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When Life Sucks Dead Green Eggs


Date:  July 21, 1998
Places:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern and Southern Bowl
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:  Kassi finds the most succinct way to sum up her daily
state of living while Lysseth is glowing yet; unfortunately, it doesn't
seem to be an expression that's apt to grow on Richenda, despite the
fact that it seems catchy among other people in the Living Cavern one
day when ProddyKassi invades.  Things prefixed by Lysseth> in this log
take place in the Southern Bowl, while things prefixed by <*> take place
away from Lysseth while I was riding her.  A few bits and pieces of 
knot-chat have been left in place for your reading enjoyment.

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The Log:

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

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Her cane making a clickity-clack on the stones as she enters, Richenda 
stares purposefully at Pierron and tells him, "Don't start," while 
crossing toward her beloved klah.

Saskia finishes chewing and looks at Ro and K'tyn in utter bewilderment.

Rennick looks at Sakia and nods. "You must be deaf," he says, then looks 
back at K'tyn, his patience worn past the point of frayed and now is 
unravelling altogether. "You may be Weyrleader, but you obviously don't 
have an idea of how a Weyr is run. Harvest may not be for a few days yet, 
but the preparations take several sevendays. Saskia needs to be there to 
help with those preparations."

Lark peers out from behind Karn to wave to Richenda then hides again 
because she isn't to fond of Rennick

K'tyn takes several studied, measured bites from the plate of food before 
him; swallowing rapidly to offer greetings to Richenda and then Kassima as 
they enter. "Heya."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Oh, I love that husband of mine."

Telgar Weyr> Rennick grins.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "At least someone does..."

Lark says "hello Richenda Ma'am"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Not as often as I'd like."

Delina says "hello""

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

Kassima makes a rude one-handed gesture to Pierron by way of response, not 
looking to be in the... well, most *civil* of moods, to say the least. 
She's twirling what looks to be a crystal sphere of some kind in the 
other hand. Faranth only knows why. "Life sucks dead green eggs," she 
informs the room in general, perhaps as a form of greeting. She pays most 
of the room no heed as she tromps towards the nearest source of death-in-
a-pot; Kiat does of course get a salute sharp enough to shave with, 
though.

Saskia clears her throat, "Are you sure you mean me, sir, and not um 
well..." she furrows her brow, "Um Sandar. Except he's a dragonrider now. 
But I guess Saskia and Sandar sound similar."

Richenda peers at Lark and Delina both, answers, "Hello, dears," then raps 
her cane against a table. "Kassima. See here. Glowing dragons make not for 
rude riders." And hey, she's armed.

Rennick looks back over his shoulder and spots Richenda. "You shouldn't be 
out and about," he says to her, his voice oddly soft. "You're never going 
to get that leg healed." Having completely forgotten, it seems, Saskia's 
presence, he continues, "Would you please explain to K'tyn here that I 
need to have a dragon ready tomorrow morning to transport Saskia to Telgar 
Hold."

"I know enough, Rennick, to know that you need not bellow at one of my 
residents to get something done. Perhaps if you tried moderating your 
voice?" Or you manner? But that goes unsaid. "Lysseth is glowy, eh?" He 
directs noncommitally toward Kassima.

Saskia who looks as if she'd much rather be sucking green eggs than 
standing in front of Rennick, nods slightly to Kassima, then looks at 
Richenda. Her eyes become pleading, "He's confusing me with Sandar or 
something."

Kassima is armed, too; knives and riding crop currently hanging from her 
belt aside, she has a large mug of M'kla's finest in hand, and probably 
wouldn't be afraid to use it if she weren't so befuddled right now. "Rude? 
Who's being rude? Pointing out a fact, that's all I was doing. You could 
even say I was giving everyone a warning of sorts. Hardly rude." She dumps 
a generous amount of White Lightning into the mug, then swishes it around 
to mix. Yay, Spiked Klah of Death. "Very astute of you, sir," she agrees 
drolly with K'tyn.

Richenda takes a gander about the living cavern as if indecisive about 
what first to do. "I think K'tyn appreciates your needs, light of my 
days," she begins to Rennick. To Saskia she can do no more than smile in 
sympathy, and Kassime earns a sharpish glare.

Rennick looks at Saskia. "I am not confusing anybody at all," he says, 
with a glare at K'tyn. He pulls a knot from his pocket. "Your promoted. Or 
whatever it's called. Be at my office at dawn, we'll go over what you need 
to get done at the Hold." He tosses the knot on the table before Saskia. 
"And don't be late. Everything's on short schedule."

"Baska," Richenda murmurs to a passing drudge (thank Faranth there's 
always a passing drudge), "do bring me some wine, please. Now. Please."

Saskia eyes the entrance longingly then looks at Richenda as if she was 
her last best hope. The knot lands on the table in front of it and she 
stares down at it as if it were a creature that might bite her. "Dawn?"

"I'm thinking about getting some of that prepared raw fish," K'tyn offers 
to Kassima, raising his hands in a 'Don't get on my case' gesture toward 
Rennick. "And Saskia, if you've other duties that need tending, you need 
not jump to this taskmaster's call. Check with Richenda, hm?" This last is 
said pointedly to the headwoman and young female in question.

Richenda mutters to K'tyn, "For the love of Faranth and her many golden 
teats, K'tyn, don't get me between Rennick and his assistants."

Kassima matches Richenda glare for glare, the bloodshot state of her own 
eyes ensuring that her glare is suitably horrific. "Life *does* suck dead 
green eggs," she mutters sullenly around the rim of her klah-stein. She 
perks up, predictably, at the mention of raw meat. "With that weird green 
dip stuff?" she inquires, for once sounding interested instead of 
snappish.

Telgar Weyr> S'dar falls down laughing at Richenda.

Rennick nods slowly. "Dawn. If that's too early for you..." he trails off 
menacingly.

Telgar Weyr> N'ren doesn't seem to remember dragons ever having, um, 
teats. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Aurian blinks!

Saskia blinks at K'tyn, "Um yes sir." she says looking more and more 
bewildered by the minute. She straightens and looks at Rennick, "No, but 
um..." she trails off.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda laughs.

Rennick crosses his arms. "But what?"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda has referred to her golden ovaries and isn't sure 
those are gilded. :)

Richenda gives Kassima a *look* as her hand tightens about the cane. She 
seems to mean business.

Rennick adds suddenly to Saskia, "And don't um. That is probably the most 
annoying non-word every invented. And nobody'll take you seriously if you 
can't speak without 'umming' every other word. You're required to 
negotiate with self important Hold Stewards, and they'll pounce on any 
weakness you show."

Saskia clears her throat, "Well, sir are you sure you remember me? I'm 
Saskia. Er." she rubs the back of her neck, "Ex candidate. Um sorta dragon 
healer. Well kinda. Well be when Richenda gets better. I....er.. 
inventories. Um you write stuff down yeah. I can write. Um. Yeah. Write. 
Um. I guess I can write. Should I talk to Sandar?"

Delina looks at Saskia

Richenda ahems. It's a rather pointed sound and aimed with crack precision 
toward Rennick's ear.

"Yes, that grated vegetable dip," K'tyn agrees, nodding at Kassima. "I 
like that rather explosive experience of eating both at the same time with 
the salted liqueur on top." He takes another bite of wherry. "Dawn's too 
early for most folks. Especially young ones."

Rennick starts and looks at Richenda. "What?"

Telgar Weyr> N'ren says, "Richenda, wielder of the monofilament voice."

Richenda gives Rennick that 'be gentle, be patient' gesture....
...and no, it doesn't involve threatening with the cane.

Oh, that's a pity.

Saskia nods, "Er, yes sir." There's a long pause. "I have to negotiate so 
people will take me seriously." she repeats slowly and disbelievingly. 
Then she makes a horrible face. Perhaps it's her attempt to look serious.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn nearly chokes on my drink.:)

Business or no business, Kassi isn't in the practice of being cowed even 
when she's not proddy. "All right," she abruptly asks, "you've sparked 
m'curiousity, Headwoman. If'n I might inquire, what about life *isn't* as 
repugnant at the moment as a dragon's freshly hawked-up firestone ash?" 
Taking another gulp of her life-sustaining Black Ruin, she wrinkles her 
nose a bit at K'tyn. "Vegetables," she says disparagingly. "Still, it 
didn't really detract from the raw fish flavor... hah. Wish I could say 
dawn were too early for aught. I wish heartily at the moment that I could 
just sleep, period."

Telgar Weyr> Saskia loves Richenda's swear words!

Delina watches Rennick and Saskia and feels sorry for Saskia having such a 
hard time talking to Rennick

Rennick nods at Richend and looks back at Saskia. In a lower, but still 
gruff, voice, he says, "You can dragonhealer, but I'd like you to be in 
charge of Hold relations, Saskia. If you don't want it, I won't have 
Richenda assign you to cleaning up the herdbeast pen after mating flights, 
even I may really want her to. You want to be an assistant steward or 
not?"

"By Faranth's three golden daughters, Rennick--I--" K'tyn breaks off and 
starts to laugh at the non-choice being offered Saskia. Loudly.

Kassima decides that the safest move at the moment is to sit down, lay her 
head on the table, and cover it with her hands. "Everyone's gone mad but 
me," she can be heard to groan. "Great good golden Faranth's gizzard in a 
goblet."

Richenda gives Rennick a look of exasperation, then, sighing, hobbles 
toward her husband while telling Saskia, "I think you'll be a splendid 
assistant to Rennick, if that's what you want, my dear."

Rennick leans close to Richenda and whispers, loudly, "That was nicer, 
wasn't it?"

From the long silence that follows Rennick's ultimatum, Saskia may be 
consider her options quite seriously. Then she lets out a soft sigh, "I...
I....I'll try, Rennick. I was a terrible candidate supervisor, but..." she 
stops and stares at Richenda, "I will?"

Ro puts Kiat between herself and everyone else, as he seems to be the 
sanest person in the room.

Richenda nods, elbowing Rennick. "She will, which is why you're promoting 
her, right, Rennick?"

Laughing at the madness that is Telgar, K'tyn wipes his eyes and tries to 
calm down, but the solemn face that Saskia puts on sets him off again.

"What's this about supervising?" Rennick begins to demand, but his voice 
is cut off by a sharp jab to his ribs. He shoots a look at Richenda, 
rubbing his side, then looks back at Saskia. "Yes, that's right. Really." 
He doesn't even know what Richenda's really talking about.

"I am the sanest person in the room," Kassima continues to wail. "Why me? 
Why, why, why, why, why?" A few people unfortunate enough to be at the 
same table as the madwoman inch sloooowly away.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Rennick, you have padding there!"

Richenda's eyes narrow at Kassima as she mumbles, "Faranth preserve us 
from the proddy..."

Rennick looks over at Kassima and snorts. To Richenda he says, "Would 
somebody please drag the greenrider out of here by her hair. Isn't that 
what they like?"

Saskia breathes a sigh of relief, "Just inventory then. Okay." then frowns 
at K'tyn, "I can so do it. It's not that funny."

K'tyn shakes his head at Kassima. "Nay, lass. The sanest people are not in 
here, but out there." Chuckling still, he tries to finish what's left of 
his meal to horde a few pies."Rennick, please. Can't you see she's got 
reason? Or," he starts laughing again. "Then again, mayhap she does not."

Richenda *ahems* at K'tyn.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn giggles. Sorry, but I have this image in my head and it 
/is/ funny.:)

Rennick looks back at Saskia, hearing the words he was waiting for. 
"Good," he says. "Tomorrow morning. Dawn. We'll go over what you're 
supposed to do. Don't be late." He glances over at K'tyn and Kassima. "Her 
green's glowing. I know. I know. Still sharding annoying."

Jessalyn walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Kassima looks up, glares, and puts the hand not still toying with that 
glass sphere thingamawhatsits protectively over her very long and very 
disarrayed hair. "*This* greenrider certainly doesn't. See? I told you he 
was mad. You're mad, he's mad, everyone's mad. Everyone except me. 
Shouldn't this really be the other way around?" Gripe, gripe, gripe. 
"That's what I *said,* sir. You're all crazy, sir. Off your bloody rockers 
if'n I may be so bold, sir."

K'tyn pours some water and drinks it. "Sorry," he manages to choke out, 
relaxing a bit as the laughter leaves him. "I think I needed that, hm. 
What ho, Jessalyn? Back from Igen, are you?"

Rennick rolls his eyes at Kassima, then looks back at Saskia, obviously 
deciding the rest of the cavern is not worth his attention. "Well... 
firelizard got your tongue?"

Saskia nods to Rennick, and says softly, "Yes, sir." then frowns at K'tyn.
Jessalyn walks in, humming quietly to herself, empty-handed for once. She 
waves to those present, though Kassima gets a wary glance, and grins at 
K'tyn. "I've been back for awhile, just busy."

Delina nods towards Jessalyn

Telgar Weyr> Saskia says, "Ironically K'tyn's laughing has made Saskia 
decide that maybe she can do it, but she's still going to talk to S'dar."

Rennick nods again. "All right." With that, he looks at Richenda and says, 
"I've got to get out of here before another proddy greenrider comes in and 
they take off each other's heads." He turns and climps out.

Richenda, waving her arm, meets the drudge halfway with her wine and flops 
into a seat to drink disconsolately. She mutters to herself, "... all... 
golden daughters are... not... things... better... and foolish and 
frisky." 

Kassima continues to ramble on, directing her comments to the crystal, 
"They're all out t'get me. I know they are. A'fore I know it, they'll 
pack me up and ship me off t'*Fort*, of all the horrors. All because I'm 
nay crazy enough. They're all crazy. All, all, all...." Be sure never to 
drink more than one cup of M'kla's klah a sevenday, folks, or this could 
be you.

K'tyn winks at Saskia, still mightily amused at the procedings. "Ah, well, 
then. I am sure you'll be busier yet if that young Bronzerider comes up to 
scratch, hm?" Taking deep breaths, he tries to relax though fits of 
chuckling shake him every so often. "Aye, Kassi, whatever you say."

Saskia watches Rennick leave in a daze.

Rennick walks towards the inner cavern.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn says, "Climps out. (Clomp + Limp? :)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Y'know... 'climps' makes me think of trying to 
clomp in high heels. So now I'm picturing Rennick in high heels. *This* is 
the horror...."

Lark steps out from behind Karn

Saskia stares at K'tyn, and asks frostily, "Excuse me?"

Telgar Weyr> Rennick the 'i' is right next to the 'o'. :)

Richenda rests her head on the table beside her and closes her eyes.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn grins at Saskia, you know he was laughing at your 
expression, not in ridicule of your ability. :) well, you know that 
oocly.:)

Jessalyn weaves her way through the living cavern and sits down at 
Richenda's table.

Telgar Weyr> Rennick ahs. That was terrifying.

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn cheers! I did it. ;) woo hoo.:) :) Ah, Ren, you 
underestimate yourself.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda smooches Rennick. "Gotta love him."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Did it?"

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "He makes Glynna look like a pussycat."

Telgar Weyr> Saskia grins, "Rennick's great!"

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn -actually- rped, A'lex.:) Be proud of me.:)

Telgar Weyr> Rennick actually RP'ed. Be afraid. :)

Rei slips into Karn's arms and leans against him

Telgar Weyr> Richenda read that way weirdly, Kiat.

"Whatever I say? Whatever I say?" Kassi repeats, suddenly getting to her 
feet and pointing her riding crop up in the air in triumph. "In that case, 
I say that life *does* suck dead green eggs! There. I said it, and I'm 
glad." She steals a wary glance around the room as she eases back into her 
seat. One never knows when one may be knifed (or beaten to death with a 
cane) for such a statement.

Telgar Weyr> Asrai says, "Makes Glynna look like a pussycat...that's 
scary."

Telgar Weyr> Saskia smiles to Kiat, "Well yeah, but Saskia's all keyed up 
now. Wouldn't you be if the same thing happened to you."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Oh, wow! Congrats!"

Telgar Weyr> Ro gives the WL a congratulatory smooch.

Telgar Weyr> Rennick says, "By the way, congrats, Saskia."

K'tyn shakes his head. "I am so sorry, Saskia," He glances at Kassima and 
just starts laughing. Hair-trigger reflex, hm? "I was, Ahem, merely 
enjoying the predicament that you had there. It is not a comment on your 
ability," he manages to get out.

Telgar Weyr> Saskia smiles, "Thanks Rennick!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima was going to try to do Jareth from Labyrinth, but, 
y'know... this paranoia stuff has possibilities. ;)

Richenda opens one eye, smiles at Jessalyn, then closes her eye again.

Telgar Weyr> Saskia is mightly amused OOCly though someone ICly is going 
to pay. :)

Ro smiles "Congratulations Saskia....I think."

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn is just amused. :)

Lark is amazed at how easily Kassim went insane

Saskia folds her arms, "oh." then frowns, "Wait a minute. I just told him 
I could do it?" She mutters something under her breath that sounds like 
'life sucks green eggs'

K'tyn nods enthusiastically at Saskia, echoing Ro's comment. "Yes, 
Congratulations. I am sure," he grins, suddenly rising from the table. "I 
am sure that you'll do very well."

Kassima scowls blackly at this particular hair-trigger reflex of K'tyn's. 
"If'n giant bronze barns could glow," she tells her imaginary friend, the 
crystal, scathingly, "then *he* wouldn't be laughing now. Nay, he 
wouldn't. But we'll see who laughs last, won't we?" She starts to cackle, 
then ceases abruptly when realizing that all of her Wingmates are eyeing 
her strangely. "Well, laugh," she tells them irritably, receiving a few 
weak, forced chuckles in return. This seems to appease her. Strange woman, 
she is.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Lark clearly doesn't know Kassi if s/he thinks 
she's only just now gone insane. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima also giggles at Saskia's pose. :)

K'tyn leaves the Living Cavern, gales of laughter escaping him. 
"Rennick...Assistant," he mutters, the words floating back. "Proddy 
Kassima!"

K'tyn walks towards the inner cavern.

Saskia sighs, "I hope so. I really need to talk to Sandy. I have no idea 
why he picked me. I always tried to avoid him." she blurts out then 
blushes, "Um. Oh shardit." she straightens makes that horrible face again, 
"Yes, sir."

Richenda opens her eyes to watch K'tyn's departure, then curves her arm 
over her head and gives off the appearance of wanting the world to go 
away.

Jessalyn returns Richenda's smile, though weakly, since she's also 
catching part of Kassima's monologue. Maybe the world going away isn't 
such a bad idea.

"Where is your bronzerider beau?" Richenda asks Jessalyn, voice muffled by 
her arm.

Saskia sighs, "I think I need a nice long hot bath."

Kassima starts to make that rude gesture after Kiat, by reflex, but 
remembers just in time that he *is* the Weyrleader. So she turns it into a 
very odd-looking salute instead. "I'm sure," she says to herself once her 
irritation has subsided, "that I know a song about how much life sucks 
green eggs. What *was* it called...?"

Saskia gives Ro a weak smile, "wish me luck tomorrow?"

Jessalyn replies easily, "Probably at Igen. He probably won't be able to 
be here very much for the next little while."

Richenda glances upward, briefly. "Whyever is that?"

Lark walks over to Richenda,and with her big childish(she is 4 turns old) 
grin "how are you Ma'am"

Kassima suggests helpfully to Richenda, having been listening, "Because 
most men are scum?"

Ro nods "Much luck to you...I'm sure you'll need it. Want some wine too?"

Karn looks at Kassima"hey I resent that little remark

Jessalyn smiles, "Because they'll soon be riding Search." Kassima's 
comment makes her wince just a bit, but tries to ignore it.

Richenda answers Lark honestly, "I have a horrendous headache, child. How 
are you?"

Saskia shakes her head, "no thanks, Ro. The last thing I need is to show 
up at Rennick's office with a hangover. But I appreciate the thought."

Kassima's only reply to Karn is a highly droll, "Good for you. Thankee 
muchly for sharing that with me. I couldn't have continued t'live another 
minute if'n I hadn't known that fact."

Lark looks at Richenda"I am sorry to hear that, I am fine.

Saskia waves and wanders off muttering something about doing an inventory 
of how much life sucks green eggs.

Karn ignors Kassima and changes his attention to his Pregnaunt wife Rei
Saskia walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima yells after Saskia, "It currently sucks twenty-three thousand, 
five-hundred and eighty-four green eggs. I already counted!"

Karn mutters something like "Can someone shut her up"

Ro eyes Karn warily and disappears into the kitchen.

Ro walks off towards the kitchen.

Delina turns to Rei" It's good to hear that Lark and I will be aunts"

Richenda sits up, rubbing the back of her neck, and tells Jessalyn 
affectionately, "If he can't come here, why don't you go there?"

Kassima stands up, folds her arms, and tilts her chin upwards so that 
she's managing to look down her nose at Karn despite his greater height. 
"Look, laddybuck," she drawls, "*you* are a visitor here. *I* am a rider 
here. This is *my* place of residence at this time. Whatever Hold you come 
from may nay have taught you the polite manners when one is a guest at 
another's place of residence, but believe you me, 'twill be more than 
thrilled t'give you the lessoning you are in such sore need of if'n you 
provoke me. Now I will ask as politely as I can manage," given that she 
indubitably wants his head on a plate right now, judging by the look in 
her eyes, "that you either cease your complaints or leave, whichever suits 
your fancy." That said, she sits back down and proceeds to mutter epithets 
fit to turn the air blue under her breath.

Jessalyn blinks a few times, looking...well, shocked. "Well," she finally 
stammers after a moment to collect her thoughts, "I don't want to 
inconvenience the watchriders. And I remember your reaction the last time 
I came home..."

Richenda tries her best not to wince at Kassima while telling Jessalyn, 
"Well, better that than you being unhappy, daughter."

Rei looking at Richenda "ma'am Delina told me you were the one to talk to 
about residency, or am I wrong?"

Jessalyn has, no offense to Kassima intended of course, apparently decided 
that just ignoring the greenrider is the best idea at the moment. "I...are 
you sure?"

Rei says "I would do any job in the Weyr and so would Karn."

Richenda nods both to Jessalyn and to Rei, though her fingers have begun 
rubbing her temples: a sure sign of a headache.

Lark looking at Rei"how long have you guys been looking for the right weyr 
or hold?

Delina looks at Richenda with concern"Ma'am are you ok?"

Lark watches Richenda

Jessalyn watches Richenda with no little concern and, finally, sighs a 
bit. Changing the subject, she asks, "Can I get you something, maybe?"

Kassima makes a horrid face at the very thought of that rude man living 
here, and starts to massage her own temples with her fingers and that 
crystal ball respectively. "Life," she proclaims, for those who may be 
interested, "is like fresh snow over a manure pile. It looks pretty and 
white on the outside, but if'n you look beneath the surface...."

Rei kisses Karn on the cheek

Richenda shakes her head as she rises, telling Rei and the other 
visitors, "I realize Kassima's a bit offish now because her green is 
proddy, but she is one of our Wingleaders, and I'd like to see some 
respect from visitors. Jessalyn, my dear, don't frown so. It's just a 
headache."

N'ren walks in from the bowl.

N'ren enters, a set of riding straps slung over his shoulder.

Jessalyn watches Richenda for another long moment, and nods. "Alright, as 
long as you're sure."

Kassima actually shoots Richenda a look of gratitude. "Thankee, 
Headwoman," she murmurs. She's not, after all, the sort who'd normally 
enjoy snapping at strangers. "M'apologies for saying 'twere mad earlier."

Delina before Karn can say anything Delina says "Sorry Ma'am he gets like 
that but no one can blame him he wasn't disrespecting her he was just 
speaking his mind" turning to Kassima"If you knew Karn you wouldn't call 
him rude, and I don't mean this statement as disrespectful"

Richenda takes Jessalyn's and embraces her, a trifle awkward thanks to the 
headwoman's bum leg. She mutters to Jessalyn, "All... want... for N'var... 
treat... well, because if... I'll... kick... all... desert,..." 

Delina noticeing N'ren"oh hello"

N'ren asks, "Someone disrespecting someone?" He blinks at Delina, "Eh. 
Hello."

Ro walks in from the kitchen.

Kassima informs Delina flatly, "Any outsider, especially of lesser rank, 
who insinuates that I should shut up in m'own home falls under 
m'definition of the word 'rude', I fear. And I somehow get the feeling 
that many other people would agree with me on this one."

Delina shakes her head "no just my brother speaking his mind,and getting 
blamed by a rider as disrespectful"

Richenda mumbles, "My head is going to explode tonight, of that I am quite 
certain."

Ro walks out with a plate of chilled fish wrapped in kelp, and some kind 
of dip or spread in a bowl. This she sets before Kassima.

Jessalyn returns Richenda's hug and muffles a giggle. She mutters to 
Richenda, "... promise you.... with... I'll... the same." 

N'ren's eyebrows jump even higher, "Someone else told you to shut up, 
Kassima?"

Ro eyes Delina coldly, but says nothing.

Richenda gives Jessalyn a tightish embrace, kissing her cheek while 
whispering, "Don't forget I love you, daughter," before removing herself 
from the hug. "I am going to find a wineskin, my husband, and bed. To 
sleep. I must be feeling ill."

Jessalyn smiles at Richenda, nodding. "Just let me know if you need me for 
anything, okay?"

N'var walks in from the bowl.

"I shall." Richenda nudges Jessalyn toward the bowl. "Look, dreams and 
wishes do come true. Good night, all."

Kassima blinks at the sight of the fish, and actually--gasp!--smiles. "Ro, 
thankee. I didn't get a chance t'fish after m'tunnelsnake-hunting today, 
and Ofira's apprentices seem t'have forgotten the red meat again." Looking 
up, she jerks her thumb towards Karn. "Asked if'n someone couldn't make me 
shut up, rather, which is very nearly worse. And as you can see, this 
other woman is accusing me of overstating the matter. I maintain that this 
is classifiable as rude, proddy or nay proddy."

N'var tucks his gloves away absently and brushes the hair out of his face, 
looking about.

Richenda walks towards the inner cavern.

N'ren glances towards Delina and Karn. "And who are these people? 
Residents?"

Delina says "future resident only a few things need be done then me and my 
sister are residents."

Jessalyn's face lights up as she catches sight of N'var. She turns, 
though, to watch Richenda leave before she bounces up out of her chair and 
walks up to the visiting bronzerider.

Kassima shakes her head vehemently. "Nay, thanks be t'Faranth. Visitors. 
Guests who seem, if'n I might be so blunt, or even if'n I mightn't, t'lack 
manners." She spears a piece of the fish on knife-point and glares at it 
as though wishing the hapless thing were one of the two people in 
question.

N'ren glares at Delina, "I suspect that telling a Wingleader to shut up 
and telling her she's overreacting... I suspect you need more than a few 
things before you become residents. In fact, I might suggest that, since 
the Headwoman saw that, you might be better off quitting the Weyr and 
moving on to a nearby Hold or the like."

Ro smiles at Kassi "I hoped you might like it. I made that pesto spread of 
mine because I don't know how to make the dip you like. She notices the 
Igen rider enter and nods to him "Telgar's duties to Igen and her queens, 
sir."

Mehlani walks in from the bowl.

Lark like most little kids is not a nice person to those who miss treat 
her family. glares at Kassima "well if she didn't go insane while Rennick 
was in here"then seeing Delina glare at her she appoligizes

Delina says "well I don't give up that easily so I can't quit trying to 
get in this weyr."

N'var grins, once he spies Jessalyn, and he pulls her into a hug. "I snuck 
off."

Delina looks over at Mehlani"hello

Jessalyn hugs N'var and grins up at him. "Richenda and I were just talking 
about you. I'm glad you're here."

N'var ducks his head, looking around nervously for the headwoman. In a 
playful voice, he asks, "Am I in trouble?"

Mehlani slips into the cavern, and for those that know the young lady in 
her battered brown hat, there is an immediate incongruity about her: a 
kind of thunderstruck look about her eyes, and a dazed sort of smile 
slightly curling her mouth, entirely at odds with the baleful-eyed pale 
green fire lizard curled on her slender shoulder. As she wanders into the 
cavern, and happens to spy Delina, the lass inclines her behatted head 
earnestly in greeting.

One corner of Kassi's mouth curves up in a hint of a smirk, but she covers 
this by taking a mouthful of the fish. "Nay bad, for something that isn't 
bleeding," she offers with reasonable politeness. "Red meat's better, but 
beggars can't be aught but compost." To Delina, she suggests with a smile 
that's not at all friendly, "In that case, lass, I suggest you learn both 
the rules of the Weyr and manners in a hurry. 'Twould serve both you and 
this brother of yours quite well if'n you're t'have any future at 
Telgar."

Karn turns towards Kassima"look sorry I said that but I have been stressed 
lately my wife is Pregnaunt

Ro smiles at Mehlani "Hi Lani."

Telgar Weyr> <D'thon> Kassima: "I don't care if your wife is Lady Igen..."

N'ren blinks. "Wife? Then you *certainly* shouldn't be here. Weyrs are 
noted for breaking up marriages." He looks towards Kassima then, "Even 
then, I thought only Lord Holders got married."

Mehlani blinks a time or two as she registers the exchange between Kassima 
and the strangers; on her shoulder, her green peers with yellowly whirling 
eyes around the room, and although Arki hisses tinily, she's very soft 
about it. 'Lani, in the meantime, swings her blue gaze around to Ro, and a 
smile flares up on her face as she approaches the other girl.

Jessalyn laughs softly and shakes her head. With a glance toward Kassima, 
N'ren, and the weyr's visitors, she drops her voice to speak. She mutters 
to N'var, "No, I... treat... have a..." 

N'var kisses Jessie on the cheek, grinning, "Yes Ma'am."

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

Karn looking after Rei runs off to catch her"Rei!"

Jessalyn grins. "That's what I told her. Can you stay for long?"

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

Kassima's eyebrow arches upward in an obvious 'This affects me... how?' 
sort of look. To her credit, she doesn't say it. "How nice," she instead 
says blandly. "I don't think of that as an excuse for such a breach of 
manners--after all, *I'm* considerably stressed because I have a green 
beast making m'life a living and waking nightmare, but y'don't see me 
haring off t'your Hold and insulting you, d'you now? However, I do 
appreciate the apology." She turns and shrugs one shoulder to N'ren. "Enh. 
Some of 'em think of handfastings as being much the same as marriages, 
methinks."

N'var looks about the caverns, "I have the night, if there was something 
you wanted to occupy my time with." He gives Jes a mischievous look.

N'ren hnhs, "Lysseth beating at your head, eh Kassima? I thought you 
looked tense when I came in."

Delina looks at Lark then "lark go see if Rei is ok"

Lark nods and runs off to find Rei

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

Jessalyn blushes and takes a quick glance around the cavern. With a quiet 
grin, and a sideways glance up at N'var, she says, "I could probably think 
of something."

Ro mutters to Mehlani, "... been treating... though... and badly... that."

Delina slides her hands to her temples now developing a headache from what 
just happened

Kassima replies with a good bit of drollness and a hint of sarcasm, "Nay, 
N'ren, I make a practice eating of raw meat and drinking M'kla's death-in-
a-cup on a regular basis. Aye, she's glowing, the demonical creature. 
Didn't even give me any warning ere she went into full-swing proddiness 
this time. Inconsiderate ingrate."

N'var lifts both eyebrows in a playful response. Laughing, then, he says, 
"I start with Sandstorm in the morning. I'm yours til then."

N'ren nods, "I noticed, as I came in. Kind of hard to miss. If you'd like, 
I'll see what I can do to relax you. Or, at least, your muscles." He 
glances towards the bowl. "She hasn't been off her feeding schedule, has 
she? Sometimes that can trigger it too... eh, that's the Weyrlingmaster in 
me talking. You'd know that as well as I would."

Leaning in to hear Ro's mutter -- and having approached Ro so that Arki's 
not on the shoulder in whose direction she is leaning -- Mehlani blinks. 
Then casts a sidelong glance at Lysseth's rider. Kassima's declaration to 
N'ren more than audible to her, 'Lani can then be seen to swallow once, 
hard. She nods her behatted head to Ro, the kind of expression one might 
get when watching a wagon burning crossing her delicate face. On her 
shoulder, Arki peers at Kassi too, and Arki chirps raspily, sounding 
sympathetic

Jessalyn laughs, "As long as that? Well, how lcuky for me...but I'll have 
to tell you what Richenda said, too." With another quick look around the 
cavern, she says, "Maybe we could find somewhere a bit quieter?"

Delina looking at Kassima"I ain't being disrespectful but you are one of a 
luckly few that Karn apologies to he looks to be wanten to start over and 
possibly befriend you. most of the time he would get meaner and meaner. 
But as to how he acted he did the same thing when mom was pregnuant with 
Lark Please forgive him"

N'var smiles, taking her hand. "A walk?" he suggests.

Karn walks in from the bowl.

Karn looking at Delina she will be back in a minute

Kassima squints curiously over at Arki, then looks up at N'ren with 
slightly-narrowed eyes. Paranoid, you know. Nevertheless, one eyebrow does 
quirk upwards inquisitively. "Do tell?" she asks cautiously. "As t'the 
green demon's feeding, nay, she's been slaughtering her usual amount of 
creatures. She enjoys hunting too much t'shirk it, methinks." Finally, her 
attention turns towards Delina, and her lips press into a thin line. 
"Look," she finally says with a sigh, "talk t'me when I'm nay proddy, and 
you'll probably find me more agreeable. You really can't imagine what a 
proddy dragon like Lysseth does to one's capacity for understanding." To 
say nothing of one's capacity for logic and reason.

Jessalyn links her fingers with N'var and nods. "That sounds perfect."

Rei walks in from the bowl.

Lark walks in from the bowl.

N'var looks pleased, and he sidesteps those coming in before heading out 
of the cavern with Jessie.

N'var walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

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

N'ren sets his straps down on the table, and flexes his fingers, "It's the 
same thing I do for Nimiriel sometimes when she's had a long day, and did 
for Jehrina when she was last pregnant. Trust me."

Delina sits down and places her chin in her hands"I wonder where R'val is"

Lark looks at Delina:Me to!

Kassima mutters, "Why am I nay surprised that women who aren't even 
residents yet know of R'val?" The disparagement here is clearly directed 
towards the bluerider. Eyeing N'ren, she inquires, "You're asking a proddy 
greenrider t'trust a malerider, N'ren? Pretty hefty order. But I suppose I 
don't really have aught t'lose."

Delina says "we have been here for several weeks"

N'ren grins teasingly, "I'm asking a proddy greenrider to trust a 
malerider who is about to ask her to also remove her vest as well. I 
figure, if I'm going to go for a hefty order, I may as well make it almost 
impossible. That way there's a challenge."

Karn looking at Kassima"Evan I know R'val

Rei sits down and relaxes

Karn pulles up a chair next to her

Kassima waves one hand airily. "Sevendays, days, hours... it doesn't tend 
t'matter. R'val has a tendency t'make himself known to all women in the 
Weyr as soon as he can, Faranth knows. I'd watch out for him if'n 'twere 
you. The man's a first-rate letch." Of course, one would have to judge for 
oneself whether or not to trust Madame Paranoia on that one. "Uh... aye, 
N'ren, that'd be leaning fairly far towards the 'impossible' side of the 
scale. Dare I even ask what you have in mind?"

Mehlani peeks out from under her hatbrim, considers the cavern at large, 
and then turns cautiously out of Kassima's immediate line of vision. Long 
familiar with how the woman's dragon affects her when ready to rise, 'Lani 
chooses discretion as the better part of her personal valor, and keeps a 
hand up on Arki to keep the little green as silent as possible as she 
finds herself a chair and sits down near Ro.

Lysseth> Kvasith backwings for a landing.

Lysseth> Aurian slides off Kvasith after unfastening her riding straps. 
She lands neatly on her feet this time.

N'ren lifts his shoulders, "Just rub your back and try and ease the 
tension a bit. That's a little easier with less clothing. Besides, I'm 
trying to figure out what color the clothing under your vest is. I don't 
think it's completely black."

Lysseth> Aurian reaches up for a long moment to skritch Kvasith.

Lysseth> Palineth rumbles gentle greetings to the returning Telgar 
dragons.

Lysseth> Kvasith rumbles in response. He nudges his weyrling lightly.

Kassima hesitates, but finally shrugs and starts to unlace her vest. 
"Since I trust you know I'll cut your fingers off if'n you try aught 
that's improper, I see nay reason why nay," she replies simply. It's hard 
to tell whether or not she's kidding. On an offhanded guess, one would 
probably say not. "And nay, 'tis nay. The woman I borrowed it from didn't 
have a black one, so I figured red would have t'do. 'Tis close enough 
t'serve." Watching Mehlani out of the corner of her eye, she mutters, 
"You'd think I was some sort of vicious creature. Either they stare at me, 
or they look like they intend t'flee from me."

Lysseth> Aurian chuckles as she is nudged backwards then turns to go in 
the cavern.

Aurian walks in from the bowl.

Lysseth> Palineth's eyes whirl deep blue and bright green.

Mehlani doesn't appear to be inclined to flee -- at least not at the 
moment. Her attention is on Ro, and she gestures to the other girl to ask 
her to lean over again so that she might whisper something in her ear.

Aurian stretches as she enters, she nods as she notes the various people, 
sir-ing and ma'am'ing when appropriate.

Ro leans toward Mehlani to listen, as she is often apt to do.

Mehlani mutters to Ro, "... happened...!..."

N'ren nods, "I tend to sympathise. Being a greenrider - or a goldrider - 
with a proddy dragon is not easy on the rider. But, again, that's the 
Weyrlingmaster in me again." He settles to a seat, pulling up a chair 
behind Kassima. "If you want, lean forward on the table. That stretches 
your back, which makes it easier for me to rub. Now, can you tell me where 
you feel the most tense? I'll start there." He glances up at the new entry 
and waves a greeting to his mentee.

Ro's eyes begin to get round and she says in a hushed tone "What's 
happened?"

Aurian grins as she spots the wave, "Evening N'ren." She wanders to the 
various klah pitchers and hmmms," Anyone need a refill of anything?" She 
starts to fill her mug.

That slightly dazed, thunderstruck look is lingering about Mehlani's eyes 
as she and Ro continue what appears to be an intensely important 
discussion, at least for the girl in the hat. Arki, on her shoulder, 
hisses grudgingly as 'Lani's attention distracts from her, and it's Arki, 
rather than her mistress, who spies Aurian. It might be noted that the 
little green doesn't hiss at the young brown rider, though Arki's tail is 
lashing, and her eyes are still yellow.

Mehlani mutters to Ro, "... he's told... he..."

Ro's jaw drops, speechless.

Ro mutters to Mehlani, "... did..."

Kassima snorts at the extreme understatement. "Hardly that," she dryly 
agrees, folding her arms and leaning forward against the table as 
directed. "Especially Lysseth. Thrice-cursed creature rises rather seldom 
for a green, but she tends t'make up for the fact with force. Only a few 
minutes' sleep and a migraine lasting three days or more isn't something 
I'd foist off on anyone. Unless that'd mean *I* didn't have t'deal with it 
anymore, anyway. Between the shoulders is the worst... is there any 
alcohol over there, Aurian? Preferrably strong."

From her place about Aurian's wrist, Tola chitters nervously at Arki. She 
tries to climb into Aurian's jacket.

Mehlani bobs her head rapidly to Ro, punctuating what she's just whispered 
to the other girl, her blue eyes wide and earnest. Arki eyes Tola 
balefully back, but at least for the moment appears content to maintain 
vigil on her mistress's shoulder. 'Lani's hands anxiously wring at one 
another, while she whispers more to her friend.

Mehlani mutters to Ro, "... asked me,... me,... and if... love... and... 
I... to talk to Kes... nervous...!"

Aurian blinks, and shakes her wrist and glares at the green, "Would some 
benden be alright?" She peers at the skin of wine she has found.

"Between the shoulders it is, then," N'ren begins, placings his hands 
around Kassima's neck almost as if to strangle her. Then he applies 
pressure with his thumbs, rubbing in slow circles to get the feel for 
where the tension is. "Who did you borrow this from, Kassima? It looks 
Weaver-made."

Ro mutters to Mehlani, "You know, for... he... does... with..."

At Ro's latest whisper, Mehlani flushes crimson, and can be heard to 
squeak, mortified, "_Rooooo!_"

Ro blushes and murmurs "Well he does!"

Aurian blinks at Ro and 'Lani, she wants to know, too.

Kassima wrinkles her nose in disgust, believe it or not. "Weak as 
dishwater, that stuff, but I suppose 'tis better'n naught. I'm out of 
White Lightning." She tenses at the initial near-stranglehold on her neck, 
one hand dropping to the hilt of one of her knives of its own volition; 
she relaxes, though--marginally--as it seems that N'ren isn't going to 
choke the living daylights out of her after all. "Probably is. Jirel's 
clothes tend t'be. She was some Lord or other's daughter a'fore she 
Impressed, and her brother tends t'send her such things as gifts. Or so 
she told me." She eyes Mehlani askance as the young woman takes on a 
sudden resemblance to a mouse that's just been stepped on.

'Lani's hands clasp together against her chest. She hasn't seen Aurian 
yet, but Arki peers in the brown rider lass's direction and makes a noise 
that from any other fire lizard would be a creel. From Arki, it's 
something of a hoarse little rattle, and might be translated to mean 'Can 
you get over here and talk some sense into my human?' In the meantime, 
Mehlani babbles out something urgent-sounding to the girl beside her.

Mehlani mutters to Ro, "Oh, Ro, don't... see, I... if... _both_... 
I-I'll... to... I... what..."

Aurian pours the wine and places it somewhere near Kassima. The skin is 
placed near the proddy one as well. She moves away quickly, and heads over 
to 'Lani.

Ro seems to be fairly calm, having recovered from her blush. She mutters 
to Mehlani, "... I'm... will turn out... in... end. Just... one step... 
one day at... time." 

N'ren shifts slightly to the left, and applies more pressure, finding the 
first serious knot of tension to work out. "I'm afraid I've never heard of 
Jirel, but it's a big Weyr. We probably all know people others don't." He 
frowns and moves down half a thumblength. "By Faranth's shell, Lysseth 
certainly does have you all tight. You really need to relax. I suppose 
that won't happen until she rises, though. But really, you should. What 
kind of activities you find relaxing, Kassima?"

Mehlani bobs her behatted head worriedly to Ro, and then finally notices 
Aurian, her gaze shooting up to the approaching weyrling -- prompted by a 
sharp little jab from Arki's foreclaws into her neck, just to get her 
attention. "Ouch! Arki... oh... Aurian...!"

Delina looks up at Kassima"wait a minute Don't I know you....you were 
originaly from Benden....Or am I wrong?

Mehlani bobs her head to Aurian. Rather rapidly, though, and her blue eyes 
are still quite wide.

Aurian pulls a chair close to Mehlani, "Are you sure?"

Kassima replies promptly, "Jirel and her green Joiryth are one of 
m'Wingpairs. Rather good, if'n occasionally foolish." She nods ruefully at 
this assessment. "It figures," she says in disgust. "That's Lysseth's way. 
Eh... hunting, travelling, practicing with knives, that sort of thing. 
Reading, too, but I can't concentrate enough for that." Quirking both 
brows at Delina this time, she replies mildly enough, "I Impressed there, 
aye. Spent m'first eight or so Turns as a rider there too. Benden's a 
bloody fine Weyr."

Mehlani bobs her head to Aurian rapidly enough that one might wonder 
whether it might be about to fall off her neck. Glancing to Ro for a 
moment, the lass then murmurs to Aurian, "I-I was just telling Ro..."

Aurian nods, "yes?"

Lark nods my brother me and my sister were born there

Leaning in close to Aurian and Ro, Mehlani whispers dazedly, loud enough 
only for the other two young women to hear, "Jorenan says he loves 
me...!"

"And she left it to come here, apparently." A shrug. "Have you ever tried 
any of the target practice the woodsmen at Ista set up? It's been Turns 
since I've been there, but I eventually got to be a pretty mean knife-
thrower and rope-thrower. I wonder if it's still there."

Aurian blinks at 'Lani, "And you told him what?"

Aurian says this loud enough that all can hear her.

Kassima mutters a touch morosely, "Aye, well... duty called, and all that. 
Didn't seem like a good plan t'stay when F'hlan and F'nar were both 
remaining. Target practice at Ista? Can't say I have." She considers this 
for a time, rolling that crystal back and forth on the table. "Sounds like 
a good idea, though. Wonder why Benden didn't have one. I make do with 
m'own knife-target, but the bloody thing has t'be repaired every pair of 
months or so. Doesn't take long for the center of it t'be too gouged out 
t'serve." Peering at Lark, she huhs. "Huh. Why in Faranth's name would you 
leave it t'be coming here?"

Delina says "I'll answer that one my parents ignored Lark from a baby I 
wanted her out of there"

Lark looking at the crystal"whats that?'

Now that she has two listening to her, Mehlani flicks her attention back 
and forth between Ro, her hands still clasped at her breast, 'Lani seems 
unsettled enough that she completely misses Kassima's mentioning of her 
sire. She whispers worriedly to her companions, "He wanted to know if I... 
love Kes, and if Kes loves me, and if I love him, and, and I have to talk 
to Kes now, and... oh dear, I'm so scared...!" Apparently, Arki is 
entirely convinced that her human is raving, for Arki cranes her head 
around and peers grumpily at 'Lani's anxious face, and makes her opinion 
known with another low hiss.

N'ren nods, "All too true, Kassima, but I think the reason for the target 
practice there is because the Weyr borders directly on the forest there. 
The woods people.... hang on a sec. This may hurt a moment." He shifts his 
hands to work the area he'd been working more severely. His eyes are 
trained on that spot on Kassima's back too. "The woods people there are 
probably better defined as foresters. They have to be better than most. I 
suppose the woodcraft could send similar people here, but there's not 
nearly as much call."

Aurian would hug 'Lani, but that green is there, "Oh Faranth!" She blinks 
at her friend.

"Should've fostered her, then," Kassi remarks absently, lifting one hand 
to rub at her forehead. All this business of trying to be civil is giving 
her a headache. "Though 'tis more common among riders, there's naught 
banning Caverns-folk from doing it too... this? Shards if'n I know. It 
looks like a glass sphere thing t'me. Jirel suggested it. Said that 
mayhaps I should try fiddling with this instead of fiddling with knives, 
and I'd nay get quite so many odd loo--" She breaks off, hissing between 
her teeth. "Aye, a bit," she affirms flatly, but she doesn't pull away. 
"'Twill just have t'make do with the local resources then. By the time I 
can get t'Ista," she points out dryly, "'twill nay have as much need 
t'relax. Curse that dragon, anyway."

Ro nods to Aurian "That's what I think, too."

Aurian leans down to Mehlani, "Have you told him you want to talk to him?"

Mehlani bobbobbobs her head to both Ro and Aurian, though Arki distracts 
her enough that she spares a hand for the green. It's about time, as far 
as Arki is concerned; the near-white-hued green nudges her palm, hard, 
while Mehlani nods some more to Aurian. "I sent him a note, he's had duty 
out of the Weyr, helping f-ferry some supplies to a Hold, you see, so he's 
not here..."

From the kitchen, Talnor walks out of the passageway that leads down to 
the storerooms.

From the kitchen, Talnor trudges through. Looks like the end of a long 
hard day...

N'ren asks, as he eases up on that area of Kassima's back, "But does it 
feel any better? That's the goal, after all." Nevertheless, before she 
answers, he moves his hands back up to the 'stranglehold' position and 
begins working on the opposite direction, the right side.

Kassima admits grudgingly, "A bit. But then, it'd be hard t'do much to it 
that'd make it *worse*. Break it, perhaps, but at least then I probably 
wouldn't feel much of anything." Looking over momentarily towards 'Lani 
and her cohorts, she notes sardonically, "You're nay apt t'see much of 
K'star until Lysseth's risen. And Milleniuth, if'n she hasn't already."

From the kitchen, Talnor pauses to snag a meatroll from one of the tables. 
A cook signals for his attention and tells him that he's to serve in the 
kitchen during the next afternoon's general chores. Talnor nods, not 
happily.

It is Ro's turn to turn red. She says in a raspy voice, her throat 
suddenly dry "Oh yes, Eyr."

Mehlani's head swings around to Kassima, and after a beat of hesitation, 
the lass bobs her head as calmly as she can manage to the green rider. As 
Arki flaps her wings a few times, 'Lani blurts, "Thank you..." And then 
seems to catch herself. Milleniuth? The mention of E'rian's dragon makes 
her attention abruptly snap back to Ro.

N'ren chuckles, "Nothing to make the brownrider feel like he's doing a 
good job, eh Kassima?" But he still moves his hands, this time downwards 
around the spine, rubbing on either side of it furiously. "I hope this 
helps for a while, at least. For a second or two there when I walked in, 
y'looked like you were about to snap in half, literally."

From the kitchen, Talnor sighs and continues on into the living cavern.

Talnor walks in from the kitchen.

Talnor stuffs the meatroll in his mouth and starts rubbing his hands as he 
walks, trying to massage out the tiredness.

Delina says "hello"

Delina looks at Talnor

Kassima points out with a hint of humor, "I haven't killed you yet, have 
I? Ah, well... I've nay broken yet, and Faranth forfend I should at this 
point. Snap someone *else* in half, mayhaps... but me? Nay with only a day 
or two of this more t'go." Judging by the fact that she's no longer 
scowling at anything within viewing range, though, one could probably 
guess that this is doing her some good. She even watches the Minecrafter 
walk past without visibly sizing him up for potential fighting weaknesses. 
"Who're you?" she asks, without preamble.

Mehlani opens her mouth, closes it again, and studies Ro all the while, 
trying to glean a cue or two from her friend about what, if anything, she 
might say. She finally leans over and murmurs to the other girl, 
"Milleniuth should have risen in another day or two at most...!"

Lysseth> Kvasith leans over to wuffle curiously at Lysseth.

Ro nods hesitantly and murmurs "With any luck, I should survive it."

Talnor glances at Delina, then looks away from the older girl quickly. He 
nods to her, embarrassed, and continues walking towards the lower caverns.

Lysseth> Lysseth slooooowly opens one very red, very peeved-looking eye to 
glare balefully at Kvasith. With a sound that's half-rumble and half-
snarl, she edges further away from the whuffling brown.

"E'rian's awfully..." Mehlani considers, and then commiserates, "... 
overwhelming!"

Lysseth> Kvasith leans back a bit startled and then moves a bit away as 
well.

Delina cocks her head confused at why he would be embarrassed she just 
said hello

Lark glanceing up notices Talnor"Hi"

Jorenan walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Rei walks towards the inner cavern.

Karn says "Delina if you see R'val tell him hi for me"

Karn walks towards the inner cavern.

Ro nods "Yes, that is the word I was thinking of. Thank you."

N'ren nods, still working his way down Kassima's back. "I didn't say you 
were going to. Just that you looked it. "Talnor, I think Kassima is 
talking to you."

Aurian glances up as she notices Jorenan, she then glances back to 'Lani.

Talnor stops dead in his tracks, staring at Kassima. "Uh, Talnor, ma'am. 
Um, *Apprentice* Talnor." He swallows the last bit of meatroll in a gulp. 
Then salutes.

Mehlani bobs her head a few more times, giving Ro an anxious -- but 
understanding -- smile. She considers, then leans over to whisper into her 
ear, very softly, not yet noticing Jorenan's entrance.

Mehlani mutters to Ro, "... you... alright? I mean... he was awfully..."

Jorenan steps into the busy Living Cavern, looks around for a moment, and 
then what he always does. Nothing's changed, right? So he goes and gets 
his usual mug of klah, and stirs the stew like he always does. As he does 
occasionally, he takes a bowl of dried fruit, nuts, and cheese for a 
snack, and then goes to sit down. He says a quiet "Hello" to those in his 
vicinity. As it happens, there is one minor difference; Mehlani's hat is 
in his free hand.

Delina looking at Jorenan"Oh....Hello

Telgar Weyr> Neliea looks at the +where and wonders if she should appraoch 
Kassi when proddy. :) *waverdoodle*

Ro looks at Mehlani "And I thought he'd come to see you!"

Kassima snorts faintly. "At least if'n I did, 'twould be an unusual way 
t'go." She then winces twice: once at the ma'aming, again at the salute. 
"*Must* you?" she demands irritably. "The name's Kassima. Wingleader 
Kassima, if'n you care so much about titles. Green Lysseth's perpetual 
torture victim. I prefer nay t'be called ma'am; that's for old or 
respectable people."

Lark un asure of what Kassima"so you aren't Respectable

N'ren chuckles again, "Well, it would indeed be unusual, yes. But what 
better way to go out. That way you get remembered more."

Delina looking at Talnor"Whats your name"Wanting to hear it spoken to her

Lark walks up to Talnor"hello names Lark...whats yours

Kassima asks simply and somewhat sardonically, "Do I *look* respectable?" 
The answer to that one would probably have to be no. "'Twas m'point. 
Actually, though, methinks I want t'be hit by a falling meteor when the 
time comes for me t'die. Go out with a bang, as 'twere. M'cousin Triene 
once told me the chances of that are infinitestimally small, so 'twill be 
a challenge of sorts t'manage it."

Talnor nods quickly. "Yes, ma---Kassima. If you prefer, I won't salute. We 
apprentices are instructed to salute anyone of higher rank." He turn to 
look at Delina briefly, surprised anyone would speak to him while he's 
being grilled by a rider. He barely vocalizes, "Talnor."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "She's already had her main temper tantrum of 
the day, Neliea, so you might be safe. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Neliea says, "Might? Hmm, I can live with that. Maybe. :)"

Delina says "well met Talnor names Delina"

Talnor scuffs his boots against each other, altogether uncomfortable with 
Kassima's attitude towards him, but afraid to slink away.

Delina looks at Jorenan=hey my names Delina

Jorenan turns the hat in his hands, and then looks over at Mehlani. 
Perhaps he's wondering if she's noticed him yet. He sets his snack and 
klah on a nearby table, eats a bit of cheese, and starts munching. He 
gives Delina a grin and a small wave.

Kassima picks up her crystal spherical doohickey and shakes it at Talnor. 
"If'n I don't make m'own bloody Wingriders salute, 'twill be sharded if'n 
I'll make you do it. Since I know I don't look respectable, any signs of 
respect will lead me t'believe that you think I look old, which means 
'twill have t'be killing you."

Lark looking at Talnor"Talnor huh nice name

Lark looking at kissima"you don't have to be so mean

N'ren moves his hands so that his thumbs now press into the small of 
Kassima's back, which will probably cause her to arch said back, "Stretch 
upwards, Kassima. I think that might help a bit." He chuckles again at 
Kassima's comment. "You're not old, Kassima. Me, *I* am old. Isn't that 
right, Apprentice Talnor?" He grins at the boy.

Mehlani bobs her (OOC: bare -- Jorenan has her hat, you see; reality 
check!) head to Ro, and murmurs sheepishly, "I hadn't, but..." Arki, in 
the meantime, perched upon her shoulder even yet, swings her yellowly 
whirling gaze in Jorenan's direction and makes another low, rasping 
noise -- not quite a hiss. She scrapes a foot lightly against the girl's 
neck, making her start... and her gaze swing in Jorenan's direction. 'Lani 
can then be seen to freeze.

Lysseth> Palineth lifts himself from the ground, crooning pleasantly to 
Lysseth. Before she can turn the baleful look on him, however, he springs 
to the air.

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

Aurian grins at N'ren as she catches the old remark.

Lark trying to get Talnor to talk to her"how old are you?

Lark finds a place and flops down

Talnor grins weakly at N'ren, and tries to fall in with the joke. "Yes, 
certainly, sir."

Lark watches Talnor not sure what to make him

Kassima says irritably to the youngest girl, "Oh, don't you start. Believe 
me, for me, this isn't mean 'tall." She straightens in her chair until 
she's sitting ramrod-straight. "Will that do?" she inquires. "Eh. You're 
only as old as you can con yourself into believing you are. A'course, at 
the moment, that would mean I'm about ninety-three...."

R'val walks in from the bowl.

R'val wanders into the cavern and towards the klah pot, waving to y'all.

Delina waves"Hi R'val

R'val sits, klah in hand, smiling, "Hey there, Mehlani."

Jorenan stands up and goes over to Mehlani. Hmmm. Here they are in the 
living cavern, wherein he suggested they do some truly saccharine things 
earlier. But he hasn't yet got the stomach for those, so instead he leans 
down and sets the hat on her head (mostly straight), and gives her hand a 
squeeze. "I still had this," he says enigmatically. "Hope you didn't miss 
it too much." He gives her a quiet grin, as if they share some enormous 
joke.

Lark moves her gaze to R'val"HI!!!Karn said to tell you hi that he and

Lark says "Rei would be back"

Karn walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Karn notices R'val"hey

Mehlani might have noticed R'val's greeting if her gaze hadn't riveted on 
Jorenan's face, the Baker having caught her attention first. As the young 
man sets her battered brown hat back in its accustomed place on her head, 
Mehlani murmurs, her eyes very full, "Thank you...!" On her shoulder, Arki 
peers hopefully up at Jorenan -- perhaps wanting _him_ to smack some sense 
into her mistress.

Talnor slinks one step towards the lower caverns, hoping Kassima isn't 
noticing.

Rei walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Rei says "hello all"

Rei walks over to Karn and slips into his arms

Karn says "hello"

Isn't noticing? Kassi notices anything when she's as paranoid as she is 
now. "Fleeing so soon?" she asks the younger man mildly, watching him with 
half-hooded eyes.

N'ren, droll, "You don't look ninety-three, Kassima. That's just Lysseth's 
influence." He moves from the small of Kassima's back outwards, and 
presses his thumbs to the opposite sides of her back. Then he starts 
working his way up her back.

Delina says "how are you R'val?"

R'val smiles amiably, "Just fine, Delina. You?"

Jorenan blinks at Mehlani. Perhaps he recognizes the glazed look from 
sometime else. "Oh dear. Is there anyone in there?" he asks. He's asking 
Mehlani, but also the Living Cavern in general.

One of the new weyrlings, a bronze lad by the name of K'lre, sighs 
dreamily at the sight of Kassima. Then walks back to his duties.

Talnor freezes in place. "Um, no, I mean, yes. Journeyman Koln wanted my 
report when I was done with the firestone." His eyes dart around, as if 
hoping the journeyman would materialize out of *between*.

Delina looking at Rei as she answers"fine, but I found out tonight that 
Rei here is pregnaunt.and Karn is so stressed that he is stressing me out.

Lark turns her gaze back to talnor still trying to deside why he hasn't 
talked to her.

Mehlani smiles hesitantly, her gaze still quite firmly affixed upon the 
visage of Jorenan; unfortunately, this appears to mean she's totally 
forgotten the presences of Aurian and Ro immediately nearby, and the 
presence of the malevolent-eyed fire lizard on her shoulder. "Yes," she 
whispers to the Baker.

Kassima's response is an equally droll, "That's some relief, at least. And 
I don't suppose I'd have survived that last mug of M'kla's klah if'n 'twas 
really ninety-three. Mmph. Where'd you learn t'do this, anyway?" She 
simply shrugs at Jorenan, not overly concerned, and peers towards the 
frozen apprentice. "Good excuse," she approves, lifting her hands to 
applaud with light sarcasm. "Don't worry; I'm nay going t'run over there 
and cut your throat. 'Twould cause a problem with Craft-Weyr relations, 
and Sionelle would have m'hide for a wall-hanging." She narrows her eyes 
at the very strange young bronzerider, apparently trying to figure out 
just where his wits have gone.

Lark sighs and mumbles something that sounded something like"I hate being 
small"

Delina says "any shocking news to you lately?"

N'ren pauses for a moment. "Truth? I really don't remember. I suspect I 
first started doing it when I was weyrmated." He shudders faintly. "And 
I've just kept doing it for the last twenty Turns or so."

Lark trying one more time "Talnor how old are you?

Talnor turns a little green, as Kassima saw right through his lie.
He nods, looking exaggeratedly relieved. Then Jorenan retreats to his 
snack, his stock of clever conversssational gambits entirely used up. He 
gives Kassi, the apprentice, and the person staring at him all a careful 
look, but decdies that they're none of them in immediate danger of their 
lives.

Rei looking at R'val"Oh...my name is

Rei says "Rei"

As Jorenan slips off, Mehlani stares after him liquidly, provoking Arki 
into hissing her displeasure. Loudly.

R'val smiles at Rei, nodding his head, "Good evenin'.'

A'lex walks in from the bowl.

Pierron grunts in greeting to the Wingleader of Skyfire.

Lark sighs seeing no one really wants to talk to her

A'lex strolls in with a yawn, "Am I the only one that can't sleep?"

Kassima shakes her head slightly, tsking. "Weyrmating," she says with 
disdain, "just adds one more complication to already-complicated lives, 
and ruins otherwise perfectly sane people. Seems a useful skill t'know, 
though, except for the fact that you can't use it on yourself." She looks 
up at the grunt, and grunts a half-hearted greeting to A'lex in turn.

Delina looks over to see A'lex"hello

A'lex nods to Kassima, and smiles a Delina, trying to remember if he 
recognises her or not, "Telgar's duties."

Jorenan watches Mehlani for a long moment, is expression becoming somewhat 
more alarmed. "Mehlani," he finally says, "You probably don't have to work 
at it quite so hard. The part about the rest of the Weyr." He glances 
around, realizes that at least Aurian and Ro were in on the conversation 
before he arrived, and resists covering his face with a hand.

Delina looking at A'lex"how are you this evening

N'ren nods, "This is entirely true. After I broke up with Irina, I swore 
never to weyrmate again. A couple times I thought about it... but never 
went through with it." He pauses, moving his hands as he finds another 
tight spot on Kassima. "I tend not to get that stressed out, not anymore. 
What bothers *me* is when I get an itch in a place I can't reach. Now that 
is annoying."

Talnor asks Kassima very timidly, "May I go, Wingleader?"

"Wh..." 'Lani starts, then abruptly flushes crimson, reaching up to tug 
her hat instinctively lower down over her face. This appears to be the 
final straw for Arki, who takes wing and irritably hops *between*, sinuous 
and graceful as a lick of flame before she vanishes. And from underneath 
her hat, Mehlani mumbles, "Sorry...!"

A'lex strolls over to the drinks table and has one of the LCG's put on 
some bovine milk to warm, "I'm doing fine... uhmmmm, I'm sorry, but I 
can't remember your name. I'm A'lex by the way."

Delina smiles"Delina the names Delina

A'lex nods, "Nice to meet you Delina. Again." He takes his milk and drops 
into the chair at the head of the Skyfire table.

Jorenan grins reassuringly. "You'll get the hang of it, I s'pect. You have 
to spring it on them when they least expect it." Then his eyes go to 
Aurian and RO, and he grins. "Sorry, I've gone and left you out." He 
doesn't offer to explain himself, though.

Delina says "haven't seen you for a while R'val"

Ro nods, watching the baker with a slight smile on her face.

Kassima blinks at Talnor in befuddlement. "What do I look like, your 
keeper? Go when you want to! Faranth's fardling femur--did I ever say you 
couldn't?" She shakes her head again, this time in much more measureable 
disgust. "Enh. Well, I don't understand people who think 'tis the finest 
thing in the world, m'self. All it looks like t'me is an excuse t'make 
other people sick--and while there is some occasional merit in that... oh, 
that's one thing 'lizards are good for. One of the few things. So long as 
you're willing t'risk being clawed."

R'val smiles, "Nice seeing you Delina, how goes it.

"I, um, was just telling them..." Mehlani begins, her voice muffled by her 
hat having been tugged lower down over her face, and her apparent sudden 
interest in sinking into her chair. She apparently can't finish her own 
sentence, though.

Talnor darts away at Kassima's sudden tacit dismissal.

Delina says "My life has been hell since Rei told us she was pregnuant"

Lark watches the room

Talnor walks towards the inner cavern.

Jorenan goes back to looking at Mehlani for a moment. Then his ears turn a 
faint shade of pink. "Oh," he says. Golly. Now there's the stereotypically 
uncomfortable silence for you.

Aurian rakes a hand through her hair.

Rei blushes"I didn't....I mean maybe.....

N'ren grimaces, "I tend to think in more practical terms. For example, 
when I was Weyrleader of Ista, two riders came to me to try and get one of 
the big weyrs for themselves so they could weyrmate. I refused them, not 
because they couldn't weyrmate, but ... if you live with someone, where do 
you go when you're upset with them?"

Delina turns to Rei freaking out "I didn't mean... it wasn't You......it's 
the stress

Mehlani lifts a hand again, enough to tilt up her hat brim, and peek up 
with limpid blue eyes at Jorenan.

A'lex looks at N'ren, "You were Weyrleader of Ista? Really?"

Aurian blinks at N'ren, she's noticed the knot, but she never knew where.

Karn looking at both of them laughs then tells them both to calm down and 
not freak"It has been stressful.

Delina clears her throat"actually It hasn't been the stress for me it has 
been the stress on Karn.

Kassima toys with the crystal, trying to recall. "Shards. Haven't lived 
with anyone since the days in the barracks, and there really wasn't much 
of a place t'go.... I suppose that I'd go on a long flight or something 
t'cool down. On a more permanent basis, I'd stay where I was. Shards if'n 
I'm about t'let anyone drive me out of m'place without better reason than 
an argument."

N'ren looks over at A'lex, blinking, "You didn't know? I was Weyrleader of 
Ista for three Turns. It was over ten Turns ago, though. And, actually, I 
was Acting Weyrleader, but that's only because T'lor died in Fall and 
S'lan didn't want it."

A'lex watches Kassima carefully. He know's what up, yea... Nraith's been 
showing a bit too much interest in a certain Green. Bad, bad thing that 
is...

Telgar Weyr> Kassima whaps A'lex upside the head.

N'ren adds, "I suppose next you're going to tell me that you didn't know 
the upwards spiral fighting pattern was one I designed too."

Jorenan has gotten distracted by the conversation between Kassi, N'ren, 
and A'lex. He's not exactly ignoring those big blue eyes. Perhaps they're 
making him nervous.

Lark looks at R'val

Telgar Weyr> Ro says, "Should have Nraith catch Milleniuth just for that, 
Kassi."

A'lex shakes his head, "I guess I do remember hearing that. But... I just 
didn't think about it. Wow. No, THAT I knew. K'tyn made a note of it."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "He's already caught her once. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Been there, done that, Ro..."

Telgar Weyr> Ro says, "Well then, encore!"

Delina looking down"sorry it has been this way for awhile I say something 
and both Rei and I mix eachothers words up

Kassima notes idly, "Interesting, 'tis, what you can learn when you think 
t'look into history. Especially where it pertains t'flights and 
Hatchings. Helps win wagers, y'know." A sadistically fond, reminiscent 
smile flashes to life briefly on her face. "I still remember all the marks 
I won from B'rag and his cronies on a flight-wager. Now *there* was a haul 
for you."

N'ren chuckles, "They're not entirely mine anymore, actually. I had a hell 
of a time when I first started at Benden, because they were using a 
slightly different version of the same flight pattern, and I was used to 
zigging when everyone else was zagging." He sits back a little, and 
suggests, "Try some stretching, Kassima. I think that's most of what I can 
do for you."

A'lex smiles at N'ren. "I can understand that."

Karn looing at R'val"sometimes I wish she were setup with someone to take 
her mind off Rei's baby"

Jorenan looks over at Karn, Lark, Rei, Delina, and whomever else is with 
them, and finallly asks, "What exactly is wrong with a baby?"

Something about the word 'baby' coming out of the mouth of Jorenan brings 
a renewed flush of pink to the face of Mehlani. The girl shrinks further 
down into her chair, looking mortified.

Kassima says seriously, still a Wingleader even when she's a raving 
lunatic, "The only good fighting pattern is one that can be modified and 
improvised within at need. Aught that's nay flexible enough t'change isn't 
flexible enough t'use in Fall." Experimentally and a touch warily, she 
lifts her arms towards the ceiling, stretching out. "It feels better," she 
remarks, sounding mildly surprised. "Nay quite so much like 'tis peppered 
like a pincushion with knifepoints."

Delina looks at Jorenan "when you have had to live with this one'Points to 
Karn"when someone is pregnaunt it is very stressful

Mehlani murmurs, very tinily, "It depends upon the mother."

A'lex looks to Kassima, "Feeling poorly Greenrider?"

Jorenan misses the flush entirely. Just as well, that. But he nods at 
Mehlai's comment. "My mum's been pregnant a round dozen times, and she's a 
joy to be around."

Ro slips a comforting arm around Mehlani's shoulder now that Arki has 
disappeared.

Delina looks at Mehlani "what....oh it's just he feels stressed around 
kids

Talnor walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Jorenan shrugs at Delina's answer. "So foster the kid," he suggests.

Mehlani bobs her head to Delina, once, gravely, apparently not daring to 
say anything else. Most of her attention is still lingering on Jorenan, 
though she also does hug Ro.

Talnor slips quietly into the cavern, sticking to the shadows so he might 
not be seen. He settles quietly at a dark table, with a gitar in his 
hands. He has changed into cleaner clothing, though his pockets are just 
as full of miner detritus. He begins playing his gitar softly to himself, 
to relax.

Kassima answers A'lex with her currently characteristic lack of delicacy 
or patience. "I'm *proddy*, bronzer. Don't tell me you missed yon glowing 
green outside? I would've thought she'd be bright enough t'read by, going 
by how she's acting."

Delina says "Lark and I had two run ins with Rennick today"Pops her neck 
at the though of rennick yelling"He yelled at us for being from Benden. I 
don't think I could take anymore of his yelling""

Music? Music? Where? Mehlani blinks, distracted enough that she peeks 
round the cavern in Talnor's direction. There's an abrupt flare of 
gratitude in the girl's dainty face; her eyes drop closed for a moment, 
as she seizes on the chords across the room as a means to steady her 
nerves.

N'ren nods, "This is true. Though, at Ista, the patterns are more vague 
than they normally are at other Weyrs. They have some nasty winds there 
that you just can't compensate for on hide. It's why I fly drills there on 
me own." He nods this to A'lex.

Aurian stands and fills a mug with something that might be klah, but 
sometimes you just can't tell.

A'lex gives the Greenrider a nonplussed look, "I *KNOW* that. I wondered 
if there was something else making your heaving and whining worse than 
usual, or if this was just the typical complaining." Oy, he's crusin' for 
a bruisin', ain't he?

Lark places her atention towards Talnor.

N'ren pokes vaguely at Kassima, "Don't go getting yourself worked up and 
ruin all that work I just did, Kassima."

Jorenan quirks an eyebrow. "Rennick... is Steward here. He can yell 
anytime he wants, the old windbag. Is thtat part of why you're stressed, 
then?"

Talnor notices Mehlani's glance and smiles shyly. He isn't a harper, but 
he's pretty good. The song is close to one of the Teaching songs, but 
isn't really one of them. Some other tune.

Telgar Weyr> A'lex says, "Kassi has been quiet for too long. I'm a dead 
man."

Delina says "I could have sworn Lark was going to have a breake down at 4"

Telgar Weyr> Aurian watches Kassi type and type and type.

Delina says "she isn't used to it"

Kassima notes, "I'd've thought Benden's would be considered fairly vague, 
after that spate of unpredictable Falls that was a'fore m'time there; I 
recall it from Greysto--" She breaks off, of course, when 'Lex decides to 
seal his death warrant. One hand starts to clench around the crystal as 
though she's going to throw it at him... but then she hears N'ren, and 
gets a much better idea. "'Lex," she calls over sweetly, "would you come 
here for a moment, please?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Oh, feh. Sometimes I'm just trying to work out 
a good phrasing, you know. :P :)"

'Lani isn't a Harper either, but she knows and appreciates music, and she 
smiles timidly at the lad with the gitar. Her gaze flicks sideways, 
though, back to the riders.

Jorenan yawns sleepily. "Oh," he says, apparently rather too tired to be 
polite enough to cover his mouth with a hand. "You sure are easily 
stressed, all of you."

A'lex rolls his eyes, something's got him in a foul mood this evening, 
"When I finish my milk, I'll stop by."

Ro looks over at Talnor with interest, following the line of Mehlani's 
gaze.

Neliea walks in from the bowl.

Aurian adds a heavy dollop of sweeting to her klah, before wandering back 
to her seat.

Kassima's eyes narrow. Her own mood, one might guess, is none too sweet 
either. "Be sure t'do that," she says through gritted teeth, "because I 
believe you could stand some advice on what you should never say again 
unless you wish your tongue ripped out through your nose with a button-
hook." Amazingly, she manages to keep from throwing anything at him as she 
says this.

A'lex stares, again, nonplussed.

A'lex blinks once.

Neliea steps into the caverns, looking surprised at all the people about 
tonight. Keeping to the outside, she edges around until she makes her way 
to a seat next to Aurian. She doesn nod to all the riders before sitting.

A'lex blinks again.

Talnor seems to be very relaxed, playing. His ear seizes on a phrase, and 
modulates his song into a fast-rhythm, near-dance beat and sings a little. 
The music and words are very soft, but it sounds like he's singing, "Milk 
milk milk! Milk milk muh-mil-mil-milk, milk milk milk!" He then changes 
back to the song he was playing earlier.

A'lex says "I'll do that."

Delina mouth drops open at what she is hearing from Kassima

Aurian stirs her klah and grins at Neliea. There is a blink at Talnor, 
whatever Kassima has said she's decided it might be best to ignore.

Telgar Weyr> Talnor sorries. I was just thinking about a joke Milk song a 
friend of mine wrote, and then A'lex went and mentioned milk....

Mehlani rises, slowly, her attention vacillating between Talnor... 
lingering for a significant period on Jorenan... and then swinging round 
at Kassima's taut words to the bronze rider. At this, Mehlani leans over 
to Aurian and Ro and whispers tinily, "Please excuse me..." Time to beat a 
strategic retreat. She slips off into the inner caverns, her gaze 
lingering on Jorenan as she goes.

Mehlani walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima nods sharply to the bronzerider, settling back into her chair. 
"You do that," she agrees. "You'll find your lifespan greatly increased 
if'n you do. Oh, stop *staring* at me, people. Haven't you ever heard any 
threats involving button-hooks a'fore?"

A'lex purses his lips, "Actually, usually they're more... threatening, 
Kassima."

Telgar Weyr> A'lex baits the bear.

Jorenan watches Melhlani go, slides further down in his chair, and yawns 
again. His eyes, which had come to rest on Kassima, jump elsewhere.

Lark walks towards the inner cavern.

"Oh." Kassima considers this for a moment, leaning forward to fix the 
bronzerider with a steely green gaze. "Well, '*twould* tell you 'twas 
going t'rip your intestines out through the other end, but, y'know, I just 
didn't want t'go there."

Karn walks towards the inner cavern.

Rei walks towards the inner cavern.

A'lex , lips still pursed, says, "Thank you. I appreciate that."

Aurian finally gets a sip of her klah, she sighs contentedly.

Delina Yawns but quikly covers her mouth

Kassima tilts her head slightly, considering the bronzer as a wherry might 
consider a newly-hatched fire-lizard. How to kill it, how to kill it.... 
"What would you like me t'threaten, then? Castration's grown old, and you 
already *know* I'd do that. Mayhaps you'd prefer it if'n I made slits 
between your ribs, pulled out your lungs, and left you there t'dry out for 
a few days?"

N'ren says, from where he's sitting - still behind Kassima, "Now, now, 
Kassima. You don't want to get worked up again, remember?"

A'lex ponders, "Weak. I'd probably bleed to death before I got dry enough 
to be uncomfortable."

Okay this she can't ignore, Aurian blinks at the graphicness of Kassima's 
threat.

Talnor starts singing softly again. He seems to be working some words out 
to fit the music he's playing.

Delina says "Well I best be off to bed."looks sick from what she has heard 
from Kassima"night R'val, and you to A'lex"

R'val waves amiably, "Night, Delina."

Neliea is suddenly glad that she didn't get anything to drink. After 
Kassi's description, she'd be a lot less hungry.

A'lex nods to Delina, "Good night."

Delina walks towards the inner cavern.

Lysseth> Channie slides gracefully down Kemith's shoulder and lands with a 
slight bounce on the ground. Kemith gives his lifemate a curious wuffle as 
she pats and scritches him lovingly.

Kassima shakes her head leisurely. "Nay, nay; the blood loss is actually 
fairly minimal. You could live for days." Faranth forfend you should think 
about how exactly she knows this. Sighing, she makes an honest attempt to 
unwind. "I suppose he's nay really worth getting worked up over," she 
sullenly concurs.

A'lex nods, "I'm definately not. Oh well, milk's gone. G'nite. Kassima, 
I'll meet with you sometime tomorrow about that discussion."

Kassima's smile to A'lex is more of a baring of teeth. "At your leisure, 
bronzer. At your leisure."

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

Lysseth> A'lex strolls out of the LC with dinner.

Lysseth> Channie gives A'lex a wave. "Oh....there you are."

Talnor barely notices everyone leaving as he concentrates on his song.

Neliea well she came, sat and listened. Now's she glad that Xylath want to 
talk a bit. "Um, if you'll all excuse me, I'm being asked some questions 
by Xylath."

N'ren considers, "You know, Kassima, I can think of something else that 
might help you relax, if you want to try it."

Lysseth> A'lex tries to smile, "You don't want to go in there. Lysseth's 
glowing, Kassi is in full death mode."

Jorenan finishes his snack, puts his dishes away, and slips out of the 
cavern towards is cot.

Neliea walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.
Jorenan walks towards the inner cavern.

Lysseth> Channie frowns slightly, "I thought you were going to fetch 
dinner for us, but I've been up there filing my nails for a long time."

Lysseth> A'lex grins, "I had Pierron make up something special."

Lysseth> K'tyn walks here from the north.

Lysseth> A'lex nods to the Weyrleader, "Evening, sir."

Kassima waggles her fingers after those who are departing that she hasn't 
threatened to kill this evening, and lifts a brow, peering at N'ren. 
"Depends on what 'tis."

Lysseth> K'tyn saunters over from the feeding grounds, whistling rather 
jauntily. "Greetings," he says with a wave.

Lysseth> A'lex says "Careful in the Living Cavern, sir, Kassima is 
Proddy...."

Lysseth> Lysseth opens her eyes to regard these too-noisy humans, 
luminescent wings rustling faintly. If she's not quite bright enough to 
read by, she's still rather hard to miss; her vermilion glare, if nothing 
else, could be disconcerting.

Lysseth> Channie salute-waves to K'tyn and then nods to A'lex, unable to 
stay mad at him anyway.

Lysseth> A'lex climbs up Nraith's riding straps, with a bit of assistance 
from a graciously extended foreleg. He settles in between two forward 
neckridges and straps himself in.

Lysseth> Seated atop Nraith, A'lex says "See you in a bit."

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

Lysseth> Kvasith watches Lysseth curiously.

Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "Oh,I know," He says as he produces a package. 
"Brought her some of that raw fish ... " He sighs. "That boy moves too 
fast."

Lysseth> K'tyn nods at Channie, "Good evening to you, as well."

Lysseth> Channie waves after A'lex. "He certainly is! Guess he was more 
tired than he was telling me." She shrugs and eyes the living cavern. 
"Great, he has my dinner made and then make me go in and face Proddy-Kassi 
to eat it? How fair is that?"

Talnor sighs in frustration, and switches songs for a while.

Lysseth> K'tyn looks at the LC, and then at the brown rider. "Not so 
very," he admits with a grin. "But then, I intend to do the same thing--
after a fashion."

Lysseth> Channie takes a deep breath, "after a fashion sir? You have to 
build up the courage to do so?

Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "No, but I did bring fare that she requested I 
fetch -- And I brought enough for more than just us. Care to join me? Tis 
quite good, this prepared raw fish from South Boll."

Lysseth> Channie looks uncertain, her pale eyes looking closely at the 
weyrleader. "You honestly eat, raw fish?"

Lysseth> K'tyn nods, smiling faintly at Channie's reaction. "Yes. With 
this spicy green paste and a special salty liqueur on top. It's very 
good."

Kassima asks Talnor with what may be whimsy and may be malice, "Can't you 
sing about something else? Blood, perhaps. You could do that milk bit 
again, save with 'blood' instead. I daresay 'twould be a miraculous 
improvement."

Lysseth> Channie blinks a couple times, "that sounds rather odd. You say 
this is from Southern Boll? Sounds, interesting."

Several of the new Weyrlings run out of the Cavern at Kassima's latest 
statement.

Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "At least, give it a try, hm? It will calm Kassi a 
bit, I am sure."

Talnor is surprised, but not overly scared. Maybe he's too tired to be 
scared. He starts singing, "Blood blood blood..." with its light, raucous 
tune.

N'ren looks at Kassima, somewhat abstractedly. "It's actually something I 
did right before I stood. Breathing exercises, to control your breathing."

Lysseth> Channie hms thoughtfully and smiles, far be it for her to refuse 
an offering of food. Even if it does sound odd. "Alright then. But if she 
starts chopping up wherries again, I'm out of there."

Kassima waves one finger back and forth, listening with delight to the 
bloody song. "Excellent, excellent," she tells Talnor, sounding sincere. 
Darting a glance back to the brownrider, she just has to ask, "Breathing 
exercises? I'm nay certain I follow."

Lysseth> K'tyn laughs. "It's a deal," he says as he turns for the 
entrance. "If she does that, I'll race you for the exit."

K'tyn walks in from the bowl.

Pierron sniffs thoughtfully as the Weyrleader arrives, grunting a 
greeting.

Talnor continues to play the song, since it seems to be helping Kassima's 
mood.

Channie walks in from the bowl.

Aurian nods to K'tyn, "Evening sir."

N'ren nods, "All right. Try this. Close your eyes, Kassima."

Talnor continues to sing (though softer now), "Blood blood blood..."

Ro sits over near Aurian, just kind of watching things. But she does not 
the weyrleader and say "Evening sir. Can I get anything for you?"

Channie follows K'tyn in, ducking behind him a little to peer slowly out 
towards Kassi. Well, she looks alright. The brownrider steps out from her 
'hiding' spot and waves to the greenrider and everyone else in the cavern. 
"Evening."

Kassima salutes Kiat, actually half-waves to Nie, and hums along with a 
bit of the Blood Song before obligingly closing her eyes. "Closed," she 
reports, in case this wasn't obvious.

K'tyn saunters in, dropping salutes and greetings as he passes people on 
his way to a certain proddy Greenrider. "Evening, yes, Evening." He stops 
near Kassima, and presents her with a seaweed wrapped gift. "Here you 
are -- N'ren, what are you doing? She can't eat this fish if her eyes are 
closed."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima is reminded of that dwarven song, 'Gold, gold, gold, 
gold,' from Terry Pratchett's books. ;)

Talnor nods in deferential greeting to the Weyrleader.

N'ren nods, "Now, breathe in, slowly, through your nose. Breathe in until 
you cannot anymore. Then breathe out, just as slowly, through your mouth. 
Try to empty your mind of all thoughts. And this works well for trying to 
get to sleep too."

N'ren grins over at K'tyn, "Trying to help Kassima relax, of course."

Lysseth> Kvasith snorts and glances at Lysseth again. Staring at her, 
even, with obvious curiousity.

Aurian shakes her head and murmurs almost out of hearing, "I don't think 
its going to work."

Kassima cracks open an eye at that, regarding Kiat and the package with 
surprise. "Fish?" A back-rub, a song about blood, and now raw fish... this 
really must be her lucky day as far as proddiness goes. "Looks delicious, 
sir--oh, right. Breathe." She closes that one eye and poises herself to 
begin, though has to pause to mutter, "Lysseth, get *out* of m'head with 
your complaints for one bloody moment already."

Talnor goes into a chorus of "Fish fish fish..."

Aurian glances at Ro, "Did he say raw fish?"

Channie moves closer to kassi's table while her eyes are closed and peers 
at the little package. "That's fish in there?"

Ro nods, unfazed by the news.

Lysseth> Lysseth isn't that much more pleased to be stared at than Kassi 
is. She's not that sort of proddy green... not yet. With obvious disdain, 
she yawns at Kvasith--showing off unusually long teeth quite by 
coincidence--and turns about to curl up in a ball of glowing green 
dragon-hide in her spot at the far side of the Bowl.

K'tyn grins and unwraps the parcel, snaring a goodly portion for himself 
and Channie too as he hooks his foot around a stool and seats himself. 
"There's little to this, Channie. You need merely mix the sauces together 
and there you are. Just dip--like so--and eat." He pops a tidbit into his 
mouth and chews with evident relish. "S'good. Try it."

Lysseth> Kvasith doesn't really pay attention to the teeth after all he's 
now bigger than Lysseth, so he just keeps staring like the fool dragonet 
he is.

Lysseth> Kheveth rumbles complacently, perfectly happy where he is. He 
yawns, with the biggest teeth yet, and then settles down.

Kassima snorts at something unheard, and relaxes marginally. "Try t'think 
of naught 'tall?" she repeats. "I thought thinking of ovines was supposed 
t'put one t'sleep." One hand snakes out to snare a bit of the fish to pop 
into her mouth.

Channie's nose wrinkles up worriedly. "Won't eatting the fish uncooked 
make you sick?" But she's already pulling up a chair next to the 
bronzerider and eyeing the little neatly rolled fish-bits

N'ren shakes his head, "That's an old Auntie's tale. When you think of 
ovines, or anything else, you are still thinking. If you're not thinking, 
you get bored and fall asleep." He grins, "Well, at least, that's always 
worked for me."

R'val shrugs, "Best way to fall asleep is to have a regular sleepign time, 
if you can, and to tire yourself out."

Talnor takes the opportunity to switch into another song. He chooses a 
relaxing instrumental version of a Teaching ballad.

K'tyn shakes his head. "I feared about that too, getting sick. But tis not 
so with fish prepared properly. Sea-fish, that is. Not fresh, apparently." 
He looks about the table and offers bits of it to others. "Tis tasty, 
isn't it? No strong fish smell or taste. Just... tender, smooth and ..." 
he gasps suddenly, reaching for water. "That paste is hot!"

"Can't argue with *that* one," Kassima states, her tone as dry as it's 
been for most of this evening. "If'n aught 'twill put one t'sleep, 'tis 
boredom... the raw fish is edible, sir. Thankee." She makes a slight face 
at the change of song topic from blood and fish, then takes a long, deep 
breath through her nose as instructed, exhaling in a prolonged sigh. "Like 
that?" she inquires.

Ro looks over at the weyrleader in alarm, coming out of her seat "Are you 
alright, sir?!"

Aurian takes one of the bits out of curiousity, though the way she nibbles 
it speaks of suspicion. She blinks as her eyes water with the heat of the 
paste, "Ummm oh my."

Channie giggles and snatches up a little roll for herself, rolling it 
around in the strange paste stuff. "Oh, I like hot stuff!" She bites into 
the roll and chews before her eyes fly open wide. "mmph!"

N'ren nods, even though he's behind Kassima, "Yes. That's fine."

Aurian lets the tears stream, "Oh that paste could be used to help with 
colds, back at Healer." She blinks, "Tis good though.

K'tyn nods at Ro, enthusiastically. "Oh, fine, Ro. That paste is great for 
clearing out your nose!" Greedily, he grabs for another, dunking and 
eating it, and gasping again. "It's fantastic!" The bronzerider chuckles 
at Aurian and Channie, but keeps chewing. "It feels like an explosion in 
your head!"

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn sorries, I want sushi irl, and it's too late to get 
any. :)

Telgar Weyr> Talnor says, "And now you have me wanted sushi. Sigh."

Telgar Weyr> Aurian says, "I'm pretty desperate for it now too. Thanks 
Kiat."

Telgar Weyr> Talnor says, "Oops "wanting""

Channie sniffles and reaches for something to drink, "water?" Her voice is 
a little rough. "I should have got some. Shards, that is a strange taste!"

Telgar Weyr> Rowen whines. Suuuuushi.

Kassima nods slightly and keeps trying. She may be breathing properly, but 
the fact that about every third attempt is punctuated by a mutter of, 
"Shut up, Lysseth," or something similar probably doesn't bode well. 
Finally, her eyes fly open and she sighs in disgust. "I get the feeling 
that trying t'clear m'thoughts isn't going to work as long as *she*," and 
here she jerks her thumb towards the Bowl, "is awake." She just eyes the 
Weyrleader a touch oddly, snaring another roll of fish to eat herself 
without any past. "An explosion in your head. Um. Unless 'twould make Lyss 
suffer the same, ridiculous wench, methinks 'twill pass."

Aurian takes another one, snatching it and dipping it. She chews happily, 
"Ohhh yum." She stretches, "its not so large an explosion the secod time."

Talnor watches everyone exploding from the strange food, and starts 
playing a duty song about dragons burning Thread.

Ro settles back down "If you are sure, sir."

Channie gets up, eyes still moist as she fills a large glass with water. 
Drinking from the glass as she goes, she settles back into her seat and 
picks up another roll.

Aurian can't help herself and takes another one of the odd rolls, she 
chews thoughtfully, "It really is quite good."

K'tyn nods, "I'm sure. It's Just....I can't explain it. But I like it," he 
grins at the others. "It is, isn't it? Try this salty stuff. It's tasty, 
too."

Channie gulps down the rest of her roll and licks off her finger. "It 
doesn't even seem raw. I thought Fish would be slimy."

Kassima shakes her head at Kiat. "The less seasoned the better, sir, but 
thankee. Mayhaps when I'm more... ah... in m'right mind. Or next time I go 
t'Boll, for that matter." For now, she settles for another plain roll, 
seeming contented enough with the unsauced, unpasted raw fish. If total 
relaxation is beyond her for the moment, at least she has food to distract 
her.

K'tyn nods at Channie. "Just tender and sweet and..." He grins. "Very 
good."

Talnor switches back to playing "Fish fish fish." It seems to keep Kassima 
happier that way.

Channie nods slowly, still rather thoughtful. SHe dunks the next bit of 
fish into the darker, thinner stuff and tries it. "mmm...that's not as 
good

Ro bids everyone a good evening and slips off into the lower caverns.
Ro walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima waggles the roll at Talnor in approval of his song. "Blood, blood, 
blood was best, but fish will do," she decides. She looks, on the whole, 
to be in a much fairer mood than she was earlier this evening. "Now, with 
sufficient klah--and if'n Ofira's apprentices remember the raw meat this 
time--methinks I can survive one more day without kicking the Green Lady's 
tail end all the way t'Timor. Faranth forfend she should hold out any 
longer'n that."

K'tyn mixes the paste and salty stuff together, the brilliant pink of the 
deepsea fish glisteny as he dips it in and downs it, eyes popping wide as 
the fumes from the paste take exit from his sinus cavities --and out his 
tear ducts.

Talnor starts mixing things around. "Blood fish milk...."

Channie points to the new mixture. "Can I try that? Now that looks 
really..." She glances over at Talnor. "huh?"

Lysseth> Kvasith rumbles at Lysseth as he continues to watch her, really 
hoping for some sort of reaction. Curiousity, it kills y' know.

Aurian looks a bit green at Talnor.

Talnor shrugs and smiles impishly.

Kassima watches Kiat for a moment. "That," she informs him, "looks very 
unhealthy and painful. I do believe I'll pass. A sadist I am; a masochist 
I am nay. Ugh, Miner, d'you really have t'put *milk* in there? That's 
*disgusting.*"

Lysseth> Lysseth raises one wing, peering out from under it to see whether 
the young brown is still eyeing her. He is. She directs a snarl his way, 
foreclaws raking across the Bowl to leave great gouges, then covers her 
head again. How's that for a reaction, Kvasith?

Rowen enters from the Bowl.

Aurian picks up another roll as she eyes the new mixture, she hmmms.

Lysseth> Kheveth unlids his own eyes, and rumbles a faint warning, as if 
to indicate that Kvasith is under his protection. Not that he bothers to 
cover the younger brown with a wing or anything - that would look strange. 
Just a reminder that dragon - and, presumably rider - take their duties 
seriously.

Lysseth> Kvasith blinks, and then tucks his head under his wing. Full 
grown and warbling like he was just hatched.

Talnor pauses. "Well, it's the original word to the song. How about this?" 
He starts playing again. "Blood fish meat..."

K'tyn laughs, clearly enjoying himself. "It's tasty. But watch it! It will 
send fumes out of your eyes. And Kassi, you should not be so afraid of 
trying new things!"

Rowen wandersi n from the bowl, and blinks at the first words she hears. 
"Have I walked into a firelizard convention?"

Lysseth> Lysseth is hardly cowed, but then, she's not really interested in 
threatening the younger brown either. She just wants not to be stared at; 
is that so much to ask? With a last *hmph* at Kvasith, she does her level 
best to ignore every other dragon in the vicinity.

Talnor finishes another chorus of his song, then gets to his feet. "But, 
now I need to finish my nightly chores."

Aurian dips the roll into the new mixture and chews contentedly, even 
though her eyes burst into tears at the spiciness.

Channie watches Talnor as he plays, "Well, it's a really original song, 
that's for certain. And, it looks like Kassi liked it."

N'ren stands slowly, and turns to place his chair back where he took it 
from. He stretches, and says, "I'd best be going too. Good night all."

"Better," Kassi states briefly. "Sir, with all due respect, most things 
that aren't simple raw meat make me want t'throw up. And I doubt any of us 
really want t'see that."

Lysseth> Kvasith peeks at Lysseth again, and sort of stares at her 
partially now. Just not with both eyes.

Rowen finds herselfa seat, after a visit to the food hearth for a pair of 
meatrolls.

Aurian nods to her mentor, "Night N'ren." She smiles.

Kassima looks up and nods to N'ren, civilly no less. "Clear skies, 
brownrider." After a moment's thought, she adds, "Thankee for all the 
help."

Rowen lifts a hand for the rider, swallowing her bite of meatroll quickly 
to say, "G'night, N'ren!"

Talnor smiles, amused. "I'll have to remember this song for other 
occasions, then. Good night, all." He nods deferentially to K'tyn, and 
then to the others in the room.

Talnor walks towards the inner cavern.

N'ren gathers up his straps, slinging them over his shoulder. "Not a 
problem, Wingleader." As he walks past Aurian, he lifts his hand to muss 
her hair. "G'night, kiddo." A nod to Rowen.

Aurian cocks an eyebrow as her hair gets mussed.

With that, N'ren retreats to the bowl.

N'ren walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Engrossed in keeping his eyes in his head, Kiat waves after people, mostly 
too late. "Well, that was just what I needed," he murmurs. "Heya Rowen. 
There's some Bollian treats here, if you'd like some. Tis quite good."

Lysseth> N'ren steps out, lively, and walks over to Kheveth. Kheveth 
rumbles at him. N'ren rumbles back. Kheveth opens one eye, completely 
unlidding it, and then the other. "Yes, yes. After we get up there."

Channie sighs quietly and leans back in her chair, cupping both hands over 
her stomach as if she'd eatting too much. "Jays! I don't think I'll be 
able to mount up to get to A'lex's weyr." After her little protest she 
waves to Rowen.

Kassima filches another roll from the package, eyeing it for a moment 
before popping it into her mouth. "So, sir," she asks once she's chased it 
down with lukewarm and heavily spiked klah, "d'you suppose there'd be any 
way t'get this on the Weyr menu whenever Lysseth's brightening up the 
evenings? It does make an... interesting... change from the red meat."

K'tyn winks at Channie. "There's the ground Guest Weyrs, if you like," he 
offers. Just outside the door." He grins at Kassi. "Better to get to Boll 
more often, Kassi, I think. Though -- I've no objection to it. It is a 
pleasant change"

Channie giggles at K'tyn, "Oh, I don't know.I rather like snuggling up to 
that Bronzerider of mine while I have the chance to."

Aurian pops another piece of the fish into her mouth and sighs.

Slapping his knee, K'tyn grins. "Then best you get up there, hm? Or he 
might come looking for you... though, that does have possibilities." 
Wickedly, the weyrleader chuckles. "It'd be amusing."

Kassima shrugs at that, frowning a trace. "I don't get that many chances 
t'get out that way anymore, between drills, duties, and daughters. When I 
do go, I usually have t'take hidework with me."

Channie smiles impishly, her dimples showing was she tilts her chin up. 
"If he comes down here, he can just pick me up and carry me up there. 
That'd save the whole problem of me climbing up onto Kemith with my full 
tummy."

K'tyn stretches himself, wincing faintly at his leg as it pulls slightly. 
"Kassi," he grins. "I guess Richenda is our only hope, hm?"

Rowen peers over at the spot the Weyrleader indicates, head tilting 
slightly, "Oh? What kind?"

Kassima asks, mystified, "The Headwoman? She makes raw fish? Odd. I didn't 
think she would."

Channie looks over at Kassi curiously. "you could learn who to make it 
yourself."

"I hung up m'cooking spoon a long time ago, Nie. If'n I'd the time 
t'cook--except, a'course, for when Lyss is proddy and I can't go 
*anywhere*--then I'd have time t'go t'Boll." Kassima finishes the last of 
her klah, dabbing at the corners of her mouth. "Hey... where'd the blood-
singing guy go?"

Channie tsks at Kassi, "He left some time ago greenrider."

Aurian shrugs as she dips another fish roll in the spicey mixture.

Kassima frowns in disappointment, looking about as though the poor boy 
might be hiding somewhere. "Such a pity. That's the first Minecrafter I've 
ever seen who could actually *sing.* Blood, blood, blood, blood, blood..." 
she sings herself, using her alto register. "Catchy, don't you think?"

Channie murmurs, "It was a very odd song anyway. Fish, milk and blood or 
something. Or was it Fish-milk and blood?

Aurian murmurs, "I thought it was bloody fish milk?

"Fish blood and meat," Rowen pipes up.

Channie sings in her off-key sort of way. "Milky fish blood meat. meaty 
milk fish blood."

"Are you lot *trying* t'make me ill?" Kassima demands irately, eyeing all 
of those who mentioned milk at all.

Channie stops singing. "What? I thought you liked the song."

Kassima corrects irritably, "I like *blood*. And *fish*. And *meat*. But I 
do *nay* like milk. The very thought of combining those things is 
revolting beyond m'capability for tolerance."

Aurian murmurs as she chews, "He should of sang raw bloody fish, " She 
swallows and starts to sing a little in that very off key fashion of hers, 
"Raw bloody fish, raw bloody fish, ....

Kassima relaxes and looks more pleased by 'raw bloody fish'. She even 
unslings the crystal-pommelled riding-crop from her belt and starts to 
wave it in the air to keep the tempo.

Aurian sings a little more of the "raw bloody fish.." refrain. Even though 
her singing voice, sounds like a wherry being slaughtered by a proddy 
green.

Channie hms quietly and shrugs up her shoulders. "I thought it was tubers 
that you didn't like. I guess mashed tubers and milk would have been even 
worse."

At the moment, Kassi likes listening to the sound of a wherry being 
slaughtered by a proddy green. "Raw bloody fish, raw bloody fish," she 
sings along, her own voice clear and even pleasant, though the words 
probably aren't. "Ugh! *Channie*! Don't mention that combination in 
m'presence! That's vile, disgusting, unspeakable, horrendous, terrible, 
torturesome...." She continues on in this vein for quite some time, 
whacking the table at intervals with her crop to emphasize her point.

Channie ducks slightly as if she thinks that crop is going to come 
swinging at her and smiles innocently. "Kassi Kassi Kassi...."

Aurian takes a moment to chew on another bit of raw fish, she hums the 
tune as she chews the mouth ful.

Kassima shakes the crop at Nie, her expression foreboding. "I mean it, 
Channie. Don't mention nauseating things around me. I've been in a fairly 
good mood this evening, and I *don't* want t'have it spoiled by a bout of 
retching."

Rowen rises, and heads for the bowl, saying, "Well, I need to be going."

Channie looks slightly disapointed at Kassima's 'wet-blanket' attitdue and 
rolls her eyes. "FINE" She turns away and waves to Rowen. "Night."
Rowen walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Lysseth> Rowen glances over at you as she leaves teh cavern, and nods, 
"Thought you were going to bed?"

Kassima demands, "Surely you're *nay* about t'imply that you find it 
surprising that I'm nay fond of the idea of throwing up?"

Lysseth> N'ren glances around, "Hm? Oh. Just having an argument with my 
dragon. He doesn't want to get up."

Lysseth> Rowen laughs softly, "I suppose having a weyr up in the sky can 
be a problem at times like this."

Channie shakes her head, "no, not that. That the topic Mil....I mean, 
certain foods would make you sick like that."

Kassima points out with a heavy sigh, "When Lysseth's proddy, Nie, most 
food makes me sick. Nay t'talk about, but--yeesh, milk and blood? That's 
*disgusting*!"

Lysseth> N'ren nods, "Yes, indeed, it is. He said he wants to sit here and 
appreciate Lysseth. I don't think she much likes that, though."

Lysseth> Judging by the way Lysseth's curled up into as tight a ball as 
possible, as far away as possible from any and all other dragons in this 
section of the Bowl, this would probably be a safe guess.

Channie giggles, "blood and meat is pretty disgusting too if you /think/ 
about it."

Aurian murmurs, "Don't forget the fish.

Lysseth> Rowen laughs softly, shaking her head. She notes, "Well, there're 
always cots in the dorms."

Lysseth> Kvasith sticks his head out from under his wing and stares at 
Lysseth again, already forgetting his silly fear.

Kassima gets all starry-eyed. "Oh, nay, 'tis nay... have you ever had 
bloody meat? I mean really bloody, uncooked meat, soaked in wine? Fish is 
one thing, but red meat... mmmm. 'Tis the only perfect food."

Aurian raises an eyebrow

Kassima glances towards the Bowl, then, and heaves an exasperated sigh. 
"Aurian, could you ask Kvasith t'stop staring at Lyss? 'Tis bugging the 
shards out of her, so naturally, she won't stop bothering *me* about it."

Lysseth> N'ren chuckles, "Not for someone my size, I'm afraid."

Aurian tilts her head to the side in a moment of silent conversation.

Channie makes a face slightly at Kassi, "yuck." Then she looks out to the 
bowl, "Why doesn't she go up to her ledge if she doesn't like the 
attention?

Lysseth> Kvasith rumbles in annoyance and curls up to sleep at last.

Lysseth> Rowen looks you up and down for a moment, then grins, and shakes 
her head. "Well, that coudl be another problem, indeed," Rowen observes. 
She thinks for a moment, then asks, "You can't convince im for just a ride 
up to your weyr?"

Aurian shrugs, "I don't know how long it will last Kassima, he seems quite 
curious about it, and he's never noticed it before."

Lysseth> Kheveth rumbles again, in annoyance, and slowly gets to his feet. 
His eyes whirl blueish green, slowly.

"Because then she'd have t'stir her lazy green rump in order t'come down 
here and get me," Kassi points out in a droll drawl, "and Faranth forfend 
she should have t'do *that*. Eh... some males seem fascinated by glowing 
greens. I daresay they wouldn't be if'n they had t'listen t'their 
*complaints* all the time."

Lysseth> N'ren puts his hands on his hips. "Finally." He turns back to 
Rowen, "Well, I'm up to sleeping."

Lysseth> Rowen wanders over to the brown, noting, "You know, you can 
always come back and stare at her some more if you want."

Lysseth> Rowen glances back at N'ren, and nods, "I think that'll be my 
next move, too. Sleep well. Glad you managed to get back to your weyr, at 
least."

Aurian mutters as she eats, "Well I'm sure that if she told him, he might 
just listen to her." She examines another bit of the fish, "He seems to 
think that she looks like Yasinth, only greener."

Lysseth> N'ren chuckles, "Not a problem. It's right up there." He points 
up.

Lysseth> N'ren heads over to his dragon.

Lysseth> N'ren steps up onto Kheveth's proferred foreleg, and swings 
himself up onto his back with the help of the straps.

Lysseth> Rowen reaches out to pat a dragonmuzzle lightly, waiting for 
permission at a hairsbredth away.

Lysseth> Atop Kheveth's back, N'ren calls, "Go ahead, but only a little. 
He's grouchy right now."

Kassima predicts with resignation, "Tomorrow. Believe me, she'll get t'the 
point where she'll probably speak up about it tomorrow. I *hope* 'tis 
tomorrow, anyway... this doesn't get much easier with time. All her fault 
for giving me a Turn t'forget what 'tis like." She peers outside, 
nevermind that it's too dark to see anything. "Like Yasinth? Nay. 
Yasinth's nay as scrawny."

Lysseth> Rowen nods, and scritches lightly, smiling at the brown, "Oh, 
don't be so testy. She'll be here once your rider's safely in bed.

Lysseth> Kheveth spreads his wings, and crouches. One leap and downbeat 
later, dust kicks up and the older brown is swallowed up by the night.

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

Aurian shrugs, "You try to tell him..." She pops the fish in her mouth.

Lysseth> Rowen coughs a little at the dust kickup, and shakes her head. 
She heads off towards the beach.

Kassima flicks her fingers irritably, getting to her feet. "If'n male 
dragons are half so hard t'speak to as most male humans, I'll pass. I'm 
going t'see if'n I can plead with Lyss t'*please* let me try t'sleep, 
though I suspect 'tis futile."

Lysseth> Kvasith stretches out on the ground as there is suddenly more 
room for him. Sure enough he opens his eyes to watch Lysseth.

Channie watches Kassima stand and sighs. "I hope you're feeling better by 
tomorrow." Meaning, she hopes the flight goes off very soon so she can 
have her friend back

Kassima rolls her eyes suddenly. "And since she's complaining again... 
gah. Aye, I'll take her up to the ledge." Shooting a look back at Nie, she 
regards her friend levelly for a moment before nodding once. "So," she 
agrees succinctly, "do I." And with that, she heads out, tossing her 
crystal idly between her hands.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. 
You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower 
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered 
foreleg.

<*> Kvasith rumbles.

<*> Lysseth gets to her feet only under protest, snarling quietly up at 
her rider, who seems inclined to snarl back. "You *wanted* t'go, so we're 
bloody well going. Quit the freaking complaining already or I'll use this 
riding crop t'tan your green hide from your bones." The empty threat is 
met with a contemptuous snort, but the green *does* get a move-on, with 
one last grumble Kvasith's way.

<*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up 
dust as she takes to the skies.

You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor 
to carry you aloft.