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An Offer You Can't Refuse


Date:  December 1, 2004
Places:  High Reaches Weyr's Western Bowl and Living Caverns
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:  I thought about naming this one 'Knife Sharpening 
A-Go-Go' instead.  Still not sure which would've been better. ;)  
Kassi descends upon High Reaches to visit with and hopefully torment
a bronzerider or two, and lucks into finding one of her potential 
targets right there when she lands.  She makes the acquaintance of 
a few High Reachians, too, and later delivers unto V'lano a lesson 
of sorts in how to effectively bribe her. ;)

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The Log:

<*> Lysseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air!

<*> On the Star Stones, Ulanoth warbles a greeting to Green Lysseth of
Telgar Weyr.

You circle lower in the bowl, towards the west wall.

You fly down to land gently on the ground.

<*> V'lano answers for his beast with a roll of dark eyes and an easy, wry
smirk. "I'm certain you meet his standards. And he doesn't smell quite
everybody, but he's... a smeller. He likes smelling things. You eaten
anything lately? Anything tasty-smelling?" There's a low chuckle after
this, as Volath fixes a slowly swirling eye on his rider's scalp from
above, head swinging that way to facilitate staring meaningfully: don't
belittle me in public! The bronze swings his head upward then, chin going
high, and parts his mouth just slightly in a smile-like expression of
air-tasting, attention distracted by Ulanoth's call. V'lano raises a hand
to Caritha, one brow furrowing as he considers Semirath but briefly.

<*> Lysseth has reached the Bowl almost before the echo of her greeting to
the watchdragon has faded, and she folds her wings in neatly, settling
herself on the terra firma, before rumbling polite greetings to the dragons
present and a warmer note to the one with whom she's more familiar. "That
sound bodes well for one of the potential quarry being here, at least,"
Kassima quips, swinging her leg around and sliding from her dragon's neck
with a merry jingle of buckles and belt-rings. "Duties to the 'Reaches and
her queens, and other such formalities!"

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

Adanion laughs softly and replies, "I had some roast herdbeast and that was
very good...." but trails off as the bronze looks around, Adanion turning
his eyes upward. The calls bring a bright grin to his lips and the waving
woman gets a friendly wave and an inclination of his head to her. As
Kassima arrives, the young man waves to her as well.

Caritha offers up a reply to Kassima's greeting which is directed to the
Telgari bronzerider as well as she joins V'lano and Adanion, "High Reaches
duties to Telgar and her queens, "Good evening V'lano, Adanion. How are you
tonight?" Kassima is given a smile as the young greenrider tries to place
rider and dragon, failing and finally looking a bit sheepish, "I think we
might have met once but I'm going to have to admit I can't remember your
name. Caritha, Semirath's rider."

"Potential quarry," V'lano echoes as Volath rumbles a low note, his neck
curving as he lowers his head to follow the swift landing of the Telgari
green. "Roast herdbeast, hey. That'll do it. He probably smelled it." For
whatever reason, the bronzerider rolls his eyes, one shoulder flicking
upward and down in a lopsided shrug. His mouth drops open for a moment as
Caritha makes her greeting, then shuts in a relieved smile as she continues
with an introduction for Kassima, freeing him to look like he knows what
he's doing here: "Greets and duties, Caritha, and to your Semirath."

M'rek strolls out of the living cavern.

High in the bowl, Ulfianth launches into the sky from Ulfianth's ledge,
high on the western bowl wall.

In the sky directly above, Ulfianth swoops down to a landing on the ground.

M'rek comes from the Living cavern and actually sprints the rest of the way
to Ulfianth as if a cottage were on fire somewhere.

M'rek uses a combination of handholds on the straps and Ulfianth's bent
forelimb to climb up on the ice in summer bronze's back.

Kassima waves back cheerfully enough to Adanion once she's rid herself of
her riding helmet and unpinned her hair, the black braid falling against
her back with a muffled thwap. To Caritha, she shakes her head: "If'n we've
met, I have t'confess I don't recall it," she reports, rueful. "I've heard
your name a'fore, though, from certain friends and acquaintances. Kassima,
green Lysseth's and Thunderbolt Wingleader. 'Tis a pleasure." V'lano, now,
he gets a too-innocent grin. "But a'course. Finding m'self with an
unexpectedly dull and otherwise unoccupied evening, what would I do but
seek out friends for company and-or torment? Figured I'd have a good chance
of running into you or--" There's a pause as she watches M'rek go by. "Him.
I *think*. Was that M'rek? Hard t'tell when they run that fast, but the
moonlight off the bald head is distinctive."

In the sky directly above, Ulfianth springs powerfully into the sky from
the ground below.

In the sky directly above, Ulfianth disappears into Between.

Adanion chuckles at V'lano's explanation and says, "Well, I'll be sure to
try to eat something tasty before I potentially meet any dragons." But
Kassima's words quiet him down as he just listens and watches the woman
curiously. Actually, he watches just about everyone curiously, not
apparently feeling much need to assert himself into the conversation of
riders.

Semirath warbles a polite greeting to the Telgar green and then, as she
spots Ulfianth landing, a much curter one to the High Reaches bronze.
Caritha seems to do a double take, whether from the suprisingly impolite
tone of her dragon or M'rek's quick sprint across the bowl to his dragon,
but after staring after hte pair for a moment she simply shrugs and then
turns back to the others, nodding to Kassima. "I do hope you've only heard
it in relation to good things, though somehow, if you know M'rek, its
probably rather the opposite. But its nice to meet you." She then gives
Adanion a puzzled look, "Eat something tasty before meeting dragons?"

"You flatter me." But V'lano's eyes brighten, sparkling a little light in
their depths, as he dips his head toward the raven-haired greenrider from
Telgar. He cants a grin toward Adanion before noting, of M'rek, without
even looking that way, "In a certain way, the running's distinctive too. I
think I've only twice seen him that he wasn't in some kind of trouble - and
those times could have been slated as trouble too." He snorts
good-naturedly and observes for Adanion's benefit, "Some dragons probably
don't care. But I know of at least two who might notice. Got me noticed, I
think, at one point."

Kassima slants Adanion a curious look in turn. "Has he," with a thumb
pointed towards V'lano, "been telling you fibs about dragon diets or
something? Because let me assure you, even if'n you absolutely stuff
yourself with something delicious like lemon chicken or buttered
spiderclaws, they just won't eat you. Humans aren't good enough for those
choosy dragon-palates. Why would you want t'be eaten anyway?" This question
is filled with interest--as much interest as Lysseth, having watched the
other bronze pair's run-through with vague bemusement, now shows in the
curvature of Volath's neck. Her rider casts Caritha a wry grin that
probably answers the question. "Faranth only knows what he'd say of me, all
things considered. Aye, though, likewise. Now I'm curious, Vel: when
*wasn't* he in trouble? Because I'm pretty sure such a thing should bring
the world to an end." As for the charge of flattery, she simply gives
V'lano a flourishing half-bow.

Adanion looks at his feet for a moment when Caritha asks and then says,
"Well, Volath, it seems, liked the way I smelled and I figured it's because
I had some roast herdbeast," after Kassima's comments too. "Oh, I know they
won't hurt me unless it was something really serious, greenrider. I just
thought that if there's a chance that other dragons are going to want to...
smell me? I might as well smell as good as lunch. Well, as long as lunch
was any good." The young man watches Lysseth curiously for a long moment
and then he returns his attention to the other people with him. Imagine
that, a newcomer to a weyr curious and interested by dragons... oh, the
surprise... it's virtually tangible...

Caritha cannot but help to laugh and nod her agreement regarding Ulfianth's
rider, "Trouble does seem to be attracted to him like bees to honey. Though
to be honest, I've hardly seen him around at all the last several sevendays
or so and have no idea what sort of messes he's been getting as of late."
She shrugs and then offers Adanion a wry grin, "Can't say Semirath has ever
said anything to me about how humans smell or what they've eaten. She just
thinks its strange we insist on cooking things before we eat them. But her
interest in our food ends there. Her only interest in humans beyond that
seems to be if they'll help bathe her... or if they ride a dragon she
likes. But maybe she's the one that is strange rather than Volath."

Kassima bobs her head agreeably to Adanion. "Adults probably won't hurt you
even then if'n you can help it, but aye. And aye for lunch needing t'be
good, too. Volath probably wouldn't *want* t'smell you if'n you smelled
like spinach. Unless he *likes* spinach." A suspicious look is directed
towards the bronze in question by the greenrider. The look Lysseth directs
towards Adanion is not so much with the suspicious, and more with the
mildly curious in turn. As an afterthought, her rider adds "And you can
call me Kassima or Kassi if'n you'd rather. I know! I've nay seen him
either, nay since Harper Hall, so clearly I'm going t'have t'try and drag
him off on a drinking spree sometime soon so I can find out what havoc he's
wreaked. Or mayhaps wreak some more havoc. I'm nay terribly choosy. Lyss,
for what 'tis worth, is curious about people from time t'time, but doesn't
sniff at them all that often."

Adanion perks up for a moment and says, "Harper Hall? Were you a Harper,"
to Kassima quickly. Perhaps realising his outburst, the young man swallows
and then says, "I mean, I would like to meet a Harper around here, if I
can." Very smooth. Adanion pauses and says, "That's why I came, well, to
write about dragons and riders, but I would like to know if I've got the
talent to even bother apprenticing." Adanion's blue eyes lock to Lysseth
for a moment and he asks, "Can I go meet her?"

V'lano's busy laughing a while, unable to manage a reply about Adanion's
chances of being eaten. When he gathers his voice again, it's to first
point out, "Two times that I saw him out of trouble, Kassima - once for
Lysseth and once for Lhiannonth. And either one could have -been- trouble
with so little change." He winks for the greenrider's benefit. "Volath's
probably the odd one, but ware, I'm calling Taralyth odd then too. He was
the one smelled of me first." He then shares with Caritha and Adanion, "As
long as you don't call her ma'am." And he makes a great show of flinching,
as if he expects to be thwapped by a stray hand of Kassima's for the very
mention of the term.

Caritha giggles at V'lano, "I suppose flights do keep him contained a bit.
Though he managed to start causing trouble just before Semirath rose her
first time and I gave him a nice lump on his head with a piece of
firestone." She shrugs about the dragons sniffing, "Myabe its just a bronze
dragon thing. Though I don't recall Dowanth sniffing people very often for
all that I've been around him a lot recently. But maybe when he was
searching? P'wert did say he did quite a bit of that actually, not all that
usual for a bronze." She looks back at Adanion, "Writing? Really? Shalyn
likes to perform music and she might write some too for all I know, though
she's not a harper."

"Oh, nay," Kassi denies with a headshake. "Afraid nay; 'twas Searched ere I
made m'mind up whether I wanted t'try. I know some Harpers, though. Have
you asked after a ride to the Hall? I imagine you could find someone headed
that way...." The query gets a lifted eyebrow, but she gestures towards her
dragon. "Go right ahead if'n you like. She might even behave herself. If'n
she knows what's good for her." Lysseth makes a show of yawning in response
to this. "--Oh, now! You missed seeing me throw knives at him a'fore Lyss
rose, Vel. Although 'twas his fault since he *volunteered* t'be target. I
do believe however that I just may have been insulted." Her return wink
wouldn't suggest great offense. And the whap to the arm she leans over to
try and deliver to him is on the playful side too. "You'll give ideas! Tear
may well qualify as odd. Don't know that I've seen many other sniffing
bronzes. Nraith, mayhaps; naught that bronze would do would surprise me."

Adanion grins and heads over to Lysseth, holding a hand out as though
asking permission to scritch her. His back is to the other people, but he's
still listening, even if he doesn't respond audibly. He does, however, nod
to things that he suspects are directed at him.

"Are you saying she knows what's good for her?" Volath makes a low murmur
of a rumble, but lets Lysseth be social with the young man without any
other complaint. He can share! See? Sort of. "Because I don't think that's
necessarily the case," the bronze's rider tacks on with a roll of his eyes,
the expression kind of pointed and very directed at his dragon. "Now why
would you have been insulted? By the time I saw you, you looked every bit
like you'd have loved such a volunteer."

Oenoneth lumbers over from the eastern side of the bowl.

Shalyn jumps down Oenoneth's side to the ground, as the dragon warbles a
greeting.

Caritha can only laugh at that, open admiration showing as she looks at the
Telgari greenrider, "Knives? I'll have to try that the next time around.
From what I remember or maybe it was just what I was told later, someone
helpfully suggested I exchange the firestone I'd been throwing for spoons
or muffins instead. But knives really would be far more satisfying at a
time lke that. But M'rek certainly deserved it the first time around, he
was insulting me or making rude remarks or something of that order." As
Oenoneth descends, Caritha waves, calling out, even before Shalyn might
have had time to dismount, "Hi Shalyn."

Shalyn jumps down and grins, "Hey stranger... you look familiar." she teases.

Rose heads over from the eastern side of the bowl.

Lysseth considers a moment or two before deigning to lower her slender head
and accept such scritching with all the dignity of a Lady at her most
hoity-toity. At the same time, however, she flicks her tail Volath's way:
she hasn't forgotten him. Perish the thought. "There are times when I
wonder," Kassi allows with considerable amusement. "Nay when it comes
t'Volath, a'course--gentleman that he is. And I'm insulted because you're
implying that t'catch would count as *trouble*! What exactly is this
trouble that you're recalling, hmm?" Now he gets the exaggeratedly
suspicious look, a moment before she turns a slightly sheepish grin on
Caritha. "Nay exactly a moment of stellar behavior on m'part, but aye. I've
been throwing 'em nigh all m'life, so I knew 'twouldn't miss and actually
*hit* him. Missed by this much." Her fingers describe a width of maybe half
a centimeter. "Insulting a proddy rider? He usually seems t'have better
self-preservation than that." The newly-arrived pair get an amiable nod in
greeting.

"Trouble for -him,-" V'lano explains with a courtesanly bow, or what he
imagines is such a thing, only it's not really very much so. "Not for me,
of course. I daren't besmirch my gentleman's good name." There's another
eyeroll for Volath on that, and he sidesteps a bit to put an arm within
Kassima's grasp as Shalyn dismounts. "Duties," he tells her, flicking a
glance from Caritha to the other Reachian greenrider. He turns fully toward
Kassima after this necessary greeting to inform her, "I can't believe how
riders throw that word around! We'd have... well, we wouldn't have used it,
at Lemos." His mouth curves into a faintly worried smile and a reddish hue
flares, then fades in his cheeks.

Caritha looks a bit confused by V'lano's last comment to Kassima,
especially as she watches the change of expression on his face "What word
is that?" She looks back over at her erstwhile roomate, chuckling, "Sorry
I've not been around much Shalyn. Just been trying to get early duties so I
can get to Igen before its too late their time."

Rose crosses over, seeing as she's been yelled at, or too. "Tillek's duties
to... everywhere." that should cover it, as she looks about the group and
giving a polite nod to each in turn as she speaks. Apparently she's
forgiven Caritha and Shalyn, as they get at least more of a smile.

Shalyn smiles, "So is P'wert really that good in the sack?" she grins and
goes to give Rose a hug, "It's so nice to see you."

"Ah, well then," says Kassima, and she dips in as much of a curtsey to
V'lano as she can manage given the lack of anything resembling a skirt. "In
that case, I really must be sure t'mention that you think I'd have been
displeased enough with *him* for there t'have been trouble that there
wasn't with you. His reaction might be entertaining." For all of this, she
still sets a hand lightly on the arm so generously proffered, echoing,
"Duties, a'course--y'mean 'proddy,' Vel? I suppose 'tis just easier and
shorter than 'hormonally challenged.' And easy and short are important in
words that are sometimes yelled as warning." The momentary flush broadens
her grin visibly; then, politely, "Duties t'Tillek and her Lady and Lord as
well."

V'lano looks mortified, dark eyes widening, but there's a certain slyness
to his mouth that he can't entirely displace. "Oh, please don't. I was
afraid enough of taking his fist in the eye for a while there." His mouth
opens to reply to Caritha, but he puts his jaw back in place as Kassima
takes care of the issue for him. "Duties," he echoes the Telgari
wingleader, and then just sort of stares at the Shalyn-Rose
greeting-in-progress. After a moment he manages, "Did she just ask, excuse
me?" The flush comes back, but so does a broad, even randy grin. "I wonder
how these conversations always seem to find me."

Caritha resembles nothing so much as a redfuit upon hearing Shalyn's query
- V'lano's flush has nothing on her right now. She slooks at the Telgari
riders and then Rose with an expression of shock and innocence - don't
blame her for this conversation, that is for sure. Finally, after opening
and closing her mouth several times without any sound coming out, she
manages to stammer, "We're just very good friends... well, more than
friends I suppose maybe sort of and I enjoy his company.... well I don't
think that's any of your business anyway even if I would know." She then
clamps a hand over her own mouth, even more shocked by the fact she
actually answered back to Shalyn's teasing, but then again, she's never
been able to resist that all these turns. Instead she tries to find
something or someone else to focus on and moves to go hug Rose, "Hi Rose.
How are you doing?"

Rosea hugged Rose, moves back far enough to give Shalyn a bit of a
disapproving look at her questioning of Caritha. "Even if he were,
Caritha's right. That's not any of our business, Shalyn." and she finds
herself hugged again. "I am well, Mam thought that I'd not spent enough
time here and should reaquaint myself with things. " a quick laugh as she
lifts her shoulders slightly. "I think she was just sending me to visit and
wanted a reason to justify it to herself."

Shalyn giggles, "Oh really? Hmmm." ideas spring to her mind. "How are you
and Lysseth doing Kassima? And who is your handsome friend?"

Kassima teases the Telgar bronzerider, "If'n you won't let me shine your
eyes *directly*--y'know, I really think she did. And that I'm afraid of the
answer. In fact, I'm nay listening. La la la!" Putting a finger in only one
of one's ears is not a very effective deafening method, but she doesn't
seem inclined to remove her other hand from V'lano's arm. She breaks off
mid-la, because she simply must inquire, "So... you're saying the topic of
P'wert's bedroom prowess comes up around you *often*?" She's quick to shake
her head to Caritha, though: no worries, there's no blame being placed
here. For all that she seems amused by the topic. She's distracted from
watching the exchange between Caritha and Rose by Shalyn's query, which she
answers cheerfully enough: "We're well, quite well, thankee; I hope the
same can be said of you and your lady--and if'n you mean this man with the
stunning eyelashes here," and V'lano gets a wicked grin, "his name's
V'lano, bronze Volath's. Or if'n you meant his admittedly lovely dragon
instead, he's Volath, somewhat-flushed V'lano's."

Shalyn smiles, "Pleased to meet both of you. And I'm not gonna say any more
about P'wert or 'ritha might claw my eyes out or drag my bed out onto the
ledge."

V'lano crosses his other hand over himself to pat at Kassima's hand. "I'm
saying the topic of... uh, that topics come up around me often." Extremely
specific. But then he's the topic himself, and the flush in his cheeks
deepens, moving in long-term, bringing its spare change of clothes and
everything. After a low cough to clear his throat he nods to Kassima's
introduction. "V'lano. Volath," he echoes, lifting the hand from the
Telgari greenrider's fingers to point a single fingertip upward; the bronze
obligingly curves his neck to draw his head away from admiring Lysseth's
color against the Reaches rocks to place his chin right above his rider's
finger, several meters up. "Well met, miss...?"

Rose's attention is momentarily distracted as she tries to catch a look at
the aforementioned stunning eyelashes. If she does catch a glimpse she
doesn't indicate that she has, rather addressing Shalyn again. "I may yet
help her. Perhaps we should ask that you come to the Hold for a while. My
mother would be rather interested to talk to you I think." Somebody has
been training Rose too well. You can't just ask her things like that in
front of perfect strangers." no matter how perfect the strangers may be.
But then she quietens as V'lano asks his question of Shalyn.

Caritha smiles her thanks to Rose - at least one of her so-called-friends
has some tact and manners. "Well I'm glad she's sent you along as I've
missed seeing you as often without being posted over at Tillek like I was.
Don't forget that you and Paddy still owe me a sail, when the weather gets
good." Shalyn is given a smirk as the greenrider's gaze turns to take in
Oenoneth, trying to study her hide in the moonlight, "Glad to see you've
got some sense of self=preservation left. Are you by any chance proddy now?
I can't really tell in this light but its been quite a while...." There has
to be some explanation for the rude comment, after all and she's trying to
give her roomate the benefit of the doubt.

Shalyn thinks and does some counting on her fingers, "Shoulden't be, not
for another month or so." she smiles up at Volanth, "Mighty handsome, hello
to you too Volanth." she runs her fingers through her long curly hair, "You
know Rose I was on Errands today, I could have gone to pick you up."

Kassima finds this a good time to murmur to V'lano, "It's come up about you
at least once, for that matter," because she does admire that flush so; and
admires it visibly. "I'sai wanted t'know." She threads her fingers through
his as best she can from this angle, which isn't saying much; overhearing
Caritha's query, she, too, slants a half-wary glance towards Oenoneth.
"Doesn't *look* it..." she mutters under her breath, and she studiously
ignores how her own lifemate is stretching out her wings so that there
might be just that much more of her for Volath to admire.

V'lano alters the fix of his fingers with Kassima's to facilitate the
weaving, and murmurs back, leaning toward her for subtlety of a sort,
"I'sai wanted to know what?" Utterly helpless, his eyes slide sidelong
toward her and he blinks a couple of times, making best advantage of those
ladylike lashes. His attention returns to the new acquaintances a moment
after, and he coughs softly to introduce another attempt: "Volath says
hello, and appreciates being called mighty. At least," with a flushing of
cheeks, "I assume you meant him by that. And you're...?" Just to include
other people in that, he dips his chin to Rose as well. Apparently he's
been too distracted to pluck names out of conversation.

Rose looks around suddenly at all the riders a little warily. "If she is,"
she turns her attention onto Caritha, who would be the most logical of the
group to ask. "If she's miscounting and really is, then I will have to ask
you to take me back to Tillek." Remembering manners, she glances over to to
the visiting riders at V'lano's nod of questioning. "Rose, of Tillek." she
answers simply, "And that's Shalyn, she's Oenoneth's and Caritha, who's
Semirath's in case they've not been introduced already."

Caritha nods to Kassima and Shalyn about Oenoneth, "I suppose not. Rose has
the right of it at least. You do need to learn some manners - Rose's are
amazingly improved and she's even neat and clean as well." The Tillek heir
is given a grateful smile for her support. V'lano's query at the end of his
words is noticed at least by her and she offers up introductions, "The
tactless one is Shalyn, Oenoneth's rider and my clutchmate and roomate of
sorts. And Rose, the daughter of Lady Selchin and Lord Regex of Tillek."

Shalyn smiles and courtesies politely.

Kassima flashes a quick smile to V'lano for this, and one with some warmth
in it. She leans in likewise to murmur, nearly in his ear and perhaps too
low for the others to catch, "Prowess. Specifically, yours." With a waggle
of eyebrows just in case it still wasn't clear; she's helpful that way. On
a more dignified note: "Kassima, green Lysseth's," she introduces herself
in turn. "Currently affiliated with Telgar. A pleasure, 'tis." Her nod to
Rose is perhaps a trifle more respectful than before, in acknowledgment of
Caritha's clarification.

"My thanks," V'lano tells Rose upon her simple introduction, nodding a
smile toward Shalyn, but Rose gets a doubletake and an effort at a bow upon
Caritha's somewhat more informative introduction. It suits well enough to
keep him from having to focus on Kassima's reply just yet, but after
attaching a "Telgar's duties" to his gratitude, there's not so much left
for him to do. "Ah," he tells Kassima, turning his head but not his eyes
her way. "Ah huh. Volath's, you mean? Specifically, his?" Beat. "And why's
he asking again?"

Shalyn smiles, "What brings you two to the Reaches?"

Rose glances to Caritha, frowning just a little as she elaborates on her
own introduction as Kassima's nod is returned in kind. "The pleasure is
mine in meeting riders from Telgar Weyr. I must admit that I've yet to
travel there." V'lano's double take and bow brings a quiet sigh, but a
smile of thanks at the extra effort. "Perhaps one of these two would take
me one day?"

Caritha catches on to Kassima's tone and gives V'lano a sympathetic smile,
for the poor bronzerider doesn't seem all that comfortable becoming the
center of attention. Upon hearing Kassima's curious turn of phrase, she
queries, in hopes of perhaps changing the conversation, "Currently of
Telgar? Are you planning a transfer someplace soon then?" She then giggles
at Shalyn, shaking her head, "You don't know who Volath is? He flew
Lhiannoth silly goose. So V'lano has perfectly good reason to be here. I
can't believe you've not met him before"

"Nay," Kassi's only too cheerful about correcting. "Yours. Specifically,
yours. After the flight. His professed reason was that he wanted t'know
if'n one of his Weyrlings passed muster." For all the tease, she squeezes
his fingers gently before returning her attention to the others. "'Twould
be Telgar's pleasure t'have you, beyond doubt," she tells Rose, "should you
wish t'visit. I can't a'course speak for Volath, but Lyss and I have nay
objections t'providing transport from time t'time. Oh, nay." That's to
Caritha, with a quick headshake. "When I retire, I may go back t'Benden,
where I Impressed; nay until, though. As t'why I'm here, mostly t'pester
Vel. Pity him."

Shalyn chuckles, "You spend so much time at Igen I'm surprised you knew
them. No fault though, how do you think I keep this tan?" she smiles at
Rose, "I'd be glad to take you anytime you want to go, I think I've only
been there once or twice myself."

Rose smiles her thanks at all the offers of transportation. "You're
spending that much time at Igen?" she asks Caritha quietly, brows raised in
question, but she shakes her head to indicate that they'll talk about it
more later. She straightens her skirts absently, seeing as she actually
/is/ wearing a skirt. "I should go inside to see your parents, Caritha."

"Volath would be happy to transport you - if it's soon, or much later,"
V'lano grins Roseward. "Soon he'll be more obliged here, or more curious
here at the least, and I suspect both. I'm not sure how it'll play out as
he's never done the thing before - " Volath has no such concerns; he breaks
from eyeing Lysseth's showy wings to flick his chin higher into the air and
look snooty and capable. Or to try to. "Anyway," V'lano continues. "I'd be
happy to offer a ride, assuming I'm not asking rides myself by then." A
faint smile marks his mouth, expression absentminded, until he seems to
re-hear and register something already said. "Wait," he musters, and lowers
his voice, leaning in toward Kassima again. "You can -retire-?"

Caritha turns rather red herself upon hearing Kassi's words to V'lano. They
might not have been meant for her ears, but she did overhear them. V'lano
is given another sympathetic smile as the young greenrider tries to figure
out some way to change the tide of conversation for his sake. But Rose's
remark grabs her attention before any ideas spring forth and she smiles
shyly at the Tillek heir, "Ummm, yes, I have been at Igen a lot. The
weyrlings are keeping P'wert busy. He's assistant weyrlingmaster and
responsible for them as dragonhealer. Shall I take you up to see if my
parents are available? I've not seen them myself for a few days so I'd like
to stopy in."

Kassima asks V'lano, curious, "D'you know when-abouts the eggs are due?" a
moment before hiding a grin at so-confident Volath. "I should be setting
m'wagers down soon." She drops her own voice to suppose, "Eventually; I
could give up the Wingleadership if'n I wanted, and just be a rider again,
at home. I'm nay ready, though. Used t'think 'twould be in the Interval,
but 'tis nay so--nay remotely." Her eyes are amused when they flick towards
Caritha, but there's genuine apologeticness in her sheepish grimace a
moment later. Apparently she wasn't intending widespread embarrassment.

Shalyn says "Arn't you finding it easier to be a wingleader now that thread
is no longer falling?"

Rose gives a quick nod to Caritha, but leans in to answer quietly so as not
to distract other conversation. "If you are going in anyway, I'm not going
to take you away from here if you wish to stay a little longer. I can
doubtless find my way around still."

Caritha smiles at Rose, "I ought to at least say hello if they are awake."
She looks at the others, "If you'll excuse me for a little while," and she
waits for Rose to be ready to walk with her towards the weyrleader ledges.

Caritha's sympathetic smile gets a wan one in response. "I'm not so sure I
should guess, but it can't be long now. She's... big." V'lano makes the wan
smile into a weak grin for Kassima. "You would want to bet on it. What'll
you be betting?" From affectionate-disgusted to curious student in under a
breath's time; his fingers drum against hers for a moment as his smile
turns crooked. "Perhaps we should go on in," he suggests a little louder,
echoing someone's earlier suggestion. "I'd intended to try to nick a bite
anyway."

Rose smiles again to the group. "Well met again." she says politely as she
starts off with Caritha, echoing her friend. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Easier, somewhat," Kassima readily agrees. "Certes easier in that the
weight of responsibility is so much lighter. I more thought--Turns
ago--that I might retire in the Interval because I'd have done m'*real*
job, with Thread fought. I'd buy an island and staff it with bronzeriders
in loincloths who'd do naught but fan me and feed me grapes all day. But I
don't think I'm ready for the life of leisure yet after all--mayhaps in
fifty more Turns." Both the departing women get a nod: "A'course, a'course;
a pleasure it's been t'be meeting you both. G'devening t'you as well. I'd
marks in mind, Vel," she says, turning back to him, "unless you had ideas
for another stake? I'm all for that, if'n you'll lead the way."

Shalyn smiles, "Catch you later 'ritha." she turns back to the 2 guests,
"Would you two like to grab something to eat or drink?"

V'lano, too, raises a hand of farewell to Caritha, and nods agreement to
Shalyn's suggestion. "I'm not wearing a loincloth," he informs Kassima,
then squeezes her hand and looses his fingers from hers, leaving the arm
for her to hold if she wishes as he turns halfway toward the suggestion of
food - pausing to stifle a cackle. "Marks. Yes, marks. I meant, what kind
of subjects? What against what? I never quite heard what specific contests
you settled so profitably at our hatching!"

"Gladly," says Kassima to Shalyn, with a quick-flashed smile. "If'n
'twouldn't be an imposition. I'm nay a clutchfather-type, after all--Lyss
just refuses t'try for queens, nay matter how many times someone says she'd
make an excellent sire." This comment is somewhat deadpan. She holds the
arm so granted her, and protests, "But you'd look *spectacular* in one--oh,
well, on how many eggs, and whether there's a queen, and what the color
ratio is, mostly. Eventually on which color will Hatch first and which
colors will Hatch from which eggs. As to the last, you're going t'have
t'bribe me t'find *that* out!"

Shalyn giggles, "Right over this way then. I don't think Oenoenth would
make a very good sire, she likes being green."

"So pretty much on everything you can think of. Have you ever yet bet on
how long it'll take the queen - the laying queen - to clutch out a certain
number?" Unaware he might be providing an excellent idea, V'lano rolls his
dark eyes upward, then follows along after Shalyn, making well enough as if
he's pleased to have the way led. Besides, it lets him walk next to the
Telgari greenrider and keep his arm conveniently beneath her hand. "So how
much would that kind of bribe be?" A flutter of lashes, for starters.

Shalyn smiles, "Papa sometimes takes bets on which queen will be the next
to rise and who will catch her."

Shalyn leads the way to the living cavern

Shalyn walks into the tunnel to the living cavern.

V'lano wanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

You wander through the archway, into the lower caverns.

You walk through the archway, into the living cavern.

Kassima admits, "I haven't yet, but if'n I could find someone t'be taking
the bet... I don't suppose," she wonders, all innocence, "that you've
thought of putting down any marks yourself?" She strolls alongside him, no
more inclined to let go of his arm than he is to pull it away. A sidelong
grin is her answer to that flutter: "Make me an offer," she suggests, with
another brief brow-waggle.

Shalyn smiles and heads towards the serving table, "What can I get everyone?"

"Of course I've thought of it. Normally I think like this:" V'lano assumes
a posture of thinking. It is comprised largely of his head being tilted a
little bit back and his eyes seeking a distant point well beyond the cavern
ceiling, causing his stride to slow since he's no longer watching where
he's going. He also raises the empty hand for good measure, palm uplifted.
"'What,' I think, 'Am I thinking? The very thought of pressing my
hard-earned marks into the hand of some rider far cleverer, or far coyer,
or far more lucky than I. Why, it's ridiculous.'" The posture is abandoned
abruptly and he grins sidelong at the Telgari woman. "That's what I think
of it. But if I were -taught- how to make a go of it by an -expert-..."
Apparently this is his second offering, with lash-fluttering the first, of
a bribe - flattery. "Something meaty. All that talk of roast herdbeast,"
the bronzerider tells Shalyn then, shifting topics with just a lowering of
the pitch of his voice.

Kassima slows her own step so that she can watch his pose, eyes momentarily
widened in surprise before they take on an entertained and appreciative
gleam. "And if'n you declined t'bet with me, which of those adjectives
would you use, I wonder? Oh, so *that's* what you're about--" Her laughter
rings outright, before she modulates it into a quieter sound more befitting
the hour. "I should've known. You're determined t'keep me as teacher in
some capacity! Well, now, well, now, *mayhaps* I could deign t'teach...
mayhaps... but you'll have t'come up with a better lure than a stroking of
ego, m'dear. Oh, food!" She swivels her focus back to Shalyn, and grins. "I
concur. Something hearty if'n 'tis available. And juice or the like,
mayhaps? If'n 'twouldn't be trouble?"

Shalyn smiles and heads towards the night hearts and fills 3 bowls of
steaming heardbeast stew. She also pours a mug of ale for V'lano, a glass
of cider for Kassi and a glass of milk for herself, before she returns to
the others. "I wouldn't mind making a small wager, I think I've a half mark
to spare."

V'lano's laughing before Kassima's even done talking, but he manages
appropriate gratitude to Shalyn first. "Thank you," taking the ale. He
turns a gaze toward the Telgari woman, then flicks his dark eyes back
toward the Reachian one, and laughs: "See, we have a test case already!
I'll observe how it's done; watching a master at work." He points somewhat
randomly toward a table, indicating he's making for it at this slow pace,
and lifts the ale to a thought. "I could offer... knife sharpening
service." Flutter flutter. He sets his jaw firm to prevent further laughter.

Kassima accepts the glass of cider with a smile of thanks; inquires, "What
had you a mind t'be wagering it on? Clutch size? Queen egg? I don't know
that I'd be comfortable," she admits, "wagering on clutching date, since I
don't live here; although if'n Vel could give me some inside information--"
Her turn to flutter her lashes at the bronzerider, as winsomely as she can.
The choice of table seems fine with her; she ambles that way, until *he*
starts fluttering and she halts in her tracks for a moment. She manages to
redden *and* have to stifle laughter at once. Talented woman! "Now that
might do," she muses. "If'n you promised t'do a very good job of it...."

Shalyn giggles, "Half a mark says a green hatches first."

V'lano fails to keep away from the shores of hilarity any longer, and
cascades gigglish chuckles as he pulls back chairs from the table for
himself and Kassima, then a third for Shalyn when she gets there. "Oh, I'd
do a professional work on it, Kassima. You know that for certain." Deadpan,
somehow, between the chortles, until Shalyn brings up her proposal. The
bronzerider makes of himself a poor gambling partner then, making a face
and having to snap shut his jaw before the face turns into a tart remark.
Stifling himself as best he can, he slides into the chair and leans back
to, uh, watch the master at work.

"I can be seeing that," Kassi decides with a grin. "'Twill mark it down,
then, if'n you like, and if'n green hatches first you can collect a
half-mark from me on the day. Barring duty, 'twouldn't miss it." She's
fairly cheerfully businesslike about that transaction, but V'lano's
chuckling has her shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth even as she sinks
into her chair. Somehow, she manages to gather composure enough to agree
with a mostly-straight face, "Entirely correct. I've been pleased enough
with your work thus far. Very well; just name the time and
place--knife-sharpening's better done in some places than others, after
all." Sure. Her sideways look for his reaction to the wagering holds
amusement of a different sort. "Odds are on her being correct, a'course.
But a half-mark is an easy stake for me t'cover."

Shalyn smiles, "So that's why you diden't offer odds?"

"Odds," the bronzerider breathes, making rational sense of something he'd
initially reacted only emotionally to, and then looks a bit surprised at
himself for the reaction. "Well, of course that's... very probable, isn't
it. And you... curry business by making the deal anyway?" His curious look
is fixed mostly on Shalyn, though his words are for Kassima, and he
continues in a lower tone. "Oh, I'm sure it's the client's choice to
determine place and time." V'lano smirks. "But really - I know of a very
nice little weyrcavern here, out past where we landed, which would have
just enough room to stretch a strap." Never mind he has no honing-leather
apparent on his person.

Shalyn nodnods, "Oh yes. If I were taking bets I'd place 10:1 odds on the
queen hatching first."

Kassima bobs her head agreeably. "I thought you meant direct bet, aye;
whoever wins gets the other's half-mark--if'n you want in on a pool or
specific odds, we can be talking after the clutching. 'Twill want t'see the
eggs a'fore I place too many stakes, t'see how many greens I think are in
'em." V'lano's reaction gets him a surprised glance from Kassi too, and a
grin a moment later. "Aye--and sometimes I wager on hunch more than logic,
especially when the stake's easy t'cover. I'd be *very* reluctant t'take a
ten-mark bet on green t'Hatch first, even if'n I really, really thought
'twould be a blue; 'tis a fool's stake at those prices." But enough talk of
business! At least, of that business. Her grin widening, she tells him,
"Sounds most suitable. And would you have the time t'be attending this fine
art tonight, by any chance? I'm sure m'schedule would accomodate...."

Shalyn polishes off her milk after wiping the last of the gravy up with a
piece of bread, "Attend a what?" she asks.

"And seeing them you'll have some opinion about what's in them?" V'lano
looks a blend of dubious and bemused, then adds red-eared to that mix with
an upward glance toward Shalyn. "Ah, ahm. Attend her. She asked I attend
her." Which, one might suppose, is true enough. "So I can get her knives
sharpened. I was a butcher before, you see." This explains everything, or
so he hopes.

Kassima allows the bronzerider to explain, sipping demurely at her cider
and attempting to look less entertained than she is. "As a bribe for
teaching him about gambling at some point," she further clarifies. "I
think. I'truth, I lost track in there somewhere. A'course 'twill have an
opinion when I see 'em! Honestly." She shakes her head in mock-sadness. "So
much this man has t'be learning."

Shalyn giggles at v'lano's last remark before he leaves, "Nice try lover
boy." she leans back and sighs, content with the meal. "He's sweet,
clueless but sweet. I think that's inherent in bronzers."

Kassima chuckles low in her throat. "I rather like that euphemism. Which
d'you think's inherent, the sweet or the clueless?"

Shalyn laughs, "The clueless part, give me a bluerider any day of the week."

"Ah, well, he has plenty of clue in some things. He's from our last
Hatching; give him time," Kassi suggests with a grin. "Can't be agreeing
about all bronzers being clueless, though. I'sai certes isn't. M'rek
doesn't seem t'be."

Shalyn snurfs, "Well I don't know I'say, but to borrow a phrase M'rek only
has a clue in some things. I've never seen another rider get into more
trouble than him."

Kassima grins wryly. "One can certes get into trouble for reasons other
than lacking a clue--but don't you think he *likes* the trouble, in a way?"

Shalyn laughs, "He's my clutchmate, and you may be right about that. Myself
I prefer to _not_ get caught."

"Aye, there's that," Kassi will readily admit. "Depends though on what
you're doing. Sometimes 'tis more entertaining when the person in question
knows 'tis you."

Shalyn giggles, "Or who?" she teases coyly. "I was never really much of a
prank puller. Trying to paint Nepo brown was about my limit."

Kassima makes an amused sound at that. "I've usually nay been in a position
t'get caught with a *whom*. I don't pull many secretive pranks. I snuck
purple dye into A'lex's drink so that he went to the bathroom in colors,
aye, but I never tried t'hide 'twas me."

Shalyn chuckles, "Papa still tries to keep a close eye on me to make sure I
don't get caught with a _whom_. Doesen't always work."

Kassima studies the younger greenrider for a moment. "Have t'be admitting,"
she says with a wry headshake, "if'n 'twere him, 'twould too. I don't even
want t'*think* about m'youngest daughter with a whom. A'course, she'd
probably snicker at the notion and point out she hasn't met a lad alive
who's good enough for her yet."

Shalyn giggles, "Well I've only met a couple myself. One even papa approves
of. He does a fairly good job."

Kassima tilts her head to one side. "Nay that I'd be apt t'recognize the
name, like as nay, but who does your father approve of? *That's* a high
accolade."

Shalyn smiles, "D'san, blue Myrdinth's rider."

"I have met him," Kassi says after a moment's thought. "A time or two only,
though; I don't know him well." After finishing off the last of her meal,
she pushes her chair back from the table. "Speaking of worthy men, though,
I've a knife-sharpening appointment I should be getting off to--if'n 'twill
excuse? It's been a pleasure, though."

Shalyn smiles, "Papa let me go off with D'san even before I impressed. Of
course, clear skies Kassima. It was nice seeing you again."

Kassima grins and assures, "Likewise," before exiting stage right, whistling.

You stroll outside to the bowl.