-------------------------------------------------------------------------- An A-maze-ing Exercise Date: December 21(?), 1998 Place: Telgar Weyr's Lake Shore Game: PernMUSH Copyright Info: The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kassi's Note: This was the first of the Wing exercises that I'm hoping to make a regular occurance, for interest's and variety's respective sakes. :) I think it turned out rather well! Kudos to Jayna for @emitting Ylysse, blue Alymbrith's rider, and to both Jayna and R'ehn for participating, as well as to everyone who came to cheer us on. :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully. Bhalth warbles an amiable greeting to Lysseth, startling R'ehn into something approaching wakefulness. He manages to resist the trained in urge to salute, instead waving. "Afternoon, boss-lady." Sioneth lumbers in from the central bowl. Jayna scrambles down from Sioneth's back. Telgar Weyr> Kassima notes, for interest's sake, that Thunderbolt's going to be doing a spontaneous trust-building exercise doohicker by the lake if anyone wants to come and heckle. :) Telgar Weyr> Neliea grins and has to see this. :) Telgar Weyr> Leigh MUST see this. A wing lead by Kassima...learning trust. Neliea heads over from the central bowl. Thaelon heads over from the central bowl. Xylath lumbers in from the central bowl. Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Sioneth snerk-rumbles. << Didn't think anybody'd actually come. >> Kassima slides down from Lysseth's neck to survey the assemblage of Wingrider-types, mouth pursed in thought and arms folded. "All right," she calls out. "You're probably wondering why I dragged you all down here. And you may also be wondering why there's a mess of ropes on the ground. The answer is that we're going t'be doing a little exercise today... V'dan, will you please bring forth the blindfolds?" R'ehn waves amiably to the gathering group, blinking a few times. With a new baby in the weyr his brain is entirely melted, he looks decidedly worried at the crowd. He turns his attention to Kassima, looking even -more- worried now that rope and blindfolds have been brought up. "Oh dear." Jayna glances around warily. She pats Sioneth's hide, listening carefully, and winces at the word "blindfold." Leigh heads over from the central bowl. Sioneth rumbles, eyes whirling blue-green, as he swivels his neck to survey the ropes. Bhalth is not sure why, but he has the glorious feeling that he will get to make an idiot of his rider shortly and repay him for having a squalling brat in the weyr. His attitude is positively gleeful as he, like Sioneth, regards the ropes. Neliea walks into the shore area with Xylath behind her, only here to watch as she settles against one blue forearm. Kassima takes a moment to wave cheerfully to the spectators. "Hey! You all are welcome to watch; just don't get too close to the big rope mess, and nay calling out hints." That cryptic request delivered, she turns to pick up the blindfolds from V'dan, waving them in mid-air. "This rope-tangle is actually a maze," she shouts, projecting her voice so as to be heard even by those with melted cerebrums. "And your mission is t'thread your way through the maze, blindfolded, without getting any of the paint that I've so helpfully applied to said ropes on your boots. How's it t'be done? Simple: your dragons will perch up there--" A gesture is made towards a convenient ledge. "And they'll do the seeing *for* you. You'll get twenty push-ups for every smudge of paint on your boots or person. Any questions?" Thaelon stifles a laugh at the instructions and takes a seat well away from the ropes to watch. Doom, R'ehn knew this day had doom spelled out on it when he woke up. This is simply proof. He glances worriedly from Wingleader of Doom to Ropes of Evil to Amused Dragon. "This'll be an adventure." Ah, a talent he has for the understatement. Jayna raises her eyebrows, then groans. "Twenty?" she blinks. "Is there a time limit? Oh, man," she mutters, perhaps over-loudly. She glares at Sioneth's brown bulk. "You'd better steer well, or...." Sioneth rumbles, deep in his throat... He might be a dragon, but it still sounds suspiciously like laughter. Telgar Weyr> Kena is going out for lunch in a few minutes, otherwise I'd attend, Kassi :( Kassima shakes her head in answer to that. "Nay, nay limit... but those who take too long had better be prepared t'get singled out for special attention on drills. The path isn't a complicated one t'navigate from the viewpoint of yon ledge, so if'n your dragon gives you clear images--and suggestions--then you shouldn't have any trouble. All right? Any volunteers t'be going first?" Leigh watches from a distance with a handful of others as this odd exercise commences. Telgar Weyr> Kassima snugs a Kena and understands. :) Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Sioneth wonders << What's the addy for the Tbolt page? I want to emit some NPCs. >> Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Telgar Thunderbolt Wing with << http://www.mindspring.com/~elemkay/kassi/tboltwng.htm :) Or, to save time, tboltnpc.htm. >> R'ehn's brows furrow lightly and then he shrugs amiably, lifting a hand to volunteer. "I'm game, boss-lady. I might as well get the being mocked portion of the program out of the way as soon as I can." Jayna shakes her head mournfully as Sioneth approaches the appointed vantage spot. She eyes R'ehn admiringly... that kind of volunteering takes guts, after all... and settles down to watch. And, one hopes, learn from his mistakes. Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Cymrith gives Kassima and/or R'ehn permission to emit her in her absence, should the need arrise :) Kassima grins at R'ehn, and nods sharply in approval. "Good. C'mon over here, then, so that I can blindfold you, and ask Bhalth t'fly up to yon ledge if'n 'twould." Tossed over her shoulders to the spectators is a belated explanation: "The purpose of this is t'see how well dragon-rider teams are relaying images. Being able t'see with each other's eyes rather than just your own can be crucial in Threadfall." Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Cymrith always wants to misspell arise :P Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Lysseth hands Cymrith her belated but official crushed velvet maroon suit, Ray Bans, platform shoes, and gold fang. << Thanks, green-lady. :) >> [Editor's Note: It's a long story. ;) ] From a cluster of assembled Thunderbolt riders, their dragons fidgeting... but hardly as much as the doomed-to-be-blindfolded riders... one bluerider tosses her head back, eyeing the proceedings with something that looks suspiciously like overconfidence. R'ehn pats Bhalth lightly on the side, muttering something doom. He pads across the grass to Kassima as the polka-spotted blue launches himself into the air. Reaching the ledge he lands neatly, regarding the field. R'ehn asks lightly, gesturing to the blindfold. "At least nobody's going to be throwing sharp things at my head this time, right?" Kassima glances at the blindfold, then at R'ehn, almost consideringly. "*Probably* nay." How reassuring. Raising the blindfold, she secures it firmly over the bluerider's eyes, doing her best to avoid contact with the floofy hair of fear. "If'n 'tis tight enough," she says, propelling him towards the starting point, "you may begin when ready. And *you*, Ylysse, can go next." That to the confident-looking bluerider. Sioneth roars encouragement to Bhalth, not intending to distract him, but... well, the sound -is- rather loud. Jayna smacks her forehead, eyeing her lifemate in disgust. "Shut up," she mouths. Draconically dignified, Sioneth simply lifts his muzzle an inch or two, the action resembling a wounded sniff. R'ehn tugs lightly at the bildfold to make sure it's on tight, nodding amiably. "Check." He glances ledgewards, despite the blindfold. "Ready when..." He trails off acking slightly, "I'm -not- going backwards you boot-beast. I know better than -that-..." The argument trails off into the inaudible, but eventually R'ehn takes a step into the twisting mass of ropery. Miraculously, even with feet as large as his he manages not to hit painted rope so soon. Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Lysseth notes that she doesn't have a clue what the maze looks like, so feel free to make it up as you go along. It's fairly large-sized, but wouldn't be terribly complicated. The paint on the ropes is very fresh, and it's dyed rainbow colors. (This is what comes of giving Wingleaders far too much time on their hands. ;) Ylysse, blue Alymbrith's rider, shakes her head as R'ehn takes his first cautious steps. Kassima steps back to observe impassively, as a good Wingleader should. Or maybe not so impassively. She continues to sidle until she's near the spectators, at which point she mutters, "Any wagers on how many marks he'll collect?" This has to be a new low for the Weyr's bookie. Neliea glances over at Sioneth, a faint grin on her lips as she sits and leans against Xylath. The blue on the other hand tilts his head in curiosity as he watches the drill. Thaelon leans left and right, trying to aim R'ehn's feet as he starts through the rope maze. He grits his teeth to keep from calling out directions to the bluerider. Jayna takes a step forward, concentrating on R'ehn's movement, absently moving from side to side in sympathy, as Bhalth directs him. She sighs, mouth flattening, determination flashing across her face. "Go, R'ehn," she mutters under her breath. In fact R'ehn pauses fairly often as he navigates the rope maze. Generally each pause is marked by a new series of things Bhalth will be made into if he doesn't stop adding unhelpful suggestions. Suprisingly enough, despite the blue's antics R'ehn actually makes it nearly to the end before stopping altogether as he and Bhalth attempt to figure out a particularly tricky hair pin turn. A mark-piece or two changes hands as Kassi finishes collecting her bets, and returns to watching the bluerider's performance. "He's doing well," she murmurs, too low to be heard by the bluerider. "And creatively. I must remember to suggest gloves t'go with the boots." R'ehn turns back in the general direction Kassima was before he started, noting dryly, "I bet I get in even more trouble for stepping -over- a rope, neh?" Sioneth twists his head, eyeing the spectators with something that passes for curiosity. His low curious rumble causes Jayna to eye him again. "Yes, it's a drill," she mutters, turning her attention back to R'ehn's efforts and pumping her arm in sympathetic encouragement. Kassima isn't there anymore, but she calls back from her new place, sounding unfortunately serious, "Dawn sweeps with L'cher for two sevendays, and if'n he complains about losing his underpants again, you get t'be the one t'be dealing with it." Jayna winces. "Harsh sentence," she mutters to Ylysse, shaking her head. "I mean... -really- harsh. Sharding L'cher." She glances at Sioneth. "Hear that, brownie?" she mumbles. "Don't steer me wrong," she says, the pun clearly unintentional. Telgar Weyr> Leigh says, "What is it with underpants?" R'ehn mutters to himself as he turns back to the course at hand, "That's just -cruel-." Eventually he and the blue come to some sort of consensus and he attempts the turn, one step, two, three...and clear. Of course so delighted are they both at having managed it he of course runs into a much less tricky rope. Looking thouroughly doomed he steps back into the path, heading through the last few simpler turns and clear of the maze. Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Lysseth queries, << Was that very difficult, Bhalth? >> Dragon> Telgar Thunderbolt Wing sense that Bhalth rumbles in decided amusement, << No, although he would not play right. >> Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "L'cher's constant complaints that he lost his are a joke that was inspired by Kiat's underwear bonfire awhile back. ;)" Telgar Weyr> Alyssa coughs. Telgar Weyr> Leigh says, "Underwear bonfire? Is there a gossip bot somewhere with that story on it?" Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "No, but Kassi wrote a song that she'll be glad to perform if asked. (And Auri posted a log somewhere. :)" Telgar Weyr> Leigh says, "I don't have a web browser, but I'd love to hear the song sometime." Jayna applauds, pumping her arm. "Well done!" she cheers. "That was wonderful," she says, turning to the rider next to her. "That'll be hard to beat, eh?" Her expression is worried. "Punishments aside, I mean." Thaelon quirks a brow at the punishment mouthing 'underpants' silently. Shrugging at the matter he claps and cheers as R'ehn makes the turn and steps out of the maze. Kassima clicks her tongue at R'ehn's run-in with the rope, striding towards the maze-end in order to examine the bluerider's feet. "Nay bad, bluerider," comes the verdict after a moment. "Only two splotches. Head over yonder, drop, and give me forty; V'dan will be counting." Turning to the audience, she holds up two fingers to clarify for the bettors, before yelling, "Next! Ylysse and Alymbrith, you're up!" Alymbrith promptly approaches the ledge from which he's to direct. Ylysse, bright eyes snapping, swallows, suddenly looking up with less than her earlier confidence. "Sure, Kassima," she says, advancing. But her tone is more bravado than bravery. R'ehn tugs off the blindfold, regarding pink-smeared boots. "Doomed, yep, but not as doomed as I -thought-." He offers a good luck wave to Ylysse and a decidedly displeased look to Bhalth as the blue rejoins the other dragons by the lake. Neliea claps for R'ehn briefly against her perch, behaving for once and just passing over the underpants comment. She's heard of course, but no comment. Leigh claps for R'ehn's accomplishment, remarking to another candidate standing nearby, "He did that well. I didn't expect it." Llano flits down in a quick circle from a distant ledge, then swoops away from the activity to a convenient...-safe- perch. R'ehn heads in the indicated direction to drop to the grass to suffer through push-ups. At least V'dan's doing the counting; there's nothing more comforting to a pawn than the existance of other pawns. From the ledge, Alymbrith's eyes whirl impatiently, his manner as bursting with confidence as his riders. He rumbles to the other dragons, his tenor roar nearly brash. Kassima resumes her place at the starting point, winding another blindfold around the bluerider's head and tying it tight. "When you're ready," she says after leading Ylysse to the appropriate spot. "Good luck." Lysseth rumbles back to Alymbrith in contralto warning, wings rustling as she fidgets. All things considered, the green would probably like to be out doing this herself. Blindfold snugly in place, Ylysse takes her first steps onto the course. She snorts, taking three quick steps outward. Too quick. Almost instantly, she oversteps with one booted foot, covering her toe with a generous dallop of garish paint. At Alymbrith's responding roar, she cringes, stopping dead in her tracks. V'dan bobs his head along with the push-ups, a lock of chestnut hair constantly flying in and out of his eyes as he does so. "One, two, five--" Miryenne taps him on the shoulder. "That's three, V'dan." With just enough grace to look abashed, the greenrider resumes, "Three, four...." Jayna's mouth opens in a sympathetic sigh. She mutters to a nearby greenrider... "Well, that's not a good start. R'ehn did a lot better. Must be even tougher than it looks." Kassima frowns over at Ylysse, though she doesn't call out either encouragement or insult to the bluerider. "Ideally," she does note to her Wingmates and those watching, "one should be able t'get through this without a mark, and without backtracking... though the latter's understandable if'n you're just truly bad with mazes." R'ehn notes in between shifts to the ground and back, "Liked the way he was counting the first time better." Hi ground, bye ground, hi...Oh you get the idea. From the ledge, Alymbrith rises on his haunches, craning his neck and turning his muzzle, eyeing the course more intently. Llano gives and amused chirple, then takes to the air again to head back and report...not that the report will make a whit of sense. Llano takes to the air and quickly vanishes **between**. Thaelon lets out an "Awww." of dissapointment as the rider steps onto a rope. "Shoulda made a bet on this one." he mutters quietly to a nearby spectator. Kaath flies in from above and lands in the waters of the lake. Ylysse, after a long pause, gives a shuddering sigh and takes another few steps forward, tentatively, as though sudden slowness can make up for her earlier impetuousness. Head tilted, she makes a turn, stopping -just- short of a dead end... missing a painted rope by a mere inch. She backs up, and cautiously makes another turn, still moving with slow deliberation. Kaath lands a fair distance from the other dragons, near to a raised rock upon which her rider can dismount one armed, the other arm rather taken up. Lirra jumps down Kaath's side to the ground, using her foreleg as a step. R'ehn does not note Kaath's arrival as he's rather engaged in the fine art of doing pushups and making sure V'dan is mastering basic counting techniques up there. "No, thirteen came before fourteen, it doesn't come again after seventeen." Jayna leans forward attentively, again trying to learn from Ylysse's errors. "Too fast," she mumbles, eyes widening. "Then too slow." She casts a considering glance up at Alymbrith, then trains her gaze on Sioneth. Ularrith flies in from above and lands in the waters of the lake. Lirra makes her way towards Neliea's perch, watching the madness with rather widened eyes as she lowers to a seat beside the bluerider, eyeing another doing push-ups with interest. "What in the world...?" Kassima yells over to R'ehn and V'dan, catching some of that, "R'ehn, will you kindly count for *V'dan* when he does twenty push-ups for being an idiot? Thankee." Her frown grows as she watches Ylysse. "This is *nay* supposed t'be that difficult an exercise." Ylysse quickly regains her confidence as she maneuvers through the maze. For a long moment, she makes no errors, perhaps not realizing that her pace is increasing likewise. Near the edge of the maze, managing the hairpin turn with ease, she takes a single step... a mistake. Tripping over an orange rope, she falls, face first, arms outstretched, covering her torso in wide stripes and splashes of bright paint. Jumping up promptly, she flushes scarlet, a nice counterpoint to the paint so brashly displayed on her clothing. Most of her clothing. Ularrith drops to a sunny spot that is partially on the beach and partially in the lake water. Waves lap gently against his left side while bright grains of sand cling tightly to his right side. With a yawn he settles his great head on his outstretched forelegs. Alymbrith is silent, dropping flat to the ground. His whirling eyes, slightly red, reflect what his rider -must- be thinking... and it doesn't seem good. Kassima takes a moment to explain anew for the newcomers. "We're practicing dragon-to-rider image relays. The blindfolded riders have t'be picking their way through this maze with their dragon's picture of the scene t'guide them. Twenty push-ups is the punishment for every smudge, and dear bright Faranth on a *stick*!" Yes, she just saw Ylysse's fall. "V'dan's going t'be out here counting until midnight, I swear. Mayhaps that's punishment enough. Ylysse," she barks, "finish the exercise!" Jayna winces, covering her eyes. "Oh, shards... that'll be ugly. She'll be pushing up for a week..." Lirra winces slightly and sighs, cuddling her charge in closer to her. "Divided we stand, united we push?" Thaelon smiles as Kaath backwings to a landing and walks over next to Lirra to greet her. Glancing over at R'ehn he mutters to her, "He got two splotches on his boots." R'ehn has gotten into the thirties now, well officially. Considering the earlier errors of tabulation he's probably already topped the proscribed forty. Eventually however the official count does reach the end and he clambers to his feet, shaking his head. "Shells and I thought -I- was doomed." Nodding to V'dan, counting master, he escaped towards the others. Ylysse, red-faced, completes the exercise... miraculously not tripping again... perhaps due to a sudden increase in patience. Ripping off the blindfold, she looks downward and... chokes. Lirra exhales heavily and nods up at Thaelon with a wistful smile. "So I can see, poor man," she notes to him in a lowered voice. "Still, it's a good exercise in imagery, even if pushing's no fun at all," she decides fervently. R'ehn brightens as he spots Lirra. Making his way back to spectator central he steals a kiss from her before dropping down to lean against Bhalth. "Just remember boot-beast, I will have my revenge." The polka- dotted blue just rumbles with amusement, uh-huh, right. Neliea blinks and grins over to Lirra and that small bundle. "It's an excerise that Kassi is running," she murmurs quietly to the greenrider, nodding in agreement with Lirra though she can't say that for herself. Kassima stalks towards where the bluerider stands, the sheer lack of expression on her face a clue to her irritated state. "One, two, three...." Her counting, crisp and without errors, tallies off the splotches briskly. "...Forty-one, forty-two. Mnementh's ruptured prostate. You can't do all of those today. Five-hundred today, five-hundred tomorrow, and six-hundred and eighty the day after that. With latrine-cleaning duties to accompany, and a recommendation to J'lyn t'be centering on you in drills. As long as you've been riding, that's just bloody flaming ridiculous." Taking a deep breath, she wheels on her heel to call out, "Jayna! Sioneth! You're next. Try nay t'duplicate that display, would you?" R'ehn offers Jayna a sympathetic look and a called, "Good luck, and watch out for that near last turn." Telgar Weyr> M'rgan starts to speculate on how Mnementh got his prostate ruptured. "It wouldn't involve a tent peg, would it, Kassi?" Telgar Weyr> Lirra chokes and beats M'rgan with the Official Whacking Bat. It's required. :) Telgar Weyr> Myklan worries a little. Telgar Weyr> R'ehn says, "That would explain the old bronzer's tendency to chase blues there towards the end." Jayna swallows and takes a step forward, eyeing Ylysse's retreating form with extreme trepidation. "Alright, Sio," she mumbles. "Do me proud, here..." The brown takes his place on the ledge while Jayna takes a last look at the course. Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Don't ask me, Mart. I'm not going there, either with or without a tent peg. ;)" Lirra beams up at her weyrmate, then shoots his dragon an amused look. "Look out, Bhalth. He might make you sleep outside tonight," she teases, then winks over at Neliea. "Not much longer now, hmm?" she murmurs, gesturing with her chin at the other woman's stomach. Sparing not a glance for Alymbrith, Sioneth rumbles encouragement, his low low bass oddly reverberating... rather like a purr. He half rises, head swiveling as he surveys the course. Kassima, passing by R'ehn on her way back, notes, "Forget about that counting for V'dan thing. Keeping track of Ylysse's push-ups will teach him numbers soon enough." When she's reached Jayna, she nabs another blindfold and winds it across the brownrider's eyes. "All right. Here we go. G'luck, Jayna, and begin when you're ready. Bets are now open on the next round, ladies and gents." R'ehn glances up at Kassima, nodding with a wry grin. "Yes ma...boss-lady. I just can't believe I was correcting him when he was jumping ahead numbers." He shufts to watch Jayna's attempt on the maze in decided interest. Neliea takes a glance over towards Jayna's attempt as she looks back to her fellow wingrider and grins. "No, but I'm about ready to prove Benos wrong on a few things," she murmurs amusedly, lightly keeping one hand on her belly. Wincing at the "bet" part, Jayna advances... certainly not as quickly as the unfortunate Ylysse, but steadily, moving with confidence. Outstretched arms are held high, and her head tilts slightly as she follows the silent instructions of her watching steersman. The first dozen steps bring her nerve-wrackingly close to the painted ropes on either side, but she manages to avoid a mark. Lirra lifts a brow, shifting the sleeping infant to rest in her other arm. "Prove him wrong? What's he expecting to happen? It's not as if you're having a clutch." R'ehn's attention is on Jayna's nearness to various ropery, although he looks decidedly relieved as she remains paint-free. He elbows Bhalth, gesturing up towards the brown on the ledge, "Now why couldn't you have been like Sioneth, hrm?" Kassima nods as she watches Jayna at work, though her lips thin a couple of times at the near-misses. "Better," she mutters to herself. "Much better." One stray rope, misplaced from Ylysse's fall, lies at an awkward angle next to its neighbor. Jayna pauses in her stumbling path through the maze, exhaling deliberately as Sioneth guides her through the narrow spot. She pauses, grinning, as she obviously knows she's made it through, but her next step, too fast, brings her into full contact with a rope. First "blood." She grimaces, beneath the blindfold. Neliea shrugs her shoulders and replies to Lirra, "He's been commenting that long pregancies run in his family, and that twins do as well." Hasn't she been though enough already?? Lirra winces, stealing a glance at her own weyrmate who seems appropriately entranced with his wing's exercises. "I was worried about twins too, but I'm rather glad he came early," she decides fervently, peering down at the baby before leaning to one side to watch the maze walking. "Oh...ouch." R'ehn is not at the best angle to witness Jayna's besmearment and tilts his head to attempt to ascertain her painted state. Kassima shudders reflexively at each overheard mention of twins. "Ouch," she quips, though whether that's for the thought or Jayna's misstep is hard to say. Unnerved, Jayna abruptly bumps a second rope, this one at ground level, which leaves a swipe of paint across the very edge of her boot. She quickly regains her aplomb. Slowing, she takes a deep breath, then continues, managing to wend her way through the rest of the course with no touches. Until the... hairpin turn. Although even Ylysse managed to avoid it, Jayna, perhaps still unsettled by her earlier gaffe, loses her balance and twists, hands outstretched. She regains it, not tripping, but the error leaves a stripe down one hip. She finishes the course quickly, without further trouble, though, and yanks off the blindfold, looking down warily to survey the damage... Neliea looks back over at Jayna just in time to grimace at the step and fall she took before nodding to Lirra absently. "Three splotches," is Kassima's announcement as she surveys her Wingrider. "One-twenty push-ups. Nay too bad, but nay what 'twas expecting." Holding up her hands, she claps them once for attention. "A'fore Miryenne and Guarith go, I'd like t'say something--so listen up, Wingfolk!" Thaelon claps as another rider makes it through the maze. Although not entirely successful, certainly not as painted as the last one. Lirra bites her lower lip in dismay at the twist and additional painting, shaking her head in quiet sympathy as she mutters something about the evil that push-ups are. Jayna flushes, wincing, promptly turning her attention toward her Wingleader. R'ehn clambers to his feet at Kassima's attention call, so that he can better witness whatever cruelty is about to occur. Kassima purses her mouth again, waiting for full attention before she begins bellowing out her speech. "This has just confirmed what I suspected: we've grown too lax. Communications, t'be frank, suck dragon eggs. Therefore, you may *expect* regular exercises like this one in communication between you and your lifemate, visualization, trust, and bond-strengthening. Any more performances like Ylysse's will be met with much more serious consequences. This isn't a game, folks; seamless communcation between you and your dragon, and both of you and your Wingmates, is what'll keep you alive in Fall. That clear?" R'ehn does not -quite- slump, but there's something that's -wanting- to be a slump there. He resists the evil slump-to-be, instead murmuring a polite, "Yes, ma'am." Lirra nods in silent, solemn agreement with Kassima's words, for all that she's not in the other greenrider's Wing. Mid-nod, she breaks off to shoot Kaath, then Bhalth, an utterly horrified look before her chin firms and her eyes glaze. Jayna shudders, glancing back at the unfortunate Ylysse, the forward to Kassi. Her hand snaps up automatically... but she catches it and manages to abort the salute, settling instead for rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. At least she doesn't say, "ma...." Uh-oh. She glances at R'ehn, then at Kassi. Neliea also nods in agreement, nevermind the fact that she's not really in a saluting stance. She does sit up a dit straighter to listen, not in the same wing, but attentive nontheless. Kassima for once doesn't give R'ehn any grief beyond the automatic dirty look. "All right. Miryenne, Guarith, you're up... Lysseth will observe, and V'dan will take care of blindfolds for awhile." Her reason for delegation is obvious as she steps away to head back over to where the spectators and finished folk await. "That was interesting," she remarks, dryly. "Jayna, R'ehn, d'you have any suggestions for further exercises that would help avoid today's chaos?" Thaelon curiously glances around at the different expressions on the riders faces that the speech evoked in them. R'ehn is innocent, see. He is incapable of the occasional ma'am; he was bred to be -polite-. He runs a hand through his mass of curls, looking thoughtful. "How about the horrible evil thing where everybody has to get on the same log. Except the log's hanging from rope and it swings. Usually they put mud underneath." Is he insane!? Maybe--but then, so is Kassi. She nods thoughtfully. "Log. Mud. I hearby put you in charge of finding a suitable place and suitable log for that task, R'ehn. Jayna? Any thoughts? Or you, Lirra, Neliea, Candidates?" R'ehn suddenly realizes his own foolishness. Never ever volunteer. They'll make you find logs. He looks somewhat bewildered but nods agreeably. At least finding mud should be easy. "Yes, boss-lady." See, he's thinking again. No ma'am. Lirra reshifts the infant, bouncing him slightly as she nods in a businesslike manner. "More to help the riders together, but the dragons can help suggest. Have two platforms a good two armspans apart. With just a rope and a plank of wood, the wing has to cooperate to cross from one platform to the other without touching the ground." As candidates are mentioned, Leigh glances around at her peers, off guard at having been asked for an opinion at all. One boy suggests falling into one another's arms, a standby so old as to have lost its impact. It's commonplace now. Neliea considers that thought and throughly wonders where it came from. Listening to Lirra, she offers, "Or...if you felt the wings were prepared for it, have the planks across part of the lake and have the riders blindfolded again. They would have to cross, with their dragon's help and comments." It's similar to today, but more risk in her mind. Especially in winter. Lost in thought, Jayna scratches her head. "The only thing I can think of is maybe doing something like this in the air... like weyrlings, eh? Visualization practice... Something like that, maybe. Or maybe formation drills is more like it." Suddenly she laughs. "Hey, maybe we ought to blindfold the -dragons-." "For the dragon-rider bonds, I plan t'do a lot with sensory deprivation," Kassima muses. "But those ideas sound good for riders--if'n," she adds, pointing to the boy who gave the suggestion, "the bit with falling into one another's arms was more like, oh, having t'fall off your dragon and be caught by another pair. Standard technique, but we've nay practiced it in awhile. Lirra, how would the plank of wood be involved?" To Neliea and Jayna in turn, she nods. "That's excellent, Neliea. And blindfolding the dragons is definitely a solid notion. We do enough *drills* that I suspect everything's becoming too rote t'be safe. Those are good thoughts, all of you." Glancing towards the Candidates, she mentions, "And if'n you want t'come out whenever we run these things and watch, you're more than welcome." R'ehn actually snaps out of his log contemplation at Jayna's suggestion, "Now -that- sounds good to me." He glances back wryly at Bhalth, "Turnabout's fair play after all." Lirra waggles her brows at Kassima with a slight smile. "Aaah, now that's for the participants to figure out, isn't it?" indicating the exercise is as much to increase thinking skills as it is teamwork. Leigh's head bobs along with many of the others'. The prospect of watching these new exercises, in which some of them might shortly be involved, intrigues them and excites them. Sioneth trumpets curiously, swiveling his angled jaw to get a good look at Lysseth, Bhalth, and the other dragons, seemingly invoking their opinion of this... blindfold theory. Thaelon looks over at the wingleader as the candidates are mentioned and nods, grinning at the mental picture of a blindfolded dragon. Lysseth steals her gaze away from the current pair wandering through the maze--R'huen and Siuenth--in order to snort faintly. Blindfold *her*? Surely you jest. Dragon> Bhalth bespoke Lysseth, Kaath, and Sioneth with << Um, do we get to vote on this one? I'm gonna have to go with -no- myself... >> Bhalth looks decidedly displeased with the whole plan. R'ehn having an opportunity for revenge? Uh-oh... Dragon> Lysseth, Bhalth, and Kaath sense that Sioneth rumbles disdainfully. << I vote with -you-, Bhalth. I mean... jeez. >> Lysseth> Bhalth, Kaath, and Sioneth sense that Lysseth reports, rather disgruntled, << I don't think so. My rider is quite determined. If you want to try changing her mind when she's set on something, feel free. >> Xylath peers about that the other dragons, not sure about this course of action, but hey! He's not in this wing, so he's relatively safe, right? Ularrith's forelegs quiver for a moment as he lifts his head and stretches them. Then, with another massive yawn, he drops his head back down and goes back to snoozing. He's safe since he's in Skyfire. Dragon> Lysseth, Bhalth, and Sioneth sense that Kaath rumbles with amusement. << What wrong...not so sure you could do as well as your riders? >> Of course she's amused. She didn't have to just direct her rider through that maze. "And maybe," Kassi adds, after some mulling, "I could suggest some of these exercises to the other Wingleaders if'n they work out well. But we'll get t'be testing them first." A sudden groan goes up from a section of the spectators as R'huen makes it through with only one splotch; apparently, there were a number of bets to the contrary. Jayna glances at the observers with a wry half-smile at the words "other Wingleaders." She turns back toward Kassi looking vaguely satisfied that the whole thing might be shared. Lirra simply nods slowly with a rather thoughtful look, still rocking back and forth, that odd mix of fighting greenrider and new mother. "That's not a bad idea," she notes quietly, still mulling this over. "Especially if the results are positive." R'ehn does not -quite- smirk at the suggestion the others could share in the Thunderbolters fate, but it's -awfully- close. Misery loves company. "The more mess the merrier." Telgar Weyr> Lirra snickers and waits for Neliea to thwap her. :) Neliea blinks and belatedly pokes her blue, having caught part of his feelings, if not comments. It's not a bad idea, just not in her condition. But it's not forever as she actually looks intrested in this course of action. Telgar Weyr> Neliea chuckles. What was that? :) Kassima seems to believe in misery loving company, ayep, because her *next* suggestion is, "And I might even be able to convince Lys to let the Candidates help with set-up. That'd make things much more efficient. Well! Push-ups and continuing blunders out there aside, that takes care of official business; would it be all right for me t'now ask after the babies or babies-t'be, and how Candidacy is treating those of you who are Candidates?" Jayna grins and looks with interest at the Candidates, folding her arms to survey them. Thaelon turns from watching the remaining riders make their way through the maze to Kassima, "It's great ma'am. Although I didn't know being a rider you'd get to do fun stuff like this." he says, tilting his head towards the rope maze. R'ehn can't help but snicker quietly again, moving to lean back against Bhalth's bespeckled side as the chaos turns to milder topics, "I doubt anybody's be complaining." A girl of twenty, widowed early and now Standing for a second chance at a different kind of union, smiles easily and answers for her fellows. "Telgar is an easy place to like, Wingleader. Some of us seem to find the adustment to Weyr life easier than others, but it's been made as easy for us as could be expected." Leigh remains silent with arms crossed over her chest, turned slightly away as if even having her body turned directly towards their questioner might be too direct for her facy. Jayna snorts, shaking her head wryly at the word "fun." She turns to R'ehn and the other riders, rolling her eyes. Turning to the Candidate, she notes, not unkindly, "Fun's not the word I'd use," as she casually chips at the paint tried on her tunic. Kassima winces and holds up her hands. "Hist, hist! Official business is over, and that makes me nay ma'am. Call me Kassima or Kassi, if'n 'twould. Fun stuff is sometimes a part and parcel of the dragonriding gig, but there's a good reason that we need tests like that." She, too, glances towards the maze... with a wince for the orange marks on S'cot's boots. "That's good news. It stands t'follow; Lys and Nimiriel are excellent Coordinators from what I've been able t'tell, save for Lys's cursed formality nonsense." Lirra's lips quirk in amusement at Thaelon's assessment as she shoots the lad a quick grin, rising and heading over to lean against Bhalth as well now that the official bits are over. "No, Kassi, you have to stay professional the rest of the day now to repay your evilness," she teases. R'ehn scuffs his pink-smeared boot on the grass, attempting to rid it of the tell-tale paint. "If Kassi had to be formal any time she was evil, she'd never get to so much as sit down." Ah, the voice of innocence. Kassima makes a face at Lirra. "That wasn't evil; 'twas just business. Evil would be if'n I picked up one of those pink ropes and threw it at R'ehn for that last comment of his. And if'n 'twouldn't mean turning m'hands the same color...." Thaelon nods to Kassima, "Well, I know the push-ups get you in shape, even if they aren't much fun. But I never knew going through mazes and swinging on logs helped you be a rider." R'ehn attempts to look innocent, he takes a careful sidestep away from Kassima and closer to an easy escape route if one should prove necessary. "Push-ups are evil," a key and important fact, "It's amazing some of the festive stuff we do in the name of becoming better riders." Jayna sighs, finally glancing upward. "If you're finished with us, Wingleader, I'm afraid I've got some straps to mend," she says ruefully. Kassima finds a rock to perch on somewhere near Thaelon, the better to explain from. "Riders need t'be able to trust one another in Threadfall, entirely and completely. 'Tis even more important for Wingmates--and most important of all that the basic fighting unit, the dragonpair, have excellent communications between themselves and a secure bond of trust also. What the maze does is show how adept dragons are at visualizing for their riders, and riders at picking up those images; the log thing would be t'promote teamwork, d'you see?" Fired to R'ehn, "A'*course* they're evil, or they wouldn't be a punishment. Dismissed, Jayna... but 'twill be expecting those push-ups on the morrow. One-hundred and twenty. Don't forget." Lirra pushes away from Bhalth and sidles up to his rider with a winning smile, offering him his son. Aah, the better to keep you from escaping, my dear. "It really can be a lot of fun," she notes to Thaelon. "Except the pushups," she adds with a thoroughly sympathetic smile at Jayna. R'ehn accepts the proffered infant with the insanely insipid look only found naturally in new parents. Oh gee, he's trapped. He slides down Bhalth's side to hold his son and generally remain conversational. "Evening Jayna," he offers, although his brows furrow. Maybe Kassi and V'dan got math in the same place. Jayna winces, rolling one shoulder in antipation of the soreness she's bound to experience... "Aye, Kassi," she groans. "And clear skies to you. To all of you," she says, managing a half smile for the other riders and the Candidates. Striding toward Sioneth, she mounts, and after strapping in, pumps her arm once automatically before heading skyward. Jayna steps onto Sioneth's foreleg and scrambles to his back. Sioneth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft. Thaelon grins at R'ehn, giving an affirmative nod to his comment about push-ups before turning to give his full attention to Kassima. "I think so." he replies quietly, "I just never knew how complicated it all was. Guess I thought you just flew around up there and burnt anything falling besides the other riders." Neliea grimaces and sends a comforting look to Jayna as she blinks and looks towards the runner pasrure in the distance. "Hm, I'm going to go back to rest a bit. Working on another set of straps, since I can't do that much," she replies and explains, standing. Kassima shakes her head. "Hardly that, or we'd nay have one and a half Turns of training or thereabouts a'fore we're considered ready t'fly in a Wing. If'n you become a rider, there are entire volumes of things 'twill need t'be learning. Ask any rider. Nel, have you tried going swimming a lot yet? Only does so much t'prevent boredom, but 'tis one of the few exercises that's still comfortable when you're that heavy, as I recall." Lirra slides down to sit beside R'ehn, stretching out her arms surreptitiously as she offers her wingmate a little wave and sympathetic smile. "Not long now, Neliea," she calls comfortingly. "Give Benos my best." R'ehn nods a polite farewell to Neliea as well as he's rather got his arms full. He grins at Thaelon, "Thread's tricky stuff. The big problem is that there's a lot of big dragons all in one smallish area at once, and all trying to set fire to flesh eating evilness from the sky. So, everything has to be orchestrated." "And if'n you ever become Wingsecond, Wingleader, or higher yet, there's even *more* you have t'know. Which formations t'use with what weather patterns, how to arrange the pairs to give everyone the best chance at fighting effectively *and* surviving...." Kassima rolls her eyes up towards the sky. "Why anyone would want the job, 'twill swear I don't know! Good show, Jirel!" she calls over to her latest Wingmate to finish the maze test, apparently one of the few to make it through unscathed. Lirra nods in emphatica agreement at Thaelon. "Fall's likely as exhausting mentally as it it physically...probably moreso, even. But it's worth it," she notes firmly. Neliea smiles tentatively and nods, as she reaches up and mounts Xylath. "Clear skies," she calls downwards but not loud enough to distract from the min lecture. Neliea easily climbs up Xylath's back with the help of a forearm as she takes hold of the straps, settling down between his neckridges. Xylath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft. Thaelon hmms thoughtfully and nods, "I guess I never thought about it like that. That's a bunch to remember." he says with a bit of awe. R'ehn is already a pretty goofy looking individual, but the looks he's giving the poor infant aren't helping. He does look up to nod, "Insane amounts of things to remember. But it becomes second nature after a while." He grins wryly at Kassima's comment, "But you took the job, boss-lady. Does this make you a lunatic?" Kassima nods somberly to Thaelon. "And we haven't even gone into the businesses of knowing how t'make and repair straps and other pieces of riding gear, sweep patterns, the various formalities that must be observed when travelling... Lirra's right, though. I'd nay trade this lifestyle for any other. And aye, R'ehn, that definitely makes me a lunatic. Bring the bairn over here, would you? I've nay gotten t'make silly faces at a baby yet today." R'ehn clambers to his feet obediantly, baby in arms. "The formalities bit's especially tricky. It sorta depends on who you're speaking to every time. You can't just use rank to figure it out half the time." In Faranth's name this man is insanely trusting. He offers his firstborn son over to Kassima. Thaelon sits quietly, eyes glazed over a bit as he contemplates all of the information. He looks over at the baby as R'ehn brings it over. Glancing between the two parents he asks, "What's his name? I thought I heard M'rgan mention it this morning but I didn't catch it." Kassima looks surprised at the indeed insanely trusting offer, but doesn't pause to ask where R'ehn's mind has gone; she holds out her arms for the lad instead. And, just as it ever does around small children, her face positively melts. "He's more adorable every day," she murmurs, obediantly making funny faces and generally making a fool of herself. "Kilt," she answers Thaelon before either parent in question can provide the truth. Lirra pulls her knees in, wrapping her arms about them and beaming over as the wingleader takes the boy. "Ivrihn," she interjects, giving Kassima a waggle-browed look. "Ivrihn. His name is Ivrihn, -not- Kilt." R'ehn acks quietly, shaking his head as he slides down to sit at the base of the tock. "Ivrihn, or Iv, or kiddo or -anything- but Kilt." Kassima remains undaunted. "Well, his *nickname's* Kilt, so he'll probably hear that more anyway. Isn't that right, Kilt-me-laddo? You're going t'grow up t'be a marvelous little scion of evil, oh, aye, you are." Lirra groans slightly and drops her head to her arms. "Nonono. Kassi, I swear if our son grows up thinking his name is Kilt, I'm going to salute you and call you ma'am everytime I see you, honest. I really will stoop to such a thing." Thaelon grins and peeks over at the baby, "Can't say I'd like to be named after a piece of clothing myself. But it does have a ring to it." he says jokingly. R'ehn just groans quietly, "Why is it always -kilts-..." Kassima smiles peacefully at Lirra, a smile she swiftly turns towards the baby boy. "He'll grow up thinking his nickname is Kilt, as is only right. Khari knows her real name's Kharisma; Kay knows that her real name's Kaylira. I have nay worries. Y'know, R'ehn, I really do think he has your hair? Have you tried the kilt on him yet? I got him a kilt as a spawning- gift," she explains for Thaelon's benefit. "And some underwear. But those were really from Khari." Lirra levels a hand out and points it at Thaelon. "You, m'boy, are going back to Bitra if you encourage her," she grates out, although the gleam in her eyes betrays that she's only teasing. "And the kilt is simply lovely, Kassi, but he'll not fit into it for likely another sevenday or so. He's growing so -fast- already!" R'ehn proffers as an explanation, "Curly hair runs in the family, though it looks better on Tiya than it does on my brothers and me." He shakes his head, "The kilt should go in The Frame when he outgrows it. It's symbolic." Kassima nods almost dreamily. "They do. They really do. I can scarcely believe Kay and Khari were once this small, or that the new one will be smaller yet when it arrives, if'n only by a pinch. Should be a fairly big bairn--E'vrin's nay as tall as Jhor, mayhaps, but taller than T'lar-- though whether as big as Kilt, I don't know." Kirina heads over from the central bowl. Thaelon holds his hands up defensivly to Lirra, "I'll never utter the word again, I promise. But," he asks curiously, "Every since I've got here, I hear a lot of people talk about kilts all the time. Is that like some thing here. Everyone wear kilts on certain days or something?" Kassima grins broadly. "Kilts are a Benden Weyr tradition," she notes enthusiastically. "And it carried over here when we moved. Wonderful garments, aren't they? They're good luck, y'know. Which is why Kilt is such a lucky name for this lad." R'ehn erks softly, his danger sensors have gone off. "No, no, no... See evil greenriders are just kilt-obsessed. Don't let them try to convince you otherwise." He waves a greeting to Kirina. Lirra's eyes flicker to R'ehn with a hint of evil mischief. "R'ehn has a kilt...he looks good in it to-...Kassi! His name is -Ivrihn-!" she emphasizes again, although without the fervent touch her protestations held before. Kirina waves to the crowd around the lake. "Hello!" "We're kilt-obsessed because we know sharding well that they're wonderful things," is Kassi's mock-prim statement. "Whether speaking of the garment or the child, as I'm certain his parents will agree." As ever, she seems deaf to protests. "Oh, g'deve," she calls to Kirina from where she perches on a rock, not far from a slew of riders who seem to be either waiting in line, doing push-ups, or wandering through a strange tangle of painted ropes on the ground. The waiting line is down to only a few at this point. Victory heads over from the central bowl. Thaelon nods at Kassima's explanation, "Lucky eh?", and just as quickly shaking his head at R'ehn's comment, "Not lucky. Got it." Looking a bit confused, he smiles and waves to Kirina. Victory glides in after her mistress and lands next to the sleeping bronze. She studies him curiously. Kassima snorts faintly. "Don't listen to them," she advises the baby in her arms. "They're all a bunch of nutsos. Especially your father. Why, I wear kilts sometimes m'self, when I can fit into them and 'tis a Gathering occasion." R'ehn is sprawled at the base of a rock, trustingly allowing Kassima to actually hold his infant son despite her acknowledged evil. He nods to Thaelon, hoping he's gotten through to the young man. "Dangerous. Think the cold of between and a short -wool-, and hence itchy, skirt with nothing beneath it. -Dan-ger-ous." Kirina makes her way through the brush. "Certainly is busy over here. What's up?" Lirra casts a quick wave at Karina as well, obviously not all that bothered by the Evil One herself holding their son. "That's what so lovely about kilts, though, R'ehn. And he is utterly a wonderful little fellow, but his name isn't Kilt." Kassima, ever-helpful, informs Kirina, "R'ehn is being an utter looney. And m'Wingriders are undergoing tests over yonder, though methinks they're just about through... hey, V'dan! Wrap it up, would you? Gather the blindfolds and such? Jirel can count in your place for awhile." R'ehn notes softly, "She'd probably be a lot better at it too. Thirteen does not come after seventeen." He shakes his head lightly, "No, see Kassima's the previously acknowledged lunatic. I am merely a properly green-fearing bluerider." Kirina stomps out of the last of the brush and hmms. "Oh. Well, I guess I don't belong here since I'm not acting looney..." She smiles. Kassima dismisses that thought with a shake of her head; the usual wave is out, given that her arms are full of infant. "Hardly that. Stay if'n you like; we'll loonefy you soon enough. Have you been loonefied yet, Thaelon?" Lirra rolls her eyes at the rampant silliness, leaning back against the blue's side. Bhalth is sane, it's well known. "Thaelon must be loony, or Kaath'd not have wanted to clean his ears for him," she notes cheerfully. "Besides, he offered to carry furniture for me." R'ehn picks a strand of long grass, absently knotting it in his hands. "Lunacy comes to us all in time," he notes with an attempt to look sage, "Just give it some patience." Thaelon turns to Kassima with a very perplexed look on his face, "Well, don't know if I'm looney or not. But I've sure been stupified quite a few times since I got here. And even before I got here." He adds, grinning at Lirra. Kirina hehs and sits down. She takes a look at the infant in Kassima's arms and smiles. "What a cute one! Whose is it?" Kassima observes wisely, shifting weight on the rock so as to be able to more easily cuddle and make faces at and generally act like an idiot around the baby, "Ah, then you're nay a looney yet. When it all makes sense... *then* you'll be a looney. This is Kilt," she informs Kirina with a wide smile. "Lirra and R'ehn's son. Isn't he bonny?" Lirra simply beams at the compliment to the infant, trading an insipidly proud and affectionate look with R'ehn before leaning forward to peer over at him. "Ivrihn. His name is -Ivrihn-," she corrects automatically. R'ehn notes in a very soft voice, "Maybe we should get him a little card to wear around his neck that reads, 'My name is not Kilt'." Kirina nods, with a smile. "Very. Ivrihn, huh? I like it. He's so darling!" Victory joins some of the other fire-lizards darting about the lake. Kassima is smiling, too, in the goofy, foolish way of sentimental people around small children. "He is, even if'n he does have his father's scary hair." To R'ehn and Lirra, "You don't suppose Nel's spawn will have scary hair too, do you? 'Tis nay contagious?" R'ehn pauses to consider this at length, "I don't -think- fluffy hair is contagious. It stands to reason if it -were- there'd be more of it, right?" Lirra stifles a small laugh, balancing against Bhalth as she pushes to her feet to cross over and drop to sit lightly down on the rock R'ehn's seated upon. "I'd have to agree. Benos doesn't exactly have the Hair, and neither does Neliea. No, Ivrihn really is his Da's boy," she adds in a croon over at the infant. R'ehn glances up at Lirra as she sits on the rock he's leaned against. "Which means the poor boy's doomed to be entered into greenrider slavery as soon as he's old enough." Thaelon looks between the infant and R'ehn a few times, trying to pick out similarities, "Babies look all the same to me most of the time. Never have been able to see the stuff passed on." Lirra wrinkles her nose, leaning down to poke her weyrmate's shoulder. "You said you -liked- being a greenrider minion," she protests, laughing. R'ehn runs a hand through his mass of curls, grinning amiably, "They're picking on the poor child for having curly hair, Thaelon." He blinks up at Lirra, all innocence, "I -do-. I have a knack for minioning. I was well trained. But still, the poor child, a life of confusion and bruised shins." Kassima nods, seeming rather relieved. "Oh, good. 'Twas worried for m'own spawn for a moment there. Neither E'vrin nor I have the Floof-Hair of Doom, but still... oh, Thaelon, see these curly hair-wisps?" She lightly runs a fingertip over the aforementioned head adornment. "Those are definitely from R'ehn. Definitely. And R'ehn, what's so bad about greenrider slavery? Aside from that you insist on calling me ma'am half the time?" She confides in a low tone to Thaelon and Kirana, "As you can see, neither of these two escaped the loonefying process." Kirina chuckles. "I see..." R'ehn notes amiably, "And since we're relatively recently imported, obviously it doesn't take long to become entirely bonkers." Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "Hey, R'ehn?" Telgar Weyr> R'ehn fears, "Yes?" Lirra folds her arms to lean down and rest them on her knees, bringing her head down. She mutters to R'ehn, "... seen his... color finally." She gives him a fairly annoyingly adoring smile before lifting her head to stick her tongue out at Kassima in such a mature way. "I thought I was doing well in my evil training!" Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "I really thought his name was Kilt." Kirina purses her lips together. "Hmm. How long *does* it take?" Telgar Weyr> R'ehn just goes to hide, "Poor child..." Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "It is. But R'ehn is in denial. ;)" Telgar Weyr> M'rgan says, "It /is/ Kilt. No matter what his parents say." Telgar Weyr> Lirra groans. Ivrihn! is name is -Ivrihn-!!! Telgar Weyr> Kassima acks! Mart! Stop agreeing with me; that's scary! Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "Huh." Telgar Weyr> Lirra ers, -his- name is Ivrihn! Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "Well, sorry, R'ehn. K'lt is kind of nice...or I'lt..." Public announcement: R'ehn announces "Pardon the interruption, but I would like to note officialy, now, and for all time that Lirra and I did -not- name the kid 'Kilt'. His name is Ivrihn. Thank you." Telgar Weyr> Lirra falls over laughing and cheers her weyrmate! Hooray! :) Kassima assures Lirra, "Oh, you are! But because you're his weyrmate, he's supposed to enjoy your greenrider slavery. 'Tis the rest of the greenrider slavery that's meant t'make him live in perpetual terror with nay hope of mercy or redemption." She proceeds to coo to the baby, "Hear that, Kilt? You'll need t'keep this in mind when you grow up t'be a greenrider." Telgar Weyr> M'rgan says, "R'ehn, are you sure you want to get in a +announce war? I've still got all of these unused credits...;)" Telgar Weyr> Kassima dies! Telgar Weyr> Kena thought it was Irving... Kirina takes a hide out of her vest and studies the lake for a moment. Then she places it on a flat rock nearby and begins to sketch. Thaelon's eye close two a pair of slits as he examines the baby's head, finally seeing the waspish curls of hair, "Ahh. I see." He turns too look at Kaath, as if the large green has some enigma about her that he hasn't caught yet. R'ehn just shakes his head with a long-suffering sigh, "Y'all are cruel and evil." Kirina looks up from her sketch. "What did I do?" Telgar Weyr> Alyssa laughs. Kassima agrees with deep contentment, "Aye, I am. And your son will be too, someday, just watch. He already has the Hair." She has to consider Kirina's question a moment before offering, "Witnessed R'ehn's admittance to his enjoyment of greenrider slavery?" Lirra hides a smirk, but leans back down to give R'ehn a one armed hug about his shoulders. "Yes, love, and you wouldn't have us any other way, now would you?" she says with soft cheer, then shakes her head wryly at Kassima. "I don't know that I want him to be a greenrider, Kassi." Kirina hehs. "I'll accept that as a reasonable relpy. " She turns back to the hide. Kassima regards Lirra with wide and astonished eyes. "You don't know that you want him t'be a greenrider?" she asks, amazement clear in every feature. R'ehn shakes his head lightly, "Nope, see R'stan and I are both non-evil, as is Vari, and Tee, and we -all- have the hair." He hmphs findly up at Lirra, "True enough." Telgar Weyr> Kymria unidles and rolls. Telgar Weyr> Alyssa hmmms. Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "I'rving." Telgar Weyr> Alyssa says, "I'ring. :>" Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Makes me think of Cathy's boyfriend." Lirra waves her free hand at R'ehn's comment, as if this explains. "See? He has the Hair, and may not even be evil, Kassi. If he takes after R'ehn, well...greenridering might just not suit him. Really, whatever he wants to grow up to be. Really." Telgar Weyr> R'ehn says, "Washingtonth?" R'ehn hmms quietly, "He can be a greenrider. Just not evil. Like Tiya." Jannea heads over from the central bowl. Kassima sticks out her tongue at Lirra, but finally relents, "That *is* what's most important. I hardly object to Kaylira's dreams of being a brownriding Weyrleader, strange and incomprehensible though I find them. And I'll firmly stand behind Khari if'n she decides to give up her own visions of greenriderdom and paint psychotic bovines for a living." Kirina dosen't look up from her drawing, but notices someone new approaching. "Hello," she mutters. R'ehn waves quite cheerfully to Jannea, "Heya', how goes it?" Jannea slows down her run to a skip as she nears the group. Thaelon looks up and waves to Jannea as she walks up, "Hi." he calls out cheerfully. Lirra chuckles softly, shaking her head. "She can always come paint men's underpants with Auntie Lirra every few months, if she likes," she admits to Kassima, waving cheerfully at Jannea. Jannea comes to a stop. "Painting underpants?" Sounds like a good topic to her. She waves to Thaelon, wiggling her fingers a bit at him. As the last push-up person--Ylysse, of course--finishes her set for the day, Kassi frees a hand long enough to wave her dismissal. "Just don't forget that you've more tomorrow! Oh, Khari would *love* that, Lirra. You know what a little psycho she is. Heya, Jannea." Kassima clarifies, not particularly helpful, "G'har's underpants. Or so I suspect 'twill be." R'ehn notes idly up at his Wingleader and his weyrmate, "But she's a -cute- little psycho." He's looking decidedly relieved to have gotten off with just forty push-ups. "They're on underwear redecoration again, it's best just to fear, Jannea." Kirina winces a bit down at her sketch, then finally looks up at the newcommer. "Oh, hmm. Don't think I've seen you before." She turns to Kassima. "Painting underpants?" Lirra mms distractedly, eyes glazing over slightly before she casts an amused look at Kaath. "She is adorable. And painting men's underclothing is a mightily worthwhile activity," she announces loftily. "Right, love?" she asks of R'ehn, trying -very- hard not to laugh and almost succeeding. Thaelon wrinkles his brow at the mention of painting underpants, "Looney." he says quietly. Standing and walking over near Jannea he smiles happily, "Whatcha doin?" R'ehn peers up through his fringe of bangs at Lirra, "Worthwhile in whose definition? See, cause -personally-..." Jannea looks up at Thaelon. "Oh. Just out for a walk." Perhaps she says that a bit too quickly. "Oh, R'ehn, that does remind me... since I gave the others forty push-ups per splotch, it really wouldn't be fair of me nay t'be asking you t'do the same," Kassima thinks to note, at least having the grace to look apologetic. "Khari's too adorable for her own good. Evil though she is, everyone seems to think she's the sweetest thing. There's great potential for Evil there... Lirra paints underwear when she's proddy, and lets Kharisma help, which is very nice of her." R'ehn does not -quite- groan as he clambers up from his comfortable sprawl, "I was hoping that was just another counting error." He dusts himself off and prepares to pad back to the area for engaging in push-up-ery. Kirina shakes her head. "Painting underwear..." she mumbles. She rolls her hide up. "So much for that. Oh, well. See you guys all later. I've got a job to do." She turn towards the lake and looks for her queen. "Victory! Come on!" Kirina heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake. Lirra nods affably down at the bluerider, reaching down to dust his bangs back. "Personally...? You didn't like the paint job I bestowed on your shorts, love?" She stifles a smirk as he gets back up and leans forward to rest her elbows on her knees to watch the pushups appreciatively. "Thanks, Kassi," she murmurs, eyes on the bluerider. Victory stops her playing and looks in her mistress' direction. She flys after her. Victory heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake. Thaelon reaches into his tunic pocket and produces a small scrap of hide, "I tried making a drawing. But it didn't turn out quite right." he says to Jannea. "It's supposed to be the lake, but everyone thought it was a redfruit, or a wherry." he mock frowns at Lirra. Kassima admits, "Oh, 'twas, sort of. But 'tis too late for me t'make the others do less now. What d'you think that girl was sketching?" she wonders, watching after Kirina. "There're an awful lot of young sketchers about. Good t'see, I think. Lirra, call it a guess, but methinks he *might* have objected to the placement of that bovine's-eye... oh, don't mention it. Always glad t'be of service." Jannea moves closer to Thaelon and looks at the hide. "It's not that bad. You just need to practice." She glances up at him, hoping he doesn't notice or maybe that he does. "Umm. I could help you if you want." R'ehn drops down to the ground to set about the great evil of another forty pushups. At least this time he doesn't have V'dan's creative counting to interfere with the process. Not that he looks enthusiastic despite that. Up, down, up, down...ooh what an interesting rock. "Logs, paint, mud, evil." Okay, that's a new litany. Lirra give Thaelon a patently innocent look, then glances sidelong at Kassima with amusement. "Can't imagine why he'd object to -that-," she says in mock asperity, then sighs, eyes flickering back to the pushups. Thaelon thinks for a moment, "Well, I think I've scrubbed about every dragon that needed scrubbing except for one. And I won't have to do that one till this afternoon." he says quietly. "So I guess I've got a bit of time now." Jannea ummms again as she fumbles for words. "Really? You wanna go practice now?" Kassima sighs with amused annoyance as a few Caverns girls who happened to be in the vicinity begin to cluster around the rock, the better to watch the spectacle themselves. Even a few riding women--and men--enter the admiring fray. "The person who jostles me enough t'make me lose m'seat will be kicked across yonder Lake," the Wingleader warns, cuddling Kilt to protect him from the amorous evil. Thaelon nods, his eyes sparkling a bit, "Yeah, that'd be great!" he replies, turning back to the riders assembled, "Unless any of you need me for anything?" Kassima glances over and flicks a grin to Thaelon. "If'n your chores are done, there's nay reason you shouldn't enjoy your free time without worrying about us. Shoo! Shoo!" R'ehn is not intentionally impolite in that he does not reply to Thaelon; he's sort of engaged in the art of not falling on his nose. He's muttering something about blue dragons with sick senses of humor as he continues the proscribed excercise. Lirra waits until Jannea glances away, then waggles her brows at Thaelon and entreatingly mouths a single name of 'M'rgan' before nodding in amiable agreement. "Enjoy your drawing lesson," she agrees, then casts a highly amused look at the other folk ogling her rather oglable weyrmate. R'ehn is not oglable. He is fluffy. It is very different. Nine out of ten LCGs seem to disagree. A longing sigh escapes from the watching women (and men) as the push-ups continue. Jannea grabs Thaelon's hand and starts to drag him away before anyone can call him back. "Where you wanna go?" Thaelon smiles at Kassima, "Thanks!" Stopping to quirk a brow at Lirra he nods and grabs Jannea's hand, tugging her off in the direction of the south bowl muttering along the way, "But we gotta go practice in the living cavern.." Kassima, who isn't involved in ogling R'ehn--I mean, come on, this is *Kassi* here--gives Lirra an odd look. "You need Mart in an eyebrow- waggling fashion? Lirra... I'm afraid. I'm very afraid." Thaelon heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake. Jannea hurries along with Thaelon. Jannea heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake. Thankfully R'ehn is unaware he has attracted oglers, otherwise he'd be decidedly unable to continue due to fear and all that. "Twenty-one, twenty-two..." Just then, though, the baby starts to fuss, developing into a full blown squall, which naturally tugs at every maternal string Lirra's developed in the last eleven days. "Oh, no!" she gasps, reaching for the infant. One particularly bold LCG sidles up to Lirra. "Hey, lady, if you're gonna go after M'rgan, d'ya think any of us might have a chance with...." Sigh. Heartfelt, worshipful sigh. "*Him*?" Kassima winces just a touch at the squall, hastening to hand over the unhappy child. "Mayhaps he fears Lower Caverns girls?" she offers as a possible cause. Lirra glances up at the girl with a rather whithering look, cuddling the fussing infant in close. "I dare you to -try- it," she says in her lowest, most menacing greenrider voice. "I'm not after M'rgan," she emphasizes, then returns to cooing over the baby. "It's his dinner time," she explains. The poor, heartbroken girl gives a pout and then flounces away, muttering something about putting oysters and Istan peppers in R'ehn's dinner that sounds very menacing. "Did someone spill our plan for Mart?" Kassi asks, most suspiciously. R'ehn manages to confuse the heck out of a passing ant. The sky is falling! No it's not. They sky is falling! No it's not. "Thirty-eight, thirty....nine, forty." R'ehn clambers back to his feet with a shake of his head. He heads back rockwards, looking slightly disturbed at the small group. Please note that most of this small group, with the exception of a Kassi who looks more a cross between disgusted and amused, is gazing at R'ehn with lust-filled and worshipful eyes. "Uh, R'ehn?" Kassi suggests, glancing back over her shoulder at the nearly-swooning mass. "Run." Lirra's eyes narrow at the flouncing away as she returns with a sweetly evil mutter about shooting a redfruit off the girl's head...and missing. Reaching up to steal a kiss from -her- weyrmate, she explains, "I'm headed up to the weyr to feed him. You're welcome to come talk to me, if you like? Or stay here and...enjoy," she adds with a slight smirk. R'ehn edges carefully behind Lirra, keeping the greenrider between him and the evil. "Eep? What did I do wrong? I won't ever do it ever, ever, ever again." Kassima informs him, "You did push-ups while there were LCGs nearby. Run. Run fast. Run far." R'ehn is more than game to flee. Especially with Wingleaderly commands being involved. He edges slowly Bhalthward, not wishing to make any sudden moves. Lirra gives the several girls behind Kassima a fairly smug little twist of her lips, then heads for Kaath at a fairly quick pace, given the increased volume of Ivrihn's hollering. R'ehn hops up onto Bhalth's back, as the dragon rumbles softly. Lirra jumps up onto Kaath's back, as the dragon rumbles softly. Kaath takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft. As drool starts to creep down some of the would-be swooners' faces, Kassi elects to follow suit, and flees for her dragon as quickly as her ungainly frame will allow. You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. <*> Bhalth crouches down into a compact mass. In one massive movement of wing and muscle he leaps into the air, the first downbeat of his wings building on the momentum of his leap. <*> Bhalth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor to carry you aloft.