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What Can Green Do For You?


Date:  February 2, 2005
Places:  High Reaches Weyr's Lake Shore and Eastern Bowl; 
Lhiannonth's Ledge; Josilina's Weyr
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:  Before their conversation turned towards the gustatory
merits of SuSus, M'rek asked Kassi, when she visited him at Ista, to
drop by High Reaches one more time and see Josilina about some 
figurines.  Now she has a chance to complete that errand. :)  And the
task provides an opportunity for pleasant conversation as well.

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The Log:

You stroll towards the lake shore.

Josilina is at least partly hidden, sitting in the sand and leaning against
Lhiannonth. She's well protected from the cold, at least, a jacket pulled
around her and there's a rainbow hat and scarf there as well. A bundle of
yarn - knitting perhaps - sits in her lap though she's not currently
working on it.

Kassima's form of protection from the cold makes her easy to see, but
harder to identify: a black cloak trimmed in red, hood up to protect her
ears, is worn over her jacket and other clothing, so that she's doing a
better impression of a Ringwraith than a greenrider. She's not running, but
her step has that purposeful crunch that might suggest she's not on a
leisurely tour. And look! A big gold dragon! It's a clue! "Duties to High
Reaches and yourself, Lhiannonth," she greets the queen first, shaking back
the hood and giving the dragon an un-ironic salute. Someone's in a
whimsical mood. "Is your rider--?" Not that she waits for an answer; she
takes a few more steps, craning her neck, until she can glimpse that
rainbow. "Ah-hah. Heyla, Josilina--oh, are you working on something?"

Said clue raises her head at the Telgari's approach, warbling politely.
This hard-to-ignore alert prompts Josilina to sit up a little straighter
under all those colors, pushing her hat back a little to see better.
"Kassima! Hi there - didn't expect to see you around so much anymore. Not
that it's not nice to see you - how're things?" She glances at the yarn and
pokes it, almost thoughtfully. "Mmm. Slowly. I think I fouled it up though,
so we'll see. I like your cloak...thing, by the way." She adds, gesturing
towards Kassima's outerwear.

"Was m'reason for visiting so transparent as that? I hoped everyone might
just think I'd fallen in love with your lovely Weyr--" Kassima can't say it
with a straight face, though; little wonder, since she never tried to keep
that reason secret. She grins and admits, "While 'tis a lovely Weyr, you're
right that I probably won't be about it *quite* so much, aye. I'm here on a
specific mission for M'rek this time. Things are...." She finally stops her
slow amble, not far from the goldrider, and looks towards the sky as if
really having to think about this answer. "Things aren't bad," she decides.
"Oh, thankee. An old gift, 'tis, but one I'm so much enamored of that I
could never replace it. What is it you're making?"

Josilina nods, mock-solemn solemn but for a twitch at the corner of her
mouth. "Mmm. Yes. Well, what's not lovely about a frozen wasteland, right?"
- "Aren't bad?" She makes it a question though doesn't pry further.
"M'rek?" Her face is blank, just for a moment, before her eyes widen.
"/Oh/. The thingies?" Nice and specific there. "I wouldn't think you'd want
to replace it! It's beautiful. Oh, you know." She pokes again at the tangly
project, "A hat. But since it's failed, maybe I'll just make it bigger. Try
and stuff it and sew it together - call it a mini-pillow."

Kassima makes an amused sound. "After Benden and now Telgar," she points
out, "I'm almost--almost!--starting t'find a bit of beauty in frozen
wastelands. Just don't tell anyone, or they'll all think I've gone touched
in the head. Nay bad--" Her teeth find her lower lip, nibbling at it during
the quest for words. "Complicated," she finally decides on. "Ironically.
But by and large, I can't complain too much. The thingies, aye--the
figurines?" Just to be sure. "He mentioned 'twere making them and asked me
t'come over and see how that's going. And bring 'em back with me, if'n
they're ready. I do like black and red," she admits, glancing down at the
garment with a wry grin. "Huh. Knit hats are probably nay end of useful
here. But I had heard a rumor of a rumor that you might have a use for a
mini-pillow."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Josilina says, grinning now. "Mm. I know
complicated. Well I hope it sorts out okay. They -usually- do." She nods,
for figurines. "Yes, those thingies. Which I really should've contacted him
about -ages- ago. Don't know why he trusted me with a project of his, I'm
far too flakey for it. But, right. I've got some finished in my weyr, if
you want? I've already sent one and a question his way, with Sria. Black
and red are nice." She's already hoisting herself to her feet, gathering
the yarn and such into a ball and likely tangling it further. "Did you?"
Surprise flickers there along with that inevitable, gushy-pleased sort of
look. "I'd ask who's spreading the rumors, but I think I'm afraid to know."
Her jacket's enough to hide any visual proof so she confirms, "But yes,
that's true."

Kassima's agreeing nod is fervent. "So do I. And still, for all of
it--'twould nay trade the complications of now for the simplicity of a Turn
and three months ago, so I'm still coming out on top, in the end." This
seems to make logical sense to her, even if the question of whether it
would to anyone else is arguable. "M'rek seems t'have fair judgment on who
t'trust," she offers, flashing a grin. "Surely. One might be all he needs,
but he asked me t'bring multiple, so better safe than sorry. Would it be
easiest for me t'come up and collect 'em?" She's darting a glance towards
the Bowl already, somewhere in which ostensibly lurks her dragon. Turning
back to Josilina, she has to grin for the look. "'Twas less full-out rumor
than speculation, really, and I couldn't even tell you names. Just a
snippet I overheard at breakfast once. I'm glad t'hear 'tis truth," she
says, with warm sincerity. "Congratulations t'you. 'Twill be your first,
won't it?"

"Me either." Josilina agrees, though she'll amend, "Most of the time,
anyway." A nod follows, as she dusts clinging sand off her trousers.
"Probably easiest. There're a number - had a couple empty afternoons to
kill. The one sent earlier was mostly... checking if I had it right. But I
haven't heard back, so you can just bring both types." Whatever that means
Kassima will likely find out as Josi starts towards her, nodding to the
bowl. Though she has an exasperated moment to exclaim, "I'm /speculation/
now then? Great shards on toast. Well I suppose that's how it goes. But
thank you." 'Pleased' takes forefront again. "I appreciate it - and yes,
first." She waves the Wingleader on, starting towards the bowl.

You wander north towards the main bowl area.

"Some complications are of a more pleasant sort than others," Kassima can
wryly agree, ambling a step or so behind the goldrider. "Or at least have a
pleasant side to 'em--while others have none. There's room enough in our
strap-pouches that we can probably take as many as you've got. Were they
hard t'make?" 'Both types' does earn a curious sidelong glance, but
evidently the greenrider's decided she'll find out soon enough. "Shells,
what else, in a Weyr? I've heard from the grape vine that *I* was at least
three times that 'twasn't. Faranth only knows how often someone starts
thinking it. You're welcome, though. I hope everything's going well for
you?" This is wondered as she crosses the Bowl as directed, hands finding
the pockets beneath the black cloak again to keep them from the cold.

You meander towards the western side of the bowl.

You go up to Josilina and Lhiannonth's ledge.

Josilina enters Josilina and Lhiannonth's ledge.

"Well enough." Josilina answers as they go up the stairs. "No horror-story
bouts like some that I've heard of. Three times that you weren't? Shards.
How many have you had, or is that prying? - Here we are. They're just
inside. I think I've got about... seven total. Sria took the eighth. They
were tricky at first but," she talks as she pushes the curtain inside and
gestures for Kassima to go inside. "I got better after a while. The first
couple look a bit less like runners than the others. I've never done much
clay before. It was fun."

Josilina moves inside to the inner weyr.

You push back the curtain to walk into the inner weyr.


Josilina's Weyr
This inner cavern is illuminated well by glowbaskets, especially around the
small, but cluttered desk, and the small sitting area that consists of
about three chairs of various comforts, and an oversized ottoman. Part of
one wall is dotted with nooks that have been carved into the stone, and
hold any variety of things, seeming to be a favored storage spot in the
weyr. Near the doorway, where the light is good, a roughly constructed
easel sits, typically bearing a picture in some stage of production, other
art supplies kept near it. A dragon couch, padded with old quilts and
rushes, dominates the back wall, and a cot is wedged into the nearest
corner, with a battered clothes trunk at its foot. Also in the back, in the
opposite corner, is a doorway, curtained with hanging ribbons, that leads
from this main cavern to a smaller springs room, a last chair situated just
outside the door, taking advantage of the extra heat from the next room.
Contents:
Josilina
Alcoves
Obvious exits:
Ledge  


Kassima's nod may be missed, since she's a bit ahead of the other woman;
she seconds it with, "That's a relief. 'Tisn't prying, nay--scarcely a
secret, and I don't mind speaking of m'children. The greater difficulty's
apt t'be in getting me t'shut up. I have," she says, after a grin for the
preceding sentiment, "eight children. One set of twins, so seven
pregnancies." She pauses before further speaking to take a curious look at
the weyr around her. "You have *chairs*! That's lovely--are those holes in
the wall? Huh. That's nay bad idea, is it. I like it. D'you sculpt often?"
she asks, looking back to the weyr's owner. "I can't even imagine managing
t'make clay--or wood, or stone, or aught else--actually look like a runner
instead of some mutated thing. Khari and Kiss between 'em got most of the
artistic talent."

"Seven!" Josilina exclaims, eyes rounding. "Would it be awful of me to say
my respect for you just shot up like nothing else? Because it did. Seven,
including twins. And here I thought my family was big. - These're them."
She gestures to her desktop which is cluttered with clay figurines - all
runners, approximately fist sized, all painted green. "Mmm. Chairs and not
much else. But it works outs - yes, well. I think they're called nooks, if
you're being fancy, but they're really holes. Great for storage." As is
evidenced by their messiness. "Not often at all. This was new. Usually I
just draw." She moves closer to the desk to pick one of the runners up and
gives it a shake, creating a tinkling rattle. "He said he wanted stuff
inside. I didn't know if it mattered -what- was inside. So I put pebbles in
some. And others I just left a little hole above the base of the tail."

Laughing, Kassi grins and shakes her head: "Nay awful at all. On the
subject of *bearing* 'em, if'n you're of a mind t'respect tolerance for
pain, I'm nay going t'deny that I earned that. On the subject of
raising--well, there I've had considerable help." Her grin remains, but
turns somewhat rueful. "Nay much choice there. Four lads and four lasses,
and most of 'em with at least some propensity for trouble. Can't imagine
where they get it from. Ah!" She steps over to get a good look at the
figures. "I have everything but chairs," she comments absently. "Combine
our weyrs and mayhaps there'd be a decently furnished one. These are
well-done. So strange that they should be needed... nay offense t'your
workmanship; just to the nature. Green runners are a bit of an oddity by
me." She reaches as if to pick one up, but lifts a brow in silent request
for permission before doing so. "Stuff inside, huh? Well, that'd explain
something. I haven't a clue what he wants in 'em either, though, for what
'tis worth, and would guess he'll appreciate having options."

"Respect tolerance for pain and insanity." Josilina says, smiling, waving
one hand in a silent granting of permission. "Isn't -some- tendancy towards
trouble automatic with children? I spent some time working in Tillek's
nursery at one point - they were always into everything." - "Everything
/but/? Huh." She nods for the rest, agreeing, "Green /did/ seem odd. He
said it had to look old, s'why I used regular paint instead of the shiny
stuff they usually use on clay. Anyway, I hope they're what he's looking
for. He can let me know through Lhia if they're not, or I'll stop down
there sometime soon. I'm overdue to gloat at his being stuck on the sands
anyway." She notes, all cheer for the idea.

Taking up one of the figurines, Kassi turns it carefully this way and that
to admire little details. A gentle shake reveals that it's one of the
hollow ones. "Can't deny insanity either," she agrees with droll humor.
"You don't whistle the quaint regional melody. Even Keveris--that's the one
child I've borne who has *almost* nay a troublesome bone in his body--was a
nightmare at two; they all are. 'Tis worth it, though, for the record.
After m'sixth was a few Turns old with nay sign of another, I actually
yearned for at least one more--if'n you can credit it." She holds the
runner up a bit, examining the paint now. "I wonder. All I know is that he
needs a green runner figurine, nay what else it should look like; and I
really need t'corner him t'question him more about the whole thing. He
can't escape now, can he?" Her turn to sound decidedly cheerful. "I'd
certes say you've earned your share of gloating. Have you had a chance
t'see the clutch?"

Josilina inspects the runner she holds a moment more before setting it down
and stoops to pull a box out from where it's wedged in next to the desk.
"Oh, worth it I don't doubt. And I remember my little sister at two, she
was a horror. In a good way." She pulls a few pieces of fabric out of the
box, all plain, some canvas, some lighter. "Can wrap them in this, if you
haven't already got some padding?" She nods, straightening. "Sria and I
went down there a bit less than a sevenday ago. We didn't bump into him,
but we got to see the eggs. They're nice - not too many gray ones." Such
judgement is passed with a grin. "And hey, if you get any information out
of him on these, let me know? He was delightfully vague with me about
them." Though she knows enough to add, "If you can, anyway."

Kassima tilts her head to one side. "Would that be Sria?" she queries. "I
know you're sibs, a'course, but nay who's the older--I brought some cloths
for wrapping 'em in, since 'twasn't sure how fragile they'd be," she says,
gesturing towards the Bowl. "I can get 'em? I rather liked the eggs, aye.
Although m'guesses add up to a very improbable color spread, so I'm worried
'twill nay have such a good profit as I made on your lady's. But 'twouldn't
put it entirely *past* Ulfianth t'sire three bronzes even in an Interval,
would you?" She thinks about the last question a moment before nodding,
slowly. "If'n I can. I have naught against telling if'n he doesn't mind,"
she explains, somewhat apologetic. "But if'n there's some reason he isn't
saying--well, he knows what he's doing better than I do. I don't know very
much m'self beyond that someone, somewhere, is looking for a green runner,
and Faranth alone knows why."

Josilina shakes her head, "Nah. Sria's older'an me by almost two Turns."
Then a nod, "Sure, I'll help you wrap them. I mean, I don't -think- they'll
break, even without. But it'd be an awful mess to clean up if they did."
Her next nod is coupled with a chuckle, "That -would- be like Ulfianth. You
counted for six bronzes, really? What color makes bronze again? Oh I
understand." That's said quickly for all the last. "I'm not trying to nose
for information, just curious. Honestly I try and stay out of it all as
much as I can. But if these'll help, I'm glad to do 'em, you know?"

"So you've got another sister," Kassima deduces, proving that, yes, she can
do math! Brilliant woman. Nodding agreement, she says, "Be right back," and
excuses herself long enough to fetch what she brought. It doesn't take
long; Lysseth's not far, and she returns with a variety of soft cloths that
were by and large once white and have since been streaked with various
bizarre combinations of color. Black is almost always in there somewhere,
but otherwise, there's no pattern. "Gift-wrappings," the greenrider
semi-explains, bringing the bundle to the desk. "Nay six, just three. But
that's unlikely enough, especially paired with four browns, four blues,
five greens--it can't be right. Quite understood." She flashes Josilina a
grin. "Curiosity's how I got into it, insofar as I am. Which, as yet, isn't
very far. And probably better that way. In this case, I happened t'stumble
into some information quite by chance; and then I asked M'rek if'n he was
desperate for a messenger. Lo and behold, it got me a job. I do think these
will help with *something*, although what exactly he has planned for 'em...
I haven't the faintest."

"And two brothers." Josilina says with a grin. "But Sri's the only one
who's at the Weyr too. - Those're gorgeous!" She breaks off as she notices
the cloths. "-Beautiful!- I've got a scarf like that. And a skirt. But only
in red. Did you make them yourself?" She shakes her head as if to clear it.
"Three. That's what I meant. But yeah, three would be unusual, especially
for an Interval. - The messenger desperate for a messenger. That's
something." She chuckles quietly, beginning to wrap one of the runners.
"Curiosity's deadly in these affairs." She muses, promptly grimacing at her
own word choice. "You know what I mean. But it's hard to avoid too.
Sometimes seems like something out of a tale, the things you hear."

Kassima shakes her head and informs, with a grin, "You have m'respect for
enduring that now! I'm spoiled: an only child, so for all m'own spawn, I
can't imagine growing up with brothers pulling m'hair or the like. Cousins
were as close as I got. You like them?" Although she seems surprised for a
moment, her grin returns and she says, "I should've guessed. I did, with
some help from the children. We find cloth in Stores or beg it from others
that's clean but a bit too worn for anyone t'want anymore, and paint it
with colors appropriate for whoever's getting it... white and black for
Telgar on most of these, and dragon colors half the time. Then I tie 'em
with pine green ribbon, for Lysseth. For some reason, I don't think most
people have quite the same reaction you do. I don't know that any of this
could be useful, but you're welcome t'keep a piece or two if'n there's
excess and you'd like. --Exactly," of three, "and out of sixteen eggs.
Disproportionate. Still, if'n any bronze just wouldn't care.... He was
speaking of tying messages to the legs of those bugs, if'n you can believe
it!" A chortle of her own, for that lingering mental image, and she takes
up a piece of cloth to set to wrapping another. "Figuratively and
literally," she agrees, with a glance over. "At least potentially. Aye.
That's just what I told Cailin once, though--that 'twas all a source of
grand stories. Like living in a story. Or history. I keep wanting t'hear
them, whether 'tis wise t'hear or nay."

Josilina sets the bundles to one side as she wraps them. "Aw, it wasn't so
bad. Never lacked for someone to talk to, anyway." Her eyes gleam at both
the description of the wrapping-making and the offer. "Could I? I mean, if
there's one left over? They're just absolutely beautiful - that's such a
neat idea too. Really creative." At the mention of the bugs she makes a
face, laughing at the same time. "Well at least it'd give them -some- use!
Besides crawling." She nods, a touch more serious at the last. "Mm.
Exactly. Only you want to hear... but not with the names that're in the
story, since chances are you know half of them." Then, with mild surprise,
"You know Cailin?"

Kassima has some experience in wrapping things in cloth, which shows as she
makes fairly efficient work of it--though not too fast, and with care lest
the figures' legs or ears be damaged. "A'course! And thankee. But out of
sheer curiosity, do let me know what you do with it, or aught? Methinks we
are going t'have leftover. I didn't know how many t'be expecting, or even
what size." She throws over an amused and fondly exasperated look. "He
didn't provide me with many details either. Oh, oh, but would you believe,
M'rek and L'vor--and mayhaps me--are going t'have a contest t'see who can
*eat* the most of the things? In sauce. Should be... colorful, if'n naught
else." No kidding. "Half the time I'd like t'hear even the names. But then,
half the time I have a deathwish. Aye," she confirms, nodding. "I met her
when M'rek and I went t'Beastcraft t'be looking for drinks, and we've run
into each other a few times since. I rather like her. And you know her,
obviously?"

Josilina too makes relatively quick work of runner-wrapping, and soon it's
down to the last two, one of which she picks up and shakes lightly before
starting to wrap. "Sure! I'm thinking I might try and make a little bag out
of it. That or..." she trails off to eye one of the unused pieces
thoughtfully, "if I could find a plain, boring hat, I could try and sew one
or two of these on as a covering. Or! They'd make splendid wristbands." Her
eyes widen with some alarm. "You're going to eat -these-?" She taps her
half-wrapped runner. It's a moment before she 'ohs' softly, "Oh no, you
meant the bugs, didn't you? ...Actually not sure which is worse. Good luck
with that." She shakes her head to the last, "Actually, no. But I know -of-
her. She's Amilin's sister. And I did meet her once, at a thing at Bitra,
but we didn't actually talk much."

Three pieces of cloth of various sizes are left once Kassi's taken up and
set to wrapping the last one: two smallish, and one better suited to a
medium-sized present. "You can have any or all of 'em," the greenrider
offers, looking them over. "Surely someone in the Weyr has a plain, boring
hat?" Yes, she manages that with a straight face. "Oh! Oh, oh, shells, nay,
the bugs," she affirms, laughing. "We might make ourselves sick, but eating
clay would probably kill us--although if'n someone dared M'rek t'do it... I
could see it. So I'm nay of a mind t'try. Aye, she's mentioned Amilin. I
actually know Cailin better, if'n nay for so long. But I've met Amilin a
time or two too," she says, setting the wrapped runner down amongst its
mates, "while 'twas visiting here."

"Would these two be okay?" Josilina asks, picking at the edges of the
medium sized and one of the smaller pieces. "Mmm. Best not to, because I
agree, he probably would. Hope the bugs don't kill you either - you're sure
they're not poisoned or anything?" Good thing to check, after all. "We're
at opposites then." She observes with some amusement. "I've met Cailin
once, barely know her, but Amilin's been a close friend for -Turns-. She's
one of the nicest people you'll ever meet." She finishes wrapping up the
runner and puts it in the pile. "And that's that! Thanks for picking these
up, by the way. I feel bad he had to ask you - I should've brought them
already."

"Absolutely fine," Kassima assures, and she picks up the last piece to fold
down until she can slip it into her pocket. "M'rek ate one--live!--the
other night and was fine, so 'tis probably safe enough in that respect.
Just... gross. Mayhaps 'twill have more opportunity t'know Amilin now." She
gives a sudden grin. "I really have enjoyed meeting people here. I might
have t'find excuse t'drop by at least once every few Turns or something,"
said on an amused, kidding note, "even without Vel." She takes to picking
up runners, balancing them carefully in her arms. "You're welcome! Don't
feel badly about it. I got the feeling he wasn't expecting 'em done this
fast," she explains, carrying out the first load, "so I doubt he's suffered
for their lack."

[Editor's Note:  I had to run for a Telgar meeting, so 
the scene ends here; it can be assumed the chars went 
out to load the figurines and then said their good-
byes. :) ]