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Are You Sure You're Not Supposed To Kill the Messenger?


Date:  November 29, 1997
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  To this day, I'm still not certain just what made Kassi's
cheese-noodles such a popular topic of discussion.  Nor am I positive
that the events occuring in this log don't mark the *true* End of the
World.  There's only one thing I am sure of:  I really and truly pity
the NPC messenger guy.  There's a lot of knot-chat in this log, for 
comedy's sake; all other non-RP things have been snipped out.

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The Log:

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

Jalimax waves and smiles at Kassima.

Jaeleka brightens at Kassi's arrival, calling a hello out to the woman. 
"Hey! We got cookies."

D'ton has stuffed his mouth so full of cookie that conversation has become 
effectively impossible. In fact, he looks rather like a hamster with his 
cheeks bulging out like that.

Click, click, clickety-click go Kassi's boot-heels against the stone of 
the Cavern as she walks in. Her stride is that of a woman with a mission; 
her target destination, the food table. "Evening, all," she belatedly 
remembers to call to the various folk of the room, raising her hand to 
toss off a wave. "Sounds good, Jae! What kind of cookies?"

Maylia offers her mentor a quick salute, cookie in the active hand, mug of 
klah in the other, and two cookies on the table before her. "Evening, 
Kassima," she calls, pleasant smile that has been on her face since she 
entered the cavern remaining.

Jayna looks up from her quiet seat. She hmmmns. Does Kassi eat /all/ the 
time?

Jorenan walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Jaeleka looks at the half-eaten bit in her fingers. "Uh, double-mollas-
something or other something cookies?" She frowns at Kassi, already having 
forgotten what exactly it was she gave up calling Alnar names for.

Jorenan trudges in, looks around, and then heads towards the klah pot and 
a bowl of roasted and salted nuts. He takes a seat near Jaeleka, seeing as 
how the girl is his Master's fosterling, so that makes him connected to 
her somehow or another. He nods to those he knows as he passes them.

"Sounds delicious," Kassi agrees absently. Absently, because most of her 
attention is already on locating food for herself. Cream of tomato soup, 
blueberries, a helping of rolls, stuffed mushrooms, and a small serving of 
cheese-noodles go onto her plates; apparently, the greenrider's eating 
light tonight. "Evening yourself, Maylia," she replies to the Weyrling 
with a nod. "How fares?" That last seems directed towards anyone within 
hearing range.

Telgar Weyr> Jorenan says, "Cheese noodles??"

Jaeleka blinks up at Jorenan, and then smiles. Only a little smile. He is 
still one of those *boy* things after all. But she does take time out to 
point him towards the cookies. "They're very good. Everyone else has some 
too."

Jayna grins at Kassi. "Hey, there, Kassima." She quickly throws up her 
hands. "I didn't say ma'am!"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima figures the term for fettucini prolly wouldn't have 
lasted through the Turns. I saw it being served once at Boll as cheese-
noodles, so.... :)

D'ton finally downs the over large mouthful he's taken and washes it down 
with some of the cider. He blinks, looking at Kassima.

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn mmmms. Cheese noodles. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Jayna says, "You missed the hyphen, Jessie. That was 'cheese-
noodles'. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn says, "Ohfine. :) cheese-noodles, then. Get 
picky. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> Jayna laughs :)

Jorenan grins at Jaeleka quietly. He takes a couple of cookies and adds 
them to his snack. "Thanks," he says. Then he sits and looks 'round the 
room, chicking out what others are eating. He blinks at Kassi's food. 
Just... blinks.

Kassima laughs, raising her mug of cider in Jayna to a salute. "Indeed you 
didn't, and believe me when I say I'm grateful!" Espying D'ton's regard, 
she glances down at herself. "What? Did I spill food on m'self already?"

Maylia nods briefly at the question, eyeing the quantity of food Kassi's 
selected. "Doing fine, thanks Kassi. Yourself?"

D'ton holds up one stained sleeve of his own. "Nome, I did," he says.
Caitria walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Jaeleka notes the direction of Jorenan's stare, and sighs. Terribly 
disappointed. She mutters to Jorenan, "She's having a little." 

D'ton looks more closely at Kassima's large meal, then adds, "But I think 
I'm starting to get hungry. Are those them cheese-noodles?"

Caitria murmurs a greeting as she comes into the living cavern.

Jorenan blinks at Jaeleka and then ahhhs. "I understand now."

Telgar Weyr> Jayna says, "Nice hyphen :)"

Kassima nods, still looking rather perplexed. "All right, then. Me? I'm 
fairly well, Maylia--famished, but," she grins, "that's a situation easily 
rectified. Tria, g'deve t'you!" After waving to the Craftsecond, Kassi 
sets to the task of eating in earnest. "Hrm? Oh, aye, D'ton, they are."

Telgar Weyr> D'ton couldn't resist it. He was weak.

Jessalyn walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Richenda is sitting near the hearth, feet up, looking weary and munching 
on a cookie.

Telgar Weyr> Jorenan says, "Are cheese-noodles more like Cheetoes or more 
like macaroni and chese?"

D'ton points at the cheese-noodles and says, "Them's that foreign food 
from Boll, right?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "They're like fettucini--that long pasta with 
the white cheese melted over it. :)"

R'val nudges Maylia gently and murmurs, "And what was that little 
package?" he asks, more teasing than anything else.

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn says, "Umm. Right, okay. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Jorenan says, "Oooo."

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn says, "The /good/ kind of cheese-noodles. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> D'ton says, "Don't forget the hyphen."

Telgar Weyr> D'ton hi5s Jayna. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Richenda erms.

Kassima swallows a bite of the noodles in question before nodding once in 
affirmation. "Y'know your noodles. That's where the style of these 
originated, I believe."

Caitria gets a mug of klah, and visibly ponders a roll. "Anybody know 
what's in those?" She eyes Kassi for a moment, then pauses and eyes her 
again. "Hmm."

Telgar Weyr> Jayna slaps right back! :)

Maylia blinks, perhaps feigning confusion. "Package?" She asks. Eyebrows 
raise. "Oh, that! Ah, Jaeleka'd asked me about a certain dye I used on the 
wool for my little sister's sweater, and I had some so I figured I'd share 
it." This last is stated in a loud enough voice that others nearby might 
hear, with a pointed look and a nod for the girl.

Kassima looks up and over towards the rolls in question. "They're 
sourdough, I think," she reports before stuffing a bite of stuffed 
mushroom in her mouth.

R'val regards Maylia thoughtfully for a moment, then nods, with a light 
smile, "That's very kind of you!"

Jaeleka's eyes widen as Maylia's answer begins. But as the explanation 
continues, she relaxes, quickly hiding her face in the continued munching 
of her remaining cookie.

Jorenan looks over at Richenda and smiles. "You look awfully tired, ma'am. 
Have you had a hard day?"

D'ton nods to Kassi and comments, "Had some once. Made me sick for a day."

Richenda replies wryly, "Any day is when you're married to the man I love, 
Jorenan. And bless you for the stew you made today. As Faranth's my 
witness, it made everyone happy as can be."

Caitria starts to pick up a roll, then pauses as D'ton speaks, perhaps 
changing her mind. She hmms. "Stew? What kind?"

Jessalyn hops into the cavern, smiling, and makes a beeline for Richenda. 
She gives the woman a gentle hug before plopping to a seat nearby.

D'ton regards the Kassima's meal for a brief moment, more then goes over 
to get himself some fruit. Half-way there, he stops in mid-stride. He 
turns back to look at Kassima rather than at her food.

Jorenan considers that for a long moment. He starts to answer. At the last 
moment, he changes what he was going to say. "Yes, I can see how someone 
like -- Err, that is, I'm sorry you had a hard day. I'm glad everyone 
liked the stew."

Richenda's weariness dissipates from the hug and she takes Jessie's hand 
while she sits. "Dear, sweet girl."

Kassima blinks, and peers down at the noodles. "Really? They've never 
given me a problem." Changing the subject *away* from nausea, she wonders 
of Tria, "How go things with you, Weyrherder?" As D'ton's gaze returns to 
her, she quirks an eyebrow upwards. "What now?"

Maylia starts munching on her second cookie, eyes searching to find 
Jaeleka. Finding her, she smiles, and waves the cookie in the air. "Good 
cookies, Jaeleka! Did you help make'em?" She asks.

D'ton's gaze flicks down towards Kassima's stomach. "Oh," he says, 
"Absolutely nothing. I'm just confused today." He turns around quickly, 
and returns his attention to the fruit.

Jessalyn smiles at Richenda, "I hope that helps a little."

Jaeleka shakes her head, sending curls bounding. "Nope. I'm not allowed to 
help with cookies yet. I had a *big* accident when I was a little and cut 
my foot." Her nose crinkles. "I got a scar, wanna see it?"

Richenda gives Jessalyn's hand a squeeze. "Of course it did."

Caitria hmms, and ambles over to Kassi, sans roll, sans stew, with klah. 
"Not bad. Busy as ever. I went to visit my bovines at Bitra today." She 
grins, quite pleased. "They're doing well. Kairen isn't doing too badly 
with them."

Maylia shakes her head, waving her hand. "I think I'll pass on the scar, 
thanks." She draws her brow together. "But what does that have to do with 
not being able to help with cookies yet?"

D'ton passes Jorenan on the way back, and now looks at .him. curiously.

R'val glances concernedly at Jaeleka. "Scar?"

Jayna looks around and suddenly remember something. She smacks her hand 
over her mouth. "The mint!"

Jaeleka sighs at Maylia. "I was a very *Bad* little, and Master Ofira made 
a ruloe that I couldn't go in the - er, *her* kitchen never again."

Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima gives D'ton the kind of look that's usually directed towards her--
the one that says, 'I am rather in doubt of your sanity at this time.' 
Shaking her head, she scoots over a bit and nudges a chair out with her 
foot. "Sit, Tria, if'n you'd like. Kairen's the Herder at Bitra, I take 
it?"

Caitria does like, and sits. "One of them, aye--he studied under me when 
he was an apprentice. Good lad."

Jorenan catches D'ton's peculiar look. He frowns for a moment, and then 
perhaps a dim glow is uncovered. It's still pretty dim though. He mutters 
something about spicy herdbeast barbecue.

Jessalyn beams and squeezes Richenda's hand softly before she looks out 
across the cavern, thoughtfully.

Maylia nods understanding, then shakes her head again. "So did you hurt 
your foot in the kitchen, then?" She asks, followed quickly with, "Surely 
not 'never,' hon, everyone does silly things as littles but they grow up 
to be just fine."

D'ton stops, and holds out his clean hand to Jorenan. "Have we met?" he 
asks, "I'm having such a confusing day I don't think I should have got out 
of bed, but I seem to think I know you, and not from some recent 
introduction."

Kassima shoves some of her plates out of the way, picking up a fork and 
twirling it through her cheese-noodles. "I wonder whether herdbeast males 
are confused by the females," she muses, out of the blue.

Jorenan considers D'ton for a moment. "I don't think we ever officially," 
he says. "I served you at a barbecue. At Benden. You seemed to like the 
spicy herdbeast."

"Well," Jaeleka tells Maylia "She's fostering me now. And," sighing with 
great exageration "I have to peel tubers. *And* scrub pots."

The apprentice covers D'ton's hand with his own and adds, "Jorenan, Baker 
Apprentice."

Richenda pats Jessalyn's leg. "So what're you doing to keep yourself busy, 
Jessie, dear?"

Caitria peers quizzically at Kassi, looking with interest at the cheese-
noodles. (Yes, hyphenated.) "I've never noticed them to be."

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn sighs. All this talk about cheese-noodles is making 
me hungry.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima never realized her cheese-noodles would cause such a 
reaction.

Jessalyn smiles, "Lessons, and chores. Same as always. And trying to make 
friends with the people from Benden, too."

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn makes good cheese-noodles...when she has the stuff 
to cook with. :)

Telgar Weyr> Caitria is starting to crave cheese-noodles.

Richenda glances about. "Do you know all of these people?"

Telgar Weyr> R'val just ate perogies and fries. I'm stuffed. No cheese 
noodles for me.

Maylia groans in sympathy for the girl. "Peeling tubers and scrubbing 
pots. That's about all I did as a candidate, you know. Day after day after 
day of it. I began to even wish I could trade with someone else for a turn 
at firestone bagging, or even mucking out stalls."

D'ton's momentary look of consternation is classic. "You were that 
sonnava.." he starts, then laughs, albeit slightly uncertainly. He shakes 
Jorenan's hand. "Dan..D'ton. I ride Kyoteth."

Kassima waggles her fork of cheese-noodles back and forth, to and fro, 
watching the noodles sway. "'Twas just thinking of a conversation Cav was 
having earlier with a young lad in here," she explains. "He was asking 
something or other about why women are as they are, and why folk put up 
with 'em. Cav said something about women being... let me think... 
marvelous and curious creatures, and how he prefers the abuse of being 
with one over solitude. Think the herdbeasts ever feel that way?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima groans and wants cheese-noodles, too.

Jessalyn shakes her head as she, too, looks around, "No, just a couple of 
them. The ones that stay in the dorms."

Jaeleka sighs again, playing on the sympathy she's getting from Maylia. 
"Yeah. Its almost as bad as lessons."

A young man with an Istan knot appears with an armload of Southern blooms 
and calls out, "Hey! Ista's duty, and is anyone here named Kassima?"

Jorenan grins at D'ton. "Yeah, I was the sone of a watchwher. I'm sorry 
about that. Pleasure to meet you. And regards to your dragon, too."

Caitria's eyebrows arch. "Abuse?" She mulls that over, with a sip of klah. 
"Did he say any more on the subject?"

Richenda was about to say something to Jessalyn when the Istan's call 
makes her peer at the exit to the bowl.

D'ton says "Um, yes. Unexpected change of career. So, have you been at 
Telgar long?"

Kassima considers Tria's question for a long moment. "I think he said that 
men have to accept women because they're preferrable to the alternative, 
and he kept talking about how best t'get revenge on a woman." She turns 
her head as her name is called, blinking at the sight of the source. 
"That'd be me," she calls over to the young flower-bearer.

Caitria's eyes narrow just a bit. "Mmm-HM. Yes. Well, thank you for 
telling me that." She falls silent as she spots the flower-bearer, but she 
clearly has a question or two she wants to ask Kassi.

Maylia nods with understanding, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Well, 
you know, it could be worse, after all. You could be cleaning latrines. Or 
doing nothing but mucking stalls. At least this way you stay clean."

Jorenan grins. "I was transferred here several sevendays before the Benden 
folk arrived," he answers D'ton. "Just long enough to find out how 
things... used to work here." His gaze rests firmly on D'ton. He doesn't 
glance around. He makes sre of it.

Grinning, the Istan heads for Kassima and offers the flowers with a bow. 
"Ista's duty, greenrider, and this poem:

"There was a young rider from Ista
Who thought well of the rider of Lyss, yeah
        He send me down south
        And gave words for my mouth
And here he's sent flowers because he's missed ya."

R'val squints, "An admirer, Kassi..."

Caitria blinks at the limerick and the flowers. She mutters to herself, 
"Cav... take notes... rider... flowers... poetry... Feh."

Jorenan gapes at the Istan. Literally gapes. Then he shudders violently 
and takes a long sip of his klah. A little too much sugar in his klah, 
must be.

D'ton replies to Jorenan, "You probably know more about it than.." he 
breaks off, unable to keep his attention on any normal conversation when 
someone's quoting poetry or the like to Kassima.

Jessalyn looks between Kassima and the flower-bearing Istan, and glances 
over at Richenda. "Isn't that sweet?" she whispers softly.

Jaeleka giggles.

Richenda hmmms. "I think it's sweet enough but wonder why the man didn't 
bring the flowers and poetry himself."

Jessalyn gives the delivery boy another glance. "Maybe he's too shy to 
bring them himself."

Blink. Blinkblinkblink. Setting down her fork of hapless noodles, Kassi 
reflexively reaches for the flowers, actually blushing. Yes, blushing. "My 
stars...! They're beautiful!" Realizing that she has something of an 
audience, the greenrider clears her throat and beams at the Istan 
messenger. "Thankee! Can you give the sender m'regards, please, and thanks 
as well?"

"Surely will, ma'am!" the messenger assures Kassima. "Anything else? 
Message? Hug? Kiss?" Hopeful, isn't he?

J'lyn walks in from the bowl.

D'ton seems to momentarily forget who he's talking to and murmurs to 
Jorenan, "If I ever do anything like that, make sure I'm too drunk to 
remember it."

Caitria, as she's sitting right next to Kassi, can't help but overhear all 
of this stuff. "Which rider?" she inquires, nosy sort that she is.

J'lyn wanders in and towards the wine cabinet behind Pierron's back, 
waving as he mischeviously sneaks a glass of Benden Red.

Richenda nudges Jessalyn. "Wonder if this rider's the one who left Kassima 
a present a few months back, hmm?"

Telgar Weyr> Jaeleka laughs here, as she can't IC

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Somebody fill me in as to what's going on that I 
just walked into...?"

Telgar Weyr> Jehrina cracks up. Yeah, some present. :)

Jessalyn glances over at Kassima, "Maybe he likes her."

The Baker Apprentice seems to understand. "I'll do that," Jorenan agrees. 
"I'll even pour the ale for you," he says in an undertone.

Telgar Weyr> Jaeleka says, "Hey, Kassi's been around Jae for a while now. 
*anything* she gets has to be better"

Telgar Weyr> Jehrina says, "you missed the messenger that dropped off a 
bunch of flowers and read her a poem :)"

"D'you really want to kiss him for me?" Kassi inquires drolly, drawing her 
eyes away from their admiration of the flowers. "If'n you do, then by all 
means!" To Tria, she murmurs back, "Jh'rin, I suspect. Unless I've an 
admirer at Ista that I'm wholly unaware of."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn chuckles. Kassi got a singing telegram?

Telgar Weyr> Richenda laughs. Something like that.

R'val glances at Kassi, "Is this really Jh'rin's style...?" He ponders.

Richenda shrugs. "If he likes her," she says quietly, "he should come 
himself."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Flowers and bad poetry, R'val? Of course it's 
his style. ;)"

Caitria nods at Richenda's words. "He's got a dragon," she points out. 
"Feh. Men."

J'lyn quirks an eyebrow at Caitria.

Telgar Weyr> R'val says, "I didn't say it wasn't, I just asked...;) I 
dunno Jh'rin ;)"

The messenger blushes and laughs heartily. "Plenty of people waiting to 
kiss him, from the Weyrleader down, ma'am. I'll let him know you liked the 
gift. And if I can just get some klah before I go I'd be happy."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Ahhh...weird. :)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn grumps. "Men. Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em, 
can't cook 'em in a wok."

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn laughs.

The look Tria gives J'lyn in return is one of utter martyrdom. "Cav 
started it." At the messenger's words, she boggles. "L'tan??"

Telgar Weyr> Jehrina hi5s J'lyn.

Telgar Weyr> D'ton says, "Yes you can, if you cut 'em into small enough 
pieces."

Telgar Weyr> Caitria grins. Men. Can't live with 'em, can't get rid of the 
bodies. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima prefers Kassi's version: "Men. Can't live with 'em, 
can't live without 'em, can't make eunuchs out of all of 'em and solve the 
dilemma that way."

Telgar Weyr> Jehrina says, "But some of them are awful cute, so we put up 
with it. O8)"

Telgar Weyr> Jaeleka says, "yeah, but think of how long you'd be eating 
hte leftovers"

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn says, "But we'd have fun trying?"

Telgar Weyr> Jessalyn says, "Ahh, that's true, Jehrina. :)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn eeeeeewwwwws, Jaelekawards. :)

Telgar Weyr> M'kla giggles.

Telgar Weyr> Caitria has to ditto J'lyn.

Telgar Weyr> R'val says, "In the words of the immortal Norm..women. Can't 
live with 'em, pass the beernuts ;)"

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn laughs!

D'ton snags Maylia's attention with a gentle tug on her sleeve. "Maylia," 
he says softly, "You're my advisor on this not upsetting women thing. Is 
this flowers thing.." his voice, already low, drops off into inaudibility.

Kassima groans reflexively at the ma'aming, though since she's still 
beaming from ear to ear, it's hard to take the protest seriously. "There's 
plenty of klah--or cider, if'n 'tis your fancy--at yon table for the 
taking. Be sure t'watch out with the klah, though. I'm nay certain whether 
Pierron's letting M'kla near the pot again, but just in case...." To 
R'val, she laughs silently. "I think it fits him, aye."

Nodding, the messenger heads for Pierron, who promptly fills the young man 
a mug of klah and speaks quietly to him.

Maylia raises an eyebrow at the advisor comment, and leans closer to 
D'ton. "Flowers thing...?" she prompts, awaiting the finish of the 
question.

J'lyn settles into a chair, winking towards Pierron when the stodgy old 
coot gives him a crusty look.

Jessalyn ohs very quietly and sits back to think that one over.

"She's WHAT?!?!?!" That from the Istan, who turns and stares at Kassima. 
Then bursts out laughing.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima wonders idly whether the old rule 'Don't kill the 
messenger' has to apply here. ;)

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn thinks probably so, kassi. :)

Telgar Weyr> Caitria quotes a play she saw. "The Greeks killed their 
messengers." Reply, with innuendo, "The Greeks did a -lot- of things."

Telgar Weyr> R'val snickers at Tria ;

Telgar Weyr> Richenda says, "Jhor would never...!"

D'ton mutters to Maylia.

Richenda gives the Istan a look that could freeze fire. "Loose lips sink 
things. Ships, I believe, and other things," she mutters.

Kassima starts at the embarrassingly loud exclamation from the messenger, 
and just buries her head in her hands. "This is all a dream," she chants, 
her voice rather muffled. "None of this is really happening. I just didn't 
wake up from m'nap, that's all."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn oooohs, the Ice Queen Cometh. ;)

Jessalyn scoots back a little as she happens to catch that look from 
Richenda. That's a look she knows rather intimately, and she'll just stay 
out of the way, thank you.

Telgar Weyr> M'kla says nothing.

Telgar Weyr> Richenda giggles at Jessalyn.

Jorenan finishes his klah, stuffs his cookies into a pocket, and carries 
the bowl offwith him. "Good evening, all. I'm off to learn to charm 
tunnelsnake hatchlings. An old Trader said he'd teach me how." With that, 
he heads off towards the bowl, a jaunty stridge replacing his usualy 
trudge.

Maylia's eyes rise and flicker over to the flower-laden Kassi, slowly 
nodding. "Most do," she responds to D'ton's muttered question. "It's a 
sign of appreciation, I guess. Beautiful gifts for a beautiful woman." Her 
voice remains low, just above a whisper.

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

Caitria wows at That Look from Richenda, and just looks amazed. This from 
the Weyr's Mom? Wow.

The Istan blinks at Richenda and ducks his head. "I was...that is, I 
wasn't going to say anything to Jh'rin, no ma'am, not a chance, nu-uh. 
Besides, she's a greenrider; how can she know for sure who's the father?"

Telgar Weyr> Maylia stifles a laugh. I think that messenger is just about 
to pay for that comment...

Telgar Weyr> Richenda grins.

D'ton heads over to the Istan, spills some cider over his shoe, then says, 
"By the First Egg! How clumsy of me. Let me help you get that washed 
before it congeals or something."

Caitria hmmms at D'ton. "That's not klah, is it? Kid might lose a foot if 
it is."

Telgar Weyr> Richenda hees at Tria.

D'ton gestures expansively, "Got some water, out that way," he says, 
"Terribly sorry about that."

Jessalyn blinks, several times, at the Istan. Her mother was a greenrider, 
and she knew exactly who the girl's father was. Sniffing, she back to 
Kassima and her gift of flowers.

Maylia frowns slightly, being a new greenrider and all, towards the Istan. 
Her eyes flicker towards Kassi, not having the guts to say anything 
herself.

R'val glances at the Istan, smiling amusedly to himself.

Even as Kassi lifts her head, jaw agape and face flaming, to stare at the 
messenger, several of her wingmates at the table begin a quiet wager on 
whether or not this messenger will survive to go back to Ista. "You 
stereotype greenriders at your own peril, m'lad," Kassi says once she's 
managed to get her jaw back in place. "I am nay such a lightskirt as that. 
And if'n you knew me at all, you'd know just how utterly *ridiculous* what 
you just said is."

The poor Istan looks around him with a nervous smile, the smile of a 
pickpocket whose many victims at a party have suddenly realized, 
collectively, that he's stolen from them all. "I should get back to Ista, 
they're probablywaitingonmeandit's gettinglate." He grins weakly at 
Kassima. "I can see that ma'am, yes ma'am, and I'll ah tell Jh'rin he's 
just one of a few this time and not one of many, that'll be a change for 
him, I guess, NIGHT!" Flee.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima giggles and giggles. Wise man, this messenger is. ;)

Caitria shakes her head, with wry amusement. She mutters to herself, 
"Faranth, I've... had more... than Kassi... -certainly- not... 
greenrider."

Richenda hrmphs. "Istans."

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "Sort of. If he was truly wise, he wouldn't have 
said anything like that with 3 greenriders in the room."

D'ton regards his (now) empty glass and shrugs. He goes to get a refill, 
with an apologetic smile to Richenda, "Sorry about wasting the cider. It's 
very good."

"And don't call me ma'am!" Kassi yells after the wisely fleeing Istan, 
staring after him for a long moment before flopping back in her chair with 
a long sigh. "Reason why I'm occasionally nay all that grateful for being 
a greenrider, number one. Sorry about those marks, lads," she adds to some 
of her wingmates, who are shooting her irate glares for letting the man 
live and losing them several marks in the process.

Telgar Weyr> R'val says, "Hey Kassi, who's the dad anyway? ;)"

"That's quite all right, dear," says Richenda. "Now. Kassima. What's all 
this with flowers and poetry and whatnot? Are they from the baby's father 
or not, and should I have Rennick follow that boy to Ista and beat him?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima makes a warding sign against the evil mutant smiley. 
"That'd be Jh'rin, R'val." ;)

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn blinks. Kassi's Preganent AGAIN?? ---fear---

Telgar Weyr> D'ton says, "Took me several minutes after she ordered all 
that food to guess, even."

Kassima chuckles under her breath, looking down at the flowers in her lap. 
"Aye, Richenda, they are. I don't suppose Rennick could beat that 
messenger up anyway?" She asks that rather hopefully, then quirks a 
crooked grin. "Guess nay. Besides, 'twouldn't be any fun if'n I didn't get 
to watch."

Telgar Weyr> Caitria nods to J'lyn. Worse: it's Kassispawn -and- 
Jhorspawn. (Dear Faranth, Jhor must have *ahem* strong seed.)

Telgar Weyr> M'kla says, "Even better, we get to play the name game with 
Kassima and Jhorenan."

Telgar Weyr> Caitria suggest "Jh'rin". Jorenan is someone else. ;)

Telgar Weyr> J'lyn says, "kassinan and Jhorima."

Richenda grims mischeviously. "Well, all I need do, Kassima, is tell 
Rennick that boy called Telgar a big wreck and thieved from us."

Telgar Weyr> M'kla says, "That too."

D'ton says wryly, "Why does Rennick get to have all the fun?"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima merps at M'kla, and seconds Tria. ;)

Telgar Weyr> M'kla says, "Kassima and Jhorin then...we could have...
ahhhh....ummmm....Jhassorimin....Kajhossirinma..."

Telgar Weyr> R'val suggests Bob :P

Telgar Weyr> D'ton says, "For a girl, right? ;)"

Kassima looks delighted by the very idea. "D'you think someone would be 
willing to watch and give me a witness's account? Perhaps even an artist? 
Methinks that'd be one picture I'd dearly like t'be seeing." She just 
grins and grins, evidently fantasizing about that poor hapless lad being 
beaten bloody. Never let it be said that pregnancy's done much to pacify 
this greenrider.

Telgar Weyr> Jayna says, "Jassimlets?' hopefully. :)"

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Lord and Lady, M'kla. Those names are *almost* 
as bad as the ones for some of Kassi's relatives. ;)"

Telgar Weyr> D'ton was impressed, nay Terrified by Kassi's relatives' 
names. And by her Flits.

Jalimax walks towards the inner cavern.

Richenda pauses. "Kassima, my girl, does that baby's father know he's a 
father to be? You've told him, haven't you?"

There's a long moment of silence from Kassi--wonder of wonders--before she 
finally replies to Richenda's question. "Nay yet," she sighs quietly. "Nay 
yet. I wanted first t'be sure, and then 'twas hoping that he'd come here 
on his own--I mean, 'tis nay as though I can go there t'tell him m'self, 
but I figure I *should* tell him m'self, and... I'm rambling, aren't I?"

Richenda mmmhmms. "Rambling like a runaway three-wheeled cart down a 
slope, banging all over the place."

D'ton asks tentatively, "Would there be anything wrong with asking him to 
come here himself?"

Caitria murmurs something about finding a certain weyrmate and having a 
chat with him, taking her klah and heading for the lower caverns.

Caitria walks towards the inner cavern.

"I specialize in that," Kassi ruefully agrees. "Rambling, digressing, and 
dithering; if'n you need someone for any of those three things, I'd be the 
one to call for. I suppose nay, D'ton... and i'truth, I half suspect 
Kindre intends something of the sort. She didn't say it outright, but that 
goldrider never has been able to fake innocence well." Or maybe it's just 
that Kassi's rather adept at seeing through an act she utilizes so often 
herself.

Richenda smiles at Kassima. "Well, if she wants company, let me know. I 
don't want any Istan scoundrel sniffing around our young ladies."

Kassima laughs, picking up one of her now-cold slices of bread and 
nibbling at it without much enthusiasm. "You'd have t'be asking her, 
i'truth." A sudden grin spreads across her face as she impishly suggests, 
"Mayhaps you could catch a ride with Rennick when he goes t'beat up that 
messenger lad?"

Josiah walks here from the Inner Cavern.

"Maybe." The assistant headwoman stands, stretching. "I'm about as tired 
as a feline sent to chase down a shadow. I'm heading to bed. Kassima, you 
just let me know if you want help. And Jessalyn, dear, do sleep early. You 
don't get enough rest."

Jessalyn opens her mouth, but closes it just as quickly, knowing there's 
no point in making an argument. "I will," she says instead, smiling up at 
Richenda.

Kassima smiles, nodding to the assistant headwoman. "'Twill be certain 
t'do so. Sleep well, Richenda, y'hear?"

Richenda waves. "Best I can with that buzzing going on from Rennick's side 
of the bed." She kisses the top of Jessalyn's head and adds, "I know that 
look, missy. You don't fool me for a minute. You get some sleep, mind? 
Good night, all."

Richenda walks towards the inner cavern.

D'ton also makes his exit, though he doesn't stop to make his goodbyes.

D'ton walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Jayna walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Jayna looks around, rather owl-eyed.

Kassima watches Richenda go, with a shake of her head and a sigh. "Been a 
rather interesting evening," she quips, mostly to herself as she picks 
through the cooled remnants of her food.

Josiah wanders into the room. He looks around, obviously seaching for one 
face in particular and sighs as he doesnt' spot it. Kassima's voice 
catches his ear, and he turns to her with a slight frown. "What happened 
to the funny way you talk? D'thon does that too."

One dark eyebrow arches upward, followed by a grin. "What d'you mean, what 
happened to it?" Kassima wants to know. "I always talk this way. 'Tis the 
way 'twas raised, and I figure there's nay harm in sticking to m'roots--so 
t'speak."

Josiah nods, "Oh. You're not doing it anymore." He gives her a hard stare. 
"You sure you can't talk normal when you want to?"

Jayna waves a heyla to everybody.

Kassima wrinkles her nose and says very carefully, in a voice that's 
rather flat without her characteristic lilting brogue, "I can if I want 
to, but I usually do not want to. Too much effort, and I do not speak so 
oddly that others may not understand me." Making a face, she drops the 
effort with an added, "Who'd want t'be spending half of their time just 
thinking about the right way t'be saying things?"

Kathall walks in from the bowl.

R'val looks towards the cavern door and grins, "Kathall!" He waves over at 
her.

Kathall shivers inside, bundled in a jacket entirely too big for her. 
Noise jerks her around: "R'val? Hello," and she shivers towards him, 
nodding to the others as she goes. "--Cold here. /Cold./"

Josiah shakes his head slowly. "YOu talk funny. Where did you grow up? Do 
ya got any kids? You know, like my age?"

R'val chortles, "Very cold.' He gestures Kathall over with a grin, "C'mon 
and have some klah with me, you do look very cold."

Kathall feels compelled to disclaim, "Not as cold as Benden will be in 
another month or so, but cold enough." She flops into a seat -- oh, look, 
there's Kassima! Send a smile her way! -- and peers after the blue rider. 
"Klah would be nice," she says more quietly. "Thank you."

R'val fills two cups of klah as he moves to the table with a pitcher on 
it, then sits down next to Kathall again, grinning and passing one mug her 
way, "And how, pray tell, are you m'dear?"

"'Twas born and raised on the outskirts of Greystones--a minor Hold, 
southwards of Benden Weyr," is Kassima's response. "A rather interesting 
place, m'Da's cothold was. Aye, I've a lassling--but I fear she's nay your 
age; she's only just reached her second Turn." Catching a glimpse of 
Kathall out of the corner of her eye, Kassi waves to the Baker apprentice. 
"Duties to the Bakers and Benden Hold!" she calls over.

Jayna bobs a curtsey to the baker apprentice. "Nice to meet you ma'am," 
she offers.

Kathall lifts her shoulders under that bulky jacket; when she relaxes, two 
humps are left on either side of her head (they'll protect her reddened 
ears, at least). "Fine," she murmurs and then calls back, "Duties from 
Craft and Hold to Telgar Weyr, Kassima! Don't mind me!" A polite smile and 
nod to Jayna, and then back to R'val, in a whisper: "--What'm I 
interrupting?"

Josiah looks over to the new arrival and gives her an impish grin, before 
turning his attention back on Kassima. "I ain't heard of Greystones. But 
i've never been to Benden either. What's it like?"

R'val whispers softly to Kathall, "Just weyr life, dont' worry about it. 
The usual isadventures. How're things for you?"

Jessalyn covers a yawn and creeps out of the cavern quietly.

Jessalyn walks towards the inner cavern.

Kathall curls both hands around her mug and lets the steam obscure her 
first, careful sip. "...Going well," she decides in the same undertone. "I 
came to see one of the cooks up here, but it's on personal business, not 
craft, /and/ it's for someone else, so it can wait." Corrupted, she slides 
R'val a gravely sly smile. "What about you?"

J'lyn sets his now empty wineglass in the washbasin and waves. "G'night, 
all."

J'lyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

A slow smile spreads across Kassi's face, and she leans back in her chair 
to consider the best answer to that query. "Benden, or Greystones? Both 
are wonderful places, y'may be certain. Two of the finest on all of Pern. 
Greystones is famed for its stone quarries, so there're all sorts of 
beautiful buildings made from its granite--mind, now, I didn't spend so 
very much time at the main hold. I lived with m'parents in their cothold, 
which was rather a different sort of place."

Josiah nods wisely. "Different cause everyone talked weird?"

Kassima hides a grin, and shakes her head. "Ach, nay. Different because 
'twas filled with m'relatives, and they're all insane."

R'val grins, "Glad it can wait, they all seem busy..." He glances into his 
klah, then up at Kathall. He winks, "Things are eventful. Weyrling 
training and all."

Kathall calls over to the green rider, "Is that where you got your skill 
with a knife?"

Kathall returns, hushed again, "So I heard, R'val; so I heard." She broods 
into her klah a moment then surfaces with part of her smile intact. "And 
soon the babies will be flying all over Pern, yes?"

Kassima laughs, "That'd be the place! The Guards among m'relatives trained 
me, y'see, and there were several of 'em. Seems that a fondness for 
weaponry runs in m'family... go figure."

Josiah's eyes get bigger. "Really? My fa sometimes said my grandfa was 
seemile but that's not the same thing, is it?"

"Oh, nay, 'tis nay the same thing at all," Kassi's quick to agree. 
"Someone who's senile and an outright lunatic are quite different, 
i'truth."

Jayna smiles at everyone and quietly goes back to work. . . .

Kathall tells Josiah, "A dragon only picks the latter," and nods 
significantly at Kassima.

Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.

Josiah frowns suddenly and looks at her worriedly. "Will i be seemile if 
my grandfa is?"

Kassima's brow furrows in thought. "Nay necessarily. At least, I don't 
think so. You'd do better t'be asking a Healer that question."

R'val nudges Kathall with a naughty grin, eyes glittering with impish 
glee, "Mm, tis so, they'll be causing trouble all over Pern once they can 
between."

Kathall edges a bit away from the nudge, but with an apologetic look to 
take the edge off the implicit rebuff. "--And then," she continues, "look 
out, Pern! Well, it survives several clutches of this a Turn, so your new 
Telgarites should be no challenge." She sips more klah, just a bit more. 
"I hope they'll come visit us. At Benden. I don't like the Igen riders 
I've seen."

R'val taps his finger against his lip in thought, "I was temporarily 
transferred to Igen for a while. Not a bad lot, but it was quite a long 
time ago."

"Oh, I suspect there'll be visitors aplenty to Benden," Kassi assures 
Kathall, having overheard a portion of her conversation. "'Tis near the 
Winecraft Hall, after all!"

Kathall toasts Kassima with her mug. "You could lead the weyrlings on a 
raiding mission," she suggests, greatly daring. "--Oh, I suppose it's a 
good Weyr, R'val; any place has its good and bad people, after all. The 
Hold just seems to be hosting the rudest, meanest, dirtiest riders out of 
the desert." She frowns. "Do we /have/ to tithe to them, d'you think?"

R'val grimaces, "I don't see any real choice, Kathall."

Kassima snorts faintly, amused. "Nay I, I fear--but I'm certain there'll 
be plenty of other riders more'n willing t'do just that... once the 'Lings 
have graduated, a'course."

Kathall nods with the blue rider's words. "Not /my/ choice, certainly," 
although which way her wind is blowing is fairly obvious, isn't it? She 
rallies back to humor. "You don't want our wine, Kassima? Why not? 
Everyone else on Pern does."

"Oh, 'tis nay the wine I'm nay wanting!" Kassi assures the Baker. "Far 
from that! I can't be drinking it, but that doesn't mean 'twould nay be 
wishing t'stock up. Benden's just a bit far t'go straight-flying to and 
from."

Kathall stares at the other, older woman in round-eyed bafflement. "So 
/between/ to it." Duh, Kassima.

R'val hrms, "There's enough wine around here for me, I'm getting picky in 
my old age, mind you..."

Josiah looks at Kathall, "She can't. She's preggers. That's what one of 
the drudges said in the laundry room earlier." He frowns then. "What's 
preggers?"

Kathall asks, voice skirling up, "Pregnant?"

Kassima explains, toying with a leaf on one of her flowers, "The Healers 
would rather object to that, I'm thinking. Women with the Flu aren't 
supposed to *between.*" Covering her mouth to try and keep from laughing, 
she manages to say with a straight face, "A euphemism for pregnant, aye."

Kathall says "Oh. Oh, Kassima. I'm sorry." She pauses. "I didn't mean to 
be insensitive, I mean. Not sorry about the pregnancy. Are you?"

Ro walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Josiah ohhhs, "That means you're gonna have a baby." He looks carefully at 
Kassima's belly. "You gonna have it now?"

Ro walks in looking energetic and stress free. Upon seeing Kassi she 
smiles brightly "Hi Kassi."

Kassima pshaws, waving one hand dismissively. "Insensitive, 
schminsensitive! How were you t'be knowing? Am I sorry about it? Nay, nay 
really. My timing could be better, but...." One shoulder lifts in a half-
shrug, accompanied by a smile. To Josiah, she shakes her head in vigorous 
denial. "Assuredly nay! I've seven months t'go yet a'fore 'twill actually 
be spawning."

Kathall, bundled in jacket and with klah near R'val, glances at the waver 
then returns mildly apprehensive attention to Kassima. "'Could be 
better,'" but she doesn't press. Instead, manners catch up: she sips, 
regards R'val over the mug's rim. "How's Ofira?"

Ro's expression becomes one of puzzlement upon hearing her words to 
Josiah.

Josiah sighs in disappointment. "Can I watch? You're gonna get really fat 
now, aren't you?"

R'val smiles, "Doing well, Kathall, she's keeping the kitchen staff 
hopping as usual." He chortles.

Kathall smiles faintly. "By the sound of it, I should be glad I'm posted 
where I am?"

R'val winks at Kathall, "She's a hard task master, I'll not deny that."

"Heya, Ro," Kassi greets, mirroring the younger woman's smile. To Kathall, 
she nods. "I feel as though I've just barely started t'get settled in 
here, and already m'life's turning topsy-turvy... but then, that *is* what 
I love about Weyrs. Never a dull moment." Quirking up an eyebrow, she 
stifles a chuckle at Josiah. "Nay at the *moment.* Give me another month 
or three, and I'll see about obliging you."

Kathall says "Well, not to you, R'val." That's about as far as the 
apprentice will dare, however, especially in light of a certain sojourn at 
the Weavercrafthall. A red light. "I'm glad to hear it; maybe I'll see her 
before I have to go back. It'd be nice to talk with more bakers."

Josiah nods, still somewhat disappointed, and turns to see who Kassima's 
talking to. Spying the girl, he waves. "'Lo."

R'val chortles softly, "Not to me, no." He regards Kathall thoughtfully, 
"Maybe, if you stick around..."

Ro looks puzzled for a few moments longer, then seems to figure things 
out. Just then she hears someone say hello to her and turns to the boy. 
"Hullo" she says with a reserved smile on her face.

Kathall curves thin lips. "As cold as it is now, R'val, it's colder 
/between./ I'll stay around a little longer." She peers into her mug 
without further dissembling. "I'm all out, looks like."

Josiah watches the girl a bit warily and then suddenly asks, "ARe you 
gonna hit me too?"

Ro's expression seems to say 'what planet are you from' as she replies 
"Why would I do that?"

Josiah says "Cause jaeleka is a girl too, and she hits me. Youre a girl 
ain't ya?""

Kathall tells Ro, all subdued by the occasion, "I'm a girl, and /I/ didn't 
hit him. Honest."

Josiah looks around, "where is Jaeleka anyway? I been looking for her.." 
apparently he's a glutton for punishment.

R'val chuckles, "Between is colder than anything, but one gets used to it 
if one does it frequently enough. Better not to if you don't have to, if 
you ask me."

Kassima shakes her head, evidently amused by this whole hitting thing. 
"Nor did I," she avows, gathering up her masses of flowers as she stands. 
"Nor will I, for I believe I'm headed out for the eve. Sleep is calling, 
and I don't think I can withstand the lure. G'night, all."

Kathall shakes her head, with an eye remaining on Josiah and Ro. "--Oh, 
good night, Kassima. My regards to Lysseth?" Even if she did once Search a 
baby, rumor has it. Can't be choosers, after all. "Well, I try to stay at 
home, it's true, R'val. I met a boy who likes /between/ -- can you 
imagine? -- but I hate it."

Josiah waves, "Night, Kassi.. dont' forget to let me watch when you have 
your baby. Oo maybe you'll have more, like a canine. they have bunches of 
puppies all at once."

Ro shrugs and says "I am not Jaeleka."

R'val grimaces, "Likes between? Can't imagine. I got used to it, but I 
still don't enjoy it..."

Ro waves "Bye Kassi."

Kathall says firmly, "He likes everything, this boy, from bubblies to 
/between./ Me, I'm more practical than that." She shrugs, dives back into 
her empty mug. "He said I'm scared of a lot of things, but that's not a 
/bad/ trait."

Kassima grins at Kathall, and nods. "A'course... augh, Josiah, I devoutly 
hope nay! *One* spawnling will be enough for me. Clear skies, all of you."

Josiah nods, peering up at the girl. "Yeah, you're lots taller than she 
is. I'm Josiah," he informs her.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.