftsecond, who will now bring Ofira's friend, the Healer
Craftmaster, a really sexy glass of wine, now would you? Or how often do I
have to say that again?" She pouts and flutters lashes and looks generally
silly and turns back to Merry, patting her arm. "Can I see your elbows? And
are your feces more soft or solid? It's really quite interesting, you
know." She pushes a sausage into her mouth, nibbling at the top.

"Hugh's brandy!" Kassi calls, raising the glass. "Nay finer brandy
anywhere, and it *does* go well with the sausages--" Several of those have
already disappeared. Someone must have skipped dinner. Since Merry isn't
discussing bowels right now, she muses thoughtfully to the... other woman,
"Y'know, I've a cousin you should meet sometime...." Thalia gets a wary
look. Oh, dear. The Craftmasters are going insane again.

Kaimi turns pale then blushes, she sips her juice and hopes no one notices
the difference.

Keara pours a tall glass of wine for Merry, gives the whole skin to Thalia
and looks as though she'd linger to chat until that talk of feces. Instead,
she twirls around, flipping her skirt out, and grabs for another skin and
prances towards Kaimi. "A swig, Apprentice! And Ofira, you said it too."

Shoshana goes into her Master-polite-quiet state of mind, trying to do a
curtsy bob while sitting, "Yes Craftmaster, it's very nice." she responds
quietly. "No it isn't, it's lovely." that's the right sort of thing to say
right? She seems to have forgotten about any 'drinking game', that or she
never heard which words were the penelty words. Oops.

Kaimi looks on with wide eyes and after a long pause takes a small drink of
the wine.

Kerellen coughs and gives Keara a look.

Ofira laughs again, "So I did Keara, so I did. And so has apprentice
Shoshana now. So that's three glasses I believe!" She leans over to the
craftsecond, "Who is that woman talking to Thalia? I don't think that I
recognize her..."

Is, bluff called, hastily reaches for a sausage that won't have to be
shared, to go with that wine; after making a great show of considering
Thalia's offer, finally, "I'll count on it afterwards, dearie. Perhaps we
can get a fresh viewing. Not now, though, I do think we scared off that
nice craftsecond of Ofira's," and takes two sips for the two penalties. To
Kassima, "Cousin, did you say? I'm afraid no one could quite match my third
husband."

Keara grins at Kaimi, passes Ofira a glass and pours a bit for Shoshana.
"Kerellen, have you congratulated Ofira yet? And don't forget the proper
form of address, apprentice!" She laughs and then leans towards Ofira, "I
believe Soz said she was her cousin. I suppose I see why Sauscony is the
way she is.. the way Merry and Thalia are getting on over there. Imagine,
chatting about feces in the middle of a party."

Kassima nods solemnly, while idly nipping the end off one of the sausages
with sharp white teeth. "Methinks--and I really can't imagine why, since
I've just met you, but call it a *hunch*--that you'd find a lot in common
with this one. His name's K'sin, green Lyrsith's rider... or there's
m'other cousin, Kerry. Should I suggest he come introduce himself t'you
sometime? He really is quite cute, as such things go, and y'know what they
say about young men and their stamina." Keara's comment about feces catches
her in the middle of biting another of the sausages, and after a moment's
thought, she carefully sets it back down on her plate.

Kerellen chokes. "What?"

Kaimi blinks as she swallows the wine, it is hard to tell what she is
thinking as her face is such a jumble of expresions. She smiles faintly
back at the Craftsecond, then looks at Kerellen in sympathy.

Apprentice Shoshana? That's her...Shoshana looks rather confused, she had
been too busy talking or listening to something else or something to hear
the drinking game rules. A nearby apprentice mutters them to her and she
bites her underlip slightly. Oopsy. She takes the little sip of wine,
practically an invisable amount really. But it counts right?

Thalia nods eagerly. "Yes, later then. Or just have Sauscony check it." She
looks after Keara almost regretfully. "I certainly did not mean to scare
her away. After all she gave me this sexy wine here." She stands and cheers
for Ofira, then sits down again. "Ah, I don't get out of the Hall often
enough. You know, I used to be posted here, as apprentice."

Ofira accepts the glass from Keara, and then leans against the table the
apprentices occupy, one hip resting as she smiles far more than any of them
have ever seen her smile before. Terrifying isn't it? "Merry? What a pretty
name. She reminds me of -someone- but I really couldn't say who. " She
takes a delicate bite of sausage, with all evidence of enjoyment. "Very
good..."

"And Ofira," Keara says with yet another grin, "Tell me when you're ready
and you get to open your gifts."

Dendra finishes her food, wine and fun with the apprentices. She rises to
get more to drink and comments, "Well, that's better than them talking
about certain other bodily discharges." She peers around and asks loudly,
"Where are the strippers?"

Ofira drains glass number three more quickly than either one or two and
then gazes at Keara benignly, "Gifts too? Oh, you're all far too generous!"
She sets down the empty glass and laughs, though for no discernable reason.

Is eyes Kassima and her sausage. Sausages. Bitten sausages. "So you like
younger men, do you?" And then to leaven it, "Why, but you have such a fine
complexion, dearie; you don't look as if you have more than nineteen Turns
yourself. Whatever do you do for your skin? And I'm sure any cousin of
yours is very ...nice." To Thalia, as if she needed reminding, "Take
another drink, dear. Is that where you met Ofira, when you were posted here?"

Kassima spears a fork through one of those sausages and waggles it
chidingly at the older... woman. "I said what *they* say, nay what I say;
nay that I object in particular t'young men, but I do object t'*cousins*.
Incest is icky." Well, yes. She snaps off another bite, all thought of
bowels evidently forgotten. "Too kind, too kind; untruthful, but too kind!
Mostly I hide in a big hole in a cliff in a land that never sees any sun."
What a beauty secret. She asides to Dendra, "Far, far, far away, hopefully."

Keara levels a finger, wobbly though it's starting to be, at the table of
gifts. "There! There they are. Some of them are very sexy." She hiccups,
drinks, then peers at Kerellen with disappointment, "Come on, aren't you
going to be respectful and tell your poor Craftmaster congratulations on
her handfasting?" She drinks again, then pouts, "C'mon, siiiiiis."

Ofira looks up and interjects, calling loudly over to Merry and Thalia,
"Yes, yes, she met me here! I was an apprentice here. Doing inventory!
Three turns of inventory for Master Lathen! And of course, I had a nice
young man back then too." At that she commences to giggle. "Oooh, should I
open them now Keara?"

Thalia sagely nods to Kassima's words. "That is good for the skin. I spend
time in my office all day, reviewing reports. That is good for the skin
too. But even better is this skin."

Dendra studies one of the sausages before nibbling happily on it. She
replies to Kassima, "What, don't you like strippers? They're fun to watch,
and they make nice presents. And all the blushing the apprentices will do
must be good for the skin....you know,bringing blood up and all that." She
waves her mutilated snack around on a tiny fork before devouring the rest
in one bite.

Giving the wine skin an almost tender little kiss, Thalia takes another
long sip. She nods to Merry. "Yes, I met her here, she was visiting fairly
often, and all. She even came to my own handfasting. Which was held in
here, by the way. Sharding place for a handfasting if you ask me. Sharding
guy that was too." She hiccups, just like that sexy Craftsecond over there.

"The wineskin," Is sighs. "Very good indeed. Did I say anything about
cousins that way?" said to Kassima with a bit of a titter. "Sauscony's such
a sweet girl, why, she..." trailing off as Dendra speaks before finally
ending up with a weak, "Nice young man, you say. That's good. Very nice. If
he's not too nice."

Kassima raises her glass in a solemn toast. "If'n alcohol's good for the
skin, Craftmaster, then 'twill surely have the finest, clearest, purest
complexion ever seen on Pern until I die. At which point I hope t'be
pickled in alcohol so the clarity can continue." There's a sentiment to
drink to, and she does. "I'd be the one doing the blushing, so I suppose
knowing 'tis healthy is a good thing. Naked men--or women? I assume men,
but I suppose you can never be too sure--dancing about just seems
terribly... oh... *strange* somehow; couldn't they at least wear kilts?"
Crinkling her nose at Merry, she allows, "Nay certain, but if'n you fancy
Sauscony, it seems you should *tell* her... though you might let a few more
rounds of alcohol go through first."

Ofira raises her glass to Merry, "Well said! Nice young men who are too
nice aren't really all that nice, though this one had very, -very- nice - "
She launches into a description of just what he had that was so very nice,
clinical enough to satisfy both Thalia and Sauscony no doubt. She sits back
and helps herself to another sausage, "If you see what I mean..."

Kassima can only give Ofira an outright terrified look. "Please don't let
her be talking about T'ren," she mutters around a bite of sausage. "Please,
oh please, oh please." That sausage gets considered and set back down yet
*again*. Poor sausages. They symbolize too many scary things.

Keara trots over to the table of gifts and plucks a few up to carry
unsteadily to Ofira, "Mine first!" She plops the package down.

Ofira beams at Kassima, "Yes! That was his name! I haven't thought about
him in turns! But of course, you were clutchmates!"

Thalia raises a finger at Ofira's words and beams at her in true
hero-worship. "Heard that? She really always had the luck! That sounded
really quite impressive. I certainly don't have any matching stories. Can't
even say if riders do it all better." She peers at Kassima. "Are
bronzeriders the real examples of virility, or is it a myth?"

Is flushes beneath the powder. "Did he, now," said to Ofira this time - and
then dares, "T'ren? Who is this T'ren? Is he still so, ah, well-qualified?
...And Sauscony's my cousin; I couldn't possibly..." Thalia speaks; 'Merry'
shuts up.

Dendra calls out, "That's a big myth, Master Thalia! It's the blueriders at
Igen that are the masters of virility!"

Kassima makes a whimpering sound low in her throat. "Aye," she confirms,
"and Wingmates after that, and I don't think I'll ever see him in the same
way again." She does not, note, say whether this is a good or bad thing.
"Methinks he's at Benden now, and I've *certes* never had a clue! Find out
for yourself if'n you're so inclined and he's willing." Her black lashes
sweep downwards, upwards in a slow blink at this question. "Bronzeriders.
Hmmmmm. Well, speaking from experience, I've more children m'self by
*greenriders*--but there's this bronzerider at Telgar who knocks up
everything under the sun. Have you ever heard of him? His name's I'sai."

At that, Is follows Thalia's example and says piously, "Sexy craftmaster,"
and drinks twice.

Kerellen huddles back in her seat and sips cautiously at her wine.

Ofira waves a hand deprecatingly at Merry, "Oh, I wouldn't know! I've moved
on to greener fields, if you see what I mean. I could tell you stories..."
She looks up at Keara as she brings over the gift, "Oh! All right...." She
begins to work at the wrappings, but the now four glasses of whatever is in
those skins is impeding her progress.

Thalia lets wine run over her tongue (and spill down her chin, how
unladylike) and purses her lips then after swallowing. "Actually, I did
hear about him. As I said, I have this young healer apprentice Isleen, who
wanted to know how two bronzeriders would, well, you know, copulate. I
explained it in great detail. This I'sai was her cousin. He sounds like a
fiery one. Wonder if he'd ever come to Healer Hall?" She smacks her lips.

"He should," Kassi decides in wide-eyed innocence. "Your people need
t'*study* him. Determine what makes him so sharding virile. Mayhaps there's
some sort of secret that could be passed on to *other* men, and then half
the women of Pern wouldn't have t'be running after just this one." And no,
she's not going to ask to hear that explanation. Her eyes sway towards
Ofira and her present, curiousity lifting her brows.

The baker Craftmaster didn't escape pink lingerie after all: Keara's gift
is pink and lingerie-like indeed. A hot pink top has tassels to hang over
the stomach, and the bottom is practically non-existant. Es.

Kaimi giggles at the flash of pink that emerges from the package.

Dendra finishes off her glass of wine and grins. "Hey, now you don't have
to borrow Keara's lingerie anymore, Master! You have your own!"

Ofira lifts the top from the package, all the way up for everyone to see.
"Oh -my-!" she says staring at it. "I wonder if Jorenan likes pink. I never
did ask him." She lifts out the bottom part, what there is of it and turns
it this way and that, "Didn't we used to have a theory about Benden Weyr
water?" she remarks absently to Kassima. "Maybe that has something to do
with it." She holds the pink lingerie against herself, and has had enough
to drink that she seems to find it entirely fetching, "Well, thank you very
much Keara! Very thoughtful of you!"

Is's eyes have widened, yes they have, and looking from Kassima and Thalia
to Ofira and her lingerie isn't helping matters; in that affected alto,
"All -sorts- of cousins tonight. He sounds like quite the, hm, charmer? I'm
afraid we didn't bring skimpy lacy clothes, but hopefully she will like her
little gift anyway. How thoughtful of the craftsecond. Wintertime is the
time to keep warm, after all."

Thalia leans back in her chair, half-eyeing the gift, half-eyeing Kassima.
"Send him to /me/ and he can try his skills, methinks." She grins
ferociously. "Ofira, can I borrow that thing you just got? Or can my
Craftsecond learn from yours? I want the goods!"

Shoshana keeps the huddling act going too, though she watches and listens
to the 'outside'. At the sight of the gift her eyes widen and she chokes
back a little giggle, "Oh my." she mutters. She sounds like an old lady.

Keara blows a little kiss Thalia's way and grins foolishly at Ofira. "Isn't
it lovely? I had to stop from buying one myself. What gift's next? I think
they all have tags."

"You should try him out," Kassima suggests to Merry in an undertone that's
accompanied by a wink, though no leer. "I'm certain you'd have a *lovely*
time. And oh, Craftmaster Thalia, 'twill have t'be suggesting that t'him!
I'm sure he'd be *delighted* t'demonstrate for you." Her lashes flutter
once, twice, before she can blanch at yon lingerie and huddle a bit in her
chair. "Oh, my," she murmurs. "How pink. We did indeed," she adds more
audibly. "Causes pregnancy, y'know!"

Ofira sets aside the lingerie carefully, "No more trying anyone out for
-me-," she says a bit mournfully, "Not after this wedding. But I do have
pink lingerie now, and that's a great consolation." She giggles then and
nods to Keara,"Sure, let's open the next one!"

Thalia blinks. "Whoever told you that water causes pregnancy has lied to
you. Really, I thought you'd be more sensible at weyrs." She looks amused,
then blinks and quickly elbows her neighbor. Which seems to be poor Merry.
And quite the sharp elbow she has. "I think that cute Craftsecond just blew
a kiss at me! Did you see that?"

Dendra mutters to Thalia, "... she's referring... pink... could (hic) be
wrong!"

Is gives Kassima a slit-eyed smile and a simpered, "Why thank you, I do
believe I shall. If Sauscony will introduce us," It's safer than looking at
Thalia for long, though he's not above sneaking a peek now and again...
especially at that elbowing. "I think you're right!" said after a wince.
"Why don't you go up and smile at her a little more. What sort of, ah,
lingerie would you two like if not pink?"

Without hesitation, Thalia says "Black. It really goes best with my
complexion and sets me off nicely." She giggles somewhat foolishly, then
rubs her elbow. That cousin of Soz wasn't very soft to elbow. "Maybe I
should ask her about the strippers? Or where she gets her lingerie?" She
shifts in her seat, briefly eyeing Dendra, then shaking her head. "They
were talking about water."

Kassima smiles a smile of syrupy sweetness back. "If'n she won't, I'd be
glad to--d'you live at Benden, then?" Pause. "And I don't particularly like
*any*... you should blow a kiss back, Craftmaster. And you've never seen
*Benden* Water. Drink it, and you're ten times more likely t'be getting
someone pregnant or getting pregnant; 'tis *true*."

Dendra ohs quietly and get some more wine. When she returns she says
puzzedly, 'But I lived at Benden for over 2 turns and I never got pregnant."

Ofira goes on to open the next package, "This one is from...from..." She
examines the tag closely, seeming to have some trouble with it."Oh,
Sauscony!" She lifts out a basket of small cannisters of scented oil and
sweetsand, "Oh, very, very nice! That's wonderful - I'm sure we'll enjoy
that every much." She glances in Is's direction and then says aside to
Kassima and Keara, "You -know-, I always thought I'sai was very attractive,
at least once he grew up. But being his craftmaster, I could hardly have
-done- anything about it." She giggles some more and goes back to examining
the contents of the basket, the wicked look in her eyes hidden momentarily.

"Benden *Weyr*," Kassi clarifies. "Has t'be the Weyr; the Hold's safe,
lucky Hold. Are you sure you couldn't, Ofira? You should ask him. He might
be willing t'be having one last wild, rabid, sex-crazed, lustified fling
with you a'fore you marry, though you might have t'bring M'kon in and make
it a threesome."

Kerellen was in the middle of a sip of wine when Kassi spoke and now spits
it all over the other apprentices. She apologizes profusely and begins
mopping up the wine with a napkin.

Thalia blinks again. "That's all she got for her? Shard that Craftsecond,
she really has to learn something from that Baker! It was supposed to be
something frilly, and kinky. Ah well." She sighs and looks for Sauscony in
the crowd, then eyes Kassima. "Blow a kiss back? Nah? That would be
so...openly flirtatious. I don't even know how that would go." She blinks
as Kassima addresses Ofira and pipes up "Can I come too? Please?"

Is's somehow finding difficulty getting down that last sip of wine, and has
to thump the table with a gloved hand, "Drink, rider, drink. You said the
C-word. And the O-word. Didn't she, healer?"

Sauscony may be forgiven a gratified smile. And not just because of the
...basket.

Ofira coughs, sputtering out whatever that potent stuff in her glass is,
and then descends into a gale of giggles. "Oh, I couldn't do -that-. Could
I?" She laughs harder, "Surely you'd understand my not sharing! I mean - I
am about to be married, and then you'll have -all- the men left to yourself!"

Kaimi startles under a shower of wive but grins at Kerellen as she startss
to wipe up the wine, "Hey easy with that stuff."

Dendra laughs so hard that she spills her wine all over her robe. Oh well,
now she can get more.

Kassima waves one hand in an airy gesture. "Far be it from me t'school
anyone on their flirtations, anyway... but frilly and kinky? Nay anyone
mentioned frilly and kinky. I'll take those drinks, though, and gladly."
The level in the brandy glass lowers an appropriate amount. "I doubt they'd
mind," she purrs to Thalia, before sighing loudly and melodramatically.
"Alas, Ofira, alas, their hearts shall surely be broken. When I tell Is
what a chance for wild delights he's missed out on... why, he'll be
*crushed*, poor man. Are you certain 'twill nay reconsider?"

Shoshana gets wine sprayed on her...ewwww. She wrinkles her nose, though
she assures that it's really alright, no harm done. Another napkin is
grabbed and she begins to scrub at her skirt. Ick.

Keara nearly drools at Kassima's words, and gulps quickly, "Jor said you
could do whatever you liked, tonight!," she looks wide-eyed and attempts to
sound truthful, "So Soz can come too and it can be a
healer-baker-bronzerider private party. Mmmmm."

Kerellen looks apologetic. "Maybe I should switch to juice. I can't seem to
force down this glass." She gives the drunken bunch a cautious look. "I'm
not sure I want to end up like that."

Dendra finds a bottle of cheap brandy and crows with delight. After
refilling her glass with the harder stuff she smiles fuzzily to Kerellen
and says, "You can't escape it. The higher in rank you get in this Craft,
the more active your libido gets. Ofira warned me and now I'm warning you."

Kaimi nods in agreement as she follows Kere's gaze and looks at the group.

"And greenrider!" Kassi pipes up. "Nay partying without the greenrider! You
can't party without a greenrider; 'tis a law of some kind." She sips again
at her still mostly full glass of brandy, evidently not bothered by lacking
the excuse of being drunk.

"I like that Baker, I truly do!" Thalia gets up and stumbles over to her
friend Ofira. "Haven't we been friends for such a long time? Now be a good
one, please?" She really has looked too deeply into her cups tonight. Or
was it skins? She gives Keara an appraising look and gives Kassima a
thumbs-up. "Hey Merry, be merry with us!"

Kerellen nods doubtfully. "I wonder how much of that has to do with the
amount of wine you're allowed to drink as you rise in rank."

Ofira stares at her bakers and friends in fuzzy consternation, "Oh - I - Do
you -really- think he'd be disappointed Kassima?" She lifts another package
and after a few moments a large bottle of something fiercely alcholic
emerges, "From Kassima," she reads the tag.

"I thought you didn't go in for that sort of thing," Keara says as her gaze
wanders lustily (and drunkenly) over Kassima and then Thalia.

Is stands up a fraction, pulling at the skirt so as not to step on it. "Can
you apprentices see over there?" asked in a cracked voice. "If not, come
here... Merry. yes, Very merry quite contrary. Greenrider, you say, but not
in black. Ah, that is, Thalia's black."

Dendra sips cautiously, then thinks for several seconds. Finally she
replies, "Nooooooo, 'cause Mirala acts worse than this all the time. And
she doesn't drink often at all."

Kassima clarifies helpfully, "'Tis that bubbling wine the Winecraft makes,
Ofira, with a pink bow." A very lacy pink bow, tied around the bottle's
neck. At least she got that part right. "I thought you and Jorenan might
enjoy that after the wedding but a'fore the festivities, as 'twere." Brows
waggle, lashes flutter, and voice sing-songs to Keara, "I'd make an
*exception* for I'sai, you know, he's *such* a studmuffin. And M'kon's nay
half bad either, except he might call me 'Auntie' and that would be
traumatic. Black, me? Nay black. Black's *later*."

Thalia hastily drinks some wine at that lustful look and spills some more,
a wonderful opportunity to lick it off her chin, as she awaits Ofira's
reply. Well, she does wait, but her eyes are somewhat focused on that baker
lass.

Kassima then adds, most helpfully, "His heart would be broken into teeny
weeny itty bitty bits that would feel like they'd been *stomped* on, Ofira."

Shoshana decides this can't be a bad time to leave can it? They're all
drunk, or borderline drunk, besides the apprentices, and there is something
happening at the Weyr, good reason. She gets up, slipping towards the door
with a wave to everyone and a little bob, "I've got to get back." she
murmurs, "to Reaches, check on the miner dinner." and then she edges out.

Kerellen starts to speak, looking imploringly at the departing apprentice,
then wilts. "Shards."

Kaimi nods to Shoshana, "See ya later Shoshana."

Ofira studies the bottle and nods appreciatively, "A favorite of ours. And
the ribbon is -pink-. Which is just perfect." She looks over at her empty
glass mournfully, "If someone could...what was it Thalia?" She sets the
bottle aside very carefully, "Thank you Kassima, thank you very, very
much!" She suddenly leans over to aim a sentimental hug at her old friend.

Is looks after Shoshana as if she were the last drink in the wineskin.
Without looking away from the door, "'Later.' After the pink, you say."

The door creaks open, and a line of men file in. They're all Weyrleaders,
ex-Weyrleaders, or ex-Acting Weyrleaders. They murmur among each other,
grin, and linger by the door. Waiting. Kea spots them and drunkenly murmurs
quietly, "There they are, nothing but the best for our Ofira." She reaches
for a wineskin after the last word.

Kassima shifts her plate off of her own lap and into the chair next to her
in time to return that hug in good measure. "Welcome, welcome, always
welcome. If'n you and Jorenan enjoy it, that's thanks enough for me--more
than. But if'n I keep thinking about that I'll get all sentimental and
cry." She sniffles for effect, grins broadly, and then nods. "A'course,
Merry. Couldn't go *with* the pink. The pink would get sticky."

Dendra plops down next to Kerellen. "It's not so bad being like this, you
know. You don't have to wear teacups or buttless pants to Craftmeetings
unless you want to. I just wear skimpy clothes when I help Tierigal teach
classes or wildly colored things most of the time." Her less-than-sober
consolation stops when the men walk in. She drains her glass in one gulp,
and tosses it over her shoulder to applaud wildly. "Woo-hoo! Oooh, oooh,
oooh! The strippers are here!"

Kaimi looks at Kerellen is surprise, "What are they doing here, I thought
it was girls only tonight.?"

Kerellen giggles. "Strippers?"

Is's jaw gapes - most unladylike! - as others invade through the only exit.
"...Sticky, you say? ...Why?" and slides the chair back. No furtive glances
at Kaimi at the girls-only, oh no, and certainly not at Kerellen and Dendra
at their strippers.

Thalia bounces excitedly and grabs for Ofira's arm. "Oh look, it's that
former Igen Weyrleader, what was his name, V'ral? Strippers! Fresh meat!
Sizzling fresh meat! The whole package!" She sounds more excited than the
bachelorette, at that. In her excitement she reaches for Keara's arm too.
"What a lovely party!" She giggles and stares.

Ofira finally releases poor Kassima and is in the midst of opening Dendra's
gift as the men file in. She can be forgiven for not noticing at first,
given that she's holding a dough dot that's an astoundingly accurate
rendition of a particular body part. "You really have been getting creative
with these..." she says to Dendra as she turns the pastry over and over
inher hands, perhaps for longer than necessary. As she studies it, she
notes to Thalia, "Of course I'd include you! You're one of my oldest
friends - " breaking off when Thalia seizes her arm,"No, really I would -
what? -Oh-!" And then, she just stares.

Kaimi Ohhs as she hears the word 'strippers', and blushes. "I thought it
was a joke. They aren't really are they?"

"Because the wine is sticky," Kassi replies pragmatically, though she is,
yes, distracted by these men. "Oh, *dear*...." Give her credit: she salutes
the Weyrleaders among them and murmurs something about duties before asking
quietly and just a bit plaintively, "Is there a nice, tall chair I could
hide behind?" As she catches a glimpse of that latest gift, she asks *more*
plaintively, "A tall, wide, sturdy, definitely-impossible-t'see-through
chair?"

Dendra grins and says, "I did a lot of studying before I made those,
Craftmaster. I hope you enjoy them!"

Dendra sighs happily and says, "I certainly hope those are the strippers.
Look at those physiques!" She fans her suddenly flushed face with one hand
while openly enjoying the men with her eyes.

V'ral is in the front row, oh, he certainly is. He moves to the center of
the Hulk, dressed in full riding leathers, and blows kisses to the crowd of
cheering women. Ofira gets some really suggestive winks and leers from him,
as he shakes his hips and undulates, while others just wait for their turn
behind him.

"Oh," 'Merry' murmurs, a breath after Kaimi. "Wine. Sticky. I see." No
salutes there. "I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'm sitting on my... on my big...
chair. Though it's very sturdy, I think. My. Do look at Dendra." Pause.
"That is, ah, her name, isn't it."

Ofira continues to gaze towards the doorway, but nods to Dendra, "I'm
certain that we will." She tears her eyes away from the latest guests and
back to the basket."And quite a variety you've got here..." She lifts
another and nods, "So accurate. So...optimistic." She sneaks a look back at
V'ral and then mutters to Keara, "Are you sure about this?" She finds
another glass from somewhere and just downs it all in one gulp thsi time.

Ofira lifts a second package, "Also from Dendra..." She opens it,
continually sneaking glances up, and finally lifts out trio of long,
luxurious red feathers, a black velvet mask, a lacy black teddy made of
sisal for you, and a silver shark thong for Jorenan to wear. His thong is
made from linen with sisal lining.

Kerellen mutters something to herself and downs the last of her wine in one
big swig. She glances around to see if anyone is looking, and satisfied,
nabs a skin to refill her glass. "Strippers...I think I need this..."

"Look how he fills out his pants!" This time Thalia elbows her neighbor
again, only this time it's Keara. The healer certainly wolfwhistles.

"Your big... chair," Kassi mutters, picking her plate of sausages back up.
Though she leaves them alone for the present. The brandy glass she does not
leave alone; it rapidly loses about a fourth of its contents. "Such a pity.
If'n you mean that flushed young Baker, aye--" Pause. Long pause. She just
*stares* at Ofira's latest gifts, distracted even from the men. "And I
thought they only made those in fish."

Ofira looks from the feathers to the thong to the teddy. "Uhm," she says
intelligently. "Fish?" She half coughs, half giggles, "Thank you Dendra,
thank you very much. I think."

Keara yelps and sniffs woundedly at Thalia, leaning in to mutter to her and
then turning towards Ofira. "Better do about one more and then let the
Weyrleaders get on with it. Mmmmmm."

Dendra howls with laughter, falling out of her chair. She climbs back up
and manages to say, "You're welcome, Craftmaster. Now you have more than
just whipped cream to play with!"

Keara bats her eyelashes at Thalia. She mutters to Thalia, "Watch...
elbow,... than... should be.... make... for... you... you..." 

Kerellen tosses back her second glass of wine, and wipes her mouth. "Oh dear."

Ofira nods to Keara, entirely agreeable, "I'll do that.I'll open another
one. Right now." She lifts another gift from the pile and squints at the
tag. "Bad handwriting. All double. See? I think it's from K'tel. Isn't that
-nice-? I -like- K'tel. If we were -going- to have a party like that we
could invite him," she rambles as she lifts out the pair of black shorts,
decorated with sand dunes.

"Very strong. Useful, even," 'Merry' asserts, slinking back in the chair
and murmuring imprecations to Faranth; certainly he's not meeting any of
those weyrleaders' eyes, lest he be recognized. Barely managing to raise
that voice's pitch in time, "Yes, hope all goes well. When you get around
to it. Do you think it will fit?"

Dendra keeps laughing and giggling. She stumbles over to Merry and asks,
"Dont' you think the shark thing was a good gift? Hopefully it's just the
right size, too!"

Kassima confirms, "Fish. That they make thongs shaped like fish, I already
knew, but that's a new design on me." Making a show of considering the
crowd, she suggests, "Perhaps K'tel's actually here? Only dressed as a
woman, a'course. Why, Merry, whatever is the matter? You look more
disturbed than me. Yet you've been married three times, you said?"

Thalia blinks at Keara, then giggles. "And how would I do that?" For a
moment Keara is far more interesting than those Weyrleaders, even though
V'ral has quite the mouth-watering shake of his hips.

Kaimi glances at Kerellen with a slight frown but she missed the refill so
she says nothing. Besides she is distracted by all the fish talk as she
really is a bit nieve and doesn't get it.

Ofira says reflectively, sitting back in her chair, or, if truth be told,
sprawling. "Fish. You know. I used to not like fish. So many fish here at
the seacraft. All the time, we were cooking fish...but I do like this one.
It's a rather large fish..." She manages a longer look at V'ral this time.

As the stripper-weyrleaders file further into the room, smirking and
strutting, Keara looks ready to swoon. She grabs Thalia's arm, "Oooh! Ooh,
look at his buns."

Kerellen glances around and bites her lip as she eyes the wine skin. Her
hand reaches for it, then falls short and returns to her lap. "Oh dear,"
she says again and hiccups. She spots a half-full glass of wine sitting
nearby and carefully switches her empty glass for the other.

Is chokes on that wine, blurting something about three, yes, but the -dark-
and -sheets- and a nightgown down to -there-. After blotting red-stained
mouth on lace-gloved hand, "...Very good. Gift. Do you think she'll let you
know. If it fits." A quick check makes certain that there isn't a certain
tall, blond bronzerider who just happens not to be a weyrleader, even if
that pale glance does have to pass over the others in the meantime, and
flowered shoulders relax slightly.

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth is inspired, whether by rider's mirth
or by her own whimsy, to reach across the mental aether and share a simple
thought: << Your rider really shouldn't wear floral patterns. >>

Quite the buns, and quite a good look that Ofira is getting now. V'ral
shrugs out of his jacket, wearing a tight white shirt, strutting back and
forth. In a fluid motion he rips open that shirt, buttons flying, all eyes
for Ofira, though he manages to give more winks to the drooling Keara and
Thalia too. Slowly undulating, hands move to the buckle of his belt,
throwing back his head.

Dendra nods several times and says, "I'll have to ask her tomorrow."
(hic,hic) She says, "Yummm, look at his moves! Doesn't that V'ral make your
blood run hot?!"

Kerellen's eyes bug out of her head a bit at the conversation and
activities and gulps the wine she's holding.

Kassima has at this point abandoned food and drink both in favor of
covering both eyes and trying to pretend she's not here. "You poor thing,"
she murmurs sympathetically to Merry in the meanwhile. It's a distraction,
you see, from the impulse to blush. "Nay wonder you don't look as though
you've had any children."

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth, distracted from stars' glitter and
Belior's gleam - << Hmm? _Lysseth_, >> and that liquid-warm; << Why not? >>

Ofira finds another glass in her hand, though how it got there, who can
say? She blinks several times, watching V'ral, "No threadfall anywhere
tonight, I guess," she mutters, barely coherent. Her hand goes
automatically to loosen the neckline of her dress. It's so warm after all.
She nods to Dendra slowly, her eyes following the Igen bronzeriders every
move now, "That. Among other things."

Is's slink becomes more of a slump, murmuring something about good hard
work helping that girlish figure, and is she really likely to, ah, try out
her present of Dendra's early.

Dendra winks to Merry then cups her hands around her mouth. She shouts,
"Take it off! Show us the goods!"

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth shines smaller Timor back at him, its
curve glowing like a Cheshire grin. << They don't suit his coloring, >> she
chides, prim, << and those lace gloves are just silly. My rider thinks he
should try something in basic burgundy. >> Warm color to match warm thought.

Keara licks her lips and says to Ofira, "This was such a good idea." She
guzzles more wine and then slurs, "Do I get a promotion for getting all
these weyrleaders to strip?"

Kassima whimpers. Quietly. "If'n you mean the obscene pastry," she murmurs
while curling up into a little ball of greenrider in her chair, "I hope try
*out* isn't quite the phrase...."

Ofira turns around and stares at Dendra now, "They are different at Igen,
aren't they?" Probably no one can understand her though, given how slurred
her words are."Oh, yes. Very good idea Keara. I'd promote you if I could."
She gulps a bit more from the glass and then reaches for one of the
pastries from Dendra's basket, biting into it with all apparent enjoyment.

Is looks towards Sauscony - but no help there; as primly as can be managed,
"Not the pastry, thought she was talking about the little silver..." and
then he's suddenly quite occupied with watching his craftmaster enjoy herself.

This bronzerider doesn't need any invitations! With dramatic movements, he
unbuckles his belt, turns around, and shakes his apprentice-biscuit-hard
buns at the crowd. Nice bronze thong too. The wherhide pants are flung
across the room, somehow ending up near Kassima and Merry, and V'ral seems
to get ready to make his move towards Ofira again. Wow, does he fill this
thong.

Kerellen stares at the bronzerider, jaw hanging, then pushes it up with her
free hand before swigging at the glass in her other hand.

Kaimi seems to be both facinated and horrified by the behaivior of those
around her. she takes a drink from her glass and notes the juice tastes a
bit odd, but is too destracted to look.

Ofira simply stares now, edging forward on her chair, hand going to her
mouth. "Oh my. Oh my. Oh my." She seems stuck on the phrase.

Is hastily toes the pants more Kassima's way, murmuring sweetly, "All
yours, all yours."

Kassima catches them. Tosses them back. "Methinks you'd fit in them better
than I would," she returns in as saccharine a tone. Instead of Hot Potato,
they're playing Hot Pants? No, no, no.

Dendra sighs appreciatively at V'ral and his bronze thing, but leaves him
alone so Ofira can enjoy the show. She spies a dark-haired WL with violet
eyes and grins. She then whistles to get his attention and yells, "Bring it
over here, hot stuff! I need my own show too!"

Is allows, "All right, then, you can have his," there's a graphic gesture
amounting to the thong, "If he takes that off, then. Here!" and the pants
get tossed towards... towards... make that Kaimi, why not.

Ofira sets down her glass suddenly and picks up another one of those
interestingly shaped pastries. With the same look of determination she gets
in her eye when she's dealing with a Lord Holder over a baker contract, she
beckons V'ral over with her free hand.

"His what?" Kassi wants to know, sounding suspicious. Her eyes are still
closed, you see, so that graphic gesture was entirely wasted. More's the pity.

Emilly wanders in.

The bronzerider woos, puts his hands behind his head and makes his way
towards Ofira, swinging his hips and the contents of his thong over to her
seductively.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth, a touch self-conscious - make that,
other-self - << He -thought- she might know. >> Maybe. << Such a color...
in what Tularth's rider wears? >>

Emilly steps uncertainly through the door, loosening scarf and coat and
peers into the dimly lit Hulk

Kerellen has turned beet-red and has emptied her glass. She sets it down in
the place of yet another partially-filled one, hoping no one will notice.

Kaimi is startled as pants come flying at her she catches them with a dazed
look then Ohhs and looks for who tossed them before tossing them in keara's
general direction.

The dark-haired WL walks over and says, "Hello. I'm D'vid from Fort Weyr.
It's nice to meet you, young Baker." He starts to dance slowly, sensously,
unbuttoning his shirt very very slowly.

Ofira takes a good, long, appreciative look at thong and all, "And to think
of all the turns I wasted on blueriders!" She lifts the pastry, tossing her
hair and giving V'ral an outright leer, brings it to his lips, "I've got
something for you..."

Is, in long coat and wineglass in hand, slumped in a chair near Kassima and
Dendra, says - in a raspy-low alto - "Thong." Pause. "Thing." Evidently
watching Ofira is hazardous to one's vocabulary. Not to mention all that wine.

Keara, even drunk as she's getting, manages to catch the pants and clutch
at them, giving them an appreciative sniff. "Mmmm, cologne. Sniff this,
Thalia!

Emilly blinks at the scene that presents itself, shuts her eyes, takes a
deep breath then pushes forward towards Master Ofira.

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth's thought is soothing--*Lysseth's*;
best not to think of what her rider's might be--<< Yes, but she will not
tell the others unless he wishes. >> That's merciful. << Mmmm. That might
be... entertaining. >> Quite.

Thalia hungrily grabs the pants and takes a deep breath. "Oh, yum. Thanks
for sharing." She sighs happily, leaning onto the Baker Craftsecond on
wobbly legs.

Kassima slowly uncovers and creaks open one eye. Squeaks. Squinches the eye
shut again. "I didn't need t'see Ofira doing that with the pastry," she
rambles, "I didn't, I really didn't, and *you* can have his thong. You'd
have better uses for it than 'twould, I should think."

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth glitters initial surprise - she won't?
- followed by a galaxy's worth of amusement; << And entertaining is good,
he always says. >> Though more when it's another doing said entertaining,
it must be said.

Dendra purrs as the gorgeous chest in front of her is revealed. She licks
her lips and says, "Keep going. Let's see if the rest of you looks this
good." D'vid smiles back at her and does what she requests.

Emilly finally reaches the Baker Craftsecond, her own eyes staying rather
firmly on the floor to avoid tripping over ... well let's not say. "Ofira?"
she questions as she reaches her weyrmate's mother.

V'ral grins down at Ofira, in a most handsome fashion, then closes his lips
around the tip of the pastry, taking Ofira's other hand, suggestively
leading it to the waistband of that certain thong.

Thalia sighs gustily. "Ofira always had all the luck."

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth reflects surprise back in still
waters, rippled briefly in amusement; of *course* not, for where would the
fun of teasing be then? Better that she can say embarrassing things in
front of him and see whether he cracks. (Such mercy the woman possesses.)
<< He is very astute, >> she twinkles back, laughter pouring like the light
of the Milky Way. << Entertaining is very good. Would he turn colors, do
you think? >>

Kerellen is leaning back in her chair now, glass still clutched in one
hand. "I don't feel so good," she confesses to Kaimi.

Kaimi looks around to ask Kere something but forgets what as she sees that
Kere is looking a bit odd, "Kerellen are you ok."

Keara feasts her eyes on V'ral, tugging his pants back from Thalia. "Let me
have those!"

Ofira's eyes widen and color rises even further in her cheeks. She licks
her lips, then leans forward to nibble the other end of the pastry, her
hand hovering where the bronzerider leads it. "Always have to sample the
baked goods,"she mutters, and then indeed, does some sampling.

Kaimi looks a bit worried ,"What did you do?"

Emilly turns quite red as she figures out exactly what it is that Ofira's
up to and lifts one hand to cover her face, peeking through her fingers.
"Goodness me," she mutters and then peeks around the gathering for a safer
place to ... be for the moment.

Kerellen rubs at her head. "Oh...I don't know. I drank some wine. My head
feels funny, like everything is spinning."

Is runs hand through hair, dislodging one of its many ribbons; "How could
you not see that? It was so, so, so unmistakea... ah. Perhaps one of your
Weyrseconds would like it instead."

D'vid snaps his wrist, and his pants come off all at once. He swings his
hips and his pants up in the air, before throwing them into the crowd in
Emilly's general direction.

And V'ral seems to enjoy the sampling, nibbling his way down, down, down.
It's good to be a bronzerider, oh yes.

"Merry, 'tisn't polite t'horrify people at a party," Kassi points out with
utmost primness, and ducks her head so as to be able to get a good long
drink of brandy. This is definitely an occasion for brandy. And lots of it.

Ofira takes neat bites of her end of the pastry until it's just about all
gone, with just a bit of the cream filling left, lingering on their lips.
She takes one finger, wipes it from V'ral's mouth, licks off her finger and
then swoons right into her chair."I -must- be in love if I -still- want to
get married after this!" she announces, pulling at her dress.

D'vid's pants land on top of Emilly's head and she lets out a sharp squeak
of protest, batting the fabric away from her face where they get lost into
the darkness beneath people's feet. She stumbles backward, and nearly trips
over some of said feet, muttering excuses and apologies at a rapid rate.

Dendra sighs lustily and says, "I really need to visit Fort soon!" All
D'vid is wearing now is black boots and a purple thong that matches his
eyes. He smiles and asks, "Are you enjoying your show, young Baker?" Dendra
sighs lustily and says, "Yes, oh yes I am!"

Kaimi looks around, but everyone is too busy to bother, "Maybe you should
just sit still." she suggests to Kere.

Kerellen looks blearily up at the gyrating bronzeriders. "Oh dear," she
says once again, faintly this time.

Ofira looks over as Emilly shrieks and waves to her amiably, "Oh, look!
It's G'rad's weyrmate! Hi, Emilly!" She licks a little bit of whipped cream
that's left on her finger.

V'ral licks his lips and in one smooth motion pulls down his thong, to
reveal...a nice bronzerider knot covering up the goods. Now, will someone
pull that knot off?

Ofira leans back in her chair, her hair flowing back over it and laughs,
"Someone demote that bronzerider!" she orders.

Telgar Weyr> Leya waves, "You've offically changed your name to Is, I'sai?" ;)

Keara hops to it, sashaying towards V'ral, "Your wish is my command,
dearest Ofira," she says drunkenly.

Emilly recovers her balance, long enough to wave at Ofira. "Ahm ... yes
hello Master Ofira," she stammers out, gets a look at the barely covered
goods and turns bright pink as she finally drops into an unoccupied chair,
where sits and just catches her breath for a few moments, perhaps wishing
the floor could swallow her up.

"Watch what you say then," 'Merry' says sweetly - only to flinch at V'ral's
gesture, murmuring something about never looking at such a knot quite the
same way again. With about as much concern, which is to say, quite a lot -
"...Is she all right?" nodding to Emilly.

Ofira beams, "What a wonderful craftsecond I have," she tells everyone
generally.

Telgar Weyr> Is says, "Only for tonight. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Is says, "...Probably. ;)"

Kaimi thinks fast but really is unsure of what to do, "Well maybe close
your eyes." she suggests tenitivly. then loses the thought as she sees
Keara approch the Bronzerider.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima belatedly snugs a Leya, and snickers. We should have a
Transvestite Ball someday, Is. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Is says, "We'd need another craftmaster to get handfasted. ;)"

The pants finally make their way back to their owner, but Dendra intercepts
them before D'vid can. She folds them over her arm and strokes one of his
arms. "Why don't you show me what's under your thong, but in a place that's
a little more private?" The bronzerider agrees and scoops up his shirt
before stroking her cheek. "Your place or mine, little lady?"

Telgar Weyr> Leya laughs, "Shouldn't you be Isaina or something, Is?" ;)

Kassima mutters something about sadistic bronzeriders, and cracks open an
eye again. "Methinks she may be a bit disturbed," she reports. "On a scale
of one t'ten, I'd give her disturbedness a six. And mine a twelve. Nay,"
she amends, as Dendra captures one of the strippers, "make that thirteen."

V'ral lets Keara remove the knot, with great delight, shows off 'the goods'
and then picks up the fallen knot, to carry it over to Ofira between his
teeth. Dropping it in her lap he says "Such a shame you're handfasting. We
could have had some fun there." He leers, then swings his way into the rear
of the group of Weyrleaders, his suntanned body soon to disappear back into
the desert, most likely. Such a shame.

Telgar Weyr> Is says, "It's short for Ismerelda, otherwise known as Merry
(thanks to Sauscony). 'Sides, I didn't want an actual name change (and then
hope my aliases would still be there ;) ), just a visual reminder."

Kerellen nods to Kaimi, then notes Keara's unveiling. She lets out a squeak
and faints.

Telgar Weyr> Leya laughs!

Emilly turns her head as a familir voice sounds not too far by. "Kassi?"
she queries, twisting around in her chair, still pinked up, but looking
moderately recovered as that booty shaking bronzer disappears from view.

Ofira takes the knot and blows a kiss to V'ral, and then applauds the
performance enthusiastically. "Wonderful, just wonderful," she sighs,
picking up a random glass and drinking whatever is in it. "Wasn't that
wondeful Emilly? I'm s glad you could be here...so glad..." she slurs
slightly. "So nice to be here with all my friends, all these nice
gifts..nice thongs..." She sighs blissfully.

Keara staggers backwards towards Thalia, falling into a chair next to her.
"Wha' say we go chase him, ey? Right out that door there," she points to
the closet, "there's plenty of room for two, two too too toooooooo."

Kassima turns her head behind the hand that's shielding her eyes. The
fingers on the other hand are wiggled feebly. "Heyla, Emilly. Be afraid. Be
very afraid."

"Thirteen and a half," 'Merry' ups her one after -that-. Though, V'ral's
easing out of sight, now; does it still count? "Poor fellow if he's going
far. Cold out. ...Well, she's talking, she's probably all right."

Dendra misses the unveiling. All her attention is on the Fortian
bronzerider and she murmurs, "How about the guest quarters here? That way
you don't have to get dressed again?" She hiccups again before getting a
wineskin and says, "I've got the wine, you just bring that gorgeous body of
yours."

Thalia licks her lips, looks at Keara and then jumps up. "Sounds just
perfect to me!"

Kaimi Blinks in surprise at Keara's and then V'ral's actions, "Kere did you
see that? ... Kere" she turns to see her slumped it her chair. "Kerellen!"
She checks her and sees that she is breathing, "Hey does anyone have
smelling salts?" she asks.

Emilly yea and verily beams at the Telgari greenrider ... and the strange
person beside her. "Heyla ... it's nice to see you ... I had no idea that
um ... this party would ... well anyway, how are you Kassi?" she offers
over, then blinks and looks back over her shoulder at Ofira. "Um ... yes
it's ... ah ... good to be here to wish you well, Master Ofira," she says
verrrry carefully.

The strippers file out again - all but a few who've wandered in other
directions with baker lasses.

Kerellen mutters something and cracks one eye open. "Oh dear," she says yet
again. "Did you see that?"

Dendra pulls D'vid along by one hand and says, "Master Ofira, great party!
I hope you and Jorenan enjoy all your presents. We need to do this again
soon! See you at the handfasting!" She and D'vid join the exodus, holding
hands and smooching as they go.

Is forces a sweet smile for Emilly, murmuring about 'Merry,' 'Sauscony's
cousin' - then, straightening with something of a frown, "Smelling salts?"
A throat-clearing pitches his voice up again, "Dearie?"

Kaimi smiles in relief and sits down with a sigh.

Ofira hums a little to herself, fingering the knot, lapsing in and out of
true consciousness. "And -good- pastry. Master Pramina's
recipe....variation eight?" she mumbles to herself. She waves to Dendra and
beams a smile at her. "Thank you, thank you!"

Kassima finishes, ever-helpful, "Be full of naked men? Neither did I, I
promise, though people seem t'be enjoying it... t'say the least. I'm well
enough, all things considered. And oh--this is Merry, from somewhere or
other." She takes a moment to stick her tongue out at Merry. She excels at
maturity, really. She breathes a sigh of relief as the strippers exit.

Hugh cleans a mug.

Dendra wanders over to the Courtyard.

Keara throws an arm around Thalia but staggers towards Ofira, "Fiiiiiira,
craftmaaaaaaster, I'm going to go off with lovely little Thah-ah-ahlia now.
Will you get home okay?"

Emilly stares at 'Merry' for a few moments, head tipped to the side. Then
her lips spread into a smile. "Nice to ... see you here 'Merry'," she says
gravely and nods at Kassima. "Indeed ... I guess there's something for
everyone here," she says with another smile, eyes continuing to drift over
toward 'Merry' with a store of vast amusement.

Kerellen hiccups and carefully stands, swaying. "Think I need to get some
rest."

Ofira nod benignly to Keara, staggering to her feet and throwing her arms
around her, nearly knocking them both over, "Oh yes! I'll be fine! Fine!
I'll make sure the apprentices get home all right."

Thalia giggles foolishly at Ofira. "Thanks for borrowing out your
wuuuuuuuuuunnerful Craftsecond here. I'll see you at the handfasting." She
starts to tug at Keara's arm insistently.

Kerellen squints at Keara blearily. "Hey sis...whereya goin'?"

Keara nods loosely in Ofira's direction, arms flailing about in an attempt
at a hug. She turns to pull Thalia towards the closet and points her finger
at it, "In there. With Thalia. She's sexy. See?"

Ofira smiles fondly at the closet. "I like that closet. I've been in that
closet."

Kerellen squints at the closet. "It's kinda cramped...maybe you oughtta
go...go..." she sways in place. "somewhere else," she finishes.

Thalia no longer waits and opens the door of the closet and beckons Keara
to come with her.

Is relaxes a degree at Kerellen's standing - and then, then Emilly and
Kassima get a deliberate wink, and he stands. "Gotta drink, Keara, you said
'sexy.'" Not alto at all, this time.

Hugette grins and keeps the drinks full.

Emilly giggles then. "What, are you drinking every time she says that?" she
questions of the oddly garbed one. She blinks over at Kassima for
confirmation.

Kaimi watches Kere sway oviusly wondering if she is going to have to play
catch.

And there's the perfect distraction for Ofira. A very clothed V'ral
approaches the Baker Craftmaster and bows, all gentleman-like. "It'd be my
pleasure to take you back to Benden Hold, ma'am. It's still a shame you
feel the need to handfast, but, ah well." He offers his arm and a wide smile.

Kassima closes one eye in a wink back to 'Merry,' then laughs and bobs her
head Emilly's way. "For me, 'tis the brandy and sausage," she explains.
"And the chance t'celebrate Ofira's happiness. Since the studmuffin isn't
here, we decided nay t'go and have a... threesome? Foursome? Sixsome? How
many people wanted t'go? Well, anyway, we're nay doing that in the closet.
*Other* people are doing that in the closet, but nay all of us."

Is ticks off, "'Sexy,' 'Craftmaster,' and 'Ofira,'" and then downs four
sips of his own, beginning to fumble at his dress' buttons - Sauscony's
dress, to be precise, but the one he's wearing.

Keara's too drunk to notice I'sai's voice change, but turns and staggers
for a wineskin. "Oh! Oh, so did you, when y' told me!" She clutches the
wine to her chest, and weaves a bit.

Ofira is indeed diverted and favors V'ral with a very warm smile, "You can
try to persuade me otherwise on the ride home," she giggles embarrasingly,
and takes his arm possesively. "Good night everyone! Thank you for
everything!"

Ofira wanders over to the Courtyard.

"Mer-ry," Kassi calls out, affecting shock, "you're nay supposed t'strip!
We already had the strippers! Oh... g'night, Ofira!" Better late-called
than never?

Emilly shakes her head slightly, "Ahh I see. Well ... I think I'd prefer to
stay out of the closet myself ..." she says nodding now. She turns to wave
good night to Ofira. "Good night!" Then she eyes Is sipping and divesting.
"How much has he had Kassi?" THere's an element of worry in her voice as
she eyes the un-disgusing ... 'lady'.

Is, with Ofira disappeared - lets his hands fall, and instead merely peels
off those sad, wine-stained gloves with a wry, "Just as well."

Keara grunts in Is's direction, peering as if she sees something odd, but
then only shrugs it off and stumbles for the closet.

Emilly coughs once and nods. "I'm .... positively amazed actually," she
says quite seriously and shakes her head. "What are you drinking Kassi?"

Kassima holds up her glass. "Hugh's brandy. Finest stuff in the world...."
She trails off, her head canting as she listens to some unheard sound.
After a moment she shakes her head once, her expression... expressionless.
"Mmm."

Emilly blinks at the greenrider. "What is it?"

Kaimi finally notices 'Merry's' behaivior behind her, and as one of the few
remaining sober ones point's to him and say's, "Hey I think I know you."
she stares "But your a..." her voice trails off in confusion.

Kerellen turns, still swaying, and eyes "Merry" closely. "Hey...you're
a...a..."

Emilly turns slightly. "-- man ..." she finishes for the other two, then
turns back towards Kassima, just as Tianshi comes screeching in from
Between and arrows for the girl's shoulder.

"F'gon and Hollerith are dead," Kassi explains, matter-of-factly and in a
neutral voice. "Gone *between* after Fall, it sounds like. Methinks I need
more sausage." So she carries her plate off to procure a few.

Emilly blinks a few times, then wrinkles up her nose, and becomes
distracted in soothing her firelizards who apparently picked something up
from somewhere and is making quite a racket about it too.

Kerellen stops, and stands stock-still. "Wait...what?"

Kaimi drops her glass. "Oh my..."

Is adds sidelong, "I -am- wearing clothes underneath this, you know. Real
clothes." And there's a missed step at the dragons' call, no more, enough
to be blamed on the wine; with that he wanders the apprentices' way and
leans forward for a whisper in such a grave tenor, "Shh. You're dreaming,"
- and a kiss pressed to Kaimi's forehead, if she'll have it, and for
Kerellen a half-smile of her own. "And I'd better go."

Kaimi accepts the kiss without a thought and nods, "Alright..."

Kassima agrees, "Going sounds like a good plan t'me." Which might be why
she's taken to wrapping up the sausages in a bundle of cloth. Yes, that
means she's getting barbeque sauce and cheese all over said cloth. "F'gon
and Hollerith went *between* at Igen," she repeats to, once again, prove
helpful.

Kerellen sits down. "That's...that's..."

Emilly continues to scritch and soothe Tianshi and looks up. "Would one of
you mind dropping me off at High Reaches, if you're going?" she asks.
"Gir's on watch."

Kaimi look's to Kere, and softly says, "Did you know him Kere?"

Kerellen shakes her head. "No...not really. I met him when I was at Igen on
an errand, but..."

Kaimi cocks her head to the side,"But what Kere? What is it?"

Is nods to the pair - "Remember, it's all a dream," - and admits to Emilly,
"I would, if I didn't need to _go_..." and Kassima, well, she gets a salute
that carries not a little admiration, if less for her sausage-collecting
than for before.

Is wanders over to the Courtyard.

Kassima glances towards 'Merry.' "I'm nay headed that way, but I could,"
she offers. "Since, ah, she seems t'have found her own way home, 'twill nay
need t'be giving her a lift."

Emilly shakes her head a bit. "I don't want to inconvenience you Kassi,"
she says. "If I can get Tia calmed down I can send word to the weyr," she
says and runs a hand along the gold's body again, murmuring soft things to
her.

Kassima shakes her head. "Isn't an inconvenience," she promises. Glancing
towards the Bakers, she offers, "If'n either of you need a ride, Lyss can
seat more than just two."

Kerellen nods and weaves her way towards the door. "I'd appreciate that,
M'am."

Kaimi nods yes, "Please" and follows Kere.

"Kassima," Kassi corrects, "or Kassi--never ma'am." Tying up her
sausage-bundle and stowing it in a belt pouch, she meanders doorwards
herself. "Where d'you two need t'be taken? Baking Center, or...?"

Kaimi says "The baker center please."

Kerellen nods. "Yeah...baker center..." She blinks a few times.

Kassima nods, and flicks a wry smile to all three young women. "Follow me,
then," she suggests. "Lyss is out by the fisher beach." Off she goes.

You wander over to the Courtyard.