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Defcon 4


Date:  April 4, 1996
Places:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern and North 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:  Just returned from Igen Weyr's latest Hatching, Aph
and Kassi have come into the Living Cavern for something to drink--
and to spread the news of the latest Impressions.  This latter topic
takes off in directions I doubt either of them expected.  This is a
classic log:  K'nan and F'nar both lose their cool, M'kla's son gets 
chewed out, Elyandra's son makes an appearance as an infant, and Veyon 
gets tormented a bit, all in the same night!

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The Log:

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

Kenai walks in from the bowl.

Aphrael salutes as she wanders in, ambling towards the hearth. "Good eve all."

Myklarr walks over to Salless, head downcast.

Salless nods at Myklarr as he orders something.

Salless pours a tankard of ale from a pitcher for Myklarr. It is one of
K'rick's brews, so the taste is excellent.

Aanya sullenly sips at her wine, occasionally given the Evil Eye
bowl-wards, but mostly keeping to herself.

Kassima nods here and there, saluting K'nan and Aanya smartly. "Good
evening, all," she says, wandering over to her usual chair and, of course,
the pitcher of citron.

Kenai follows after Aphrael, searching for a klah pot with something left
in it.

Benden Weyr> Aanya says, "Why doesn't anyone ever salute dumbly? :>"

Benden Weyr> F'nar . o O ( Or soggily? )

K'nan shakes his head, trying to not look amusedly, then glances up. "Heya
Aph."

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Because that would be, um, dumb and soggy? :)"

Myklarr carries his tankard over to an empty table and slides gracefully
into a chair. He looks into the tankard a moment before lifting it to his
lips and draining a quarter of it.

K'nan shakes his head, trying not to look amused, then glances up. He
smiles, "Heya Aph."

Aphrael pours her klah, and wanders over to join K'nan, "Heyla K'nan," She
pauses, "What are you looking so amused about?"

K'nan chuckles softly, and glances quickly over at Aanya, "Oh, um..was jus'
remembering something R'val said th'other day..."

Lysseth> Veyath wakes up some more, and warblecroons over to Lysseth and
Prefeth.

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles back to Veyath, rustling her wings and watching
the clouds overhead.

Dragon> Prefeth and Lysseth sense that Veyath croons softly inn greeting,
sending vague, unhappy impressions of the cold and dampness. << Hello.. >>

Aanya retrieves some hides from her pouch, shuffling them around and
pointedly ignoring K'nan's amusement.

Aphrael raises an eyebrow at that, glancing over towards Aayna, then
shrugging.

Lysseth> Veyath and Prefeth sense that Lysseth rumbles. << Hello, Veyath.
How are things, besides *cold* and *wet* and *unpleasant*? >>

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Veyath snorts lightly. << Things are well,
besides that. >>

Myklarr tilts his head back, drinking long from his tankard. He slams the
mug back down, wiping a sleeve across his lips before returning to his
moody contemplation of the little bit of ale remaining in the tankard.

Lysseth> I bespoke Veyath with << But that is bad enough. I prefer sunning
in *Boll* to this *general impression of yuckiness* weather. >>

Kassima looks up from her glass and drums her fingers on the table for a
moment before saying, "Did any of you go to the Igen Hatching as well?"

K'nan shakes his head quietly. "No..."

Aanya pokes desultorily at the hides. Looks up. "No, but I heard Kenai's
sister, I think, impressed."

Myklarr looks over at Kassima, an almost whistful expression on his face
for a mere instance when she mentioned 'Hatching.'

Kenai nodnods.

Lysseth> In the skies above, You feel a few drops of water splash on you.
After a few moments a light but steady rain falls.

Kassima nods. "Aye, Sayra, I think her name was--she Impressed a blue.
Um... Viylath? I think that was his name." She hrms. "Not too many blues in
that clutch," she comments. "Lots of browns, a few greens, very few bronzes."

Lysseth> Veyath lifts her head up to regard the rain, and gives an
unhappily wurble.

Kenai grins. "Vilyath. She was so happy ! She and three of the other
Candidates became very close friends, and they all four Impressed..."

Lysseth> Lysseth looks up at the sky for a moment and rumbles in faint
disgust.

Myklarr listens intently to the conversations from the dark corner in which
he sits. He tries to appear nonchalant, but his posture shows his interest
in Kassima's conversation in particular.

Kassima smiles. "That's well! I only knew one person on the sands,
remotely, and she Impressed... let me think. Green, I believe."

K'nan chuckles softly, and nods to Kassima. "Good for her."

Kenai shakes her head slowly... "There were so many that didn't Impress..."

Benden Weyr> K'nan considers the virtue of sleep.

Benden Weyr> M'kla is without virtue.

Kassima taps her chin thoughtfully. "Kershala, who stood at Fort, Impressed
brown. Cirdanth, that was his name. I didn't recognize most of the
others--oh, wait, Berin Impressed. He was a Candidate here for our clutch;
he's B'rin, now, and brown Orith's weyrling."

Benden Weyr> F'nar doesn't say anything for fear of getting summarily
thwapped either way.

Benden Weyr> M'kla twhaps F'nar just for fun!

Benden Weyr> Aanya says, "Yes, yes, we know /that/, M'kla. :>"

Benden Weyr> F'nar ow.

Myklarr shakes his head. He finally speaks, his voice oddly soft and calm.
"Who cares about them? Who Impressed bronze?"

K'nan eyes Myklarr for a moment, and sighs, shaking his head and murmuring
to himself as he picks some more at his dinner.

Kenai shrugs. "There were only three bronzes- one went to someone from...
Tillek ?"

Kassima frowns a bit. "Didn't catch the names. One lad from Tillek did;
they were cheering for him on the ledges, but didn't say who he was. Only
two others in the clutch."

Kassima nods. "Aye, from Tillek. Got that handsome bronze who hatched
third, or thereabouts."

Myklarr sighs, the fools he must deal with. "The most important dragons in
the clutch and nobody can give me any of the names of who Impressed them."
He shakes his head and looks back at the table, idly drawing his finger
along it.

Kenai frowns over at the young man and then shrugs, turning away.

K'nan /snorts/ audibly. "Most important, hah! Wherever'd y'get that idea
from, Myklarr?"

Kassima shrugs. "They're no more important than any other until they've
proven themselves as more capable," she observes. "When--or rather,
if--they do, then I'm sure their names will be well known soon enough."

Myklarr looks up at K'nan. "I don't see you being weyrleader or leading a
wing, K'nan." He says simply.

Kenai coughs.

K'nan raises an eyebrow. "Nor would I want to...but if it weren't for
th'rest of us, how ever would they cover Fall?"

Myklarr shakes his head, exasperated. "By telling you to do it."

K'nan laughs! "Mebbe y'don't understand something, Myklarr...if P'tran, or
a wingleader or wingsecond or someone ordered me t'do something, I'd do it.
I'd do th'same if M'kla did..she's weyrsecond, and a greenrider. But then,
y'know that. But if some random bronzerider walked up and started t'order
me around, I'd tell 'im what he could do with his orders." He chuckles
amusedly, shaking his head. "An' a brownrider could be weyrleader prolly,
too..so what's that say? 'Cept maybe for th'golds, no dragon's more
important than another."

F'nar walks in from the bowl.

F'nar nods hello.

Myklarr snorts at the thought of a brownrider being weyrleader. "Only a
bronze can catch a senior queen. And how many of these brownrider
weyrleaders do you know? It doesn't happen, and because of that each
bronzerider is a potential Weyrleader. Unlike those blues and greens."

F'nar mutters to himself, "Great,... his tirades against blues and...
again.... wouldn't... that if... mom was..."

K'nan snorts right back, amusedly. "So, your point is that because a bronze
can catch a senior queen, they're more important."

Myklarr nods. "The greenrider finally sees the light," he snorts.

Benden Weyr> K'nan chuckles at his character. K'nan's having far too much
fun here. ;)

K'nan nods a few times. "That is undoubtedly the most absurd thing I've
ever heard in my life," he smiles.

Kassima snorts very slightly. "Assuming that were true, which it's not,
that's the dragon. Not the rider. Just 'cause a bronze can fly a queen
doesn't make his rider the perfect leader--why would it?"

Benden Weyr> F'nar says, "Oh, Myklarr... what about your mother?"

Benden Weyr> K'nan chuckles. I think he's trying to ignore that subject. ;)

Myklarr shrugs. "Think what you will. Of course, you're limited by that
green of yours --" He stops and looks at Kassima. "Do you think a bronze
will choose a Candidate who is not suitable?"

Benden Weyr> Myklarr grins. She's the exception. :)

Kenai snorts, thinking of some stories she has heard, of historical
bronzeriders, and queenriders, for that matter.

K'nan's eyes narrow, ever so slightly. He murmurs to himself, only audible
to those near enough, "'Limited', eh..."

Benden Weyr> F'nar heh.

Kassima shrugs. "No one knows how dragons choose. Mayhaps they look for
leadership qualities--and perhaps not. I'd sooner trust to Meli's orders
than, say, T'lar's--not because he's not a good leader, but she's just a
bit better."

Benden Weyr> Aanya says, "There's an exception to every rule, right? :>"

Lysseth> Veyath slowly turns her head to peer at the living cavern, a bit
of red swirling into her eyes as she slowly moves to the side of the
entrance, tail flicking idly back and forth..back and forth...

F'nar's neck bristles at his cousin's attitude, barely able to hold his
tongue. However, he manages to put a calm face on.

Myklarr's eyes narrow at the mention of T'lar. But he forces himself to
continue. "But if T'lar were Weyrleader would you listen to Meli sooner
than him? I don't think so."

Lysseth> Lysseth gives a long look at the Living Cavern and snorts loudly,
rumbling.

Benden Weyr> K'nan says, "Ryialla, we have someone here who thinks
greenriders are 'limited'. ;)"

Kassima nods. "Aye, I would. I might follow him sooner, because I'd have
to, but I'd pay more heed to what Meli advised."

Benden Weyr> Ryialla says, "Oooh. *evil grin*"

Aanya keeps her tongue in check, merely curling back in her seat to listen.
No telling /what/ would happen if she spoke.

Benden Weyr> F'nar polishes up his rake and notes that the fire ain't
flaming no more...

Benden Weyr> Myklarr wonders if his last pose made it through.

Benden Weyr> Aanya says, "Depends on what your last pose was. :>"

Benden Weyr> F'nar . o O ( Eyes narrow at the mention of T'lar...)

Benden Weyr> Myklarr guesses not. :)

Benden Weyr> K'nan says, "Defcon 4"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Just what *is* Defcon 4?"

Benden Weyr> F'nar . o O ( Heightened Readiness. )

Benden Weyr> Kassima kewlieses.

Myklarr shakes his head. "And where would that leave discipline? If anybody
listened to whoever sounded better at the time, instead of the traditional
leader of the Weyr, how would a Weyr effectively fight thread?" he asks,
smiling cooly.

Aanya just can't resist: "If the leader of a weyr is a respected--" here,
the title is almost an insult, "/bronze/rider, then what does it matter?
But face it, not all bronzeriders are necessarily leadership material." A
pause, before she adds, "I mean, I certainly wouldn't want some slothful,
lazy womanizer as a weyrleader, and there are definitely enough of /those/
around the weyrs."

Kassima smiles mildly. "There's a difference 'tween following orders and
taking advice, you know. If the Weyrleader or Wingleader ordered something,
I'd do it, of course. That's discipline. But if someone with more wisdom or
knowledge of the situation advised me on how to fulfill those commands in a
better way, I'd listen to him or her." She sips her citron, then resumes.
"Impressing bronze doesn't give one ultimate wisdom. If it had, T'lar
wouldn't have irked Cerilla by treating everyone like his personal
drudge--that was pretty far from wise."

Benden Weyr> Kassima wonders if what she's saying makes any sense, or if
she's just rambling again... as usual. :)

Benden Weyr> Aanya giggles. I think maybe we're all rambling a bit, but
it's still fun, no? :)

Benden Weyr> Kassima nodnodnods. :)

K'nan nods agreement with Aanya and Kassi, adding mildly, "Perhaps you
should learn some discipline yourself, Myklarr...the self-control necessary
not to insult people needlessly."

Benden Weyr> F'nar wonders if he can blow up now at Myklarr's insulting of
blues and greens?

K'nan says "-I- certainly don't believe I'm 'limited' in any way by the
fact that Veyath's green....and I'm quite sure M'kla isn't 'limited' by
Torinth, either."

Myklarr looks at Aanya. "Well, if they put suitable Candidates on the
Sands, then perhaps that wouldn't happen." It's obvious who he means. He
turns to look at Kassima. "Which emphasizes my poi--" He stops, suddenly
and swings his head to look at K'nan. "I /never/ insult anybody
needlessly," he says (forgetting a moment ago his general statement about
greens and blues).

Sweetly--perhaps /too/ sweet--Aanya says, "Or maybe you should try to
impress bronze, and see if it's really true?"

Benden Weyr> K'nan is already doing that, F'nar, in his own way.

Benden Weyr> K'nan grins.

Ryialla walks in from the bowl.

K'nan sends a distant smile Myklarr's way. "No? I'd have to disagree with
that...you either have a very bad memory, or, indeed, are a rather poor liar."

Benden Weyr> K'nan says, "Defcon 3"

Benden Weyr> F'nar grins. And can do tirade when necessary. Which isn't
often. Am of the variety my RL mother is. Go along until something needs
blowing up at. Then when she blows up, you better LISTEN.

Kassima gives another thin-lipped smile. "What Candidates are out on the
sands are those the dragons find suitable. I would say they certainly know
best; they've been choosing able Candidates for Turns, now."

Ryialla walks in and salutes. "Heyla, everyone.."

Myklarr shakes his head. "But she'll never be Weyrleader. She may be
Weyrsecond, but who remembers Weyrseconds?" He stops. "Listen, I don't have
to take any of this from you. Why don't you all go fawn over M'larr some
more and leave me alone," he says sullenly.

Lysseth> Veyath continues to lash her tail back and forth, in increasing
agitation.

Ryialla heads over to the klah pot and pours herself a cup. She stirs in
sweetner, and takes a sip as she tries to pick up the thread of the
conversation.

Aanya shrugs. "It seems to me that you're the one fawning over
bronzeriders, Myklarr."

K'nan snorts, disgusted. "You were th'one who started th'whole
conversation, Myklarr." He climbs to his feet, and waves to the general
populace of the LC..specifically not including Myklarr. "Well, I have early
sweeps t'morrow, so g'deve, all."

F'nar slams his glass down on the table, not quite breaking it. "Myklarr,"
he says as he stands up, "Your mother is very important to this Weyr. I
will not hear her disrespected by her own child."

Benden Weyr> K'nan hands the tirade over to F'nar, and heads out. ;)

Kassima smiles more sincerely to K'nan and salutes in parting. "G'night,
K'nan. Sleep well."

K'nan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Myklarr blinks suddenly, looking surprise over at his cousin, speechless.

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

F'nar gazes at the lad. "Would you say what you said if she were in here?"

Lysseth> K'nan strides over to Veyath, and raises one hand to her neck,
murmuring quietly to her in soothing tones. Slowly, her tail stops and her
eyes return, mostly, to their normal sapphire shade.

Lysseth> K'nan glances back at the LC, snorts, and moves around to mount up.

Lysseth> K'nan pulls himself up onto Veyath's neck using the flight straps
and her extended foreleg.

Lysseth> Veyath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to
carry her aloft.

Benden Weyr> K'nan sighs...stupid work. :( Night, all...*HUGS*

Myklarr shakes his head. "But... it's true," he says lamely. "She's just
another Weyrsecond in a long line of--" He looks sullenly down at the
table. "N-no, sir. I wouldn't."

Benden Weyr> Kassima wafflezhais to K'nan. Night!

F'nar nods, his look remaining stern. "And well you shouldn't. Now, why
would you insult your mother's dragon like you did?"

Ryialla raises an eyebrow.

Benden Weyr> F'nar whistles innocently. So much for F'nar's calm reputation.

Myklarr chews on his lip, still looking at the table, his hands twisting
among themselves. "I-- I don't know, sir... it's just that... I don't
know," he finishes lamely.

Benden Weyr> K'nan chuckles. K'nan's normally very calm too. You can insult
him as much as you want, he won't care. Now, insult /Veyath/.....

Benden Weyr> K'nan okeys, really going this time. ;)

Myklarr looks up, a brief moment of defiance. "But I wasn't insulting
Torinth," he says a tone of anger in his voice.

Ryialla pauses mid-sip, and both eyebrows shoot up. She slowly lowers her
cup and looks at Myklarr.

F'nar nods. "Very well, you may not have been. But you said that blues and
greens weren't as important as the bronzes." His voice lowers, as does his
glare. "Have you ever seen any bronze pull off maneuvers in drills that are
routine for any green?"

Myklarr bites his lip again, swallowing. His eyes drop downward once more
to the table. "I .... no, I haven't." Yes, this is getting to him. He looks
up again. "But it's just not fair. Why did Mylarr have to Impress Trynth.
Why couldn't I?" He says this last part softly.

Ryialla puts the mug down on the table with a thunk and folds her arms
against her chest. Her expression has abruptly gone from slightly curious
to rather infuriated.

F'nar sighs. "Myklarr, you've been this way ever since your brother
Impressed." His anger begins to ebb as he sees the youth seeing reason.
"Like Kassima said, no one knows how the dragon chooses. Did your mother
ever tell you about my life before Pavanth and I found each other?"

Benden Weyr> F'nar . o O ( Point 1--refuted. Point 2--refuted. Point
3--we're working on. :) )

Myklarr shakes his head. "Only that you were the Weyrharper. She hasn't
told me much more than that," he says haltingly and and reaches a hand up
to rub his left eye, trying to hide the sheen in them.

F'nar nods. "I stood through countless hatchings, always wondering why not
me. Finally, I ran. To the Harper Hall. It was as Weyrharper that I stood
that one last time. Until Pavanth was on the sands, I didn't think there
was a point either. You don't know how many times I saw my friends walk off
with a dragon and I didn't."

Benden Weyr> F'nar is more like his RL mother than he thought. Scary. Blow
up -> reconcile. Weird.

Benden Weyr> Ryialla sighs and has to go. Ride's leaving. Great timing..:(

Ryialla shakes her head and simply walks out.

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

Benden Weyr> F'nar whees. Blowing up can be fun. :)

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins.

Myklarr takes a deep breath, thinking about what F'nar just said. "I don't
want to spend my life mouldering away in the lower caverns," he says
softly. "I don't want to be a drudge. The son of the Weyrsecond should be
more. M'larr is. Kylarr wants to go be a Harper. I can't do any of that. I
just want to make M'kla proud of me... like she's proud of Mylarr." A tear
slides down his cheek and he swipes at it with hand, angered by his weakness.

Benden Weyr> Myklarr grins. M'kla referred to me as herself in a
perpetually bad mood. :)

Benden Weyr> F'nar lol!

Benden Weyr> Jehrina smirks

F'nar nods again. "Myklarr, can't you see she is proud of you?"

F'nar says "You don't have to be a rider, nor a crafter to have her favor.
She sees that. Why can't you?"

Myklarr shakes his head. "She is not," he says emphatically. "What have I
possibly done to make her proud of me? Nothing. Because that's all I'm good
for. I may be the eldest... I want to be a rider. I want to feel what
Mylarr felt. I want to be able to prove to her that I'm not useless." He
pauses, knowing he's rambling. "I don't know," he says, shaking his head
and looking at the table.

F'nar sighs again. The youth doesn't understand the weyr. "Myklarr, I got
to see a hold up close. The person you always saw, always heard of was the
Lord Holder. But did you know that the Hold wouldn't run without the
smaller holders farming the ground, the people in the kitchens, and so on
and so forth." He pauses to breathe, making sure he is calm. "The weyr is
the same. All everyone outside the weyr sees is the dragons in the sky,
flaming the Thread. But if it weren't for these people here," he indicates
the drudges in the kitchen, tending the fire, washing the dishes, and on a
wider sense, the miners and their firestone, the herders and their beasts,
the smiths and the machinery, "How could the dragons so much as get off the
ground?"

Benden Weyr> F'nar spams too.

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "MY GOD"

Benden Weyr> Aanya spa-am.

Benden Weyr> Jehrina :)

Benden Weyr> Myklarr grins. :)

Benden Weyr> F'nar looks innocent.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael hangs onto her connection by her fingernails. :)

Benden Weyr> Kassima idles to roam through the jungles of her kitchen in
search of the wild hot dog beast.... :)

Myklarr sighs. "I know... but my brother's a bronzerider. My mother's the
Weyrsecond. We have Ruathan Blood." He stops, thinking of where he's going
with this. "How can she be proud of her eldest son being a drudge, with all
of that. And when Kylarr enters the Harper Hall... I just feel like I'm
nothing. That I'm her biggest disappointment. I'm almost sixteen turns old.
I should have found something that I'm good at by now."

F'nar sighs. "You don't NEED to go out and save or entertain the world for
your mother to be proud of you, Myklarr."

Benden Weyr> F'nar's mind is starting to fuzz. We need to wind this up
somehow.

Benden Weyr> Kassima returns, having bagged two of her quarry. Mmmm.

Myklarr nods his head, still looking at the table. "You're probably right,
F'nar," he says, feeling as if he's admitting defeat and hating himself. He
looks up. "Will you tell her about this?" he asks a note of hope sounding
in his voice (that he won't). "I'll try to ... not act so poorly."

F'nar yawns a bit. "Anyway, I need to get up early tomorrow. Just remember
what we said, and that you aren't unimportant."

Myklarr nods, swallowing. "I'll try, sir. I'm very sorry," he says
sincerely, but doesn't look at F'nar, unable to meet his couin's eyes.

Benden Weyr> F'nar says, "What is this word 'try?' Do or do not. There is
no try."

F'nar nods, and heads out after finishing his drink.

Benden Weyr> Myklarr whistles innocently. :)

F'nar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Benden Weyr> F'nar says, "Mark?"

Benden Weyr> F'nar . o O ( As in Hammill... )

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "BAH"

Aphrael blinks, trying not to look as confused as she feels. She sits up a
little, and drinks her cold klah.

Myklarr exhales, puffing out his cheeks as he blows out. He looks up after
F'nar's retreating form and then around at the living cavern. He doesn't
attempt to meet the eyes of anybody there and chooses the now familiar
surface of the table to place his gaze.

Benden Weyr> F'nar kinda laughs, and wonders if he's ever run into anyone
famous here. :)

Kassima peers at Aph's mug. "Ugh, that's got to be disgustingly cold by
now," she says. "Want me to get you some that's fresher? I need to get
m'self another glass anyway."

Aphrael makes a face and nods. "Ayep. Its cold." She drinks the rest though.

Myklarr looks up at Kassima, and swallows. "I think I owe you an apology, I
guess," he says softly and haltingly.

Myklarr says "I mean, I can understand if you hate me or whatever... but...
I'm sorry."

Kassima stands and moves to the pitchers, pouring herself and Aphrael fresh
drinks. She looks at Myklarr and smiles, shaking her head. "Nay, I don't
hate you--and you don't owe me any apology. What's life without a good
debate now and then, hrm?"

Kassima hands Aph the klah mug and resumes her seat. "In all seriousness,
it's all right. I don't agree with what you said, of course. But if we
hated everyone we didn't agree with, well, there wouldn't be very many
people out there to like. Y'know?"

Aphrael takes the klah and chuckles ruefully, "When I think of all the
times Prefeth and I have disagreed on things.." she giggles openly.

Benden Weyr> F'nar yawns, and goes to bed..

Myklarr shakes his head. "But I... I insulted something that I could never
know or understand. I was...am jealous of you and it comes out, blatantly.
So, I do own an apology." He looks down at the table again.

Benden Weyr> Myklarr says, "Seeya, F'nar. :) Thanks for dealing with my
angst. :)"

Benden Weyr> F'nar curls up officially in the arms of an Alyssa and starts
snoring.

Kassima regards Myklarr for a moment, then shakes her head. "Again, it's
all right. Jealousy--it's one of those human failings, I guess; most people
have it over something. You can't help how you feel. Now, the
insults--well, I'd be lying if I said I took kindly to them, but it's
forgiveable."

Benden Weyr> Kassima rejoices in playing an eternally good-natured
character, then beats up Aphrael's server with a long sharp pointy stick,
making serverkabobs. :)

Benden Weyr> Maarie waves to her two cohorts in evil and the rest of the
weyr type people.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael chews. Much better than Kassi meet. *snuggaMaarie*!!

Benden Weyr> Kassima also de--argh, Maarie beat me to it. Oh, well.
*Waffleheylazaps a Maarie.* :)

Benden Weyr> Myklarr waves to Maarie.

Myklarr nods. "Thank you," he says quietly and stands up, somewhat wobbily.
He turns and slowly makes his way toward the inner caverns, his head bowed.

Myklarr walks towards the inner cavern.

Veyon walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Kassima watches after Myklarr for a moment, then sighs and glances to
Aphrael. "You must've been tired out by the Hatching," she says with a
slight chuckle. "You slept a long time." Kassi waves to Veyon, then takes a
sip from her glass.

Aphrael smiles a greeting to Veyon as she gulps down the (now hot) klah.
"Ah, better." She mutters as she puts the mug back on the table, stretching
and yawning.

Veyon nods to Aph and Kassi, "Seen Maarie?"

Benden Weyr> Myklarr has used up his angst quota for the night and will now
retire, leaving you to your regularily scheduled IC lives. :)

Aphrael glances over at Kassi and snorts. "Wasn't sleeping." She denies.

Aphrael blinks, "Hrm, Maarie? She left for the smithhall after the
hatching, I believe."

Veyon raises an eyebrow at Aphrael, and grins at her, "No?"

Kassima shakes her head. "Not since the Hatching, nay; she left with Zuseth
right after." She raises one eyebrow at Aph. "Oh, so you always snore when
you're awake?"

Veyon frowns slighty, hearing this. "Ah. Oh well." He fails at trying to e
nonchalant about this, and sits down.

Aphrael sticks her tongue out at Kassi and stands, walking around the
cavern for a bit so she doesnt fall asle- .. er, just to relax herself.

Kassima chuckles at Aph, draining her citron and standing up, herself. "Is
strolling around the Living Cavern like that fun, Aph?" she asks, then
peers at Veyon. "Something wrong?"

Aphrael blinks at Veyon, "Oh," She asks absently, "Why for you need to see
Maarie? I can have Prefeth bespeak Zuseth if you need.."

Veyon broods silently, then looks at Kassima, forcing a smile
,"No.....nothin imporant....I'm fine. Just....fine."

Aphrael rolls her eyes good naturedly at her fellow weyrling, then stalks
back over to sit in her seat. She blinks at Veyon, "You dont /sound/ fine."
She says, critically.

Kassima believes that. Sure she does. And the sun rose in the North this
evening. "Aph's right--are you sure something's not bothering you?"

Veyon looks over at the two, and says, "Oh? And should I prove that I'm
feeling fine?" He gives a wink. The grinthat normally goes with it however,
is missing.

Aphrael raises an eyebrow, "If it's important, just tell us." She uses the
tone of voice she does with the 12 Turn on Ruathan who wouldnt tell her
something.

Veyon says "I _said_ it was nothing."

Kassima tries to suppress the urge to roll her eyes--a difficult task, but
she manages. Barely. "Well, then. But if you've a message for Maarie, I
could always ask Lysseth to bespeak Zuseth."

Veyon is more stuborn than _any_ tweve Turn old. :)

Aphrael shrugs absently, "That's what Fobok said too." She mutters as she
settles in her seat.

Lysseth> Zibrith backwings for a landing.

Lysseth> Elyandra swings gracefully from Zibrith's neck, using a
thoughtfully extended forleg, she slides to the ground. Her eyes are
distant as she speaks silently to her dragon before giving her an
affectionate rub on her neck.

Elyandra walks in from the bowl.

Lysseth> Prefeth warbles a greeting to Zibrith.

Elyandra strides in, Eolan balances on one hip and a wide grin on her face,
"Evening, ladies."

Veyon mutters to himself, "I... _not_... now."

Aphrael salutes Elyandra brightly, "Good eve! How fares your son?"

Kassima snaps a salute to Elyandra. "Good evening, ma'am," she says
cheerfully. She peers over at Veyon for a moment, raising one eyebrow, but
says nothing. Instead, she turns back and asks, "How fares it with you?"

Elyandra hrms at Veyon, "What was that?" She grins at Aphrael, "Eolan is
fine, thank you."

Benden Weyr> Aphrael thwaps Kassi. Stop stealing my words. ;)

Veyon says simply, towards Elyandra, "Nothing."

Benden Weyr> Kassima blows Aph's brains out with a bazooka so that I can be
the sole owner of my thoughts. :)

Benden Weyr> S'riv wavesand such

Aphrael smiles and nods, "Good. That's good to hear."

In Elyandra's arms, Eolan proceeds to thwap Elyandra in the side of the
face with his open palm, laughing loudly.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael huggaSaer.

Elyandra acks and grabs her son's hand, kissing it and laughing as well.
She sizes up the situation in the Living Cavern and grins, "Oh, I get it. I
must have interrupted another attempt of Veyon's to flirt with a female....
too bad /Maarie/ isn't here for you to fawn over, eh?"

Veyon growls and _glares_ at Elyandra.

Aphrael blinks and peers back over at Elyandra. "Maarie?" She questions.

Veyon says, with an edge to his voice, "You get _nothing, dragonrider."

Kassima hmms thoughtfully and looks at Veyon. She mutters to herself,
"That'd... things... ,... lately."

Elyandra raises an eyebrow at Veyon, "As if I wanted anything from you to
begin with?" She smirks, "Seems Veyon here thinks Maarie likes him.
Personally, I think it was her proddy dragon."

Veyon's jaw clenches. He looks not all that far removed from doing
something drastic.

Elyandra smiles sweetly at Aphrael, "Would you hold Eolan for a minute,
please?"

Aphrael blinks at the two, then nods to Ely, "Sure." She says awkwardly
taking hold of Eolan.

Kassima tries not to laugh, not with total success; she explains the
resulting choking sound with, "Need s'more juice," and walks over to pour
herself yet another glass full. If you listen carefully, very quiet
chuckling can be heard from her direction.

Elyandra gently sets Eolan down.

Aphrael carefully picks Eolan up in her arms.

Aphrael glances down at the boy in her arms, shifting in her chair and
smiling at him. She looks over at Kassi, then to Ely and Veyon.

Elyandra pushes her hair out of her eyes and strides across the living
cavern to fill herself a mug of klah, "I heard she's interested in another
gentleman. His name begins with a... umm... a "T" I think. I'm not sure
though. You know how rumors spread." She sips from her mug, making her way
across the living cavern once again.

Veyon continues to sit stone-like, the only betrayal of this being the
stiffness of his jaw, and the clenching of his hands on the edge of his
seat. His eyes stare blankly ahead.'

Elyandra sinks into a chair next ot Aphrael, grinning at her son and
running a hand over his baby-fine hair. She grins at the weyrlings, "You
two would know better than I would, of course. I haven't seen her around
much since her flight?"

Aphrael tries to shrug, but cant do it very well with the bundle in her
arms. "She's spends a lot of time at the Smith craft hall." She says softly.

Veyon continues to be a statue.

Kassima hmmmms and says, "Well, I haven't seen her around a great deal
lately, outside of drills--according to Lysseth, it's 'cause she's been
spending a lot of time at some Hold or Craft or other." She smiles. "Isn't
that nice? She must've found a friend there."

Lysseth> Vidarth backwings for a landing.

Aphrael glances up at Kassi, and snorts with amusement. "Yeah, a friend."
She agrees rather absently.

Elyandra grins and nudges Kassima with her elbow, "That must the the "T" man."

Lysseth> R'val slides down from Vidarth's back and lands in a crouch.

Veyon closes his eyes, after a bit. He looks rather like a kicked canine by
this point.

Kassima chuckles and winks. "I wouldn't doubt it, ma'am."

Lysseth> Prefeth warbles a greeting to Vidarth.

Elyandra laughs, "Maybe we'll be lucky and she'll bring him here for us to
get a gander at."

Lysseth> Vidarth croons lightly to Prefeth.

R'val walks in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Elyandra so enjoys being evil.... >:)

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles to Vidarth in salutation as well.

Aphrael looks up at Elyandra, then bursts out laughing, "You make it sound
like he's a prize runner or something.."

R'val waves cheerily as he strides in, filling a mug of klah and sitting
down, "Evening.."

Kassima grins. "Now that would be good! Of course, I'm sure he's something
to see. Maarie usually has such splendid taste." Is there emphasis on the
word usually there? Nah....

Elyandra chuckles, "Well, he could be. Faranth knows the pickings around
here are slim nowadays." She grins at Kassima and winks.

Veyon flinches, nearly inperceptively, twice.

Elyandra turns and grins at R'val, "Up late, Uri?"

R'val grins towards Elyandra, "For a change, I thought I'd prowl about at
night."

Elyandra laughs, "I've always been up at night. I think Eolan has picked up
that habit as well." She grins at her son in Aphrael's arms.

Kassima chuckles. "Isn't that the truth? Such a shame, too... oh, heyla,
R'val," she says, belatedly saluting.

Aphrael shifts slightly and grins, "Glad I dont have to worry about that. I
get little enough sleep as it is."

R'val returns the salutes casually and smiles at the weyrlings, "What'd you
both think of the hatching then?"

Aphrael saluted too, yep.

Benden Weyr> Maarie didn't see you salute, Aph. ;)

Benden Weyr> Aphrael thwaps Maarie. Shuddup.

Elyandra grins and listens to R'val an the weyrlings, "I love being on duty
during a Hatching. Sweeps are so quiet."

Kassima smiles. "It was terrific, of course. I was glad to see Kaeya
Impress. And such lovely names some of those hatchlings had!"

R'val glances at Elyandra and smiles, "It was a rather routine hatching,
but I was glad to see a few friends Impress."

Aphrael chuckles softly, "I liked the blue that hatched last. And there was
a green that went to a Ruathan I know." She chuckles, "And yeah, Kassi's
right. I loved the names."

Elyandra nods and gestures to R'val, "Isn't that always the case. Was
Maarie there or at that crafthall?"

R'val smiles at Ely, "Nearly always, "He agrees, "As for Maarie, I don't
know. I certainly didn't see her there, but the ledges were crowded."

Kassima smiles. "She was at the Hatching, but I think she left right after
to go to the Crafthall. Maybe she wanted to tell her friend all about it."

Veyon stands, and walks outside, head down and thoughts presumably elsewhere.

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

Lysseth> Veyon sits down on his customary rock.

Lysseth> Zibrith lifts her head and regards the resident, snorting before
huddling up with the rest of the dragons.

Lysseth> Prefeth doesnt move except for a tail twitching, curled up tightly.

Lysseth> Lysseth yawns as Veyon passes by, then adjusts her position and
gazes in the direction of the Living Cavern.

Lysseth> Veyon ignores the dragons, immersed in his own misery.

Lysseth> Vidarth is fast asleep, moving not at all.

R'val glances at Aph and Kassi, and grins, "I noticed Lysseth and Prefeth
certainly got into the bugling act. Who on the Sands did you two know?"

Lysseth> Prefeth absently reaches out with a tail, to nudge at Vidarth for
a moment, then the tail curls back around himself, looking innocent.

Aphrael winces visibly at the memory. "Sheesh, but he was loud." She
smiles, then answers, "Kaeya, formerly of Ruatha, and Sayra, of Igen Weyr."

Kassima glances after Veyon and gives a slight shrug, then looks back.
"Hrm? Oh... I knew Berin from when we were Candidates, of course, and I met
Kaeya and Jalen both back during my trips to Ruatha." She chuckles. "As for
the bugling, I'm still trying to get all of my hearing back."

Lysseth> Vidarth opens one eye to /snort/ in Prefeth's direction, then he
goes back to sleep.

R'val grins, "He was proud of his efellow blues on the sand, just as
Vidarth often was..." He nods to both answers, "I knwe the herder who
Impressed, one of them, Kershala.

Lysseth> Prefeth simply peers over at the lazy blue, rumbling amusement.

Kassima hmmms. "Kershala--I think I remember her from the Fort hatching.
The one who Impressed the brown? What was is name--Cirdanth?"

Lysseth> Vidarth snores at Prefeth, ignoring all distractions from his
favorite hobby.

R'val nods, "That was it, I believe."

Kassima nods. "A lot of browns in that clutch," she comments. "Not so many
blues; not many bronzes at all."

R'val nods, "Strange, that was. But such thing shappen."

Benden Weyr> Maarie bounces Aph a few more times for fun.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael gahs. Ely, I'd better give back Eolan. :) I gotta go
for about 15 min I think..

Benden Weyr> Elyandra says, "Okie."

Aphrael shifts again, glancing up at Elyandra, "Would you take him back for
a while? My arms are getting tired." She msiles ruefully.

Aphrael gently sets Eolan down.

Elyandra carefully picks Eolan up in her arms.

Elyandra grins at Eolan who yawns widely as he is passed.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael dies of net poisoing and will BBS

Kassima sips her citron thoughtfully for a moment. "Aye, 'twas an
interesting hatching, for true. For one thing, my luck with guessing went
rather downwards." She makes a face, then chuckles ruefully. "Just as well
I don't have the marks to wager on these things, else I'd be in debt up to
my ears."

Benden Weyr> S'riv sighs and looks for mischief to get into

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "EEK"

R'val chuckles softly, "There was many a rider saying that after this
Hatching, Ely. A lot more browns than anyone expected, and a lot less
bronzes, I believe.'

Benden Weyr> S'riv says, "happy happy joy joy"

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "hee hee!"

Benden Weyr> S'riv says, "the flowers that bloom in the spring TRA LA"

Kassima nods. "Aye, they probably expected more than the three that
hatched." She hmmms. "Everyone seemed to have a good time though, marks won
or lost. Though I daresay there'll be many flat purses from this one."

Benden Weyr> Jehrina giggles.

Kassima suppresses a yawn and glances outside. "So..." she says, trying to
come up with creative conversation. That never was her forte. "Did Vidarth
grumble about the rain today?" she finally asks. Probably a needless question.

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

Kassima stretches a bit, then settles back in her chair. "Lysseth was
complaining," she says, adding onto her fascinating weather topic. "Said it
was far too unpleasant out. But we've already been to Boll today, and one
trip's more than enough for me."

Lysseth> Above, From the Benden Star Stones, M'nar's mint green Gelth rears
on hind legs and bugles a greeting to green Zuseth and her rider, Maarie,
welcoming them home.

Kassima looks out to the Bowl again and comments, "It would seem Maarie's
back...."

Lysseth> Above, Zuseth glides down from above.

Lysseth> Above, Zuseth circles lazily, taking her sweet time, seemingly, in
landing.

Lysseth> Veyon continues to be miserable, and looks like a drwoned wherry
now to boot.

Lysseth> Zuseth backwings for a landing.

Lysseth> Maarie has arrived.

Lysseth> Vidarth warbles to Zuseth.

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles a greeting to Zuseth as she lands.

Lysseth> Maarie gives Zuseth a loving pat on a forelimb and begins to check
her wings with the ease and carefulness of what is now routine.

Lysseth> Veyon looks miserable, is soaked, and dosen't notice Maarie.

Lysseth> Zuseth whuffles Maarie before turning and bugling to the other
dragons in the bow.

Lysseth> Maarie comes around the other side of Zuseth and notices Veyon
finally. She calls out as she begins to check Zuseth's other wing, "Hello!"

Lysseth> Veyon looks up, eyes dead. He then looks back down at his knees.

Benden Weyr> Kassima rewafflesnugsanAph, is your connection better now? :)

Lysseth> Maarie frowns and gestures for Zuseth to go off and do something.
She strides over to Veyon, "What's wrong?"

Benden Weyr> Aphrael certinaly hope so. :)

Lysseth> Veyon looks at Maarie, looking _really_ down. He says bluntly,
"Why do you care? Your dragon isn't proddy anymore."

Lysseth> Zuseth moves over near Vidarth, but still pretty far away, in a
clear spot and lies down.

Lysseth> Vidarth rumbles towards Zuseth, turning his head lazily towards her.

Lysseth> Zuseth snakes her long tail around and begins to tickle Vidarth's
ribs with her tail tip. Her look is placid all the while.

Lysseth> Vidarth rumbles a low, laughing sound and pushes Zuseth lightly
with his tail, wiggling slightly agains the tickling.

Lysseth> Maarie blinks and looks back at Zuseth briefly, "If you haven't
happened to notice in the...oh...almost three turns I've lived here at the
weyr, I tend to care about how people feel, especially when they are
distressed."

Lysseth> Veyon snorts slightly. "What about Thos?"

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles with amusement at the activity of the other
dragons, craning her head about to watch Maarie and Veyon passively.

Lysseth> Maarie shrugs, "What about him? I care for him. I have since
before I was Searched."

Lysseth> Veyon nods slightly, "Yah."

Lysseth> Veyon stands up, slips off the rock, and walks into the LC.

Veyon walks in from the bowl.

Veyon comes in, looking wet, and, if anything, more depressed than usual.

Benden Weyr> R'val whispers words in Salless's ear ;)

Lysseth> Maarie trhows up her hands and yells, "What's so wrong with that?!"

Yelling can be heard coming from the bowl, following Veyon entering.

Lysseth> Leilanth backwings for a landing.

Kassima nods to Veyon as he comes in, suppressing a yawn. She peers out to
the Bowl again with interest. "Wonder what's going on out there...."

Aphrael blinks sleepily.

Lysseth> Maarie sighs and lets her arms drop to her sides once more and
stares at the living cavern before storming in.

Maarie walks in from the bowl.

Maarie stops at the entrance and snaps, "Where did he go?!"

R'val glances at Maarie, blinks, and shrugs, "He walked out."

Kassima waves tentatively to Maarie; tentatively, because she doesn't look
to be in a very good mood. "Where did who go?" she asks incongrously.
"Veyon? He--aye, what R'val said."

Maarie nods slowly and grabs a mug of klah and sits down with a slight
smile, "I'll just wait for him then."

R'val gives Maarie a long, curious look.

Aphrael shifts and yawns, reaching for the klah. She glances over at Maarie
- she couldnt be proddy again already - then sits up a bit more.

Benden Weyr> Maarie laughs at Aph!

Maarie smiles amiably, "So did anyone know some of the new weyrlings?"

Kassima glances at Maarie. "I'm sure he'll be back shortly," she says, not
sounding sure at all. She then turns her glance to Aph. "How many cups of
that stuff have you drunk already? Four? Five? And you're still falling
asleep?"

R'val nods, "I knew Kershala. She was an acquiantance of mine from the
Beastcraft."

Kassima suppresses a yawn of her own and says, "Aye--Berin, of course, and
I met Jalen back at Ruatha. Kaeya I met at Fort--might've known her at
Ruatha as well."

Maarie takes another sip of her klah and sets it down on the table,
regarding Veyon quietly.

Aphrael frowns at Kassi, "Yeah about that." She shrugs slightly.

Veyon * what'd I imss?

Maarie * yelling out in the bowl and storming in looking for you.

Veyon sits down in a solitary seat, staring at anything _but_ mMaarie ,
looking mierseable.

Maarie stands up and strides over to Veyon and picks up where she left at
the bowl, her voice straining to stay calm, "What about Thos? I care for
him and I have since before I was searched and brought here."

Kassima's gaze flickers to Veyon for a moment and this time she does roll
her eyes, though she turns her head enough so that it can't be seen. Then
she looks back and watches Maarie and Veyon, too tired to try and be
discreet about it.

Veyon mutters, "And I was just....convienent."

Maarie furrows her brow, "What?!"

Aphrael sinks further down in her seat. Perhaps she should have stayed asleep.

R'val glances at Veyon and Maarie with a neutral expression, and studiously
ignores the argument.

Benden Weyr> Maarie hehs and you all thought she was only this waay when
she was proddy. Hah!

Benden Weyr> Aphrael chuckles and wonders if Zuseth will rise again. ;)

Veyon snorts, "Biggest joke in the weyr is that I fell for you. Stuff like
youusually have better taste, and how it must have been something about
your dragon being proddy, and how I just _think_ you like me, that you'd
rather be with Thos....

Veyon breaks off, but it's too late, as the dam has broken forth.

Benden Weyr> Maarie laughs, "If she gets to learn new tricks. She'd never
thought about roaring until she saw Meroth do it."

Benden Weyr> Aphrael chuckles. :)

Benden Weyr> Veyon says, "The fecal matter has just impacted the plastic
(or metal) rotating blades."

R'val raises his eyebrows, but still doesn't look up.

Maarie stands quietly and glances at the other occupants of the cavern, "I
told you about how I felt for Thos!" she starts off, "You seemed to think
that was still okay. I'm half tempted to chalk it up to being proddy myself
come now."

Veyon stands, and without speaking, littlerally runs out of the LC. Those
observant people might see tears flowing down Veyon's cheeks as he runs off.

Veyon walks towards the inner cavern.

Maarie sighs and stares after Veyon.

Maarie is one of those rather observaant people and isn't going to just let
it lie.

Maarie walks towards the inner cavern.

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Next time on As the Weyr TUrns..."

Benden Weyr> Veyon thwaps R'val. :)

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "heh"

Benden Weyr> Aphrael . o O (Least no one's getting pregnant..)

Benden Weyr> R'val feeds Veyon to Vidarth ;}

Benden Weyr> R'val . o O ( Yet! )

Benden Weyr> Veyon says, "That's still up in the air. :P"

R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

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

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