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Let's Make a Deal!


Date:  June 20, 1997
Place:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Unfortunately, I didn't start logging soon enough to 
catch the first part of this convo.  I'll try to explain to you 
reader-types what happened before the log begins so that you'll have a 
bit of background.  Kassi, newly moved out of the Infirmary and back to
a weyr, has come into the room with her baby daughter Kaylira in tow.
K'nan asks to see the kid right off the bat, and apologizes to her for
who her mother is.  Their conversation eventually gets around to kilts,
with Kassi starting to sing her song 'K'nan and His Kilt' and K'nan
looking around for his knife.  Both produce blades seemingly out of
thin air to show that they can, and put them away... which is where
the log begins.  All page foo and most knot foo have been snipped, so
this is rather Spam Lite.

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The Log:

K'nan fastens the knife in its sheath and winks..eyes glittering as he 
grins over, "Unlike that time we were both proddy and drew on each other, 
'eh?"

Kassima mirrors the wink, green eyes sparkling with amusement at the 
memory. "In very deed. I must say, though, that I'm rather glad y'had the 
presence of mind t'leave... nay that I think we actually would've *hurt* 
each other, a'course. The dragons wouldn't have stood for it."

K'nan grins wryly, "Though we gave 'em quite a scare."

Kassima's smile is rueful. "Aye. Well, mayhaps 'twill nay happen again; 
'tis nay that often that both would glow at once, y'know. Though, 
y'know...." Her tone one of mischief, she suggests, "Y'likely would've had 
more luck conning hapless Bakers off t'picnics if'n you'd been wearing a 
kilt when you'd asked."

K'nan laughs softly, "I'll keep it in mind, Kassi.."

Kassima chuckles, "Y'do that. Mayhaps if'n *'twere* proddy at the same 
time, I'd be too distracted by giggling at the kilt to make an idiot out 
of m'self again--once can always hope." She winks.

K'nan winks, "Then again, Kassi, I might try ta drag -ye- off t'a picnic 
then."

Kassima laughs, "Ach, wouldn't that be a sight! Though the Weyr would like 
as nay be grateful, I'm certain we'd wind up with dawn sweeps for life 
if'n we both left with proddy dragons. I can just see the expressions of 
the people who saw two proddy greens descending on 'em, too...." She takes 
a moment to savor the mental vision of fear and horror on hapless, 
innocent peoples' faces.

K'nan laughs softly, "We would, we would..though I can imagine that 
th'weyr might be grateful for the respite!"

Kassima chimes in with her own laughter. "They'd likely thank us nay end 
for leaving t'give them some peace! Mayhaps they'd shower us with presents 
and knives, and bottles from S'riv's stash!" Kassi has rarely been accused 
of being a realist.

K'nan just chuckles.."Yer nuts, Kassi."

Kassima grins, "A'course. What else would you expect from a former mentee 
of yours?"

K'nan grins crookedly, "Better taste?"

Kassima reaches out to whap K'nan lightly in the back of the head. "Better 
taste, feh! What's in such bad taste about dreaming of wine from S'riv's 
stash and knives? Those are perfectly fine things!"

K'nan ducks his head forward slightly at the whap, and grins, "True, I 
suppose. But you like -kilts-. Personally, I think that's out of some 
twisted desire to see my legs." Preparing to duck again, grinning.

Kassima chooses to sock K'nan's shoulder, so as to remain at least 
*somewhat* unpredictable. "Oh? Are y'saying that your legs are worth 
seeing? Because if'n so, you've nay reason in the world nay t'be wearing a 
kilt!" Ah, Kassilogic. Accompanied by a grin from the greenrider, it 
*seems* like it should make sense... but so rarely does.

K'nan oofs, and chuckles...eyes sparkling as he responds with his own 
logic, "Ah, but if they remain hidden..there's more to tease with, you 
know."

"Tease with?" Kassi inquires, folding her hands peacefully on the table. 
Whether she's being deliberately obtuse or not is hard to tell. "But if'n 
y'tease and don't deliver, aren't y'going to wind up with a lot of irked 
females after you?"

K'nan grins playfully across the table at the other greenrider, "Well..if 
you'd like, I can ensure that they don't get irked?"

Kassima flutters her eyelashes at K'nan, enjoying the game. "By wearing a 
kilt?" She's not about to let that topic go.

K'nan leans over the table and mms consideringly, "Or by not."

K'nan winks, eyes dancing in amusement as he enjoys this as well.

Kassima laughs, amused. "Why, K'nan! I didn't think y'had it in you t'go 
streaking the Weyr!" A few riders at nearby tables give the pair of 
greenriders *odd* looks at that.

K'nan laughs softly, "An' why not? Of course..that could cause some 
problems in itself."

"Do tell?" Kassi suggests with a grin, quirking up an eyebrow. "Aside from 
the fact that any visiting Harpers might suddenly get inspired t'write a 
Gather-ballad about it...."

K'nan grins crookedly as he leans back, "Exactly..like ye, fr'instance."

Kassima looks innocent. Really innocent. Really, really innocent... which 
can only be a sure sign that she's nothing of the kind. "Would I do that 
t'you, mentor mine? Write a tune about the Great Streaking Incident, and 
how for some reason you'd rather streak the Living Cavern than wear a 
kilt?" 'Yes' would be the obvious answer, here. "Now, really, K'nan. How 
could y'think such a thing of me?"

K'nan smirks, "Shards yes!"

Kassima raises the back of her hand to her forehead, and rolls her eyes up 
towards the ceiling. "Alas, that even m'friends have so little faith in me 
that they believe I live to embarrass them! Oh, for shame! For woe! For... 
for a lot of words synonymous with woe!" She breaks off the act and grins, 
leaning forward just a bit--only a bit, since she doesn't want to make 
things uncomfortable for Kaylira in her sling. "Tell y'what. If'n y'ever 
do go streaking the Weyr, I promise you that I'd nay write a ballad about 
it."

K'nan grins wryly - he knows Kassi better than that - "What about a lay, 
or a poem, or a sonnet?"

Kassima laughs ruefully... drat, foiled again. "I duly swear, aver, and 
affirm that I would nay write a lay, a poem, or a sonnet about you 
streaking the Weyr if'n y'really did it." Interesting wording, there.

K'nan eyes her sternly, "Or if I -didn't-, either."

"And what's in it for me if'n I don't?" Kassi asks archly, lounging back 
in her chair now. She *would* ask.

K'nan mulls over that, "Hrrm..I'll wear my kilt to the next Gather?"

Kassima sits up and agrees, "You've got yourself a deal! But if'n 
*y'don't* hold to it, you can guarentee I'll nay hold to my side... and 
trust me, I'll know." She sticks out a hand, offering, "Shall we shake on 
it?"

K'nan reaches over and shakes her hand firmly..and grins mischevously, 
"An' if I don't, I'll jus' hafta streak your weyr, I guess."

Kassima grins and winks, her expression impish. "That's fine by me, so 
long as I can invite plenty of spectators t'watch."

K'nan grins wickedly back, "I didna say I'd -warn- ye.."

"Nay warn me?" Kassi asks with surprise, caught flat-footed for once. But 
not for long. "If'n y'didn't warn me, how would I know nay t'tell the 
fire-lizards that 'tis nay an intruder in the Weyr? Some of 'em are rather 
protective of their territory, y'know... tend t'claw up intruders 
something awful. That would likely hurt, don't you think?"

K'nan laughs softly, "Oh, I'm sure t'would..but then, I'd have Veyath warn 
'em off. Ne'er met th'firelizard who'd stand up ta a dragon tellin' 'em 
off."

Kassima grins at K'nan. "So y'think they'd be quicker t'listen t'Veyath 
than t'Lysseth and me if'n we told 'em they had t'stay on guard just in 
case?" She gets a thoughtful look suddenly. "Actually... if'n y'streaked 
m'weyr right now, you'd just put on a display for the fire-lizards. I'm 
staying with Meli and T'lar for the nonce--and I'm certain they'd 
appreciate such an interesting sight." Her grin turns downright wicked at 
that.

K'nan laughs again, shaking his head in amusement, "I can't believe we're 
having this conversation.."

Kassima grins at K'nan and points out, irrefutably, "You started it!"

K'nan chuckles.."I suppose I did."

Kassima reaches over to ruffle the greenrider's hair, probably annoyingly. 
"'Sides, 'tis like as nay far from the strangest conversation this 
Cavern's ever heard."

K'nan grins, not annoyed at all, "Prolly not."

Kassima chuckles, glancing around the room. "I wonder what the strangest 
conversation *was*? 'Tis questions like this that make me wish the tables 
could talk t'answer."

K'nan laughs softly, shaking his head in amusement, "Whatever 'twas, 
Kassi..likely it was 'tween us two."

Kassima's grin is this time accompanied by her own quiet laughter. "Seems 
as apt as nay... what an honor 'twould be, t'have the strangest 
conversation ever heard in hundreds of Turns. Mayhaps I should make that 
m'new life's goal."

K'nan grins crookedly, highly amused.."We need ta go down ta Boll with 
everyone again, someday.."

Kassima's agreement is swift. "'Tis naught but truth y'speak! I'd heard 
rumors that the renegade problem's been cleared, and visitors are welcome 
again... I'd certes be glad of m'first chance t'bake on the sands in a 
time. And t'swing on the vine!" She grins in anticipation of that 
remembered delight. "Oh, did I ever tell you that I won the swinging 
contest one Turn? I wore a kilt for it... must've brought me luck."

K'nan laughs, "I remember that..I was there, Kass."

Kassima peers at K'nan. "Y'were?" she asks in surprise. "I recalled 'twere 
there when Rowen won--'tis when we kilted you, after all--but I didn't 
think 'twere there the next Turn... shells, m'memory's getting nigh as bad 
as Lysseth's."

Emlyn walks in from the bowl.

K'nan hms.."I might've been thinkin' of that Turn, actually."

Emlyn stops, as usual, by the drink table. Once she has a tall glass of 
juice, she secures one of the meatrolls and turns to look for a seat.

Kassima inclines her head, laughing. "Y'didn't think I'd forgotten that 
we'd kilted you at Boll, did you? Afraid nay, m'friend... but kilts *are* 
good luck. Ask M'rgan sometime." She looks up and waves over to Emlyn from 
where she sits by K'nan, Kaylira in her lap and a mostly-emptied glass of 
milk nearby.

K'nan shakes his head again, "No thanks, Kassi..heya Emlyn!" Waving over 
from nearby Kassi.

Kassima snorts and elbows her friend lightly. "You're nay fun, y'know 
that? You're willing to streak the weyr, but nay t'wear a kilt. I'll be 
sharded if'n I can understand it."

Emlyn takes a seat. She says, "Kilts look terrible."

Emlyn grins unapologetically as she drinks some of her juice.

K'nan oofs, and absently swats at Kassi's arm, "Stop that. An' it's jus' 
part of my innate wierdness...see! Emlyn agrees with me!" He favors said 
greenrider with a bright grin.

Kassima gives Emlyn one of those 'You're not helping' looks. "You've never 
seen K'nan in one," she points out. "Even the dragons thought it made for 
a wonderful display! Why, most of Boll was impressed by the sight!"

Emlyn lifts a shoulder. "I think men are more attractive to look at when 
they're not in skirts."

Siani walks here from the Inner Cavern.

"So you think 'twould be better if'n K'nan went about streaking the weyr, 
then?" Kassi inquires, glancing at the male greenrider. "Mayhaps we should 
take a vote. If'n enough people voted aye, K'nan, I think you should do 
it."

K'nan just..shakes his head at the other greenrider, "Kassi, yer 
incorrigable.."

Kassima suggests with a wink, "So don't incorrige me!" She yelps as V'dan, 
sitting on the other side of her, beans her with a tossed dinner roll for 
that pun.

Emlyn answers Kassima, "I didn't say I favored going naked about the weyr. 
I said I didn't want to look at men in brightly colored skirts." She turns 
to wave at Siani.

Siani says "K'nan's going to streak the Weyr?"

Siani says "And men ought to wear extremely tight black pants, if you ask 
me. But nobody has. Hi, Emlyn."

Emlyn grins and asks Siani, "What do -you- think K'nan ought to wear, 
Siani?"

Kassima wrinkles her nose at Emlyn. "And people say I have nay taste," she 
snorts, though not without a rueful grin. To Siani, she nods 
enthusiastically. "He is! At least, methinks he is... he didn't say he 
*wouldn't*."

K'nan looks up and grins crookedly as Siani appears, "I am -not- going to 
streak the Weyr!"

Kassima pokes K'nan. "Are so. Or as good as, if'n y'don't recall to wear a 
kilt to the next Gather."

Siani says "Why, now that you ask, Emlyn -- I favour tight black pants. 
Show off his, ah, legs."

Benden Weyr> Emlyn has to idle unexpectedly

Siani grins at K'nan, finding a convenient table to lean against. "It 
wouldn't surprise me if you did. I'm beyond surprise when it comes to 
you."

"Tight black pants wouldn't be a bad idea," Kassi agrees thoughtfully. "I 
still like kilts, though. Especially since Lysseth seems t'have this thing 
about whuffling them...."

K'nan leans back in his chair and favors Siani with a teasing grin, "Nah..
only for you, Si." He winks.

Siani rolls her eyes. "You say that to everyone, greenrider."

K'nan chuckles, "Only because I so rarely get taken up on the offer."

Siani says "Well, it's not your sincerity I'm faulting. It's your 
discretion."

Kassima peers at K'nan. "Taken up on the offer t'streak the weyr? I can't 
imagine why. If'n y'want to do that, by all means, go right ahead. But 
give me some time to rally the Lower Caverns lasses--they'd nay want 
t'miss the sight."

K'nan rolls his eyes at Kassi, then grins over to Si again, "I have 
discretion."

Siani says "Discernment?"

Kassima simply waggles her eyebrows back at K'nan, then leans back in her 
chair to listen.

K'nan chuckles, "Disprove it." Eyes twinkling.

Siani says "No, no, I'll just let it sit there."

K'nan says "A wise woman."

Kassima shakes her head, looking confused. "Shells if'n I can understand 
you two... well, anyway; I'm of a mind t'get m'self something to eat. 
Either of you care for something?"

Siani says "K'nan and I are old friends."

K'nan grins lightly, "That we are."

Siani says "I started tormenting him when he was a weyrling and I haven't 
given up since -- and I'd love something sweet, if there is anything?"

K'nan chuckles, "And once I got a straight answer out of her - she's never 
forgiven me."

Siani says "Only once!"

Siani says "And it's only because I was softened up."

Kassima chuckles, and nods. "Kudos t'you for tormenting him--he like as 
nay deserved it. I think there's rivergrain pudding and a few dragon 
cookies yet; either of those sound all right?" She's currently ladeling 
herself a bowl of mushroom soup.

Siani says "The pudding would be great."

K'nan chuckles, "Some pudding for me, too, Kass."

Kassima sets her soup on a plate, adding a nice slice of roast wherry to 
the side of it before meandering on. A basket of cheese-bread slices is 
nabbed and added to the tray, followed quickly by three small plates, each 
containing a slice of rivergrain pudding. She carts all of this stuff back 
to her table, dishing out the desserts before settling back down with a 
sigh and a wry grin. "There y'go, you two." She checks to make sure that 
Kaylira's still contentedly asleep before digging into her own repast.

Siani says "Thanks."

Siani says "Weird, to have someone here bringing .me. food instead of the 
other way around."

K'nan grins lightly as he takes the pudding, "Thanks. And it took me 
forever to get used to you not being headwoman, Si.."

Kassima chuckles quietly, swallowing a bite of wherry. "Never seemed 
polite t'me to go up and get food without asking if'n anyone else is 
hungry, so I always do. Nay matter how many people are or what they 
request, it still winds up being less to carry than K'tyn's four plates of 
food with every meal... I still don't see how he does it."

Siani says "T'fian still calls me Headwoman."

Siani says "I suppose it's flattering."

K'nan chuckles, "I ne'er called you Headwoman, Si."

Siani swallows a spoonsful of pudding. "You did when you were a weyrling, 
or -- was it Rill, or W'liam who was your Weyrlingmaster?"

Siani says "Or someone else entirely?"

K'nan grins, "Rill."

K'nan thinks.."No, wait, that was the next clutch. Alisanda."

Kassima nods to K'nan. "'Tis what R'val always said. Cerilla was 
Weyrlingmaster for our group, aye." She blows lightly on a spoonful of 
soup, trying to cool it down.

Siani says "Alisanda. Anyway, I remember she made you all call me 
Headwoman."

Siani says "It was much better once you'd graduated."

K'nan chuckles, and nods, "Hard to sit by the lake at night with a friend 
you have to call Headwoman."

Siani frowns a little, looking around the cavern.

"Hard t'talk with friends older than you who keep insisting that they have 
t'call you 'ma'am', too," Kassi observes absently. Most of her attention 
is on her food.

Siani says "Yah."

Siani says "I'm worried about Lys."

K'nan raises an eyebrow, "Lys? What's wrong with her?"

Siani says "Dunno."

Kassima wrinkles her nose, looking up. "I still think Lys is mostly 
emotional due to the baby and her change of residence. She says she'll be 
fine. She will be; she's a stronger woman than even she knows."

K'nan smiles a little bit, "Aye..Lys's a tough one.."

Siani says "I know she's strong, Kassi, but I'm afraid she's going to do 
something utterly stupid before she quits being ... vulnerable."

Siani says "And then she'll have to live it down, and that'll be much 
harder on her than a lot of other things."

Emlyn returns from the lower caverns. She resumes her seat.

Benden Weyr> Emlyn says, "Sorry aboyut idling in public, Friends. :P I 
hate when RL appears without warning on your doorstep."

Kassima shakes her head, plainly not entirely in agreement. "Lys isn't 
often one for doing things that're stupid; she's got a fine head on her 
shoulders. She's got friends who are here for her... she understands that, 
or should. I honestly do think she'll be all right. But I suppose we'll 
have t'wait and see whether or nay 'twill prove true... and hope for the 
best of her, a'course." She nods again to Emlyn, and takes a bite of her 
wherry.

Emlyn finishes her now tepid juice and equally lukewarm meatroll. She 
takes up her dishes and gets up. "Well, back to the weyr. Good to see all 
of you."

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

Siani says, softly, "I wouldn't have called the gift precisely bright."

Kassima replies equally quietly, with a shrug, "He is a friend of hers, 
if'n naught else. 'Twas near his Turnday. If'n getting a friend a fine 
Turnday gift is a stupid thing t'do, then she's far from the only one 
who's nay bright."

Siani sighs softly, stirring the remains of her pudding.

Siani says "Your view is certainly more comforting."

Siani says "And for her sake I hope you're right."

K'nan sighs..shaking his head a little.

Siani looks up from her pudding, making a face at K'nan. "Don't -you- 
start."

Kassima nods. "So do I. I can't see Lys as doing something utterly 
foolish... it seems too unlike her... but, we'll see." She shrugs again, 
then glances at K'nan and wrinkles her nose. "So, K'nan, when're you going 
to get a pair of those black pants Siani recommended?"

K'nan looks up and blinks, "Start what?"

Siani says "Sighing and moping. Answer Kassi's question instead."

K'nan shakes his head and looks up..chuckling dryly, "I'd rather wear the 
kilt."

Siani says "Oh, c'mon."

Siani says "Don't you want to cause hearts to flutter?"

Kassima shakes her head. "Shells if'n I understand you, K'nan. You'd 
rather wear a kilt or naught at all than some well-fitting black pants? 
You're *weird.* Nay that I disagree with the *kilt* part of that, mind, 
but...."

K'nan chuckles, "Now why would I want ta do that, Si?"

Kassima grins at K'nan. "Why *wouldn't* you?"

Siani says airily, "You're a greenrider. Of course you do."

K'nan grins wickedly, "Maybe..though the one heart I live to cause flutter 
is yours, my dear Siani."

Siani snorts.

Siani says "My heart is too busy beating to flutter."

K'nan grins over to Kassi, "She never believes me."

Siani says to Kassi, "That's because he's .lying."

Kassima rolls her eyes at both. "I'm a greenrider, and since when do I 
flutter any hearts? Besides, K'nan... you heard her. If'n y'want even a 
chance of fluttering her heart, you need to dress up in those tight black 
pants."

Kassima nods to Siani with mock-sadness. "Aye... if'n he refuses to wear 
the pants, he certes must be."

Siani laughs.

Siani says "She's got you there, K'nan."

K'nan smirks, "Fine..get me these pants, and I'll wear 'em."

Siani says "That's settled then."

Kassima nods in full agreement. "Indeed! We've just got t'find a pair of 
pants for him... hrm."

Siani says "It shouldn't be too hard. I bet your Headwoman can help."

K'nan chuckles, leaning back in his chair, "Next thing y'know, you'll want 
me to start modeling kilts, pants, whatever, so ye can compare.."

Kassima's eyes widen as she exclaims, "Why, K'nan, that's an excellent 
idea!"

K'nan pauses. Wait. Did he actually say that?

Kassima just *beams.* "A truly *marvelous* idea 'tis. We need t'find him 
some of those pants--I've got several pair, but I don't think they'd fit--
and fish out that kilt of his. What else should we have him try on, d'you 
think? Perhaps we should wait until the dinner hour, so that more of the 
Weyr could see this fashion show!"

Siani grins.

Siani says "We could find some vests, I think."

Siani says "He'd do well in a nice vest."

K'nan shakes his head firmly, "No!"

Siani ignores K'nan cheerfully. "It's a wonderful plan."

K'nan continues to indicate his refusal, "No. Nein. Nay. Not happening."

Kassima hrms, looking thoughtful. "A vest... I suppose he *might*. A vest 
and those black pants together would look great."

Siani nods. "The right sort of vest, of course. Nothing that could be 
taken for feminine."

K'nan looks between the two, "Are you even listening to me?"

"Why would we want to do that?" Kassi inquires innocently of K'nan. "If'n 
'tis aught like the kilting, you'll wind up doing it despite your protests 
if'n we're stubborn enough. Now, what's wrong with vests?"

Siani says "Listening to you isn't nearly as much fun as not."

K'nan sighs, and sinks his face down into his hands, "How do I get into 
these things."

Kassima beams and ruffles K'nan's hair again. "Just by being you, dear 
mentor mine! If'n y'have to ask...."