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Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!


Date:  March 23-24, 2000
Places:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern, Central Bowl, Southern Bowl, 
Outer Infirmary, and Inner Infirmary
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  'When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle, and 
sails rejoicing in the flood of Death; when souls are torn to 
everlasting fire, and fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain, O, who
can stand?'  All right, so the birth of Kassi's latest offspring isn't
really comparable to William Blake's poem, but I have to admit that
this particular verse does carry a suitable apocalyptic feel. 0:)  
With the assistance of Maylia, Leya, and Ushu, Kassi once again 
undergoes those cheerful primal agonies of childbirth.  It will be a
miracle if the twins don't carry a lifelong fear of rose petals after
this.

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The Log:

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

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Leelson nods and glances towards the man settling a bet for a moment, just
watching him as part of his more expansive observing of the cavern in
general. "Yeah..."

Kerowyn looks again to the boy, Corin. "Who's your mother, dear?"

The dark-cloaked and somewhat round figure that ducks into the entranceway
takes a moment to extend one pale, thin hand free of the cloth and give
Pierron a rude form of salute, thus giving away quite neatly her identity
even before Kassi shakes back her hood. "Mint," she informs the Cavern at
large. "I need mint sticks. Where are they? G'deve, too, a'course."

Corin smiles, "Her name's Corinna. She lives at Torsha hold with my Da,"

Corin answers, "Why?"

J'lyn just scowls as the object of his frustration enters. He takes another
large swig of what should be a vintage to be savored.

M'rgan grabs a mug of klah from the serving table and cups it between his
hands, letting the hot mug warm his palms. "Dragonpoker," he tells J'lyn as
he rolls the mug between his palms. "I let him do a loan when I was holding
a full conclave." As he speaks his blue eyes skim the cavern and he nods to
those folks who catch his eye.

Terryll smiles and shrugs at Lee. "I'm still getting used to it. Hard to
believe, kind of." And she leaves it that, for now. A polite nod is given
in the direction of those who have entered.

Kerowyn looks over at Kassima. "Hmm." she muses. To Corin. "I thought you
said she was a cook or something here. I was just wondering."

Kassima unfastens her cloak, sweeping it off and slinging it over one arm
in a fairly neat motion considering her current lack of dexterity. "What
bug crawled up your cheek-chillers and died?" she wonders of J'lyn, tossing
the cloak towards her chair before waddling on to the food table. "Heeeere,
mint, mint, mint, mint. Here, mint. There has t'be mint around here
*somewhere*, shardit."

Corin shakes his head, "No, My aunties a cook here. Sarana. The grumpy
one," he grins before adding a polite, "ma'am," on the end.

Leelson is distracted from his talk with Terryll by the cloaked figure's
entrance and he twists to regard her. He bites his lip for a moment before
saying "She reminds me of Macami" in a low voice.

Kerowyn shakes her head. "Just call me Kero. Oh, the grumpy one. She chased
me out of the kitchen the other day. All I was doing was looking around."
she again looks to Kassima, distracted by the calls of 'mint'.

Terryll blinks at Lee, and turns her head slightly to regard the woman out
of the corner of her eye. "How so?" she asks quietly of Lee. She can't see
it, whatever it is.

Corin laughs, "That'd be her,"

Leelson shrugs a little. "Either Macami or Celie." With that said and a
long peer made, he turns back to his drink on the table.

Kerowyn grins at Corin. "Do you like it here better, or at the hold?" she
asks conversationally to Corin.

Corin hmms and chews his lip, "Well I miss my parents but there's more
people my age here," He stops and scratches his head, "I don't know." he
states decisively.

Kassima is blissfully oblivious as yet to any comparisons made between her
and random Igenites. She's too busy looking for the mint. And getting
rather frantic about it, too, to judge from that clanking and clattering of
plates. "Where the shard's the frickin' frackin' fardlin' effin' *mint*?"
It's meant to be a mutter, but unfortunately for any innocent ears nearby,
it doesn't quite succeed in being a quiet one.

Terryll raises an eyebrow at Lee, then shrugs. Settling back in her seat,
she just watches and listens.

M'rgan instantly knows who would be summoning mint and he slowly turns on
his bootheel to regard the Thunderbolt greenrider. "Why, Kassi, you are
looking wonderful today," he tells her with all the sincerity that a
silently laughing, shoulder-shaking-from-withheld-guffaws brownrider can
muster and not actually explode. "It's got to be there somewhere."

Leelson raises his eyebrow quite a bit and just looks at Terryll, not
daring to glance over at the commotion. "Not Macami or Celie. I don't think
I know anyone like her."

Kerowyn grins at Corin. "You'll be old enough soon, to decide where you
want to go."

J'lyn wants to childishly toss crackers at Kassi, just to be annoying. He
doesn't, of course, as that would be quite dangerous, and he's in enough
trouble with the Thunderbolt wingleader as it is. So, he just drinks his 
wine.

An entering rider appears from the bowl just as Kassima's mutter is stated.
Not very softly. K'ling stops, looking at Kassima. "What are you looking 
for?"

Telgar Weyr> M'rgan asks, "Is K'ling made for K(il)ling?"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn oohs, is he wearing a red shirt??

Corin shakes his head, "I'm never gonna grow up. I don't want to look old,"

Leelson hears a name said and he blinks. "Oh my, she must be the one...from
my scavenger thing. I guess I'd better fetch that slate." Lee stands up and
clears away his empty mug before hurrying into the inner caverns.

Terryll looks at Lee, and smiles slightly. She shrugs a bit.

Leelson walks towards the inner cavern.

Kerowyn ohs. "I don't look old, do I?

K'ling, a greenrider wearing a red sweater, reaches Kassima's side. Could
be dangerous to be that close.

Corin pauses, "You look older than me," he states, matter-of-fact, "How old
are you?"

Kassima's glare towards M'rgan is heated enough to make his hair
spontaneously combust. "Can it and help me find the mint," she suggests, a
touch irritably. "*'Twould* run out at a time like this. Mint, rider--I'm
looking for mint. Y'know, green gook in a pot? Or long, sharp, pointy
sticks?" She aims a long, sharp, pointy finger at his shoulder for 
emphasis.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Okay, Tim...."

Telgar Weyr> Kerowyn says, "Tim?"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn points at Kassi. Long sharp pointy... indeed...

Telgar Weyr> Kassima lisps, "And death waits for you with nasty, big,
pointy teeth."

Terryll raises an eyebrow slightly, then rises and slips out.

Terryll walks towards the inner cavern.

Telgar Weyr> Corin files death's teeth, "sorry,"

Kerowyn grins at Corin. "I am about 10 turns older than you. I'm nearly 
20."

M'rgan, for some reason, suddenly feels the need to pat his hair.
Surprisingly his hand comes away unsinged. "Fine. Fine," he sighs as he
steps towards the greenrider. "Just stop scaring the Candidates," he tells
her while watching another one disappear. "Did you check there?" he asks
while pointing at a smallish pot.

Corin ohs, "So you are old?" he states.

Kerowyn raises one brow, paying little attention now to the mint seeking
greenrider. "That's not /that/ old. I am a Master Weaver you know."

"They should be afraid. Be very afraid," Kassi grumps. "At least, if'n I
can't find the mint. 'Tis either find mint, or start maiming people; either
would work for me, really." She does, however, waddle on to check that pot.
"That's--achoo!--pepper," she sniffles a moment later, rubbing at her nose.

Corin pauses, "But all masters are old. That's the whole point," When this
boy has an idea, he really sticks to it.

Kerowyn shakes her head. "But I'm /not/ old. Don't I look young, compared
to other masters?" and Kero will argue this untill he finally sees her way.

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin marvels at all the people..

Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Of course; there's going to be a hand-crunching.
;) Hi!"

M'rgan, ever helpful and yet extremely lazy, points at another few pots.
This gesture enables him to pretend to be involved while spending most of
his time sipping his klah and glancing around the room and trying to
overhear other conversations. "How about those? And that one?"

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin says, "hand crunching?"

Corin pauses, "You do look younger than other masters I've seen. But they
were all beastcraft masters and herders always look old,"

Telgar Weyr> Kerowyn says, "handcrunching?"

Kerowyn looks taken aback. "They do? Why?"

Telgar Weyr> Tirdan avoids asking the question a third time but is really
curious now

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Otherwise known as screaming, yelling, maiming,
mauling, murdering, slaughtering, Healer-genocide, or in its mildest term,
'spawning.' ;)"

Corin ums, "I dunno because they have to deal with animals and that makes
you're hair go grey,"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Tonite, we bring Damien into the world."

Telgar Weyr> Aurian says, "TONIGHT???"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn smiles sweetly.

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin ooohs.. more sceaming Telgarians.. and it's not my 
fault!

Telgar Weyr> Aurian says, "Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"

Telgar Weyr> Keara says, "Oh, good lord, I should've logged out when I had
the chance. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Kerowyn says, "Tonight? Oh boy oh boy oh boy! :)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn pokes Aurian. Stoppit. You're scaring the Candidates.

Telgar Weyr> Tirdan says, "I'm almost afraid to ask"

Kerowyn ohs. "I didn't know that. What about Weavers? Do they look a
certain way?"

Corin shrugs, "There weren't many weavers at my cothold, just old-aunty
seamstresses. "

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin needs another spawn. :)

Kerowyn ahs. "Well, you know that someday you will get older. You can't
stay that age forever you know."

Maylia walks in from the bowl.

Pierron twirls his moustache at the Weyrlingmaster.

Kassima marches--well, okay, waddles purposefully--on over to Mart, and
attempts to get a friendly grip on his shoulder. Only, should she succeed,
that grip's a bit tighter than friendliness would suggest. "Do you *know*
where the mint is, brownie?" she asks, with a clenched-toothed smile.

Leya walks in from the bowl.

Corin blinks, "Why not? My Da had a book about P'eter and his bronze Panth
and they never grew old. "

Kerowyn hmms. "Becouse I got older. I'm not 10 turns anymore."

M'rgan manages not to wince. Though he's never been scored, he has been hit
a few times with a full sack of firestone and since he survived that he'll
survive this. No way is he going to start crying just because some
normally-tiny-but-currently-huge girl gripped his shoulder with her swollen
claw of a hand. "Uh. Not really. No." He pauses and attempts a smile. "You
know I don't touch the stuff."

Corin grins, "That's because you wanted to get older i bet, I don't," Child
logic. Can't fault it.

Kerowyn ohs. "I guess we'll have to wait and see. I think we should bet on
it. If you /do/ get older then you should....do something for me. Like
clean my office or something."

Leelson walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Leya waves around to everyone as she walks in, she glances over the serving
table, walks over to it and peers at the selection.

Kassima releases Mart and steps back from him, with a frustrated scowl.
"Then stop trying t'divert me, shardit! Maylia--" The incoming greenrider
is hailed with an urgent, "D'*you* know where the mint is? Leya? Anyone?"

Tirdan walks here from the Inner Cavern.

J'lyn holds up a small jar and looks at it, turning it slowly in his hands.

Corin nods and agrees, "If I ever get as old as you, I'll clean your 
office,"

Maylia strides into the living caverns, shrugging out of her riding jacket
once within the heat. "Mint?" She asks, blinking at the urgency with which
her mentor calls. "Mint? If there's none here, I'd wager the healers have
some?" Oops. She said the H- word. "Isn't it usually with the other herbs?"

Tirdan trails over Lee, his hands grasping a slate. He nods to him, "Yeah,
I've got one, but my questions are /completely/ different." He shows the
other candidate the slate, "I have to find someone who looks after /this/
many firelizards."

Kerowyn winks at the boy. "'sides, if you never get older, you won't have a
chance to Impresse a dragon."

Leelson returns from the inner caverns, a slate with a stylus attached in
his hands. He bites his lip as he spots the person he needs to speak with
again and watches her still making a big fuss about mint.

M'rgan doesn't quite scurry away as he's released because though he does
quickly step back from the greenrider his head isn't low. As least not very
much. Relief crosses the man's pale featured face as Kassima turns her
attention elsewhere. Freedom. Ever so slowly he sidles towards Kerowyn and
Corin.

Corin ohs, he stops to think about that, "Maybe the dragons will make an
egg-seption for me," he asks, "I'll be the best 10 turn old dragonrider
ever," He'll be the only 10 turn old dragonrider ever.

Leya turns around for looking at the serving table to peer at Kassima.
"Mint?" She digs around in her pockets for a while, finally pulling a small
cloth packet, which she carefully unwraps. In it are two shiny white mint
sticks. "You want one of these?" she asks, holding them up.

Aisling walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Kerowyn nods. "I bet you would be the best." there's a but in there. There
allways is. "But wouldn't you get sad to see your dragon get older than 
you? "

Leelson ventures forth and cautiously calls out towards Kassima. "I-I have
some mint sweet sticks if you'd like one of those..."

Telgar Weyr> Kerowyn grins as suddenly a couple people offer mint sticks at
once.

J'lyn clears his throat. "I have a whole jarful, Kassi." Ooh, the look on
his face is just not nice.

Tirdan mutters at his slate in his hands, "What's a Mr Flibble?"

Telgar Weyr> Leelson chuckles. Suddenly, they're everywhere!

"I can't go near the *Healers*," Kassi protests, disgust just slathered
over that last word. "I can't run away from 'em anymore--" A pause here
while she casts a long, suspicious squint towards that jar of Jal's.
"What's--" But then first Leya, and then Leelson mention the sacred
substance. "Oh, please!" she answers both, nearly pleading. "I'm going t'go
out of m'mind if'n I can't get--jarful? You have a *jarful*? And you've had
it all this *time*?"

Aisling pads out in the inner caverns, a bag slung over her shoulder as she
pads towards the food tables. She glances around the caverns, offering
friendly smiles to those she recognizes...and a couple she may not..just in
case.

Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Well, Leya would probably carry at least a few as
Kassi has addicted her to the things. ;)"

Corin shakes his head, "My dragon would never get old 'cos I'm not getting
old," He grins, "We would stay young /forever/"

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin gets images of Kassi flashing open her flight jacket,
"Wanna mint stick? First hit's free.."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima laughs! That's where she keeps 'em, actually, Jaz. In
the inner pocket of her jacket. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Tirdan laughs!

Leelson bites his lip and looks from Kassima to Leya and then to J'lyn. He
doesn't know what to do at all. "Umm..."

Kerowyn ohs, catching sight of a rider approaching them. "Do you think it
can work that way?" she asks M'rgan. Even though she hasn't really met him
yet.

J'lyn smiles sweetly. "Ask nicely. And be nice."

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin laughs.

Telgar Weyr> Leya giggles, "Kassi, the drug dealer."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima polishes her Ray-Bans and looks innocent.

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin chuckles, naw.. Kassi, the mint dealer.

Telgar Weyr> Corin chuckles, "I've got some 'M' if you know what I mean"
/wink, wink/

Telgar Weyr> K'ryo prefers Kassi's 'special brew.'

Tirdan walks after Leelson and offers his own voice, "Um, we were
wondering" He breaks off before taking a deep breath and just spitting it
out, "Y'see, we've got this scavenger hunt thing" he lifts his slate,
emphasizing what 'thing' he's talking about. He continues, "And we were
wondering if you could help us?"

Leya walks cautiously forward, watching the other people in the living
cavern warily. Something is going on, and she isn't quite sure what. She
picks out one, just one, of the mint sticks and holds it out to Kassi as
she stuffs the other one back into her pocket. "Here."

"You better make sure its /really/ Mint though, Kassima" Aisling offers
helpfully.."Who knows what some people may try to get you to eat."

After a pause, Tirdan adds a hasty, "Please?"

M'rgan, having considered only the haven aspects of Kerowyn and Corin,
blinks quizzically as the Master Weaver speaks to him. He hadn't been
listening to the conversation recently. "Y'mean about the mint?" he asks as
he hooks a thumb back towards Kassima. "Honestly, I don't know why it
works. But if it settles her down, I'm happy."

Leelson blinkblinks at Tirdan's boldness and moves back slightly. "Ah, it's
not important right now...um..."

Kassima takes a moment to cast a reassuring, even sincere smile to both
Leelson and Leya. "Thankee both kindly, but if'n you'll pardon me a
moment?" She doesn't wait for a response before coming as close to storming
over to Jal's table as a highly pregnant woman can. "Be nice? All right.
*If'n* you give me that jar of mint, I *might* just keep t'my earlier
intent of *trying* nay t'maim you while I spawn these bloody twins that are
all. Your. *Fault*." With an entirely too-sweet smile, "Is that *nice*
enough? Leya, *you* are entirely too kind. Thankee. I'll remember this and
be kind t'you when 'tis your turn."

Jazmin walks in from the bowl.

Kerowyn grins, shakeing her head. "No about young. "Emphasise one young.
"Corin here. He's not going to get older, and neither will his dragon.
Should he Impresse one." she smiles to the rider.

Jazmin step-thumps in, her crutches nowhere to be seen, but the splint on
her foot still giving her an odd gait.

J'lyn looks at the clearly hormonal greenrider with a small smirk on his
face. "Well," he says, eyes dancing and twinkling, "Since you put it that
way..." He hands over the jar and pulls his hand back so as to not get it
torn off.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia tries to think of a way to work 'crabapple catsup' into
the RP... that did it for Kassi what? Once? Twice? Already

Tirdan looks at Leelson curiously then shakes his head, "No, I guess not."
He looks at his slate, "I /still/ want to know what this is, though.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima snickers. The crabapple catsup of evil!

Leelson looks to Tirdan, his head turning before his eyes move away from
Kassima. "I've got one of mine already. Found who burnt a spoon to bits, or
more specifically, ashes. It was Keara."

M'rgan's initial comment is a puzzled, "Oh." But as the words sink in and
he twists his mind around the concept that "Oh" gets stretched out and his
tone turns more pointed. "Hmm." As he holds his mug to his chest, he makes
a show of examining the young man. "Well, that's too bad. You'll never be
in a fighting wing then because you'll never get out of weyrlinghood."

Maylia peers over the assortment of foods available, wrinkling her nose at
each. Fish stew even makes the woman back away with a pale face, much to
Pierron's disgust. Finally, she claims a thick slice of buttered bread, and
a small pot that's sitting towards the back of the condiments, and heads
for the tables.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia says, "And guess what's in the small pot...? O:)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Yeesh, there's an awful lot of small pots around
here tonite..."

Tirdan's eyes widen, "Oh? Wonderful." He looks at his slate, "I need to
find two people who look to nineteen firelizards and someone with a tatoo
on his or her arm and a few other things." He offers the slate, "You can
see if you want?"

Kassima considers this matter while tucking the one mint stick into her
cheek. Strange. It doesn't seem to calm her down that much. "Jal," she
begins, "let me put it t'you this way. I'm a greenrider. I'm very pregnant.
I've been dealing with false labor most of the day. And I want. That. Mint.
Do these variables form an equation that suggests a logical answer t'you?"
Really, if looks could kill, the Weyrsecond would be julienne fries.

Leya shrugs, eyes the jar of mint sticks for a few moments, then takes out
her own remaining mint stick and begins to suck on it. "When my time for
what comes?" she asks around her mouthful of mint. She then peers over at
Tirden, "Is that scaverger thing? Leelson has one too."

Corin grins to Tirdan, "Well..that greenrider is one of the firelizard
ones. That I know," before turning back to M'rgan, "But you can't stay in
Weyrlinghood forever,"

Aisling turns her attention back to the food and begins to carefully fill
her plate, watching Maylia's expression before she too avoids the fish stew
and takes mostly greens and a bit of wherry. She heads to a relatively
empty table and settles down.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Telgar, pot capital of Pern? ;)"

Jazmin replies to Kassi as she thumps past the greenrider's table, "Sounds
to me like you want some mint."

Kerowyn grins, leaning back in her seat. She may win this one. With the
help of a rider she doesn't know the name of. "I'm Kero, by the way." she
looks up, addressing M'rgan.

Telgar Weyr> Kerowyn says, "Whoa, the pot capital? I like this place
allready. :0 hehe"

Leelson turns to Leya, nodding a greeting to her with a smile before
heading over towards her. "I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to ask Kassima
about that song. I'm not sure I want to now..." Lee bites his lip and
glances over again at the pregnant greenrider.

Telgar Weyr> K'ryo says, "Telgar = Vancouver?"

Kassima only then manages to realize that he actually did give her the
mint. She really must be out of it. "Oh. Sorry, Jal," she offers with some
abashed sincerity before opening the jar with all rapid speed and
proceeding to scoop out a fingerful of green gook. Mint. Yum. She stuffs
the finger into her mouth and replies to Jazmin rather muffledly,
"Mmmph-hmmph."

J'lyn blinks at Kassi. "False labor? All day??"

"Mmmph-hmmph," repeats Kassi.

Maylia drops into a seat near J'lyn, flashing a sympathetic smile. Whether
it's directed to J'lyn, or Kassi, is debatable though. She's oblivious to
the glare Pierron levels at her, as Aisling avoids the fish stew too,
becomming absorbed in spreading the thick reddish contents of the little
vessel on her bread.

Leya nods to Leelson, glances back at Kassi, "Umm, yeah. I don't think this
is a good time." She looks over at Tirdan, "Kassi had more than nineteen
firelizard if I remember right."

Tirdan looks up from his slate to Corin. Smiling, he replies, "Thank you."
He looks at Kassima and back to Leelson. He hums, "Perhaps ask her nicely?
I have to ask her something, too. In the meantime.." He walks over to
another table where Maylia sits. He spots the blue on her shoulder and
raises an eyebrow, "That's some blue."

M'rgan shakes his head mournfully after Corin's remark. "But if your dragon
never gets older, he won't have the skills to get you out of weyrlinghood.
Dragons can't fly when they're first Hatched." He dips his head to the
Master Weaver. "M'rgan. Ularrith's rider. And I know who you are. I make it
a point to know most of the Weavers."

Jazmin pours herself half a mug of klah, sloshing it around in the mug as
she step-thumps back to sit down at the Dawnslight table, "Half a mark on
the little being born tonight."

Kerowyn ohs. "You need some new clothes? I'll be more than happy to help
you out sometime."

Leelson takes a seat and sets his slate down on the table in front of him.
"I think maybe I'll wait a good while."

Corin ohs to M'rgan, "Well..maybe he'll grow a little older and then stop
like I am," he seems pleased with this conclusion as he nods smugly with
his head.

Snarl, the firelizard of which Tales are Told by weyrlings, snakes a head
around to glare at Tirdan. Maylia, too, tears her attention from her
condiment-spreading, to lift her eyebrows at the lad. "Meet Snarl. Snarl,
meet...?" There's a question implied, as she hesitates over his name. "He
won't bite, unless your fingers get too close." Nice, eh?

Aisling sets the bag on the table beside her, her gaze moving from
conversation to conversation as she just simply listens while she eats.

Kerowyn hmms at Corin. "You don't think you'll Impresse green?"

M'rgan winces and shudders at Kerowyn's words and he moves his hand in a
hushing gesture. "Don't say that. I've got barely enough marks to play
poker as it is. Don't give /her/ any ideas." His eyes flick from one side
to the other for a few seconds before he calms down. Phew. That was a close
one. Another headshake is directed at Corin. "You have to be sixteen to be
in a fighting wing."

Kassima finds a chair to plunk down in, while calmly decimaating the mint
jar. She does seem somewhat less irritable now that her precious mint is on
hand. "This is much better," she mumbles around another fingerful of glop,
evidently too eager to even find a spoon, silly woman. That is... until she
spots Maylia's condiment. And just stares, frozen, what little color
remaining in her face draining to a sickly white.

Corin shakes his head, "No. I'm going to be a Bronzerider. The biggest
bronze in the whole of Pern," he sighs, "Well maybe I will get older, I'll
just never /look/ older,"

Leya eyes Kassima and begins to slowly back away, moving over toward Tirdan
and Leelson. Safer. She passes by Aisling's table on her way, so she stops.
"You want to come sit over with some other people? Safety in numbers, you
know." She looks at down her food, "No fish. Good choice." She sticks her
mint back into her mouth, "But mint's the best."

Kerowyn tilts her head at M'rgan. "Well, I'm sure I can do a few simple
outfits for nothing. You liveing at the weyr, o'course."

Tirdan replies promptly, "Tirdan. I'm Tirdan." He points to a lump under
his shirt, "I'd introduce you to Berg, but he's in his hiding place again."
He hums and nods, "I'll watch him, then." A glance to his slate and a
glance at the firelizard prompts the question, "I don't suppose you've got
18 others flocking around somewhere, do you?"

Leelson looks up at the mint Leya has before asking "What's it like? I have
peppermint sweet sticks. Is that different from those?" Lee creases his
brow as he tries to think if he's heard of mint sticks before.

Kerowyn stands suddenly. "Shells, I almost forgot." she exclaims. "It was
nice meeting you M'rgan. I'm sure i'll see ya around. And if you want
anuthing, feel free to stop by my office." she can't resist ruffling

Corin's hair as shepasses. "See you later."

M'rgan switches his klah mug to his left hand so that he can shake his
finger at Corin. There's an amused smile on his face though. "And what's
wrong with a burly brown?" he mock-huffs at the youngster. Kerowyn is given
a smile and a wave.

Jazmin drags a chair a little closer so she can prop both feet up, sipping
her klah and watching the festivities in the cavern.

Maylia, while waiting for the lad's name, sinks her teeth into the
buttered, red-stuff-spreaded bread. Mouth full, she frowns, then repeats,
"Tirdan." As if trying to commit the name to memory. At least she swallows
before going on. "At least. Not that they're always around, so no worries.
And they're more friendly than he is." The blue gets jostled as she lifts a
shoulder to indicate him. "Shells, Kassi, y'all right?"

Corin heys and tries to sort his hair out but ends up making it more messy,
he rolls his eyes at the wingleader, "There's nothing /wrong/ with a Brown.
I'm just going to be a bronzerider," he states, matter of factly.

Kerowyn walks towards the inner cavern.

Aisling blinks as she notes Kassi's colour..her gaze moving to Maylia as
she speaks...then back to Kassi.

Tirdan smiles, "Because" He breaks off, looking up at the greenrider. His
brow furrows together, "Are you alright, Kassima?"

Leya moves her mint stick to the side of her mouth so she can talk clearly
before answering Leelson, "Not much. I think these are a little though.
More flavor."

Telgar Weyr> Maylia just realizes that she didn't introduce herself, just
Snarl. hee :)

M'rgan's blue eyes slowly slide towards the horror-stricken Kassima. "I
don't know," he remarks with a toothy grin. "It looks like greenriders have
the most fun...More than bronzeriders. And brownriders." As he leans back
against the table's edge he takes a long drink of his lukewarm klah.

Kassima can't quite take her eyes off that horrific, bready sight. "Um," is
her faint reply. Very carefully, she sets the mint jar down with a careful
click, sticks the stick in the jar, and wipes her finger off on the shirt
of the nearby V'dan, much to his probable annoyance. "May, mentee mine,
d'you know of anywhere other than the infirmary where one might safely
spawn around here? I'm nay really anxious t'try it on the Skyfire table,
nay matter how much 'twould horrify Mart." To the others, she manages a
sickly sort of smile.

Leelson tilts his head with a little smile. "You wouldn't happen to have
one you were willing to trade for a sweet stick would you? Shilarra, a girl
from Igen Weyr, gave me a whole bunch for my turn day so I've got all sorts
of flavors."

Jazmin calls over to Kassima, "Springs are nice, little far though, bathing
pools are not too bad."

Leya takes the mint stick out of her mouth, with the end she was sucking on
about half as thick as the rest. "Just this one and I don't think you'd
want this one even if I was willing to give it up. You could always ask one
of the heal..." She slowler turns her head to stare at Kassi, "Oh no... Not
in here."

"Oh, shards." May breathes, looking from the crabapple catsup .. yes,
that's what it is...to Kassima. "Here we go! Infirmary's best, Kassi, and
you know it."

Lanryi walks here from the Inner Cavern.

J'lyn blinks at Kassi. "NOW?!? You want to do this now??"

M'rgan abruptly jerks to his full height, his back straight as a board.
"Hey!" he cries out after hearing Kassima's and Jazmin's comments. "No one
is spawning anywhere that I might like to use someday. No tables. No pools.
Not in my furs." Blech.

Tirdan takes a few steps back. He looks at Maylia uncertainly, "Spawning?
Shards" He turns around and sits with his back facing Kassima. He pretends
to be looking at his slate, reading it to himself out loud.

Jazmin waves a dismissive hand to M'rgan, "That's why it's near water,
easily cleaned up later. You're no fun, it's not much fun as it is, why not
make the best of it."

Lanryi wanders into the hall and waves to some of the familiar faces
lurking about the cavern, then pauses, "Spawning in your furs? That doesn't
sound good."

"In here would be bad," Kassi dutifully agrees. "Pierron would make me
clean it up. That's nay t'be desired. But, um, pools, that sounds...
bizarre, but better than the infirmary?" Maylia is cast a rather pleading
look. "There're *Healers* in there, May! And nay, I don't bloody *want*
t'do this now, but last I checked, once your water breaks you don't have
much more choice in the matter. Mart, why the *shards* would I be in your
furs, spawning or otherwise?" Her knuckles clench white around the mint
jar, maybe due to a contraction and maybe just due to the desire to hurl
the thing at the brownrider.

"The things one sees when trying to eat." Ais notes as she watches Kassi.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn gets the weirdest image of salmon jumping backwards thru
Mart's bedding....

Telgar Weyr> Jazmin laughs!

Leelson chuckles at Leya's joking before attention is diverted to the issue
of spawning. "That's kind of funny," he muses out loud. "Jasmyn didn't want
to be in the infirmary either..." Lee seems to be trying to make a
connection and draw some sort of conclusion from this.

Tirdan murmers over and over, "Mr Flibble, Mr Flibble." He peers over his
shoulder and sees Kassima. His face goes ashen, and he turns away again,
"My Flibble. Mr Flibble."

Jazmin nods in the vague direction of Leelson, "I dont know you, but you're
right, none of my littles arrived in the infirmary."

Telgar-Bowl> Lysseth starts, abruptly, out of her doze, and uncoils with a
speed one must see to believe before darting for the other half of the 
Bowl.

Maylia gets to her feet quickly, leaving the half eaten crabapple catsup
spread bread on the table, and proceeds to slurp the stuff off her fingers.
Must smell of vinaigry-sweet crabapples, too. Snarl's a-wing with a hissing
protest of the motion, and the younger greenrider heads for Kassima.
"Healers. I'll protect you from the things." Sure, nevermind that she used
to be one. "And they'd find you in the springs anyways. And the springs
aren't -clean-. People -bathe- in there!"

Telgar-Bowl> Lysseth lumbers south.

Leya just stares at Kassi for the longest while, her hand still gripping
the mint stick. She blinks and comes out of it when she hears Tirdan, she
jerks around to face him. "Why are repeating that evil name?"

Leelson looks up startled. "Wha-? No, Jasmyn from Igen Weyr. She just had a
little, but wouldn't be in the infirmary." Lee looks totally confused but
decides to introduce himself anyway. "I'm Leelson."

Lysseth> Lysseth doesn't lumber into the room so much as charge, really.
'Scuse me, coming through, watch the tail, whups, sorry, didn't mean to
whap you with that wing. Skidding to a sand-showering halt near the
infirmary, she proceeds to stare towards the cavern and *creel*. Rather
disconcerting, from a grown dragon.

At the water breaking comment from Kassima, M'rgan's pale features become
even more white and he takes two steps forward and leans way over to peer
at Kassima and that chair she's on. His mouth sours as if he'd just stepped
into a muck pile. "Karanaya isn't going to be pleased," he comments to no
one in particular as he shakes his head. "Not pleasted at all."

Jazmin grins to Leelson, "I'm Jazmin, of Telgar." she introduces herself.

Lysseth> "I hope so too," I'sai says ruefully, breaking off to duck her
near the wall at Lysseth's onrush, "...She's quick! - Actually, I'm more
worried about his being patient with himself - do you mind if we just go
inside? Not just the cold, it's Lysseth acting that way..."

Lysseth> Chaeth takes this opportunity to quietly start humming.

J'lyn stands up and offers to help Kassi to the Infirmary. "Infirmary,
Kassi. These are my children, too, you know. Definitely Infirmary."

Lysseth> Ofira looks over at Lysseth oddly, "I wonder what Kassima's up
to...yes, of course, inside is fine. I have some work to attend to."

Jazmin sighs, "Sorry Kassi, I tried to give better suggestions."

Ofira walks in from the bowl.

Pierron inclines his head and smiles sweetly at the Master Baker.

Leelson blinks before reaching to scratch his chin. "Oh my, this is going
to get confusing" he sighs. He shrugs a moment later. "I can't understand
why people wouldn't want to be in the infirmary for...that thing."

Lysseth> Tovith jumps back out of Lysseth's way, then peers toward the
living cavern with curiousity. When Chaeth begins to hum, he joins in.

"But there are *Healers*--" Kassi starts to protest to both greenriders,
clearly not intending to budge an inch. Until an eerily low-pitched, adult
creeling resounds from outside. "Lysseth!" she yells. "That's nay *fair*!
Oh, bloody *blue* blazes, all *right*, but you'd better keep those Healers
away from me or 'twill--" The action she describes may or may not be
anatomically possible, but it sounds darned painful either way. "Oh, stuff
it up your tail 'til you choke on it, brownie," she snarls Mart-wards. Not
in a polite mood right now, no.

Jazmin turns her attention back to Leelson, "Call me Min if it makes you
feel better." she considers his question, "Generally in the infirmary
you're about to become a specticle to be poked and prodded and talked at
and the like. Spawning is best done with someone to deck and that's about
all, not really a public time."

I'sai walks in from the bowl.

Lysseth> Tierth just watches on, rustling silvered wings as Lysseth storms
past her. Greeneyblue eyes blink astoundedly, following the other green.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn hees. Welcome to insanity, I'sai. :)

Ofira comes in with I'sai, saying, "I'd best go see to things in the
kitchen. I have some matters to discuss with Keara. But - I enjoyed our
talk. I'll see you later, I'm sure." She nods to the others in the room,
excusing herself.

Aisling looks rather startled at Kassi's words. "Can she /really/ do that?"
A brief pause before she notes,'But it would hurt'

I'sai enters with his craftmaster on his arm, and if there's a spring in
his step, the other one's gooshy with the sound of soaked moccasin-leather
that leaves a particularly sodden footprint every other step.

Ofira walks off towards the kitchen.

Lysseth> Lysseth ceases the strange sound nearly as abruptly as she began,
furling wings and settling back onto haunches with a *whump*. She doesn't
hum, mind, but rather lashes her tail like a nervous cat while staring
towards the Living Cavern with gleamingly yellow eyes.

"Of course," I'sai then assures after her, and limps through the others and
towards Leya; "Want to go Searching with me? So it's late, it's cold, and I
have to change - but I _need_ that fresh air."

Leelson's eyes are agog as he hears some of the most creative cursing he's
ever heard in his life. "Igen was never like this" he mumbles to himself
before looking up at Jazmin. "Well, we called her Myn so I guess things
will still be confusing that way."

Tirdan has his head bent to his slate, trying fervantly not to pay
attention to the howling mad greenrider behind him. He looks up and spots
the fire. Ah, something else to take his mind away from "that other thing".
He gets up, merrily commenting, "Fire needs stoking" Then kneels next to it
with the poker, poking at the blazing fire despirately.

Maylia is apparently used to hearing such things from Kassi. AFter all, the
woman was, and is, her mentor. "Yes, Kassi," the Weyrlingmaster replies
placidly. "I'll do my best to protect you from the healers. J'lyn, help me?
If we stay in the living caverns, this'll be a very public affair indeed."

Leya turns back around to peer at Kassima, getting his wits back enough to
place her mint stick back in her mouth and to wave to I'sai as he walks in.
"Umm, Kassi?" she ventures, "How soon are going to... You aren't going to
have them right now, are you?"

Jazmin snickers, "Alright, how about just call me Chaeth's? That work?" she
asks of Leelson before grinning, "We like to keep things lively."

J'lyn nods, and gets on the other side of Kassi to try to help the crazed
woman to the Infirmary. "We'll do what we can, Kassi."

I'sai adds, with a glance over his shoulder, "Plus, it'd get us away from -
no, wait, they're leaving. ...She's not going to make you be there because
you're her -wingrider-, is she? Faranth." A whisper to Corin and Aisling
requests, "What happened?"

Leelson chews his lip and nods. "Chaeth's...alright. At least until I get
used to Jazmin." He thinks for a moment and taps his slate with a finger.
"You wouldn't happen to know anyone who got lost in his own weyr, would
you? Or someone who carves wooden toys?"

Aisling watches the trio...before she turns to I'sai,'I think she is
spawning...but won't go to the infirmary cause there's healers there.'
Fancy that.

Leya blinks and turns to look at I'sai as she suddenly realizes that he was
talking to /her/. "Oh! Go on search. Well, umm..." She swallows and looks
over Kassima, "I don't think so, but..."

"If'n I do, 'twould save going to the Infirmary," Kassi observes, almost
hopefully. But as no spawn seem to be immediately forthcoming, she allows
herself to be herded Infirmary-wards. "Someone is going t'die for this,"
she informs the Cavern over her shoulder as she goes.

Corin points to Kassima, "She was chewing mint sticks complaining about
being in false labour all day," he grins, "Apparently it's not so false.
She was planning to spawn out here,"

Telgar Weyr> Tirdan gets scarred for life his first night as a candidate ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima beams. Always pleased to be of service. ;)

You walk towards the inner cavern.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn cackles. Welcome to Telgar, Tirdan. :)

Telgar Weyr> Tirdan grins, "I like.. very much ;)"

You walk off towards the Outer Infirmary.

Maylia walks in from outside the room.

J'lyn walks in from outside the room.

Telgar Weyr> Ro says, "You have been Kassimilated."

And lo, at the news of the imminent arriving of the Spawn of Evil, brave
Healers did tremble and quake and flee, so that when they reached the
Infirmary it was found abandoned of all but an abandoned speculum blowing
through the room like an abandoned tumbleweed? No, not quite. Though Kassi
probably wishes it were so. "You don't see *him* around, d'you?" she hisses
to the other greenriding pair, casting frantic looks around the room.

Kassima really likes the word 'abandoned,' if that hadn't been made
abundantly clear.

A *poof* of yellow petals goes up from the bench in the corner, where a
healer and his apprentice are working. Or, rather, were working, until the
apprentice nudged Ushu, alerting the man to the presence of Kassima. "You!"
he squeaks, once he's focussed his eyes. "You! and you're -pregnant?-" Glee
wars with true bone chilling fear in his voice. Yellow petals rain to the
floor, and are hurriedly swept up by the apprentice.

Maylia looks rather wry. "Yes." She answers succinctly.

J'lyn looks at the planet's most inept Healer. "And *you*, little man, will
do things *right* for a change, or you'll be in need of your colleage's
services."

If Kassi had any color left to lose, she'd lose it right now. "Oh, shards,"
she whispers, and huddles in on herself as if there were any *prayer* of
hiding this fact at this point. "Nay. Nay, I'm nay. I'm just really, really
fat, and you can just go awaaiyeerch!" Okay, so that last sound kind of
nixed any hope she had of maintaining the ruse.

Ushu's farfar too focussed on Kassima, or rather Kassi's protruding belly,
to pay much attention at all to J'lyn. "Yesyesyes," he replies absently.
"Now, how long have you been pregn..." his voice squeaks, as Maylia moves
to intercept. But no such luck. "Oh, my deardeardear, you should know
things better by now. You see, when a man truely loves a woman, and she the
man, well, or at least usuallyt hat's how it works..." he starts rambling,
some childish version of how conception occurs, involving vtols and flowers
and all manner of disjointed things.

J'lyn clenches and unclenches his fists. This is not going to be pleasant.
For whom?

Kassima buries her face in her hands. "Oh, get me *away* from him!" she
wails, cringing. "Anywhere, I don't care. The Living Cavern would be
better'n *this*." She gives all sane people--read, greenriders, believe it
or not--present in the room a look that's outright begging. "Please don't
let him bury me and the children alive in rose petals."

Ushu fairly prances back to his rose petals, while the apprentice slinks
away best he can. "You." Maylia points to the lad. "Cant you control him?"
What a thing to ask of an apprentice! Meanwhile, Ushu returns, waving a
fistfull of yellow petals. "You'll be able to help me see if yellow is
better than pink!" He exclaims.

Leya walks in from outside the room.

Kassima whimpers, and does something she's probably never done in her life.
She flees. Okay, so she flees into the Inner Infirmary rather than anywhere
sensible, but keep in mind that she's just not practiced at fleeing.
Amazing how fast such a very pregnant woman can move when motivated, 
though.

You push the tapestry aside and walk into the inner infirmary.

J'lyn emerges from behind the tapestry leading to the outer infirmary.

Maylia emerges from behind the tapestry leading to the outer infirmary.

Leya emerges from behind the tapestry leading to the outer infirmary.

Maylia follows, just a step or two ahead of Ushu, who trails petals behind
him. "Oh! Wait!" The Healer exclaims, spinning about in another *poof* of
yellow petals. He trots back to the outer infirmary, musing about testing
some new salve. Maylia takes this opportunity to remind her mentor, "You
know he'll be in a puddle in the floor the instant things start, so why
fuss?" easy for her to say.

J'lyn plants himself in front of Ushu. "Either you go, or the roses go. One
of the two." He crosses his huge arms across his massive chest. "Either you
decide, or I will."

Leya hovers near the entrance to the inner infimary, not quite sure if she
/really/ should be here. She peers at the rose petals trailing Ushu, then
turns to the others. "Umm, can I can help...here...at all?" she asks
hesistantly.

"Easy for you t'say," Kassi retorts, backing up against a wall. It happens
to be near the cot, but getting her onto said cot might take some coaxing.
"You haven't been exposed to his evil. Yet. Your time will come, May, your
time will come!" This should really be followed by a maniacal cackle or a
crash of lightning. But the Weather Deity is not present, and Kassi's too
busy panting for breath to cackle effectively. "Could I rethink this whole
spawn idea? I mean, now that I remember what 'tis like and all, I really
don't know whether I'm up to it, and--" The complaint breaks off as her
breath hisses between her teeth. Only after that does she manage a feeble
greeting to Leya: wiggled fingers, and, "D'you have any more mint sticks?"
Natch.

Leya digs out of her pocket the cloth packet of before and pulls out a mint
stick, still damp on one end and skinnier there too, "Only the one I was
sucking on," she says apologetically, "Does that matter? I could break it
in half if you want?"

Ushu, returning from the outer infirmary, collides with a brick wall. A
brick wall named J'lyn. *poof*, yellow and pink flowers go into the air,
and flutter down all over the male greenrider. Ushu takes a moment to wail,
"My roses! my roses! my..." he seems to realize the imposing figure he's
just run into, and promptly... faints.

J'lyn rolls his eyes and sighs. "Thank Faranth that part's over. Now we can
get down to the spawning part."

"Breaking in half would be fine. Could we break *him* in half?" Kassi then
peers towards the entranceway, still panting, but managing to register an
expression other than pain or horror on her face for the first time in a
long while. That expression is disgust. "He didn't make it through nearly
as much of this as he did last time," she observes. Then, of course, she
turns her attention towards the only Healer left in the room. Pleading:
"May? Help?"

Leya quickly breaks the mint stick, sticking the sucked on part into her
mouth, then hands the rest to Kassi. She blinks as she notices that it's
raining rose petals and turns around to find Ushu on the floor. "Oh." She
peers around, "Was he supposed to deliver the babies?"

Maylia's well used to Ushu's position by now - in a puddle on the floor,
surrounded by rose petals. He's given no further thought at all, but the
stunned apprentice is given an imperious gesture and quiet words. Soon,
he's off to fetch things. "Yes, Kassi, I'm here," she assures. "Leya, ever
done this before?"

J'lyn smirks. "I'll just stand here against the wall and let Kassi screech
at me, and let you ladies do what you can to get her through this."

Kassima sticks the mint-stick into her mouth, and sucks on it a moment like
a petulant child might suck on a sweet given her as a bribe to shut up.
Which, really, it sort of is. "I promised m'self I'd *try* nay t'maim you,"
she growls at J'lyn. "As an early Turnday present. So consider yourself
fortunate. Should I do something now, May? Besides scream?" Yes, she's done
this before, but bear with her. Thought does tend to fly out the window
when one is being put through primal agonies and all.

Leya shakes her head at Maylia, her face paling a little as it finally
sinks in what all is happening. "No, I'm the youngest. Never had to help
out with any childbirth." She swallows and almost chokes on her mint stick,
her eyes water and she coughs. "Oh, sorry. What do I need to do?"

"Think again!" Maylia tosses at J'lyn. "You're the father. YOu get to help
get Kassi comfortable." Sure, like that's even possible at this point.
"Kassi, sweet," hold on, sweet? Has anyone ever called Kassi that? "Yes.
Let's get you out of those clothes. They'd just make things difficult. And
onto a cot. Leya, some blankets and towells from the cabinet?"

J'lyn chuckles. "I'm going nowhere near that harpy. She can scream and yell
as much as she wants from over there. It'll make us both more comfortable
this way."

Leya nods to Maylia and quickly walks over to the cabinet, opening doors
until she finds what's needed. She then scoops up all the blankets and
towels into a heaping pile in her arm and walks back to Maylia, "Now what?"
She says over the pile.

Whether anyone else has called Kassi sweet or not--and who knows? Maybe
someone has; there've been a couple of crazy men in her past--she doesn't
seem to object or really notice the term, instead just nodding with
somewhat haggard obediance. "All right, I can be doing that," and she does
manage to--with much leaning on furniture--get behind the clothes-changing
curtain for that purpose. "Toss me one of those blankets, would you?" A
pause, and then a pillow from the neighboring bed abruptly goes sailing
over the top of the curtain towards J'lyn. With pretty good aim, all things
considered.

Maylia reaches out a hand to help steady Kassima, and flatly insists.
"J'lyn, you've got two choices. You can hold her left hand, or her right.
You've seen these parts of her before, and heard her rant. Get those cute
little buns you flaunt whenever that Lorieth of yours glows over here and
help us, shardit!" Of course, her hand just flails, as Kassi's already
ducked behind the screen to change. To Leya, she suggests, "Get lots of
pillows, and cover'em with blankets?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Maylia, you're priceless. Just so you know. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia giggles, and blushes. Awww, shucks.

*plop* The pillow lands a good two feet in front of J'lyn on the floor.
"And I'm telling you, Weyrlingmaster, NO. I'm much bigger than any of you,
but Kassi and I sdiscussed this months ago. I'm staying right here." The
big Weyrsecond tosses the pillow back up on the bed.

Telgar Weyr> Aurian says, "can't wait to see that log"

Leya sets down her pile on the floor at her feet, picking out a blanket and
tossing it over the curtain to Kassi. "All right." She peers around,
"Pillows..." She looks around a bit for them, then on finding them brings
them over by the armfull, dumping them on the cot. "Is that enough?"

J'lyn says "I will fetch and carry, but she's not getting the chance to
crush anything on me."

"Oh, leave him be, May," Kassi mutters, emerging from behind the curtain
with the blanket wrapped decorously around her person. Never mind that this
isn't really the time for modesty. This is *Kassi*. With Kassi, it's always
the time for modesty. "Men are worthless anyway. Just look at *Ushu*. Next
time I do this, if'n I'm stupid enough t'let there be a next time, 'twill
bring down the tent peg Aunt Keysanna sent me t'wave at 'em. That seems
t'bother 'em, for some reason."

J'lyn quirks an eyebrow. "Not me, it doesn't."

Maylia gives J'lyn a look of absolute, pure disgust. "Wimp." She accuses,
scornfully. Finally, the healer apprentice arrives, assorted equipment in
one hand, a small basin in the other arm, with redwort sloshing in it.
"That looks good, Leya," she assures. "Now, if you're gonna help, do what
he does," the 'he' she refers to is the apprentice, who commences to wash
his hands well in the disinfectant. "Then, we help Kassi get comfortable,
and get those babies delivered."

J'lyn don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies.

<Weavers> Aidan ooohs at everybody in the infirmary. "Hope nobody is 
hurt." :)

Kassima, since something about letting her get comfortable was mentioned,
takes the liberty of climbing up onto the cot, albeit not easily. This
ritual is watched with vague trepidation. "May?" she asks in a pitiful
tone. "Is there any way t'be fast forwarding to the delivery part? This
*hurts*." And hurts a lot, to judge by the emphasis given on that word.

Leya spreads the pillows out evenly on the cot, picking up blankets and
towels and tucking them around the pillows, "Umm, does this work?" She
looks back and forth between J'lyn and Kassi, shrugs, and goes over to
rinse her hands in the redwort. She frowns as her hands turns a pinkish
color, peers over the apprentice see his are the same. "Huh." She wipes
them off on a towel, then returns to stand near Maylia, the One Who Knows
What To Do.

<Weavers> Kassima says, "Nah. Kassi's just spawning. ;)"

<Weavers> Nuala chuckles. Happy birthing, Kassi :)

<Weavers> Aidan says, "oooh :>"

<Weavers> Aidan says, "who is the proud father? :>"

<Weavers> Kassima says, "J'lyn. Fear this. ;)"

<Weavers> Aidan says, "J'lyn? I fear, I fear :P"

"Better work," Maylia laughs. "Or Kassi'll still be pregnant when those
kids have their kids." Oh, comprehension dawns across her features. "You
mean the redwort? Sure does. Just smell it. And it'll stain your hands a
bit, so you know." Heading to Kassima's side, she does her best to assist.
"Jus'lemme check and see. You've had three already, this might go fast."

"Fast would be good," Kassi observes. Just mark that as her most obvious
statement of the day award. By now, that mint stick's long-gone, and her
expression is considerably strained. "Um, I don't want t'be grounded until
I'm a grandmother. Having them *now* would be a better option." She nods
briefly in response to the checking thing, not about to actually comment.

Leya holds her hand up and frowns at the interesting staining on her hands,
"Yeah, it does stain." She sniffs one hand and wrinkles her nose, "Smells
too." She peers on with curiousity, stepping to one side so she can see.

Maylia does indeed check, and does so quickly. She's seen this end of Kassi
a couple times, now, and doesn't seem the least bit embarrassed - unlike
Ushu, who were he not out for the count already, would be now. A suprised
face peeks back up, over the swollen belly of Kassima. "Faranth's shards.
See, Leya? Kassi, I'd say push. NOw'd be good."

Leya hasn't seen this end of Kassi, ever, so she's not quite so nonchalent.
She turns about the same color of her hands and looks down at her boots
with which she scuffs at the floor. She looks up as Maylia addresses her
and nods, "Umm, yeah." She keeps on her eyes ahead of her this time even as
she rubs at one red cheek.

Kassima would probably be embarrassed, herself, if she weren't rather
preoccupied with being in pain instead. "*Now*?" she gasps out, sounding
somewhat incredulous, as well she might. But hey, Faranth forfend she look
a gift horse in the... uh... let's just let that saying lie, shall we?
Wrapping her fingers around either side of the cot, she does her level best
to oblige, with the obligatory eardrum-shattering scream. See what you have
to look forward to, May?

Maylia's flatly ignoring the fact that in just over six months she'll be
doing the same thing. Only, hopefully the father in -her- case will be
there to dutifully have his hand squished. "Yes, now," she patiently says,
before Kassi obliges. "Leya? D'you want to hold her hand or something? Just
give me a blanket or two first, eh?"

Leya is only too happy to scoot out of the way, she picks up a couple of
the remaining blankets in a pile beside the cot and hands them to Maylia.
She then moves to Kassima's side, looks at Maylia questioninly, then
cautiously reaches out to hold Kassi's hand.

Kassima finishes her first throat-ripping howl of the evening and collapses
back against those handy pillows, panting for all she's worth. "Remind me,"
she rasps, "why the shards I wanted t'do this again?" Leya is given a wan
smile, but the positives of smiling are probably cancelled out by the
negatives of the death grip the greenrider attempts to clamp on her poor
hand. Which, by the way, gets about ten times worse with the next
contraction, accompanied by another yell fit to make a redneck's rebel
cries seem like mewing. Isn't it wonderful to attend the miracle of birth?

Maylia seems oblivious to the bone crunching pain that she's just offered
Leya up for. The brownrider'll learn, though, from the experience. Don't
blindly obey your Weyrlingmaster once you've graduated, and never offer
your hand to a delivering woman. "Almost, Kassi," she croons. "Another
push, and this one's out. That one hurt 'cause it was the head
an'shoulders." Okay, she might or might not be lying.

J'lyn just crosses his arms across his chest and smirks. "Almost there,
Kassi."

Leya cringes at each scream, leaning away from their source but is unable
to escape as her hand is currently being held in vise. Between screams her
shoulders lower some, but her face remains in a permant wince as she
clenches her teeth, she tries to smile back encouraginly at Kassi, but
unfortunatly the rest of her face isn't cooperating. She turns to looks
over her should at J'lyn and /glares/. "I hope so..." she says through
clenched teeth. His hand isn't being crushed.

J'lyn wiggles his fingers at Leya and grins. "If you'd like, we could
substitute Ushu's hands for yours?"

Kassima frees her other hand from its death-grip on the cot side long
enough to flip J'lyn the bird, with remarkable enthusiasm given how tired
she is. "If'n you're lying t'me, May, so help me," she begins to threaten,
but breaks it off to attempt to shatter any and all glass items in the room
with the power of her vocal chords alone. Oh, yeah, and push, too.

"Nice way to encourage," Maylia mutters J'lynwards. That apprentice? Well,
he's apparently never seen this end of a woman before either, and must've
been holdbred. He's attending to Ushu, trying to bring him around with the
pink rosepetals, somehow. But Maylia's too occupied with 'catching' a
slippery babe to do much about requesting the apprentice's help.

Leya glares at J'lyn cramp-free fingers, then looks over at Ushu. "I don't
think he'd work," the last word rises in pitch, then cuts off abruptly as
Kassi's scream and death grip. Leya covers one ear with her one free hand,
lifting one shoulder and leaning her head over to block the sound from the
other ear against her shoulder.

Kassima braces herself up on one elbow during the momentary relax between
pushes and screams, and during this particular one, catches sight of the
apprentice. "Dear Faranth," she groans, "he'll be *another* Ushu in time.
Quick, someone kill him a'fore he can meet that destiny." She's not very
good at being encouraging either, but that's standard. So is her next
reaction: rather than just screaming this time, she elects to be colorful
and scream profanities, meanwhile continuing to cheerfully abuse poor
Leya's hand with an utter lack of mercy. And not merci, as originally
typed, although she's not being terribly thankful at the moment either.

Leya hisses through her teeth as even more pressure is applied to her poor
abused hand. The eye narrowing the wincing from the pain induces wars with
a shocked wide eyed expression at Kassi's language. "Kassi!" she exhales,
shocked, though she probably shouldn't be. She tries to move her fingers
apart just a little to relieve some of the bone crushing pressure, but with
no success.

Maylia eases the infant's shoulders about, and the little black haired girl
gets a good look around before protesting her rapid change in environment
with all the power in her tiny lungs. The howl rivals her mother's, even
after Maylia's wrapped her securely in a warmed blanket. "First one's a
girl, Kassi," the youngest of the three greenriders announces. "Just one
more to go." Babe in her arms, she looks from mother (who'd normally be
handed the child) to Leya.

J'lyn squinches up his face at the baby's howl. "I'll take her, Maylia.
It's another thing we discussed."

If Leya is expected to take the child from Maylia Kassi will first has to
release her hand. She's not going anywhere otherwise. She looks over at
J'lyn and nods, then looks back at Maylia, "How soon? Almost done?" she
asks, an almost pleading tone in her voice.

Kassima would normally be handed the child, and would in fact normally be
eagerly reaching for the child; her grip, in fact, starts to loosen to do
just that... until Maylia's words remind her. First one. Oh, yeah. "Could
we postpone the second one a bit? Say, 'til next Turn?" she asks hopefully,
while craning her head to keep her eyes on the firstborn twin. Yes, they're
already starting to go mushy, even if she's forced to abandon mush in favor
of catching her breath while she has a moment to do so.

Maylia blinks up at J'lyn, but hands over the infant. Something's muttered
involving T'saren and six months from now, but she interrupts herself to
smile ruefully over Kassima's still distended belly. "Think about it,
Kassi. A turn, and it'll be even bigger to squish out of yourself, and hurt
more. Take a deep breath, your body'll keep going when it's ready." Whether
or not the body's 'resident' wants it or not.

J'lyn holds the infant carefully, looking down into his daughtter's face.
"Well, aren't you the sweetest thing...." He's rewarded with a gurgle and
then a screech in the face, and then the baby girl snuggles into her papa's
big arms and dozes off. She's had a hard day.

Kassima's features twist into a grimace, but she nods, tersely, and shakes
sweat-sodden hair back from her face. "I'm never doing this again," she
avows. "Never, ever, ever." Of course, she does say that every time, and
it's usually followed by a screech, nor is this an exception. Plenty of
profanity here, too. At least Leya's getting an education along with all
this torture.

Leya sighs as Kassi's relaxes her grip of her, wiggling her fingers in an
attempt to get some blood back into them. She smiles softly as she watches
J'lyn take the little girl, but it quickly fades as she looks back at
Maylia. She takes a deep breath and takes a good look at her fingers, they
may not be there much longer at this rate. "Remind me never to spawn,
please?" she says quietly, faintly.

Maylia spins back to Kassima at the recommencement of labour, and quickly
rinses her hands in redwort again. Keeping an eye on what's going on, the
former healer (remember, this gal never made it past very junior apprentice
- all of this is comming from experience over the last few turns at the
weyr!) cleans up the mess from the first delivery. Poor apprentice, he'll
have to deal with it later. Leya's given a rather pale look, and the
Weyrlingmaster agrees. "Okay. Just time it, and remind -me- a few months 
ago?"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia whees, as the WLM requests a former w'ling to -time-
it. ;)

"Rather... too late... May," Kassi pants out, managing just a touch of
amusement. "And Leya, you're Thunderbolt; you have to." Such is her loyalty
to her Wing that she pays homage to its traditions even at a time like
this. Of course, she doesn't have much time to belabor the point--no pun
intended--before having to push again. And crunch Leya's bones again, poor
girl.

Leya may have made it to senior apprentice but that was in carving wood.
Delivering babies is something completely different. "What?!" she says,
staring at her former weyrling mater, "You want to me time it?" She then
blinks down at Kassi, "Oh. Nooo, nuh uh. I'm /not/ spawning. Ever,
ev...uh!" She gasps as every bone is her hand is ground into tiny, but
sharp pieces, or at least that's what it feels like to Leya. She hunches
over, clenching her other hand into a fist. "Never," she hisses through her
teeth.

Maylia's got another blanket handy, and checks the progress of her mentor's
latest delivery. "Comming fast, keep it up, shells and shards don't LET me
have twins." Poor Tas. A twin has a kid with a twin, guess what May's
thinking she's in for? She keeps encouraging Kassi, though, through the
labour, interrupted with, "That's right. Time it. A'lex'd understand. Just
don't meet yourself comming or going, hmmm?"

J'lyn looks up at the vehemently promising non-spawners, a wry look on his
face. Knowing better, he returns his attention to his infant daughter,
snuggled into his arms.

Kassima agrees, bobbing her head vehemently, "Shells and shards, don't let
you; Tas'd be insufferable--" What, like he's not already? "Nay timing!"
she adds, giving Leya's hand a warning squeeze--a more effective means of
deterrent than it might normally be, and just for fun, Kassi decides to
enumerate in thorough detail just what anyone who tries timing it in her
Wing is in for through the next push. Ouch. Who knew one could *do* that
with citrons and tunnelsnakes?

Leya isn't exactly thinking all too clearly as most of her thoughts are
currently on how much longer her hand is going to stand in one piece. She
just nods to Maylia, "Uh, sure. Fine." She then blinks down at her
wingleader, wincing at the sqeeze, "Ahh, I changed my mind."

Maylia grinds her teeth. Unreasonably, she suggests, "Then I'll reclaim
Leya. Must've missed some portion of her training." Yeah. Or something.
Like the part where May insists, 'no timing'? But as Kassi pushes again,
she whips her attention back to the labouring woman, so fast that she
doesn't have time to mention that she's of course just joking. "They're not
kidding when they say the second one comes fast! Next one'll hurt, Kassi.
Head's out, gotta get her shoulders out!" Her? If it's just the head, she's
assuming a lot.

"You can't have her unless you're willing t'pay me more'n I spent for her,"
Kassi grates out. "And I don't want t'know how you can tell gender by the
head, I truly do nay." One more deep, bracing breath, before she puts her
all into the next push. And the next howl of agony, for that matter. She
wants that kid *out*.

Leya wants the baby out too, if only so she can then reclaim what's left
her hand. She looks between Kassi and Maylia, then down as the baby starts
to make it's appearance. "Oh Faranth, get it /over/ with..."

Maylia's quickly too occupied with the infant to enter bargaining over
Leya. Over the black haired child's indignant screams, she announces, "It's
a little boy, Kassi. This one's a boy." Quickly, she tends his needs, wraps
him in a blanket, and offers this one to Kassima. "And please tell me
you've got no more in there?"

J'lyn looks at Maylia, thoroughly horrified. "As if two from Kassi and
myself aren't enough?!?"

Kassima lets go of Leya's hand as abruptly as she grasped it, *somehow*
managing to uncurl her own fingers from their respective deathgrips enough
to take the baby boy and snuggle him close. "Dear shells, I *hope* nay,"
she swears fervently, though that ferventness is an ill fit on a face that
can't quite stop beaming in a silly-looking fashion. She lived, they lived,
and most importantly, it's *over*.

Maylia cleans up, taking care of the last messy parts, offering Kassima a
mild smile. "Just please, please," she asks, "Tell me it's worth it."

Leya lets out a great sigh of relief as her hand is released. First thing,
she holds it up in front of her face, inspecting it too if it all is there
and where it is supposed to be. "Well, my fingers are still there," she
mumurs, then lowers her hand and begins to try to rub some feeling back
into them with her other hand. She smiles at Kassi and her new son,
"Congratulations Kassi. They're lovely." She turns, to look over at J'lyn.
"Congrats to you too."

J'lyn walks carefully and warily over to Kassi to show her their daughter.
He leans over and kisses her softly on the forehead. "You did wonderful."

Kassima is entirely too enrapt in this whole new motherhood thing to be
dangerous at this moment in time, no worries. "I'd better have," she
grumps, though she's smiling. Smiling exhaustedly and looking like she's
been dragged across the Red Star facedown, but smiling. "'Tis worth it,
May, though you won't think so until afterwards. Nary a chance. They're
both bonny bairns, aren't they?" That mostly to the room in general, and
filled with weary wonder.

J'lyn says "And did you ever decide on names?"

Kassima nods, settling back against all those pillows with ginger care for
the baby she holds without taking her eyes from the pair. "Kimlyn, for the
lass," she answers, "and for the lad, Kyjain." She crooks a grin. "Had a
feeling you'd object if'n there weren't a J in there somewhere."

Leya flexes the tingling fingers of her recovering hand and reaches out to
gently, cautiousness run a finger down the cheek of the nearest baby with
her other hand. Her expression softens and she smiles that sappy smile she
gets around babies, "They're wonderful."

Messy towels are soon in a heap for the apprentice to deal with when he
gets back - at some point, Ushu got dragged/carried/helped to a cot
elsewhere. "Kimlyn and Kijain," Maylia repeats, smiling.

You know Kassi's out of it when she doesn't even aim a raspberry after the
departing Ushu. Freeing an arm long enough to reach over and run her
fingers through the short black fuzz on Kimlyn's head, she agrees dreamily
with Leya, "They are. They really are."

Leya smiles at Kassi, though her nose does begin to wrinkle in distaste as
she notices the mess covered blankets. "Good names."

J'lyn looks at the sweat-covered Wingleader. "You need sleep, and so do the
children. So do I, for that matter.

"They need sleep," Kassi agrees, with a smile for each infant. "And you
need sleep, but I won't be able t'sleep for a bit yet, 'til the whole agony
and euphoria thing wears off. Pass her over t'me a'fore you go?"

J'lyn hands Kimlyn over to her mother and kisses both children on their
foreheads. "All of you sleep well, and I'll see you in the morning."

Kassima shifts Kyjain into the crook of one arm, taking Kimlyn into the
other and managing to get babies and self settled with a modicum of
adjustment. "I think they're already taking the first part of that t'heart,
at least," she observes, amused. "G'night, Jal. Dream sweet."

J'lyn says "G'night, Kassi, and congratulations again. We did a good job."

J'lyn pushes the tapestry aside and enters the outer infirmary.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn BEAMS.

Telgar Weyr> Aisling fears.

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "In case anyone's wondering, Kimlyn and 
Kyjain. :)"

Kassima snorts quietly with silent laughter after Jal leaves. "'Twas
beginning t'think he'd never give me the lassling," she murmurs. Turning
attention momentarily to the other two riders, she favors each with a
somewhat sheepish, if radiant smile. "Thankee both, by the by. Couldn't
have gotten through it sane without you."

Telgar Weyr> Ryialla says, "It's spawn, it's spawn..."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn grins. And on that note, I need sleep.

Telgar Weyr> Saskia snugs Jaly "Congrats!"

Telgar Weyr> I'sai waves, and, ah, congratulates. The Ks are winning.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "G'night, Jal. Sleep well. :) *Grins at Ryi.*
It's big, it's heavy, it's wood?"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn didn't do it alone. Congratulate Kassi as well. All I
did was stand against the wall. ;) G'night, Telgar.

Telgar Weyr> Saskia snugs Kassi too. :)

Leya smiles at J'lyn, then blushes as she turns back to Kassima. "Oh,
you're welcome, but Maylia did all the real work," she says with a shrug as
she rubs her hand.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia's gotta dash! should probably be back online in a few
minutes, tho...

17   Kassima          Fri Mar 24 00:52 2000 Double, Double, Toil & Trouble

        Prepare for trouble, and make that double! With a bit of help from 
mint, crabapple catsup, Maylia, Leya, and the ever-ineffectual Ushu, Kassi
delivered her latest spawn very early on the morning of day twenty-six,
month twelve, Turn Thirty of the Tenth Pass. As Ryialla's curse foretold
(or close enough), multiple children were born unto Kassi and J'lyn: one
girl, Kimlyn, and one boy, Kyjain.
        Mother and offspring are currently recouperating from the somewhat
strenuous birth in the Inner Infirmary, and would probably welcome
visitors, well-wishers, and/or Candidates who see this as their chance to
catch Kassi staying still long enough to get their clues from her. ;)

....................................TGW....................................

Telgar Weyr> Kassima tosses up a +bbpost. :)

"Aye, but you were the one whose hand got squished," Kassi notes to Leya,
after some time of just beaming sappily at the babies. "That's worth
something, don't you think?"

Leya chuckles, "I suppose it does. It anything it'll give me an excuse to
come down her and get some more mint. You think the healers would believe
me if I said it helped with pain?"

Kassima considers this in due gravity a moment or two. Then: "Nay. Just
steal it from 'em. And be sure t'steal a bit for me?" Evidently, the
addiction doesn't end with pregnancy.

Well, it started for Leya without her being pregnant so why shouldn't it
carry on afterwards for Kassi? "All right, and I will. Just so long as
steal some for me when you can." She grins and peers around the room,
"There is sure to be some in here somewhere..."

Lysseth> Lysseth is, perhaps noticeably, not stationed in her usual
comfortable lounge near the Living Cavern but is instead curled up just
outside the Infirmary. Her eyes are a calm, peaceful blue, though, so
chances are no evil is currently occuring.

Lysseth> A smudgy-faced Ryi detours briefly to the living cavern for a meat
roll, then comes back out and hails Lysseth. "Heyla, Lysseth. Safe t'go bug
the mom...

"Outer infirmary," Kassi advises. "They hide 'em up in a cabinet now, since
they knew I couldn't climb up, but you could. And 'twill be able to m'self,
soon enough."

Lysseth> Lysseth's smug rumbling would suggest affirmation, along with
pride. Her rider spawned a green *and* a bronze. Her rider is hot sheep.

Lysseth> Ryialla tamps down thoughts of tasty, yummy mutton, and nods
briskly to Lysseth, saluting her with the remnants of her meatroll, then
ducks in.

Lysseth> Ryialla moves beneath the rocky overhang that protects the
Infirmary entrance.

I spreads itself across Leya's face. "Really? Want me to go get us some
now?" She glances toward the outer infirmary, "I know I could use some."

Ryialla emerges from behind the tapestry leading to the outer infirmary.

Ryialla cranes her head around the tapestry, veeeeeeeery carefully. And
most quietly, too. She's got a big ol' charcoal smudge on one cheek, and
appears totally oblivious to it.

Kassima allows, laughing, "Can't say 'twouldn't like some, truly. They're
on the third cabinet on the right from the entrance." As the curtain moves,
so does Kassi's gaze, and she breaks into yet another smile upon seeing her
friend. "Heya, Ryi," she calls, somewhat softly. That no doubt due to the
sleeping black-haired bundle nestled in each arm.

Leya turns around from where she's standing next to Kassima, both of her
hand stained with redwort, though one does seem a little redder than the
other, perhaps from something else. "Hi Ryialla. One second. I'll be right
back."

Leya pushes the tapestry aside and enters the outer infirmary.

Leya emerges from behind the tapestry leading to the outer infirmary.

Leya comes back, holding a jar of mint sticks triumphantly over her head.
"I got it..." She lowers the jar and fishes out a stick for herself, then
holds it out to Kassi, "You want one too, Ryi?"

Ryialla smiles big and wide. "Heya, Mom." She slips inside, then nods.
"Aye, that sounds good, thanks." And then - it's a careful glance at the
sleeping babies. "So it was twins, then. Congratulations."

"Ryi, if'n I'm your mum, that makes me a grandmum too and *that's* simply
traumatic," Kassi drawls, matching grin for grin. However, there's a slight
problem when she tries to take a mint stick. Namely, her arms are full.
"Don't suppose you could pull one out and stick it in m'mouth for me?" she
asks wryly. "Oh, aye, Ryi. And bonny bairns both, for all the trouble they
gave me. This one, she's Kimlyn." The baby on Kassi's left is nodded
towards. "And this her brother, Kyjain."

Leya blinks, "Oh! Sure." She takes a mint stick out of the jar, grinning at
she holds her own between her teeth and carefully places the stick in
Kassi's mouth. "Dere." She then holds the jar out to Ryialla, "Wha' one?"

Ryialla chuckles. "That was a general 'Mom', and you know it, Kassi. You
spawning me would just be scary. Not to mention a really odd sort of
paradox." She takes a mint stick and pops it into her own mouth. "Thankee,
Leya. Should have the bakers make up some of that mint frosting for you -
it's very nice."

Kassima clenches the stick delicately between her own teeth, and muffles
out, "Fankee, Leya. Nay kidding, Ryi--your name doesn't start with K, after
all. The mint frosting *is* good... might want t'save some for the other
spawning women hereabouts, though."

Leya tucks the jar under her arm, using the other hand to hold the mint
stick so she can actually talk between sucking on the stick, "Something
like what Maylia was suggesting." She perks up at the mention of mint
frosting, "Really? They make mint frosting? That would be soo good."

Ryialla nods, then says quite cheerfully, "Aye. Just not for Kassi. Ask
them, if you like. It's not all that different from regular frosting - just
mint and coloring. I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

"The Bakers won't make much of aught for me," Kassi mourns drowsily around
her stick. "They've never liked me. I can't imagine why nay." The periodic
excursions into the world of frosted cabbage couldn't have a *thing* to do
with it, of course.

Leya grins, "Maybe they'll do it if I ask. I'm sure I could get Keara to
make me some." She puts her mint stick back into her mouth, "Bu' wha' to
pu' i' on?" She giggles, "Pwain'd be good too."

Ryialla waves a hand dismissively at Kassi. "Oh, I'm sure they like you,
Kassi. They just didn't want to deplete all their supplies of mint, most
like. Cookies are good, Leya."

Kassima observes, going cross-eyed in an attempt to peer at the stick,
"Still like mint, too; I wonder whether they'll make me aught now that I'm
nay pregnant anymore?"

Leya giggles at Kassi, "Don't do that, or they'll stick that way," she
teases. "Didn't your mother tell you that?" She grins, "Oo, could they make
mint flavored cookies too?"

Ryialla wrinkles her nose. "With the mint frosting? Isn't that a bit much?"

"M'mother told me a lot of things," Kassi murmurs, around a yawn which
makes it a trace difficult to hold onto that stick. "Few of which were
valid, an many of which were entertaining."

Leya shrugs, "I don't think so." She peers over at Kassi, "/You/ are tired,
as you should be. You going to be nodding off on us soon?"

Kassima's smile is rather rueful. "Caught me at it, did you? Aye... aye,
I'm tired, nay denying that. And *they'll* nay doubt start being more alert
and wanting fed and suchlike soon enough."

Ryialla nods. "I'd imagine so. Giving birth isn't easy." She smiles gently
at Kassi. "We should probably get out of your hair anyway - or at least,"
she amends, "I should. But I did want to see the babies and congratulate
you. I've a gift, but it's up in the weyr. I'll have to bring it by later."

"You're nay in m'hair," Kassi scolds fondly. "I like having you both
around, but I'm afraid I'm going t'become very sleepy and boring company
soon. Ach, Ryi. You truly didn't have t'be getting me aught, though I'm
appreciating the thought."

Leya nods, "Me too. We should let you get some sleep while they," she nods
towards the twins, "are still sleeping." She twists her mint stick
thoughtfully between her fingers, "I don't have anything to give right
now," her expression brightens, "but I can make something. Would like
something other than a ferret, Kassi?"

Kassima chuckles quietly. "'Twould, i'truth, Leya, but you needn't feel any
obligation. And that does remind me, I still owe you a very belated
gift--'twill just make it a Turnover gift rather than Turnday, hmm?"

Ryialla points out, not at all unkindly, "Who else am I going to be getting
presents for? Besides. This one's more for the babes, than you. But it'll
help you, too. So."

Leya grins at Kassi, "That's fine. We can exchange gifts then." She leans
over and gets a good look at the sleeping babies. "Just adorable," she
murmurs, then straightens back up.

"'Tis sweet of you t'think of us all the same," Kassi points out, with a
wry-touched smile. "If'n 'twill be good for the bairns, then 'twill make me
happy, you can be sure. And they are, aren't they... newborns always are.
It never ceases t'be amazing me."

Ryialla nods, smiling. "Give them a few days," are her last cryptic words
before she slips out and leeaves the new mother to her rest.

Ryialla pushes the tapestry aside and enters the outer infirmary.

Leya raises an eyebrow at Ryi, then turns back to Kassima, "Sleep well,"
then she too leaves.

Leya pushes the tapestry aside and enters the outer infirmary.