-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Strict Neuterality Date: May 16, 2003 Place: Taralyth's Weyr 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: Is and Kassi don't actually get around to discussing interior design, which was Kassi's purpose in visiting his weyr one afternoon; as isn't uncommon with them, they get sidetracked into talking about other interesting things instead. Like kittens! And incest! And whether Is should neuter his fire-lizard! What, you didn't expect them to converse about anything *sane*, did you? ;) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: The dragon-sized tunnel twists as you follow it, cutting off the worst of the wind. Taralyth's Weyr Surely one of the most mammoth weyrs beyond those claimed by the queens, the enormous cavern is quite large enough to echo. Within the far side quadrant, rounded hollows smooth the dusky stone floor; the naturally-formed couches are large enough for smaller dragons to wallow in, and larger ones to fit themselves comfortably, though quarters might be slightly cozy. A crescent of higher ground shapes itself around the couches, enough room to support the desk and chairs of a no longer woodshaving-dusted antechamber. Beyond even that is the arched entrance to the sub-cavern where riders reside; a random act of nature caused its floor to be sunken some five handwidths lower than that of its counterpart, and some previous occupant evidently decided that a series of three steep steps would solve the problem of the drop. While only a few tapestries warm the mottled walls, various carvings and other bric-a-brac lodge in the deep niches, and there's not only a broad bed and accompanying presses but a washstand besides. (+view) Contents: I'sai Lanisa Obvious exits: Ledge I'sai's pacing around the vast weyr - Taralyth's sound asleep in the ledge's sun, which might excuse the distraction in his grayed gaze - gesticulating as he does. "...Nose! Feline fur up my -nose-!" The rush of wings and click of claws outside are the only direct heralds of Lysseth's landing, the green showing her respect for Taralyth's somnolence by not rumbling, bugling, or otherwise announcing her presence in any way. There isn't even any fondly argumentative muttering from Kassi for once! Wonders will never cease. Politesse does, however, require that the greenrider pause just outside the entranceway to call within, voice pitched to hopefully carry to the furry-nosed one and any other occupants without disturbing the bronze, "Err... is this a bad time? Should I have brought sticks for dislodging nose-hair with? I can't say I foresaw the need--" Lanisa is completely ignoring any rant about fur, she's too busy attempting to teach an orange and white kitten to fetch. Not that she's having any luck with that. But she looks up and waves brightly to Kassi just the same, "Da! Company." Incase he missed that. I'sai sneezes into his hand - which happens to hold a handkerchief, and not by chance - before pivoting on a heel; "Shells, Kassi! Come in, be welcome, and don't step on any squirming little thing because it'll howl if you do. Come, come." _He's_ not so worried about being loud, it seems. "You just missed Ice, Ceria stole 'im, but Lanisa's here for the moment." "Squirming little thing. Well, *that* just conjures up a whole slew of pleasant mental images as t'what it could be," but nevertheless, Kassi comes inside indeed, if with some wary glancing about. Her relief when she spots that kitten is visible. "What, nay another ferret?" she teases both. "G'day, Is, Lanisa. Forgive me that I didn't bring Kiss with me? Apart from being held in lessons by the Harper--he's making her write out 'I will nay teach the other children the curse words I learned from m'mother' fifty times on a slate--her taste in color might nay make her terribly helpful. She'd have the room painted with... shells, I don't even know what. Giant watermelons or something. What's the wee lad's name? Or is it a lass?" That would seem to mean the kitten, with the curious question directed to Lanisa. Lanisa gathers up the kitten as he strays close enough and holds him up high to be seen in all his scruffy glory, "He's Flash!" Is declared, before she considers, "Da really didn't like the ferrets. But he got me Flash for my eleventh!" Yep, he brought it in himself. I'sai can't help but grin at poor Kisai's plight - that's his girl! - which serves to lighten somewhat what would have been a dark, "But he's not staying a boy, if you catch my meaning. If he always stayed in the caverns, that's be one thing, but since she and thus he visit..." he exaggerates a shudder. Kassima duly and even sincerely admires the kitten, coming a few steps closer to better see--if not close enough that kitten fur can get up *her* nose. Or on her clothes. Orange with purple is so tacky. "Ah, so," she drawls, voice rich with amusement she's trying unsuccessfully to suppress, "he *asked* for fur up his nose. I feel much less sorry for him then. A happy belated eleventh t'you, too--did you name him Flash because he's quick?" Oh, dear. Now she has to try not to snicker helplessly at Flash's fate, a far from easy task; excuse her rather exaggerated coughing fit, would you? And the murmur of, "Flashina, eh?" that manages to escape between coughs. "That's, ah, quite tragic. But he'll be the better for it, I'm sure. Better behaved and what all. Almost gives one ideas about certain men I could name, or would if'n I hadn't been having those ideas for Turns." Lanisa eyes her father, "He's just a kitten, Daddy. What;s he going to do? Chew on your shoe?" Well, he might, but that's beside her point, but Kassi earns another bright smile as the kitten is allowed to touch back down and take off like a shot for the nearest hiding spot. Behind Is, where he prepares to pounce the next item that moves. "He's Flash cuz he is." How's that for logic? I'sai sneezes again; when he straightens, it's the silver rather than the purple that catches his eye. "Nice," he says with a nod, before chanting, "Mart-Pierron-Tas... and that too, sprout, that too. What's the worst thing feline or firelizard ever did to you, Kassi?" "He might throw up in his shoe," Kassi helpfully offers. "Like a fire-lizard. Or chew off his eyebrow. Also like a fire-lizard. One begins to wonder why you haven't neutered So, Is." What a picture that makes. "Makes sense," she agrees with Lanisa--perhaps unsurprisingly; who better to appreciate illogical logic than a greenrider? "Thankee," she says to Is first, with a quick grin; then, a beam: "You read my mind. I'd say 'L'cher' too, but it goes against Thunderbolt's creed t'neuter one of our own--feline? Naught. I've never had one, thanks be t'Faranth since I like m'furniture intact. Fire-lizard... huh. Kyril once flew around shaking a baby rattle for days a'fore I could get it away from him. Drove me nigh bloody insane." Lanisa snorts, "You'd think he was dangerous, Da." Course, define danger in this case or any other for that matter. Then Flash takes it in his head to take off across the room and Lani's after him quick as that. [Editor's Note: Lanisa had to run here, so I think it's assumed she spent the rest of the scene off chasing after Flash. ;) ] I'sai winces for the shoe comment - for the eyebrow comment, even more deeply - "Have to catch him, first," the man rallies, and never mind that it's -just not right- to neuter dragonkin. "And he'd be really dangerous if you tripped over him, or tripped one of us over him, and - Kassima, want to sit down? I completely forgot. Maybe the rattle got to me, too." Kassima grins after Lanisa, if not quite as broadly--or maybe it's as wickedly--as she grins at Is's wincing. "Mayhaps if'n you drugged his food," she supposes. "But you'd have t'get a dragonhealer t'do it, and they'd probably have *principles* against it or some such silly thing." Light, her voice, light enough that she surely isn't taking any such notions seriously. "Dangerous if'n he left surprises in your food, too, I should warrant. So be careful. Oh, could I? Bless you--" There's real relief in that, and she doesn't delay in finding a place to sit and taking him up on it. "I didn't want t'be asking. I'm tired of standing being such a pain... 'tis glad I am that methinks I can offer suggestions from here, without needing t'wander all about." I'sai waggles his brows about the _drugging_ - but the surprises back again, "Payback, payback. Maybe I shouldn't dare." The blessing earns a smile; "And I can get a fur or something, if you need the seat padded? We've always just had the wood. Easier to maintain." "You can always dare t'dream," Kassima decides, settling into the chosen chair with a few shifts until she's comfortable. "Dare t'do, well... mayhaps nay." The offer of a fur is considered for a couple of beats. "I can't say I'd mind," she admits, "but there isn't need t'go t'trouble either. I can certes survive wood. Did finally end up putting cushions on those boxes in m'weyr, though, a time ago." "Nay," I'sai agrees, and makes short work of jumping down into the shadows of the sunken sub-cavern, and returning with the promised fur - dark and lush and really quite clean, as it happens, without even any feline-hairs mixed in. "Get 'em special-made, the cushions, or just whatever was sitting around?" Kassima smiles up warmly as she accepts it, and stands long enough to put it into place--if not before a murmur of appreciation for the quality of the pelt, a stroke for the lush texture. "You're always so good t'me. Is it that tending so many pregnant women over the Turns has trained you?" she teases, smile turning to grin and eyes dancing. "Though 'twere good even a'fore that, back with J'lyn and the escort--and Javinia told me you told her about that, y'know. And that you said 'twas more in m'own little world than dim, was it? Methinks I owe you thanks, but I might also owe you a poke, I haven't made m'mind up yet." At least she doesn't poke him for now. Instead, "Both, as it happens. Found one I liked in Stores, a good forest green, but nay more t'match and you know I've a half slew of boxes. So I asked Simaeva t'sew up a set that matched from some cloth I bought. Bit cheaper than actually getting Weavers t'do it, even if'n I hadn't cause t'fear the Hall yet then." <Weavers> Katlynn rars. "You can credit that if you want," I'sai agrees amiably, and leans a hip against the table nearby - well out of poking range, in case she should change her mind. "Javi's an interesting girl, and it pleases me that you seem to get on, even if I should pay the price. Things're going better now, with the weavers and all? Katlynn..." and the fern's still doing well, for the most part, though one frond's curling tip shows chew-marks. <Weavers> I'sai grins. You -just- came up in conversation IC, Kat. <Weavers> Katlynn raises a brow. Oh? Kassima resettles, stretching her feet out in front of her and tapping the toes of her shoes momentarily together, much like a slouching child. "I do think I like her. We've a bit in common, though her Holding sounds far more prosperous than mine--and larger, and more important, with the naming, but some things are alike. And methinks she has a kind heart. So in honor of that kind heart, 'twill nay make you pay *too* much... since I promised I'd nay go after you vengefully. Katlynn--" She snorts, but it's a half-amused sound. The fern does get a flickered glance. "She hasn't tracked me down or tried t'convince me we'd make a lovely threesome lately, if'n 'tis your meaning. But she did send a present. A quite lovely and extravagant present, if'n a bit--ah--odd." <Weavers> Katlynn coughs. Are you gonna tell me what it was? *jabs Kassi*. <Weavers> Kassima was posing! Gimme a tick! ;) <Weavers> I'sai says, "Purple or red tick?" <Weavers> Kassima says, "But yes. Kassi mentioned getting her cushions made by Simaeva since it was cheaper than going to the Weavers, even before she was afraid of the Weavers; Is asked if things were going better with Kat (and your fern's still alive ;), and Kassi said, yeah, she hasn't tracked me down or tried to convince me we'd all be a great threesome lately but she did send a lovely, extravagant, odd present. ;)" I'sai asks, 'With the naming'? And you said you owe me already, what with the food and all," he points out, with a small twitch of a smile for _threesome_. "Tell me about the present, too. The oddness, that I'd expect." <Weavers> Katlynn woohoos. Good. And shame about that fern.. Wish it'd died already. *lesigh*. Would've been fun to see Kat's reaction. <Weavers> I'sai says, "It did get gnawed a little, if that's any consolation." <Weavers> Katlynn says, "By /what/?" <Weavers> I'sai says, "Your unborn alien?" <Weavers> Katlynn says, ".....You're weird, I'sai. ;)" <Weavers> I'sai says, "You knew that. ;)" "Her Holding has a name," Kassi clarifies. "Tall Grass, methinks? Da's doesn't, though mayhaps it could by now. He doesn't want t'distinguish from Greystones, though. He's comfortable being firmly in sub-Holding territory, and that Sariani--or her husband, rather--isn't is what's probably going t'do them out of inheriting, but I'm digressing every which a way... well, now, that's true." She casts him a hopeful look. "Will this eliminate that debt, then? You get me dinner, I refrain from poking you? I could live with that. As to the present, 'twas an entire array of baby-clothes, y'ken? Only they're all black. With silver knives on 'em." Shaking her head, clearly entertained, she adds, "Lovely, but a bit *dark* for a baby. Still. If'n anyone's child will suit it--and she also sent a giant stuffed dagger for her t'play with. Can't wait t'see Ozy's reaction to *that*. You're asking me so many questions; let me ask you, how've *your* relations with her been of late? Any new oddities?" "Oh, oh, I see," says Is, sitting forward - "And I like the digressions, they're good, and _no_ it's not that easy, 'cause I can run a lot faster than you can poke me, so long as Lyss' lithe tail doesn't enter into the equation - black. With knives. Kiss would've suited it! and I have nothing at all, _nothing_ at all to say about your fisherman and, ah, 'giant stuffed daggers'. No, new oddities here; I've been by off and on, treats when I can, but it's hard to find something a craftmaster doesn't already have, if you see what I mean." Flashing a momentary grin, Kassima suggests, "Sometime, then, meet up with me just for family stories if'n you want to; I could be digressing for *hours*, but I should warn that 'twould want t'know about your kin in exchange, since fair's only fair. Aww, 'tisn't? Then I still owe you something? Just don't delay too long in collecting--and, curses, you've seen through us. Since a'course Lysseth would snag you if'n I didn't. If'n, 'tis t'say, she weren't curling up with her favorite sleeping bronze and catching a nap herself because she's a perniciously lazy beast." Tap, tap, tap of toes. "Wouldn't she have? Particularly once she got hair--*I'sai*!" Oh, look at the red. "You are *terrible*. And obsessed with him and phallic symbols; methinks I'm disturbed, are you sure there's naught about you two you want t'be telling me? I do see what you mean, though. At least she probably doesn't already have a cradle... did you have the chance t'be seeing Jeroch about that?" "And yours are far more interesting than mine," I'sai assures, and no doubt that nap - such a comfortable nap! - of Taralyth contributes to his own lessened creativity; he's not above pointing out, "You're blushing, you're blu-shing! Blushing blushing blushing! ...And aye. Over mid-meal. We've a _plan_, I think it's going to look good." "Oh, I don't know. 'Interesting' seems a good word for your mother," Kassi muses, all straight-faced innocence. "What's she making of being a grandmother of ten soon? A'course I'm blushing! Wouldn't you? If'n I'd ever commented on Myk and giant stuffed daggers, or you for that matter?" Though this last is followed by a thoughtful eyeing. "Or are you like Mart, more apt t'puff up and strut? Nay that I ever *said* that t'him, you understand. But he took the oddest things as meant t'be comments on his performance, and... and I wonder how the shells we got on this topic. Anyway. What's the design, aught in particular? Dragons on it, or spools of thread and needles?" "She's a grandmother of many more than ten," I'sai points out, after teasingly narrowed eyes for his _mother_, and frown-frown-frowning for the M'kon-mention even though he doesn't say a word - "Not as if my brothers and sisters gave me all their spawn. And neither, actually. Ferns. Among other things." Repentant, Kassi offers an apologetic look. "Frowning's nay anywhere near so fun as blushing. Alas, alas. D'you know, that phrasing makes it sound like you would have been spawning with your sibs? Wouldn't *that* delight Saiya nay end... I'd love t'see her expression. Actually, I'm half-tempted t'suggest you work it out with a sister of yours that you announce such a thing t'her, as a jest, so long as I get t'watch, but she might kill you both and that would be tragic." Sniffle. "Ferns! Hah. I like that. Hopefully Kat will, too, though I have this hunch she'll line the thing with lacy pink." "With my - with them - " and now I'sai puts his hands over his eyes and chants, "La la la not doing that not not not not!" Someone actually has limits, it seems. "La la la not lacy la!" Kassima grins; oh, yes, she grins, with many teeth showing whether or not he can see. "Spawning with your sis-ters!" she sing-songs. "Spawning with your sis-ters! And lace, lace everywhere, twins and triplets festooned with lace!" Revenge is so sweet. I'sai does peek out at _that_ - "Careful, careful!" he calls out in sepulchral warning, "Lest you invoke twins and triplets yourself!" "I'm safe," Kassi sings out, waggling a finger at him in open, unrepentant, gleeful tease. "The Healers say. Safe this time! But *you* aren't, so 'twill just invoke them for you, the better t'win m'bet--" And so she quite likely does, if not, perhaps, for long; there are other things to discuss, and kittens to try and keep from gnawing on any hapless shoes.