-------------------------------------------------------------------------- There's Something About That Guy.... Date: July 30, 1998 Places: High Reaches Weyr's Western Bowl and Living Cavern Game: PernMUSH Copyright Info: The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kassi's Note: In this log, Kassi proves that there exist no depths to which she will not sink. Now that M'rgan is out to kill her and A'lex is spreading certain completely truthless rumors, Kassi is up a crick when the bronzerider heads up to High Reaches one evening. She has to stop him from his rumormongering, but if she goes, she'll die... or will she? Finally, Kassima practices the art of cross-dressing herself instead of others and visits High Reaches Weyr incognito. The only question remaining is: did people really believe she was K'sin, green Lyrsith's rider of Benden? Or was Julasha just being incredibly evil? Things prefixed by Lysseth> take place in the Western Bowl of High Reaches Weyr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: 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. Nraith rumblechuckles at the 'man' getting off of Lysseth. Jenryth warbles a welcome from where she's pleasantly curled up. Kassima holds up one finger to her lips to shhhhh Nraith. "You don't know me," she--err, he?--hisses to the bronze. "Really. You don't." Kassima: This young gentleman is somewhat... unusual-looking, to say the least. You can't quite pinpoint why, at first. Perhaps it's the fact that the sable stocking cap on top of his short, short blue-black hair doesn't go well with the bulky, too-large wherhide riding jacket he wears, or the fact that his pants don't fit quite right either. Then, of course, there's the little black moustache under his nose... it looks like two commas flew up from a piece of hide to smack him right in the face. All of that could be understandable, though, if you take it for granted that the poor boy is simply weird. However, on closer inspection, you might notice that his bone structure is unusually fine and that the lashes over his canted emerald eyes are thicker and heavier than those of most lads. His neck also lacks that prominent bobbing thing that makes most male necks look so very odd. All of these things can be explained away, of course, but they're somewhat apt to attract notice--as is the fact that this man speaks in a stilted, too-precise style, as though he were constantly correcting an accent. How unusual. Pinned to one shoulder of his riding jacket is a Benden greenrider's knot, and on the other is the patch of Duskguard Wing. However, on the few times one manages to glimpse a fire-lizard in his vicinity, it's banded not only with red, green, and black, but the white of Telgar Weyr as well. Curiouser and curiouser.... Nraith looks confused. Dragon> Nraith bespoke Lysseth with << Your rider is sniffing numbweed again, isn't she? >> Chezroth is too involved talking with the dragons of the Weyr to notice anything out of the ordinary. Kassima nods decisively to Nraith. "Good," she mutters, and stuffs her hands in her pockets before making her best attempt at managing the male swagger on her way to the Living Cavern. You wander into the tunnel to the living cavern. Carissea strolls into the cavern from the lower caverns. Lysseth> I bespoke Nraith with << Personally, I think she's just gone bonkers. She tells me to tell everyone my name is Lyrsith. >> A'lex just stares at Julasha, speechless, and doesn't notice the entrance of the Strange Man. Carissea wanders in, looking as if she's just gotten up from her Flight of the night before. Matheny waves a hand to the arrivals, Carissea coming from one side and some odd fellow from the other, "Hello!" S'dar nods to Julasha, not catching the innuendo. "Meat," he agrees. Carissea and the man she arrived with get polite waves and a "Telgar's greetings," from the lad. Kassima strolls into the room, hands stuffed in her--err, his--pockets and eyes scanning the room warily. "Benden's duties to High Reaches," he says in an oddly clipped, stilted way. His eyebrows quirk up as he spots A'lex and S'dar. Oh, good. The quarry is still here. A'lex looks at the Hello and nods to the Benden rider, "Telgar's duties to Benden and her Queens..." He looks carefully, something familliar... Draugdae tilts his head and smiles a little. Lysseth> Nraith senses that Lysseth explains, after a moment's conference, << She was told that your rider was here, and wished to make sure that he didn't spread any more rumors without her knowing. So, she's trying to pretend she's a man to avoid being slaughtered by Ularrith's rider. >> Julasha chuckles quietly, nodding a greeting to the, er, Benden rider as she returns to her seat. Carissea smiles. "Well, High Reaches' Duties to Benden and Telgar, I suppose. I'm Carissea. Can I help you?" she asks. Dh'lon strides in from the tunnel to the bowl. Dragon> Nraith bespoke Lysseth with << Yup. Bonkers. >> Rilsa wanders into the cavern from the lower caverns. Dh'lon wanders in and grabs his usual mug of klah, then takes a seat at his wing's table. Kassima draws one oddly thin hand from his pocket and offers it to A'lex. "K'sin, Lyrsith's rider," he introduces himself. "Well, um, met. I hope you don't mind the intrusion. I was simply in the mood for some tunnelsnake jerky, and I'd heard you serve mighty fine jerky here." Yeah, that's plausible. Matheny starts to smile, falters a bit but then says in greeting, "High Reaches duties to Benden, welcome!" the smile is back and she gives a wave to those arriving after the Benden rider. A'lex shakes the proffered hand, "Do I know you K'sin? You look familliar... recent Impressee? I came from Benden you know..." Rilsa comes back in and waves again, sighing before taking her seat. Carissea blinks. "Jerky?" she asks. "If we do, I've *got* to talk to Master Bryena..." S'dar greets Dh'lon with a "Telgar's duties," and Rilsa with a "nice to see you again." K'sin gets a "Good evening, K'sin..." and a bit of an odd look. After a shake of the head, he continues, "I am S'dar, rider of Chezroth." Draugdae nods to the new arrivals, still munching on his snake jerky. Dragon> Nraith bespoke Lysseth with << My rider asks me if I know you. How odd. >> Dh'lon frowns as he hears mention of tunnelsnake jerky, then shrugs and takes a sip from his steaming mug. A'lex shakes off the confusion long enough to take a moment to introduce himself, "Oh, my apologies, I'm A'lex, lifemate to Nraith" he says to the room in general. Draugdae raises a hand. "Draugdae." to the people. Kassima bobs his head vigorously, then hastens to straighten his odd cap. "Recent, yes. Very recent. Just graduated from Dyinath's latest group. I don't think I know you at all, but maybe you know some of my relatives. I have a few up Telgar's way. That's probably it." He smiles helpfully, as though trying to will poor 'Lex into agreeing. Rilsa flashes S'dar a smile as she leans back in her seat, watching the exchange between A'lex and K'sin. S'dar hmms. "That's strange. You look familiar to me, too, K'sin... and yet, I was never at Benden." He shrugs it off and inadvertantly takes a bite of his jerky before reliazing he's done it. He wrinkles his nose and washes it down with cider. A'lex nods, apparently accepting that explination, "Oh! Okay. Who?" Lysseth> I bespoke Nraith with << Your rider isn't supposed to know mine, even though he does. I think this thing with Ularrith's rider has finally driven mine off the deep end. >> Dragon> Nraith bespoke Lysseth with << So this is some sort game? >> Matheny looks at K'sin, stares actually. My he does have some of the prettiest eyes she's ever seen. "There's pepper oil in the klah so be careful." she gives her standard warning of the day. Draugdae grins at Matheny. Carissea shakes her head at the thought of eating a tunnelsnake when there's another choice, and serves herself some of that nice Herdbeast stew. Taking it to a seat near Matheny, she asks, "I hope Tria didn't keep everybody up?" Rilsa pours herself a mug of cider as she just stares at K'sin. Kassima remembers, oddly belatedly, to salute yonder Wingsecond and other ranking individuals in the room as he finds himself a seat. "You might know my cousin. She's a greenrider. Name's Thera," he offers. "Seriously, no, I've never met any of you before in my life. This is the first time I've actually been to High Reaches. The Weyrlingmaster didn't let us travel much as Weyrlings." He favors Matheny with a grin. "Ah, such a shame. I *love* klah, really I do. Nothing better in the world than a nice, hot cup of klah, mmm boy." Matheny winks to Draugdae and then moves over a little for Carissea, "Didn't keep me up, I slept like a drunk bron..err rock." Draugdae chuckles at Matheny. Lysseth> Nraith senses that Lysseth warbles confusedly, << I *guess* so. Kassima insists that if I tell people who she is, she'll die. >> Which would explain why the green is willing to go along with this. A'lex turns to smirk at Matheny, "Actually, we don't sleep when we get drunk, we get all proddy..." He winks. Julasha hmphs. "It's /still/ good klah." It's impossible to ruin klah, in her opinion. S'dar grins. "I've never seen a drunk rock. But if ordinary rocks are any indication, I'd wager you slept quite well." Carissea hrms. "A drunk rock? Sounds like some bronzeriders I know," she remarks with a wink. "I don't *think* Rukbat had risen before I got to sleep..." Draugdae laughs at S'dar and then pipes down, seeing Matheny. Dh'lon blinks and looks at his klah. "Pepper oil?" Rilsa chuckles. Kassima gives A'lex a very odd look. "You don't get proddy, you tell lies about greenriders and try to throw food," he says before he thinks. Coughing, he clears his throat and adds meekly, "Or so I'm told. Thera tells me everything that goes on up at Telgar, yes, she does." Matheny blushes a bit as the rider with the nice eyes looks at her. If any other cute guys show up today she just might faint from teenage hormone overload. "Err drunk rock, yes. Umm, that's just..High Reaches slang. Yep, slang!" Carissea grins, noticing Matheny's reaction. She's feeling mellow today, and doesn't tease her. Julasha nods innocently, backing up Matheny. "Surely you've heard the expression at /some/ point, S'dar." A'lex looks at K'whatsis closely again, then says, "No, I don't throw food. And neither does anyone else, because that was a dream, and Thera wouldn't..." He pauses thoughtfully, "Nevermind." S'dar notices Matheny's mannerisms, looking up only for a moment at the young goldrider before he looks away again. The target of his look-away just happens to be K'sin. After examining the man's strange hat for a moment, he asks, "so, how are things at Benden, sir?" Dh'lon grimaces and hands his still full mug off to a passing drudge. Julasha intercepts the klah-carrying drudge with a quiet thank you. "Easier than pouring it myself," she murmurs. Draugdae offers some jerky to Dh'lon, Carissea, and K'sin. "Want some? It is really good." S'dar grins at Julasha. "I have. And having been a drunk bronzerider at least once in my life, I can say that it brings up images much more frightening to me than comfortable sleeps." He laughs. Dh'lon gives Draugdae a look, as if judging his sanity. "No thanks." Draugdae chuckles and then nods. Carissea shakes her head at the thought. "No, thanks," she says, omitting the 'I'm not that hungry'. "I prefer fresh wherry. Julasha grins back at S'dar. "Ah, but drunken bronzeriders can be an awful lot of fun. It's really amazing the things they'll do after they've had a few strong drinks." A'lex looks at S'dar, "And yet you offer to take the cause of those images to dinner?" Matheny smiles, "It's just that when you come down in the middle of the night for a glass of juice because your dragon is snoring you have to step over the occasional bronzerider and they look so peaceful clutching their dragonpoker cards." Kassima explains with just a hint of desperation, "Thera's got this other cousin up at Telgar, some whatsername greenrider who told her, I think. She said old whatsername confused the heck out of her with that story. Yes." He bobs his head again, as though he could change reality by the force of his nod. "Oh, Benden's great!" he then enthuses. "Wonderful Weyr, absolutely wonderful. And Duskguard's the best Wing on the planet. We've got a great Wingsecond. Alyssa, blue Adonith's rider. Do you know her?" At the offer of jerky, he swallows, but agrees tentatively, "Love some, thanks. If you're, err, sure I wouldn't be taking advantage of the Weyr's hospitality." Draugdae chuckles. "Nonsense." He places some in his hand, and also motions to the fresh bublies he brought in not too long ago. Carissea grins at Matheny. "Next time, swap cards with another 'rider..." she suggests. A'lex isn't sure to cheer at the mention of Dragon poker or cheer at the mention of Alyssa. Either way, he smiles pleasantly at both speakers, eyes lingering on K'whatsis not quite as long as on Matheny. S'dar looks around at all the people refusing to eat the tunnelsnake, and grumbles something it being unfair that _he_ had to eat it... Dh'lon scratches at his chin and props his booted feet up on the table before him, ignoring the bits of dirt that fall onto the surface. Kassima eyes Carissea a bit oddly for whatever strange reason at the mention of 'raw wherry'. "Can't stand the stuff myself," he mumbles. He edges just a bit away from A'lex. The last thing he needs is bronzeriders eyeing him *now*. Taking a strip of the jerky, he snaps off a hearty bite, and chews with vigor. "Delicious!" he proclaims, sounding sincere, Faranth help him. Matheny oos at Carissea, "How come I never think of thinks like that?" Draugdae grins and sits back. Carissea there there's Matheny. "It's one of those things that comes with age. Sneakiness." she replies. S'dar peers at K'sin and his hearty enthusiasm for the tunnelsnake jerky, and gives Draugdae a mock glare. "Did you slip him bubbly pie jerky instead?" Draugdae snickers and shakes his head. "No, S'dar. I wouldn't -dream- of it." S'dar grins. "Good," he says. Dh'lon purses his lips slightly as he glances K'sin over. A'lex again turns his gaze on the retreating K'whatsis. Granted, it's not the same gaze that he uses on the pretty Goldrider, this is more of a, "Somthing's not right in Denmark" sorta gaze. Matheny gets up reluctantly from her chair, waded up ugly yellow yarn clutched in her hand, "I'm wanted for something! It was good to see everyone!" she starts out of the room, waving. Dh'lon waves a hand absently at Matheny. Draugdae waves to Matheny Matheny mutters to S'dar, "It... and..." Carissea waves at Matheny. "Clear skies." she says. A'lex grins at the retreating Matheny, "G'day ma'am. Twas good to meet you." "No," K'sin says, munching contentedly on the jerky. "Tastes just like tunnelsnake. Ma used to cook me up a mess of 'snake cutlets back home at... um... Lemos. That's where I'm from." He shoots 'Lex the patented Greenrider Look of Evil, before saluting after the goldrider. "Clear skies, ma'am!" Matheny stops to say something to S'dar, then waves again to everyone and hops out quickly. Matheny wanders outside to the bowl. A'lex recognises that look, no, couldn't be.... S'dar looks up at Matheny, though he's been avoiding looking at her for a while, just as she leans down to whisper to him. He nods to her comment with a smile, but before he can reply, she's gone. A'lex nudges, He mutters to S'dar, "So,... a date?" S'dar involuntarily shudders at K'sin's look of evil, but he doesn't seem to be affected by it... it's so natural for him to get it at least a few times a day that his body must have become accustomed to it. Dh'lon smirks at S'dar's reaction, "'Tis odd. Normally only a woman can give a truly dirty look." S'dar blushes at A'lex's mutter but doesn't respond, pursing his lips together and staring into his mug of cider. Draugdae sits back watching the riders, quietly. A'lex looks at S'dar, "Well?! Come on, no secrets, that's not fair!" Kassima informs Dh'lon primly, "All greenriders can be evil, bluerider, really we can. Greenrider evilness transcends such things as gender." Julasha eyes the Bendenite speculatively, switching her attention from S'dar to him. Oh, she's got that look in her eye again. She gives the rider a sweet smile, saying, "What's your name again? K'sin or something like that? What'd you say brings you to the Reaches today?" S'dar shakes his head to A'lex. "No," he replies simply, then sips at his cider again, hoping A'lex will find a new topic of conversation. Dh'lon smiles at K'sin, "I see." Kassima swallows. He's evil enough to recognize other evil when he sees it. He ducks his head, clears his throat, and says meekly, "K'sin, yes, ma'am. Green Lyrsith's rider. I wanted some tunnelsnake jerky, and I'd heard you make excellent jerky here. Which is true, by the way. Have you tried it yet?" Yes, he's rambling. A'lex mutters to S'dar, "... date, or... answer... going... harem... feel..." Draugdae grins at Julasha, not saying a word.... Dh'lon leans back in his chair, crossing his legs as he keeps his boots up on the table. Julasha nods with a smile. "Oh yes, indeed. It's quite good as far as tunnelsnake jerky goes." Not that she's ever had any before this ill-fated day. "We've better stuff than that in the kitchens though, if you'd care to take a look." S'dar watches Julasha get that look in her eye as she watches K'sin. Must be something about those eyes. And that hat. Perhaps girls dig the hat. And K'sin does seem to be a charmer... complimenting the tunnelsnake jerky, who else would have thought of such a charming line? Now THOSE... those are some serious shenanigans. Some might even say, some mighty boisterous tomfoolery. He watches K'sin for more of the same. Dh'lon is glad he can't read S'dar's mind or he might get confused. Carissea happily sips at her stew. MUCH better than jerky. She eyes S'dar curiously, following his gaze to that K'sin fellow. Her lips quirk in amusement. A'lex stops for a moment, and turns his gaze slowly on K'whatsis, "K'sin? K'sin, yes... You know, they have some excellent Tubers here... boiled in broth..." Dh'lon says "Redfruit too." Kassima eyes S'dar a bit nervously, not quite sure *why* she's being eyed. "Mmm-hmm. Great jerky, mmm boy, just like Ma used to make. I think I'll really be content with just munching on the jerky awhile. If no one minds my eating it, anyway." For some reason, he shudders as he bravely claims to 'Lex, "Oh, how wonderful. I *adore* tubers... delicious things, but I just had them for lunch. This jerky will suit me better. Redfruit? You don't say." The poor kid is starting to look confused. A'lex shakes his head, "Oh, but you MUST try them, makes the jerky seem like... like... well, jerky. They're so good, all buttered up and steaming..." How would he know this? He didn't eat any. Dh'lon says "Yeah, I hear redfruit goes good with bronzeriders, but you'd have to ask R'ehn about that." Julasha perks up slightly. All that focus on food... "Why K'sin, you'll just have to stay over for dinner then. I'm sure we can find you some entertainment enticing enough to fill your day quite satisfyingly." A'lex raises an eyebrow, "R'ehn? Likes Bronzeriders? I thought that he was weyrmated to a Greenrider..." Dh'lon scratches his chin and shifts in his seat, "I don't know if he likes bronzeriders. I think it was M'rgan who was having an affair with bronzeriders.. or was he not? In any case redfruit was definitely involved, or maybe not." Dh'lon says "I wasn't paying that close attention yesterday." "I wouldn't know," K'sin says about the redfruit and the bronzeriders. "Bronzeriders aren't my gig, see. Are they?" He goes faintly pale, and has to swallow again, but manages a sickly smile for A'lex. "How... urgh... wonderful. Dinner? Entertainment? Oh, no, ma'am--I mean, you've already made my day pretty interesting just by being here, I assure you. Really. You needn't feel obligated to do anything for little old me." Julasha shakes her head with a reassuring smile. "Don't be silly, K'sin. I'd... we'd be more than happy to have you. And you haven't seen nothin' yet." Overhearing A'lex and Dh'lon, she reddens slightly, muttering about G'har. A'lex nods, "Yes, that **WAS** a rumor about M'rgan, spawned by a very malicious sandwich throwing Greenrider... Dh'lon says "Really?" A'lex continues, "No offense to Greenriders in general, but this one takes the cake... and then some..." Kassima asks brightly, quite happy to change the subject, "M'rgan? I know him. Thera told me he's been having a thing with some Telgar man. A'lice, or something like that. I'm sure this greenrider person didn't mean any *harm*...." He meets Julasha's smile with a rather tremulous one of his own. For a moment, one can read his thoughts clearly in those remarkably green eyes of his: 'I'm in trouble.' "Uh. Well. You know, there're drills and stuff; I doubt I could really *stay*...." Carissea looks bemused, and stares at that greenrider, as if that face should be familiar. Julasha aws softly. "Well, in that case, K'sin, why don't you let me give you a quick tour of the Weyr. We do have some lovely sights here at the 'Reaches." A'lex snorts, "Mean any harm? This particular Greenrider is a quite adept at meaning harm. Malicious, taunting, and, from what I hear, not all that friendly towards men." "You don't say." K'sin starts to grin, before he catches himself and suppresses it. "I'll have to stay away from her, then. Ma always told me to beware of angry women. And women who want to look at ceilings, too. She said that was a *really* bad thing." He nods vigorously again. See? Nothing but agreement here. "Um... do you really? That's great, but I couldn't possibly go until I've eaten this splendid tunnelsnake jerky." Dh'lon says "Hm, reminds me of someone." Dh'lon waves over a drudge and asks him to bring some meatrolls over. Dh'lon says "And there better not be in any tunnelsnake in it." A'lex nods, "You'd be wise to do that... Avoid her like the plague..." He stands, "Well, I hate to defame a Greenrider, no matter how much she deserves it, and run, but I've errands to attend to. S'dar, you can stay if you wish, but I've got to get to work." Julasha starts, peering with a slight frown at K'sin. There's that ceiling thing again. "I see... well, eat up and I'll walk you out to your dragon after you're finished." Her smile is one of mingled sensuality and suspicion. Draugdae chuckles. A'lex meanders outside to the bowl. Lysseth> A'lex starts to mount Nraith, then stops, "Lysseth?" he just shakes his head and continues. Lysseth> A'lex climbs up Nraith's riding straps, with a bit of assistance from a graciously extended foreleg. He settles in between two forward neckridges and straps himself in. Lysseth> In the sky directly above, Nraith springs powerfully into the sky from the ground below. S'dar shakes his head, standing. "No, I'll help you bring that stuff back to Telgar," he replies. "Though I've had an excellent time meeting everyone," he says with a smile. "It's been really pleasant." Perhaps pleasant isn't quite the word to sum up such an experience, but it's a part of it. Kassima affirms cheerfully, "Will do, A'lex. Benden's duties, clear skies, and all that stuff." He frowns as he manages to miss the man. "Mrph... oh, gee, ma'am, that'd be really nice of you, but I really couldn't impose. Really, I wouldn't dream of it." Julasha turns the full force of her brightest smile on S'dar. "Please come back soon, bronzerider. The day's been brightened by your presence." Turning back to K'sin, she shakes her head. "No imposition, and we really must fulfill host obligations, K'sin. You wouldn't want us to be rude now, would you?" S'dar stands up, weaving a bit as his body adjusts from having been in a seated position for some time. He nods to Julasha. "I will do that," he agrees with a friendly smile. "Good evening, all." He glances at K'sin as he heads out... mutters, "something about that guy..." before heading out to the Bowl. Kassima offers the bronzerider a smile, too--a smile that's starting to take on a hint of the panicked. "Clear skies," she offers to him, too, before turning back to face the peril. "Well, no, I wouldn't want *that*, but really, you've been so kind already that I wouldn't want to, um, tax your hospitality any further...." S'dar strides outside to the bowl. Dh'lon suggests bluntly to K'sin, "If you don't want to just say no." Lysseth> S'dar glances over toward the Junior Queen Weyrs momentarily, biting his lip. He stands beside Chezroth for a moment in this stance, then shrugs a bit to himself as he climbs atop the young bronze. Lysseth> S'dar climbs atop Chezroth and settles between two neckridges. Lysseth> Lysseth warbles farewell to the departing bronze, still sounding oddly amused. Go figure. Lysseth> Chezroth rumbles a farewell to Lysseth... er, Lyrsith. Kassima knows all too well how evil slighted women can be, though. "It's not that, erm, exactly, bluerider sir. It's just that I really *do* have drills very shortly, and my Wingleader's a real killer if you're late. He'd probably scalp me and use my hair to cover up his bald spot." Lysseth> From atop Chezroth, S'dar looks over and sees Lysseth. "Lysseth... how strange," he comments, looking around. "Kassima must be around here somewhere." He hrmps to himself. "You'd think that if she saw Chezroth and Nraith she *might* come to the Living Cavern to say a hello." Grumbling a bit to himself, he heads off. Lysseth> In the sky directly above, Chezroth rises effortlessly into the sky from the ground below. Dh'lon smiles slightly, "Oh, is that it?" Lysseth> Falsanath senses that Lysseth remarks, sounding extremely, extraordinarily amused, << I think my rider has developed a whole new appreciation for the *feeling best summed up as 'Aiyeeeeeee!'* suffered by your rider when he met *Julasha*. >> Julasha smiles sweetly, eyes still narrowed. "Well we certainly can't have that. Next thing you know he'll be after you with an emasculator. And that would be such a pity. Better get in some fun while you can. Lotsa fun around here..." Dragon> Lysseth senses that Falsanath rumbles rather drowsily. << What? Has *Julasha* decided that she likes women, now? >> Kassima bobs his head with almost frantic vigorousness, then pauses to straighten his cap again. The darned thing keeps almost sliding off somehow. "Yes, that's the gist of it. You know how Wingleaders can be. Come to think of it, I should probably get going right about now...." His reaction to the word 'emasculator' seems genuinely male enough, though belated: he squeaks and crosses his legs. "No, no, no, it's only female greenriders who have Emasculators, my cousin told me so... I don't think he'd, um, de-masculinize me." Kinda hard to do that anyway, all things considered. "I'm sure I'm safe. Or will be, if I run--run home, I mean. Yes." He uncrosses his legs and starts to stand, hesitantly offering his hand. "It's been good meeting you, um, ma'am. A real pleasure. Yes." Carissea hrms at 'Kassima'. "I've got a spare emasculator if you need one..." Lysseth> Falsanath senses that Lysseth sends an image of how her rider currently looks. It's rather... well, un-female. << Kassima decided that if she made herself look like a male, Ularrith's rider wouldn't recognize her, and she could visit *High Reaches* without dying. But now *Julasha* is acting as though she wants to fly her. My rider is not precisely pleased about this. >> Julasha stands, taking K'sin's hand in hers as well as reaching for his other hand. Bringing both to her lips she gives his hands a soft kiss. "Farewell and clear skies, K'sin. Don't forget the hospitality of the High Reaches. Come back and enjoy us sometime." Kassima coughs and shakes his head at Carissea. "Uh... no, ma'am, thanks. I'm sure I can get one from my cousin if I nee--" He breaks off with a bit of a squeak as Julasha kises his hands. "Um. Yes. Yes, I'll do that. Right. Clear skies," he manages to get out, then turns tail and runs as fast as his legs can carry him. You wander outside to the bowl. Kassima pelts pell-mell from the Cavern, skidding to a halt beside her dragon. "Dear *Faranth*, that woman is evil," she mutters in her own natural tones, accent and all. "Get us out of here, Lyss. I swear, 'tis a sad thing when you attract more notice as a man than as a woman. Yeeesh." You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You rise up into the sky.