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Kaylira's Search


Date:  May 17, 2001
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Hot Springs
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:  Over twenty-four Turns after she herself was Searched by
Benden Weyr, a Search again becomes important in Kassima's life:  her
firstborn daughter is Searched for Ista by P'tod and brown Semeth, and
the greenrider is present to cheer Kaylira on.  Between that and the
chat beforehand, this is probably one of the better mother-daughter logs
for Kassi and Kay in existance. :)  Congrats again, kiddo!

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The Log:

Kaylira walks in from outside the room.

Trust Kassi to have found a way to work and soak at once: she's still in
the Spring, her fingers probably well-pruned, but her elbows are braced
against the rim and she's writing away on a piece of hide. Scribble,
scribble, scribble, scritch.

Kaylira shivers as she enters the steamy room, still trying to stamp away
the coldness of outside. "I knew I'd find you here."

"The water takes the weight off m'feet and back," Kassi explains, even as
she looks up to greet her daughter with a wry grin. "Seems easiest t'be
spending as much time here as the needs t'sleep and eat and whatnay allow.
Heyla, minxlet. 'Twere looking for me?"

Kaylira shrugs lightly, divesting herself of outerwear. "Not for anything
specific. Just thought I'd see how you were. Expecting and all. The twins
tiring you out?"

Kassima murmurs, resting her chin against the top of her charcoal stick,
"Such concern... you must want something. Marks? You surely haven't lost
all you had--" No, she's not *quite* that cynical; she's half-teasing. But
only half. "Nay, the twins have been tiring Mart and Kena out more than
me--at least 'twould assume so. They're really nay that bad, y'know. Though
Ky's likely going t'end up beating up even more weyrbrats than you."

Kaylira shakes her head, coming to sit near the ledge that is currently
being used as a writing table. "No, no need of marks. But I wouldn't mind a
talk?" At mention of Ky's possible inauspiscious lot in life a smile
flashes jauntily across her face. "And here everyone thought it was safe
again."

Kassima sobers up at that, setting the stick down and folding her hands
over her hide. Bare of rings, now; the fingers have become ever so slightly
swollen, symptom of her condition. "I'm always here for a talk if'n you
need one, Kay. *Safe*?" She can only laugh. "Oh, Faranth, nay near it. Wait
until *this* one's born."

Kaylira continues to smirk, the thought having already occurred to her,
despite the impending arrivals sire. Still, there is enough of a hint of
seriousness about the girl that her smile can't hide it all.

*Despite*? Half the Weyr would probably argue *because of*--but never mind
that; Kassi watches her daughter for a quiet moment. "Something's up," she
agrees after that pause. "Tell me about it?"

Kaylira's nose crinkles, banishing the smile. " 'Nassa is falling for a
rider. And she's kissing him even."

Kassima repeats, "'Nassa is falling--*Zynassa*? Little Zynassa? She's *old*
enough?" Needless to say, the rider sounds mildly appalled. "Faranth's
forks aflame... well, I suppose if'n she's in love, kissing's the natural
thing for her t'be doing. D'you nay approve of her choice?"

Kaylira crosses her arms over her chest, drawing her knees up first so that
she has a perch to lay her elbows upon. "He /seems/ nice enough. Its not
that. I'd hardly have reason or right to tell her. And Yaz thinks he's okay."

"Who *is* he?" Kassi wouldn't be Kassi if she didn't ask. "Anyone I'd know?
If'n Yaz approves, that's a good sign; I'd warrant Yaz the sort t'be
protective of his little sister... but then what's the problem with it?"

At first it would seem the girl isn't going to say - friends and secrets
and all. "Well, its probably all over the weyr by now /anyway/" ..that
statement alone a telling one ... "His name's Br'nal, and he rides brown. I
just.. we played dragons together, mum. We /never/ played greens. and now
she's kissing boys."

Kassima allows, gentle encouragement, "Probably. One can't keep secrets in
a Weyr...." She trails off, though, blinking at the given name. "Br'nal.
Br'nal? And Zynassa? That's... interesting." Another blink. "But 'twill nay
say aught about it to anyone else if'n you'd rather, minxlet." Ah, but
here's a slightly worrisome moment, though Kassi's concern expresses itself
only in a quick bite at her lower lip. "She seems young for it?" she tries.
"Or does it seem wrong for her t'be kissing boys t'you?"

Kaylira's nose crinkles again, a soft derisive noise escaping the girl
before she can catch it. "Well, I just think.." But what she thinks isn't
expressed. Even as her mouth works and she speaks words, her voice drifts
off and she shrugs. "Its okay, I guess."

Kassima steeples her hands, bringing them lightly together as though to
hear the click of rings against each other. But she's not wearing any. No
comforting, distracting noise. "Can you imagine yourself in her place?" she
asks tentatively. "In love with a man, and kissing him? Or does the very
idea disgust you, and you can't imagine what Zynassa sees in it?"

Kaylira ponders that, one hand freeing itself of its position to tangle
through strands of her hair - a distraction and a focus. "I'm not
disgusted, at least I dont think so. She asked if I liked girls instead of
boys." Something in Kay's tone answers that questions quite adequately,
even if the scrunch of her face didn't. "I just never thought about the
difference between thinking of kissing someday and now. Understand?"

Let's give Kassi a point, because she manages not to show intense relief at
the answer to that particular question. "Methinks so," she says slowly,
after taking a moment to think about it. "I never thought about it either.
Which might be part of m'problem... y'know, though, just because
*Zynassa's* found someone she wants t'kiss doesn't mean aught's wrong with
you because you haven't yet."

Kaylira nods at that, a shadow of her usual quick smile slipping over her
features and taking up residence in her eyes. "Truly? She said that maybe I
should try and practise to see if I liked it. But I was thinking that maybe
I didn't want to just try to see. Except, what if I don't, and then I do it
wrong? Or maybe I never find someone?" A tumble of relieved and concerned
words fall from the girl's lips.

Kassima immediately reaches to try and snag her daughter's hand. "Now,
listen, minx--if'n you wanted t'practice, I'd say there's naught wrong with
it, so long as you're careful who you practice with and don't pick one of
those lecherous types who'll never leave you alone. But if'n you *don't*
want to, then that's fine too. Y'hear? Plenty of people wait for someone
they care about t'start experimenting; you might nay have t'wait for
someone you love, but I'd hope you'd at least wait for a trusted friend."
She lets go after a quick squeeze. "As for doing it wrong--none of us are
born knowing these things, m'dear; if'n 'tis a good person, he'll
understand, and probably be more'n willing t'teach you. Assuming he knows
himself. But why would you think you'll never find someone?"

Kaylira shrugs her shoulders in that offhand manner that the young seem to
have as inate talent. "Well, I haven't wanted to kiss anyone yet. And I'm a
lot older than the other girls who have." Still, her hand /did/ squeeze
back. And she did nod at the words that were spoken.

"Kay, I didn't kiss a man outside a flight until 'twas... shards, much,
much older than you," Kassima assures, though her smile is touched with
regret. "I'm nay saying I'd advise that. But 'twouldn't advise kissing
anyone you don't want to, either."

Kaylira inhales deeply, and exhales on a true smile. "Then it is okay. But
not to the point of regret." The girl nods at her mother, relief easing her
position, so that she sits cross-legged now.

Kassima nods back to her daughter, her smile broadening. "Methinks if'n you
want t'find someone, you'll find someone... in good time. But you shouldn't
settle for someone who's meaningless, hey? And, well, if'n you don't ever
fall for a cousin or something, that'd be good too."

Saulith flies over the edges of rock and lands on the far end of the springs.

Kaylira nods solemnly at he mother. "And not someone who thinks my chest is
there to talk at."

Saulith lands in the dragons' pool quite smoothly, crooning to Lysseth in
greeting. Kichevio leaves her leathers out of splash range and makes her
way to the other pool, and the other occupants. "Evening, ladies. Hiding
from flight-induced insanity?"

Kichevio slides down easily from Saulith's neck.

Kassima has to ask. She just has to ask. "People talk t'your chest?" Her
bemusement carries through into her wave up to Saulith and Kichevio; she's
braced against the rim of the pool by her elbows, a hide neglected in front
of her and a towel worn decorously. Of course. Lysseth, the sleepier half
of the duo, offers a rumble.

Kaylira gives her mother a rueful nod. "Some people. Boy people." She, too,
waves at Kichevio and lifemate.

"I don't think men ever talk t'my chest," Kassi mutters, glancing down at
the relevant section of her person. "I don't know whether t'feel bad about
that or nay. I've been in here for hours, Kich, but 'tis always good t'know
that I'm managing t'be avoiding insanity too."

Kaylira's nose crinkles. "Its not nice, trust me. 'Nassa said she'd like
boys to talk to hers." This last said in tones that betray her opinion of
/that/ little tidbit.

"Insanity's more fun when _you_ are the cause of it, and not merely
affected by it," Kichevio says profoundly. If that's profound. It's late,
and she can't tell. She grins sympathetically at Kaylira. "Boy-people can
be extremely annoying, true. Especially when they're not thinking with
their brains."

"Wouldn't she rather they talked t'her *face*?" Kassi wants to know. "Hard
t'make much reply with one's chest, 'twould imagine. But 'twouldn't know
much about that. Any male people in particular that you're thinking of, Kich?"

Kichevio chuckles softly as she unbraids her hair in preparation for
watching. "When there's a flight imminent? _Any_ of them."

"That's what I wanted to know!" Kaylira exclaims. "But she said boys don't
look at her that way." Her nose crinkles at the mention of flight. "But
some of them are so.." she makes a face.

Kassima's hair is already unbraided, floating out behind her in a black
cloud. "Many a women's mindless then, too," she reminds. "'Tis hardly men
alone who ride hormone-influenced dragons, when 'tis the flight time...
wait, Kay, y'mean she's saying that boys *only* look at her as a sex
object? That'd be infinitely worse than never being looked at as a sex
object, 'twould be thinking."

Kichevio wrinkles her nose in agreement with Kassi. "It would wear thin,
after a while, and then I'd either have to use my knives seriously, or
borrow your Emasculator."

Kaylira tries to correct her mother, interupted by the need to laugh. "I
don't like it. No, no, she says the boys /don't/ talk to her chest. She
wishes they would, so she knew they were interested in her. Br'n- I mean,
that boy she likes? She thinks he insn't interested because he /stopped/."
Nodding several times to herself in a serious manner.

"A'course," Kassi mutters to Kich, "it might be nice now and then. But only
rarely. And 'twould be better yet if'n you could be seen as attractive and
a human being--mayhaps that's what Zynassa wants, Kay, only she thinks she
wants the other because she thinks it has t'be better than naught?" She
stows a grin at the near-slip. "Stopped? Stopped--oh. *Stopped*."

Kichevio offers her 32nd mark of possibly-useful advice. "If he's gentleman
enough to try and stop looking, he's definitely worth pursuing. Good for
Zynassa." She pauses, placing the name with a face. "She's one of Jazmin's,
right?"

Kaylira smirks at Kichevio. "He didn't stop /looking/. He...*stopped*. You
know.. everything." A grin flitters over her lips, tugging at their edges.
"I told Nassa that I'd rather someone who stopped out of respect - Oh, yes!
She's one of Jazmin's Came visiting the other day - and she thought it
meant he didn't find her attractive." The girl comes up for air finally.

"If'n he *started*, he probably finds her attractive enough," Kassi
mutters, raking her hair back. "But try telling her that--has she spoken
t'him about it? Oh, aye, Kich, Zynassa's one of Jazmin's. Sweet lass. She's
actually Alyssa's and F'nar's too, if'n you can credit that."

Kichevio makes a mental note. "Zynassa. Jaz's and Alyssa's and F'nar's. One
I did _not_ help midwife." She accepts Kay's clarification with a nod.
"Still a good sign. Means she's so stuck in his mind that he can't think
straight around her."

P'tod walks in from outside the room.

Kaylira laughs. "Oh, and thats not /all/ she did, but she'd surely throw me
in hte lake if I told the rest!"

P'tod strides in, his boots clicking on the stone, emanating waves of
annoyance, his mouth twisting as he holds his tunic away from his body. A
close glance reveals that it's rather blue-er than it ought to be-- bubbly
pie filling is dripping all down his front, though he's doing his very best
not to let it get onto his pants as well.

Kassima shakes her head emphatically. "'Twould nay have, Kich; she was born
at Benden. I recall the occasion well... 'twas while Lys and F'nar were
still together, and that was a bit a'fore the move. Fostered at Bitra for a
bit; I ran into her once there after the transfer, and she was terribly
sweet...." The Wingleader manages to cut off her rambling with a quick
headshake. "Can't have *that*, Faranth knows." Hearing a footfall, she
looks up from her place in the largest spring, braced against the rim; she
grins up to the arriving rider. "P'tod, heyla! Duties t'Ista and her
queens... and shards, man, what happened t'your tunic?"

Kichevio looks vastly innocent. As innocent as a bikini'd girl with hair
floating around her can look. "I won't _ever_ tell--P'tod? Is that your
name? Get you and your clothes into the hot water now, or they'll be
bubbly-colored forevermore."

Kaylira turns her head, stiffling a giggle at the sight of bubbly so not
where it should be. "What was that about insanity?"

Kassima mutters an aside: "If'n the flight insanity is involving pies,
methinks I'm afraid."

"If I take it /off/, I'll get it in my hair, and if I don't, it'll get all
over my pants," P'tod complains, looking down at the soiled tunic with a
mournful indecisiveness, and avoiding altogether a direct answer to the
question. But Kassima's remark throws him off, and he blinks in surprise.
"Flight? What flight? Salri threw the pie at me. Not because of a flight --
well, not directly, anyway." That last, in a wry tone.

Kaylira's brows quirk at this halted bit of gossip, but doesn't ask. "Hair
washes," she comments with a smirk. "Better than pants."

Kichevio chuckles, and says in her Voice of Common Sense, "Take of the
shirt _carefully_, then wash it."

"Climb on in with your tunic on?" Kassi suggests, nodding back towards the
Spring. "You'd probably nay be the first, although a pie-covered tunic is a
new one on me. And the flight's Inzarath's--Semeth didn't notice? How is
he, anyway?--but it sounds much less interesting than this flight that
caused the mother of your son t'throw baked goods."

P'tod opens his mouth, no doubt to deliver some sharp retort to Kaylira,
but his teeth click shut again with words unsaid, and he sighs, wrinkling
his nose. Perhaps he sees the wisdom in her words, for he elects to strip
the tunic off and toss it into the pool, though he winds up with face and
hair streaked with bubbly goo. "I was being facetious-- and if you mean
/that/ flight-- I think we saw 'em coming in, but we just got here, so he'd
be too far behind to join in even if he wanted to." As he speaks, he's
undoing his pants in preparation for jumping into the pool.

Kichevio laughs through the sweetsand foam that's rapidly covering her
face, "The sky's crowded enough as it is. Semeth wouldn't have room to
maneuver."

Kaylira's smirk remains. So far, she's the only one of the group not
swimming. (Or intending to).

Kassima bites her lip in amusement; belatedly, she thinks to introduce,
"P'tod, d'you know m'daughter Kaylira? Kay, this is P'tod, if'n you haven't
made his acquaintance. Behave yourself, minx." That evidently directed to
Kay, not P'tod. "There's soapsand around here somewhere for that tunic. And
for your hair and face, I guess--just as well, mayhaps; I hear there are a
lot of chasers tonight." Glancing towards her Wingmate, she wonders, "Did
you get a look at the flight, Kich? See, then, Joiryth had it aright."

Kaylira gives her mother a squeak of disbelief, as though she'd ever need a
warning to behave. She nods to P'tod politely, turning to Kassima with a
"Behaved enough?" A wink punctuating the saucy question.

Kichevio confirms. "Six I'm sure of, and maybe a few more I missed.
Indrath's trying again, and Kheprith's hope is springing eternal."

P'tod nods to Kaylira as he steps out of his pants-- now that
introductions've been dispensed with! "Well met-- Ista's duties, too," he
adds, belatedly, and dives into the spring where his tunic floats on the
surface of the water. He scrubs at his face with his hands, blinks water
out of his eyes, and looks around. "Soapsand."

Kichevio tosses the soapsand P'tod's way, aiming in a general sort of way
at his hands. "Catch."

Kassima slides her elbows down from the rim, bobbing down in the water to
her shoulders. She can still see and talk with the others, which is what
matters. "'Twill do, wicked creature. Just keep it up. Six isn't a bad
crowd," she adds to Kichevio. "Should be enough that there's *someone* left
when she tires; she's an experienced green, so she likely knows how t'run
'em ragged... I wonder if'n we'll get any flight-lost in here. I wonder
if'n I've any alcohol handy." Only when pregnant would she have to wonder.

P'tod fumbles and nearly drops it; he traps it against his chest just above
the water. "Eh, thanks," he says, even as he applies the stuff liberally to
his damp curls. "Who's Inzarath's rider? I've been too long away; I've
heard that name, I know, but can't match it."

Semeth flies over the edges of rock and lands on the far end of the springs.

Kaylira's nose crinkles, muttering, "I'd appreciate fair warning when you
expect the lost to arrive. I'd rather have time to disappear." Evidently to
her mother, though in truth anyone could probably warn her.

Kichevio starts ticking off on her fingers. "K'ran'll go home to Tarlo,
Greylin will go soothe Kheprith, the others'll probably head back to their
respective Weyrs--but maybe." Belatedly, to P'tod. "Ainsley. An assistant
Weyrlingmaster--or was three Turns ago."

P'tod's face registers surprise as Semeth appears and angles in for a
landing. "You don't need a bath!" he protests. "I just gave you one this
afternoon. Oh, well, you can look. But don't go in the water with your
straps on." The humans present are treated to an eyeroll. Lifemates!

Saulith warbles bubblily to Semeth, submerged as she is in the dragons' pool.

Kassima's eyes unfocus for a moment. "Greylin won't go home and soothe
Kheprith," she corrects, shaking her head. "He won't need soothing. She
used t'ride at Ista, P'tod--Impressed long and long ago, with N'ren, if'n
you know that name. And Kay, just give 'em wine and you'll be fine!"

Kaylira gives her mother a blinking stare. "And just how is that supposed
to help? Drunken groping?" Realizing just a little too late that there
/are/ others present.

"Right, right, her," P'tod says, and ducks briefly under the water to rinse
his hair. "Pthhht! Yeah, I remember her. Not well, but I know the one you
mean..." His voice trails off as the mention of drunken groping draws his
attention to Kaylira.

Semeth warbles back at Saulith and curls himself up on the rocks near the
water, eyeing it with longing. A moment or two, and he lets the end of his
tail dangle into the pool. Well, he doesn't wear straps on his tail.

Kichevio blinks. "_Kheprith_ won? Great Faranth, I thought he'd
never--well, good for him. And we'll hear Greylin's startled shriek all the
way across the Bowl, come morning."

Kassima blows out an exasperated breath. "*Nay*, minx, just give 'em the
wine and they'll drink it and forget about you. Usually. It's been m'method
for an age, and I've only gotten kissed twice, and groped never." Such an
enlightened mother-daughter pair, these two. "Methinks you've got a bit of
berry on your chin yet, P'tod--did she transfer in after you went there?
Come t'think of it, I guess she would've." Lysseth belatedly tosses in her
own low warble, sleepy-toned. "Thankee for the warning, Kich," drawls
Kassi. "I'll find earplugs."

Kaylira covers her mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh aloud. Failing
utterly miserably. "Oh.. earplugs.." All the while nodding at her mother -
which could also account for some of the laughter.

"I think so?" P'tod's forehead wrinkles in thought, and he rubs at his
chin, dipping once more into the pouch of sand to rid himself of berry
traces. "That or right before I left, because I don't think I was around
her for long? But shell if I can remember."

Kichevio just laughs, propriety be darned. "It'll be the wakeup for
drills--assemble at the sound of a brownrider's screech," she teases.

P'tod feigns indignance. "That's hardly the thing! Brownriders don't
screech -- not to speak of. Greenrider screeches'd be much more effective."

Kassima murmurs in all innocence, "Mayhaps, Kich, Ainsley will wear her out
too much for her t'be waking at the crack of dawn." She affects a
bewildered look at her daughter's laughter--then, to P'tod, "Isn't
important, I suppose. But that's her... hey! We don't *screech*!"

Kaylira's eyes dance merrily. "Mum's got a good singing voice." /Very/
tongue in cheek. And terribly saucy.

Kichevio says, quite properly, "I'm almost _sure_ I'd remember if I
screeched. And the windows for dragonlengths around would have shattered."

P'tod winks at Kaylira and stagewhispers -- but of course, it carries; it's
got to, as he's in the pool and she isn't -- "I don't think I want to know
about your mum's screeching."

"Thankee, Kay," Kassi quips. "Just remember, a good singing voice doesn't
mean a good *screeching* voice. Nay anyone's ever claimed I screeched."
Pause. "V'hryn, now... *he* screeched." She makes an exaggerated face at
P'tod, sticking out her tongue for good measure.

Semeth dangles more of his tail into the water, earning himself a sharp
glance from his rider. P'tod retrieves the now-waterlogged tunic and starts
in scrubbing it, applying soapsand liberally and gritting his teeth at the
effort. "Sharding thing," he mutters. "Least it was already blue."

Ro walks in from outside the room.

St'fen walks in from outside the room.

Kaylira gives her mother a quick, mirthful nod. "Oh, quite welcome.
Anything else I'm supposed to remember to say?" Laughter coming through her
voice on this last.

St'fen emerges, looking slightly disheavled. Well, his shirt is untucked.
His gaze sweeps around the room as he and Ro enter. They land on each
female it seems, looking at them closely before moving on.

Ro walks in, carrying an unidentified skin. She smiles as she sees familiar
faces "Hullo. Hope I'm not interrupting anything. Reaches' duties, and all
that."

Kassima eyes that dangling tail curiously. "Does just his tail need
soaking?" she wonders, with a sympathetic glance for the tunic. "Pie
doesn't come out easily--but you never said *why* Salri threw it at you?"
The entering riders receive an amiable wave, accompanied by a faint flush
at that scrutiny. "Duties t'High Reaches and her queens, brownriders, and
g'deve t'you. Did your dragons chase?"

St'fen sighs dramaticly. For all that he wanted to come into the steam
baths, he seems reluctant to move from the entranceway. "Yup. Kemonth
chased." he answers. He forgets to offer 'Reaches duties to anyone.

Kaylira misses the scrutiny, probably thankfully, her back turned away from
the water.

"No, I didn't," P'tod agrees, skirting the implicit invitation to explain.
"And, he says he wants to try the water, but I didn't want him to get wet--
we've got to ride, back, after all-- oh, all /right/!" He breaks off,
rolling his eyes in the brown's direction. He balls up the tunic and drops
it at the edge of the pool as he climbs out and pads over, dripping, to
unfasten Semeth's riding straps. The brown rumbles gratefully and slides
into the dragon pool with minimal splashing.

"Ista's duties," P'tod offers to the newly arrived riders, with a nod of
apology for his distraction.

Ro chuckles softly "Alwyth didn't for a change. He napped to long and ended
up getting here too late."

"Have you got enough alcohol?" Kassi wants to know, lifting an eyebrow. "I
don't know that I've got any with me, but I could look--oh, well, if'n he
feels cold after going *between* wet, you can just remind him 'tis his
fault." Behind her, Lysseth rumbles with draconic laughter.

P'tod snorts. "Lot of good that'll do." He shivers a bit in the air and
hastens back to the spring, sliding in with rather more of a splash than
he'd meant to make. "Sorry." An apology springs automatically to his lips.

Ro's silvery eyes widen, and she says "Oh, we should be quite fine with
what I brought. Don't know if I would dare try some of the things I
remember that you used to carry with you." An irrepresible grin crosses her
lips.

Semeth's rumble lightens in tone as the water envelops him-- he's pleased,
no doubt of it. He plunges his head beneath the surface, then emerges,
shooting a thin stream of water out of his mouth. /That's/ always a fun
game-- he lowers his head to fill up again.

St'fen shakes his head, forgetting that Ro has some, untill she mentions
it. "Oh!" he reaches for it.

Kassima raises her hands to ward off the splashing, the motion making her
slip further down in the water so that it brushes her chin. "Nay a problem,
P'tod--*used* to being the key word, Ro. I still do carry it about, but
I've nigh run out, all told. Kay, could you be doing me a favor and pulling
m'clothing over here? I've been in here enough hours that I should likely
think about getting out."

Kaylira offers, making to stand, "I could go fetch some more - that way
nobody has to get out of the water?" As well as avoiding the inevitable
continuation of the earlier conversation.

But what's this? That human over there isn't in the water. She's not even
wet. Semeth'll fix that-- he sends a stream of water arcing toward Kaylira,
though his aim's none to accurate at this distance.

Kaylira scrabbles to avoid the water arc. Good aim or no, she'd not planned
on a swim! Waggling a finger at the brown she chuckles. "No fair. You got
your soak."

Ro just lets St'fen take the whole flask and drink from it. Who needs mugs
or glasses, right?

Semeth warbles an entreaty to Kaylira, and the unseen motion of his limbs
beneath the water propels his bulk across the pool toward the edge nearest
her. P'tod smirks. "Seems he thinks you ought to soak, too," he says to
Kaylira. "Sorry about that. Sem! Don't get her wet. This isn't Ista, you
can't just go squirting whoever you like."

Kassima suppresses the impulse to grin, and pushes away from the pool rim
to swim towards where her articles are--avoiding any stray splashes and
brown-spit along the way. "You were *asking* for it, Kay, trying t'stay dry
around the Springs! You two might want t'get in or at least splash some
water over your heads," she merrily advises the 'Reaches brownriders.
"A'fore anyone gets similar ideas about you two."

St'fen doesn't. He gulps down the liquid, still eyeing the people in the
water. Finally, giving back the flask he strips himself of clothes and
jumps into the water.

Thus freed of her burden, Ro's clothes quickly find themselves in a heap in
a dry corner. She says to Kassi "It's been... /turns/. How've you been?
Anything interesting happen?" Yep, starved for gossip, she is.

Kaylira shrugs over her shoulder at P'tod. "No worries. He missed, and the
offer still stands - more wine?" Looking over the group for something of a
response. To her mother she sticks her tongue out.

Ro sets the skin near the edge of the pool, hopping into the water herself
"Ah, so nice to have so much room to splash about. See, isn't it nice,
St'fen?"

P'tod shakes his head. "Not for me, thanks-- Sem!" He rebukes the brown
with a look, for Semeth was filling his mouth again. The brown lets the
water spill out of his mouth and snorts, making a great show of appearing
unruffled by his rider's censure.

Kaylira laughs at the brown fondly. "Determined, aren't you?" Though she's
staying out of reach (in her estimation anyway).

Kassima manages to pull herself out of the water, adjusting her towel to
make sure it covers all it should. Of course, her being out of the Spring
makes some of what she's been up to pretty obvious. "Let's see. How many
children did I have when we last spoke?" she asks, eyes twinkling. "And
d'you recognize this young lady? She's m'daughter Kaylira, if'n you can
credit that." She pauses in order to stick her tongue right back out at her
child.

St'fen reclaims the skin, staying near the edge of the water. He relaxes a
tad in it's warmth. Moving closer to Ro, he drapes an amiable arm over one
shoulder. "It's very nice. I'm glad you can be hee with me." nevermind the
fact that /other/ people are in the baths as well.

Semeth replies to Kaylira with a charming (in his estimation) warble. And
since determination seems to find favor with her, he fills his mouth once
again, taking advantage of P'tod's distraction with an itchy spot between
his shoulder blades, and lets fly. Perhaps this stream of water will find
its mark.

Ro answers "Three, I think, but I could be wrong. Is this the one I
embroidered the quilt for? I'm afraid it's been so many turns that I've
lost track." St'fen gets a smile "Some things are worth coming back to."

Kaylira jumps out of the way..in time to avoid a direct hit, but not the
splatter it cuases. Darker patches mark the fabric of her trousers, and
glisten beaded against her curls. "Hey!" she protests, not terribly
convincingly, laughing all the while. "You could have at least /asked/!" A
stray droplet is swiped from ehr cheek.

Kassima bobs her head in confirmation, glancing towards Kay. "Aye, this is
her. She's also the one who insisted t'me you'd Impress brown at that
Hatching, and won me a slew of marks." With her eyes on the girl, she
catches that splattering and grins full out. "Hadn't any notion that Semeth
was so playful, P'tod! 'Tany rate, Ro--if'n 'twas three, then you've missed
two. The twins are about t'have their fifth Turnday... and this one,"
patting her abdomen, "should be born in two months. 'Twill be a K, a'course."

"Semeth!" P'tod is aghast at his lifemate's manners. "I swear by Belior,
he's as bad as Salek sometimes," he grumbles to nobody in particular, and
makes to climb out of the pool. "Only too sharding big to spank. But I
think we should start back to Ista, before we manage to give some mortal
offense. C'mon, mudlump, out of the water-- no, we can't take her with us,
she's... what?" He blinks and comes to a standstill at the edge of the
pool, and turns to cast a speculative glance toward Kaylira, then looks
back to Semeth. "You sure?"

St'fen takes another long pull of the flask, grimicing slightly. He leans
against Ro alittle, smiling contently. "Comeing back to?" he questions,
unsure what Ro is speaking of. He asks her quietly so not to interupt her
conversation with Kassima.

Semeth hauls himself out of the pool, giving no mind to the water sheeting
off his hide, and waddles toward Kaylira, rumbling pleasantly all the way.

Kaylira continues to chuckles, shaking her head. "Don't worry. As mum says,
shouldn't expect to stay dry in the pools." Pausing only to waggle a finger
again at the approaching brown.

Ro chuckles softly "Always did have a thing for browns, I remember. Was a
bit of a surprise to me, and Alwyth is on the big side, too. Five turns.
Oy, hard to believe I've been gone nearly 7 turns. Do I at all dare ask who
the proud father might be?"

Ro says more softly to St'fen "This is where I grew up. Shells, Mimenth
searched just out in the bowl where we were earlier."

Kassima's head pops through the collar of the caftan-like item she's pulled
on over her towel just in time to blink at P'tod... and slant an
inscrutable look at Semeth and Kaylira. "Of the twins," she slowly replies,
without taking her eyes off the scene at hand, "the father's J'lyn, if'n
you can believe it. Alcohol was involved--vast quantities. This time, the
bairn's I'sai's, courtesy of Lysseth and Taralyth."

Semeth halts just short of Kaylira, his triangular muzzle pointing at her
midriff, just within scritching or patting distance, and gives her a
careful looking over, then offers a mellow croon.

Kaylira scritches. Who could resist? "I think you're in trouble," she tells
th brown softly.

St'fen also glances over towards Semeth and Kaylira, looking partially
interested. He nods softly to Ro, leaning his head down to whisper
something to her.

Ro blinks two or three times "J'lyn? I, um, thought you weren't his type.
But I'sai- he seemed nice enough when I met him, aye."

P'tod offers Kassima a grin that's more grimace, laced with apprehension or
apology, or both-- hard to say; then he trots over to join his lifemate. He
watches Kaylira scritching for a moment or two before clearing his throat.
"Urm."

Semeth croons again and nudges at Kaylira's hand to guide her to /just/ the
right spot.

Kaylira tsks at the nudge, but scritches /just/ there. "Good thing I like
browns you know." Winking at P'tod.

"That's right," Kassi dryly agrees. "I'm female. Khari's birth should've
taught me better than t'drink with mad greenriders, but *nay*... and
I'sai's a fine man. A fine, wicked one." She indulges in an apologetic
glance towards Ro, perhaps for her distraction, and struggles to her feet
in order to meander oh-so-casually a bit closer towards the dragon and her
daughter. Not painfully close, mind. Just close enough to have a front-row
seat. And P'tod, well--he gets a brief, hopeful grin and a quick wink
before she smooths her expression back to blandness.

"Er.. right. Good thing," P'tod agrees. Pause. "He likes you, too," he
adds, and then hesitates, framing his next words.

Ro chuckles at something the other reachian rider says and ruffles his
ruddy locks.

Kaylira quirks a brow at P'tod. "I kinda got that impression when he tried
to soak me."

St'fen rolls his eyes, taking another, smaller drink. "Very true. Do you
think I will?" he looks down at the rider, a wistfullness in his eyes.

Kassima grins in a moment that Kay isn't looking her way, and then bites
her lip to help hide all further mirth. Clearing her throat, she murmurs,
"'Twould have t'be either that or an attempt t'drown you, 'twould think."

P'tod laughs, though it's a little flat. "Well, some people might take it
the wrong way." But beating around the bush can only delay things so long.
So he takes a deep breath, and his voice turns oddly formal as he says,
"Semeth seems to think you'd make an ideal Candidate for Qirith's clutch
that's on the sands just now, at Ista. So, it's my honor and privelege to
extend to you the invitation to Stand for Qirith and Tuoth's clutch." He
flicks a glance toward Kassima. "If you think you can get permission, that
is. Will you accept?"

Ro arches an eyebrow, as she often does "Will what? Grow up? I'd say you're
fairly well grown, myself." Then she winks.

St'fen smirks. "Yeah, as much as I'll ever be." he sighs softly. "Kemonth
is wanting to get back home. He wants to sleep on his own ledge tonight."
he rolls his eyes. He takes yet another drink, only to find it empty.
"Perhaps you've some more?" he asks. What a way to forget your troubles,
drown them.

Kaylira starts muttering, "Well, I'm not some people.." STopped mid-scritch
and mid-commentary by the rest of P'tods little speech. "Oh." The tiny word
uttered in place of a silence as she allows herself to think. She turns to
her mother, "Thats some apology for a little splash!"

P'tod opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again. Better, perhaps, to
wait in silence for the answer.

Kassima starts bouncing on the balls of her feet as P'tod speaks, looking
much like a small child being presented with a Turnday present--or like she
were being Searched herself. Laughing with delight at that reaction, she
prompts, "The question, is, Kay, d'you *accept*?"

Kaylira ohs, a sudden flush of colour marking cheeks and eartips. "Well,
yes! I mean, I'd be honoured." Turning to P'tod on this last.

Ro considers "Well, I've some in my weyr, or I'm sure I could scrounge up
some more here. I know where the 'secret stashes' are kept. Either way,
should not be a problem." She shoots a lopsided grin in Kassi's direction
"Betcha she 'mpresses brown. I should know, right?"

St'fen considers this as he leans heavily against Ro. "Let's see what you
got in your weyr. I've heard bad things about drinking here." he slurrs
ever so slightly.

P'tod grins with something like relief, whether for Kaylira's answer or
Kassima's reaction-- maybe both. "Good," he says, "because I'd hate to have
to explain a 'no' to him. He's not too good with 'no'." Grinning wryly, he
turns about to look for his clothing, which of course lies where he left
it. He heads over to collect his pants and pull them on. "It's getting
late, and we should head over if we're to get you settled in the barracks
at a reasonable hour," he says to Kaylira. "D'you want to take a little
while to pack your things, or just have 'em sent after you?"

Ro's curiosity is piqued "You have? Like what?"

Kaylira answers cautiously, "I'm sure they could be sent?" Her gaze upon
her mother for confirmation of that.

St'fen thinks about that. "People getting pregnant." he shrugs. "I wouldn't
want that." he appears oblivious to the Search that just happened. "and I
liked what you brought too."

Kassima manages to restrain a yip of glee, but she *does* bounce outright
and beam at her girl. "Shardit, Kay! If'n you'd said aught else I'd have
smacked you upside the head!" It's a fond threat, though. "Just you make
sure t'come and hug me a'fore they spirit you off to the Humid Wastes, you
hear me? Do that, and 'twill send your things with V'dan as soon as I can
get 'em ready." She twists about to return a brilliant grin in exchange for
Ro's. "I'll put marks on it!"

Kaylira obliges her mother, moving to give the woman a tight hug. "Not too
many marks, mind you. Just in case, okay?"

"Humid Wastes?" P'tod cannot but take exception to that. "Whaddya mean,
humid wastes? At least we don't freeze our buns off in winter..." He picks
up the still-sopping wet tunic and eyes it mournfully.

Ro laughs "Oh, that's just from the Benden water. Besides, I don't think
you have too much to worry about, as men don't get pregnant. The alcohol is
supposed to be safe, though. Right Kassi? And how does two marks sound, Kay?"

Ro shoots a saucy wink in P'tod's direction "Neither do we." Doesn't take a
master harper to guess her meaning.

P'tod snorts with laughter despite his best attempt to keep a straight
face. "Ah... right."

St'fen chuckles, removing his arm from Ro's shoulders. "I'm safe then. As
long as I don't sleep with anyone who's drank the water." with that parting
shot he dunks himself underwater, waiting for Ro to be ready to head back
to High Reaches with him.

Kassima wraps her arms around her daughter, making a fair attempt at
squeezing the breath out of the poor girl. "Kay, if'n I can't risk marks on
family, who *can* I risk marks on? But 'twill make sure I don't go so far
overboard that I end up broke, whatever happens. You've m'word." Her
expression as she looks towards P'tod is one of irrepressable mischief.
"Oh, don't be offended. *All* the Weyrs are Wastes of some sort; we're the
Icy Wastes, the 'Reaches are the Frozen Wastes, Ista's the Humid Wastes,
that's all." Rumpling Kay's hair, she reluctantly releases her and steps
back. "You just make sure you don't get in trouble with any of those rider
men down there, m'lass. You can't Stand that way, and you'd *better* send
me letters, and... oh, shardit, you know all this stuff. The alcohol's
perfectly safe, Ro. Cross m'heart and hope t'fry."

Telgar Weyr> K'ran mutters. All my clutchmates getting nookie but me. :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Really? Who are H'lor and Lorrin seeing? ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Talisha was about to make a comment...but then simply snickers.

Telgar Weyr> K'ran meant the ones who're on. Thplt. :)

Telgar Weyr> Greylin tickles K'ran.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima ohs, well, that's another matter. ;) She also takes a
moment to congratulate Kay, who's just been Searched for Ista. :)

Telgar Weyr> Greylin yay!

Kaylira gives her mother a smile that is both excited and scared at the
same time. "I know. I know." All the things she's been told...so /many/
times. Of course, in different circumstances. "Not too many marks," she
repeats before extricating herself from Kassi's hug, and straightening her
curls - as much as they ever straighten.

Telgar Weyr> Talisha oohs. 'Gratz Kaylira :)

Telgar Weyr> Kaylira thanks, "And by a /brown/ even!" *swoon*

Ro nods to the greenrider "That's what I thought." and she teases St'fen
"Aw, you mean I can't be drinking Benden water? You're no fun at all." Then
she laughs "But dry that head of yours off. You try to go between with a
wet head and I'll tie you up, drag you to the infirmary myself. Don't need
you catching your death of cold."

Telgar Weyr> Talisha says, "Whose brown?"

Telgar Weyr> Talisha says, "AS in, who rides it?"

Telgar Weyr> Kaylira says, "P'tod"

Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Congrats, Kay. :)"

P'tod scoops up Semeth's riding harness from the ground and heads back over
to the brown, tossing it over his head and sliding it down his neck in a
practiced maneuver. He cinches it tight and tugs to check the fit, then
nods briskly. "Right then." The tunic gets another disgusted glance, and he
balls it up and clutches it in one hand. Between shirtless is better than
between wet. He casts a discreet glance toward Kaylira and Kassima,
unwilling to interfere with their conversation.

"Trust me, Ro, you don't really want t'be pregnant," Kassi shoots over her
shoulder, wryly. "'Tis a right pain--literally, eventually... minxlet,
you'll be *fine*. Y'hear me? Else I'll sicc L'cher on you." Oh, fate most
dire. She looks towards P'tod, and offers him a grin of commingled
sheepishness and apology. "Shouldn't keep the Wingsecond waiting, Kay."

Ro says reminicently "Ah, L'cher. I still owe him a boot to the head, don't
I?"

St'fen can't resist sticking a tounge out at Ro, but he does dry off and
tugs on his pants and shirts before sitting down to pull his boots on next.
"Not unless you want a kid. With me." he says impishly.

Kassima mutters, "Methinks half of Pern still owes him a boot to the head."

Kaylira nods, picking up her outerwear. "I'm going..I'm going, sheesh,
think you're glad to get rid of me!" Tossed playfully towards Kassi. Then
she's making her way to her waiting ride.

P'tod grins at Kaylira, now that she's ready, and swings up to mount his
lifemate, then leans down to offer the new candidate a hand up.

P'tod grasps Semeth's straps firmly and swings himself up to perch atop the
brown's neck.

Kaylira grasps Semeth's straps firmly and swings herself up to perch atop
the brown's neck.

Perched on Semeth's neck, P'tod buckles himself and his passenger in, then
gives Kassima a sharp salute. "We'll take good care of her," he promises.

"A'course I am, minx. I'll stop having t'apologize t'so many people for
your antics," Kassi fires back, through a beaming grin. "Oh--clear skies
t'you, too, P'tod! Good t'see you again--particularly in these
circumstances! And you'd just better, else I'll find a way t'get down there
and hide you!" No, she's not serious. Well... probably not.

Telgar Weyr> Greylin beams. Browns rock.

Perched on Semeth's neck, Kaylira just laughs and waves.

Telgar Weyr> Kaylira says, "a little biased are we? ;)"

Semeth snorts loudly, and P'tod just smirks. "Can't have that. Up we go!"
he warns Kaylira as Semeth crouches, preparing to leap.

Ro shrugs ambivalently "Could be worse. Alwyth could show up in time to
catch Lorieth, and then where would I be? But you know me, always the
optimist." she chuckles at Kassi "Or worse, you could send 'Auntie Ro', right?

Semeth rises up from the steamy waters heading north over the rim of the Weyr.

Telgar Weyr> Greylin is perfectly objective about this.

Kassima waves energetically after the departing dragon, continuing for
several heartbeats after they're out of sight range... and then, then her
feet finally fall back on the ground, though that euphoric smile doesn't
quite leave. "Can you handle an Emasculator?" she asks Ro, with wicked
humor. "So long as you can... shards. Shards. But you should take this
young man up on his offer, y'know," she informs the female brownrider with
a straight face, nodding gravely towards St'fen. "He'd surely be a better
choice for a spawn-sire than some."

Telgar Weyr> Kaylira grins. "I like em too"

Telgar Weyr> Greylin beams.

Ro laughs lightly "True enough, though I'd not want to scare him off with
talk of spawn or emasculators. Some of these men are such skittish things,
like a yearling colt, really."

The young man in question is running his fingers through his shortened
hair, finger-combing it. He actually splutters at Kassima's words. "Offer?
Me? I dunno..." he stammers, as if unsure of what he did or did not
actually offer.

"Entirely too true," Kassi concedes with a theatrical sigh and a final
bounce on her toes. "Oh... weren't you offering? I might be mistaken, 'twas
distracted--I only thought I heard something about whether she was willing
t'be having a baby with you."

Ro catches herself yawning and stretches. "Though, hmm, maybe heading home
soon would be a good idea. Nah, he was just entertaining me with tales he's
heard of the power of 'The Water'."

St'fen nods his head quickly. "Yes, that's it." his hair dry now. "WE
should be back. I'd still like to taste the wine you have. I'll wait for
you in the bowl." he turns to head out.

St'fen walks off towards the Inner Cavern.

Kassima ahhhs and rattles her tongue in vague dismay. "Pity, pity--well,
you'd probably best scoot and follow him, then. Come back and visit again?
I'm sorry I didn't get a chance t'talk with you more."

Ro winks at the greenrider "Oh, I'll be sure to make it back more often.
That's a promise."

"I'll hold you to it," Kassi promises back, with matching wink and grin.

Telgar Weyr> Kaylira meeps at the time and bafs, with a kiss to mum, just
cause :)

Ro says "And you just make sure Lys lets Wyth know when the new spawn
comes. Guess I'll have to think of something to embroider on another blanket."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima grins and snugs the spawn. Congrats again, kiddo. :)

Telgar Weyr> Erdrick raises an eyebrow, "Kaylira = Kassi spawn?"

Kassima holds up a hand and solemnly promises, "'Twill include you on
m'long list of people t'be notifying, aye. I'm hoping t'bring this one up
t'be a gambler, so mayhaps small marks?" Clearly kidding, she adds more
seriously but with pleasure, "You wouldn't need t'do aught, Ro. The quilt
for Kay was more than generous!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima nodnods. :) Kassi's eldest, by T'lar (Taylar).

Telgar Weyr> Erdrick fears. :)

Ro laughs "Keeps me busy and even a little warm off in the icy wastes."

Ro slips into her clothes, making sure her hair is fully dry.

Kassima gathers up her own clothes, though she doesn't move to put them on,
probably meaning to stay in that caftan until no one's about. Same Kassi.
"Well, far be it from me t'discourage aught that'd keep you warm in that
frozen tundra. You're ever so kind, all the same."

Ro winks at the greenrider "I'll keep that in mind, about keeping warm."
Yep, impish as ever. "Clear skies, Kassi."

Kassima casts her eyes up towards the sky, but grins broadly regardless.
"Clear skies, Ro. Duties t'the 'Reaches and their queens, as ever."

Ro walks off towards the Inner Cavern.