-------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Jewel Among Wingriders Date: October 22, 2004 Places: Southern Boll's Gather Beach and Lava Lounge 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: Restlessness and a yearning for warmth are probably what led Kassima, M'tri, and Lanisa to the Lava Lounge--a wish to ogle bikini-clad women may also have been involved, but only on M'tri's part. ;) However, the Wingleader at least has an ulterior motive in mind. And even if her darling wife won't let her rummage around in his pockets, she's bound and determined to rope him into Thunderbolt. What do jewels have to do with this? Just read on and see. ;) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: You wing down onto the gather beach. <*> Daikoth backwings to a landing. 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. M'tri slides off Daikoth and jumps to the ground, gently caressing an eyeridge as a thank-you. Kassima swings down from Lysseth's neck and hits the sand with a slight bounce, already tugging at the collar of her riding jacket. "I love Boll," she says, "and I hate it, for much the same reason: so fardling *hot* compared t'Telgar. You're apt t'roast alive 'til your skin cracks and someone mistakes you for a barbeque if'n you go around here in leathers." M'tri positively beams at the temperature change as he travels down to the ground, first hitting Daikoth's leg and then dropping to the ground. "I thought I was never going to be warm again," he says with some relief, yanking off his gloves and tucking them away. "I always loved visiting Boll...all the swimming and...girls swimming." Shame. Kassima makes short work of gloves, jacket, and helmet, unpinning her braid and shaking it down. When Lysseth gives a pointed sort of rumble, she turns her attention to freeing the green from her straps. "Why am I nay surprised?" she deadpans. "Lyss certes intends t'get some swimming in. Me... hmm. Hadn't planned it, but I've a suit packed. She's so addicted to this beach that I spend at least half m'non-working time here, feels like." Daikoth's attention isn't anywhere near water, as much as the blue loves it. Nope, he's studying the most feminine of things in sight (No, it's not Kassi). Sniffing and whuffling, the dragon's tucked his wings and is leaning down to examine the wildflowers. Crunch. Pbleh! Daikoth swallows, snorts distastefully, and plops down right on the small patch he's taste-tested. No food there. In the meanwhile, M'tri peels off his jacket and helmet as well. Then, as an afterthought, he starts on rolling up his sleeves. "Don't need a suit," he says with a grin. "I never did, at least." Bad blooie. Baa-aad. Kassima is perfectly feminine! But, granted, probably not so much so to Daikoth, and odds are she doesn't mind. With her straps off Lysseth seems entirely inclined to stretch out on the sand and bask in what warmth remains, but Kassi says, "Stay still a moment longer, lump," and ducks behind her dragon, ostensibly to change. "--And *nay moving* even if'n he tells you to! You're quite welcome t'prance about in naught for all of me, darling, but just 'twouldn't dare. The sight of me unclad would drive the Holder women into screaming paroxysms of lust and we'd nay be able t'leave until I'd satisfied them all, which would be impossible, because they'd never stop wanting me." She's snickering as she says this, one can tell by her voice. From the sky, Tisiath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! Tisiath backwings to a landing. Lanisa slides down from Tisiath. "Oh, brother," M'tri says with a grin, poking Daikoth until he rises back to his feet. Straps removed, and not about to be caught in the same situation as Lysseth, the dragon hop-skips away before he can be reined in. He settles with a spot where any female dragons can take the time to admire him, sets every aspect just right, and drops his head down. "The sight of you unclad would drive everyone into death spasms, don't you remember what happened to the last one?" "Aye, 'tis possible t'die of bliss. Poor women. Their hearts just couldn't take the passionate pounding. Even the men were affected by the sheer strength of my machismo. All right, Lyss, now." The green gives a long and sinuous stretch, muzzle to tailtip, as a feline might, and spreads her wings wide as Kassi steps out from behind her, sinking to the warm sand and sighing her contentment. There's warmth. There's water. There are even males. It's not a bad life, all told. Kassima wriggles bare toes in the sand, evidently not beyond enjoying the warmth either. "Daikoth seems t'find the place favorable enough." Tisiath wings down, taking his time in finding just the right patch of sand to land on. Settle himself comfortably and only then allow Lani to unstrap and slip free. The blue settles himself in to bask in the warmth as his rider sheds her jacket, tucking it in the straps before she waves to the others already there. M'tri's intent watching of a passing flock of females - who are showing no signs of going crazy with Kassi's change - pulls away quickly with an audible grunt from Daikoth, no doubt accompanied by something else. M'tri sticks his hands in his pockets and bats his lashes innocently as he turns to face Lani with a rakish grin. "Hey Lani. And always Tisiath." Kassima looks up as Tisiath descends, waving merrily to him and the one who accompanies him: "Tisiath, Lani, heya! Come t'wreak havoc with us? M'rek isn't here, but I'd bet between the three of us we can rampage and loot the bar quite effectively anyway, or if'n naught else, can... oh. Fardles. You have me outnumbered now. There goes m'plan t'drown M'tri for his faithless adultering." Lanisa may or may not believe any innocent lash batting, but her smile is there just the same. "Hey Trii." So casual, yes, "And Daikoth, of course." A wink with that as she sheds her sweater too, for the light weight blouse beneath. "Hey Kassi. How's Lyss?" She gives the green a smile and then chuckles, "Who needs a bronzerider to help cause trouble? But aye, no drowning your wife." M'tri looks hurt, saying, "You'd drown me? Kassi, dear, you know it's part of a chemical imbalance! I can't *help* it." He attempts pathetic and doesn't do all that well. Snickering doesn't help with that any. "Loot the bar? Why can't we pay like everyone else?" Kassima turns to survey her lifemate before reporting in rueful humor, "Insufferably smug. About what you'd expect." The green's soft snort sends a few grains of sand scattering. "Is Tisiath well? Daikoth, for that matter? They both seem it. True, true, we're quite capable of trouble all on our own. Or should be. If'n you two aren't yet--and why do I doubt that?--then 'twill have t'teach you ere you're tapped and beyond teaching forever." She affects an injured look right back at the wife in question: "Aye, a chemical imbalance that leaves you impotent whenever *I* want t'try for a baby! Convenient how that works!" A pause follows. "Oh, wait. You're the woman, you can't be impotent. And *I'm* certes nay impotent. We must have some other problem. I suppose we will have t'pay, but allow me m'fantasies, hey? 'Twould be such a trip t'just storm in there, and one of you distract Marcus--Trii, you could flash your cleavage at him or something--while the other two make off with the goods, perhaps with knives held between our teeth." "Are you buying then, Trii?" Lani asks in all innocence as she ditches her boots as well. For Kassi she grins, "Smug, of course. No not surprised there. And Tisiath's good. He's rather good about it all now anyway." But Kassi gains her innocent look now, "Us? Cause trouble? Surely you jest?" Riight, "That might work though, having Trii be the distraction. Well, other than it's not a bronzerider at the bar." Details. "Yeah, that's it. I'll flash my cleavage." M'tri pulls the collar of his shirt, peers down, and frowns. Letting the collar fall back to normal, he announces. "I don't have all that impressive a chest, though. Rather flat." A glance is given to Daikoth, then, "Yeah, he's fine. As big a snob as ever. I think it has something to do with the knot." M'tri, after very visibly pouring his marks in his pocket, waggles the empty bag. "I've spent all my money on Daikoth. I've nothing but a collection of belt buckles to barter off. What marks I'd had were taken hostage." "'Tis well. He flew well--they both did--t'go by m'admittedly nay entirely lucid memory." Lysseth's pleased enough to rumble a drowsy assent to that, which gets her an amused look from Kassi. "Hmm. Point. But oh!" She gives a sharp wolf-whistle and pantomimes fanning herself with her hand as M'tri flashes them. "Such a sight would surely drive *anyone* t'distraction. If'n only," she snickers, "because they'd be wondering whether he's insane. The knot, huh? I'm somehow nay surprised he enjoys being the boss." She folds her arms and gives M'tri a *look*. "Really now. Lani? Methinks you should search him. Bet you'd find marks if'n you hunted long enough." M'tri moves his feet apart a bit, holds his arms out and grins. "Search me, Lani," he says, waggling his eyebrows. "It'd work on me. Maybe." Lani teases as she joins them and then chuckles, "Somehow I believe that. That he's happy in charge, and has all the marks. I'll have to keep mine separate." She nods though, glancing back to her own blue, "He did fly very well." And that's all she says on that before eyeing Trii speculatively and giving a lopsided smile, "I'll have fun looking anyway. Might take a while though..." Kassima makes a show of considering them both. "Mayhaps you should search him after we get to the Lounge," she suggests. "Since that way I can get peacefully drunk and pretend I'm nay seeing anything, and then if'n you spawn you can join the proud ranks of those of us who have conceived there. Proud and scarily full ranks, all told." M'tri chuckles, drops his hands to his sides, and nods. "Well, let's go. We've got to find those marks. We're cramping His Highness' style." The young rider jerks a thumb at his dragon with a grin. Nevermind that distinctly mark-like sound in his pocket. "Methinks they're either in his pocket or he's very happy t'see us," Kassi suggests to Lani in innocence, wiggling her brows at them both before laughing and loping off to the jungle before anyone can throw anything at her. Lysseth rumbles a laugh of her own at the foibles of riders. You wander up the jungle path. Lysseth> "Now now. We said we weren't spawning those four just yet, remember." Lani says with a shake of her head, "We're taking time before there are any little sprouts running about. But I'll still search Trii later, just to be sure about the marks." Of course she will, and with a grin with the last, "Can't have that. His style cramped." - "Is that it Trii? Happy to see us?" No, she'll tease, not throw. Lysseth> M'tri blinks at Kassi once, and when she disappears he frowns at Lani. "That's my secret," he grins, and then, "We're going to lose her, you know how greenriders get in the wild." And with that, he's after Kassima. M'tri wanders up the path from the beach. Lanisa wanders up the path from the beach. You push aside some creepers and enter a hidden cave. You climb up the crude ladder and disappear from view. Kassima evidently didn't go too feral, since she leads and climbs up peaceably enough rather than dropping on anyone's head from a jungle tree. "Marcus!" she hails cheerfully. "We want t'get absolutely blitzed out of our minds, methinks. And he's paying," with a grand gesture to M'tri. "If'n we ever find his marks. Want t'take one pocket, Lani, and 'twill take the other? And if'n *'tisn't* pockets, I'll leave you t'search the rest. Out of the goodness of m'heart and because I'm such an understanding spouse." Lanisa's murmuring something about secrets as she steps down and has a look around. With Kassi's comment she chuckles, "Sounds a fair deal to me, if your wife has no objections of course." And for that she gives M'tri a wink. M'tri follows Lani up, and when he's off the ladder immediately sticks his hands defensively in his pockets, the marks clicking together only once or twice before he closes his fist around them, silencing them. "I'm paying only because my lazy husband refuses to." Pointed look at Kassi. "I'm poor," Kassi announces with a perfectly straight face somehow. "Because my hoyden wife spends *all our marks* on fancy clothes and short skirts she can flip up when the cute Hold lads saunter by. You take that side, Lani?" She gestures towards the side with the pocket that actually has the suspicious mark-bulge. "'Twill take this. C'mon, sweeting, let us search? Please please? Y'know Lani wants to." "Is that where they all go? Trii. Are you spending them all on catching bronzers again?" Lani teases and then eyes M'tri speculatively, "Hmmm. We like as not should find them, just to be sure he can afford our drinks after all." "I'll be drunk before I willingly hand anything over to you," M'tri says to both. Pause. "Especially you, Kassi. Even Daikoth is saying not to do it, and he's smarter than I am when it comes to these things." He edges back. "And you like my short skirts." Kassima heaves a sigh and explains, patience on a monument, "You don't have t'*hand* it to us, Trii. We're just going t'look. And then seize your marks without, y'know, you handing 'em at all, so that's all right, isn't it? A'course we like your skirts." She lays an index finger to the side of her chin, affecting thought. "Tell you what, 'twill offer a bargain. You let us look in your pockets and 'twill tell you something that you can probably use t'irritate I'sai. You should want t'irritate I'sai. He said, y'know, that if'n Daikoth won Lysseth, he'd have laughed and laughed, so clearly you must avenge your honor or something." "Trii. Do you really think I'd run off with your marks?" No promises to keep her hands out of pockets of course, but Lani smiles, Mostly letting Kassi negotiate. How kind of her, really, "Da said that he'd have laughed?" She glances then to Kassi, with a slight furrow showing now between her brows. "If Dai had caught Lysseth I'd have cried and cried. I don't mind all that much." That said, he furrows his brows and frowns. "Did he really say that?" "Laughed and laughed, and teased terribly," Kassi confirms, oh-so-solemn; never mind that she doesn't specify *who* he'd be teasing. But at those twin furrows she relents to admit, "Teased *me*. I suspect he'd have found it funny because of the whole marriage thing, more than aught which truly requires an avenging of honor. I'm just trying t'be sneaky and scheming and evil here. Hey! Cried and cried? Faranth, that's a thing t'say." "Don't mind which?" Lani asks, trying to ignore the other comment for the moment maybe. Or just letting Kassi's reply stand for that. But then she nods, "Ah, now tease you, that I don't doubt, Kassi. Probably first chance he had too." "It seems to me we're forgetting my near pre-flight castration?" M'tri says innocently, taking his hands out of his pockets. "Domestic violence, right there." And, with that, he edges away to drop into a seat and proclaim, "It's time to get drunk." Kassima mutters, "And asked me how Trii was in bed, too. He always does. I think there's something *suspicious* about his interest there." She gives M'tri a look that tries to be indignant, but fails; it's sheepish. "Aye, well--I *am* sorry about that. But I *didn't* castrate you." Pause. "Did I? I distinctly don't remember that. All right, all right, fine. Sit down, Lani; 'twill get the drinks." [Editor's Note: For the record, the first part of that pose came out sounding very different from what Kassi actually meant. ;) ] Lanisa sinks into a seat on one side of M'tri and nods again, "Hard to forget, that, aye." She'll agree and though she glances at Kassi for the first, she says nothing, it's the latter part that earns a smile, "No, you didn't. Just threatened. That and a few other things." Which she doesn't immediately elaborate on anyway. M'tri snaps once, teasing, "Yes! More ale, wench!" Then, without missing a beat, he cowers closer to Lani, grins at Kassi, and squeaks, "Please." "What other things?" Kassi wants to know, genuinely curious; it's asked over her shoulder as she meanders over to the bar to place an order. She's very quiet about this order, enough so that Marcus has to lean in to hear her. "--Check the mirror, harridan! *You're* the one with the cleavage t'make Marcus swoon; that makes *you* the wench." Marcus doesn't seem particularly inclined towards swooning, mind you. After another minute or so she returns to the seats with two glasses and a mug. One glass is filled with something green, which she sets before Lani. One is filled with something virulent-looking, and she puts that before an empty chair she evidently plans to claim. Then there's a mug which appears on first glance to be empty. That's M'tri's. "Since I didn't ask what you wanted in advance, this round's on me." Lanisa gives Trii a smile for his tease followed by cowering, "Don't worry. I think she left the knives at home." But for the other she looks up, "Well I seem to remember you showing off your skills to M'rek, and then there was the death threats. With the klah and the knives." But when she reaches for her glass she says, "Thanks Kassi. And what's this one called?" for her drink, before she glances at the other beverages, or not quite there beverages too. M'tri gasps audibly. "You...you called me a harridan!" He clutches his hand to his heart, leaning back a bit to try and pick any pit of Kassi's conversation with Marcus. Obviously, it doesn't work too well, and he instead just nods his agreement to Lani's explanation, drops the chair legs to the ground, and watches her come over. He stares at the mug placed in front of him for a few moments before saying, "That's insanely cruel, bringing me an empty mug." Kassima crosses her legs after settling in her chair, brows drawing briefly together. "Aye, I threw knives at M'rek," she recalls. "Klah... M'kla's klah, right. Good t'know some things remain traditional." There's a wry grin for that sentiment. Then, "Well, yours is a Green Dragon, because naturally that's the best kind." Innocent look. "You might find the Blue Dragon more t'your taste in the end, but 'twill let Trii pay for that. Mine's a Tunnelsnake. And M'tri's is a Thunderbolt-Wing-Patch-In-a-Stein-Because-He-Wouldn't-Let-Me-Find-It-In-His- Pocket, That-Spoilsport." And investigation of the large mug in question will reveal that there is indeed a diamond-shaped leather Wing patch tucked inside. She flutters her lashes at M'tri. "Now, now. Accept it, and at least you'll know that you're always *my* harridan." "Green dragon, eh?" Lani says, and she might have said more, but then she's giggling, "Should have let her pocket search Trii. Tisk. Taking the fun out of it." As if this isn't fun too? "M'kla's klah, that's right. For some reason you were worried about whether I'd drink it or not. For the record, I didn't get a chance." He blinks at Kassi's drink explanation, then draws the mug forward and looks inside. He draws the patch out and leans back smugly in his chair, examining it. After a bit of examining it, he bats lashes right back, informing them both, "I'd much rather have something that will put me out of my wits for days at a time, but I suppose this isn't half bad." "'Tis a ridiculously powerful klah. M'kla left me the recipe when she died, so I'm the only one who can make it," Kassi explains, with a sidelong grin to Lani for her giggle, "and I don't tend t'make it save then. Drinking it's a test of true daring." With a laugh outright at the lash-batting, she assures, "Methinks our drills and sweeps just might do the trick anyway! I'm guessing that means you'll fly with us, even though it means losing the fancy knot of which Daikoth's so fond?" Back to Lani, she confides with mock-moroseness whose teasing nature is given away by her eyes, "'Twas so looking *forward* t'rummaging in his pockets, too." "Strong stuff, to be sure." Not that Lani's actually admitting to having tasted it before. Maybe she has, maybe she hasn't, "What husband wouldn't have been?" She manages that with a straight face, but it doesn't last long before she's smiling and shifts over to give M'tri a light nudge with her shoulder, "Congratulations, Trii." "Ohh, tough call. The fancy knot has to go..." M'tri winces, makes a show of thinking, and then finally nods his agreement. "Of course, Kassi. I accept, but Daikoth says that it's only a deal if we get a weyr with a view." He winks at Lani, murmurs a thanks, and grins. "If you ask very nicely, maybe you can rummage in my pockets when Lani's not around." Kassima agrees with a beatific smile, "Nay husband worth his salt. Her salt. Whichever. Aye; I occasionally get requested t'make a pot so someone can use it for smoothing unsightly claw-scratches from their ledge." She says that matter-of-factly enough that it's hard to be sure whether she's serious. "Good," she tells M'tri with a real and pleased smile. "I look forward t'flying with you. A weyr with a view can probably be arranged. Drills are at noon tomorrow; don't be late." A laugh escapes her. "Ach, but I'd probably find she's left sharp, pointed things in your pockets, t'defend them against rummaging by iniquitous hands." Lanisa grins and suggests, "Maybe da will let you keep the fancy knot as a keepsake, then Daikoth doesn't have to quite give it up." Then she's quick to bring a hand to her chest and act the part of the affronted damsel, "When I'm not around? - And I? Leave traps behind for the overly bold?" She gives a little sniff, then drinks from her glass before giving a grin, and a wink to each. "Well, Lani, if'n you'd *rather* be around at the time..." Kassi can't quite resist drawling, fluttering eyelashes at the other bluerider now before returning that wink. "Of course when your not around. You'll get your fair share, because just as Kassi is with all these holdbred girls, I am with everyone else. There is more than enough M'tri!" He declares this poiting a finger towards the ceiling. He lowers his voice to lean over and say, "I don't like sharp things in my pockets. It's a hazard." Then he rocks back again and narrows his eyes at the mug. Hmm. Lanisa glances from one to the other and then gives a slightly wicked grin, "What? Be forced to spend all my spare time with Trii? Let me think on if that'd be a hardship or not..." And then dead panning before she drinks again, "No. No sharp things so close to the jewels." Kassima makes a face at M'tri. "Just as I am with all these Holdbred girls--what, so you're jealous of everyone else going t'bed with your spouse? I'm flattered, Trii, that you think so much of m'sex appeal, but you know there's only you for me, darling." She considers, amends, "You and all your bronzers. Sharing means caring. Can we reconsider the sharp things close to the jewels bit next time he picks up a new bronzer, Lani?" Spotting that eyeing, she oh-so-brightly suggests, "If'n you're going t'get that filled, you should probably order another round for us too." M'tri sighs forlornly at the mug, then at Kassi, shaking his head. "Considering I still have every intention of getting schnockered, I guess another round is in order. Because I'm still not quite lightheaded enough, with my cup full of air." He grins, pushes his chair out, and grabs the mug to carry along. "Same thing?" - "No one is reconsidering anything. They're *my* jewels, why don't I get any say?" Telgar Weyr> Yselle waves. Telgar Weyr> Kassima waffles to Ys. :) And points to M'tri. Feel sorry for him. He foolishly accepted a Wing patch from me. ;) "Well if you really want sharp things next to them Trii. I mean. You didn't want knees, so I only made the next logical conclusion." Lani points that out, straight faced as well, and only after grinning. "I'd like to try a blue dragon, if you don't mind. You know, compare." She smiles then to Kassi, "We'll cross that bridge when he finds another, eh?" Telgar Weyr> Yselle ho ho ho. Telgar Weyr> Lanisa snugs :) Telgar Weyr> Yselle peers at Lani, so, when are you due? Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Nobody's gotten pregnant *yet*. ('Course, the night is young. ;)" Telgar Weyr> M'tri feels slightly used. Telgar Weyr> Yselle says, "Well, now he's in Thunderbolt, we expect big things - or little things, from him." Telgar Weyr> Lanisa says, "You really think Da's ready to be grandda?" Telgar Weyr> M'tri amends: *really* used. Telgar Weyr> Lanisa :) Telgar Weyr> Yselle starts to laugh. I'sai a grandfather. How cute. Kassima agrees, "'Twouldn't be a Thunderbolt indoctrination if'n you didn't get schnockered. Dancing on the bar in your underpants is optional, however. Mayhaps a Thread this time, M'tri, please?" As for the last, she reasons, "Because you're married. Marriage automatically means they belong t'someone else." She flashes Lani a grin. "Sounds fair enough t'me." The teasing between the blueriders seems to entertain her greatly. Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "This is true, though, Trii. We are the Spawning Wing. You'd really better get cracking on Triifest." Telgar Weyr> Yselle offers Kassima if Lani won't come to the party. :) Telgar Weyr> M'tri headdesks. Telgar Weyr> Emilly sticks a pillow under M"tri's forehead Telgar Weyr> M'tri would laugh...well...OOCly. M'tri would probably have a stroke. M'tri shakes his head at the pair before meandering to the bar to take thier orders without any more comments on his jewels. Or bar dancing. Play it safe and make no promises sober. Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "From knocking up Lani, or knocking up Kassi?" Telgar Weyr> Emilly sputters drink. Telgar Weyr> Lanisa mutters about needed to get a lock for the jewels ;) Telgar Weyr> Yselle says, "Knock them both up." Telgar Weyr> M'tri DIES! Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "I think it's supposed to be eight from Kassi and four from Lani. But I could be wrong." Telgar Weyr> Yselle says, "Then one of your kids could have a brother and sister who have a sister who's the mother of the other." Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "I love Weyr family trees. ;)" Telgar Weyr> Lanisa says, "The real question is, can Trii get his dozen in before Da does ;)" Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "At Daikoths 0-1? Unlikely. Unless we get drunk alot." Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "...Dude, I know you didn't mean it that way, but Lani, I read that as 'his dozen with Lani and Kassi before I'sai does,' and... may I say, eww? ;) (For Lani. For Kassi, woohoo! ;)" Telgar Weyr> Yselle ooh ah, look at +rwho Telgar Weyr> Lanisa passes Trii a drink Telgar Weyr> M'tri oohs and ahhs appropriately, while generally squeeing in the background when no one's watching. Telgar Weyr> Lanisa facedesks Telgar Weyr> M'tri says, "Wow, we're just messing our sentences up. Me and the jewels and Lani and the kids and...wow." Telgar Weyr> Emilly gets out another pillow? "Dancing on the bar sounds promising..." Lani teases, and then simply adds, "Kassi has a point." Kassima offers in her helpful way, "I'm all for M'tri dancing on the bar if'n he wants to. I don't think I've ever seen him dance. It might be a sight worth watching." Or, if nothing else, blackmail material later? Yselle climbs up from the caves below. Marcus puts on a thick pair of gloves and mixes a noxious brew, handing the roiling liquid to M'tri. He steps back and shakes his head. "It's your life." "Don't hold your breath," M'tri warns Kassi as he returns, to the table, carefully balancing the three drinks and sliding each in front of it's appropriate owner, then dropping back into his chair and examining what he's brought for himself. "Does he always warn you might die when you order?" Yselle slips in, as though trying to remain unobtrusive; she doesn't even glance around to see who's here, she just walks straight up to the bar and orders in a low voice. Her expression looks strained. She's got an old pair of leathers on - obviously she hasn't bothered to dress up for the occasion. Lanisa accepts her drink with a smile and then arches a brow, "Warn you might die? Shells Trii. What did you order?" Kassima allows freely, leaning to take up her glass with a grin of thanks for her newest Wingrider, "Depends somewhat on *what* you order. Aught that'll get you drunk in a hurry? Aye. Aught that'll have you on the bar a'fore you know it? Aye." She lifts her own glass-full-o'-death in a salute to him and tips it back, not draining it in one gulp but still taking a healthy-sized swallow. She's wearing her swimming and sunning clothes, but doesn't seem terribly damp. "Gahhhhh." Setting the glass down, she finally sees that motion and peers towards its source. "Yselle? That you?" "I wish I knew," M'tri says, looking warily at the roiling liquid he's brought back. "If I die, I'm sorry," he prologues, and then he lifts his own drink, tilts his head back, and swallows. He comes back up sputtering. Hoarsely, he says, "I think it's burning through my ribcage." Cough here. Forget Yselle right now, he may be dying! Yselle looks over. "Huh, hi Kassima," she says in a flat tone. She glances back at Marcus patiently as he makes up her drink, passes some marks over and murmurs, seeing the wing patch on the table, "I see you caught up with M'tri. Congratulations bluerider." The bluerider's antics only pull the ghost of a smile from her, and that half-hearted. "Looks like everyone's here - or maybe they just didn't come home after the flight." "Keep it down, M'tri!" Kassi encourages, watching that sputtering avidly. "You can do it! Drink! Drink! Drink!" Almost as an afterthought, "It really won't kill you. I don't think." Leaning back a bit in the chair she's claimed, she casts a curious, slightly worried, and slightly wary look back to Yselle. "Aye. This trip's in celebration of it as far as I'm concerned, though hopefully I'm the only one who knew that in advance. Everyone? Which flight d'you mean?" "How can you not know, if you ordered it?" Lani has time to muse, just before M'tri tries it. Then she furrows her brow again and says, ever so helpfully, "Trii. No dying. -- You okay?" She barely glances up at Yselle as she mostly watches the other half of team blooie with amused concern. Yes, both at once, "Oh hi Ys. We didn't come here after... Well, before today." Still hoarse, M'tri nods to Yselle, "Thank you." Perhaps Kassi's encouragement is good enough to make him keep the drink down; perhaps not. Either way, after his sputtering is through, he swallows a few times. "I don't even want to know how they make this stuff. I do know that a few of them will leave me passed out on the floor." Likely that's something he'll blame on more than a year of sobriety. "Huh, thought you were all headed here after the flight," Yselle muses. "Oh yours, Kassi. You know what it's like for the losers," and that, at least, produces a softening of expression - somewhat. She takes her drink, swirling it around her glass. "Or maybe Lani found M'tri after all?" there's no judgement in her expression - it seems that from her point of view, this is the way things should be. "V'lano okay about it all?" She stays where she is, leaning against the bar - just close enough to talk though. "I think I need another," M'tri decides after knocking back the rest, again pushing out his chair. "Will return," he promises, and it's back to the bar, where he is in deep conversation with Marcus as to what will eliminate that pesky throat of his quickest. "We didn't come here after, no." Lani just rolls her eye and then says, "That was days ago..." And she leaves that as her answer on if she found Trii or not, as she watches him head to the bar. "Passed out on the floor or pregnant, one of those." Kassima drinks from her own glass without apparent concern. Or choking, though she does cough after. "Don't get me reminiscent about the number of times I've ended up passed out here; we'll be here all night--oh." Nodding her understanding, she offers Ys a wry grin. "Well, I didn't head here after, I can assure. Nay idea what happened to everyone else; hope they ended up all right. He seemed to be." And yes, she reddens a little. "Nay screams of horror, naught like that." Her amused eyes follow after M'tri, and she quips, "Poor man. But you only get tapped for the first time once." Lanisa scribbles something on the wall. Yselle watches M'tri too, eyebrow quirking, but makes no move to change her position in the bar to be nearer to his. "Should stick with water," she suggests, although what /she's/ drinking, or at least, swirling around her glass is a different colour to water. "Hm, Kassi, if you pass out on the floor every time you tap one of them, we won't be seeing much of you." As for Lani's evasion, she shrugs it off, apparently in no mood to pursue it. "Well, I'm glad V'lano's okay - must've been a bit of a surprise so early in his career," that, academic. "Glad you were okay too." She stares at her glass moodily. "Where's the fun in sticking with water?" Course, Lani's on her second drink already herself, and neither were water. For Kassi she smiles, "He'll be fine. Not sure if I like blue or green better..." Kassima laughs low in her throat. "I don't--nay anymore. Only pass out mayhaps one time in three. And I mightn't bring whomever else I might end up with here t'tap 'em--though 'twill probably bring 'em *eventually*--but M'tri, I couldn't resist. Nay after all that talk of the drunken wrath." Almost disappointed: "He doesn't seem too wrathful though. I do think... surprised, aye, that would cover it." She finds this a good time to sip at her Thread again. "Bit surprised m'self. A mentee of mine's never caught Lyss a'fore. So what happened t'you? I'm guessing you're nay depressed because Dianneth didn't catch Lysseth." Pause. Deadpan, "A'course, you should be, since as M'tri can attest I'm the most glorious man on Pern and women completely want me, but, y'know. Could try a Sea Spike for your next, Lani? 'Tis a bit of both, color-wise. But stronger." Lanisa scribbles something on the wall. Kassima scribbles something on the wall. Kassima reads the sixth section of the wall. The sixth section of the wall has been sanded down for writing. *** Ode to P'nell A Southern bluerider did make rather a splashy mistake. He started with doom and continued with gloom but he ended thrown into the lake. Alina, Southern Weyr and green Kirienth's was here, may I never dare again. *** Words, ah, beautiful words. Music to my text-based ears. This wall now works. Weeee! Thanks, Lady Dy! *** D21 M6 T50 - Ellery's been snared, er, tapped for Dawnsflame! (Sigh, *more* chores and *more* saluting. ;) Thanks, Mirri! *** In a childish, slightly shaky but still legible hand someone has written: Lorany of Ista was here, day 21, month 6, turn 50 of the 10th interval. Cheers Elseve, don't dunk that knot in my glass, Timor wing likes me! *** Pocket the marks, and lock up the jewels, Trouble abounds, when Team Blooie's around! *** Lani & Trii, day 26, month 11, Turn 50, 10th Pass. *** M'tri was a blueriding pup / Who, when his Weyrlinghood was up, / Came here to drink a round, / But instead of ale, found / A Thunderbolt patch in his cup! "I'm fine," Yselle says, a little too quickly, and a little sharply, pushing herself off the bar, and muttering, "But I don't want to ruin your celebration." After a pause, she manages, "There'll be other flights she can chase, Kassi," she even offers another ghost of a smile for that. "Well Lani, water's better for some of us." "Of course you are." Lani says to Kassi with a grin at the last, and then settles deeper into her seat as she shifts to a crosslegged position on the chair. "Maybe the wrath comes later, when he sees the tab?" She does give Yselle a sidelong log. "Aye. I suppose if your on duty or pregnant it is. -- You aren't pregnant are you, Ys?" Kassima lifts and drops her shoulders against the back of her chair. "If'n you want t'talk about it, Ys, you can--but I'm nay going t'press, tonight." A ripple of laughter escapes her. "Nay doubt, on that, but she might face difficult competition; as best we can remember, the chasers were all very strong. Nay a single one dropped out a'forehand, and Lyss wasn't being a slouch. Impressive." Though she chortles with delight at the idea of tap wrath, the last question makes her eyebrows pop, and she takes another swallow of Thread while listening for the answer. Yselle eyes Lanisa, and says, "Don't worry," as though that's an answer. "I'll leave you to it," she says. "Thanks Kassi, but I think I'm going to discuss it with /this/," and she indicates her glass of liquid. "Have fun you lot. Congrats again M'tri," and with that, she heads out, drink in hand, apparently to consume it on the cool of the beach. Yselle climbs down the crude ladder.