--------------------------------------------------------------------------

T'lar's Haircut


Date:  April 16, 1996
Place:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kassi's Note:  No sooner has Benden gotten through Zibrith's rising
than another greenrider starts showing signs of proddiness.  Well, 
that's to be expected; flights happen all the time, after all... but
on this occasion it's another of Kassi's clutchmates.  Meep!  The 
only consolation is that by the looks of things the one with the most
to fear, and lose, is T'lar.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Log:

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

Aphrael walks in from the bowl.

T'fian watches the dragonhealer and brownrider surreptitiously as he nurses
a goblet of Benden White.

Jazmin waves an unsteady hand to T'fian and Portock and everyone else. She
looks to have been into some form of alcohol recently.

Kassima waves to all and sundry, strolling over to the pitcher of citron as
usual. "Heyla, everyone," she greets.

Alyssa smiles at Kassima and Aphrael as she drops off the klah by Jazmin,
then she glances at T'fian and, excusing herself from the brownrider, goes
to T'fian's side.

Davidon gulps as he's not noticed, but shrugs, what the heck, and nods
politely to the others who walk in.

Aphrael waves absently as she pours herself some klah, then heads for the
Skyfire table.

T'fian glances up at Alyssa approaches.

Alyssa mutters to T'fian, "T'fian, I'm... and... something... mind?"

T'fian blinks and looks at Alyssa with confusion. He mutters to Alyssa,
"No,... Why?" 

Jazmin eyes the klah and sniffs, "Hey.. no booze in there."

Kassima wanders over to the Thunderbolt table with her glass and takes a
seat, her gaze sweeping the room idly for a moment.

A good-looking teenage boy drops the stew off at Jazmin's table and winks,
"Something harder to drink, rider?"

Alyssa sighs. She mutters to T'fian, "... What's going..." 

Davidon watches the boy with Jazmin and blushes despite himself.

Jazmin eyes the boy with an evil grin and nods, "Yep."

T'fian shakes his head. He mutters to Alyssa, "... really.... worried about
Jaz... Meroth... them. I'm... I interrupted." 

R'val walks in from the bowl.

R'val waves as he strides in and moves to sit with the group, "Hi all.' He
pours a mug of klah and flops into a seat.

P'tran walks in from the bowl.

Salless tells her girls to look sharp when the weyrleader walks in.

P'tran gives a curt nod as he comes in and mumbles a good evening.

Alyssa closes her eyes and murmurs, "I'm sorry, T'fian. Strained shoulder,
possible torn flexor muscle. My nerves are shot, I apologize."

Jazmin glances over to Alyssa and T'fian, "Hey! I heard my name.. Chae and
me.. we're good.. bit sore.. that's it." her words have a somewhat soft and
almost slurring quality to them.

Aphrael idly wonders which group R'val sits with as she waves back. "Heya
R'val," Then adds, "Good eve, Weyrleader."

The youth returns with a flask that looks a lot like the one Garant had,
and he presents it with a twinkling grin to Jazmin.

T'fian glances up and nods to P'tran. "I never really noticed how bad this
stuff tastes," he says, lifting his goblet of Benden White, and then
wonders why he's telling the Weyrleader this. He turns back to Alyssa and
pauses at Jazmin's comment. He smiles to Alyssa and motions the
dragonhealer in the brownrider's direction.

P'tran raises an eyebrow at the description of an injury. "Did that have
something to do with a flight today by any chance?"

R'val glances sidelong at Jazmin and winces sympathetically. he nods
respectfully to the weyrleader as he sips his drink and smiles at Aphrael,
"Hi, Aphrael."

Pester flits through the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

R'val * dunno Aph. PIcky picky :)

Alyssa pats T'fian's shoulder, shooting him an apologetic look, then nods
to P'tran as she walks back toward Jazmin. "Yes, sir. Chaeth strained his
right shoulder and might have torn the right wing's flexor."

Kassima waves back to R'val and, after swallowing, says, "Heyla, R'val."

Jazmin grins to the youth, "Thankee kindly.." she adds a large dollop to
her klah before winking at him and taking a swig from the bottle.

R'val glances worriedly at Alyssa, 'What's this?" He asks, alert suddenly.

P'tran ums and frowns slightly. "And how bad is that?"

P'tran does not exactly look in a pleasant mood this evening

Benden Weyr> Sionelle eeeps, and hopes she didn't ruin the WLs day...

Alyssa leans against the table, not looking entirely cheerful herself. "Any
wing injury is unpleasant, sir. Chaeth is grounded for a sevenday at least,
probably off-duty for two, depending on the severity of that flexor injury
on the wing."

Benden Weyr> P'tran chuckles :) I like RPing being a grump now and then. I
don't get to do it all that often :)

R'val listens to Alyssa raptly.

Benden Weyr> Sionelle ohs, well... If you ever need a reason... ;)

Benden Weyr> Jazmin gets to RP being a drunk rider. :) This should be fun.. :)

T'fian shuffles through the pockets of his riding jackets, obviously
looking for something. Finally, he withdraws a moderately intricate black
and red knot and sets it on the table in front of him. He waitss until the
Weyrleader is finished talking about Chaeth.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "P'tran...could have fooled me. O:-)"

Benden Weyr> Sionelle grins at Jazmin. Been there, done that. Slugged
Alyssa. :)

Benden Weyr> F'hlan wobbles off back to his weyr, being, um, well, you
probably know.

Benden Weyr> Aly . o O ( does P'tran ever RP anything else? :) )

P'tran sighs and runs a hand through his hair and nods. He glances over to
Jazmin for a moment and just nods. "Thank you for the report," he says
neutrally. "Who rose, anyway?"

Benden Weyr> Jazmin will have to find somone else to slug then Elle. :)

Benden Weyr> Sionelle hides.

Alyssa replies quietly, "Zibrith. Rather without announcement."

Benden Weyr> F'hlan gets clobbered by Jazmin as Chaeth tries to clobber
Tzornth? :)

T'fian looks at the Weyrleader and opens his mouth, shutting it when Alyssa
answers the Weyrleader.

Benden Weyr> <Jazmin> Chaeth is too busy being a wimp and whimpering to
slug ya Tzornth..

P'tran ums and nods. "I'd say that was a bit without warning. That green
must have the shortest proddiness period of any other."

Benden Weyr> T'fian whaps his typing fingers. Stop using titles! (sorry,
just had to yell at myself. :)

R'val sighs," Zibrith."

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Sore? ;)"

Benden Weyr> R'val hides.

Jazmin sets the bottle aside and starts in on her klah and booze, mostly
ignoring th e stew in front of her.

Alyssa shrugs. "We've had a few greens rise recently, sir. Zibrith probably
just reacted to them. She does tend to rise with little warning, from what
Elyandra tells me. Tzornth flew her, by the way. I hope he didn't strain
that Threadscore."

P'tran raises an eyebrow. "Tzornth again?" he says with a trace of
amusement in his voice. He glances about the cavern and notices T'fian
looking towards him somewhat expectantly. "You wanted to say something,
T'fian?"

Benden Weyr> T'lar waves and peeks to see if it's safe to come down.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa staples R'val down.

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "No safer than its always been ... :)"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "In other words, T'lar, not safe at all. *Grins
and wafflethwaps.* :)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar hmmmmmmmms. Guess that will have to do.

T'fian pushes aside his goblet and looks up at P'tran about to ask him if
he had a moment when the Weyrleader asks him. "Oh, no, sir. I was just
going to answer your question. I would like to speak with you when you've a
moment, though."

Benden Weyr> Aphrael snuggaT'lar :)

Alyssa notes that the Weyrleader's attention has moved along and sinks
gratefully beside Jazmin, snuggling close to her friend. "I almost could
stand some of that," she says with a nod to the flask. "I'm freezing and
emotionally wiped."

Benden Weyr> Aly says, "F'laav must be downloading those naughty web babe
pictures again, Pern is lagging :)"

Benden Weyr> Jazmin drunkenly snugs a T'lar.

Benden Weyr> T'lar snugga Aph, Kassi, Lyssa, Aly, Jazmin, Ely, M'kla and
Sionelle.

Jazmin offers Alyssa the bottle, "Have a drink.. good stuff this is.. burns
right down to your stomach.."

R'val glances at Alyssa, guilt in his expression, "I'm sorry Alyssa. I
should've been there to help you."

P'tran glances to Alyssa for a moment in case she wanted to say something
else, then turns more fully to T'fian. "Now's as good a time as any."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa suggests anyone with bad IC news dump it on P'tran now.
His evening already sucks, apparently. :)

Benden Weyr> Aly tells P'tran she's pregnant with his child.

Benden Weyr> F'hlan collapses in his weyr, eyes his dragon balefully, and
informs him that he'd better not get any ideas about Julianth and Arbreth.
Tzornth, as always full of ideas, gives his rider a bronze-sized raspberry.

Benden Weyr> P'tran thwaps Alyssa :)

Benden Weyr> P'tran smirks. Not even in your dreams, Aly :p :)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Gee, I sense a pattern with the riders here
these days, always thwapping me. :)"

T'fian picks up the knot in front of him. "I know I should probably be
giving this to back to Cerilla, but I've not managed to cross paths with
her since graduation. I was just thinking that since the weyrlings are
graduated, except for one or two who's training fell behind ... and Cerilla
can handle them ... well, I just wanted to give the knot to you, since I
don't need it anymore."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Do you deserve it, Lyssa?"

T'lar walks in from the bowl.

Alyssa shrugs to R'val. "You were busy elsewhere, and Chaeth and I get on
fine. Don't worry about it." She takes a pull at the offered flask, without
thinking, then explodes with a coughing fit. "What IS that?" she chokes.

T'lar walks in with his leatherworking bag in hand. He smiles and waves to
all.

Benden Weyr> Aly tells P'tran she's pregnant with Jazmin's child.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Moi? O:-)"

Jazmin grins, "Good aint it.." she takes another long swig.

Benden Weyr> Jazmin awwws.. I wanted it to be a surprise Aly! <pout>

Kassima waves to T'lar, smiling. "Still working on those patches?" she
asks, gesturing to the bag.

P'tran hrms? and at first is puzzled as to what he means when he sees its
the assistant weyrlingmaster's knot. He takes it in hand but then pauses.
"Have you spoken with Cerilla? Maybe she'd want you on permanently. You
woulnd't have the AWLM duties until the next hatching, of course, but just
the same ..."

T'lar stops and looks at Alyssa and R'val. He chuckles at her drinking style.

P'tran gives a brief nod to T'lar as he walks by

Benden Weyr> P'tran chuckles :)

Mehlani walks in from the bowl.

R'val nods to Alyssa, 'I know. But I wish I could've been there to help.'
he scowls and sips his klah.

R'val grins at Alyssa, 'Never drink a Bitran's liquor, unless you're used
to it."

T'lar walks over to the table where Kassima is sitting. "Yes. Still
working. Gotta fix the mistake from last night on Meli's patch if nothing
else."

T'fian nods to T'lar and turns back to P'tran. "No, I've not talked with
her; I s'pose I should, but that particular job is far more emotionally
draining than I thought it would be. At least for me, it was."

Mehlani, her stuffed toy Whereth under one arm, pads silently into the
caverns. She scans the wide room earnestly, then purposefully strides to
the hearth, settles down by the fire there, and cuddles her toy to her,
with its face buried against her.

Kassima nods, chuckling. "Aye, might be best. She may be happier if you
have it fixed than if you don't, aye?"

Jazmin waves the bottle at R'val, "Have a drink.. you'll be all happy then."

Alyssa nods to R'val. "R'val, I'm sorry to say there will always be a next
time." She sniffs at the flask again, then shrugs and takes another drink.
This time, she coughs a little less violently. "I think it's burned my
throat..."

P'tran hrms and nods. "I understand. A lot of Weyrlingmasters say the same
thing sometimes. All right. I can return this to Cerilla, or you can keep
it and speak with her yourself. Up to you."

T'lar nods as he sits. "I don't want to give her any reason to get upset
about anything else."

Jazmin nods to Alyssa, "Ventually ya dont feel nuttin.. that's the good bit."

T'lar looks over and sees Aphrael. 'Evening, Aph. How's Prefeth?"

P'tran continues to hold the knot at arm's length in case he reconsiders
and takes it back

R'val grins at Jazmin a bit tiredly and moves to sit at her side, and pours
a mug, pushing his klah aside, "I'll gladly try osome Jazmin, "He says,
genuinely grateful and then he smiles weakly at Alyssa, 'Sad, but true."

R'val smiles at Jazmin and winks, gulping a hot swallow, "Mmm. Yes, that's
the aim of it all."

Kassima shakes her head with a slight grin. "Something tells me she'll
probably get upset no matter what, but there are varying levels of
upsetness... want something to drink? I need to refresh my drink anyway."

T'fian nods, thinking momentarily. "I guess I'll keep it until I can talk
to her, sir. Wouldn't exactly be fair to her if she wants to keep me on to
not even talk to her about it."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins at P'tran's reverse psychology. :)

T'lar smiles and nods at Kassi's question. "Yes, please. Ale."

P'tran nods to T'fian. "If you really don't want to do the job anymore,
that's fine. I just think she should hear it directly from you if that's
the case."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "That's why he's the boss. :)"

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "No applause, just throw money ..."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Ok. <tosses Confederate bills>"

Benden Weyr> R'val throws silly-looking Canadian two dollar coins at P'tran ;)

T'fian nods. "Yes, sir. You're right of course." He hesitantly takes the
knot back. "I'll talk with her first."

Kassima nods and stands up, pouring herself a fresh citron and filling a
mug with ale for T'lar. The mug she hands to him, and takes a quick sip
from her glass before sitting down.

Maarie walks in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Kassima throws Monopoly money at P'tran. :)

Alyssa sits back and makes herself comfortable. "This stuff really isn't
too bad once y'get used to it/

Benden Weyr> Sionelle heys at R'val. Tem coins is neat.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "All worth about the same. :)"

Maarie comes in and heads for the hearth and a mug of klah.

P'tran nods to T'fian. He looks over to Maarie as she walks in. "Evening,
Maarie. How are you and Zuseth doing?"

T'lar says "Hi, Maarie. Come join us."

Mehlani watches everything, and regards the grownups imbibing liquor for
several long moments. She pipes to Alyssa, "Daddy likes blackberry liqueur."

Kassima spots Maarie and waves to her cheerfully. "Heyla, Maarie. How goes?"

T'lar says "Thanks, Kassi."

Benden Weyr> R'val thinks they look like bus tokens, Sionelle :)

Benden Weyr> Maarie throws lots and lots of pesos until P'tran is buried.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa adds a ton of lira. :)

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Still worth about the same."

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Yeah, but at least lira *look* froody...."

Alyssa smiles at Mehlani, a little blearily. "That's nice...where's your
daddy now, hmmm? Oh, wait...never mind."

Maarie nods to P'tran, "We are both well, thank you." She slides into a
seat next to Kassi.

Benden Weyr> P'tran goes and exchanges all the currency and gets back $1.56 :)

T'lar takes a good pull of ale and sighs. He begins to unload his bag and
set to work.

T'fian looks at the knot for a moment and then stands. "Oh, well. If you
will all excuse me, I'm going back up to my weyr. Good evening, everyone."

Mehlani says sagely, "He came back to the weyr. He's taking a nap now."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "After the exchange fees, P'tran, you're down
five bucks. :)"

P'tran nods to T'fian. "Evening."

T'fian walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Alyssa snickers at Mehlani's words, covering her mouth as she begins to
giggle.

P'tran nods slowly at Maarie's answer, possibly having expected a little
more. "And Zuseth's scoring?"

T'lar looks sideways at Alyssa. Turning back to Kassi, he says "Is Alyssa
drinking alcoholic beverages?"

R'val looks up and waves his liquor filled mug in Maarie's direction,
"Evening, Maarie."

Benden Weyr> R'val . o O (Darned overvalued American money ;) )

Angelique walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "I think Alyssa drank too much. her computer
passed out."

Kassima nods. "No problem, T'lar." She drums her fingers idly on the table
for a moment, then pulls a scrap of hide and a stick of charcoal from her
belt pouch with the intent of sketching something. Looking up from this,
she glances at T'lar and her brow furrows. "Thought I saw her take a sip of
that stuff Jazmin has, but I wasn't really watching...."

Mehlani bobs her head to Alyssa, deciding that since this particular
grownup is giggling at her, she must be saying something right. She thinks.
"I'm not supposed to go in the weyr right now."

Maarie looks back at P'tran and smiles sheepishly, "It has healed quite
well and hasn't seemed to affected her ability to fly. Lys had us not go
between yet, so I still have yet to see how she'll feel after that, but Lys
think that the score was minor enough...

Maarie finishes, "There shouldn't be any complications."

Benden Weyr> Maarie hates telnetting...

T'lar says "Hope she doesn't drink too much." He smiles. "I don't know that
she can hold her liquor well."

Angelique walks into the cavern and looks surprised to see so many people.
She looks around for a seat.

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Good going, Jazmin, your liquor knocked Alyssa
right off the net ;)"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Who, T'lar, me? Just because I never drink..."

Mehlani bobs her head to Alyssa, deciding that since this particular
grownup is giggling at her, she must be saying something right. She thinks.
"I'm not supposed to go in the weyr right now." <repeat>

P'tran nods to Maarie in satisfaction this time. "Very good. Probably it
would be a good idea to have you assigned to some patrols for a few days
after you're cleared to fly before you're selected for a wing."

P'tran apparantly is starting to look a little more content that something
is going right this evening

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Is that my cue to enter, P'tran? :)"

Alyssa smiles at Mehlani. "Well, stay down here with us...want some stew?"
She indicates the two relatively neglected bowls.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Ack! It's Meli. Hide, quick. :)"

Kassima chuckles. "Ach, she probably knows her limits. I wouldn't worry
about it at the moment." She starts scribbling on the hide with the 'coal,
drawing a picture of the hearth for some unknown reason.

Mehlani nods her head up and down to Alyssa.

Jazmin returns from her deep conversation with the bottle and pours s'more
for herself and Alyssa.

Benden Weyr> Kassima ducks under a table to safely tremble in fear of Meli. :)

T'lar works diligently on the leather patch before him. He uses smalls
chisels and stamps,hitting them with a rawhide mallet. He is rather
engrossed in his work.

Benden Weyr> P'tran smirks at Meli :)

Benden Weyr> R'val aies. ProddyMeli!

P'tran hmms? and glances towards the bowl for a moment.

Benden Weyr> T'fian waves and heads off. 'Night, all.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa pouts.

T'lar stops and looks up toward the bowl entrance. He takes another strong
pull on his ale.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani studies Meli seriously, attempting to figure out why
the grownups think she's scary.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Bye, Tiffy."

Benden Weyr> P'tran waves

Maarie nods in agreement with P'tran.

Benden Weyr> Kassima tosses a zhai cup of coffee with a styrofoam lid to
T'fian.

Alyssa pulls a seat closer for Mehlani, then giggles and elbows Jazmin.
"Chaeth thought getting swollen muscles would make him as big as a
bronze?!?!?"

Benden Weyr> Meli was wondering that herself, Mehlani 0:)


---

36   Meli              Mon Apr 15 17:14:39 Juliath's the Sun

Juliath's the Sun? Oh, I get it, she's Rising ;-)
I'm tentatively scheduling the flight for this Thursday, April 18th, around
10 pm ET-ish. Subject to changes due to RL foo (or VR foo for that matter).
It's not going on +flights since I'd prefer mostly Benden dragons about for
this first time to cut down on the embarrasment factor, but it's not a
secret either. *grin*

 --- Meli, proddyrider-in-training
......................................BDW.....................................

---

Benden Weyr> Aphrael wavesTiffy.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "You wave Tiffy? Boy, you're strong."

Meli walks in from the bowl.

Mehlani gets up and padpads to the seat. Still hugging her toy wher, she
clambers carefully into the chair.

Jazmin starts giggling as well and nods, "He's such a silly dragon.."

Benden Weyr> Aphrael pokes T'lar :)

P'tran glances to the bowl and sighs, shaking his head. He gives a hint of
a frown as Meli walks in.

Alyssa nods and laughs more loudly as she says, "He said he wants to be big
like a bronze, only without the <giggle> hurt...he is so silly."

R'val glances up at Meli and nods somewhat wearily, downing another swallow
of Jazmin's liquor.

T'lar smiles at Meli. "Heyla. Welcome home."

Kassima's charcoal stick stops moving the moment she sees Meli, but she
merely nods to her friend pleasantly. "Heyla, Meli."

Mehlani says somberly to Alyssa, "Chiloth is big as Tzornth an' he's brown."

Meli strides into the bowl, absentmindedly brushing sand off her jacket
before taking off her gloves and tucking them in her belt. She nods at
various 'hellos' and makes her way smoothly towards the hearth.

Mehlani adds, for good measure, "An' Cavenath's bigger."

Jazmin giggles harder and nods, "He's a silly silly brown.." she slurs.

Alyssa clears her throat and nods to Mehlani. "Varquith's big too...but
Chaeth...he <chortle> seem to think he's going to grow more...I do love
that dragon."

T'lar exchanges glances with Kassima before looking back at Meli. He swings
his head back to look at the sketch. "Nice. You do good work."'

R'val glances at Alyssa and grins crookedly into his mug.

Maarie sips her klah quietly, glancing over at what Kassi's drawing.

Mehlani wrinkles her tiny nose, and stares at Jazmin and Alyssa perplexedly.

P'tran ahems. "Um, Meli?"

Kassima glances at Alyssa and Jazmin for a moment, then shrugs slightly.
Better than talking about why tunnelsnakes wriggle after they're dead. She
looks down at her drawing and smiles. "Thanks. I'm better with things that
aren't living, like the hearth. My fire-lizard drawings all wind up looking
deformed."

Mehlani asks Alyssa, "Do you have greens that're gonna have babies?"

Meli, having collected her evening stew and bread, whips her head around at
hearing her name. Seeing the weyrleader, she takes a breath and moves
towards him. "Yessir?"

Jazmin laughs harder, trying to pour more into both glasses, missing a bit
and sloshing on a table.

P'tran glances towards the bowl again and says to Meli. "Juliath's been a
bit bright lately. The watchdragon mentioned to Laerth that you just came
back from being outside the Weyr?"

Alyssa pushes the bottle away, sighing, "Sorry, Jazmin...I have to watch
what I drink while I'm still nursing F'nar...I mean,
Alnar...sorry....<giggle> What, Mehlani?"

T'lar shrugs. "I don't know. Think of it as having a different perspective
on art." He chuckles. "I tend to make my mistakes in carving work for me."

Aphrael takes some wherry from a drudge and begins to chew slowly, smiling
a greeting over at Meli.

Meli nods curtly in reply to P'tran. "Yessir" she echoes.

R'val watches Meli closely.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "ROFL at Alyssa."

Mehlani repeats earnestly, "Do you have greens that're gonna have babies?"

Benden Weyr> P'tran LOL

Benden Weyr> Alyssa has almost typed that a few times accidentally
(referring to Alnar when she means F'nar, or vice versa). I thought it was
appropriate now. :)

Benden Weyr> Meli decides to take pointers from 'lys :)

Kassima half-grins. "So drawing deformed 'lizards is a *good* thing?" She
starts to sketch an eye in the corner of the hearth.

Mehlani's wide blue eyes hold profound curiosity.

Jazmin laughs harder and drinks what she poured in Alyssa's glass as well
as her own.

Alyssa blinks at the girl and tries to gain some semblance of composure.
"Green...firelizards? Oh...for your father?" This does seem to sober her a
little.

P'tran nods to Meli. "You want to be careful and not take your dragon out
of the Weyr when she's close to rising, Meli," he states firmly, but not
raising his voice. "You don't want her to start to rise over a Hold or
Hall. Or another Weyr. The last one is not as bad, but its sometimes seen
as poor taste."

Mehlani shakes her head slowly. "You sound like Daddy, when his greens are
gonna have babies," she clarifies.

T'lar says "Well, I'm not sure about that. But I think you could make the
designs into something." He goes back to working on the Dawnslight patch."

Benden Weyr> Mehlani busily takes notes under the heading When Grownups Act
Silly and Why. .oO (Fascinating.)

Meli's face darkens somewhat from her effort to maintain her semi-stoic
expression. "Yessir" yet again. "Wasn't anyone where we were, though" she
mumbles afterwards.

P'tran hears and nods. He does not seem to be really angry at her, perhaps
because he knows it would be her first flight. "Still, keeping your dragon
at the Weyr in this case is a good habit to get into."

Kassima hrms. "I suppose so," she says, adding a tail to the whole sketch
and a hand at the end of the tail. "I usually get tired of a design,
though, and start drawing something else."

Jazmin leans back in her chair to relax, way back.. way relaxed.. <snore>

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Where's the Benden Weyr homepage?"

Meli adds another "Yessir" and looks down at her stew. "S'at all? Sir?

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Http://www.io.org/~jackal/Benden.html"

Lal walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Alyssa blinks at Mehlani, giggles, and covers her mouth. "Oh, I, um, I just
have, um...so, Mehlani, how is that stew?"

Lal blinks. "Allo."

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "http://www.io.org/~jackal/Benden.html--uh,
yeah, what R'val said. :)"

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "Second star to the right and straigh on til
morning, or http://www.io.org/~jackal/Benden.html, whichever is easier :)"

P'tran nods to Meli. "That's all, rider."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa peers at P'tran. Gee, we are all tooooo giggly tonight. :)

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Thanks."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Deep in the hundred acre woods...."

Mehlani turns her regard to the stew in question, thinks, then leans WAY
over to stick her toy wher down in the shadow of her chair. Then she takes
the stew bowl in both small hands, eats a bit of it, and says succintly,
"Yummy."

Benden Weyr> R'val peers at P'tran, and just saw Star Trek VI last night ;)
That's the last line :)

Meli turns around on her heel sharply and moves over towards the other
ex-Moonrisers, sitting close but not too close, giving them another curt
nod. She starts to eat.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Where deranged weyrfolk play? :)"

Lal sighs as she sits.

Alyssa glances to her right to see Jazmin dozing lightly, and she sets
aside the bottle. "Enough of THAT," she says firmly to herself and orders
some klah. "Good, Mehlani...it smells good."

P'tran watches Meli for a moment before turning his attention on something
else

Mehlani holds up her bowl, offering?

Benden Weyr> Alyssa hopes you know, R'val, that that comes from Peter Pan. :)

Kassima glances at Meli and decides that, since the brandy gambit worked
pretty well last night, it might be worth another try. "Want something to
drink, Meli? There should be 'smore brandy around here somewhere...."

Benden Weyr> Kassima sprinkles us all with firestone dust. "Think happy
thoughts! Happy thoughts!"

Lal asks Salless for a few things.

Alyssa smiles and indicates the second bowl. "I have my own, thanks..." She
takes a bite and swallows, unhappily, forcing a smile, then she notes very
belatedly Meli's name being spoken, and she looks around.

Salless uses a spatula to pry 5 flakey gold fishrolls from a tray for Lal.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani blinkblinks, and sneezes.

Benden Weyr> R'val grins. Ayup, but the last time I heard it was on Star
Trek VI :)

Benden Weyr> Mehlani *chf*

T'lar puts his tools down and swivels on the bench to face Meli. "Hi. Meli.
How was your day? Missed you."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Just checking. :)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Goldfishrolls?"

Benden Weyr> Kassima ewwwwwwwwws.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Hey, they're made by Peppridge Farm."

Her head bowed a moment longer as she takes a deep breath, Meli then looks
up at Kassi, giving her a sickly-sweet grimace attempting to pass for a
smile and manages "No, thank ye Kassi" She then gives this same look to
T'lar, she obviously thinks it looks normal, and says flatly "Fine, thank
ye T'lar" and looks back down at her stew.

Mehlani placidly eats, but watches the grownups consideringly as she does so.

T'lar takes a deep breath and lets it out slow. He tried. He returns to his
leatherworking without another word.

Kassima nods. "All right, just thought I'd offer." She smiles, then turns
back to her sketch, whimsically putting a bottle of brandy in the claw on
the side of the hearth.

Maarie finds her empty klah mug a good excuse to leave the table and go
across to the other side of the caavern to slowly refill it.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Gosh, even when I'm being nice they find reasons
to walk away }:)"

Alyssa does finish the last glass of liquor that Jazmin left, shuddering.
"That stuff is really noxious," she says to herself and plucks a roll from
the nearby basket to begin eating that rather than the stew.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "That's because we respect you so much, Meli. :)
.o0(That is, if respect is synonymous with fear....)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "We're practicing for when Kassi is proddy."

Benden Weyr> Maarie grins.

Lal walks towards the inner cavern.

Benden Weyr> Kassima cackles most evilly.

P'tran speaks a few moments with a wingrider about a patrol earlier that day.

Mehlani informs Alyssa solemnly, "Daddy says so too." And munches more stew.

Lysseth> Juliath suddenly raises her head, eyes opening and whirling. She
gives a loud rumble.

Lysseth> Lysseth swivels her head to peer at Juliath, rumbling curiously.

Alyssa smiles at Mehlani. "Your father is usually right too, Mehlani." She
glances toward P'tran, then gets up to walk around a little and get some of
the alcohol from her system. "Evening, Meli."

Meli's head whips up and around towards the bowl, and a confused look flits
across her face for a moment. She looks up as Alyssa passes, blinking in
astonishment. "Alyssa! Hi!"

Lysseth> Nicoth looks up and looks to Juliath.

Alyssa smiles down at her friend. "How are yout t'night, Meli?"

Mehlani's tiny brows draw together. Why do grownups DRINK the stuff, then?
But as Alyssa gets distracted, the child does not ask this question.

T'lar looks suddenly over at Meli.

Meli smiles at Alyssa, reaching out to patpat her hand. "Fine, jus' fine" a
bit quickly. "An' you?"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Because, Mehlani, we trust friends like Jazmin. :)"

Benden Weyr> Mehlani finds this ALL very confusing.

R'val pours himself another helping of liquor.

Alyssa hugs Meli and says, "Good, good...I was worried about you an'...um,
and Juliath earlier, when Zibrith rose...I was afraid that she'd go up too.
How's she doing?"

T'lar looks at Kassi, Aphrael and Maarie. He whispers very quietly, "Did
your dragons see that? You don't think it's tonight?"

Lysseth> Zuseth lumbers here from the south.

R'val glances outside and frowns.

Lysseth> Zuseth settles down near Lysseth.

Aphrael blinks and looks up at T'lar, "Hrm?" Her gaze drifts over to Meli,
and she blinks, then looks back, "I don't know.."

Meli's eyes barely flick towards the bowl entrance and back. "She's fine,
fine, 'lys." Muttering 'fine' 'fine' a few more times with a smile.

Kassima shrugs. "Hard to say, T'lar. No real way to predict that I'm aware
of...."

T'lar decides he is not going to be able to concentrate any more on the
leather and packs it all up. He finishes off his ale and stands. "Any one
need anything>"

Mehlani tilts her head at the whispered words of the riders. Catching words
like "rose" and "go up", which according to her brother seem to be quite
significant, she sets her stew bowl back on the table and pads over to P'tran.

Lysseth> Lysseth warbles a pleasant greeting to Zuseth, gazing at Juliath
for a moment more before turning her attention to watching the rain fall
with a displeased rumble.

Meli turns around and spots T'lar now, seemingly for the first time.
"T'lar!" she exclaims.

Mehlani halts by the Weyrleader's chair and simply stands there, looking up
at him patiently.

Lysseth> Juliath whuffles at the other dragons, and settles her head back
down, eyes whirling still as she stares across the bowl.

T'lar turns and smiles. "Hi, Meli. Need anything to eat or drink?"

Alyssa grins and rolls her eyes at T'lar, continuing on to the beverage
table for klah, this time good and strong.

Lysseth> Nicoth moves over and rumblecroons to the green quietly.

Lysseth> Vidarth regards Juliath from a safe, prudent distance.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Do we have descriptions of the wings patches
anywhere?"

P'tran finishes his conversation with his wingrider and notices Mehlani and
hrms?

Benden Weyr> Mehlani thinks T-bolt's wing patch is described somewhere in
my Ancient Mail Backlog.

Mehlani stands way up on her tiptoes and whispers to Laerth's rider.

Meli shakes her head, smiling foolishly, as she rises and practically
pushes T'lar back down on the bench. "No, no, lemme get you somethin'...
stew? baklava?"

Lysseth> Juliath's eyes continue their slow whirl, but she turns her head
to watch Nicoth a moment then sets it back down.

Mehlani mutters to P'tran, "... gonna... more glowy..."

Benden Weyr> P'tran nods and has it in his email as wel, just have to go
digging for it

Maarie finally sits back down next to Kassi, sipping at her fresh mug of klah.

T'lar blinks in confusion. "Uh, well, I was gonna get myself some more ale."

P'tran ums and shakes his head, "I don't think so, Mehlani ..."

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Just interested."

Kassima puts down her hearth sketch, which now looks nothing like a
hearth--rather like a bizarre mutant thing. Strange, all her drawings turn
out that way. She decides to be conversational and says to Maarie, "How
goes it with you lately? Been visiting anywhere interesting?"

Benden Weyr> P'tran nods. When I find it, I can post it somewhere :)

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Thanks."

Mehlani nods very solemnly, apparently content. She turns to pad back to
her chair.

Meli nodnods "Ok, I'll get it for ye" and reaches down, taking his mug and
striding off towards the ale with some dispatch. Pouring out a suitable
measure, she hurries back, plunking it down near T'lar, standing slightly
behind him.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani .oO (Good, no more glowy dragons so I don't have to
get any of the icky stuff Daddy doesn't like to drink and make him drink it.)

Alyssa then looks down at R'val, close to where her meanderings brought
her. "Wanna....ahem...want to go look at Chaeth with me?"

T'lar nods. "Thanks, Meli. Real nice of you." He takes a healthy drink and
sets the mug back down.

R'val nods to Alyssa and sets his mug aside, "I'd be glad to."

P'tran looks back to the others. "I have some duties to attend to. If
you'll all excuse me .."

P'tran heads out

P'tran walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Maarie shakes her head, "Not anywhere really. Planning on going to the
Master Beasat Hold at some point but not until Zuseth is cleared to go
between, which shouldn't be too much longer.

Alyssa slips an arm through R'val's and heads for the bowl.

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

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

Meli's eyes suddenly tighten slightly. She reaches down unexpectedly,
pulling one of Kassi's belt knives out. Taking T'lar's braid in one hand,
with one quick *swipe* she cuts it off just at the shoulders.

Kassima smiles, taking a sip of her citron. "Glad to hear that. Anything
interesting at the Master Beast Hold? I can't say I've ever been there."

Mehlani jumps!

T'lar sits stunned. He's not sure what just happened, but it definately
happened to him. He looks at Kassi for enlightenment.

Aphrael blinks and peers over at Meli. She shifts uncomfortably.

Maarie grins at Kassi, "Nothing but a bunch of animals."

Meli returns the knife to Kassi and sits down beside T'lar, absentmindedly
setting the braid down on the table between them. She goes on with her
conversation as if nothing has happened. "Were you on sweeps t'day?"

Kassima jumps as she feels the jerk of her knife being apprehended, and
stares at Meli in wide-eyed astonishment. She glances over at T'lar with
total bewilderment in her expression.

T'lar swallows and looks down at the braid on the table. He can feel the
strands about his ears. Turning to Meli, he just stares for a moment.
"Meli?" he says shakily.

Meli hmms, eyebrow lifting. "Yes, T'lar?"

Maarie blinks at what's going just the other side of Kassi.

Kassima takes her knife back and carefully replaces it, staring down at the
braid for a moment before coughing and deciding that to ignore the whole
incident might be wise. It might also be wise to get her knives out of
Meli's reach, so she draws her knife again and pretends to need to stir her
citron with it.

T'lar gulps. "Why did you just cut off my hair?"

Mehlani scrambles back to the chair under which she left Whereth. The swing
of the knife made her eyes go positively round, and now, she hunkers down
by the chair, grabbing her toy and hugging it tightly.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "I deserved that. I've been threatening to cut
Aph's and Kassi's hair for months."

Meli looks rather astonished at the question, it's so Silly. "Why, 'cause
it might get Thread caught in it, o'course" as if it's the most obvious
thing ever.

Benden Weyr> Mehlani nods. Still, she's seven. :) People swinging knives
out of the blue is scary!

T'lar sits with his mouth open for a moment. "Oh." He reaches up and feels
the rather uneven ends of his hair. "I see."

Kassima reaches up to touch her coiled braid as if assuring herself it's
still there. She picks up her riding helmet and pulls it on over her hair
quickly.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "You're next, Kassi. :)"

Meli nods at this, content that it's for his own good. "Good" she adds,
happy he understands.

Benden Weyr> Kassima chuckles. Don't do that. Don't ever do that. Don't
even think about it. :)

T'lar stares down at the severed braid and finishes off the mug of ale. He
doesn't even notice when a serving woman refills it, but he drinks that as
well.

Benden Weyr> T'lar thinks about it often.

Mehlani peeks uncertainly at T'lar, trying to see how he reacted to the
scary thing that Meli just did.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Did Meli just scalp T'lar? :)"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Well, try not to. Seriously, I don't *want*
Kassi's hair cut. :)"

Benden Weyr> Maarie noddles.

Meli nods again, sagely, she's older than him and knows better. Or, she
might if she were in a clear frame of mind.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "OOOh, you go, Meli!"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Ok, Kassi. I'll be nice."

Benden Weyr> Mehlani eyes Meli warily.

Benden Weyr> Meli bows left, center, right. "Thank you, thank you" with
hands lifted to stop the applause.

T'lar coils up the braid and stuffs it into his bag. "Meli. What if I
didn't want it cut?"

Benden Weyr> M'kla shakes her head. One of those nights you're glad to be
on overnight sweeps over Igen.

Benden Weyr> Kassima applauds anyway. :)

Benden Weyr> Mehlani hides Whereth before Meli gets the idea that it's good
to disembowel stuffed whers.

Maarie reaches up and absent mindedly fingers her curls, watching Meli
rather curiously. She leans over to Kassi and whispers rather loudly, "Did
I ever do things like that?"

Aphrael, quite calmly, edges further away from the greenrider as she.. uh,
goes to get some more, klah, yeah.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins at M'kla. And Jazmin got me tipsy, M'kla!

Benden Weyr> M'kla was watchin.

Kassima glances at Maarie and shakes her head. "Nay, I can't remember you
ever taking a knife to someone. Even if only to their hair."

Meli quirks a brow "Not want it cut?" What an amazing idea. She looks
around for the braid, it seems to have disappeared. "I s'pose we could
weave it back on or somethin', but why would you want that?"

Benden Weyr> Mehlani decides that her father is quite safe where he's
taking his nap.

T'lar opens his mouth, then closes it. "Well. It's done now. But I think it
needs to be evened up a bit. Kassi? Aph? Maarie?"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Guess I need to change my desc."

Aphrael blinks. She doesnt want to take her attention off Meli. She shakes
her head, "I, er, can't cut very straight."

Kassima chuckles and shakes her head. "Nay, T'lar, you don't want me t'do
it. I'm not good at cutting things even--only thing I ever chop up is meat,
y'know, and that doesn't need to be very precise."

Veyon walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Maarie looks at the other two and smiles slightly, "If you find me
something to cut with..."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa notes she has cut hair IC. :) But I wouldn't recommend
asking me now. :)

Veyon comes in, notes who is there, and continues outwards.

Kassima hands Maarie one of her knives. "Will this do?"

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

Meli looks over at Maarie suspiciously for a second or two, then relaxes
and starts humming softly to herself.

T'lar says "Will the knife do or do you need scissors?"

Maarie nods to Kassi, glancing at the knife, "Yeah...this will be good.
Want to go shorter, T'lar?"

Benden Weyr> Meli is having tons of fun, thanks all for putting up with
this... I assume future proddiness will not be quite so spectacular :)

T'lar nods. "Might as well. It needs to fit under the helmet."

Benden Weyr> Kassima awwwwwwwwws, darn, it won't be? :)

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Yeah, my hair won't have the time to grow."

Benden Weyr> Mehlani .oO (Unless you get multiple dragons... no, wait..)

Mehlani eyes the grownups, still unsure. Her Daddy has long hair. Why did
they cut T'lar's?

T'lar sighs and sits still for the haircut. He mutters darkly under his
breath.

Kassima makes sure her helmet is fastened tightly, tucking a stray wisp of
hair underneath it. No use taking chances. She glances over at Aph and
makes another of those attempts to be conversational with, "How's Prefeth?"

Maarie begins to cut T'lar's hair so that it barely brushes the top of his
ears and with short bangs. She goes about it rather quickly and even goes
as far to layer it slightly. It ends up looking a lot like a bowl
cut...imaagine that.....

Benden Weyr> M'kla grins...you should've seen my hair cut the first
time...augh. knee length wavy hair...when cut and washed...turns into
poodle-hair...*sigh* Oh, those sweet sweet days of yore.

Aphrael lets out a nervous laugh, "Oh, you know. A little edgy, otherwise
fine." She looks about not to add, then finally, "And Lysseth? Still.. er,
her normal colour?"

Maarie cleans up the ends so they aren't jaagged and steps away, brushing
the hair off T'lar's shoulders.

Mehlani peers warily around the cavern. Edgy grownups. Should she leave?

T'lar sighs and runs his fingers through the wavy mass. "Thanks, Maarie. It
feels weird."

Kassima half-grins, and then chuckles outright. "As far as I can tell, aye."

Maarie laughs, "And I don't even want to know what it feels like."

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

Benden Weyr> Veyon remembers that hair, albeit with a diff char. ;)

Benden Weyr> M'kla shakes her head at Veyon. And? That was what? 5 RL years
ago? :P :)

Maarie twirls the knife in her fingers for a moment then haands it back
over to Kassi, "Thanks."

Benden Weyr> Veyon says, "Nearly, yeah."

T'lar looks over at Meli. "So. You must be feeling better." He looks to
Kassi. "I'll think I'll see if I can get posted to the MinerCraft Hall."

Mehlani, Whereth still scooped in her arms, creeps around behind the chair
she was in. Then around the table next to that. In moments she is suddenly
by T'lar's chair, and without making a sound, she hugs him shyly.

Kassima takes her knife back, wiping it off on her slacks before
resheathing it. "Why's that, T'lar?" she asks curiously.

T'lar looks down at the hugger and smiles. He hugs her back warmly. "Thank
you, Mehlani. I needed that."

T'lar looks up. "Green riders."

Mehlani bobs her head solemnly, and creeps off again.

Meli mouths "Feeling better?" with a confused look on her face. She glances
back out towards the bowl and blushes redly for the second time in as many
days, quite uncharacteristically.

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

Benden Weyr> M'kla whws. Long word.

Kassima raises one eyebrow. "What about us?"

Aphrael simply nods, and goes back to getting her klah.

T'lar decides that discretion is the better part of valor and stands to
move toward the hearth.

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious :)"

Maarie picks up her mug and takes a sip.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Antidisestabishmentarianism. :)"

Benden Weyr> Mehlani sneaks off to her father's weyr. Nobody swinging
knives in there, nope...

Benden Weyr> Portock says, "wellthatisabigwordandveryeducationaltoo"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "And I was gonna hold you in my lap for a while."

Benden Weyr> Mehlani grins to T'lar. Mehlani is very nervous about the edgy
grownups, though.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Pediphile"

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Isn't that pedophile?"

Benden Weyr> Mehlani says, "it is. :)"

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Oops, wrong knot."

Benden Weyr> Maarie nods and blehs at the thought...

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Yes, yes it is :)"

Benden Weyr> Kassima learned that word from reading
alt.barney.dinosaur.die.die.die. :)

Benden Weyr> Maarie thinks that must be where you learn most things, Kssi.

T'lar busies himself at the hearth doing something to stay over there for a
few minutes.

Maarie sips her klah. You're safe if you're quiet, right?

Kassima hrms at T'lar, still waiting for an answer to her question. She
repeats, "What'd I do that you'd see 'bout getting me posted to Minecraft,
T'lar?" She seems rather curious.

T'lar stiffens slightly. "Nothing, Kassi. I was just talking to myself and
put my foot in my mouth. No offense meant."

Benden Weyr> Maarie laughs as she realizes the ex weyrlings have ran
everyone else out of the living cavern...

Benden Weyr> Aphrael grins. :)

Benden Weyr> Veyon stays away from proddy greenriders, thank you.

Kassima blinks. "Why would I be offended?" she asks.

T'lar shakes his head. "Nevermind." He turns back and pokes at the logs in
the hearth.

Kassima chuckles. "Shouldn't get my curiousity raised like that, T'lar.
Sure you don't want to just go ahead and say what's on your mind? I
probably wouldn't get offended."

T'lar looks over at Kassi, Maarie and Meli. "I was just thinking that life
was a bit dangerous around green riders when you're a man."

Aphrael snorts amusedly. "It's no safer over here."

A passing drudge snorts softly and mutters "A man? Young cub."

Maarie laughs, "It is. Can't contest that, kind of have fun making it that
way I have to admit."

Kassima grins. "I'd say it can be dangerous when you're anyone."

T'lar comes back over to the table and resumes his seat. He runs his
fingers through his short hair. "Yeah. I guess so, but it's strange when
it's your friends of 2+ years acting that way. You know?"

Meli just continues to sit quietly, letting the conversation wash over her,
not about to run out again like the previous night, and not quite up to
commenting. Mostly she stares off into the flames of the hearth.

Kassima smiles ruefully. "I imagine it's even stranger to find yourself
suddenly acting that way."

Maarie nods slowly and drains her klah.

T'lar nods and chuckles. "Guess I have more to be thankful for for
Impressing a bronze. Not that there's anything wrong with greens."

Aphrael chuckles softly. "I'm keeping my eye on a weyr for when Veyath next
rises."

T'lar says "I hadn't thought of that. Two greens in one weyr."

Maarie blinks, "Prefeth is blue..."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "I make that mistake all the time, T'lar. :)"

T'lar *oops. Braindead.

Benden Weyr> Maarie giggles.

Kassima shakes her head. "Nay, 'course not. They are, after all, the best
color there is." She grins. "Though I'm hardly unbiased." Glancing over at
Aph, she offers, "You're always welcome to room with me and Lyss. Our weyr
isn't a big one, but there'd be space enough, I think. Assuming I get all
those empty boxes out of there."

Benden Weyr> Aphrael blinks at T'lar. :)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa blinks at F'hlan, surprised he's up again. :) Have a
nice, um, rest? :)

Aphrael smiles thankfully over at Kassi, "Thanks. I might just take you up
on that offer, assuming Lyss is her normal colour at the time.." she grins.

T'lar says "Isn't Prefeth just going to win the flight?"

Aphrael blinks over at T'lar, "Why would he?"

T'lar says "Why not?"

At this point, Meli finds her cold stew bowl rather fascinating. But it's
pretty gross, so she rises to drop it off where it can be washed, pouring
out some juice instead, slowly.

Aphrael frowns slightly, "Just because we're weyrmates, doesn't mean
Prefeth would win. That's like saying Nicoth is guaranteed to win Juliath's
flight." She drops her voice at the last, hoping Meli will miss that comment.

Kassima grins. "Naturally. I kind of took that condition for granted." She
chuckles, sipping at her citron and finding the glass empty. She gets up
and refills it for about the third time.

T'lar nods. "I don't expect Nicoth to win, just to try.

Veyon walks in from the bowl.

Veyon comes back in, hair dripping wet. His clothes look rather damp also.

Veyon waves, "Heya, all."

Aphrael chuckles over at Kassi, then nods to T'lar. "Besides, its the
pre-flight stuff I might be wanting to get away from. He said I could feel
free to kick him out.. still.. I wouldnt like to try that on a proddy rider."

Kassima waves to Veyon with the hand not clasping her juice. She nods to
Aphrael. "Remembering the last time K'nan was proddy, I can't say I blame
you."

Meli gives Kassi a nod as they both get juice, chewing on her lip a moment,
apparently eyeing the sweetrolls.

T'lar smiles at Veyon.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Ah, juice. The only drink one can trust around
here. .o0(After all, Salless makes the wine from scratch too....)"

Maarie nods to Veyon.

Veyon grins at T'lar, and nods to Kassima.

Veyon nods slightly towards Maarie.

Benden Weyr> F'hlan, for once, is surprisingly un-tense.

Veyon stays away from the greenriders, though. He's rather wary, it seems.

T'lar says "Well, I'd say you could stay with me, but I don't think that
would be a popular choice."

Aphrael nods at Veyon, then grins at Kassi, "I hear the time before was
worse, especially for R'val."

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Ah, but P'tran blessed the water, and it's safe
now ;)"

Maarie laughs, "I think the poor guy has a difficult time every flight."

Benden Weyr> F'hlan considers the likelihood that his dragon is going to
reduce him to nutmash this week, though.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins.

Kassima grins. "Ah, aye; he mentioned something about K'nan and his
knives." She laughs quietly.

Meli returns to the table, quietly, no fuss, no bother, memorizing the many
details of her mug and its contents.

Out of habit, T'lar reaches over and begins to gently knead Meli's shoulder.

Veyon sits dn dna ,wolets out a quiet sigh.

Aphrael chuckles over at T'lar. "Yeah, you'd be right I'd think."

Meli actually allows T'lar to massage, giving a slight sigh and relaxing a
bit.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "But did he do anything for the klah or wine? :)"

T'lar moves to work on both shoulders, working the tension out gently and
firmly. "You know, Aphrael. I was a bit shocked at first when I realized
you were sharing a weyr with K'nan. But it makes sense once I thought about
it."

Maarie mutters under her breath and frowns.

Kassima gets a glimpse of Maarie's expression and says to her friend,
"Something wrong?"

Aphrael pauses in taking a sip of her klah, and tilts her head slightly at
T'lar, "Oh?"

Maarie shakes her head and grins, "Just can't wait to finally get my weyr."

T'lar chuckles. "Maarie. It's quiet and lonely with only one dragon and one
rider. I've had problems sleeping because it's so quiet."

Kassima smiles. "Ah, I can understand that. You'll have to ask Aph and
K'nan to help you move. They're just wonderful at shoving empty boxes
around." She winks over at Aph.

Benden Weyr> Meli wonders how much stuff Kassi has, she's got so many
boxes. :)

Veyon looks at T'lar, but says nothing.

Kassima raises one eyebrow. "Oh? My weyr's anything but quiet--'course,
with all my fire-lizards and Lysseth, I haven't had a moment of quiet since
I don't know when."

Aphrael bursts out laughing at Kassi, "Ayep, but you must admit, it was
kind of fun." She grins.

Maarie laughs at T'lar, "I certainly won't be alone."

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Lots, Meli. Most of it went into the torture
chamber. :)"

Benden Weyr> Caitria blinks. Torture chamber?

Meli's head drops down to her chest, rolling slightly as she lets T'lar
work on her tense muscles, it means she won't have to contribute to the
conversation.

Kassima nods enthusiastically. "Oh, aye! Empty box fights are almost as
good as snowfights, in their way."

Benden Weyr> Kassima just cackles innocently. :)

T'lar looks at Maarie as he continues to work on Meli's back. "Oh? Who else?"

Benden Weyr> Maarie muwahahas! Poor Tria, she hasn't seen it yet.

Veyon yawns a bit., and frowns at a fwe of Maarie's comments.

Benden Weyr> Caitria is starting to get scared.

Benden Weyr> T'lar says, "Hi, Tria."

Benden Weyr> Kassima thinks that's wise of you, Tria. :)

T'lar moves his hands up and strokes Meli's neck, working up the muscles
onto the scalp.

Veyon yawns a bit, and looks away from Meli and T'lar.

T'lar pats Meli's back as he finishes and stands. "I'm bushed. See you
people tomorrow>"

Aphrael waves at T'lar, "Night T'lar."

T'lar picks up his bag of leatherworking tools and his braid. "Night."

T'lar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Veyon stares off...at something or another.

Kassima stands up and slips out while no one is watching.

[Editor's Note:  I can't for the life of me remember whether I posed
that or someone posed it for me.  I had to leave, at any rate, and
the log ends. :) ]