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Confrontations and Cannibalism


Date:  December 29, 1997
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  From venting at an old friend about a recent deception
to discussing whether boiled babies would taste just like wherry, 
Kassi's conversation topics are often unusual--and the ones she 
chooses in this log are no exception.  Those who are offended by the
idea of cannibalism being discussed in a facetious manner are hearby
advised not to read further. :)  For the rest of you, would guess that 
this will be an... interesting... log to read.  I'll leave the 
interpretation of that remark up to you.

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The Log:

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.

Kassima doesn't present a very menacing picture as she walks into the 
room. It's hard to look menacing when your hair's wrapped up in a large 
towel-turban, your boots are squelching from the water in them when you 
walk, and you're six months pregnant. Nevertheless, she definitely looks 
purposeful and not quite the usual cheerful person that she is. "Channie," 
she says at once upon spotting the brownrider. "Lysseth told me you were 
here. We need to talk." Uh-oh.

A'lex walks in from the bowl.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "'Lex, don't even try to protect her. It's 
hopeless. ;)"

Dragon> Kemith bespoke Lysseth with << Ularrith's rider and his mate were 
not happy either. They made my rider have moist eyes. I hate that. >>

D'thon walks in from the bowl.

A'lex rushes into the LC and stops short by the coat pegs, he grins 
stupidly across the cavern at SOMEONE, who is apparently otherwise 
occupied.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Don't MAKE me go all Boston on you..."

Telgar Weyr> M'kla grins. A'lex and D'thon...the Telgari Dynamic Duo?

Richenda walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Channie winces. Dang, caught! "Ah, Kassima! Reaches duty to Telgar, and 
um, all that." She frowns, but looks ready for the cavern celing to come 
crashing down around her.

Kassima nods briefly to 'Lex and D'thon, but her attention is pretty 
clearly focused on yon High Reaches brownrider. She's not glaring at the 
woman per se, or even looking that upset... but then, for Kassi, 
expressionless is usually as upset-looking as you get. "Have a seat, 
brownrider? There are a few things we need to discuss, and I would rather 
nay remain standing while we discuss them." So, without further ado, she 
lowers herself into her chair. Her turbaned head nods again, this time to 
Richenda.

D'thon tracks into the cavern, leaving mud all the way down the 
entranceway to the foot-wiping mat. He idly strolls over to the hearth and 
obtains a mug of klah, leaning against the wall and watching Channie and 
Kassima with interest.

Channie doesn't even seem to notice A'lex just yet, she's checking Kassi 
out for knives.

A'lex, clueless as to what's going on on THAT end, wanders right over to 
Channie and slips his arms around her, trying not to intrude on what he 
assumes to be a pleasant conversation.

Channie gulps, eyes widening as she notices the gleam of that vile looking 
wherry-skewer. "Oh, right. YIPE!" she jumps as A'lex hugs her. "Oh" *gasp 
gasp* "Hi A'lex."

Richenda smiles her usual hearth-warmed smile and calls, "Good evening, 
everyone. I do hope people are well. Oh, goodness, Channie, you're back 
from High Reaches, and our duty to D'THON!!! What in the name of Faranth 
and that gold globe she laid do you think you are -doing- to my cavern 
floor?????"

A'lex smiles at Channie, then at Kassi, then realizes that everything 
might not be so Puppies and Roses...

Kassima starts at both of the shrieks from the women, the towel on her 
head sagging dangerously towards one eye. It's getting harder and harder 
for her to look very menacing with every moment. Muttering to herself, she 
straightens the thing and waits with every appearance of infinite, blank 
patience for Nie to sit down.

D'thon's eyes open. "Erm." He glances down at the floor. "Making sure, 
umm, the drudges remain employed'm?"

Faranth, not again... why is that always happening? A'lex askes quietly, 
"Is this a bad time for me to be here?"

Channie smiles apologeticly to A'lex as she pulls away from him -very- 
slowly. "Excuse me. I ah, I have to talk with Kassima about something." 
she peeps, wild-eyed. "Be right back." hopefully. She walks over to Kassi 
and joins the greenrider where she's sitting.

A'lex nods and sidles over to a table where he can obviously not watch 
them... much.

"As if my girls have all the la-dee-dah time under Rukbat's blazing rays 
to wipe up after your grungy feet!" Richenda stomps over to the cleaning 
supplies and fetches a mop. "Goodness sakes and Aunt Nellie's knickers, 
but you'd think a rider would have the common sense to wipe his feet clean 
before coming in here. The floor looks like a team of porcines held a 
track meet on it. Sakes!"

"It matters nay to me, A'lex," Kassi says with a shrug. Her eyes stay 
focused on the 'Reaches brownrider, and remain so even as the woman sits 
down. "Now. Nie. *If'n* you don't mind, I would very much appreciate an 
explanation of what the *shards* you thought you were doing, telling 
M'rgan that m'child was his?" Never let it be said that the greenrider 
isn't *capable* of getting right to the point; it's just not that common, 
that's all.

A'lex stiffens, not watching, nope, not watching.

D'thon meekly makes his way to a seat, apparently cowed, and sits. The 
gleam in his eye as he watches Nie and Kassi, however, tells a different 
story.

Richenda stands beside D'thon, holding the mop like a staff of doom. 
"AHEM."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Richenda's Mop of Doom +5!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Sounds like a D&D artifact. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Can't hold a candle to Ofira's Mithral 
Frypan."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Plus five gas axe... always wanted one of 
those..."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima sighs and just sticks with her Cleaver of Splattering 
Doom. It may not be too much as artifacts go, but I still like the name.

Channie purses her lips and rubs the back of her neck. Bravely she meets 
the greenrider's angry gaze, "Well..." she says slowly, "I was just 
telling him what I thought." A hint of a smile tugs at her lips, "So that 
he could ask you about it. Ah, so that way, ah..." she frowns suddenly, "I 
didn't -tell- him it was his. I just hinted that Ularrith's flight could'a 
been the cause. -He- didn't even know when the flight had been!"

D'thon makes a rather indelicate noise and sighs, accepting the mop. 
Having returned the floor to its original condition, he sits again, 
sipping his now-cooled klah.

Richenda studies D'thon for the longest of time, then drags the mop back 
to its former resting place. She mutters to herself, "... sake... day,... 
I... him... kiss my feet... a... he was lazy... all bloody... today." 

Kassima's long fingers drum idly on the tabletop. Rat-a-tat-tat. 
Rat-a-tat-tat. Finally, they cease as the greenrider says, "I see. That's 
nay what he told me, and at the moment, I'm a sharding sight more apt t'be 
believing him... but that's nay the point." Leaning forward, she explains 
perfectly conversationally but with very, very cold eyes, "The *point* is 
that first off, you should have *believed* me when I said 'twas nay 
true--said more than once, as I recall. And I won't even contemplate why 
you thought me so devoid of honor that 'twould nay have told Mart if'n 
*'twere.* Lastly, even if'n 'twere the truth--which 'tisn't!" she hastens 
to add, since she wants to drive that point home, "'twould have been 
*mine* t'do, the telling. Nay yours. *Mine.* May I ask why 'twas you 
decided differently?"

Calalin walks here from the Inner Cavern.

D'thon does have the grace to look sheepish at least, even while leaning 
forward to catch hints of conversation.

Calalin bobs her head politely to Richenda as she walks towards the hearth 
with a basket of mending.

Richenda smiles at Calalin, her kindly self once more, and, after storing 
the mop where it rightly belongs, notes, "Kassima, it's too cool at night 
for you to prance about here like Marinda of Boll and her Dancing Veils 
with that towel on your head. You'll catch a cold. And I have washing to 
see to. I'll bid you all good evening, then. Kassima, dear child, you're 
also too upset for someone in your condition. Sakes alive, girl."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima laughs! Marinda and her Dancing Veils? :)

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Don't ask me. I just type this stuff."

Channie winces and fidgets a bit. She's doing that cool chair dance thing, 
as if the greenrider's gaze is burning holes right through her skull. "I 
ah..." her shoulders slump forward as she frowns, "I can't say why." she 
mumbles sullenly. "I'm sorry Kassima. It was wrong of me to do what I did. 
I should have just kept my mouth shut about my opinion on the whole thing. 
I really -am- Sorry." Even if she can't meet the greenrider's angry gaze 
again, she sounds sincere enough.

Telgar Weyr> M'kla rolls on the floor and howls.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda peers at M'kla.

M'kla just...stares at the Headwoman, like she were a three headed purple 
hatchling that just spoke her name to the Weyrsecond.

Telgar Weyr> M'kla grins. Richenda's poses.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "I must admit...Alyssa would just shy away 
from everyone unless she worried about a dragon. Richenda'll by God tell 
you what's on her mind. :)"

Kassima blinks as she's distracted from her Righteous Wrath--well, okay, 
Righteous Ire--by Richenda. "Dancing Veils?" she asks blankly, 
straightening the turban on her head reflexively. "Huh? What?" Shaking her 
head in clear befuddlement, she just heaves a sigh and gives Channie a 
long look. "'Tis nay your opinion that I'm frustrated with, Nie, but the 
way you refused t'believe what I told you. I do a lot of things that some 
people might find less than nice, but I don't lie about serious matters--
and you should know me well enough t'know so. But. What's done's done, and 
all of that. May I have your solemn word that if'n I should ever have 
another child for whatever reason, you'll nay arbitrarily decide who 
must've sired it and scare the living daylights out of the poor man by 
saying so?"

Calalin snickers at Richenda's description of the southern folk as she 
drops her basket in front of a chair. With a swiping move, she hefts a mug 
and a pot of water and sets it a-boil for tea as she sorts clothing out of 
the basket.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima watches Riche confuse Kassi no end. Not that this is 
a difficult thing, but.... ;)

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Wha'd I miss?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Marinda of Boll and her Dancing Veils."

Telgar Weyr> M'kla giggles again.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "SHARDS!"

Telgar Weyr> M'kla might have to make that an actual character.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Oh, lord, please don't. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Do, do, do!!! :)"

Channie nods mutely to Kassima, not lifting her eyes from the hands she's 
folded into her lap. Thankfully curls have fallen over her face a little, 
though the color of her skin matches the bright red of her locks.

Kassima nods, apparently satisfied for the moment. "All right, then. 
A'course, you realize that if'n you break that promise, I'll have your 
spleen on a silver platter." She sounds perfectly matter-of-fact, but a 
glint of good humor flickering in her dark emerald eyes probably gives her 
away this time.

D'thon's eyes are slightly wider than usual, but still glittering with 
implicit humour. He takes a sip of klah, glancing at A'lex.

Richenda, as Calalin mucks about with the hot water, notes, "You, my dear 
girl, need to add some milk and sweetner to your tea before you vanish 
into thin air. I've seen bronzeriders with skin thinner than yours, 
Calalin, and that's going a ways. Eat, will you?" She beams at the younger 
female, then catches up a plate of sweetrolls and plops them down before 
M'kla. "And your face'll freeze up in that expression if it stays much 
like that, Weyrsecond. Don't let me catch you again having a klah-only 
day, M'kla. You may be twice my height but I'll bet you I can still turn 
in a good nanny-type spanking. Here, try these. Good night, all."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima is Afraid of you, Riche. She also adores you to 
death. Threatening to spank M'kla, indeed!

M'kla doesn't stop blinking at the bustling woman...*blink blink blink*...
and mutely picks up a roll...peering at it like it were a forgein insect 
of some sort.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda fears only one thing: having Rennick withhold 
marital favors. :)

Channie nods again to Kassima and glances out towards the bowl for an 
escape. Twice in one day is more then the small brownrider can take. "I 
think I'll just, take m'self back to Reaches. I--I'm sorry for all the 
trouble."

Calalin sorts out a pair of stockings, examining the pair for holes 
needing repair. When Richenda speaks to her, she looks up with a large 
grin, "I've got to wait for the water to boil first. B'sides, they may 
have thinner skins, but they've all got thicker heads."

A'lex just sits, tightlipped, not saying anything, not doing anything, and 
NOT watching, nope, not him.

"Well, y'should be," Kassi shrugs. "But naught came of it, and at least 
you made m'life interesting for awhile. Besides, I think Mart may even 
have forgotten about that little incident in the Living Cavern awhile 
back, and we might even be on decent terms again. For that much, you've 
m'thanks. Why leave? There's a bronzerider here who hasn't gotten t'say 
one word t'you, barely, and y'know he'd probably like to." She glances at 
'Lex, and quirks up a slight smile. "G'night, Richenda."

Richenda studies M'kla for a moment or three. "It's food, M'kla, my dear. 
Ask Torinth. She'll remind you what those teeth in your head are for, 
other than chewing out weyrlings. And," she raises her voice, "don't think 
I won't check on you tomorrow, Calalin. Good night to you, too, Kassima. 
Dry that hair, mind!"

D'thon quietly smiles too, deciding to turn and politely watch the cavern 
entrance rather than 'Lex and Nie. He does have some remaining scruples, 
after all.

M'kla snorts finally, "I dan't chew out Weyrlings...jest full fledged 
riders. Ask S'riv."

Kassima sighs and unwraps her hair, letting the knee-length and somewhat 
tangled mess fall to her back with a wet *thwap.* "There, nay more towel," 
she proclaims grandly, folding the thing up and setting it in her lap.
"As if I'd take one bit of advice from that scandalous bronzerider," 

Richenda sniffs. "Now if you'll all excuse me -at last- I'd like to see if 
my lavender flimsy thing has been washed so I can surprise Ren--KASSIMA. 
No towel does not equal dry hair. Don't push my patience, my girl."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda wonders about the lot of you. :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima wonders about *you*, Riche, wearing lavendar flimsy 
things around Rennick. *Shudder.* :)

D'thon produces a k-k-k- noise which seems to be an attempt at strangled 
laughter.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "If Rennick knew half the things I said in the 
LC, he'd be mortified."

Channie shakes her head, her voice very quiet, "I really should go. I'm 
sorry. I really am." she stands up and hurries for the bowl.

Telgar Weyr> M'kla nods.

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

Telgar Weyr> M'kla says, "That's why we love you, dear."

A'lex swears and follows.

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

Lysseth> A'lex says "Wait!"

Lysseth> Channie strides right for Kemith, looking at her feet. "I, I 
really shouldn't stay here. I"m sorry."

Lysseth> A'lex catches up, "Just hold on a second..."

"'Twill dry in time; it always does," Kassima says, looking rather bemused 
by the fuss over wet hair. "Even Lysseth doesn't mi--oh, fardles." That, 
of course, is said as she notices Nie pelting out of the LC.

D'thon raises an eyebrow, still silent. Oh. My.

Lysseth> Channie winces, refusing to look up, "It's alright A'lex. I just, 
need some time alone I think."

Calalin snickers faintly again, but does move over to pick up a pitcher of 
milk and a bowl of sugar. She adds liberal doses of both to the water, 
dropping tea leaves in on top of it.

Richenda lets out a long sigh, takes a gander at the cavern to ensure 
there is nothing further that requires her immediate attention, and 
flounces out, murmuring, "I wonder if I wore my hair down this time...
no...it keeps getting caught when..."

Richenda walks towards the inner cavern.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima does. Not. Want. To. Know.

Lysseth> A'lex says "I hate being alone when I'm upsed. You sure you don't 
need to talk? To vent?"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda shrugs innocently. :)

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "New shop at the Gather: Richenda's Secret"

Lysseth> Channie shakes her head, "I don't want to talk about it, or vent, 
or anything. I just want to go back to my weyr and...and stay there, like 
I should have."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "I keep trying to tell you all there's a side 
of Rennick you don't see. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "And it's a side of Rennick I don't *want* to 
see. *Double-shudder.*"

Telgar Weyr> Ursa says, "I think that's a relief to everyone, 
Richenda. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda grins. Poor Rennick. :)

Telgar Weyr> M'kla nods mutely.

Lysseth> A'lex puts his hand on her shoulder, stoping her for just a 
moment, "Okay, if you want to go and be alone, fine. But know that you 
should NOT have stayed there, because if you had, I'd have never got the 
chance to meet you, and to fall in love with you."

"Where's it written that if'n things aren't boring, they've got t'be too 
bizarre for words?" Kassi demands rhetorically, flipping her wet black 
locks over her shoulder and looking pretty puzzled and somewhat frustrated 
by this whole thing.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima awwwwwwwwwws at 'Lex. :)

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Shaddup!"

Lysseth> Channie winces away from the touch at first, sniffling behind the 
veil of red curls. "A'lex..." Her voice is very quiet, filled with a great 
guilt and sorrow. When she looks over her shoulder, her eyes are moist 
with tears she's struggling to hold back.

Lysseth> A'lex pulls her close, "C'mere, just let it out and get it over 
with."

Lysseth> Channie offers a slight protest but it doesn't last long before 
she flings herself into A'lex's arms for a tight hug, "I don't want to 
cause a scene." comes her muffled voice from the bronzerider's chest.

Lysseth> A'lex looks up at Nraith, who proceeds to move so that Kemith and 
he are surrounding the two, concealed from all eyes. "Ok, now you can, no 
one will be the wiser."

Lysseth> I bespoke Kemith with << My rider wishes for me to tell you that 
she did not mean to upset yours so much, and that while she is *unpleased* 
with the entire incident, she did not mean to burden your rider with so 
much *guilt* and *unhappiness*. >>

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Kemith warbles worriedly, << It is not only 
your rider. Ularrith's rider and his mate were very upset with her this 
morning also. >>

Lysseth> Nraith warbles concernedly.

Lysseth> Channie sniffles, still struggling not to cry. She hates to cry, 
it's no fun at all. "I--i'm ok." she whispers. "I just, lost three of my 
best friends." ok, so now she just starts sobbing, doing her best not to 
however.

Lysseth> Kemith croons down at his rider, fanning out his wings a little.

Lysseth> A'lex clucks, sounding an awful lot like Richenda, "No you 
didn't. If making them a little angry makes them not want to see you, 
they're not really good friends. Now, I don't know Mart, but I know Kassi 
isn't like that. She's vented, and she'll be over it by morning."

Lysseth> Channie shakes her head, "I don't think I'll be able to face her. 
She was so mad. I didn't think she'd be so mad. And M'rgan and Kena almost 
stopped being weyrmates because of me."

Lysseth> Kemith senses that Lysseth rumbles, considering this. << My rider 
seems to understand why. I do not personally see what difference it makes, 
really; humans are odd creatures, and it would be best if they were more 
like dragons, taking pride in many fine mates and a strong clutch. >> She 
gives the equivalent of a mental shrug. << My rider still feels 
*friendship* for yours. She is just *hurt* that your rider did not trust 
her, and was *worried* that what your rider did could have made Ularrith's 
rider *angry* with her for something she did not do. >>

Lysseth> A'lex didn't KNOW that one, but he ignores it for the moment, 
"She's also preganat, and even more emotional than she usually is. And 
didn't she say it got Mart talking to her again or something? So something 
good DID come out of it."

Lysseth> A'lex says "Give it a seven day and they'll be laughing over it."

Lysseth> Channie sniffles and pulls away enough to glance up at Kemith who 
croons softly to her again, eyes whirling with flecks of yellow. She 
doesn't handle crying very well. She's got puffy eyes and they're all red, 
and so is her nose that's running and her face is all wet and flushed. 
"Huh?" she blinks at Kemith and snuffles a time or two more. "Kemith says, 
that Lysseth told him that Kassi...is still my friend." she wipes the back 
of her hand over her eyes. "I feel so stupid!"

Calalin eyes a largish tear in the tunic, "How *does* he tear these so 
badly?"

Lysseth> A'lex squeezes a bit, okay, so the Dragon walls didn't work as 
well as he thought they would, "See, what did I tell you? Kassi may be a 
bit strange, but she's a good person, and she wouldn't let a silly 
misunderstanding destroy a friendship."

"How does whom do what?" Kassi asks blankly, snapping briefly out of her 
dragon-inspired trance.

Calalin eyes Kassima as she holds up the tunic, "It's too soon for you to 
be proddy again, isn't it? This tunic. It's torn. One of the boys was 
cleaning tables, of all things, and tore it."

Lysseth> "I feel so bad though. I didn't think everyone would get so 
upset." Channie whispers guiltily. "I'm such a wherry." sniffing another 
time or two she flops her head against A'lex's chest.

Lysseth> A'lex says "Then I guess I'm a wherry-lover... oh well..."

"Oh, aye--I'm just speaking with Lysseth about Nie and... ach, never 
mind." Kassi blinks a bit befuddledly at the tunic, but at least she seems 
more comprehending. "That's odd," she observes. "An odd way t'tear a 
tunic, I mean."

Aleta walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Lysseth> Channie giggles and pulls away from A'lex to look at him. She 
giggles a little more, "Wherry-lover."

Aleta pokes her head in, then pads in, flopping into a hearthside seat 
with a quick, tired smile, "H'llo all."

"Heya, Aleta," Kassi greets amiably, even as her attention drifts once 
more towards the Bowl.

Lysseth> Channie wipes a little more at her puffy face. At least the tears 
have stopped now. "Sorry..."

Calalin nods, "Indeed. S'why I don't understand how he did it."

Lysseth> A'lex says "S'okay..."

Lysseth> Channie looks around, and decides she'd better go back to 
'Reaches and hide.

Starraj says "hello there"

Calalin nods politely to the newcomer, "G'evening." She rapidly mends the 
tunic and sets it aside.

Aleta glances over, flicking a quick wave, but offering a pleasant smile, 
"Evening, there."

D'thon idly takes a sip of klah. "Evenin'," he offers to the stranger.

Starrajstrides into the living cavern from the guest quarters. As he 
enters, he greets the denizens of the cavern in warm, friendly manner 
before seating himself at a table, observing the buisy cavern.

Lysseth> Kemith warbles a quiet goodbye to the other dragons once his 
rider has mounted up.

Lysseth> Dulath backwings for a landing.

Pierron bustles over to the blue-haired newcomer. "Oh dear, oh my... I 
think you're just a spot too late to catch Mistress Riche... she's 
probably closeted in her quarters now..." He wrings his hands. "Richenda 
may be along in awhile, situation permitting, but I do think you might 
want to wait a little."

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles in what's either a farewell to Kemith, a greeting 
to Dulath, or both.

Lysseth> C'vadan smiles at Lysseth as Dulath takes his usual vigil.

C'vadan walks in from the bowl.

Lysseth> Kemith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to 
carry him aloft.

C'vadan shoots off a few waves as he enters.

Starrajwaves to C'vadan

Calalin shrugs a shoulder. For all she could tell, Richenda is probably 
prodding that irritating husband of hers, officious man that he is.

M'kla nods to the brownrider, "Evenin Cav."

Kassima finally draws her attention away from the Bowl, but not before she 
sees Cav come in and returns his shot wave with one of her own. "Evening, 
Cav."

Starraj says "Oh.. hello there I'm Starraj of Nerat. I've come to seek 
residency at this good weyr"

Aleta flicks a single wave as C'vadan arrives, barely turning to see who 
it is as she leans back in her seat, content to enjoy the warmth of the 
fire in the hearth."

Starraj ... addressed D'thon and the rest of the table.

C'vadan heads for the Dawnslight table. "Well met, Starraj."

Starrajextends a hand to C'vadan, "Well met...?"

"Duties to Nerat then, Starraj, and well met," Kassi says, turning from 
her regard of the Bowl to look at the stranger. She does a double-take at 
his hair, but apparently decides it's not her place to comment. "Aye, 
Riche's off with her husband, I believe... or intends t'be, shortly."

C'vadan takes Starraj's hand in the Pernese fashion before finding his 
usual seat.

Starraj flushes, a little embrassed, and says, "ah... 'tis customary in 
Nerat to exchange names. You already have mine, may I have yours, good 
sir?"

Aleta cocks her head a bit, one ear catching the flow of conversation, 
greetings, whatnot beyond, but remains comfortably situated, her usual 
warm smile planted in contented fashion across her face.

"C'vadan, rider of Dulath," replies Cav.

Aleta lifts a hand long enough to wave her fingers, "Aleta, general 
nuisance. Well met and welcome."

Starraj says "ah, well met then C'vadan"

D'thon walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

"Kassima, the lifemate of this big glob of vaguely draconic goop that, for 
whatever reason, insists on calling itself Lysseth," Kassi speaks up in 
turn. "Better known by most as Kassi. 'Tis a pleasure t'make your 
acquaintance, and all that sort of thing."

Starraj.grins, and says "Well met as well Aleta"

Calalin grins at Kassima, "Goop? Doesn't she get insulted when you say 
that?"

Starraj says "Thank you"

Kassima snorts a denial. "Nay, nay," she assures Calalin with a grin that 
matches the other woman's. "Why should she? She certes hears me say it 
often enough, though I vary it with goo, lump, thing, sludge, and various 
other such exalted titles. 'Tis m'way of keeping her humble."

Lysseth> Lysseth raises her head and snorts. Indeed. As though she's the 
one who needs to be kept humble?

The draconic snort that can be heard from outside only causes Kassi to 
roll her eyes.

Starrajresponds, "It is my pleasure, Lysseth and Kassima," with a quick 
wave to the unseen dragon.

A stifled giggle drifts from Aleta's direction, but she doesn't so much as 
peel an eyelid open to show it's from her.

Calalin snorts softly, tossing the tunic aside. She takes a sip of her 
tea, making a face at the taste. Too cold. "Humble, hm?"

C'vadan gets up and heads for the food. "Anyone seen Cait this evening?" 
he asks.

Starraj .notes that Kassi's snort is very similar to Lysseth's, and grins 
silently at Lysseth.

Kassima quirks an eyebrow, but nods in reply to the wave with a flickering 
smile before glancing Calalin-wards. "Certes," she replies, with a shrug. 
"The sharding mother-wherry needs *something* t'lower that high-held head 
of hers. Tria? Nay, Cav, I fear that I've nay seen her."

C'vadan frowns slightly. If Kassima the Weyr's Social Director hasn't seen 
her, then maybe she did go to Ista. "Oh, well," he mumbles as he make a 
plate of dinner.

Starraj .quieries Lysseth with humour, "Might I see the famous Lysseth?

Starraj says "perhaps meet him?"

"Whyfor d'you seek her?" Kassima, being curious, wants to know. She blinks 
at Starraj as he speaks in the direction of the Bowl. "M'dragon can't hear 
you from in here, y'know," she points out with a grin. "And she is a 
*she*. Go on out if'n you want to, but forgive me if'n I don't join you. 
M'hair's wet, 'tis frigidly cold out there, and I just want to sit and nay 
have to waddle for awhile."

C'vadan snaps his fingers. "Maybe she left a note in her office. Excuse 
me." He sets his plate down and strides into the lower caverns.

C'vadan walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima's brow furrows a trace as C'vadan departs. "Come t'think of it, 
I've nay seen Tria in awhile," she muses. "Mayhaps she's back at 
Beastcraft, working on that breeding project again."

Starraj says "Ah, well, I'm quite interested in dragons. Part of the 
reason I journeyed here."

Calalin smirks. "Richenda's have your hide if you went out in your 
condition in the cold, Kassima." The look on the girl's face indicates 
she'd be sure to mention it as well.

Starrajoffers something similar to a towel to Kassima, but it is 
embroidered and dyed with the picture of a dragon.

Starraj says "here, dry yourself off with this, good lady."

"Many people are," Kassima observes, hoisting herself up out of her chair 
and meandering towards where the food is being kept. She pauses on the way 
to flash Calalin a grin. "She can try," the greenrider says with a shrug. 
"If'n I wish t'go out, 'twill do so; even Lyss has learned that some 
things aren't worth fighting over... though she'd probably wrap me up in 
her tail if'n I tried, stubborn old caprine of a dragon that she is." One 
black eyebrow arches upwards as she's proffered the towel, and she shakes 
her head with a smile. "One more towelling wouldn't help m'hair; besides, 
you should hold onto it. It always pays t'know where your towel is. And 
I'm nay a lady; I'm just Kassi."

Telgar Weyr> Aleta giggles at Kass's towel comment, "Here here."

Calalin rolls her eyes at the greenrider, "It's your hide."

D'thon walks in from the bowl.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima bows. "It's all written in the Hitchdragon's Guide to 
Pern. The omniscient cloud told me so."

Telgar Weyr> Aleta grins.

"a'right then, Kassi." Starraj stows away his towel and grins. "Just 
remember to take care of yourself. they say health is important for a 
reason you know."

"Indeed 'tis," Kassima cheerfully agrees as she loads her plate with 
steamed legumes smothered by a fruit compote and a handful of what looks 
to be raw klah powder. This is what she takes back to her seat, after 
adding a good bit of salt to the mix; she seems to have every intent of 
eating it. "And I'll decide how t'keep it safe, with some aid from Lysseth 
since the beast refuses t'leave off mothering me. I swear, neither T'lar 
nor any of the Healers I've known were ever so protective as Riche's 
been."

Calalin says "I think it's her job. OR she made it that."

Starrajgrins, his gaze wandering towards the still unseen Lysseth.

Kassima grumbles and spears a forkful of the... the... well, whatever it 
is. "The next person who tells me t'take care of m'self's going t'get a 
roll thrown at 'em, I swear it." The grumbling is fairly good-natured, 
though. "I'll never understand that, I think--wanting to act as mother to 
an entire Weyr. 'Twould drive me batty rather quickly."

Calalin gets an amused look on her face, "Kassi, you should take better 
care of yourself."

Starraj .consumes yet another plate of various foods, and retrieves 
another one, piled-high with consumables.

Aleta turns, peeling her eyes open long enough to make sure she's nowhere 
near Calalin, grins, and goes back to being one with the fire, or 
something.

True to her word, the greenrider sets down her fork, nabs a roll from the 
nearby plate of V'dan, and lobs it towards Calalin with all the accuracy 
that Turns of knife-throwing can provide.

Calalin drops her mending into her lap, and deftly catches the roll. She 
takes a big bite out of it, and smiles at Kassima, "Thanks, I was hungry."

D'thon chuckles. "Ever notice how often that happens when you throw rolls, 
Kassi?"

Aleta pipes up, "You can't eat knives. Shame t' waste good food."

Kassima grins, and nods to the roll-eater. "Don't mention it," she says 
graciously. "D'thon, if'n 'twas trying to avoid having that happen, I'd 
throw big chunks of raw liver or something."

Aleta makes a face, turning, "Ugh, Kass, that's an evil thought." She 
shudders, her reverie broken, and gets to her feet, making for the klah 
pot, "Anyone need a cup while I'm up here?"

Calalin blechs, "No, I'll take the roll, thanks.

Starraj says "Hmm. Not-so-bad. You wouldna believe what I had to cook and 
eat to get here."

Starraj says "I'd like a roll too, please"

"V'dan's fresh out," Kassima chuckles. "You'll have t'get your own. I 
know, Aleta--believe me, I know. Was that nay the entire idea?"

Starraj .turns to Kassi, winks, and says "You'd be surprised what you 
could make a deadly weapon. Even a roll"

Pierron disappears into the kitchen, reappearing moments later with a 
plateful of rolls which he settles before him with a wry smile. He waggles 
a finger at the gathered, "You're lucky. There was a batch coming out 
anyway, but let's try to be gentle with these, eh?"

Calalin says "Not Ofira's rolls. They never lasat long enough to get 
deadly."

Kassima quirks a grin that shows lots of teeth. "You would be amazed how 
little aught about deadly weapons surprises me. If'n you want deadly 
rolls, though, you'd best approach one of the apprentices and ask 'em 
t'bake you some of the sort that break your teeth when you try t'bite 
'em."

Starrajstates, "oooh, well said Calalin." and retrieves a hidden roll from 
under the table, and promptly devours it.

Starraj.laughs a deep rumble at that. "As a matter of fact, I found myself 
with just such a roll on the way up here. I was able to kill to survive 
with just that roll for a week!"

Elensh creeps in, all stealth and wariness as she stalks across the room, 
keeping a watchful eye on the occupants.

Aleta pours herself a mug of steaming klah and makes her way over to 
Pierron in search of a decent meal, no doubt. Amply situated, she makes 
her way back to her seat and settles in, flashing a quick smile in 
Elensh's direction as the young girl makes her way through.

D'thon chuckles dryly. "Well, ex-apprentices can do pretty good too if 
they put their minds to it..."

Starraj .sends a friendly wave over to Elensh

"Kill... to... survive," Kassi repeats, one eyebrow going rather far up 
this time. "If'n I may ask, why in the name of Faranth didn't you just 
request a dragonride up here, or at least pack meatrolls enough for the 
trip? How you survived such a journey, I'll never know, between 'Fall and 
the blasted weather. Remind me t'be glad I've never tried it, eh?" With a 
grin, she nods amiably enough to the strange stalking girl. "Duties t'you 
and yours," she calls.

Elensh wipes away a straggling lock of hair long enough to return Aleta's 
smile, grimy hands finding their way into unsuspecting plates to snatch a 
bit of food here and there. Nodding to Starraj and the rest, she takes her 
spoils and crumples into a pile on the floor near the conversation, only 
slightly off. "Hello," she returns to Kassi, eyes open and innocent. She's 
not so furtive with food in her hands.

Starraj says "Ah, well, then tunnlesnakes didna feel a thing, don't worry. 
With a good 'pprentice roll and knowledge of t.m., you could knock out 
anything"

Elensh perks visibly, a hunk of bread halted on its journey to her mouth. 
"Tunnelsnake?"

Starraj says "they can be quite edible, if cooked right."

Starraj .nodnoodles.

Elensh leans forward, eyes shining. "What do they taste like?"

D'thon coughs. "Kassi, I assume, should be able to tell you too."

Starraj says "ah, well, I have my secrets. The mtns are riddled with 
underground passageways one can escape from the thread with."

Kassima watches the girl snaring the food, and remarks offhandedly, 
"You're welcome t'have a bite to eat or something t'drink if'n you're 
hungry, lass. Let it never be said that we're nay hospitable here... 
tunnelsnake? D'thon, I've nay had tunnelsnake in Turns. Honest."

Calalin says "Ew, tunnelsnake? Yuck."

Starraj .laughs heartily. "Tastes like wherry." he says with a wink

Kassima assures Calalin as she takes a bite of the unholy glop on her 
plate, "'Tis much worse when 'tis raw."

Aleta wrinkles her nose, eyeing the food on her platter, then sighs, 
figuring if Kass can eat what's on her plate, she can do as well with her 
own. "Can't be that bad, even with tunnelsnakes in mind..." she mutters 
quietly.

Starraj says "ock, they're hidin'. They go under when the thread comes, 
but by the time that happened I was well underground and could hunt them 
as they fled."

Calalin shudders, "*Why* would you eat it raw?"

Elensh turns to Kassi, glancing from food in hand to rider and back again. 
"I know, that's why I took some. But I couldn't carry anything to drink. 
That'd be nice." Her gaze shifts back to Starraj with a snap as he answers 
her question. "Wherry? That's all? I thought it'd taste more...I dunno. 
Exotic." Decisively nodding her head, she bears down on the loaf in her 
hand, chewing it thoroughly and thoughtfully.

Starraj .grins broadly. "When you get down to it, everymeat tastes like 
Wherry"

"I was proddy," Kassi explains to Calalin. "I only eat raw meat when I'm 
proddy, generally--save for this last time, a'course, when I couldn't have 
any of the things I normally take." She gestures over to the food-tables, 
which are still stocked with a decent amount of variable edibles. "'Tis 
what plates and mugs are for, a'course," she laughs. "There's cider there, 
and citron, and likely klah--but nay kiwi juice, I'm afraid."

Elensh sticks out her chin, determined to prove Starraj wrong. "I bet 
crawlies don't."

Calalin shudders, "Remind me not to leave my arms bare next time you're 
proddy."

Starraj says "Well, if you can get a crawly to be cooked, you can taste it 
yourself and tell me"

Aleta does a good impression of a hatchling dragon at this point, figuring 
it must be better to lose oneself in eating than to think of what's going 
on in the conversation overhead. Still, lack of practice asserts itself 
and she is forced to slow a touch.

Kassima eyes Calalin with amusement. "I have yet t'turn cannibal, y'know. 
I've eaten wherry, herdbeast, tunnelsnake, spiderclaws, various fish, and 
all that sort of thing raw--but human? Gah, nay! I'm certain we'd nay be 
very palatable, anyway."

Elensh wrinkles her nose. "Yuck. Klah is for old people." Standing, 
awkwardly, she wobbles for a moment before catching her balance and 
leveling her gaze at Starraj. "/I/ wouldn't eat a crawlie," she points 
out, marching herself over to the indicated table and pouring a mug of 
cider with all the primness of an offended lady holder.

Starraj .says " 'nothin' wrong with eating meat raw. 'specially if yer 
hungry enuff. Makes ya strong." Starraj thumps his abs with a large fist.

Calalin looks down at herself, "I'm too bony for you anyway."

Starrajlooks at Calalin. "Ya need ta get some meat on yer bones there, 
lass"

"Besides, 'tis Sandar who likes to eat people. Ask Kindre sometime," Kassi 
remarks, licking bean-fruit-klah-salt goo from her fork.

Aleta scrunches into her seat, looking small, then flashes an amused smile 
toward Elensh, "What's wrong with klah?" She grins, though, before she 
goes back to shovelling in the food.

"Spiderclaws?" Elensh has returned, mug safely in tow. Curling up near her 
carefully hoarded treasure of food, she sets to work on the cider, pausing 
just long enough to comment. "You sure do eat a lot of strange things, 
Kassi."

Calalin snorts, "Richenda keeps telling me that. I eat. I do."

Elensh looks thoughtful for a moment before answering Aleta. "It's for old 
people," she concludes with a shrug.

Starraj .gets a crooked, perhaps concerned look on his face. " human? 
who's talking about eating a human?"

D'thon looks very pointedly at Kassi. "Well, I can't say for sure..."

Starraj says "Who do these 'Sandar' and 'Kindre' ppl eat??"

Aleta shrugs, eyeing her klah a moment longer, then shakes her head, 
opting for a healthy swig of it.

Starrajis appalled.

Telgar Weyr> Aleta oys, "Kass, yer freaking him out ;)"

Kassima flashes the ten-Turn-old a grin. "I quite concur, which is one 
reason I rarely touch the stuff. Save for Flirk's, that once, but... well, 
'tany rate, spiderclaws are all right raw. So are most things. The cooks, 
though, insist they hae t'be soaked in wine first." She raises her hand a 
bit and wiggles her fingers as Starraj makes his inquiry. "That would be 
me... say, lass, have we met, or did you just pick m'name up from someone 
else in the room? Sandar tried to eat Kindre. I don't know who Kindre's 
made sandwiches of. Mayhaps 'tis where Tria's gone?"

Calalin raises an eyebrow, "Sandar and Kindre? What about them?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Kassibal the Cannibal, that's me. :P ;)"

Starrajpokes Calalin gently, and grins. "Eat more. You'll feel much 
better, trust me. More energy, more stamina, and a clearer head."

Calalin snorts, "My head is plenty clear, thank you."

Starraj .polishes off another two plates and reaches for more.

Starraj says "Are Sandar and Kindre?"

Kassima innocently informs Calalin, "Raw meat really does do wonders for 
the constitution. How about trying Pierron? He looks like he could feed 
twenty; there's certes enough there for you." She keeps her voice low so 
that said chef hopefully won't realize that Kassi's discussing the 
possibility of turning him into the dish of the day.

D'thon coughcoughs. "Sounds interesting, Kassi, but we'd all get pretty 
fat."

Calalin glahs, "That's just sick. Nto to mention it could make you sick, 
Kassi."

Ashli walks in from the bowl.

Kassima peers at Starraj's plates. "Are Sandar and Kindre what? On your 
plates? Bright stars, nay. That's just wherry. I think."

Ashli steps in from the bowl, her pack slung as always over a shoulder as 
a perch for firelizards (solely, so they thing).

With a decidedly lengthy pause, Aleta stares at Kass, eyes darting between 
her and Pierron, then lets her gaze drift to the plate in front of her. 
Apparently having had enough, she shoves the platter away from the table 
edge and promptly drains her klah, "That ought to settle the stomach."

Starraj says "Well, yes we have been introduced just an hour ago. Ah, then 
you told me to call you Kassi, remember? I am Starraj of Nerat."

Starraj .finds himself wondering if Kassi was serious about eating 
Pierron... *shiver*

Kassima waves cheerfully to the trader lass before returning to her 
previous conversation topic. "Aye, but at least that'd get Riche off our 
backs, D'thon! 'Sides, I already look like a heifer. There's nay much more 
she can do t'me... 'twas nay speaking t'you, Starraj; 'twas speaking to 
that lass over there." She nods towards Elensh and picks up her fork, 
taking another hearty bite of the beans and fruit combination.

Starraj says "Iie. Who are Sandar and Kindre?"

Telgar Weyr> Aleta sighs and may never eat again after tonight ;)

Ashli waves back to Kassima, scooping up a thick slice of bread off one of 
the platters before dumping her sack on the hearth and settling into a 
chair to inspect the people she doesn't know yet.

"The Assistant Steward and gold Herath's rider respectively," Kassima 
supplies. "They're nay the main course, fear nay."

Starraj .waves to Ashli as well

Starraj says "Ah. icy."

"He said it," Elensh answers finally, pointing at D'thon. "He said you'd 
be able to tell what tunnelsnake tasted like. I remember things." For 
special emphasis, she taps a finger to her head, eyes bright with the 
innocence of one who knows everything.

Calalin says "I imagine the Weyrwoman would be most distraught to find her 
junior served up for dinner."

Starraj hehs, a bit relieved, though still concerned about the canabalism.

Kassima grins and approves, "Clever of you. But you have me at a 
disadvantage; you know my name, but I know nay yours. Care t'give it?" In 
reply to Calalin, she bobs her head once, her expression quite serious. 
"T'say naught of how Herath would feel--or Kiat, for that matter."

Several lower cavern folks scurry away from talk of Kassi's Fear-food.

Calalin shrugs, "I'd be more worried about Herath."

"Elensh," she replies promptly, picking out a piece of redfruit from her 
trove. "I'd've said it sooner, but nobody asked."

Elensh makes another stunning observation, also directed at Kassi. "You 
talk funny."

Ashli twines Leo's tail around her finger, listening to the conversation 
with an expression that keeps slipping from startled to amused. "Served 
for dinner?" she mutters, and finally grins. "Tassi, love, I think this is 
our kind of place."

Starraj says ""say, Kassima, I would still like to meet Lysseth some time, 
if it's possible""

Calalin sends at smirk in Elensh's direction, "You haven't met S'riv."

Kassima starts to open her mouth, probably to say something about Herath 
making good steak herself, but a disgusted rumble from outside forestalls 
her. "Uh... aye," she settles for agreeing somewhat lamely instead. The 
greenrider nods to Elensh, then, pushing aside her now blessedly-empty 
plates. "Well met, Elensh. M'full name's Kassima, green Lysseth's rider--
but Kassi will serve much better. Do I, now?" She chuckles, leaning back 
to stretch her arms up towards the sky. "'Tis m'accent showing through, I 
fear--one of several interesting side-effects of fourteen Turns spent at 
Da's cothold. Starraj, you can go outside and meet her whenever you like, 
as I said... and 'tis glad I am t'be hearing that we meet with your 
approval, Trader." She winks at Ashli, a touch impishly.

Ashli cocks a brow at Kassima, her smile falling lopsided with humor. 
"Aye. You do. It's an interesting place. But tell me, don't you think he'd 
be a bit salty?"

"Pierron?" Kassi inquires, stealing a sidelong glance at the man. "I think 
he'd be a bit *tough*, but I know nay about salty. I suppose you can't 
really be too picky about such things. And our Bakers can do *wonders* 
with all sorts of meat." Is she serious, or not? It might be better not to 
inquire.

Elensh's eyes widen a touch. "Is she big, your Lysseth? I heard dragons 
were /huge/." Spreading her arms to their fullest extent, she 
demonstrates. "Bigger than this." Dropping her hands to her sides, she 
ponders the redfruit a while longer, putting off its inevitable demise 
with a question for Calalin. "Who's S'riv?" Bouncing back to Kassi with 
the shortest of attention spans she retorts, smiling. "I would've called 
you Kassi anyway."

Starrajgrins in amusement. "Well, your accent seems to have made you the 
center of attention, Kassi."

Ashli leans back, hooking another chair with her foot to tug in near 
enough to prop up both feet, crossed precisely at the ankles. She folds 
her arms behind her head and yawns before laughing quietly. "Could always 
have your dragon char-broil him."

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

"Thank Faranth for *that*," Kassi says, quite fervently. "I've had enough 
ma'aming t'last me a lifetime. S'riv? He's bronze Cioth's rider, and a 
very... interesting... sort, I think it could be safely said. Lysseth's a 
green, so she's nay the largest of dragons--but she's big for a green," 
the rider explains with some pride. "About twenty-five meters long. Much 
bigger than that, indeed. My accent, Starraj? Can't think of why; 'tis 
usually m'lunacy that does that work. Trader--should I know your name, by 
the by?" she asks, a touch sheepishly. "I fear I've forgotten it, if'n so. 
'Tany rate, Lysseth probably wouldn't be amiable to that. She thinks he'd 
scream too much."

Saennya walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Elensh voices a thought with the hesitancy borne of slow curiousity. 
"Would he taste like a wherry, too?"

Aleta arches an eyebrow, finding herself unable to ignore the topic of 
conversation, so take her grousing stomach into the kitchen to see if she 
can't find something to settle it. Of course, her being empty handed when 
she heads in and all, there's no need to have her return as such. Thus, 
she returns laden with a huge bowl of tubers, a strainer, and a handy 
knife. All accompanied by a rather disgruntled expression.

Ashli wrinkles her nose. "I meant /after/ you cut his throat and skinned 
him properly," she points out to Kassima. "But my name's Ashli, rider. I 
don't recall ever hearing yours at all."

Elensh takes this opportunity to show off her knowledge. "That's Kassi. 
She's got a dragon, you know. A big one."

Calalin says "Dragons are always big."

Kassima grimaces at the sight of the tubers, and quickly shifts her 
attention away from Aleta for the sake of her stomach. Elensh, 
fortunately, provides a fine distraction. "Y'know, I'm nay certain? I 
think he might... but 'twould be a gamey old wherry indeed, most likely. 
We'd be picking him out of our teeth for days." Grinning, she nods a 
confirmation of the younger girl's introduction. "Kassi would be m'name, 
or Kassima for long; m'dragon's green Lysseth. Well met, Ashli; profit 
t'you and your clan."

Calalin shrugs, "Compared to humans, anyway." She grins at Kassima, "Just 
a week ago, you were eating whipped tubers and loving them. What's wrong 
now?"

Saennya comes in quietly, edging towards the sides of the room with a 
laundry basket she has covered with a large bit of cloth. Nothing to see 
here, really.

Ashli taps two fingers to her forehead in an ironic salute. "Honored to 
meet you, rider Kassima. Traders' duties to Telgar and her queens, and to 
your dragon." She adds the last with a grin.

Calalin waves absently to Saennya, a basket of mending lying next to her 
by the hearth, obviously forgotten.

Aleta reclaims her seat by the fire, muttering quietly, - a keen ear might 
be surprised at the string of oaths she seems to have picked up since 
moving here - but she plasters a pleasant smile on her face as she settles 
everything on the table and begins to peel tubers with a decidedly vicious 
style.

Elensh wrinkles her nose at Calalin. "Kassi said her dragon was big for a 
green, so she's a big one." Eyes rest a moment on Ashli, putting name with 
face in her memory. "Hi."

D'thon folds his hands, resting quietly.

"I was *nay*," Kassi staunchly denies, going faintly pale. "I haven't 
touched those since Riche pointed out what they look like, mashed. *Ugh.* 
Those things are the source of all evil... g'deve, Saennya," she breaks 
off to hail Ofira's niece. The salute elicits an roll of the eyes from the 
greenrider. "Nay bad enough that weyrlings salute me; now out-Weyr folk 
must also?" She grins, though. "The pleasure is mine, Ashli. Be welcomed 
to the Weyr."

Saennya tries to keep a smile from creeping in at Kassima's comment. "Soon 
the flits will be saluting you too," she murmurs in a soft little voice. 
Then the gaze lowers while she peeks under the rag. Oh dear... best keep 
that hidden.

Ashli's grin widens a trace. "Aye, but I'm no weyrling. Thanks for your 
welcome -- I'm hoping there'll be a bit of trade worth here. What do you 
think, rider? Seeing as you know your Weyr, anyway."

Calalin says "Look like what? Smashed tubers? What's wrong with that?" She 
smirks again, "Big for a green," she echoes, "Never seen the weyrwoman's 
gold, have you.""

Elensh sniffs haughtily at Calalin, affecting an air of disdain. "Shows 
what you know. I've never seen any dragon, so they're /all/ big."

Calalin shrugs, "What, you never lived in a hold or a hall, or anything? 
NEver even seen a *watchdragon*?"

Kassima shudders at Saennya, shaking her head vigorously enough that her 
loose, drying black hair nearly goes flying. "Don't even think such a 
thing--m'own fair would be the very first ones t'try it! What's in the 
basket?" she inquires, combing her forelock back out of her eyes. "Oh, 
Leilanth's *enormous*. Only eight meters short of being twice Lysseth's 
size. Trade worth, hmmm...." Leaning back in her chair, she cracks a grin. 
"I know this Weyr as well as any Bendenite transplant can, I suppose. 
Whether there'll be good trading depends on what you offer, and what 
you're seeking."

Elensh shrugs. "Not up close, so it doesn't count. They can look as little 
as birds in the air, if they're far enough away. You can't tell how big 
they are." Picking at her food, a childish petulance erupts around the 
corners of her mouth. "'Sides, da didn't like dragons. He wouldn't let me 
near any."

Ashli drops one foot to nudge her pack with a toe, ignoring the fuss Star 
kicks up at the disturbance of her resting place. "Oh, this and that. Odds 
and ends, things I figured transplants might need. Know anybody in need of 
anything?"

Saennya tries to work her way back a bit, counting on Kassima's tendency 
to rove on in conversation to perhaps get her and her basket off the hook. 
She wets her lips as her eyes move furtively to make sure noone else has 
noticed. Instead, she'll answer Elensh's comment. "Why there are plenty 
right out in the bowl usually. I'm surprised you'd not noticed one coming 
in."

Aleta regards the first few peeled tubers with surprise, then takes a deep 
breath, picking one up between two fingers to examine it. Somehow, and 
don't ask her, she was only doing what she was told, an' all, but somehow 
these are the .smallest. tubers she's ever seen by now.

"Sounds like m'Mum, save that she was afraid of 'em rather than just nay 
liking 'em," Kassima murmurs, toying with her fork. "Odds and ends. Huh. 
Well, I m'self could do with a thing or two; a stuffed dragon, a dragon on 
a stick, some Turnday presents... and I'm certain there're other folk with 
similar needs. If'n you've extra warm clothing or particularly exotic 
treats with you, I'm certes *those* would be past welcomed." She then 
turns to regard Saennya expectantly, thus proving that the rule is true: 
how much one wants Kassi to forget a conversation topic is proportional to 
how likely she is to stay focused on it.

Calalin nods at Saennya, "Zactly. They're all over." She makes a face, and 
folds the tunic she was working on earlier, placing it back into the 
basket.

Tinya walks in from the bowl.

"I was careful." Elensh's voice falls low, a hushed whisper used only for 
telling secrets. "I kept far away from 'em. Da says they'd like to get 
their teeth in little girls like me. So it took me a while, but I got 
through without coming close to one." Nodding with a smile of self-
satisfaction at her courage of crossing the treacherous bowl.

Tinya hurries in, almost colliding with a drudge near the entrance. She 
dodges around the girl and heads straight for the hearth.

Calalin says "Dragons got plenty of wherries and whatever else they like. 
They'd never bother with a skinny human. Unless you got to making his 
rider good and mad or something."

Ashli chuckles, leaning over to tug her pack into her lap and work at the 
ties. "I've no stuffed dragons, but stuffed firelizards. You'd have to 
poke through to see about Turnday presents." She flips open the satchel 
and extracts one of several stuffed 'lizards that's been shoved in willy-
nilly, this one a rather pretty shade of green. "Seems they go real well 
with the children."

Elensh frowns at Calalin. "But people taste like wherries. That means I 
taste like a wherry. Why wouldn't a dragon want to eat me? I taste good."
And as something under the rag makes a tiny living sound, Sae gets a 
somewhat paniced look. This always happens to _her_ after all. Trying to 
cover the noise, she squeaks, "Nothing!"

D'thon coughs again, still leaning back silently.

Maylia walks in from the bowl.

Aleta glances up from the examination of her miniature tubers, flashing a 
quick smile at the rushing Tinya, "Evening, Tinya. On the run again, eh?" 
She quickly drops the tuber into the collender and takes up a fresh one, 
this time remembering not to peel angry.

Calalin just eyes Elensh, "People taste like wherries? I don't want to 
know how you know that. Even Kassi doesn't chew on people when she's 
proddy. Dragons have way better things to eat than a scrawny girl."

Kassima laughs and just shakes her head, smiling reassuringly at Elensh. 
"Let me tell you something, lass--dragons don't eat people, or even harm 
'em in almost any situation. They find herdbeasts and wherries *much* more 
palatable. Lysseth likes to show off her teeth, but 'tis only because 
she's a sadist... oooh, that's marvelous! What's the difference between a 
stuffed dragon and a 'lizard, anyway?" Kassi wants to know. "And how much? 
Evening, Tinya, Maylia. Saennya, what in Faranth's name made that sound? 
Have you a feline in there? Fire-lizard? Canine pup, perchance?"

D'thon looks up. "Evenin', May."

Elensh takes a moment to digest (pun intended) this information, looking 
half upset that a dragon wouldn't eat her. "Oh," she replies lamely, 
fishing around in her remaining pile for a scrap of roast herdbeast to pop 
into her mouth.

Maylia quietly enters the living cavern, and helps herself to a mug of 
klah. Saluting where appropriate, whether desirable or not, she calls out 
"Hello!" to those she knows.

Ashli flips at the firelizard's wings to straighten them, setting it so 
the paws are around her wrist and the tail curls loosely about her arm. 
"The dragons are bigger," she says, reasonably enough. "But I don't have 
any of them. People seem to like the firelizards better." She leans and 
snags another 'lizard out of the pack, this one blue. "As for how much, 
well... how much would you pay?"

Tinya gets a mug of cider and wanders through the cavern, dropping into a 
seat somewhat near Kassima and the trader. "Heyla, Kassi," she greets the 
greenrider, with a nod to her companion.

Aleta flicks Maylia a wave, knife still in hand, then quickly resumes 
peeling, managing this time not to peel off more tuber than she leaves.

Saennya's expression turns several shades of miserable as she pulls the 
cloth off, revealing not one pup, but a squirming, writhing, close eyed 
pile of newborns, shedding birth's blood onto the previously perfectly 
cleaned white clothing. She exclaims, "I just put it down to warm before 
giving the clothing back. Was helpin' in the kitchens, and came back, and 
I dinna know where the ma has gotten t'!"

Calalin stifles a yawn. With a heave, she lifts her basket of mending, 
passing off the mug of cold and now completely unpalatable tea to one of 
the kitchen girls. With a bit of a wave, she wanders towards the lower 
caverns.

Calalin says "Oh Faranth, don't let Richenda see all those things in the 
clean laundry. She'll have... firelizards!"

Calalin walks towards the inner cavern.

D'thon's eyes widen. "Oh. My."

Saennya gulps at Calalin's words, eyes going wide with worry. "I swear, it 
wasn't my doing!" Is that panic there? Yes it is.

Elensh stares after Calalin, a wondering expression on her face. "Can 
people really have firelizards?" she asks of all within earshot.

"You're welcome t'go out and meet m'Lysseth any time you want to," Kassi 
further offers to Elensh. "She'll behave if'n I tell her to. Speaking of 
which, Lyss...." She shoots a *look* outside, then just shakes her head 
and turns her attention to the trader. "Well, d'you think a child could be 
fooled into thinking 'tis a dragon? Kaylira has a stuffed one, and I'd 
like the newest one t'have one, too... in green. As to what I'd pay? How 
about an eighth of a mark?" The unveiling of the puppies is reacted to 
with wide eyes and a flickering of the 'Awwww' face from Kassi. "Well, 
Calalin's right. Richenda will have kittens if'n she learns, but I doubt 
she'll blame you for it. You'd best set 'em near the hearth or somewhere 
warm, methinks."

Ashli has to snatch at the blue firelizard as it tumbles from her grip. 
"Puppies? Faranth's eggs..." She can't help but laugh. "I suppose that was 
the best laundry, too. Ugly little whers."

Saennya tilts her head forward, most of her face hidden by her hair as she 
mumbles, "But if I do it, I'm likely to trip and send one of them into the 
fire m'self!" She shifts from side to side on her chair. "Don't they need 
food, or something?"

Elensh draws herself inward, somewhat daunted by the idea of meeting a 
dragon. "I wouldn't want to bother her," she protests, unwilling to show 
that she's a little scared. Brown eyes trek over to the object of 
discussion: puppies. "They look wet."

Maylia wanders towards the small grouping, curious as to what's attracted 
the attention. Puppies. Ugh. She takes another step back, and chooses a 
seat.

D'thon yawns and heads for the entrance.

Ashli wrinkles her nose a trace and tucks her feet up again, curling the 
blue stuffed 'lizard around her forearm below the green. "Oh, shards. No 
offense, rider, but d'you want to send my whole clan broke? I can't take 
less than half a mark for each of these."

D'thon walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kassima blinks, surprised at that. "Why nay?" she wants to know. "Lysseth 
loves children, believe it or nay. She's wary of adults, but children, she 
adores... especially if'n they give her cookies. Go figure. You might do 
well t'dry 'em off and try and give 'em milk or something, Saennya... 
though i'truth, I'd nay know. I've never dealt with puplings a'fore." Her 
response to Ashli is an exaggerated roll of the eyes. "Oh, come now. Half 
a mark? Try three sixteenths, and I might believe you."

Saennya frowns studiously, teeth clasping her lower lip before she ever so 
carefully moves to put the basket near the hearth to keep warm.

Ashli puts on a look of wounded innocence. It might even be partly true. 
"You /do/ want us broke. I swear, there's little enough respect for 
traders hereabouts." She scoops up her pack again and starts stuffing the 
blue back down inside. "Just have to take m'trade somewhere else, won't 
I?"

Maylia settles herself, sipping her klah awkwardly. A slight wrinkle to 
her nose might be detected as she realizes that the puppies are squirming 
all over laundry. But, her usual quite self, she makes no verbal 
acknowledgemnet at all.

Aleta pauses, reaching up with a forearm to shove a stray curl from her 
forehead, and nods to Saennya, "Pardon my mention, but you need to keep 
them warm most of all, but not too warm. The dam'll make certain they've 
food, but if they get too cold, that's the worst."

Elensh wipes her face with the back of her hand, aggravating an already 
grimy situation to streaks. "Cookies are for kids," she announces 
haughtily, paying very little attention to the haggling of Kassi and the 
trader. "Maybe I /will/ go see her. After I finish eating."

R'val enters from the Bowl.

R'val wanders in, waving amiably, 'Evening, gang."

Kassima regards the basket for a moment more and murmurs something about 
being very glad that she doesn't wear white, then wrinkles her nose at 
Ashli. "Oh, c'mon, now--be reasonable! A quarter mark? You're out t'make a 
beggar of me, I tell you."

Saennya looks over to Aleta, more than a little hopefully. "You know about 
pups? Oh, would you help me in taking care of them? I'm worse than bad at 
things." Not animals, but things.

Aleta glances over, flashing a grin at R'val, "H'llo there." She flicks 
another wave, knife still in hand, then nods to Saennya, "My father had 
many of 'em. Kept the herdbeasts and goats in order." She offers a bright 
smile, "Sure, I'd love to help. Just let me get this mess finished, then." 
With that she turns with fair speed to finish off the tuber peeling.

R'val slides into a seat and grins at Aleta amiably.

Ashli pauses, eyeing Kassima skeptically with the green firelizard poised 
over her satchel. "Aye, and now you're going to tell me riders are chronic 
broke, aren't you? Make it three eighths and done."

Kelset walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Saennya relaxes visibly, shoulders going back down from the defensive pose 
as Aleta offers aid. "Thank you ever so much, erm, well... " She pauses at 
the realization she still knows so few here. "I'm Saennya," she finishes 
lamely.

"*This* rider is. Too many Turnday gifts... but," Kassi says, with an 
exaggerated sigh, "all right. Three eighths for the green one, for all 
that the price is exhorbitant beyond belief." She fishes three worn mark 
pieces from her pouch, and proffers them with a wince. With her other 
hand, she waves a greeting to Kelset.

Ashli nods crisply and leans to hand over the 'lizard, accepting the mark 
bits with the other. "If you don't mind me asking, rider, who's it for?"

"Weren't you just introducing yourself the other day while I was in here, 
Saennya?" Kelt remarks with a small, amused smile playing about on his 
expression. "Good evening, Saennya, Kassima, R'val, and the rest of you." 
He pursues a leisurely course towards Kassima and Aleta, curious, the 
serving tables attracting a glance, but not sufficient interest to detour 
his course.

Tinya waves a hand casually over at R'val, and then suddenly narrows her 
eyes at Saennya and her basket. "That had better not be _my_..." she 
begins, but then breaks off shaking her head. "Ah, no, where's my head, I 
collected mine this morning." Since it's someone _else's_ white shirts 
being ruined, it goes in the category of 'interesting', and she gets up 
and wanders back over to the fireside. "Awww, cute little things," she 
says.

Kassima accepts the fire-lizard toy, and rests the hand it's not occupied 
by on her abdomen. "The spawnling-to-be," she proclaims, with a smile. 
"Since m'first daughter has one, I think m'second child should have one 
too."

Saennya goes a little red in the cheek yet again as she answers, "Well, 
I've yet t' meet _everyone_, don't I just have some left?" And it is a mix 
of shirts, but Faranth knows Sae will be up until all hours cleaning these 
until all but a hint is gone.

Aleta flashes a few quick grins all around, then collects her work and 
ferries it off to the kitchen, pausing long enough on her return to wipe 
her hands clean on a handy apron before making her way toward Saennya, 
crouching down next to the basket as she glances up at the woman, "I'm 
Aleta, by the way. How many are there, then?" She picks up the cloth 
covering with twi fingers, peering in. A pleased smile if quick to follow.

Kelset, slipping casually into a seat, chuckles softly, remarking, "You'd 
better make sure you're spawnling-already doesn't get the idea that it's 
meant for her, or your newest'll never see wing nor tail of it."

Ashli brightens and nods. "I had one when I was a little. So did my 
brother." She plucks the blue from her bag again and tucks it in her lap, 
fussing with its wings to get them just so. "Hoping for a boy or girl?"

Saennya tries to count again, but the biggest and most active of the bunch 
keeps wriggling about and making the act difficult. She says, "I _think_ 
there are five. I'm nost sure, though."

Jessalyn walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Aleta hmms, nodding as she lifts the cloth a bit further to take her own 
tally, "Yup. Five it is. Think there'll be more coming, then?" She 
chuckles, "Cute little things."

"Oh, Kaylira has her own," Kassi assures the Weyrharper with a grin. "Her 
brown Dagonth, a gift from Mart. She just loves it--carries it everywhere, 
in fact. I doubt she'd give him up for another, but I'll hide this one 
just in case." She stifles a laugh as several of her blues peer curiously 
at the stuffed green, chirpling a query. "Nay, you silly things, she's nay 
alive. I'truth, gender matters nay t'me; I've a daughter already, and the 
father is nigh convinced 'twill be a lad, but I'd hardly mind another 
bonny lassling. So long as the child's unique, I'll be content." Read: 
she'll only be happy if her spawn is looney tunes.

Saennya shakes her head no, gulping. "I hope not! I'd best be lookin' 
after the mother, though, and seein' if I can find her. Will you look 
after them for the moment, please?" She looks at Aleta hopefully.

Elensh polishes off her meal, glancing at the new arrivals each in turn. 
Leaning back on her hands, she stares up at Kassi, latching on to the 
conversation about her upcoming child and avoiding the meeting with the 
green dragon. "What about what Kaylira wants? Maybe she doesn't want a 
brother...maybe she wants a sister."

Ashli smiles. "Unique's good," she agrees, tipping her stuffed blue's head 
up a little and polishing the button eyes with her thumb. Tassi chirrups, 
but is well used to the little things, so only scrambles down into her 
owner's lap to beg caresses of her own.

Kelset, tapping several fingers silently upon the surface of the table, 
unconciously forming drum measures long-since ingrained deeper than 
memorization, listens to Kassima with an amiable, one-sided grin. "The 
precaution may well be needed; two dragons are, after all, much better 
than one." He laughs quietly, tossing his shoulders slightly and sending a 
brief grin to Elensh. "What Kaylira wants will hardly decide the outcome, 
I'm afraid... Neither Kassima nor her daughter, nor the child's father's 
preferences will decide the gender." After the sober speech, his 
expression having shifted to one more appropriately somber, a grin flashes 
across his lips as he adds, facetiously, "Naturally, the /Weyrharper/ 
decides things like that."

Telgar Weyr> R'val reels from Kelset's pose. ;)

Jessalyn walks towards the inner cavern.

Telgar Weyr> Kelset says, "Faranth made me do it!"

Telgar Weyr> Ashli says, "He and Kassi together..."

"Kaylira's only a few months into her second Turn," Kassi explains, 
tinkering with the wings of the rather adorable toy. "I doubt 'twould 
matter much to her what 'twill be. She has a brother already--T'lar has a 
child by Meli, his weyrmate, who's called Tamlin; I suppose it might be 
nice if'n she had a sister, too." Kelt's declaration is met with raised 
eyebrows and a snort of amusement. "Really, now? Well, then, Kelt... 
what'll it be?"

Kassima confides to Ashli, "I think the spawn's chances of being unique 
are fairly good. You wouldn't believe the things that have happened since 
I discovered I was expecting. And given its parentage, well... I think any 
chance of sanity in this one is too remote to even be considered."

Saennya darts down to the lower caverns to look for the guilty mother of 
the pups.

Saennya walks towards the inner cavern.

Kelset's fingers cease their drumming as he lifts his hand to his chin, 
pursing his lips thoughtfully. "You see, Kassima, I haven't quite decided 
yet," he explains, adopting the tone of a Master patiently explaining 
something to a slow Apprentice. "After the child is born, I'd be more than 
happy to let you know what I decide. But why would I want to ruin the 
surprise for you?" He spreads his hands apart at this last question, as if 
the very idea were preposterous. "No, I'm afraid," he continues, leaning 
back once more, "I couldn't possibly /tell/ you."

Elensh blinks in time at Kelset, taking a moment in silent thought. "The 
Weyrharper? Why?" Shrugging, she yawns and rolls her gaze to Kassi. "It 
might make a lot of difference to her in a few years."

Ashli says rather dryly, "I can only agree, rider. Tassi, stop that. 
You'll ruin it." She shoos the gold away from trying to nip at the stuffed 
blue's tail. "Little beast."

Elensh pounces on the trail of Kelset's speech. "You could tell me," she 
points out, rocking forward with attentiveness. "I can keep a secret."

Aleta hefts the basket carefully, making her way through the chaos toward 
the hearth, where she deposits it under a convenient table, leaving the 
cloth half covering the top. "That should serve for now. Sae'll check your 
mother, than and you'll be warm," she murmurs to the pups before 
reclaiming her seat.

Kassima quirks an eyebrow at Ashli, curious. "You've met Jh'rin, then? Oh, 
Kelt, c'mon--be reasonable! 'Twould help ever so much in procuring clothes 
and name possibilities and whatnay... would you take some wine as a 
bribe?" She gives the Weyrharper the puppy-dog eyes, a trick she learned 
from a friend long, long ago. Elensh's observation is met with a shrug and 
a half-grin from Kassi. "Aye, it might," she agrees. "But even if'n I knew 
what she wanted, there's little I could do about it, I'm afraid."

Kelset chuckles softly, his smile lifting into a grin as he turns his 
emerald gaze towards Elensh. "It's one of the Weyrharper's many, many 
duties, I'm afraid. And--I am quite sorry--but I simply couldn't do that. 
A violation of codes and restrictions, you see," he explains, bobbing his 
chin with each point, now adopting the manner of a rather pompous Master, 
attempting to inflate his self-importance.

Ashli shakes her head, tucking the blue back into safety in her satchel. 
"Didn't even know who the father is, miss." No, but the mother is plenty 
unique in her own right.

"Reasonable, Kassima?" Kelset asks, letting the facade fall away from him 
like the fog at dawn, his new visage one of perplexity. "What on Pern does 
being reasonable have to do with me? Or this whole business?"

Elensh screws her face into a petulant frown, nose sticking a bit higher 
in the air. "Hmph. I don't think you know at all." Satisfied with her de-
masking of the Weyrharper, she swivels on the floor to face Kassi 
directly, no longer bothering with Kelset. "There should be something you
can do. Healers would know. They know everything." A pointed jab is made; 
"More than Harpers."

Aleta scootches down in her seat, dropping one hand under the table to 
settle on the rim of the basket, then flashes a few apologetic smiles and 
closes her eyes, looking much like she's going to attempt a nap.

Kassima ahhhs and nods sagely. "Jhor's known throughout Pern for being 
quite unique in his own right," she explains, though she doesn't go into 
how the greenrider is said to dress himself up as a woman and believe that 
he's pregnant when his dragon is glowing. "All right, Kelt, all right! 
I'll admit that you're entirely unreasonable! Are you happy now?" 
Wrinkling her nose at the Harper, she shakes her head morosely at Elensh. 
"I think nay, lass. I've spoken to several Healers, and none of 'em have 
ever had suggestions for me on that score."

Elensh remains stubborn. "I bet there's a way. Just nobody ever tried hard 
enough to find it."

Ro walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Ro flashes Kassi a warm smile as she catches a glimpse of the greenrider 
out of the corner of her eye.

Kelset dissolves into laughter, the tenor tones of his merriment lifting 
like freed wherries to the cieling of the cavern. "You may be treading on 
dangerous water, young one. Harper Masters are also notoriously grumpy, 
and I'm no less so. Why, just yesterday I had that young Smithcraft 
apprentice tossed from the Weyr, and just for bringing me cold cider! You 
remember that, I'm sure, Kassima?" He turns towards Kassima beseechingly, 
his expression perfectly plaintive, the only indication of his continued 
jest the sparkling in the emerald depths of his eyes.

Telgar Weyr> Kelset says, "It's entirely possible that Kelset may be 
taking a slight more wine than he needs with his breakfasting these 
days."

Kassima smiles back to Ro, waving her stuffed 'lizard-free hand to the 
girl. "Evening, Ro! Well, Elensh--if'n there were such a thing, which 
d'you think I should choose?" Quirking up an eyebrow, she hides a grin and 
decides to nod affirmatiely to the Weyrharper. "How could I forget? The 
poor lad... I hope he didn't freeze out there. 'Twould be a terrible way 
t'be going."

Elensh turns back to Kelset, trying out the puppy eyes she saw just 
recently from Kassi. "You wouldn't throw out a defenseless little girl?" 
Blinking at him from beneath her matted curtain of hair, excess wetness 
begins to build up and threatens to well over. "A girl," she answers 
Kassima, without taking her saddened gaze off the Weyrharper. "Girls are 
better."

Kassima confides in a stage-whisper to Elensh, "Personally, I agree with 
you. But Jh'rin does have three sons already, which doesn't bode too well. 
I guess 'twill see in three months' time, eh?"

Ro heads over to get herself a mug of cider. As she is pouring, she 
directs a question to Kassima "Would you like something to drink, Kassi?"

Ashli crumbles bits of bread for Tassi -- anything's better than nothing, 
after all -- and listens idly to the various conversations. "You could 
have firelizards," she chips in. "Everybody likes firelizards, and they 
don't scream and make messes for nearly as long."

"Yes, it certainly would be," Kelt agrees, shaking his head somberly. "At 
least he'll realize what it's like to be brought cold cider, however!" he 
says, indignation filling his tone. "Defenseless, pah!" he exclaims, his 
trained voice effortlessly adapting to the various guises Kelset assumes. 
"And I just might. However..." Here he lets the faintest hint of a grin 
destroy the credibility of his manner, "If you brought some cider, it 
might certainly endear you to me." He pauses before continuing. "...And, 
actually, girls are far better. Better behaved, generally, but more 
devious when they're not."

"Been there, done that--sixty times, in fact," Kassima quips drolly. "Let 
it simply be said that I've ceased regretting that forty and two of them 
have gone wild... and what's wrong with devious, Kelt?" she asks the 
Weyrharper with a wink.

Kelset readjusts his position, chuckling softly to himself, commenting 
aside to Ashli, "True, but how proud can you be of a firelizard when it 
groes up?"

"I guess so," Elensh whispers back, her eyes still firmly locked with 
Kelset's. Taking a minute to decide she rises, drawing her spine straight 
with a mustering of all the dignity she possesses. "I'll get you some 
cider, but not because you threatened me. I really don't think you'd do 
it, anyway...you look like a softie. Just trying to act all big and mean. 
I'll get it for you because /I'm/ a nice person." Whirling away, she 
stalks towards the table laden with drinks.

Kassima winks at Kelt, trying her hardest not to laugh. "I think she's on 
to you, Weyrharper."

Ashli raises a brow. "Sixty? Shards and shells. I have enough trouble with 
just my four." She scoops Tassi onto her arm, curling the gold against her 
chest to run fingers down her neckridges. "Oh, proud enough. Proud 
enough."

Kassima confirms ruefully, "Sixty, aye. Three score. Twenty and seven of 
blue, twenty of green, two of brown--and a'course, Zabreneva. I was 
addicted to Hatchings for a very long time. However, since I didn't have 
time t'care for most of 'em personally...." She shrugs. "Forty and two 
stayed at Benden when I left."

Kelset simply lifts his eyebrows slightly, nodding agreeably to Elensh 
with a surpressed smile. He leans over the table slightly, whispering back 
to Kassima, "I do believe you're right, my dear rider. Am I truly that 
transparent?"

Thunder pokes his head out of Ro's jacket to see what all the commotion 
is. Having been awakened anyhow, he unleashes a loud, demanding creel at 
his pet.

"Really and truly," Kassi confirms in her own whisper. "As transparent as 
a Glasscraft Master's bottles."

Tassi chimes in with a warbling greeting-welcome-hello to Thunder, craning 
her neck to see over Ashli's shoulder.

Elensh returns, delivering a near-overflowing mug with affected 
carelessness. "Here." Unburdoning herself she returns to her assumed 
position near Kassi's feet; nearer and nearer with each repositioning. 
"Very transparent," she confirms with a half-smile. "You're not the only 
one who can pretend, you know."

Pierron puffs with pride as Ro gives him the chance to demonstrate his 
skill.

Pierron humphs and hunts around for a scrap for Ro to give a firelizard, 
finally coming up with a wriggling spiderclaw.

Thunder crawls up onto his pet's shoulder and briefly acknowledges Tassi 
before tearing into the spiderclaw with a loud *crunch*. It would seem 
that being subtle is not one of his strong points.

Kelset spreads his hands apart slightly, chuckling very softly, returns, 
the corners of his lips turned upwards with amusement, "Let us hope you 
speak of a very poor Glasscraft Master, if only for the sake of my esteem. 
And I had such faith in my acting ability!" He shakes his head once more 
with feigned despondancy. Accepting the mug from Elensh, he smiles 
amicably to her. "That I most certainly am not. Allow me to introduce 
myself to you, then, my fiery young girl. I am Kelset, Voicemaster of 
Harper Hall and Weyrharper of Telgar."

Ro tilts her head just so "Are you going to sing tonight, sir?"

Elensh affords Kelset a moment of her undevided attention as she matches 
name with face. "Oh. Hi," she replies, set on making him pay for that 
threat to her well-being, however flippant it was. Also determined not to 
be impressed, she toys with a bit of fraying string on her sleeve before 
reciprocating. "You may address me as Elensh." Haughtiness times two.

"Nay the only one at all," Kassi grins, nodding to the girl. "He needs to 
learn t'be a better actor, don't you think? Kelt, sometime I believe that 
I shall have to offer to trade you acting lessons for voice lessons; that 
way, we might both benefit."

Kelset folds his hands together for a moment, regarding the girl with 
equal solemninity. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Elensh," he replies, his 
tone quite formal. His manner is different, now: unassumed and naturally 
fitting. While the Harper Master is quite comfortable trading jests in the 
Cavern, he is also quite able to play his part in matters of higher 
import. "Now, will you be staying long enough at Telgar that you'll be 
attending classes?" He turns to Kassima briefly, a smile instantly in 
place once more as he replies, "I think, my dear rider, that I simply 
cannot pass up on that deal. The next possible chance, then. And an acting 
lesson first--I do believe I gave you a lesson last. It's your turn."

Elensh looks up, startled. Classes from /this/ man? "Mmmmm....I don't know 
yet. It depends." On what, she does not say, but continues picking at the 
frayed sleeve for lack of something better to focus on.

"You've a deal, then, Weyrharper," Kassi says, trying to bow gracefully to 
him but somewhat hampered by both her pregnancy and the fact that she's 
sitting in a chair. "Just say when, eh?"

Kelset lifts his eyebrows again, taking his first sip of cider, simply 
replying meaningfully, "It /is/ expected that children attend classes to 
learn the traditional ballads and so forth. Trader children no less." With 
that, the matter is dismissed, and his attention is returned to Kassima. 
"Most certainly! Tomorrow, if I can catch you, I think. We both seem to be 
up unreasonably late rather often."

Ashli's attention is caught at 'trader children,' and she glances over to 
Kelset, head tilted to one side.

Telgar Weyr> Kelset adds a comment to the knot (and Ashli) that the trader 
mention was an accident, as I mis-read Elensh's +pos.

Telgar Weyr> Ashli ahs, nevermind my pose, then. ;)

Elensh sniffs and gives the matter some thought. Expected. Elensh rarely 
does anything 'expected' of her. "If you say so, Harper."

Kassima nods to the Weyrharper. "Bargain struck--if'n something odd 
doesn't pop up again, that is. Hopefully, now that the thing with Mart and 
Nie is all settled, things will be moderately less than entirely bizarre 
for awhile."

Tinya unfolds suddenly from her chair, stretching, and announces to nobody 
in particular, "I'm off for a soak in the springs, if anyone cares to join 
me."

R'val grins, "Sounds good, Tinya.' He rises.

Kelset chuckles softly once again, finally electing to simply shake his 
head slightly, nod at Elensh soberly, and mutter something about being 
addressed as `Harper'. He places his attention upon Kassima, however, and 
grins. "I'm sure something odd will pop up--something always does. Let's 
just hope it won't be too severe."

R'val walks towards the inner cavern.

Tinya walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima shakes her head, tugging at a stray lock of her now dry and 
thoroughly tangled black hair. "I've had m'soak for the evening, Tinya; 
any more and I'll wind up with a boiled baby, if I listen to Garant."

Elensh presses her balled fist to her eye, rotating it in a satisfying 
rub. "Boiled baby...would that taste like wherry too?"

Aleta mms, stirring in her chair, bringing her arms up for a good stretch 
before pokking her head under the table for a peek at the basket. Hearing 
mention of boiled baby, she mrphs, adding, "Not puppies, though. They 
taste like tubers, I think."

Kelset lets one hand fall to the table while the other brings his cider 
mug to his lips, his fingers once again drumming out intricate rythyms to 
the unconcious workings of his mind. "I imagine so, Elensh. More 
economical, however, given the ammount of births in a Weyr, I'd think."

"Actually, I'd heard that they tasted more like little chickens," Kassima 
muses. "I don't know whether boiled baby would taste like wherry. Mayhaps 
'twould taste like infant wherry." To Kelset, she explains matter-of-
factly, "We were discussing what Pierron would taste like as a dinner dish 
earlier, and whether Kindre really made Tria sandwiches and that's why 
I've nay seen her for awhile."

Elensh removes her fist and peers at Aleta, one-eyed. "You've eaten 
puppies before?" Fascinated, she leans closer with morbid curiousity. "Did 
you name them first? Because that's murder...if you name something before 
you eat it. Even if it's a tuber." Nodding solemnly, she glances at the 
others around, making sure her point of murder hits home.

"'Tis?" Kassi murmurs, affecting distress. "Oh, shells. Nay wonder old 
Fritz disagreed with my digestion."

Aleta turns long enough to rolll her eyes and stifle a giggle, then turns 
back to regard Elensh with pure innocence, "Oh no. I wouldn't do that. I 
never name the puppies I plan to eat." She blinks once, then smiles 
toothily and waggles her eyebrows.

Elensh relaxes visibly, craning her neck to examine the ceiling. "That's 
okay, then. As long as you don't name them first."

Ashli mumbles, "I'd rather have wherry," with a nose-crinkled glance after 
the puppy basket. She levers herself out of her chair with a sigh, dumping 
the protesting Tassi onto her pack before heading for the food tables.

Aleta tsks, eyeing the basketful of pups under the table, "I should've had 
Sae name these little ones first. I do get a touch snackish come the 
middle of the night..." Her face is the picture of innocence at this 
point.

Kassima nudges Kelt lightly and asks, "I don't suppose you know any songs 
about what puppies or people taste like, d'you?"

Kelset forms an `O' with his lips as a reaction to Kassima's explanation, 
nodding sagely. "I see," he adds, making sure that his first point wasn't 
missed. "So how is it," he says, once again whispering to Kassima, in 
affected consternation, "That she sees right through my guise, yet 
believes the rather unconvincing woman over there?" He winks once, 
briefly, to Aleta, grinning very briefly.

"Aleta is *convincing*," Kassi points out simply. "'Tis more believable 
that she'd eat puppies than that you'd toss younglings out of the Weyr 
t'freeze t'death in the snow."

Aleta bats her lashes at Kelset, looking for all the world as though she 
ought to be convincing...really. No, honest.

Elensh returns from her perusal of the ceiling to nod in agreement with 
Kassi. "She looks more like someone who'd eat puppies than you look like a 
person who'd throw children out in the cold to die," she expounds. "And 
besides, she doesn't name them first. I have a name."

Kelset lets a laugh escape his lips as his eyes dart from Elensh to Aleta. 
"Now, is that more a compliment to her acting ability or an insult to her 
looks?" he asks with a wink. "And, Kassima, I do happen to have a song 
rather on the subject."

Aleta purses her lips, turning to eye the puppies, with a more than 
curious look on her face. Apparently she's still trying to decide whether 
that's a good thing or a bad thing. With a shrug, she gives up and 
proceeds to quietly give the pups a few temporary names, "Just until Sae 
gets to it, of course," she flashes a quick smile, "Can't risk a midnight 
snack on these darlings."

"Nothing wrong with eating puppies," Elensh shrugs. "As long as you don't 
name them first."

Elensh adds, "You have to be really really hungry, though."

"What's wrong with looking as though you'd eat puppies?" Kassi inquires 
curiously. "I'm told that I look like someone who'd eat wherries alive all 
the time... oh, d'you now! Well, then, may we hear it?"

Kelset turns his eyes toward the ceiling, adopts a serene look, then hums 
a note briefly. "Ahem," he says, then begins, in a light, sing-songmanner, 
his notes flitting about the scale,

        "Puppies and people would really be cheaper
        than wherry or herdbeast for lunch.
        Though you still must de-bone them or
        really beware of the occasional mid-bite crunch.
        After skinnin' and roastin' and everything else,
        With removal, of course, of the eyes,
        I'd think that without much convincin',
        That I'd eat a people pie."


Kassima listens with enthusiasm to Kelt's song, even looking... hungry... 
by the end of it. Those pregnancy cravings of hers are really starting to 
get out of hand. "I *like* that one!" she approves, applauding.

Elensh's eyes go wide with uninhibited awe at the Harper. "You just made 
that up," she accuses, fighting not to let the amazement show. "Just made 
it up right here and now, didn't you?"

Kelset sends a grin towards Kassima with barely concealed pleasure before 
turning towards Elensh, expression a mix of curiousity and innocence. 
"What makes you think that?" he asks, voice gently soft.

Kassima whispers, "Transparent as a pane of glass!" to Kelt. Discreetly, 
of course.

Ro scrutinizes Kelset, apparently taking Kassi a little too literally.

Ashli keeps up a low mumbling from the tables, talking to her firelizards 
by the sound of it. "Wherry, Leo? No, Star, don't touch that. Ouch, Tass, 
I /said/ I'd bring you some."

Kelset's grin lifts at Kassima's words, but he steadfastedly ignores her 
(a rather difficult task under the most ideal conditions), watching, 
instead, Elensh.

Elensh affects an air of exasperation, her patience being tested sorely by 
the Harper. "Who else has talked about this before? Nobody. And even if 
anyone had, and there could possibly have been a Harper around to write a 
song about it, it wouldn't have gotten passed down from Harper to Harper. 
It's not important enough, eating puppies and children. It doesn't teach 
anything. And that's what Harpers are supposed to do." Eyes lock as she 
pries confirmation. "Right?"

Aleta casts a quick glance about, the pokes her head under the table 
again, one hand reaching into the basket. Cooing softly to them, she takes 
the moment to stroke the drying fur lightly, a tender smile on her face. 
Almost inaudibly, she murmurs to them, "No no, I could never eat you. Too 
cute."

"Oh, I don't know," Kassi murmurs thoughtfully. "If'n you were starving, 
eating puppies and children might--" She breaks off as the baby, perhaps 
because it senses what she was about to say or perhaps just through total 
coincidence, gives a particularly sharp kick. "All right, all right. Just 
eating *puppies* could be important. Satisfied, evil-spawn?"

"How about wherry and meatrolls?" Ashli tosses her head to clear drifting 
hair from her eyes, a plate in hand. "It's sure to be better than puppies, 
rider." Her eyes are sparkling -- something just might be up.

Kelset returns the girl's unabashedly intense gaze with silence for a 
moment, simply regarding her with his own emerald eyes, amusement, 
curiosity, and even respect evident in them. "Very true, Elensh. And, yes, 
I did make that up right `here-and-now'. It's a hobby of mine--ask 
Kassima. Actually, she gave me quite a run for my mark at the old Benden 
Spring Games a while back in direct impromptu conversation. And, please, 
don't regard this as the extend of my capabilities with verse," he says, 
looking up and extending the comment to Aleta and Ashli in particular. 
"Catch me someday with a request and I'll play you something I've actually 
had time to work on."

Kassima peers at the plate, considering. "How d'you know those," she 
points to the meatrolls, "aren't actually made from puppies?" She snorts 
with laughter at Kelt, shaking her head. "Hardly, Harper! Fuchsia spleens 
aren't enough t'give Masters runs for their money."

Ashli plucks something off the table and drops it on the plate along with 
the meatrolls. "Haven't a clue, miss," she says cheerily, "but they taste 
plenty good, and at least they're already butchered." She adds a pair of 
cooked fingerroots and offers the plate to Kassima. "For the kid."

Elensh tilts her head. "I thought it was rather good, for being thought up 
so sudden. I couldn't think of something that fast." Deep brown eyes gaze 
intently at Kassi, re-assessing the rider. "You make up songs too?" -- 
"Don't name them," she warns Ashli.

Ashli blinks innocently at Elensh. "Oh, but it's too late for that. That's 
One," she points, "Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Runt."

Elensh's eyes go wide with horror. "You can't eat them, now...it'd be 
murder."

"Kassi, if'n you please," Kassima corrects with a grin, accepting the 
plate with a nod of gratitude. "Would it bother you if'n I added a few 
things to this? Just a few toppings and whatnay... naught fancy." She 
answers Elensh's query with an affirmative nod. "Indeed I do, though my 
only real talent lies in writing parodies of already-existing songs... 
Ashli, did you just name the puppies, or these meatrolls?"

Aleta chuckles, popping back up from under the table and flashes Elensh a 
grin, "Wouldn't dream of it, dearie. Now, did you say you had a name or 
not.." she arches an eyebrow, licking her ..ah..chops, as it were."

Kelset laughs pleasantly, tossing his shoulders affably. "Actually, I 
thought spleens were rather in character for the color fuschia. I was 
impressed, and the judges were quite clear about what a close choice they 
had to make." He smiles once more at Elensh, his expression once again 
reflecting a mix of curiosity and respect--coupled, perhaps, with a fair 
ammount of uncertainty--in regards to the child.

Ashli gives Kassima a look that suggests she's just readjusted her opinion 
of the rider's mental health. "The puppies. I could name the meatrolls 
too, if you wanted."

Kassima grins at Kelt and offers, "I'll show you a wherry spleen sometime, 
so that you can judge... ah, nay, Ashli. I just wanted t'be certain 
'twould nay be murdering them." Reaching over to procure a few things from 
the abandoned plates of her fellow riders, she proceeds to happily load 
the meatrolls with apple butter, melted cheese, a few raisins, and some 
cold tomato sauce.

Elensh tosses her head and sniffs regally. "I have a name," she announces 
to Ashli, thoroughly inspecting a fingernail before answering further. 
"Did you want to know it?"

Ashli sets one foot up on a chair and crosses her arms on the knee to 
smile brightly at Elensh. "I'd be absolutely delighted to know it."

Kelset laughs softly, shaking his head before sipping slowly from his 
cider mug. "I'm afraid I must decline, Kassima, as I've already seen 
several spleens in my lifetime. I did grow up in Keroon, actually. Though 
I'm not sure if chicken spleens are precisely the same shade of fuchia as 
is a wherry's."

Aleta hmms, tapping one fingernail against her teeth as she regards 
Elensh with a toothy grin, "Not sure yet. Give me a few minutes to see 
what Pierron's got on the table and I'll let you know.."

Elensh shoots a glare at Aleta, retorting with the full lash of her young
tongue. "I was not addressing /you/." A moment longer Aleta basks in that 
frigid gaze before it warms and turns back to Ashli. "I am Elensh."

Ashli unwinds one arm to offer the hand, palm up, to Elensh. "And I'm 
Ashli, of the clan Chakagur. It's an honor beyond words to make your 
acquaintance."

Kassima sighs regretfully, and shakes her head. "'Tis so hard t'find 
anyone who appreciates decent spleens anymore." She picks up one of her 
goop-besmeared meatrolls and takes a hearty bite, looking to enjoy it 
immensely.

Aleta flashes a grin, unaffected apparently, but does head over to Pierron 
in search of a more regular snack. She chuckles quietly, carting it back 
to the table with a quick check on the pups before she settles in for a 
good munch.

Elensh rises, wounding her pride slightly as she wobbles in the ascent, 
but balance is quickly regained and she drifts towards Ashli, barely 
touching fingertips to the palm of her hand. "And a pleasure to make known 
your name and person. You will always be remembered fondly," she replies 
in her rendition of a grand speech.

Ashli's eyes are dancing, but her expression stays politely solemn. 
"Indeed. It's an honor you'd even deign to speak to me, isn't it? Just a 
rough old trader girl like me." Ironic, isn't it? And dry as a desert. 
"You live here?"

Kelset stares into the bottom of his mug as he finds himself with an empty 
vessel rather than a full glass. "Well," he says, heaving a sigh formed of 
reluctance. "I'm going to try to fit in a bit of sleep before the sun 
decides to rise again, I'm afraid."

"Wimp," Kassi accuses, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Clear skies, Kelt, and 
fair dreams. 'Twill see you on the morrow for those lessons. Try nay 
t'think about eating puppies too much ere you drop off, eh? 'Twill be 
giving you nightmares."

Elensh pulls her hand away, eyeing Ashli with a hint more suspicion than 
before. "I might. Live here, that is. And not /so/ much an honor." Turning 
with her back to the trader, she continues talking as she resumes her 
seat. "We're not so different. No one is very different from anyone 
else."

Kassima asks of Elensh, with interest, "Do you know many men who willingly 
don dresses and earrings, and declare themselves to be pregnant?" Hmmm. 
Maybe Jh'rin *isn't* so unique, after all... nahhhhhh.

Ashli nods with a hint more /approval/ than before, resuming her foot-up, 
crossed-arms pose as she watches Elensh curiously. "Quite so. Do you 
really believe that, or did someone tell you?" There's nothing in her tone 
to suggest it's not an honest question.

Aleta manages a more delicate rendition of eating this time, nibbling at 
the crust of a small bubbly, "Didn't remember Pierron'd brought these out 
earlier," she murmurs to herself.

Kelset shakes his head for a moment, shrugging his shoulders hopelessly. 
"I won't leave you with any advice, Kassima, as it's quite obvious you are 
beyond hope," he begins, his own mirth equally obvious. "However, as for 
the two of you," he says, turning now to Ashli and Elensh, "You both seem 
quite caught up in yourselves." Allowing a warm, if weary, grin to lift 
his lips slightly, he bids--more sincerely--"Good evening to you, Ashli, 
and to you, Elensh. It's been fascinating meeting both of you." Leaving 
only amiable-intent obvious in the perhaps ambiguous farewell, he departs, 
singing softly under his breath as he disappears.

"Goodnight, Harper." Elensh settles back into her seat, taking a moment of 
ponderence before answering the questions set before her.

"Beyond hope of what?" Kassi asks, probably rhetorically since she doesn't 
seem to expect an answer. She settles for just waving after the Harper 
rather than calling back any further retorts.

Kelset walks towards the inner cavern.