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Girls Dig Scars!


Date:  September 11, 2008
Places:  Igen Weyr's Living Cavern and Infirmary
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Goop.  There's *goop* in this log.  It's all over 
V'trel, and you should consider that a warning.  After rendezvousing
with a brooding Zabreneva, a cruel R'din, and a hat-bearing Chaton in
the Living Cavern, Kassi goes to the Infirmary for a lecture A'deth 
is giving.  I'd wonder what hold A'deth had on V'trel to get him to 
go topless for the Candidates, but somehow I'm thinking that didn't
take much persuasion.

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The Log:

You amble out into the Weyr's Living Caverns.

R'din is here in the Caverns. Sitting. Eating. Thrilling stuff. The rider
has a half-full plate in front of him, poking at a tuber on it with an
eating utensil. Poke poke. "Where's a Candidate to torment?" He wonders out
aloud, peering around.

Chaton just happens to walk past about the time the comment was said. He
sticks his head in the living caverns, having heard the word "candidate".
"Yes?" It's a reflexive question, and only after he's answered does he
realize his mistake and what's been said. He pulls his head back out into
the hallway, hoping tha he hasn't been noticed.

Kassima doesn't answer that question; doesn't even seem to hear it, but
then her attention's on the large basket set out by the hearth. Zabreneva
grudgingly refrains from biting her human's hands off at the wrist while
Kassi gives the eggs a quick turn. "Still over a sevenday, mayhaps
two--if'n you were going t'lay 'em in the desert, Zabre, couldn't you have
picked a place t'bake 'em faster?" The queen hisses. In Chaton's direction,
coincidentally.

R'din gives up his plate as a lost cause, leaving it behind on the table as
he rises to wander over to Zabreneva's direction, "Oh, eggies?" He grins at
Kassima, but decides to stay back a bit from the queen, just to be careful.
"Baked eggs? They can be baked? I've heard boiled, scrambled, over easy,
and whatnot." Chaton gets a peer to see who the queen's hissing at.

Chaton wanders in, idly. "What's wrong with her? I haven't done
anything..." he frowns, and his hand goes to his pocket. "I do have food,
though, if that's what she's interested in...?" how was he supposed to know
what the firelizard wanted?

Wise move: Zabreneva's eyes start spinning with streaks of red when R'din
gets close, rather like an early warning system. "Never mind her. She's a
wher at the best of times," Kassi sighs, eyeing the gold. Kazander,
drowsing alongside one of the eggs, makes a chirping sound in sleep that
could be agreement. "Wouldn't you call that clutch out on the Sands baked?
These, nay quite yet. She just thinks you're all going t'put her babies in
your pockets and go skipping off merrily, or Faranth knows what, paranoid
beast." Zabreneva hisses!

R'din looks at Kassima, "For as long as they've been sitting, I'd call them
rotten. But that's if they weren't live eggs." He shrugs, deciding that the
best recourse would be to stand behind Kassima. Looking at Chaton, he
offers, "Food, yes, that's exactly what she wants. Why don't you offer her
and see if she'll take it? She's as nice as Aconite is!"

Chaton wrinkles his nose. It was hard to tell, sometimes, if R'din was
being serious or silly. "I'd rather not get too close." he ventures,
looking at the 'lizard hissing around her eggs. "I enjoy keeping all my
bits intact, thanks."

"That's cruel, R'din. She's eaten," Kassima assures Chaton over her
shoulder. "And unfortunately, there's nay much nice about her. Might accept
food if'n she weren't guarding a clutch. This brings out all her snapping
instincts! If'n you want t'see 'em, though--Zabre. C'mon." Some coaxing
gets the queen to climb up her arm, onto her shoulder, and leave the basket
free for respectful admirers. "I'm hoping there are plenty of Candidates
about when they crack," the woman confides to both men.

"He can clearly see for himself that it wasn't a good idea in the first
place if he wanted to stay intact." R'din replies to Kassima, "Don't know
why you would keep a firelizard like that." He says about the not-nice
queen, moving away once Zabre comes up to her shoulder. "It's a big class
this time around. I'm sure there'll be plenty of Candidates for this
clutch. Maybe the dragons Searched them specially for this one."

Chaton blinks and inches up to the eggs and /well/ away from the snappy
lizard. "Yeah?" he asks, poking his nose over the basket and looking down
at the eggs. "Pretty." he comments, looking up at Zabre. Compliment! See?
He steps back once he's done, and looks up at R'din. "Do you think so? I'd
fancy that the dragons would be more worried about finding candidates for
the Queen's cluth, rather than for that of a 'lizard.

Kassima's brows go up. "She's Impressed t'me. 'Tis like Lyss, anyway; I
might complain--" She finds Zabreneva's eyeridges with a fingertip and
scritches delicately. "But I love her, and the crabby blues too." Zabreneva
glares at R'din: maybe she understands the man thinks she should be gotten
rid of, or maybe, and more likely, she's glaring just to glare. "That'd
certes be an honor t'Zabre," Kassi quips, gently rolling the last egg over.
"I'm with Chaton. Ought t'be plenty of Candidates, though, aye."

R'din eyes Chaton, jerking a thumb at the glaring Zabre, "What do you call
her if she's not a queen, then? That term applies to her as well, y'know."
Finally he moves closer to the eggs, but not much closer. "Why are eggs
always pretty? Even if they're the color of a freshly-killed 'beast, it
still looks pretty as an egg." He comments.

IGEN-> K'tel says, "Hey, did Fort list Candidate torment on their weyr
games list? Seems to be an Igen sport. ;)"

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "And Igen is quite fine at it. :)"

Chaton frowns at R'din. "She's a queen /firelizard/, though, not a queen
/Dragon./ I imagine that there's a bit of a difference, isn't there?" he
asks, and sighs. "And I think eggs are always pretty because they represent
new life and hope for the species and such." he says. Just his view.

IGEN-> Chaton says, "R'din is always training for the gold, in that case."

Kassima offers, amused, "A queen, but nay *the* queen. Zabreneva would
agree with the distinction but Lhiannonth might have other ideas. I'd say
'tis because we're predisposed t'find beauty in everything dragonkin,
except I loved fire-lizard eggs a'fore I ever Impressed; I'm tempted t'keep
some shards this time. Make a bracelet?" It doesn't appear that Zabreneva
objects to this idea. She's calmed almost into quiesence; only an
occasional rustle of wings reminds she's still alert and still watching
them. "There's quite a bit of difference. When they're brooding over
clutches might be when they're most similar."

R'din shrugs, waving an hand as he grins, "Semantics." As for Chaton's
words, "Spoken like a true Candidate." Chuckle, nodding at Kassima,
"There's that as well. I imagine Holders might not take the same view as
us. Sure, go for it, wouldn't be the first time somone's made something out
of the shards, but it'd be pretty fragile."

Chaton shrugs. "At any rate, whatever you want to make out of them, It'll
be pretty." he says, decicively. "You might want to just wear it to parties
and festivals, though. Not as an every-day thing. So that way it won't wear
as quickly."

"I'm thinking have 'em put under glass for protection. A different egg's
shard in every link." An idea strikes Kassima then--for a moment she's
still, while the thought runs through her mind and has all her attention.
"Igen should do that for Josilina! A bracelet like that--twelve eggs,
'tisn't too many, wouldn't take a big shard so there'd be plenty left for
the Impressees, I'd love something like that if'n 'twere her. Or since 'tis
Josilina, set 'em into the brim of a big floppy hat? Nay other Weyrwoman
has a hat like that." Not if Faranth is merciful.

Chaton hmms and thinks. "That would be wonderful, actually. I bed she'd
like it, too." he itches his nose and thinks. "I think I have a straw hat
lying about... my mum got it for me to wear outside in the sun, but I never
put it on. It's big and floppy enough..." he shrugs. "If you want it, it's
yours." he offers. "But... wouldn't the weight of the glass weigh down the
brim of the hat?"

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Stupid enter key. I was holding that untill R'din
posted."

"Encased in glass? Now that's a thought, they're made to take the heat, so
I imagine they wouldn't melt. The Crafter would have to be extremely
careful with their tongs or whatever tool they'd use to handle it." R'din
agrees with Kassima. "That would make a great gift to her. She certainly
loves her hats." He shakes his head at Chaton, "Not if the layer of glass
is thin enough, no."

IGEN-> R'din grins. No worries, it's happened to us all at some point.

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "They have medicines for premature posing now, I hear."

Kassima pulls her sunhat up from where it dangles down her back, held by a
cord through the brim, and plops it on her head. "This doesn't change the
hat much," she says, reaching up to tap the jeweled brooch fixed to its
crown. "I'd seriously advise wearing one. I'm a wimp about the sun here.
If'n you want t'donate yours, I'm nay going t'say nay--mayhaps I could get
each shard set in a little brooch, come t'think on it, and she could put
'em on or take 'em off as she likes? 'Twould never have t'be the same hat
twice."

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Oh? Is it anything like the sort of thing Smiling Bob
takes? Does it make your enter key bigger so you can see it before you hit
it?"

IGEN-> Kassima says, "Smiling Bob's enter key: I would *not* hit that."

IGEN-> Desdinova imagines so. :) Ok! Taxi time, back in an hour. :)

Chaton grins. "I'll hop back to the bunks and get it!" he says, brightly.
"It's an ugly affair. Perhaps you can do something to make it prettier or
what have you." he nods and turns. "Be back in half a shake of a
firelizard's tail!" he runs off towards the candidate's barracks.

R'din peers at the brooch, "Could add a pin to the back of it, yeah. That
little hobby of hers is all about adding and changing stuff, so that'd be
perfect, I'd think." He watches after Chaton, "Hope that hat's in good
order. Might have to make it a different color." He comments to Kassima,
turning to her, "I assume you'd be paying to do this?"

"Mayhaps somebody can, if'n nay so much me--I might," Kassi realizes, and
the amusement's back again, "ask Beli for suggestions. She's got flair with
fabric." Uh-huh; she'll probably put a vest on the hat somehow. She lifts a
shoulder at R'din. "'Twill run the idea past Lanisa, I'm thinking. If'n
'tis t'be a gift from Igen I'm nay the one t'pay. 'Twould have t'come out
of the Weyr's store, or we ask around in secret for donations."

"'Kay. Good idea. Put me down if it comes to that. Always nice to do
something for the Weyrwoman." R'din says, grinning. "Better her than me. I
haven't a clue what to do with fabric. Now, wood, you ask me. Leather,
every rider should know."

Kassima admits, "Depends what you do with it--I can make straps and mend
m'leathers some and that's about it. Fabric, I can figure out how I want it
t'look but Faranth help me if'n I have t'get it there. About the only thing
I can make is food." Bringing that up reminds her she hasn't eaten yet. The
moment she steps back from the clutch, Zabreneva wings off her shoulder to
resume sentry duty, and Kassi leaves her to it with a bounce in her step.
"Wood, now... I might have an idea for you."

Chaton pokes back in with a bundle in his arms. He runs up to Kass and
R'din and shivers. "You can't make fun of it, now." he warns, and slowly
unwraps a big, deep violet sunhat. "See? It's icky." he says, wrinkling his
nose. "If you want it, take it." he holds it out as if it may bite.

R'din shrugs, "That's what I meant." He says about the leather, "You're
better than me with fabric." He confesses to Kassima, stepping away from
the clutch once Zabre returns ot it, "Oh? What might that be?" However,
Chaton's big, deep violet sunhat gets his attention, "No wonder you refused
to wear it."

[Editor's Note:  Chaton had to run at this point.]

Kassima's reaction to the hat is quite different. Wide eyes, a slightly
parted mouth, amazement written on every feature: it is the Holy Grail of
hats, and she has seen it with her own eyes. "That's the most
magnificently--I can't think of an adjective, but *look* at it! If'n I
didn't already have one, and 'twould match m'brooch too, but this one's
been too good t'me t'give up. That's *perfect* for Josilina," the
greenrider enthuses, looking after the hat almost longingly even as Chaton
gets called away with it. "Egg-shard brooches on the crown. Pink ribbons
dripping from the edges. Err, right, other idea. D'you remember--or mayhaps
you never heard about it, but some of the Candidates helped me paint smooth
rocks t'be looking like the eggs. I got one set decent enough t'use," she
explains, "and I'm thinking, set 'em up in a shallow tray, y'ken, filled
with sand, with wooden figures of Lhiannonth and Jaireth t'go with the
display."

R'din wrinkles his nose at the hat and Kassima's expression. "I grew up at
Boll. /Still/ never will understand that kind of thing." is his comment
about the hat-thing, "Not pink, no. Gold ribbons? To match her dragon?" And
that's his pathetic suggestion, preferring the other subject much more.
"Aye, I heard something of the sort. That so?" He ponders the idea, "Do you
want me to make the tray as well? I could make some pretty leaf vines along
the edges or something like that. How big do you want the figures to be?"

"Josilina likes pink," Kassima reasons. "Pink and gold both? Alternating?
If'n the tray wouldn't cost too dear I'd be glad of it... a pattern
something t'do with dragons, stylized figures or wings or claws or
something." She prods the seafood casserole with a thoughtful fork. "Say,
about--something like this," and her hands describe something the size of a
young kitten, four or five inches high. "I know after seeing your work you
could do it, but would you?"

A shrug ensues from R'din, "Like I said, I haven't a clue. That would be
best left up to you. And Josilina." he grins, "Nah, the tray wouldn't be
much trouble. Mostly just joint work with a bit of detail thrown in, is
all." He peers at the size, "Any particular pose you want them to have?
Guarding pose? Sleeping pose?" A little laugh at her question, "What kind
of question is that? Certainly I would. You should have A'deth paint them,
so they match the eggs, and you can tell who is who."

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Folks can start assembling in the infirmary at their
leisure, I will be briefly delayed. (A'deth can be, too, if people want to
RP there for a few minutes.)"

Kassima turns her back to the table, the heel of her hand braced on its
corner, to think about this. "Jaireth reclining, but his eyes open," she
decides, "Lhiannonth alert, mayhaps with space between her forearms t'put
one or two of the eggs. I try nay t'take artists for granted!" She flashes
R'din a grin. "I like that idea, too. The more people work on it, the more
it has of Igen in it. And speaking of A'deth, I'm going t'have t'postpone
mealtime; 'tis about time for his lecture, I'm thinking. Going t'come?"

R'din laughs at Kassima's words, "Glad you don't. Sure, that can be done."
Then he nods, "Aye, I can paint, but they probably wouldn't look like
Jaireth or Lhiannonth. More like some sort of generic gold and bronze." A
peer at the infirmary, he shakes his head, "I would, but I've some stuff to
do first. Have fun listening to him, I'll come to the next one."

"Will do," Kassi says, heading for the Infirmary and wiggling her fingers
over her shoulder. "Thankee, about the carvings!"

You enter the Infirmary.

IGEN-> A'deth last call for Infirmary torturings!

IGEN-> Naara pictures the Spanish Inquisition...only without the
synchronized nuns...

IGEN-> Kassima bursts into the Infirmary with a red tablecloth draped over
her upper body. "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

IGEN-> Desdinova will be out in just a sec!

Desdinova enters from the Living Caverns.

IGEN-> Naara SPAMs Kassima.

A'deth strides in, another rider in tow-- literally, A'deth is dragging him
in by the arm. "You promised," he growls, as the other man, blond and
somewhere in his third decade and a bluerider by the look of his knot,
protests, "That was /before/ you decided to make me show and tell!
'Assist,' you said, not..." But A'deth just ignores him. "Run," he warns,
"And I swear you'll only be getting gumming from /completely/ decrepit old
men." The other rider throws his hands up in disgust.. and marches much
more obediently behind a curtain.

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Infirmary, or I'll make you the exhibit on traumatic
candidate accidents. XD"

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "Oh! Pick me!"

IGEN-> Chaton eeps and runs to the infirmary

IGEN-> Naara wonders if it's a sign of self-destruction that she /doesn't/
fear A'deth...

Chaton enters from the Living Caverns.

It's only after coming into the Infirmary--from the Living Cavern, not
outdoors; go figure--that it occurs to Kassima to push her hat back off her
head, once again hauling her braid free from beneath the hat cord. "I'm in
time t'be watching A'deth torment blueriders," she comments, taking up a
place against a wall. Best to leave all those Candidates between her and
any Healer demonstrations, yes yes yes. "That's always a good sign."

IGEN-> Desdinova doesn't fear accidents. They are learning oppertunities. :)

IGEN-> Chaton was here all along.

IGEN-> A'deth beams.

Chaton sneaks in behind Kassima and slides into a spot where, hopefully, he
won't be noticed and aksed to break a leg, literally. He grins, however, at
the antics of A'deth and the bluerider, and grins. Good show? Hopefully.

Tannusen wanders in just in time to get a glimpse of who the victim is, and
he hides a laugh in a suspicious-sounding cough. "Hello V'trel," he calls
cheerfully, "back to the infirmary, I see." As though he wasn't here under
protest!

Slipping in on Kassima's heels, as if by lurking in the rider's shadow she
can help her attempts to be invisible, Naara bypasses Lysseth's only when
she leans against the wall. For once no oversized blue rests in her arms as
she picks a seat up front but against the wall. From here she can still see
well, but isn't apparent right away to be /anyone's/ focus.

Kaveshun would be trying his best to look inconspicuous if he weren't
grumbling some. He was just in time to catch the two riders before the
other went behind the curtain, raising his brows in surprise. He doesn't
immediately stride to the front, but stays near a wall and standing,
crossing his arms against his chest.

Celane files in among a cluster of other candidates, many of whom shuffle
in uneasily as they look around this place of (not always comfortable)
healing. But she's casual and eager as she enters the Infirmary, where
she's spent so much time before; bright blue eyes are on A'deth and the
protesting bluerider, curiosity sparkling there, as it always does.
Whatever will happen next?

Desdinova, unlike many, is in the infirmary before most of the others have
arrived. She is off to one side with a small knot of the aides, chatterin
away with them in quiet tones, catching up on the gossip and happenings of
the infirmary. As she notices the commotion around A'deth and the other
rider, as well as the trickling in of her fellow candidates, she gives a
grin to her friends and moves away, back towards where the knot of people
are gathering. A glance through the people finds Naara, and she moves over
to the girl. "Want company?" She asks of her quietly.

IGEN-> Hector waves. Hi all.

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Infirmary, man, or I'll feed you to gummy old men!"

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Hector! Infirmary! Quick, before A'deth threatens you
with bodily harm! Then you won't be able to have many hectorlings!"

IGEN-> A'deth nodnods!

IGEN-> Hector dies.

IGEN-> Naara says, "Or /any/ Hectorlings..."

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Off the bowl and the LC."

IGEN-> Chaton lols at Naara

IGEN-> Hector says, "I swear, the only way Hector is going to go into the
Infirmary is if he's unconscious. :)"

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Lesson. :3"

"/Hey!" V'trel exclaims from behind the curtain... is there someone else
back there? "Keep that away from me! You're only supposed to put that on me
/after/ I take off my things!" A'deth rolls his eyes, and gestures grandly
at the arriving candidates-- and the wary Kassima, with her splendiferously
purpleicious hat. "Welcome to my humble demesne! Today, we're going to have
a lesson about all of the marvellously horrible things which might befall a
rider during the course of his career-- and possibly, therefore, /you/.
You'll get to see-- well, you'll see. Settle in, settle in. No retching,
now. Better that you see it on my dear V'trel now than on you later.
V'trel, would you please come out now? Make sure to limp a little and look
properly battered."

Kassima will be playing the role of peanut gallery tonight, it seems: "If'n
by 'horrible things that might befall' you mean he's going t'come out here
in clothes nay man with taste or sense would wear--'twill stand here
staunchly through any amount of blood and gore, but I am nay looking at
V'trel in pants with nay behind!" She's so helpful when it comes to putting
the Candidates at ease, isn't she?

Tannusen pulls various stools and things out from under various bits of
shelving for whoever might want one -- he /did/ spend much of his waking
time in here for two turns, after all, he should know his way around! --
and then he himself perches on one. His grin only grows at the yelling and
commentary, and he asides to whoever may hear it; "This should be
entertaining. Though possibly in a 'I'm glad I'm not queasy' way."

Chaton bursts out into squeaky laughs when he hears Kassima and her lest
than tasteful prodding of the procedings. He sits back and turns to 'Nova
and smiled. "Should be interesting, no?" he asks, though he's secretly
worried about the gore bit.

IGEN-> Chaton says, "I can just imagine Chaton's reaction to falling off of
a dragon and breaking a leg."

Celane finds herself a seat, front and center, settling in eagerly to
watch. "Oh, I'm /glad/ I'm not queasy!" She says, overhearing Tannusen.
"But I'm a little curious to see who might be." And at that, she glances
around the room at the faces of the other candidates, looking to see who
might already seem not-so comfortable with this whole experience.

Kaveshun doesn't seem any less calm after listening to the bluerider, and
he glances around the room nervously. But he was still there for his
lesson. He nods to Tannusen for the seat, taking a stool to perch on. "He
ain't gonna come out naked, is he? They're gals present." He asks that of
anywhere in the closest vicinity to him, though he arches his brows towards
Kassima and her comments before turning towards the female candidates. "Not
like I can't handle bit of blood an' guts from time to time." His eyes once
again focus up front.

Smiling up at Des from behind tangled bangs, Naara nods enthusiastically,
patting the seat next to her. "P-please?" Bright eyes widen in shock as
Kassima does a fantastic job of making her ill at ease. "Oh... Is...is
someone uh, hurt, Nova?"

"Probably nothing serious." Desdinova says soothingly to Naara. "These
things are hard to time, and I doubt they'd break anyone just to show us
what could happen. Really, it's just... Notmal infirmary things." She
sounds pretty blase about the whole thing, though does rub the back of her
hand slightly while watching A'deth. "Though I guess a turn working in here
has made me a bit more numb than some are apt to be." She shoots a grin
over to Celane, "It's the ones who ate right before that are going to
struggle, I think."

Neiravi walks in from the Bowl.

"Buttless pants are only a rider hazard at /Telgar,/" A'deth replies quite
primly. V'trel strolls out, looking vaguely harried but with some attempt
at regaining his composure. He flashes Tannu a belated smile for the
greeting, which unfortunately widens when A'deth says briskly, "Take off
your shirt. No, just your shirt, Kaveshun was not making a request and
we're not going to discuss hemorrhoids today. We can cover that during the
Telgari Pants lesson. That'll be /after/ Impression, I'm sure. Now--" And
he waits as V'trel dramatically opens his shirt to display a fairly nasty
looking Threadscore. And-- "DO NOT FLEX AT THEM," hollers A'deth. "NO
FLEXING. JUST DISPLAYING." And with a sigh, V'trel complies. "This," A'deth
informs the others at a much more normal volume, "Is a threadscore. You may
not touch it, he likes that too much. You may, however, observe how Thread
ate through the skin and into the tissue beneath." Said flesh is pitted and
twisted despite the very best care, so the score must have been quite bad.
"I am aware that Thread is ostensibly gone, but if it fell out of the sky
when it shouldn't, it might again." And V'trel chimes in helpfully, "Girls
dig scars!"

Neiravi has been lurking at the back, watching and listening and attempting
not to turn too obviously pale or ask stupid questions. When V'trel
displays his Threadscore, she loses the battle regarding paleness and
swallows hard.

Kassima conceeds the point with a far graver inclination of her head than
the subject deserves. All gravity disappears when bellowed orders about
flexing echo through the Infirmary; she nearly doubles over, a hand over
her mouth and her shoulders shaking in a giveaway that the reason is
laughter and not that she's about to hurl. "Many riders have something like
that," she says when she's regained control of herself, and pulled one of
the seats over. "'Tis hard t'last long as a rider and take nay scarring.
'Tis hard, i'truth, t'last long as a rider."

Tannusen obligingly wolf-whistles V'trel's way, because he's trying so
hard! And he gives Celane a nod, nudging his stool over her way. The two
younger dragonhealers are unlikely to go all pale and pukey! "Greenriders
and Blueriders are particularly prone to being scarred up, correct?" he
asks helpfully.

Kaveshun looks nervous only when A'deth mentions his name and he quickly
shakes his head over to the rider pair up front. Nope, no request from him.
The threadscore gets a wince from him, but he leans forward in his seat to
get a better look after a moment's hesitation. "How'd he manage ta survive
such a bad scoring like that? I hear back home that if Thread touched ya,
you're done for." His face does turn pallid as he twists his head back in
the direction of Kassima. "Only with Fall, right?"

The revelation of the Thread scores wipes the smile from Desdinova's face,
and she shrinks a bit in her seat, staring hard at the scars on the man for
a long moment before looking away, face pale and poise one of intense
dicomfort, continnuing to rub the scar on the back of hr hand. "Not just
riders." She murmers quietly.

"Oh." Seeming much more relaxed now, Naara doesn't even flinch as the
bluerider removes his shirt to show off his scars. However, with the change
in Desdinova's posture, she too stiffens, reaching one hand to lay on her
friend's back in a gesture that may surprise others in the room who have
noticed her near fear of touch. "N-n-n-n-nova? Y-you okay?" The discomfort
she picks up on manifests itself in a frown and a would be 'glare' at
A'deth. "S-s-ssstop it!" she yells out in a /rare/ burst of emotion and
courage. "C-can't you s-s-see it's h-hurting her?" Face flushed and eyes
bright, Naara's breathing is heavy from that outburst even before she
realizes just /what/ she's done, paling significantly and burying her face
even further behind her bangs as she turns to Desdinova, only partly to
hide from the others in the room.

Celane cranes her neck slightly forward, curiosity captured by the view of
this very impressive scar. But as for V'trel's words, she purses her lips
slightly. "Not /all/ do," she contradicts. "My interest in scars is purely
professional." A grin at Tannusen, and she pipes up, adding to what he has
to say: "They're the ones who do the most dangerous maneuvers, so they'd
receive the brunt of the scoring. Right?" Show off? Maybe.

Neiravi doesn't find scars terribly attractive, but brave men injured in
the line of duty? That's another thing entirely. She smiles at V'trel (not
looking, after that first shocked stare, at the Threadscore), and asks "Did
it take long to recover from that? Was any kind of exercise or special care
needed?" Naara's outburst gets a sympathetic glance, but a quiet comment.
"It's happened in the past, and may happen again. It's something we all
need to get used to."

"Naara." Desdinova says, voice quiet. "Noone's hurting me, and it's not an
unexpected thing. Just... Uncomfortable." She shrugs, and shrinks back into
her seat a little more. "What other perils are there?" She asks, hoping to
distract both from the topic, and her reaction.

A'deth tilts his head at Desdinova and Naara. "If you," he asks Naara
quietly, "Can't tolerate trauma, or the sight of it, why are you even at a
Weyr? If dreams of a big, shiny dragon blinded you to the reality that
riders -- your /friends/ -- are nothing more than glorified soldiers, who
fight and bleed and burn and die quite often, please recalibrate your
expectations. This is no place for hysterics at all. And--" And he nods to
Tannusen and Celane, "That's correct. During a Pass, up to a fourth of all
dragonpairs will die every year... V'trel did not, he's too perverted to
die. Thread took one look and decided it didn't want to catch whatever he
had..." And to Kaveshun, he explains, "An injured rider receives immediate
treatment, and Weyrlings will receive instruction on how to aid their
comrades if they cannot return to the Weyr. Such things /can/ be survived,
though the recovery can be very long and painful. Many riders -- or anyone
else, really -- still don't survive, though, that's true." At Desdinova's
qustion, V'trel buttons up his shirt, and then turns his head to the side.
Along one cheek is thickened skin, and pitted marks. "Ash burns," A'deth
remarks. "If you don't duck fast enough, and even when you do, you might
get a faceful of what's left after you burn Thread. Or rope, in your case."

"Mostly with Fall," Kassima tells Kaveshun. "Without Thread the casualty
list is much smaller. Some still die--*between* accidents, usually
Weyrlings but sometimes full riders. Gay at Telgar's an example." That's
said quietly enough it almost doesn't carry. She jerks her eyes around in
surprise to Naara at the girl's outburst. "Naara, anyone who can't take the
idea of Threadscore--they probably shouldn't be a Candidate. This could
happen again. Thread and its damage are the whole reason we're here. Should
you all look away and try and pretend, or face it and make the choice
t'Stand knowing what you're getting into?" A gesture indicates V'trel, his
injuries, A'deth, the entire lecture group, whose purpose in being here is
to learn just that. The topic change to ash burns is a welcome one to her
and this time she just nods in agreement.

Still strung high with the tension of seeing Desdinova distressed, Naara
shifts restlessly in her seat. Shaking her bangs deeper into her face, she
hides behind that shield and ducks her head at A'deth's censure. "I--I'm
here b-because...this," she makes a small gesture, her voice so quiet only
Des and those nearest them are likely to hear it. "It's m-my home." And
there's a determined set to her jaw then, accompanied by a hissed, "I
/won't/ b-be a drudge." With that inspiration in mind, she continues to rub
small, absent circles on Desdinova's back--provided her friend doesn't stop
her or pull away--and watches A'deth more closely.

Tannusen, like much of the class, turns to look at Naara after her
outburst. He doesn't add to what the others have said, however, and has the
tact to turn right back around again so as to not stare. "It's just as
serious as joining the guard," he does say, however, because he's been
doing double-duty in the infirmary long enough to state such a thing rather
than ask it. "Only instead of fighting people, you're fighting some
mindless hungry /thing/. Or in our case, staying prepared to do so."

"Shells," Kaveshun breaths out, but nods slowly as he takes in the riders'
knowledge. His brows still knit in concentration for a moment before they
smooth back out and he glances towards Naara briefly. "Shame Thread an' all
is gone. Must've been great going out there on the front lines, even if ya
had a good chance of not returning," he muses to himself. Living for the
glory of the moment and all that. He smirks at the idea.

The topic shift is welcome to Desdinova, the tension easing with the shift
and with Naara's touch. "Is it possible to wear maybe a veil or something
similar, to protect the face more ash?" She wonders. "Goggles, obviously,
serve double duty with the wind and with ash, has anyone tried ways to
cover the rest of the face without impairing peripheral vision and such?"

Celane looks a bit sheepish at having called out so boldly when, elsewhere
in the room, the moment is an emotional one for one of her fellow
candidates. She remains silent as A'deth addresses Naara, and Naara
likewise explains herself. "That's a good reason," is all she has to say
after that, and it's said quietly, with none of her earlier bravado.

"Shake your hair out of your face, then, Naara, if you aren't a drudge.
Riders have a certain standard of bearing, and you should emulate it if you
aspire to be more than what you say you aren't. And if you can't face your
fellow man, how can you face any real danger?" A'deth's tone is crisp
without being sharp. To Kaveshun... he considers a moment before replying.
"While I won't deny that I find myself sometimes bored, I think that, were
I to wish for Thread to return, it would be an insult to all of those whom
have died fighting it." He nods at Celane and Neiravi and Kassima as they
all speak, too.

Kassima's mouth quirks in a small and crooked smile, overhearing Kaveshun.
"If'n 'twere loose at all 'twould be a hazard," she answers Desdinova,
"like hair--some of us keep long hair but you have t'hide it completely
away. Thread could get tangled in it and eat right up t'your head. Cloth's
organic, so same with a veil. If'n 'twere tight that wouldn't be a worry,
but you have t'be able t'breath and yell through it still. And if'n you did
fly into cinders and they set the veil itself on fire--" She grimaces. "I'm
thinking that's why 'tisn't done. 'Tis exciting, Kaveshun, and some get
addicted to the adrenaline. But--if'n you Impress early in the Pass or in
the middle of it, you're looking at decades with nay break or real relief
in the hot ranges. The danger, and everyone dying around you. T'me it got
very, very wearying."

Quailing under the cripsness of A'deth's tone, Naara nods jerkily. For a
few seconds it seems she'll fall silent and let the lesson continue,
but--and perhaps it has something to do with her blue's
absence--/something/ has gotten into her tonight. Raising her chin, just a
little, she stares at A'deth with her hair almost defiantly still in her
face. "M-m-...Men /are/ the r-r-real evil, sir. I'm...I'm not ah, afraid
of...of anything else."

Tannusen merely sits quietly and eyes V'trel and A'deth, and listens to the
going-ons around him. He does nod to himself, however, at what Naara says.

Kaveshun's excitement is quelled as he ducks his head at A'deth. "Right..."
he says, just a bit sheepish over looking so excited about it all. He turns
a frown back towards Kassima and nods. "Sounds like it would be." Though
when his eyes return back up front, he can't help smirking still a bit at
the very idea... just once, of course.

Desdinova nods at Kassima thoughtfully. "That makes sense." She says. She
leans back in her seat and lapses quiet, though she does frown a little at
the interplay between A'deth and Naara.

Celane remains silent but attentive as the conversations, and the lesson,
continue. Her curiosity barely flags at all as A'deth's lesson continues,
even if she has fewer words to contribute to it; she simply sits back and
listens.

A'deth nods at Kassima's explanation, and then tilts his head at Naara
again. "The men here live to protect you, that's hardly evil. Unless you
think you've something to fear from any of us, in which case, you're
mistaken. Now, can you kindly cease being overwrought?" V'trel waggles his
eyebrows at Kaveshun -- maybe he agrees with the candidate, at least -- and
then begins to sidle away whilst the senior dragonhealer is distracted.

This odd question from A'deth has Naara giggling to herself before turning
a shy smile on the dragonhealer and nodding. Leaning closer to Desdinova,
she whispers something before returning her attention to the two riders at
the front.

"Let's be letting the lesson continue," Kassima suggests, not sharply, not
unsympathetically, but the words are firm. "'Tis why we're here. Nay a bad
question," she asides to Desdinova. "There's usually a reason a thing's nay
done--doesn't hurt t'be asking, if'n only t'make yourself figure that
reason out. --A'deth! Your victim's getting away!"

Tannusen reaches out casually and snags V'trel's arm with one hand, beaming
cheerfully up at the bluerider. "I don't think we're done with you yet," he
purrs, because /everything/ Tannu ever says is done in a purr.

Desdinova smiles to Naara and gives a slight nod. "Probably so." She says,
agreeing to the quiet whisper, and reaching out to give her friend's hand a
squeeze. She turns back, then, as A'deth's chosen model seems to be making
a break for it. She looks back to Kassima with another nod. "It's nice to
understand the logic behind why we don't do things, as well as why we do.
If we understand the whys, then we can better think of other things to
consider."

Kaveshun can't hide the chuckle as Kassima points out the escaping
bluerider. "Run, ma-- aw." He shakes his head sympathetically as he was
caught by the fellow candidate and still stuck in this whole demonstration.
But for now he was going to be quiet in his questions, glancing out to the
rest of the audience before turning back to the front.

IGEN-> Kassima has a surreal mental image of V'trel as Forrest Gump and
Kaveshun as Jenny. "Run, Forrest! Run!"

IGEN-> Naara sniggers.

V'trel arghs! As he's caught. "Fardles! You traitor! See if I ever show you
any more closets! He's going to cover me with goop, man! With goop! He's
going to--" But before he can finish, A'deth reaches over (after a brief
beam at Naara) to haul him away and shove him behind the curtain, and into
the waiting embrace of whoever's behind it. "And don't let him out until
he's good and bloody." An ominous voice that's neither of theirs replies,
"Oh, we won't. We won't." V'trel begins to exclaim, "Shards, not there!
Defend me, Kavesh--!" before he's soundly shushed. "Next," A'deth fairly
chirps, "We're going to see wounds. Riders sometimes duel amongst
themselves, or with others, and now and then they even must protect the
helpless against the depredations of renegades."

IGEN-> Kaveshun laughs XD

IGEN-> A'deth XD

IGEN-> Tannusen is dead of lols

IGEN-> Desdinova snickers.

Naara's earlier giggles make a valiant return appearance as V'trel is
pulled behind the curtain like one of the puppets in the comedies they show
to children. The smile from A'deth seems to settle her, especially as
Desdinova seems fine once more as well, so with both hands folded neatly in
her lap, the shy little Candidate watches eagerly for What Comes Next. With
all the racket the bluerider's making, it sounds like it'll be something
/good/.

Kassima murmurs something under her breath about V'trel and goop that's
really, honestly better off not heard. "I'm so glad I'm nay on A'deth's bad
side." That's safe enough to say aloud! "I wonder what V'trel did, don't
you? 'Tis absolutely true, about renegades--we'll have t'be seeing whether
they get bolder with Thread gone again. Odds are in favor of that."

IGEN-> Naara wants to know what Kassi's saying... ;)

Tannusen cheerfully finger-wiggle waves at V'trel as he's hauled off. "It's
all for a good cause," he calls after, "for our entertainment /and/ for
education!" And his amused grin remains in place up until A'deth's very
last bit, and Kassima's addition, which is when it fades fairly quickly...
to its normal level, at any rate.

IGEN-> Naara says, "If it involves /goop/ it has to be good, right?"

IGEN-> Tannusen coulda made a comment too, but is a candidate XD

IGEN-> A'deth 9.9

IGEN-> Naara snorts. That's right Tannu, you just /purr/ at everyone. :D

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "Yep, that's his voice. Only way he can NOT purr is
if he's yelling or whispering"

IGEN-> A'deth says, "Scream, gurl!"

IGEN-> Naara leers.

IGEN-> Tannusen straightens his tinfoil halo.

IGEN-> Naara chokes and offers her gold-spray-painted seran-wrap halo to
Tannu and will admit to liking the purr.

IGEN-> Tannusen ohgoods, and takes halo. Yay! I have /two/ now, that makes
them more legit, right?

Kaveshun chuckles again at the poor rider's captivity. "Sorry, man, you're
on yer own!" He shudders when the sounds stop, only able to image the
horrors of goop and all that. "Renegades. Forgot all 'bout 'em when yer not
on the road travelin'." He tilts his head towards the curtain, curious to
see what comes from behind it now.

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "Right? Guys? ...Guys?"

Desdinova is fine indeed, looking with amusement towards where V'trel has
vanished to. "This is one of the more energetic." She comments to Naara
quietly. "I was expecting it to be much more sedate and.. Lecturey."

IGEN-> Kassima says, "I don't think it works like that. ;)"

IGEN-> Naara says, "If having /two/ of something made them more legit,
bigomy would reign over the US. ;)"

IGEN-> Tannusen darns. Well, I still have my (S)aint-hood at least! :O

IGEN-> Naara pets Tannu and sagenods. You'll always have that to keep you
warm at night... ^.^

IGEN-> Naara says, "Or is it 'to let you /sleep/ at night'?"

There's a lot of rustling and "Hey!" and "Aagh! That's cold!" and, "You
can't possibly mean to--" and, "You tease!" And so on, and so forth, until
V'trel is abruptly thrust out from behind the curtain. Completely shirtless
now, he's covered in convincing wounds, some of which drip reasonably
realistic blood. "The noble and valiant and not at all prone to fleeing
like an abject coward V'trel--" A'deth begins, but is interrupted by said
valiant bluerider's, "Hey, man, I'm a lover, not a fighter..." Who is
interrupted by A'deth, in turn: "Has admirably defended the Weyr's helpless
maidens," and he sweeps a hand toward Kassima, Naara and Desdinova, "From
the depredations of the wicked renegades." Tannusen and Kaveshun are thusly
indicated. V'trel just rolls his eyes at Kaveshun and Tannusen. "And I
thought we were friends! See if I show either of you any new closets!" He
affects a suitably mangled pose, with one arm and one leg dragging-- the
left side, because he's mean. And yet, his chin is nobly lifted!

Naara's eyes widen in real fear at the mention of renegades, clinging to
Nova's hand with a grip stronger than even her usual fearful claspings, but
not by much. Not a whole lot of strength /in/ Naara, to be honest. The
sight of the many wounds on the--oddly--still talking bluerider makes her
squint and tilt her head. "Are...are those ah....r-real?"

"I haven't known renegades t'be attacking a Weyr directly. The first time I
rode at Benden we had activity--they hit Bitra, several Trader caravans,
and shot a rider. There'd been a band a'fore them too, F'hlan--that's
Weyrsecond Lanisa's grandfather--ended up killing the leader in a
knife-fight if'n I recall m'history. Weyrs are responsible for defending
the sweep area," Kassima says, echoing A'deth's opening of the topic. But
oh! Here's V'trel! All covered in deadlie woundes, most noble in his
afflictions! And she's a helpless maiden all of a sudden? Well, she plays
her part: she sets the back of her wrist to her forehead and swoons as best
she can in her chair. "Oh, V'trel! How can we ever thank you! That's what
I'm supposed t'be cooing, right?" she asks in her normal voice; quickly,
then, "They're show. That red stuff, I'm thinking is the 'goop.' Even
*V'trel* wouldn't have the strength t'be arguing his loverness if'n 'twere
real!"

Chaton enters from the Living Caverns.

Desdinova shakes her head and squeezes Naara's hand back. "'Course not."
She says reassuringly. "Just artful mockups, like they do for the healer
apprentices and stuff." She look at the man, squinting at the gruesome
mock-wounds. "Iesia would be in heaven if she had that much to piece back
together."

Kaveshun snickers and sits up straighter when he was pointed out as a
renegade. He grins widely at V'trel. "It's the way of life an' all that,
man." But his grin fades into a puzzled expression and he looks towards his
fellow candidate, brow arched. "What's with 'em closets?" He shrugs his
shoulders, confused, before turning for a better look at the 'wounds', not
flinching so much at the read Threadscore. Being fake and all, to his eyes.

"Of course I would!" V'trel exclaims indignantly to Kassima. "I've got lots
of stamina!" A'deth cuffs him gently on the back of the head. "Shut up,
you're supposed to be in mortal agony. Collapse, or something." V'trel
does, looking extremely long-suffering. "Don't flail too much, you'll muss
the makeup. I got the idea from watching Celane fill bubbly pies actually,"
A'deth adds to Kassima. "With filling like pots of paint -- no, V'trel,
nobody will eat that off you. You'll just have to do it yourself -- and we
used beets for the red, but the saffron for just that right orangey
undertone was really expensive--" V'trel just heaves a sigh. "Oh Faranth,"
he moans with laconic gloom. "The pain." As A'deth points out the long
slash over his ribs and a much more direct wound over the heart. "That one
there," he says of the first, "Can be stitched, but evidently he was too
busy looking at helpless maidens, because, like a complete moron, he got
himself stabbed in the heart, and there's no fixing that."

Tannusen goes stiller and stiller at all the talk of renegades, though that
smile stays plastered on and he goes so far as to offer Kaveshun a very
faint laugh at the question of closets. "You... ah, probably don't want to
know." Doesn't strike Tannu as the closet-diving sort, this one! Now,
V'trel on the other hand, "They don't usually try to lick at their own
wounds either," he points out with returning amusement, "/or/ go poking at
them themselves to see what colors are in it."

Stabbed through the heart, and A'deth's to blame! V'trel gives love a bad
name. Kassima gets up from her chair to meander over to the not-quite-dead
corpse, even to try and nudge his leg with a boot toe. "Alas," she sighs,
"our valiant protector lies dead. Who shall we turn to t'be saving us from
the depredations of Tannusen and Kaveshun? We're going t'have t'be taking
up blades in our own defense!"

"C-c-canines lick them-th-themselves," Naara quips inanely, tripping over
the words as they--as usual--come out in a tangled mess too quickly for her
mouth to handle. Blushing heatedly, she clams right up, though there's
smothered laughter heard from time to time from the young Candidate. "We
could...ah, b-b-beg Tann--Ta--Tannusen's uhm, sister to erm, to help?"

Chaton snickers at A'deth, and rolls his eyes. He raises his hand. "Wait,
wait. Why was V'trel watching a girl instead of...doing his duty?" he
frowns and wrinkles his nose. "I mean... they're just girls. Doesn't he see
them all the time?"

Kaveshun continues to look a bit confused but nods towards Tannusen. No, he
probably didn't want to know... Fortunately he doesn't have that big of an
imagination, and he's back to watching V'trel's theatrics. "Shouldn't he be
screaming a bit more for being that hurt? Or, well, screaming and dying..."

IGEN-> Naara laughs! Kave, you are so morbid... ;)

IGEN-> A'deth :3

IGEN-> Kaveshun grins. Just a bit. XD

IGEN-> Naara grins and noogies. S'ok. Morbid is good. Fantastic source of
entertainment when coupled with the rest of this group's personalities. ;)

"Gurgling by the look of his throat there," Tannusen comments to Kaveshun,
"unless that's just a smear." And he glances over to Naara with an amused
quirk to his lips, "You think that Alley would defend you all against /me/?
I'm wounded. Truly. Well, I would be if I went up against her, anyway, and
that's a fairly scary thought."

IGEN-> Tannusen joins Kav on the morbidity bench. Just be glad I'm not
dragging Alley herself into the scene to give helpful constructive
criticism on the wounds' placement and would-be depth. XD And talk about
amputees and eyepatches.

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "I think she /likes/ making the civvies go DX"

"I'm already dead," V'trel informs Kaveshun as lugubriously as he can
manage, with an obliging gurgle. "Besides, they hit me on the head before I
could scream." He points to a big 'lump' on his head that's all bruised and
even a little bloody. "That'd be a severe concussion," A'deth explains.
"He's probably bleeding in there as we speak. If you ever get hit hard on
the head, run to the nearest healer. Even if there are bandits at your
heels! And people don't talk and gesticulate," he points out to Mr. Show
and Tell. But V'trel must answer Chaton! "There is no such thing as 'just'
girls! Girls are worth dying for! They're so... so soft, and round, and...
Well, maybe not Tannusen's sister, but..."

IGEN-> Naara fears Alley and hasn't even met her yet. ;)

IGEN-> Chaton says, "I laughed at V'trel"

IGEN-> A'deth XD

This is curious indeed. Naara, at V'trel's revelation of female
curvacious...ness, begins to pat herself down, her work becoming a touch
frantic as she finds naught to her but skin and bones, just a tiny bit of
baby fat left to spread itself thinly over her lanky youthful frame.
"I'm...not err, s-s-soft /or/ r-r-rround." A pause then as she swallows
"Should I err--be worried?"

When one sees this slight young thing, the first thought that comes to mind
is of a runner filly. Small, thin, and almost all limbs, Naara looks out at
the world from behind large, apple-green eyes. She's classically lovely,
with smooth pale skin and even features. Long, ash-colored hair falls in
soft curls around her face, accentuating her small nose and petal pink
lips, which are often curved into a soft, dreamy sort of smile.

Kassima snorts in quiet amusement and makes her way back to her seat. "I
guess m'gender's complimented. Sort of, kind of. Riders can get concussed
from other things than renegades--fall off your lifemate and hit your head,
that'll do it; catch a bag of stone with your skull, and... you probably
won't have *that* problem. Only the living get concussed." To Naara,
emphatically: "Nay! You may get, err, softer and rounder as you age, but
if'n you don't that's quite fine. Just means V'trel won't be trying t'smear
his goop all over you, and couldn't we all live with that?"

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Kass is so honest. e_e"

IGEN-> Kassima, calling it like it is when it comes to V'trel's goop.

"At least for a while," is Tannu's very amused response to Kassima, "and
then he'd get desperate and pull you into a closet anyway."

IGEN-> Naara, forever tainted by V'trel's 'goop'.

IGEN-> Tannusen XD Isn't it A'deth's goop?

IGEN-> A'deth 9.9

IGEN-> Tannusen leers

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "What WAS going on behind that curtain?"

IGEN-> Kassima says, "...Excuse me, I need to make those wounds on V'trel
real. ;)"

IGEN-> Naara says, "A'deth's goop that V'trel spreads for him on passing
maidens... Why does this concern me?"

IGEN-> A'deth says, "V'trel: T_____T I really am dead now."

IGEN-> Tannusen XD

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "I'd say he can hide under Tannu's bunk, but I'm
pretty sure that's against a rule somewhere"

IGEN-> Kassima says, "'Greenriders with knives' deserves rightful inclusion
on any lecture about the dangers riders face!"

IGEN-> Tannusen it's the thought that counts?

IGEN-> A'deth was gonna include that in the hemorrhoid lecture, Kassi.

IGEN-> Tannusen wouldn't trust V'tel in a co-ed dorm anyway XDDD

IGEN-> Naara sets up a bomb shelter labeled carefully. 'In Case of Proddy
Kassi' and underneath: (Or Any Other Such Threat) ;)

IGEN-> Kassima says, "In. In any lecture, even. And *hey*, greenriders !=
hemorrhoids!"

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "Greenriders uber alles!"

IGEN-> Naara had a greenrider once who /did/ cause hemorrhoids. Though all
/she/ had to do was glare, or worse, yell. ;)

IGEN-> Kassima doesn't think Kassi's ever caused hemorrhoids. Someone tried
to commission her once to geld a romantic rival, though.

IGEN-> Kassima says, "Kassi was very nonplussed. As was I."

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "That would worry me. x.x"

Chaton leans back and whispers to Naara. "Stopit. You're fine. No worries,
right?" he grins reasssuringly, and then turns back to the show. "Um, you
obviously haven't met Iesia or Auste. I'd pay good marks to see you try to
verify their 'softness.'" he grins. "But, seriously, now, if you get a
concussion, what happens? I mean...besides that it hurts."

"Awfully loud then, for a dead person." Kaveshun snickers at the rider pair
doing most of the demonstrating, only nodding every so often. He snorts and
adds, "Soft, round, and a mean right hook and sharp tongue and all." There
goes the head rubbing from one too many beatings. "I've probably had many
of these concussions an' I've never known 'bout 'em 'fore. Shardin' sisters
of mine."

"I'm feeling better! And-- hey!" Dead!V'trel sits up, and points at
Kassima, and then Naara. "Don't you scare her off! I like boys, too, and
they're not always so--" Whatever else he might say is cut off as A'deth
claps a hand over the bluerider's mouth. "No gooping, no girls, and no
boys! This is a respectable class, you reprobate!" And so V'trel can only
mrfle irately to Chaton. And Kaveshun. "Mmmrph!" Hrmph! "All right," A'deth
continues, "I was going to show broken bones and sprains, but most of you
have already got at least a few, right? Don't fall off your dragons. Flop
something around V'trel. And don't bite my hand." An arm obligingly flops
at an awkward angle. "When you're all flying about, it's not just like
sitting in a chair-- your dragon's moving one way and half the time you're
moving the other. You'll have to learn to move with him, or you'll end up
like V'trel. Nobody wants to end up like-- Ouch!" He shakes his hand out as
V'trel smirks, and then scrambles for freedom!

Naara wrinkles her nose up in confusion at V'trel. She may be fifteen
turns, but she is a /young/ fifteen, still naive when it comes to this
world of men and boys--and girls and women, to be fair all around. Leaning
just enough away from Chaton so she knows she won't be accidentally
touched, she asks /him/ the question, since the bluerider is
escaping--again--and the others will most likely be preoccupied with
that...mess. "W-w-what did he ah, did he mean, 's-s-scare her off'? Am I
err--supposed to be uh, /not/ scared of him?"

Kassima folds her arms defiantly across her chest. "Nay me. He'll never get
me in a closet! He's nay an illustration right now of what I'd do t'him
if'n he tried, unless A'deth put more goop in his pants. That's what 'twill
do if'n you get designs on the Candidates too, by the by," she lets poor
dead V'trel know. "Nay that they're into dead men like that anyway. In his
mind you're supposed t'find him outstandingly attractive, Naara, and--hey!"
She's not quite committed enough to block the would-be Casanova of corpses'
flight, but she yells after him, "Some defense you are for helpless
maidens, rapscallion!"

IGEN-> Naara <3's Kassima for this...

A shake of the head. "No, I don't think you're supposed to be scared of
him, just... don't let him touch you. Or offer to show you anything,
right?" he advises softly, giving a warm smile reserved for Naara. "Besides
that, I think he's safe to have a conversation with over a glass of juice."
he rolls his eyes. Back to the action. "Nevermind. I'll ask Kassima later.
Or Tannusen." apparently it was bad enough trying to get the dead people to
stay still long enough to point out the injuries, much less explain them.

IGEN-> Kassima is pleased to serve? ;)

Tannusen doesn't stop V'trel this time, he's too busy laughing. Very
softly, but with a sort of almost-bent-over strength behind the quiet sound
anyway. "Ask me what again?" he manages after it passes, overhearing his name.

IGEN-> Desdinova hands Kassima a book she found in the kitchens, _To Serve
Candidates_.

IGEN-> Kassima says, "Y'all didn't think that was *really* tunnelsnake
jerky, did you? ;)"

IGEN-> A'deth brp.

IGEN-> Tannusen mmmmmms, cannibalism!

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "Of course. Candidates aren't allowed to eat each
other. It's a rule. :)"

"Run fer all yer worth, man!" Was Kaveshun's helpful advise as V'trel
breaks loose away from the greenrider. Closets and all that, he didn't
care... or realize that he mentioned something about like boys. Kav was
just too naive about that. He sits back and snickers, watching the fun.

IGEN-> Kassima says, "Which is totally my excuse for why you'll 'disappear'
and there'll be a great, if strangely low in attendants feast the night
before the Hatching. ;)"

IGEN-> Naara rejoices in her ability to Hide!

IGEN-> Kassima: "Yes, I had to ask them to leave Candidacy and the Weyr...
cannibalism is just not to be tolerated. Would you pass the paprika?"
*Sizzle.*

IGEN-> Desdinova recommends a nice cumin flavouring, something with a bit
of kick.

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "You wouldn't want to chew on me, you have no idea
where I've been. Well, SOME idea, but."

IGEN-> R'din says, "Some nice flava beans and Chitani to go with it."

"I've just been violated somehow," V'trel says to them all, looking rather
bemused. "I'm not sure how, but I have. I'm going to retire, now, to nurse
the emotional scarring which all of you have inflicted upon me." And he
flees right out of the infirmary before he can be dragged back! Sighs
A'deth: "Oh dear. I suppose that's the end of the lesson, then." He's still
shaking out his hand, too.

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Yeah, because flirting with everyone in the room is
/so/ emotinally scaring for him. What about the rest of us?"

IGEN-> A'deth XD Chaton

IGEN-> Tannusen is scarred too. Could show people on the doll where, but
I'm a candidate.

IGEN-> A'deth XDDD

IGEN-> Desdinova says, "OO"

IGEN-> Chaton covers his special places.

IGEN-> Chaton says, "<_<"

IGEN-> Tannusen lets Chaton in on a secret. Chastity belts.

IGEN-> Tannusen says, "Why do you guys think Tannu doesn't float? Muscle
mass? Ahaha."

IGEN-> A'deth says, "With frikkin lazer beams!"

IGEN-> Tannusen (it actually is muscle density vs surface tension, but
shhh, this one's more amusing)

IGEN-> A'deth says, "With frikkin lazer beams! x2"

With a very, /very/ confused look shot to Chaton, Naara rises. The lesson's
done right? Nothing else to add? No reason to stick around? Well. Strike
that. /One/ reason to stick around and even that's a weak one. Scuffling up
towards where A'deth stands shaking out his hand, she reaches out to take
the bitten appendage in surprisingly--or not so surprisingly, if one knows
Naara--gentle hands, turning it this way and that to examine the bite.
"Th-t-there's an erm...an herb I use w-w-when I get uh, bitten by
c-c-canines. I uhm, don't know if it's the uh, the same with dragons
but..." Or with /people/ in this case. "I have s-some in my trunk if you'd
um, that is...I don't mean to...oh b-bother." She seems to realize
belatedly that he is a /healer/ and that she is--again--spouting inanities.
"S-s-sorry, sir."

IGEN-> Naara says, "Oooh, Everlast Chastity belts?"

"You *wish* you'd been violated," Kassima mutters, and there's a snicker
definitely trying to escape beneath the last word. "Concussions," she
belatedly recalls, "are... check me on this, A'deth. 'Tis when you bruise
the brain, more or less? There's some blood flow under the skull, more
bleeding the more severe the concussion, and it can be dangerous. A'deth,
how'd you ever get him t'be undergoing the goop for you?" She smiles for
Naara, slouching comfortably in her chair and watching the byplay, now,
with the other entertainment fled. "'Tis likely a good idea. Who knows what
V'trel might be carrying in his mouth."

Chaton nods at the conclusion of the lecture...if you could call it that...
less a lecture more a Pernese version of a comedy play. "Hey, Naara, do you
want to...?" but she's already up at A'deth, chattering away. "Nevermind."
he says, wrinkling his eyebrows together. He turns to Tannusen. "Nothing.
I'll ask later." he says, then turns back to watch and wait for Naara to
finish talking to the healer. He spins in his chair to listen to Kassima.
"Blood on the brain? That sounds... painful... and bad..." he nods and
sits, thinking about this new explination as to why R'din may act like he
does.

IGEN-> Naara chokes.

IGEN-> Naara says, "That, Chaton, was pretty darn brill."

IGEN-> Celane is clearly missing a really amusing scene. Sniff.

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Why, thank you. ^_^ I try to have a brilliant post
every few years."

IGEN-> Chaton says, "Cel- Get Tann to give you the link to the log once he
gets it up."

IGEN-> Celane will definitely read XD

IGEN-> Tannusen always has it--is bricked.

"Some people don't wake up from a concussion at all," offers Tannusen, as
unbothered by this as he had been by little chicken fetuses, "it depends on
how much pressure builds up, I think."

IGEN-> Tannusen http://mush-tannu.livejournal.com/11739.html updated with
my last pose, though not a complete log yet obviously :O

IGEN-> Kassima moves Tannu change the cut tag text to DO NOT FLEX AT THEM. ;)

IGEN-> Naara seconds. ;)

IGEN-> Celane thirds!

Kaveshun winces at the description of a concussion, his hand dropping away
from his head. "Sounds like a painful way ta die, too. Lots of blood in yer
head and all that." Nodnod. He's being good now and listening, looking from
one to the other, though Naara's got his attention now. "Did he break the
skin an' all that?"

IGEN-> Tannusen XDDD okay

IGEN-> Tannusen edits. :P

A'deth beams at Naara, and his free hand moves to gently pat hers. "Thank
you very much but it's all right. His mouth is nominally cleaner than a
canine's -- I hope -- and, look, he didn't break the skin." That, to both
her and Kaveshun. "And I think I hear Chaton calling for you..." And he
nods to Kassima, too, and then the others. "Yes. Always check with a Healer
if you bump your head, especially if you feel dizzy afterwards. It's
usually nothing, but it can't hurt to be careful." And of what he's got on
V'trel to have had him submit to humiliations galore: "V'trel? I thought it
useful to return the favor. He's owed me a good gooping for a while now.""

IGEN-> Tannusen also makes "V'trel" the warning. XD

IGEN-> A'deth XD

IGEN-> Naara says, "Ew. I really don't want to know /why/ he owes you a
good gooping, do I? ;)"

IGEN-> Celane swoons at V'trel's sexy scar.

IGEN-> Tannusen whistles

IGEN-> A'deth X:

IGEN-> A'deth says, "An unfortunte case of where the explanation only
raises more questions."

"I--oh...it uh...it /is/?" Naara asks in wonder. "Oh... A-alright then."
And offering a shy smile, she wriggles out of his touch awfully fast before
turning to Chaton with a quizzical expression. "Hmm?"

This time, when Kassi mutters, "I could've gone the rest of m'life nay
knowing that," she's less trying not to laugh and more, perhaps, trying not
to be ill. *V'trel*. Gooping. Ew.

Chaton grins. "I was just wondering, Naara, if you wanted to go grab a
glass of juice or something in the living caverns since we're done with
this... memorable... lecture." he nods, and smiles warmly, invitingly.

Tannusen, chuckling his amusement, gets up and slides various stools and
things back into their places -- old habits, and all that -- and moves to
wander off after V'trel. Or at least, on out of the infirmary.

Kaveshun chuckles lightly towards A'deth. "Good to know," he comments about
his hand's condition. He does furrow his brow curiously at the mention of
gooping, but his mouth snaps shut before he dares ask anything in relation
to that. "So always go to a Healer. That it then?" He wasn't waiting much
for an answer, since he was following the example of a few others and
getting up off his seat.

A'deth just chuckles softly at them all. The hidden aides step out from
behind the curtain, and move to wash up; they look like they've been
operating, but it's all just fake blood and cornstarch paste.

Naara offers a wobbly smile and shakes her head. "S-sorry, but I've
s-s-s-sewing to do before ah, before bed." And with that, the lanky,
scrawny, tangled wild thing of a Candidate slips out the door and down
towards the Barracks.

Kassima rises as well with the lecture done, and with the lecture done, she
crosses to A'deth and touches him on the shoulder. "Very good show," she
says, grinning. "The Candidates might've learned more about V'trel's
perversities than aught, but... plenty of good information in there. 'Tis
looking done," over her shoulder to Kaveshun. "Unless those Healers are
going t'butcher *us* next. G'night, Naara!"

"I couldn't get anyone else to submit to these indignities," A'deth grins
back to Kassi. "V'trel's a good soul. A warped soul, but a good one." And
he kisses her cheek. "Thank you for coming along, too."

Kaveshun eyes the other aides and their fake blood and all before nodding
to Kassima. "Right," he agrees and then he grins to those riders there,
waving, and slips into the crowd of candidates shuffling out of the lesson
to get back to the barracks.

Kassima slips her arm around A'deth's waist, now that he's broken the
forma... err, not formal, but lecture-y tone of the lecture. She mirrors
his kiss with one of her own. "I'd have worn goop for you," she says, "but
nay have taken off that much clothing for Candidates. 'Twas m'certain
pleasure. And next time--mayhaps we can have him illustrate the
hunched-over walk rider men adopt if'n they get caught gooping at Candidates?"