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Dragonriders Playing Poker


Date:  September 20, 1997
Places:  Benden Weyr's North Bowl and Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  It's the day after a flight, friends have gathered in the
LC, and Mart gets his rump beat at dragonpoker... life is good, even if
it's not Kassi who gets to do the beating.  This was a fun excursion 
into the world of post-flight RP that led to another day or two of RP
later on--always a bonus, methinks. :)

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The Log:

M'rgan stretches his arms over his head as he comes out of the weyr. But 
as the first snowflakes splat into his face, he quickly decides that 
making sure he's completely bundled up would be a wiser course of action 
at this time.

"Good t'see that the weather's improved from yestereve," Kassi quips 
wryly, eyeing the clouds with general unsurprise. "I sometimes think that 
we get all the rain and whatnay that'd keep Igen from being a desert. 
There should be hot cider left in the Cavern, though--and mayhaps even 
klah that you can drink without it eating a hole in your innards."

"Klah," M'rgan says instantly as he starts to stride towards the living 
cavern. He's not solicitious around her like he is around his weyrmate. In 
fact, with the speed of his steps, it's almost as if he's trying to outdo 
her. "I never could stand cider although it's R'lym's favorite."

Kassima lengthens her strides as a matter of course, no more willing than 
the brownrider to stay out in the cold any longer than she has to. "I 
personally agree with R'lym. Klah's revolting. How anyone--and I include 
m'self in that--can stomach the stuff even for an instant...." By the time 
she reaches the door, she's not *quite* sprinting in order to outrace 
Mart. That would be too risky in a Bowl full of ice. Speed-walking, 
though, is an entirely different matter.

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

Melina peers over at the conversation, murmering, "Missing ferret?" She 
frowns and mutters soemthing about tieing up Robeck.

M'rgan walks in from the bowl.

R'val taps his chin thoughtfully, "I wasn't aware Candidates were allowed 
pets. Or ferrets. Or either. Hrm. Whose is it?"

M'rgan jockeys for a position in front of Kassima, his breath coming out 
in huffs as he tries to beat her into the cavern.

Kethran looks up at the two riders as they arrive, and waves his mug 
cheerfully. Slosh. By some miracle, none of it spills, though Kethran 
quickly reduces the level in the container to prevent even the possibility 
of such a tragedy.

Zerra nods and smiles, 'Yes, it seems that when Makear arrived she had her 
ferret,' she shrugs, 'But now it's gone.' she frowns a little' maybe, 
/hopefully/ it's found soem tunnlesnakes to keep it's self happy.' She 
grins, 'I'm just glad it hasn't found my cot.' she chuckles.

"Cider, cider, cider," Kassi chants as she lopes into the room, skidding 
to a halt before Salless can berate her for running in the Cavern. After 
waving to all the Weyrfolk in the room, she turns to ask of her 
brownriding opponent, "Did I win, or was it a tie?" No other option seems 
plausible to her.

Maylia smiles, nervously as it's her twin involved. "Makear's ferret, 
sir," She answers Kethran, with a glance for R'val. "It's not been seen 
since she arrived, so I guess -technically- she doesn't have it." Zerra 
gets the next glance, as if Maylia's asking for affirmation.

Melina giggles quietly. She raises her voice and answers, "I think a tie"

R'val hrms at Maylia, "But if it's Makear's, she must be worried..maybe it 
just went for a walk and it'll come back on it's own time. Ferrets are 
independant beasties."

Zerra nods nods at Maylia's words.

Mehlani walks in from the bowl.

Kethran scowls slightly. "The question is which rider Searched someone 
without noticing something furry and wiggling," he comments. "And more to 
the point, where the thing is now. I shudder to think of the effects one 
of those could have in the dried-meat stores."

M'rgan gestures back to where their wet, slushy footsteps still remain on 
the floor. "If you'll notice, my boot seems to be a little bit more in the 
front of yours right there." He nudges an ice globule with the toe of his 
boot before he grins over at Kassima. "So...I beat you."

Mehlani comes in at a rather faster than usual pace for her, her cheeks 
flushed and her eyes bright from the cold outside. The girl's bronze fire 
lizard, not on her shoulder for once, wings in in her wake, chattering at 
her; Mehlani smiles at the creature over her shoulder. Evidently, the two 
of them had been playing some sort of chase game.

Melina giggles, "M'rgan, you pushed in front of her at the last minute" 
She shakes her head, remembering how much M'rgan hates to lose.

Kethran waves cheerfully to Mehlani, calling a greeting to which he 
expects no response. This is Mehlani, after all. Perhaps he'll get a head-
bob in return. He returns his gaze to the Candidates, the cheerful smile 
fading in an instant. Must be firm. Big mean Steward.

Kassima snorts, squinting at the indicated footprint. "Some victory!" She 
grins, though, pushing her errant bangs back out of her face. "But, if'n 
you insist, I'll graciously conceed it. I'll beat you *next* time."

Zerra nods to Kethran, 'thats true, But she did say she was training it,' 
she shurgs.and notices M'rgan and Kassima and chuckles at his logic.

Mehlani does bob her head at Kethran, but she also smiles in his 
direction, a brief flash of teeth in her face. As Holl finally catches up 
with her and flits in to perch on her shoulder, the girl approaches the 
hearth, drawn there by the warmth even as her gaze quietly scans the 
cavern.

Maylia nods uncertainly to the assistant steward, "There's always the 
chance she left it behind, but that's not like her." She nods agreement 
with Zerra. "She did mention training, come to think on it."

R'val hrms, "If it's trained, it might return."

Kethran spreads his hands slightly, and manages a smile. "Trained or not, 
it escaped." He glances back to R'val. "One is idly thankful that dragons 
are bonded to their riders. Otherwise, perhaps they could get misplaced as 
well."

R'val chuckles, "If Vidarth didn't need me, I know he'd be flying from 
weyr to weyr, greenflirting right now."

Kethran looks back at R'val, and lifts a brow. "And he doesn't already?" 
he asks, an impish gleam sparkling in his eyes atop a lopsided grin.

M'rgan puts his foot next to Kassima's as he starts to pull off his warm 
jacket and outergarments. "Maybe if you got bigger boots you'd stand a 
chance." As he untwines his scarf, his blue eyes scan the room, widening 
slightly as he notices Melina. He hadn't realized that she was the one 
speaking earlier. He peers at her, cocking his head questioningly.

R'val snorts, "Yeah, but only when I'm free."

Kethran laughs softly. "Since when did you start charging, R'val?" he asks 
good-naturedly, his smile changing to a friendly one.

R'val chuckles quietly, "Never."

Maylia glances between R'val and Kethran, smiling a little at the friendly 
banter.

Melina smiles sheepishly and waves to M'rgan, "Hullo" is all she says. She 
tries to cocks her shoulders to show off her new knot.

Zerra grins at R'val and Kethran and stands to clear the plates that 
Maylia, suzot and herself used.

Kassima taps her boot toe, and shakes her head morosely. "Alas, Mart; if'n 
m'boots were even bigger than yours--and I'm nay certain that Tanners 
*make* boots bigger than yours--I'd flounder in 'em and trip for certain. 
Which was *probably* your plan all along." Shrugging off her riding 
jacket, she slings it over the back of a convenient chair. "Besides, I 
already stand a perfectly good chance. I only missed winning by *that* 
much--and that, only because you had a head start! Luck, brownie. All 
luck."

Kethran chuckles. "S'good. Imagine the hordes of disappointed greenriders! 
Not to mention the amount of income you'd garner -- I think you'd be 
insufferable if you were rich." Another lopsided grin, before he glances 
back at the Candidates. "If the ferret is found, please let me know? And 
it would be best if the Candidate who claims it finds it. If I or one of 
the other lower caverns folk find it, especially if it's being 
destructive..." He trails off, and shakes his head sadly, almost 
apologetically.

R'val chortles quietly, failing to reply to Kethran's latest remarks as he 
tops off his klah mug.

Maylia stacks bowls into each other to help Zerra, nibbling her lip a 
little. She grabs the klah mugs, offering, "More klah, Zerra?" Raises 
eyebrows extend the offer to all.

Mehlani settles down quietly by the hearth, contentedly stroking the head 
of her bronze companion, and watching those in the cavern from where she's 
parked herself.

One arm still stuck in his jacket, M'rgan winces as he sees Melina's new 
knot and he calls out to her, "Does Kena know?" Even as he speaks to 
Melina, he listens to Kassima and at her luck comment he immediately 
answers back with, "It's skill. All skill." A few more shoves and his left 
arm is freed from the coat. A puddle begins to form around his feet from 
all the melting snow.

Zerra nods to Kethran and smiles to Maylia as she clears the paltes and 
trots off towards the kitchen.

Melina nods quietly. At least, she told someone to inform Kena. She sighs 
quietly and withdraws to sit quietly at her table.

Kethran glances back over his shoulder at Mehlani. "Are you willing to 
talk to me?" he asks her, his voice not bearing the slightest hint of 
condescension. Instead, he's simply asking a direct question, adult to 
adult. He smiles to Zerra, and stretches slightly. "I'm not trying to be 
mean. I'm just explaining how things are. Is everything all right, other 
than that?"

"Skill," Kassi drawls, brushing stray snow from the crown of her head. 
"Right. So you keep insisting--but I think the brownrider doth protest too 
much...." Trailing off, she shakes her head and lifts one shoulder in a 
shrug before walking over towards the beverage pitchers. "Klah--'tis that 
you wanted, y'said?"

Catching Kethran's gaze, the young girl by the hearth simply nods, 
serenely. The flush of cold has left her face, being replaced by borrowed 
warmth from the hearthfire.

Shorva walks in from the kitchen.

Maylia, standing by the klah, selects two mugs and holds up the pitcher, 
voluteering to pour for Kassima and M'rgan.

M'rgan gives his jacket a firm *snap* before slinging it over another of 
the chairs. "Right. Klah. As long as it's not M'kla's. I never thought I'd 
sleep again after that last batch of hers I had." He gives the jacket a 
small tug, straightening it, before he moves to join Kassima. "Well, it's 
either skill or I'm the luckiest man alive, Kassi." He winks at the 
greenrider.

Zerra returns a few moments later and sits again with her sister and 
watches the group in the cavern, sipping her klah.

Shorva pours a cup of klah and shyly sits iat a quiet table, warming 
herself with the drink.

Maylia snifs at the klah pitcher, peering inside. It not being strong 
enough for either M'klah's or Suzot's brew she pours for the two, topping 
off her own mug. Handing them off on her way, she returns to her seat with 
Zerra and R'val.

R'val grins at Maylia readily, "Have you tried M'kla's klah?" He asks out 
of curiousity.

Kassima shakes her head negatively to Maylia, with a smile, and picks up 
the cider pitcher for herself. "That 'Reaches klah must truly be awful 
if'n you can drink an entire mug of *hers* and live, without prior 
experience with it...." Looking over to Mart, she laughs, eyes sparkling. 
"'Tis true enough that there are some luck seems t'favor! Mayhaps," she 
offers magnanimously, "'tis a bit of both. Just don't tell Kin I said 
that. She'd see me as a traitor to the Quest."

Melina raises an eyebrow. She murmers defensively, "It's not /that/ bad" 
She shifts in her chair again, watching Mart with dark eyes.

Benden Weyr> Maylia says, "ooops, sorry kassi, UH the third mug went to 
another rider, yeah, that's it..."

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins. That's cool. Kassi never, ever drinks klah 
when she's normal... or as normal as she *ever* gets, anyway. :)

Maylia opens her eyes wide, nodding that yes, she's tried M'klah's klah.

Mehlani speaks up from the hearth, "Mother says that the worst klah on 
Pern was made by Flirk." This solemn pronouncement made, the girl does not 
elaborate, but merely continues sitting there by the fire, skritching the 
head of her bronze.

M'rgan flashes a toothy smile at the Candidate as he takes the mug from 
her. "Thank you." He takes a careful whiff of the stuff before he sticks 
out his tongue for a bit of a taste test. After a few second's 
consideration he pronounces in serious tones. "Not M'kla's." As the steam 
from the klah swirls around his face, warming it, he grins to Kassima. 
"Well, E'dran's requires a knife and fork to drink. The quest?"

R'val chortles at Maylia's expressive face, grinning, "I take it from that 
look of horror you have indeed sampled M'kla's infamous brew. Didja like 
it?"

Zerra nods along with Maylia, remebering that klah she tried when she 
first came tot he weyr.

Kethran goes home.

Kassima raises her mug in an ironic salute to the brownrider, sipping the 
steaming liquid within gingerly. "The quest," she replies, once she's 
swallowed, "to prove that everything you win at is utterly and completely 
luck as opposed to skill. Save, a'course, for dragonpoker." She grins 
mischievously at the brownrider. "That's because we know you *cheat* at 
dragonpoker. We've both heard the tales!"

Maylia nods solemnly, eyes fixed now on R'val. "Yes, I did, but do you 
remember how much bovie milk I put in Suzot's brew the other night?" She 
pauses, "Triple it. Then the stuff's bearable."

Quietly, Mehlani rises, finally sufficiently warm, at least on the 
outside. Unlacing her heavy jacket at the collar, she pads over towards 
the klah, her nose crinkling in query.

R'val smiles, "Anything that would dilute that stuff might be helpful, but 
I;'d still rather not taste it."

M'rgan straightens his back indignantly. "Me??? I have never cheated at 
dragonpoker. I'm always taking yours and Kindre's marks because I'm 
/good/." He jabs a finger in Kassima's direction. "Now, you on the other 
hand...How do you explain that Conclave you got three sevendays ago? You 
even had to draw three cards to get it." As he speaks his friendly 
accusations, the wingsecond starts to slide over towards a couple of empty 
chairs.

"Don't make me pour this cider over your head," Kassi mock-threatens, 
waggling her finger at Mart. "We all know about the Harpers you keep up 
your sleeves! Besides, I've managed to best you at the game once or twice. 
Come t'think of it, you still owe me from that game a couple of Turns 
agone...." As she hears his allegation of cheating, the greenrider pokes 
Mart lightly on the end of his nose. "*I* simply have luck. Just luck. 
That's all I ever need." She seats herself in one of the chairs, nudging 
the other out for the 'Reaches rider.

M'rgan thanks Kassi with a slight incline of his head as he spins the 
chair around and straddles it, the klah mug still clenched in his right 
hand. A small trickle runs down the side until its absorbed by his cold 
hand. "Well, it's nay skill you have," he tells her with a smirk, trying 
his best to match her accent.

Mehlani quietly pours herself up some klah, and chooses a place to sit and 
drink it, still not uttering a word as she watches the exchange between 
the riders. Her head is quirked slightly; the lass is curious, it would 
seem.

Kassima arches one eyebrow, peering over the rim of her own mug at the 
brownrider with a half-smile playing on her face. "I'm nay entirely 
certain how t'take that... but if'n you're wishing, 'twould be glad t'give 
you another demonstration of m'skill with a knife-blade. Come t'think of 
it, I wonder what those Candidates did with the knives I loaned 'em?" Her 
eyes flicker over the room, but she must not find the Candidates in 
question since she abandons the search a moment later.

Shorva stands quickly, as if she just remembered she had to be somewhere 
and was late. She quickly downs the last of her klah, which was certainly 
better than anything her da ever made, and made to leave.

"I've seen your skill, Kassi. And so far you haven't managed to slice off 
any of my important bits..." M'rgan's voice drops a bit lower, "As you 
know." He follows her gaze around the room but doesn't see anything of 
particular interest either. Turning back he takes a sip of his klah before 
asking in his normal, almost-too-loud voice, "I don't suppose you've got a 
few marks you might be willing to part with."

The sudden movement catches Kassi's eye, and her attention is distracted 
for just a second from her verbal banter. "Benden's duties t'you and 
yours, stranger, and g'deve," she offers to the departing girl.
Shorva with one last look around, and a departig smile, she leaves
Shorva walks off towards the kitchen.

Kassima laughs, picking up her proverbial verbal weapon to resume the duel 
of words. "Just as well for both of us," she muses. "For once, I suppose 
I'm glad I didn't succeed at something...." Closing one eye in a brief 
wink, she leans back in her chair and sets her cup on the table. "Me? 
Well, mayhaps a *few*... though this is the Turnday season, so I fear that 
there're nay so many for you to attempt stealing. What had you in mind? A 
dragonpoker game might be fun, if'n other players could be found...?" 
Again, her gaze travels over the other folk in the room in unspoken query.

Mehlani blinkblinks as Kassima's gaze sweeps around. Who? Her?

M'rgan's avarice-filled blue eyes sweep around the room along with 
Kassima's. "As long as they've got some marks to spare, of course," he 
says in an aside to Kassima.

Maylia blushes as she realizes she was evesdropping on Kassima's and 
M'rgan's conversation. She shakes her head, quietly saying, "I've not even 
a full mark to my name."

R'val shakes his head, "I'm not interested in losing my marks at 
dragonpoker."

Zerra frowns, and thinks for a moment, 'I have a few marks, but i don;t 
know how to play i'm sorry.' she smiles in apology.

Mehlani looks from face to face. On her shoulder, rather baffled at all 
this looking at one another going on between the humans, Holl chirrups.

"Oh, a'course," Kassi assures M'rgan. "Just a few would do. Thirty-
seconds. Sixteenths. Or, if'n nay *anyone* has money, we could wager for 
favors again... though I'll be sharded if'n those aren't the hardest bets 
in the world t'get people to ever pay off." She wrinkles her nose at Mart, 
then offers a reassuring grin to the Candidates and Mehlani. "We could 
teach you," she suggests. That knife-throwing and dragonpoker are the two 
things she'd choose to instruct people in says a lot about the greenrider.

Mehlani finally observes soberly, "I know how to play dragonpoker."

M'rgan's gaze locks onto Zerra as she mentions having the marks but not 
knowing how to play. He echoes Kassi's words, "We could teach you," 
although the way he says it makes it sound less like a lesson and more 
like a fleecing. "Well, maybe you could loan her the marks and she could 
do some favors for you," he tells Kassima about Maylia.

Zerra smiles, a little interesed, 'I couldn't watch for a while could I?' 
she asks hopefully.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani ponders the folly of getting Mehlani involved in 
dragonpoker. This could be dangerous. ;)

Kassima elbows Mart lightly in the ribs, lest he give away to the 
Candidates just what they'd be in for. "Hrm... a thought, I suppose," she 
muses. "A week of feeding m'fire-lizards might even be worth a full mark 
piece... oh, d'you now, Mehlani? Marvelous! That's three; certes one other 
can be persuaded to play?" She turns on the baby-canine eyes, a rather 
effective technique which she's mastered admirably.

Maylia looks a little uncertain, the image of Kassi's fifty-odd 
firelizards swarming her not overly appealing. Her own five drive her nuts 
as it is. Nevertheless the foolhardy girl nods slowly.

Asrai walks in from the bowl.

Asrai makes her way into the cavern, taking up short by the number of 
people. Muttering something about eggs she heads over to the serving table 
to grab a mug of bovine milk.

M'rgan can't seem to keep the image of dancing marks out of his eyes so he 
drops his gaze to his klah mug, staring at his reflection in the dark 
brown liquid, while leaving Kassima to convince the others.

Kassima immediately digs a mark piece marked with the Bitra Hold sigil 
from her belt pouch and flips it to Maylia. "Bargain struck," she states 
quickly before the girl can rethink the fact that she just agreed to feed 
sixty fire-lizards for no less than seven days straight. "Be wary with it, 
now! This brownrider here is a terrible trickster. I'd swear that he keeps 
a full deck comprised entirely of Harpers up his sleeves, save that I 
didn't find one... oh, heya, Asrai. Care t'join us in our game?"

Rising from the chair she'd claimed, her brow furrowed, Mehlani asks 
Kassima, "But what would you bet in exchange for a sevenday of feeding 
your fair?" A surprisingly long sentence, for this girl. But she delivers 
it quite clearly, and evidently completely without guile, for her gaze is 
straightforward and earnest.

Asrai glances over at Kassi and bursts into giggles, "Play Dragon Poker...
with you and M'rgan??"

Maylia deftly, or perhaps daftly, catches the mark flipped at her and 
stares at it, wondering what she got herself into.

Zerra grins to her sister, winking, ' least we can give it a try.'

R'val moves to sit near Maylia and murmurs, "I'll play."

Kassima nibbles her lower lip for a moment, giving the question serious 
consideration. "Bet against, as opposed to pay for? Hrm... seven days of 
running minor errands for the person in question, methinks. A'course, 
Asrai; d'you think either of us would be apt to stay out of a game of 
dragonpoker?"

Mehlani says solemnly, "I don't have any errands that anyone needs to 
run."

Maylia sighs resignedly, after all, she's agreed. She murmurs to her 
sister, "There goes a sevenday of free time for studying, more'n likely."

At the mention of pulling Harpers from his sleeves, M'rgan grins slightly 
and sets his klah mug down on the table before he pulls a deck of 
dragonpoker cards out of his shirt pocket. Never leave the weyr without 
it. That's his motto. He begins to shuffle the cards as he listens to the 
banter between Kassima and the others with half-an-ear. "Do you have a few 
free marks, Asrai?"

Asrai grins at Kassi, "No, I just wonder at how you'd think I'd actually 
play a game concerning bets and marks with the two of you. But I will 
watch." she plops down by the others.

"A sevenday of chores, then, I suppose. So long as they didn't interfere 
with m'own duties," Kassima decides. Taking stock of all the folks who've 
agreed to play, she suppresses an automatic grin and instead eyes Mart's 
deck dubiously. "Think we can trust him as dealer?" she inquires of the 
others at the table, grinning at the tease of the brownrider.

Lanryi walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Mehlani's brow furrows again, but she settles into a seat near Kassima and 
M'rgan, sitting there with quite properly straight posture. Holl, sensing 
something Going On, cranes forward, eyes whirling with interest.

M'rgan snorts as he divides the cards for another shuffle. "Do you think I 
can trust /you/?" he asks with a friendly poke before he starts to count 
the people playing. "All right, who's in?"

R'val chuckles softly at the neverending banter of M'rgan and Kassi. "I'm 
in."

Lanryi skips in and looks around before grabing a glass of milk.

Zerra answers, 'I'll watch for the first round.'

Zerra adds, 'If thats alright?'

Mehlani's only answer to M'rgan is another sober nod.

Maylia glances at Zerra, clutching her soon-to-be hard earned mark. "Mind 
if I watch the first round, too?"

Kassima's fair, returned from hiding now that their mistress has been 
cured of *most* of her homicidal tendencies, glide to perch around the 
playing table wherever there's free space. "Oh, I don't know," the 
greenrider quips. "Trusting me hasn't killed you yet, has it?" Was there 
slight emphasis on the word 'yet' there? Nah.... "I'm in, certes, so long 
as m'marks hold out. Go ahead and watch, aye. 'Tis nay so very complicated 
t'get the hang of--you'll see." Trusting her might not kill them, no. But 
cause them to lose all of their marks? Well, now--that's another matter 
entirely.

T'fian walks in from the bowl.

Asrai turns as she hears bootsteps amoung the chatter around the dragon 
poker game just starting. "Greetings Weyrsecond."

Sanjeet walks in from the bowl.

If Mehlani is aware of the incongruity of her sitting down to dragonpoker 
with Kassima and M'rgan, the lass gives absolutely no sign of it, and 
simply regards M'rgan's playing with the cards, her gaze deeply searching. 
Holl flicks a look at the man, and chirrs at him in a sort of 'This isn't 
going to make my human mad, is it?' tone.

R'val glances up from the dragonpoker table, nodding towards T'fian.

M'rgan hmmphs as it appears he won't be making as many marks on this game 
as he'd been hoping. He gives the deck a final shuffle before setting the 
pile of cards in front of Kassi for her to cut. "The usual rules? Five 
card draw with all three Harpers. 32nd piece ante. And a maximum bet of a 
16th piece."

Zerra waves to people as they eneter looking up from the game that's about 
to start.

Asrai continues to wave as the stranger, and then Kindre enter the cavern 
on the heels of the weyrsecond. "Heya Kin! They're about to play some 
dragon poker if you're interested..."

Lanryi sits down to watch the game of dragon poker and takes a large gulp 
of the frothy milk which leaves a white mustache above the girl's lip

T'fian pushes snow from the shoulders of his riding jacket as he walks 
into the living cavern, directly ahead of Sanjeet. To the new Candidate, 
he says, "This is the living cavern. Where the weyrfolk gather when 
they're avoiding their duties or chores. As you can see, they've got a 
rousing game of dragon poker." He raises his voice to a tone that any of 
his weyrlings and wingmaters will undoubtedly remember, "Everybody, this 
is Sanjeet, formerly an Apprentice Seacrafter, now a Benden Candidate. 
Everybody say hi to him."

Kassima salutes T'fian immediately, of course, and nods to the stranger 
who follows him. "G'deve, Weyrsecond and person I don't know... aye, Mart, 
I'll agree to those rules--wait. Is that the maximum amount you can bet 
total, or the maximum raise?"

Zerra ohhs and waves to Sanjeet, 'hello.'

Lids blink slowly, covering the all to acute, sensitive eyes of Sanjeet 
from the instant harsh light. "G'dee." Ansewrs the one time apprentice, 
now Benden Candidate dumbly. "I beet they don't git drunk here like tha do 
at home, aye?" He asks, questions the form of T'fian before him.

Kassima cuts the cards as she asks this, then passes them back to Mart--
perhaps foolishly allowing the brownie to deal. "G'deve and well met, 
Sanjeet," she greets the new Candidate amiably.

Lanryi wipes off her mustache and waves to Sanjeet.

"The riders do," T'fian replies to the Candidates. "I'm not sure if Siani 
and J'lyn, and Elyandra are letting the Candidates partake. All right, let 
me show you to the barracks. There this way." He moves towards the tunnel 
leading into the lower caverns.

T'fian walks towards the inner cavern.

Asrai grins brightly as she nods a greeting to the newest candidate, 
"Hello there Sanjeet..welcome to Benden."

Boots stomp, Sanjeet follows without another question. He's here, then 
he's gone.

Sanjeet walks towards the inner cavern.

R'val smiles as he watches the candidate pass by, "Another one, hm?"

"Maximum raise of course," M'rgan tells Kassima before he nods to the 
Candidate and gives T'fian a quick salute. He scoops the cards back into 
his hands and gives each person playing a nod before he starts to deal out 
the cards. After each has five cards dealt face down, he reaches into his 
marks pouch and pulls out a 32nd piece, tossing it onto the table for his 
ante. "Hatchings are always busy times," he comments.

Mehlani watches M'rgan take out his coin, then looks around the table and 
says soberly, "I ante a morning's chores." Holl flitterflutters, cheeps, 
and peers down at the cards Mehlani has been dealt.

Zerra grins to Maylia as the game begins, her eyes wide watching as people 
pick up their cards, trying to figure it out.

Another thirty-second piece is flicked onto the table by Kassi, clicking 
against the first. "Aye, i'truth. But busy's nay always a bad thing... I 
had a grand time yestereve, with the 'throwing lesson. A shame you missed 
that. I might've taught you a thing or two." She gathers up her cards, 
scanning what she's been handed with a perfectly inscrutable expression. 
She nods to Mehlani and darts a glance at R'val, waiting for him to ante 
as well.

Asrai turns to watch the game...never having been one to play the game. 
She dutifully drinks her bovine milk. "How did your flight go Kassi?"

R'val tosses in his ante without comment, after digging into his mark 
pouch for a moment, "Tah dah."

Kindre walks in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani sits here giggling to herself. Playing Dragonpoker. 
Good thing I'm logging. ;)

Kindre gives Salless a quick grin before passing the elderly woman 
quickly. Fetching herself a glass of red wine, she turns to regard the 
cavern, smiling wide as she recognizes so many and the task they seem to 
be tending. "Dragonpoker," is her first query, "Oh, and good eve to you 
all."

Kassima looks up from her cards to flash a grin at Asrai. "Oh... quite 
well, I think," she responds, glancing sidelong at Mart. "'Twere neither 
any mortalities nor even serious casualties. Always a fine thing in a 
flight. Kindre, g'deve!"

M'rgan gives his cards a quick tap for luck before he picks them up. "We 
didn't miss it. I took one look at the South Bowl and had Ularrith land in 
the north. I've seen what you can do to those snowmen...and passing 
strangers." He stops talking long enough to concentrate on his hand, 
taking a peek at each card one at a time before sliding it behind its 
fellows.

Maylia peers at the players, still rubbing the mark. She looks uncertainly 
from one to the other before touching R'val's shoulder, asking "Mind if I 
look over your shoulder?"

Amongst the riders at the dragonpoker table, Mehlani, carefully cradling 
five cards in her small hands, looks up and bobs a nod at Kindre, before 
returning her blue gaze to the business at hand.

Asrai sighs with something near exasperation, "So...who won the flight??"

M'rgan flashes a big grinned smile in Asrai's direction, waggling his 
eyebrows for two heartbeats, before he bends his head back to his cards.

Kindre drags a chair up near to the card players. Still in her riding gear 
from the recent trip to and from both Half Circle and Seacraft, she turns 
the chair backwards and stradles it. Arms rest on the back as she grins. 
"So what I heard was right? Well, congrats to you, Mart. So, have you all 
been playing long?"

"Aye, Kindre," Kassi answers cheerfully. "Care t'sit in for the first 
hand, and join in the second? Provided, a'course, that you've marks...." 
Holding her cards more closely at the overheard mention of looking over 
shoulders, she just grins again at Asrai. "Lysseth did, a'course. Who 
else? And who's going t'start the betting?"

R'val pats his cards after looking them over, and says, "I will."

Asrai sees the waggling of the eyebrows and giggles, "Oh good for 
Ularrith!"

Kassima shakes her head, looking once more down at her cards. "Nay, Kin--
just started this hand, actually. R'val's about to start the wagering if'n 
m'ears don't deceive me. And aye, what you heard was correct... well, at 
least, if'n you heard what I'm presuming that you heard. If'n what you 
heard was that giant caprines made out of Fort stilton cheese are taking 
over the Weyr, I'm afraid that's sheerly falsehood."

M'rgan's cheeks flush a light pink at Kindre's congrats and he can only 
nod his head to her as a thank you, not quite able to meet her eyes. "This 
is the first game." Schooling his face into a more appropriate blank 
expression, the brownrider watches R'val closely while he places his cards 
on the table, face down.

Kindre rubs the mark piece dangling from the chain about her neck and 
grins. "Well, I'm low on marks, but will gladly watch. Safer this way with 
the cursed Brownie here." A grin and quiet chuckle betrays the teasing 
behind her words. Leaning to the left then right, tipping the chair in 
each direction to get a better peek at the cards, she feigns surprise at 
Kassima's words. "They're not taking Fort? Shards, I'm never listening to 
those untrustworth drudges again."

Mehlani remains sitting there in her chair, her bronze fire lizard perched 
inquisitively on her right shoulder. The girl looks at the riders sitting 
to either side of her, and, taking a cue from them, folds her cards neatly 
together and places them face-down before her.

Asrai grins at M'rgan's blush beforing going back to watching the game.

R'val tosses in a chip, "I'll bet one sixteenth."

Kassima keeps her eyes on her cards, her own expression utterly unreadable 
as she notes, "Well, y'may be right. Some might be inclined to argue that 
he does seem t'be on a winning streak...." Clearing her throat, she nods 
as R'val makes his bet and turns her attention from the hand dealt her to 
Mehlani.

Her small face, if possible, is graver than usual as Mehlani states 
politely, "I would like to bet a washing of a dragon, please."

Asrai glances sideways at Kassi and comments quite innocently. "Yes, I 
supose M'rgan /is/ on a winning streak at that."

"It's all skill, Kindre," M'rgan says before he nods to R'val's and 
Mehlani's bet. He peers at Kassima out of the corner of his eye, trying 
not to appear too interested in her bet. That is, he watches calmly until 
Asrai makes her comment. Then he has to bite his lower lip to keep from 
smirking and all interest in Kassi's bet fades for the moment.

Kindre's eyes crinkle as her smile curls high into her cheeks at Mehlani's 
bet. She remains quiet for several moments, sipping her wine and gazing 
over the collecting marks upon the tables surface. "Did you wear a kilt 
this time, too," she can't help but break her silence to ask M'rgan, a 
grin tugging her lips at his comment.

Where the roll came from that's heading right for Asrai's head is almost 
impossible to determine. Sure, there's a basket of roll not far from 
Kassi... but is she really *that* fast? "A dragon-washing? All right... 
I'll see both of those, and raise by a sixteenth." She drops the mark 
pieces in question into the pile, albeit with a bit of hesitation... as 
though she's not quite sure that she wants to risk so much on this hand? 
Nah. Couldn't be.

Lanryi peers curiously at the dragon poker players and decides to have a 
staring contest with the brown Saski perched on her shoulder.

*THUNK* It cuts off Asrai's giggle at Kin's comment..but not for long. 
"Hey! What was /that/ for?" She asks innocently.

R'val chortles, "Maylia, dragonbathing's not a chore, is it?" He winks at 
her."

Kassima turns perfectly clear, innocent green eyes on Asrai. "What was 
*what* for?" she replies in turn. Two can play at the pseudo-innocence 
game. "Alas, Kin, I fear that he was kiltless."

Maylia rolls her eyes in response to R'vals teasing. "Depends which dragon 
it is, of course."

M'rgan rarely drops out before the discard round so he smoothly tosses an 
eighth mark into the pile, adding "I'll see that." He keeps his own head 
slightly bowed to avoid any rolls headed his way as he concentrates on the 
game. "Replacements, R'val?" he asks as he picks up the deck.

Asrai giggles, munching on the roll happily. She looks over at M'rgan and 
comments impishly, "What a shame..but don't tell K'nan I said that."

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.

R'val slips two cards onto the table, "Two please, M'rgan." He says, 
quietly, studying the other players.

Ceria eyes the crowd in the living cavern.

M'rgan rolls his eyes as he overhears Kassima's reply to Kindre. "Can't 
you all wait until I'm out of the room before you talk about my 
performance," he hisses under his breath. Snapping back to the game he 
tosses two cards to R'val. "Good luck. Mehlani?"

Zerra goes home.

From the quiet Mehlani comes a single card, slipped forward from her hand. 
She lifts her sober gaze to M'rgan and lifts one finger, indicating her 
requested number of cards.

Lanryi continues her staring contest until she goes cross-eyed and turns 
away to continue watching the game of dragon poker.

Kindre smirks at Asrai's comments and then looks for the basket holding 
whatever potentil bread projectiles that may come her way. "But Mart," she 
mock-whines, "It's no fun unless we get to see you get uncomfortable."

R'val takes the cards with a nod to M'rgan, his expression tightening 
almost imperceptibly at the sight of his new hand.

Kassima nods absently to Ceria--then shoots a look at Mart, one eyebrow 
quirking up. "'Twere speaking of kilts, nay performance," she mutters 
sotto voce. "'Twas unaware that the two were related...." She slips two 
cards from her own hand, passing them to the brownrider as her turn comes. 
"Two, please, Mart," she speaks up in a louder tone.

J'lyn walks in from the bowl.

Ceria smiles politely at Kassima and silently observes the card game.

'Lani's replacement card is taken up with no more noise from her than she 
ever makes. Whether it's a good card or a poor one is impossible to tell 
from the girl's unwaveringly sober countenance.

J'lyn waves and shakes some snow off his shoulders.

Kindre waves to both Ceria and J'lyn, smiling as she offers, "Good eve," 
kindly enough. The game of dragonpoker, however, quickly regains her 
attention.

Maylia attentively watches the game, brow somewhat furrowed, as she tries 
to assimilate the rules. She makes careful note of who trades in cards, 
and how many, still rubbing the Bitra mark.

M'rgan hmmphs. "Too bad T'lar isn't around...One it is." With a snap of 
his wrist he sends Mehlani's replacement card sliding over the table until 
it lands directly in front of her. Even annoyed, he keeps his skill. Two 
more to Kassima and he then he pronounces, "And the dealer takes three."

Ceria smiles at Kindre and then walks over to get a mug of klah. She 
returns to take a seat near the game so she can watch.

J'lyn wanders over to stand behind Kindre, watching the game and slightly 
tickling the back of the younger girl's neck. "Who's winning?"

Asrai looks over and gives J'lyn a bright smile and a wave of greeting.

Kassima rearranges her cards as she picks up the two replacement, one 
corner of her mouth twitching downwards ever so slightly. "Evening t'you 
too, J'lyn... T'lar, Mart?" For all that she might regret asking, she 
seems too curious about what the brownrider meant by that not to.

Kindre, surprised by the touch on her neck, giggles before leaning forward 
out of J'lyn's reach. "I don't think anyone yet...which hand is this? The 
second," she wonders generally of the players. Spying Sanjeet as he re-
enters the cavern, she waves. "All settled in?"

"First," Kassi corrects absently.

"Bets?" M'rgan shakes his head at J'lyn's question, giving Kassima, 
Kindre, and Asrai a meaningful glance. "I don't think it's going to be me. 
Well, I can talk about *kilts* with T'lar, Kassi."

Asrai smiles oh so innocently, "Could you talk to K'nan about them to? I 
wish he'd wear his more often."

R'val chortles, "I don't think he's too fond of kilts, Asrai."

Kassima flicks a look towards R'val, the one due to start the betting, 
before nodding sagely to Mart in turn. "Ah, well then. Methinks that's a 
discussion I'd find intriguing. Y'know how I have a certain interest 
vested in *kilts.*" Black eyebrows slant upwards, lost beneath her 
dangling forelock for a moment.

"Or Kiat for that matter," Kindre interjects with a slight grin. 
Shrugging, she then looks back at J'lyn. "How fares with you this fine 
eve?"

J'lyn smiles. "I'm okay. How about yourself, fair one?"

Kindre's smile widen a bit. "I'm well enough. Visited Half Circle with 
T'fian, then conveyed someone to Seacraft. While there, Meroth nabbed 
another Candidate. A good eve, all in all, I admit."

Asrai nods to R'val, "I know, *sigh* why the last time he wore one was 
that night by the..umm, nevermind. Its just been a while."

M'rgan's pale blue eyes flick between Kassima, Kindre, and Asrai. "K'tyn? 
But I thought he...ummm...Never mind." Scooping up his cards again, he 
buries his nose in them. Too bad his now red ears stick out from behind 
them.

R'val smirks kknowingly at Asrai, "I'll bet."

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.

"You _need_ to bet now," says Mehlani softly, to R'val. Holl settles 
himself back a bit on her shoulder, fluttering, his eyes whirling 
pleasantly blue now.

"He what," Kindre turns back to ask the Reaches brownrider, her brows 
rising slightly with curiousity. "K'tyn, I mean...hmm, I should be quiet 
so you all can play, mayhaps."

R'val blinks at Mehlani's reminder and smiles sheepishly, "Oh yes." He 
tosses in a sixteenth.

Mehlani bobs her head gratefully to R'val, then announces, "I would like 
to bet a dragon oiling, please."

"He and Kindre have been spending time t'gether lately, going over... 
Records," Kassi murmurs helpfully to Mart, before she lets a slight sigh 
escape her. "All right... I'll see it, and raise a thirty-second." She 
sets the marks down atop the growing pile.

J'lyn slowly bring his hands in front of Kindre and pulls them back, 
clasping something around her neck.

Kindre, suddenly distracted by something passing in front of her and then 
the motion she more feels than sees behind her neck, blinks before looking 
down. Staring at a gold pendant from which a blue stone surrounds a black 
diamond, she turns around. "Crack...dust...J'lyn? Oh my, what's this for? 
It's beautiful..."

M'rgan frowns in slight jealousy at Kassima's murmur. "They have, have 
they?" Mindlessly he shoves a full mark out into the pile, his attention 
on Kindre and J'lyn. His cards begin to dip forward, starting to show 
their faces.

J'lyn blushes slightly. "Just... because."

Now that the betting's on, Maylia leans forward again, to watch with 
interest before she joins the next hand.

Asrai blinks at R'val, then at M'rgan, then at J'lyn and Kin. "Oh my."

Kassima's eyes widen at Kindre's pendant, though she doesn't let her 
control over her grip on her cards slip. "By the stars and moons, Kin--a 
lovelier pendant I've rarely seen." She glances appraisingly at J'lyn--
then blinks, surprise registering, at Mart's full mark piece. And at his 
cards. She'd be a fool not to try and get a peek at the latter, but she 
does have enough honor to nudge the brownrider gently to point out the 
former. "Mart... that's a full mark, nay a sixteenth."

C'vadan walks in from the bowl.

Kindre frowns slightly before noting, "Were doing...uh, records. Seems 
Igen is more attractive these days," to Kassima, as she can hardly glance 
from the necklace...or anyone else...besides her friend. "Great Faranth's 
ghost, J'lyn, this is lovely...simply because? Should I be worried?" 
Giving him a half-hug while he still stands behind her, she leans back 
quickly. "This is too kind."

C'vadan makes his way into the living cavern with several small hides he 
has protected under his overcloak. He shrugs off the outer garment, then 
sets the hides on a smaller table. Once happy they won't wander away, he 
waves to those who look towards him.

Mehlani casts a wide-eyed look at the pendant given to Kindre, and her 
mouth curls up on each end for a moment at the sight of it. Then she looks 
to R'val and moves a dainty hand over to tap him very lightly on his 
nearer arm. "You should play your cards now," she says simply.

J'lyn waves to C'vadan.

"Evening, C'vadan," Kindre calls and smiles as the sound of the scrolls 
distract her gaze briefly from the pendant and J'lyn.

Kassima ahhhhs silently, apparently understanding the meaning behind 
Kindre's phrase at once. She says no more of it, instead nodding to Cav in 
a slightly preoccupied salutation.

M'rgan hmms absently at Kassima's words as he's too busy estimating how 
much just such a pendant would cost versus how much he has in his marks 
pouch at this moment versus how much Kena might not notice has gone 
missing. "Oh, right." He glances away long enough to exchange a sixteenth 
piece for the full mark, finishing his betting.

Asrai frowns as well...then looks rather confused..ah nrmallity achieved 
once more.

C'vadan makes his way through the crowded living cavern to the serving 
table, pausing once to chat quietly with D'ered before pouring himself 
some juice. He grabs a somewhat fresh muffin and heads back to the table, 
taking a seat and looking at the hides.

J'lyn settles his hands on Kin's shoulders to keep them from shaking, that 
awful horrible blush still there.

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Ceria comes back in and sits down to observe the game.

Asrai looks up at J'lyn and comments softly, "Its lovely J'lyn."

J'lyn smiles again, the blush deepening (shardit, go AWAY!). "Thanks."

Kindre places one of her hands atop one of J'lyn's as it sits on her 
shoulder. Eyes still on the piece around her neck, her mouth opens and 
shuts a few times, not being able to put thoughts into words. Grinning 
almost dumbly, she looks up. "Where on pern did you find such a piece? 
I...just don't know what to say."

Asrai sips at her milk, her eyes darting over to M'rgan...for some 
strange, unknown reason of course.

C'vadan plucks at his lower lip as he reads.

J'lyn smiles. "I've a cousin who's a MasterMiner Jewelrycrafter down 
South. She does amazing work."

Kassima drums her fingers, long nails clicking lightly against the table's 
surface. "R'val, 'tis the time for you t'play your cards," she points out 
helpfully.

"She does, indeed," Kindre agrees with J'lyn, "Please give her my 
compliments, and again, thank you...I'm truly...well," she chuckles a 
little bit, "nearly speachless."

J'lyn nods. "Will do." He winks at M'rgan and R'val. "And with a cousin in 
the jewelry field, you can't imagine the discout," he stage-whispers at 
them.

J'lyn peers at R'val. "Um, I do believe it's your turn, R'val."

R'val flips his cards, "Mmhmm. I'll bet another sixteenth."

R'val lays down his hand with a grin, "Tah-dah. Three sixs."

M'rgan suddenly sighs as his gaze turns inward for a moment. He smiles a 
bit thinly at J'lyn, "I'm sure I can't," as he displays his cards, just 
your basic Hatching, eight high. "Do you think Ularrith would have 
permission to feed here?" he asks the table at large.

As if she is releasing an insect from her small grasp, or perhaps 
unfurling a fan, Mehlani neatly turns over her cards, spreading them out 
for view. She has the Two of Sheaves, the Two of Hammers, the Bronze 
Dragon, the Brown Dragon, and a Harper.

"I don't see why not," Kindre says with a shrug to M'rgan and smiles a bit 
as she looks over the cards being laid on the table.

"I've a cousin who's a miner," Kassi observes idly. "She truly does give 
me marvelous discounts--but I wind up spending enough anyway... oh, 
certes, Mart. Just nay from... the south field? Isn't that where Tria 
keeps the breeding stock?"

Lanryi stretches, yawns and heads to to bed. As she passes the croud she 
mutters sleepily, "Night everyone."

Lanryi walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima glances at the other hands, and smiles faintly as she turns up her 
own hand: five, six, seven, and nine of Crafts--and the eight of Weyrs. "A 
Wedding, I believe," she says ruefully. "One suit short of a Wedding 
Gather."

C'vadan sips at his juice and starts on the next hide.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani says, "Oh dear. Does this mean I have to wash 
Vidarth, Lysseth, _AND_ Mart's dragon... well, that's what I bet. ;)"

Benden Weyr> Mehlani says, "Or do I just have to wash and oil the dragon 
of the high hand? ;)"

Benden Weyr> Kassima hrms. "High hand, I think? And don't forget the 
morning's chores, 'Lani." ;)

Benden Weyr> Mehlani gulps. And Kass has the high hand... oh dear.

M'rgan collects his marks pouch and shoves it into his pocket before he 
rises from his seat. "South field. Got it." He shakes his head as Kassi 
displays her hand. "And you talk about my cheating. Too bad that Mehlani's 
hand beats it. Ularrith isn't that hungry so we shouldn't be gone too 
long."

Benden Weyr> Mehlani peers. Hrmm. Oh, I won? Whee. :)

Asrai smiles up at M'rgan as he rises, "I think I'll walk out with you..
feeding time for the little ones."

Benden Weyr> M'rgan nods to Mehlani. Full Hold, right? Two's and Aces with 
a wild card.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani beams.

Benden Weyr> Kassima hrms. "If that's a Full Hold, then yes... but the 
bronze and brown dragon aren't both--oh, or are they? Drat. Congrats, 
'Lani." :)

M'rgan gathers his now-dry scarf and coat and begins to tug them on. "How 
old are they now? Two months?"

Mehlani looks around from rider to rider, her brow crinkling, as she says 
earnestly, "I have a question, please."

"I don't cheat," Kassi states primly, though she grins up at the 
brownrider in a rueful fashion. "'Tis pure luck. Too bad, indeed. But at 
least I beat you, and that's enough t'make losing the marks worthwhile... 
go ahead and ask, Mehlani."

Mehlani inquires guilelessly, "Which of you is going to wash and oil 
Tzornth?"

Asrai smiles, getting that goofy mother grin on her face, "Month and a 
half actually. Deeni watches them whenever I need to step out."

Kindre chuckles a bit, her expression having been distant for a few 
moments. "Don't be surprised if Herath lumbers after him, Mart," she notes 
with a roll of her eyes. "She ate yesterday, though swears she might be 
again." The Wingsecond's comment brings a wide grin to her face. "Luck 
indeed it was. No skill is applicable to poker."

M'rgan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Holl, looking _quite_ pleased now, croons long and clearly. fluttering to 
punctuate Mehlani's question, and providing it a chirp by way of period.

Asrai waves to everyone as she departs.

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

Kindre peers up, almost sheepishly, at J'lyn. "You're certain I didn't do 
anything to deserve this," she wonders with a quiet voice.

Benden Weyr> C'vadan says, "There's a loaded question, Kin ;)"

J'lyn blushes even deeper, if that's possible. "Just being you, Kindre."

Kassima laughs, lifting one shoulder in a good-natured shrug. "Why nay 
leave that up to Tzornth? Whichever one of us he wants to have oil him 
should have the honors, 'twould think. 'Tis truth by all means, Kin, but 
just *try* and get it through his head that there's luck involved in 
*aught* that he does." She shakes her head, smiling at the old argument.

Mehlani considers this and nods solemnly to Kassima, then blinks after the 
departed M'rgan, clearly wondering whether the game is over.

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.

"Kindre, J'lyn," Kassi inquires, folding her arms on the table and looking 
over to the pair, "care t'play in the next hand? Mart was kind enough 
t'leave his cards here for us t'use, 'twould seem."

J'lyn shakes his head. "Nice of you to ask, but," and as if on cue he 
yawns, "I must be headed up to bed."

Kindre laughs, nodding to Kassima. "True enough...Mart and the admition of 
luck will likely never be heard." Another grin is offered up at J'lyn 
before the Wingsecond's query cause her brows to rise. "I'd love to...oh, 
are you sure you have to go, J'lyn?"

J'lyn nods. "Aye, it's past this old greenrider's bedtime."

"You are not old," Kindre returns and smiles. "Clear skies, though, and my 
many thanks again for this lovely gift."

Kassima smiles up at J'lyn. "G'night, then. R'val? Maylia? Do either of 
you want t'be in this hand?"

R'val smiles, "Sure thing, deal me in."

C'vadan calls over one of the candidates and hands the hides to her. 
"Please make sure these get back to Jerissa. Thank you," he says softly. 
The young girl promises and rushes off with what must be important 
documents. Cav smiles at the candidate and then looks over towards the 
poker game. "Mind if I kibbitz?"

J'lyn smiles and waves. "G'night, all."

C'vadan waves to the old greenrider.

Maylia rubs the mark one last time before edging her seat up to the table. 
With a nervous smile she nods. "Count me in this time?" Making the 
statement more of a question.

Kassima asks in surprise as she looks up, "You play poker, Cav? Well, I 
for one don't mind." Gathering up the cards that the 'Reaches rider left 
behind, she starts to shuffle for the second hand. "That's five... enough, 
certes, for a hand. Though you're still welcome t'play if'n you wish it, 
Maylia."

J'lyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Benden Weyr> J'lyn again thppbts Cav.

Ceria walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Bobbing her head at J'lyn, Mehlani then turns round to see the others 
gathering for the cards.

C'vadan brings his cup of juice to the table. "Me, Kassi? Nope. Just want 
to watch is all."

Benden Weyr> J'lyn says, "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you 
will not."

Benden Weyr> C'vadan grins at J'lyn :)

Ceria sits down near Maylia. "You playing?" she inquires.

Kindre slides her chair against the table, pushing one of the vacated ones 
slightly to the side so she can keep her seat. "You don't play, Cav? 
Hmm...for some reason I thought you did..."

Maylia nods, and resumes rubbing the mark. If she's not careful all this 
rubbing might wear it down... "Kassima gave the the mark in return for a 
sevenday of feeding her swarm."

C'vadan shakes his head at the goldrider. "Nope. Never had the time or 
someone interested in showing me how, unless they wanted my marks. Found 
it more expiditious to just hand them over."

Sionelle walks in from the bowl.

Ceria smiles at Maylia.

Kassima ahhhs, and shrugs agreeably. "As you wish, Cav...." After a few 
moments of shuffling, she deals five cards each to herself, Mehlani, 
Kindre, R'val, and Maylia. The rest of the deck, she sets near her left 
hand. "The ante's a thirty-second," she announces, dropping an 
appropriately denominated mark piece in the center of the table.

Kindre chuckles a bit and bobs her head. "I'll gladly teach you. To be 
true, I likely owe you for those lessons you gave me when we were still 
candidates." Looking over Maylia for a moment or three, she whistles. "And 
you live to tell the tale? I'm surprised," she jokes to the Candidate 
before winking at Kassima as she shuffles. A familiar rapping of boots, 
heels thudding purposefully on the caverns floor, turns Kindre's head. 
"Evening, Weyrlingmaster," she says before even catching sight of the 
woman. She was trained well to memorize the woman's steps several turns 
ago.

C'vadan peers over R'val's shoulder. Knowing how important secrecy is in 
this game, his expression is carefully neutral.

"A morning's chores," antes Mehlani, as she had done for the previous 
hand.

Sionelle grunts something neutral to the weyrwoman, a wordless sound 
that's not quite impolite, but hardly charming, either. The weyrlingmaster 
must be in a good mood.

C'vadan waves to Sionelle, then watches R'val shift his cards around.

"She hasn't fulfilled her part of the deal yet," Kassi remarks in an 
amused, still somewhat hoarse tone, surveying her cards. "We'll see 
whether or nay she survives it... g'deve, Weyrlingmaster."

C'vadan gives Mehlani a curious look. "Chores?"

Maylia fishes a thirtysecond piece from her pouch, she does have a few 
small denomonitions. The piece gets carefully placed in the small pile.

Kindre hmms audibly before looking up. "What's the standard start this 
eve? Sixteeth of a mark," she wonders after Mehlani offers her wager.

Mehlani bobs her head gravely. "I don't have any marks." She peers over 
her dealt cards at the table, then appends a trifle bemusedly, "Except 
those," meaning the ones she'd won the hand before.

Kassima nods to Cav. "Favors may be bet by those without marks," she 
explains. "Set at an equivalent value to the appropriate wager. A 
sixteenth is the most you can raise; a thirty-second's the beginning 
ante."

C'vadan pulls forth his stylus and hidebound book from his pouch and 
begins taking notes.

"Ah ha," remarks Sionelle, passing by the poker table. "A cut throat game. 
You'll be ready for Bitra any day now."

"Then a thirty-second it is," Kindre remarks agreeably and fishes a mark 
from the tiny pouch dangling from her belt. The soft thud of the wood on 
the table seals her ante. "That was surely our intent, Weyrlingmaster," 
she says with a smile to the passing Sionelle.

Kassima remarks serenely, "If'n 'twere a cutthroat game 'twere after, 
ma'am, 'twould be in Bitra that we'd be seeking it. 'Tis mainly for the 
fun of it, this." And, hopefully, to slowly erode the amount of marks in 
her opponents' pouches down to nothing without risking too many of her 
own--but Kassi's too diplomatic to mention that part.

Kassima hrms consideringly at her cards, nudging one over to rearrange the 
order. "R'val," she notes, "'tis your turn to ante up so that Mehlani can 
open the betting."

Danton walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Danton stifles a yawn as he comes in, and heads over to the counter to get 
himself a drink.

C'vadan sees that he won't learn anything quickly from observing R'val so 
he slides in behind Kindre to watch the goldrider play.

Danton wanders back over, cup in hand, and stops behind Maylia. "Twice in 
one day?" he teases.

Mehlani's blue gaze settles on R'val, expectantly, and doesn't move from 
Vidarth's rider. Holl, too, peers steadily at the man.

Kindre peers over her cards towards the caverns door when a the whispering 
of cold air finds its way to the table. "Eve, Candidate," she calls to 
Danton before pondering her hand once again. Leaning back a bit to show 
C'vadan her cards, she smiles. "I'm not very good at this, but know the 
basics," is admitted with a shrug.

Approximately forty-two fire-lizards, perched all around the room, join 
Kassima in watching R'val expectantly. "Heya, Danton," the greenrider 
calls over.

Maylia nods up to Danton, "Sure, trying to learn after all."

Benden Weyr> Kindre gets the eery feeling this will end up somewhat like 
Hitchcock's "The Birds" before R'val actually makes the ante ;)

C'vadan nods and writes something down. "So, when did you learn this, 
Kin?" he asks softly.

Danton waves to Kassima, "Heya," he says in reply, then says to Maylia, 
"You didn't tell me you didn't know how to play earlier."

Various Candidates, riders, residents, Crafters, Weyrbrats, visitors, and 
other folk within the room start staring at R'val too--just to see what's 
so interesting about him to rate such watching from the poker players.

Kindre's lips wrinkle a little as she ponders the question posed. "Hmm. I 
suppose I learned little bits here and there over the past few turns. 
Mostly from watching and asking questions." Salless, despite being off 
duty, give R'val a few pokings with her broom. "Dead as those flowers that 
nice young bronzerider from...where was it again? Ah, Faranth, those 
flowers he gave me."

Makear walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Kassima leans over to murmur to Kindre, watching R'val, "D'you think he's 
fallen asleep somehow? Perhaps we should try dumping snow down his tunic."

Danton waves to Makear, "Evening," he says.

Ceria greets Makear with a smile.

R'val pulls out a sixteenth, "Ah! There we are." He tosses it in with a 
sheepish smile, "I had trouble finding that."

Kindre's eyes widen as a mischievious grin curls her mouth slowly. "I 
think mayhaps you're right...oh, shards," she whispers, "he stirred." She 
seems slightly let-down, sigh escaping her lips. "You're ante, R'val."

Makear looks about and realizes she must have stumbled upon maybe a game 
of dragon poker? She smiles to everyone she knows and grabs a mug of cider 
before sitting in the back to view what happens, since she's never played 
before.

One can not believe how many riders and others in the living cavern run 
towards the bowl to get the snow,. then sigh in unison as R'val antes.

R'val eyes the many riders, "Do it, and I'll flirt with every one of you."

Mehlani, as R'val makes his ante, bobs her head in mute satisfaction. "I 
would like to bet a second washing of a dragon, please," she murmurs.

Kassima simply nods in response, and looks to Mehlani. "Your bet now, 
lass."

One wouldn't believe now just how many riders and others in the living 
cavern frantically scramble for an excuse to leave the room. Some don't 
even try and give a reason: they just flee, as fast as their legs can 
carry them.

C'vadan ahs at Kindre.

Ceria smiles slightly as she watches the dragonpoker game.

Kassima smiles, bobbing her head in assent. "Fair enough... Kin?"

Danton raises one eyebrow, and says, "Oho. Serious stakes."

Kindre mock-shudders at R'val threat. "Now there's an evil challenge if 
ever I heard one," she teases before reaching for another mark to even her 
ante. "First we get our cards, then bet whatever the minimum is...we get 
to trade in a few cards as well, though only up to three unless you've an 
ace." Bobbing her head to Kassima, she grins. "Fair enough to me."

C'vadan stifles a yawn.

Kassima laughs, shaking her head and gesturing towards the mark pile. 
"What I meant was, 'tis your turn t'be betting! You've got a dragon 
washing to meet with a favor or mark of equal value."

R'val winks at Kindre, "You heard it, Kindre, so watch it." He teases.

C'vadan puts his writing things away. "Early sweeps tomorrow. See everyone 
later."

Mehlani bobs her head solemnly to C'vadan.

Kassima takes one hand from her cards to wave to Cav. "Sleep well, Cav, 
and g'night."

Kindre, the mark still in her closed palm, chuckles. "Oops," she says with 
a grin and puts it in the pile, "Another thirty-second will match, won't 
it? Oh," she turns to C'vadan, "Good eve, then, Cav."

Ceria nods at the departing rider.

C'vadan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

"I *think* that a washing's rated at a sixteenth... but I'm nay certain," 
Kassi readily admits. "Mehlani?"

The quiet girl with the bronze fire lizard bobs her head soberly to 
Kassima.

Kassima grins and nods, green eyes travelling back to Kindre. "A 
sixteenth, then, unless you care t'raise?"

Kindre frowns slightly and pulls her second thirty-second mark from the 
pile, replacing it with a sixteeth. "No, no...this'll be fine," she says 
and smiles.

Kassima leans back in her chair, holding her cards close so that none may 
see them. The chair begins to tip backwards, balanced precariously by the 
greenrider who occupies it. "Maylia? Your go, methinks 'tis. And then 
yours after that, R'val."

Maylia nods, and fumbles in her pouch, pulling out the last peices in it. 
She picks out two thirtysecond peices leaving not much save for the mark 
she's habitually rubbing, and sets them in the pile. "It's a sixteeth, 
now, right?"

Danton taps the back of Maylia's chair to get her attention, and says, 
"I'm off. Good luck. Tomorrow we'll teach you how to mark the deck." He 
grins wickedly, and waves before heading off.

R'val nods his head to Kassi, tossing in a sixteenth, "There. I see the 
bet."

"Nay Mart's deck, you'll nay be marking!" Kassi yells after the departing 
Candidate. "He's got too many advantages as 'tis! Aye, Maylia... well, 
I'll see that and raise a thirty-second. Discards?"

Maylia gives Danton a confused look, growing to a smile as she comprehends 
what he said.

Danton walks towards the inner cavern.

'Lani peeks at her cards, then peeks at the marks on the table, then back 
at her marks. "Two please," she murmurs, offering forth two of her cards.

Kassima reaches out to slide the cards across the table, flipping Mehlani 
two new ones which land neatly face-down in front of her.

Kindre snorts at Danton's remark before an impish grin curls her lips. 
"You know, I may have to get myself a deck and have that Candidate to show 
me this marking thing." Placing a single card upon the table, intertwining 
green and blue dragons on its back the only side seen, she says, "I'd like 
one, please."

Maylia chews on her lower lip, poker face? What's that? And discards two, 
neatly placed together on the table, with a quiet "Two please."

"Never use a marked deck," Kassi quotes as she tosses Kin her replacement 
card, "lest your opponents learn your secret and use it against you... so 
Aunt Tariani always told me. She was born in Bitra, so she knows these 
things." Maylia receives her two cards as well, the rejects placed under 
the remnants of the deck.

R'val puts down three cards and murmurs, his expression thoughtful, 
"Three, please."

One, two, three cards are handed to R'val, and Kassi takes two for 
herself. "Two for the dealer," she declares so that the others will know. 
"Go ahead and bet, Mehlani."

Mehlani's gaze shifts from cards to marks and back again, once more. She 
finally states, "A morning's chores."

Kassima queries, "That's a thirty-second's worth, if'n memory serves 
aright?"

Kindre's lips wrinkle, a fashion those familiar with her would recognize 
as the woman being in thought. "That's a thirty-second, is it not," she 
wonders after a bit of quiet pondering over her cards. "If so, I'll match 
it," she says while adding to the pile.

Makear silently watches the game with rept attention as she thinks she 
sees how it is played. She takes a sip of cider and edges closer, trying 
to see who is wining.

Mehlani bobbobs her head to both Kassima and Kindre. On her shoulder, Holl 
coos, resting his head atop hers.

Maylia takes a deep breath, and looks from Mehlani to Kindre to what's 
left of the contens of her pouch. She flips one thirtysecond peice to the 
pile, leaving only one more save the full mark. "I'll match that."

Ceria yawns and stands up. "Goodnight," she murmers as she leaves.

Ceria walks towards the inner cavern.

"R'val," Kassi states, looking now towards the bluerider. "Your turn. 
Match, raise, or fold?"

R'val smiles and pushes two sixteenths forward, "I'll see it, and raise."

"I'll say," Kassi quips, looking at the amount on the table. She plucks a 
thirty-second from the pot and tosses it to R'val. "The most you can raise 
is a sixteenth, so you're a thirty-second above what y'need t'be. I...." 
Glancing down at her cards, she mulls over her choices for a second. "I'll 
see it," she finally decides. She drops the appropriate marks into the 
pot. "Now t'see who wins all of this."

"These are my cards," announces Mehlani, turning her cards over 
unobtrusively. A Gather of Dragons: the three, the four, the seven, the 
eight, and the nine.

R'val makes a face, "Oh fine, I'll only raise a sixteenth. I've such a bad 
head for these things."

A corner of Kindre's lips curls downward at R'val's added bet. More of a 
curious, debating expression than mere frown, she rearranges the cards 
sitting in her palm. Nodding to Kassima, she equals the bet before lying 
down her cards. "Crackdust...I've a simple Wedding." The five and six of 
dragons lye beside the seven, eight, and nine of hammers.

Kassima wrinkles her nose, setting her cards down with a sigh. "Conclave." 
Indeed, she has the ten of Weyrs, the ten of Hammers, the ten of 
Sheaves, the Weyrleader, and the Apprentice.

Maylia stops chewing on her lip, placing her hand down. Pushing her hand 
apart to display the cards, just a Journeyman of Crafts and Wingsecond of 
Weyrs, with the eight of Weyrs, and the three and the four of Holds.

"Impression," Kassi declares, looking at Maylia's hand. "Unless R'val's 
hand beats a Gather, this round's Mehlani's too."

Kindre murmurs something about young women being in bed by such a late 
hour as this, though likely it goes unheard, as she chuckles good-
naturedly through it.

R'val chuckles dryly and spreads his cards with a flourish, "A hand of 
empty air is what I have." He presents his hand. Not even a pair.

Mehlani blushes, just a hint, her mouth curling up on each end shyly. "I 
should go to bed now," she announces, handing her cards to Kassima.

Kassima laughs and nudges the pile of marks towards Mehlani, smiling 
ruefully at the girl. "Methinks, lass, that you'd make waves in Bitra; 
whoever your teacher is should be commended." Gathering up the cards 
again, she lets her smile broaden into a grin. "Tell us who pays off which 
bets when 'tis decided, eh?"

Mehlani smiles shyly once more and bobs her head to Kassima, carefully 
scooping up the marks and murmuring to all, "Thank you very much." On her 
shoulder, Holl croons happily, and with that, the lass slips quietly out 
into the Bowl.

"On a winning streak," Kindre wonders with slightly widened eyes. "Well, 
you played marvelously, from what I saw. True enough! I'm agree with Kassi 
on that. You have a good night, lass, 'kay?"

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

Kassima snorts with mirth at Kin's choice of term. "Winning streak, aye. 
Methinks Mart could take lessons in skill from her... in dragonpoker, at 
least."

Kindre grins ruefully while bobbing her head. "I think, mayhaps, you're 
right there, too. Crackdust, I could use a few lessons from her myself."

"Or from F'hlan," Kassi suggests. "He surely must've taught her. I've 
heard stories about his talents at dragonpoker... well, suffice it t'say 
that methinks Mart would more than meet his match, should they play."

Kindre rests her chin in the palms of her hands. "I wonder if we could 
arrange for such a match. Get M'rgan here somehow and just -happen- to 
have F'hlan sitting about. I'd love to watch that," she remarks with a 
slightly crooked grin.

Kassima grins with delight at the very thought. "Mayhaps with M'kla, too? 
You've surely heard the legends of how the Bitrans banned her from their 
gambling pits... it just might be the challenge of the century. But, 
y'know... considering Mart's luck, he *could* win nevertheless."

"He's no luck, though," Kindre says with a sarcastic voice and waggle of 
finger, "'tis all skill, so he claims." Rolling her eyes and chuckling, 
she sighs. "But, shards, if we could arrange that...I'd give marks just to 
watch."

Benden Weyr> M'kla just calls Kassima Neferchichi.

Benden Weyr> Kassima could very easily come to Fear you, M'kla.

Benden Weyr> Kindre fears. Just cause :) And reads an old log on Mehlani's 
page. Wow :)

Benden Weyr> M'kla occasionally feels like a giant mutant white alligator 
in the sewers of some distant urban sprawl.

Benden Weyr> M'kla says, "Unforgettable. Feared and misunderstood. But 
never to be forgotten."

Kassima hrms, smiling slightly. "Well... with dragonpoker, mayhaps luck 
and skill are both a factor," she allows, sorting the cards back into 
their deck and slipping it into her pocket. "Mustn't forget t'get that 
back to him."

Benden Weyr> Kindre aws and wuvs you, tho! :)

Benden Weyr> Kassima giggles at M'kla. Oh, that's for sure. :)

"True enough," Kindre concurs with a grin. "He left them? And speaking of 
whom, I wonder where he trodded off to."

"'Tis rather late," Kassi points out, glancing out towards the Bowl. 
"Mayhaps he retired for the eve after Ularrith fed?"

Kindre nods her head slowly in agreement. "He may have at that. I'll admit 
to being a bit tired myself."

Benden Weyr> M'kla tacks Neferchichi into Kassi's +pos.

Benden Weyr> Kassima dubs M'kla as Neferkiki.

Benden Weyr> M'kla declares thast Kindre's Real Name (tm) Is actually 
Hapshetiki.

Benden Weyr> M'kla grins and accepts being Neferkiki.

Maylia replaces the last thirtysecond piece into her pouch, still fussing 
with the mark peice. She debates quickly, and pockets the mark. With a 
smile, "Tomorrow morning, then, your swarm needs feeding?" She asks 
Kassima. "And eve?"

Benden Weyr> Kindre ooo's and likes it :) +pos fodder...yay!! :)

"Aye," Kassi sighs, stretching her arms up towards the ceiling and 
stifling a sudden yawn. "As am I. I've several hours of sleep t'catch up 
on yet; proddiness is seldom any more restful for me than a flight," she 
admits with a rueful laugh. "Lyss gave me a bit more leeway this time, 
Faranth be thanked. Just once a day, Maylia--but 'twill have to be quite a 
meal indeed. Sixty fire-lizards eat a good deal."

Benden Weyr> Kindre says, "hap, part of hapless, she, which I is, and 
tiki...cause I'm funkly and fun like a tiki bar ;)"

Makear stands from her seat with a yawn, "I think I'll head to my cot for 
the night," She waves to those in the room as she moves toward the inner 
cavern.

Makear walks towards the inner cavern.

Maylia inclines her head, relieved that it's only once a day. "Alright, 
for a sevenday, then." She takes a deep breath and nods to herself, as if 
telling herself 'this is worth it. "Good night, Makear."