-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Holders, Crafters, and Weyrfolk Walked Into a Bar.... Date: June(?), 1996 Places: Benden Weyr's North Bowl and Living Cavern, the Lava Lounge, the Dawn Sisters, the Rusted Hulk, the Beastcraft Lounge, the Wave Rider, the Winecraft Tasting Hall, and the Winecraft Courtyard 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: For all that I certainly took my sweet time posting it, this may very well be my best group-RP log ever. This pub crawl went on for hours, involved people from every Weyr and several Holds or Crafts, was a *lot* of fun--and dragged F'hlan out to get mildly drunk in public! You can't ask for much more than that! I've never seen any group event yet that's been quite its equal. Anyway, most things here are probably self-explanatory; things prefixed by <*> take place away from Lysseth while I'm riding her, and things prefixed by Lysseth> occur in places where Lysseth is, and Kassi isn't. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully. Tabith warbles cheerfully both to the dragons already in the bowl and to those landing. Vidarth backwings for a landing. R'val slides down from Vidarth's back and lands in a crouch. R'val leaps to his feet and smiles, nodding respectfully to Tamma, "Benden's duty to Ista." Tamma waves, hurrying into the living cavern, and attempting to make it look like she isn't. R'val walks beneath the lintel and disappears into the living cavern. Kassima waves to R'val and Tamma as she heads into the Living Cavern, Lysseth crooning a greeting of her own. You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern. Salless blows a stray lock out of her eyes and continues polishing a table. R'val walks in with Kassi and grins at the sight of C'ron, "There you are! Ready to start the fun?" Tamma walks in from the bowl. C'ron chuckles happily, "Ayup! Sure am, nice ta see ya, again R'val. Ista's duty." Kassima grins, waving to Aph and C'ron. "Benden's duties to Ista and her queens and all that. Things're about ready to take off, then?" Tamma hurries up (still trying to look like she's not hurrying) to stand near C'ron. Aphrael chuckles amusedly and slips into a seat. "Ayep." She agrees with Kassi. C'ron chuckles brightly to Kassima and replies, "Ista's duty ta Benden. An' I think we should maybe wait for a few stragglers, if they be anywhere. Tamma!" R'val grins and plops into a seat near Aph and C'ron, "well. Where shall we start our drinking?" Aphrael blinks at R'val. "Shouldn't we wait until we get to a bar first?" R'val thpts at Aph< "Why? There's drink here!" He grins foolishly. Tamma apologizes, "I'm sorry I'm slow." She pauses, as if hastily trying to find an excuse. Failing, she just shuts up. Kassima chuckles. "May's well have a mug of Red long's we're here... and aye, thought Nie said she'd be along. May be a few others." She pulls up a seat and sits in it. C'ron pats Tamma's side and introduces everyone to everyone. After that he proposes, "Let's go to Boll's secret lil hideaway!" Aphrael rolls her eyes and grins. "Yeah, but last time we hardly made it all the way." Actually they -didnt-, but she was too drunk to realise that. R'val laughs ruefully, "Boll? There are already a million folks on Boll's beach." Tamma echoes, "Secret? How secret?" Aphrael giggles at C'ron. "We just came from there actually." Kassima grins. "Eh, only 'cause dawn came too quick. But you may have a point. We can always have a glass after we've been to everywhere else, after all." R'val chuckles, "NOt as secrete as people would like it to be." C'ron chuckles to Kassima, "I don't even know where all the nine pubs are. Should be fun findin' 'em." R'val grins, "Where shall we start out with then? Do we want to charge into the already-inflated crowd at Boll?" C'ron nods to R'val, "Sure, the more the merrier!" R'val grins at C'ron, "I suppose so." Kassima hmmms. "Well, there's the Lava Lounge, Winecraft, the Hulk, the Master Beast Lounge, the Dawn Sisters, the Wave Rider--though they only serve Tillek there... y'know, I can't think of any more. Might have to do some searching indeed." C'ron laughs at Kassima's comment, "Well, it'll be a lot o' fun tryin'!" R'val grins towards Kassima, "WEll, we may not..last long enough..to find all the weyrs." Meli walks in from the bowl. Meli slaps her gloves against her palm. "heyla the cavern." Jerissa walks in from the bowl. C'ron waves to Meli brightly, "I'm C'ron an' Ista's duty ta Benden!" R'val looks up and smiles, wavingtowards Meli, "Meli! Hey! Join the fun." C'ron adds to Jerissa, "And Igen." Tamma turns, smiling at Meli, "Ista's duty," then brightens. "Rissa!" Jerissa giggles and nods to C'ron as she strides in, "Igen's duty!" She grins brightly to Tamma, "Hey Tamma!" Aphrael waves over at Meli and Jerissa, adding a "Benden's duty to Igen." To that. Meli grins. "Evenin', an' well met to you all." Kassima hrms. "Aye, and some of the Weyrs are in the South, nay? Never been there. May have to just stick with the Northern Weyrs and the taverns." She grins and waves to Meli. "Heyla! Welcome to the festivities, as 'twere." She nods to Jerissa and echoes Aph with, "Benden's duty to Igen and her queens." C'ron grins broadly to all the other riders, "Alright, I propose a rule for tonight. Ya just gotta say your duties once, otherwise it's gonna get nuts." Tamma scampers over to Jerissa to hug her. "I didn't know you were doing the Nines with us!" R'val grins and nods to C'ron, "Agreed." Aphrael chuckles amusedly at C'ron. "I second that notion, bronzerider." She murmurs. Meli quirks a playful brow. "Say our duties? Hmm, maybe I should recite th'Lament!" Jerissa chuckles and hugs back, "Well, T'vor's out so I thought I'd come do em. Not done them for awhile" she mentions to Tamma. Kassima laughs ruefully. "Aye, you've certainly a point there. Agreed." Kassima grins at Meli. "The Lament?" C'ron nods his head brightly to Aphrael and R'val, "Well, then. It's a rule for the Pub Crawl. Anyway, I assume everyone knows how ta get to Boll. Last one ta the lava lounge pays for the drinks!" R'val bounces to his feet, and out the door. R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Meli rolls her eyes. "You know, the Candies lament... Whoops!" as she hears C'rn. Meli walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. C'ron walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Jerissa walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. C'ron climbs atop Mammeth dextrously, rubbing his hand lovingly over his lifemate's side. He settles himself quickly as Mammeth croons happily. Meli climbs smoothly up Juliath's extended foreleg and settles herself between the neck ridges, as the green gives a welcome rumble from deep in her throat. Aphrael comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. Amrieth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft. You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. <*> Lysseth springs from the ground, the air from her wings churning up dust as she takes to the skies. You spring into the air and catch the thermals rising from the bowl floor to carry you aloft. The rim of the bowl falls away from you and you soar into the open skies. <*> Lysseth disappears into Between. Between You gasp as the icy black nothingness of Between surrounds you! You hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing. The trip takes five heartbeats... Black... Blacker... Blackest! You suddenly emerge... <*> Lysseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! You wing down onto the gather beach. Benden Weyr> P'tran watches a mass disappearance from Benden :) What's up? <*> Jerissa lithely jumps down off of Amrieth. Her eyes glaze for a brief moment and she smiles, whilst the green whuffles her hair affectionately. <*> R'val slides down from Vidarth's back and lands in a crouch. <*> Aphrael climbs down from Prefeth's neckridges with practised ease, reaching up to give her lifemate a thankful scritch as the blue dragon crooons. Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Pub crawl :}" Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Drinking party. :)" 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. C'ron chuckles as he unstraps himself and dives off. From the sky, Tabith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! R'val bounces to his feet and grins happily, "We're heeeeeeere!" Benden Weyr> F'hlan says, "Ah yes. Mehlani heard about this. :)" Benden Weyr> P'tran ahs :) Davidon watches the dragons come back and slowly shakes his head. Aphrael laughs gleefully and waves. Juliath wanders up the trail from the west and steps out onto the beach. Jekar smirks at R'val. "Wow. How observant. He knows where he is." Tabith backwings to a landing. Meli slips smoothly down from Juliath's neck to her foreleg and to the ground, giving her a gentle caress. Kassima grins and waves to everyone. "Heyla, all! Back t'begin the festivities!" R'val winks at Jekar, "That's right, sweety, i do indeed." Jerissa leans back against Amrieth, eyes scanning out over the crowd, waving to a few she knows, nodding to others. C'ron scratches his head, "Alright...Now how do ya get to the Lava Lounge!" You wander up the jungle path. You push aside some creepers and enter a hidden cave. You climb up the crude ladder and disappear from view. Benden Weyr> F'hlan considers that his eight-Turn-old daughter heard about a drinking party that he himself does not know about. What's wrong with this picture? C'ron flies up the ladder and cheers mightily at not being last! "Alright!" Benden Weyr> Aphrael laughs at F'hlan. :) You're welcome to come along. ;) Meli yawns dramatically as C'ron arrives. "What took ya so long?" R'val grins, rubbing his hands together impishly, "Let's DRINK!" C'ron laughs rumblingly and pats Meli's shoulder, 'Ya got here a few moments before me, don't give me none o' that." Kassima grins. "Good, I'm nay the last. Don't have to buy the drinks!" She waves to Marcus and sits down in a chair. "This place reminds me--I've got that drink for you to try, R'val." She winks and pulls a bottle out of her belt pouch--it's rather discolored, and filled with her homemade brew from a couple days ago. "Saved it just for you to taste-test." Aphrael giggles at Meli. "Showoff." She mutters. "Jul's faster than the others." Ursa climbs up from the caves below. R'val Hmmms?at Kassi, "Drink? what drink?"He turns to her curiously. Meli looks over the drinklist. "Eh, wha's good here?" R'val says "Blue dragons, Meli!" Fiona climbs up from the caves below. Jekar climbs up from the caves below. Meli snorts, and slaps R'val's shoulder. "Ya, right." And orders a green dragon. Marcus hands Meli a glass of Green Dragon. Jekar hmphs at Fiona. "So don't wear one." Kassima grins. It is not a reassuring grin. "Aye, drink. Made it m'self." She passes him the bottle, which seems to be filled with a greenish-blue gold-tinted liquid that has managed to discolor the glass of its container. Marcus places a glass of Blue Dragon in fron of Aphrael. Channie climbs up from the caves below. Tamma climbs up from the caves below. Kassima shakes her head at R'val. "Green dragons are best, I tell you." She turns to order one for herself. Marcus hands Kassima a glass of Green Dragon. Fiona winks at Jekar, "I'd look awful silly going around skirtless." Aphrael eyes Marcus warily and settles down a short distance away with her drink. Benden Weyr> F'hlan eyes Aphrael, and suspects that if he got roped into this, he'd come back with either another kid sired or another fire lizard. Channie pushes her way in, "oh, hiya." Jekar hms. "Yes, well, that and kinda prettier, I suppose." Benden Weyr> Meli votes for both. C'ron chuckles and grins, "Looks like Tamma is last so far." He goes over to her and gives her a hug, "Our Weyrsecond may be payin' for this." Benden Weyr> Aphrael giggles. R'val regards Kassima with deep suspicion "you made this. Yourself?"A volume of suspicion and doubt in one word. Benden Weyr> F'hlan has to wash his hair? :) Benden Weyr> Kassima snorts. :) Tamma wrinkles her nose at C'ron, demanding, "Can I help it if you people walk so fast I get lost?" Benden Weyr> Aphrael says, "Not good enough. ;)" Kassima nods, looking absolutely innocent. "I did, at that." Jerissa climbs up from the caves below. Kethran climbs up from the caves below. Benden Weyr> F'hlan has to wash his fire lizards! Fiona laughs at Jekar, then moves to see if there's a menu." Benden Weyr> F'hlan has to wash his fire lizards' hair! R'val chuckles, "WEll..I've never been one to refuse alcohol." Randival climbs up from the caves below. Benden Weyr> Aphrael . o O (Of course, I could just be trying to convince you cos the last one here picks up the tab.. ;) Channie pushes her way in a little more and looks for something to drink. Ursa points at that brozne firelizard, "Does he -have- to come?" Aellya climbs up from the caves below. Meli swirls her drink, giving it a long look. "So, this stuff taste anythin' like good brandy?" to no one in particular as the crowd grows. R'val grins and accepts the drink, "Though it may kill me, I'll try it anyway." He takes a deep drink. Jekar silently follows Fiona. Aellya wipes sweat from her brow as she comes in. Davidon climbs up from the caves below. Ursa looks around, "okay, I wanna try something I've never had before." Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Would F'hlan actually come to something like this? Seems far too social for 'im ;) Besides, there might be a clutch around or something. Mwahahahahah :)" Aellya looks around the croweded cavern, eyes searching. Tamma adds, "And I'm not the last. I'm not picking up the tab." Aphrael blinks over at Meli. "Brandy? Neh, you'd have to go to seacraft for that." Meli leers. "Well, Ursa, ya could try R'val..." Kassima blinks at Meli. "You drunk already, Meli?" Benden Weyr> F'hlan thinks y'all won't know unless you ask. C'ron grins broadly to Aellya as he talks with Marcus a few moments about the havoc which might ensue. "Ya made it! :)" Ursa waves at Davidon. "You didn't get lost!" she grins. Meli blinks back at Kassi. "Neh. Haven't even tried this one yet." Benden Weyr> Aphrael says, "Okay, F'hlan, will you come? :)" R'val slaps a hand over his mouth and /gasps/ heavily, "SHARDS KASSI!" He croaks. Jerissa grabs a drink that she's handed, wrinkling her nose once at the taste and then knocking back in one sweep. "Ah!" she pronounces, "Thats better." Benden Weyr> F'hlan meant _IC_, Aphr. :) Kethran grins and plops down beside Ursa with a grin. "I'll have whatever she's having," he says, without even looking to see if the brownrider has a drink or what it is. Davidon makes a face, "Just about! But look, I made it!" he moves through the crowd towards the bar. Kassima grins. "Okay. Just with a suggestion like that, I wasn't quite sure...." She peers at R'val's reaction and smothers a laugh. "So what's it like?" Benden Weyr> Aphrael okies. Hang on. R'val hands the drinkback, hoarsely gasping, "Too..strong." Fiona moves over to the group, curious as to what R'val would consider too strong. Marcus pours Davidon a goblet of spiced wine and hands it to him. Marcus nods and pours Ursa a drink. Marcus places a glass of Kahluah in front of Ursa. C'ron asks the room in general, "Can ayone get me a strong drink? An' whose payin' anyway?" Aellya hears C'ron's booming voice over the din in the cavern and makes a line for him. She squeezes through people and gently nudges another untill she arrives at his side. Duke climbs up from the caves below. Kassima laughs! and recorks the bottle, wincing as it burns her hands. "I finally found a drink too strong for you! Didn't think it could be done!" She carefully places the drink back in her pouch. R'val gives a shudder, "Ugh. Think I'll stick to more traditional drinks, m'self." Jekar sighs, shoving through the crowd to stay near Fiona. To R'val, he calls out, "Can't stand it, rider?" Marcus blinks, "Are you sure you want that drink?" Marcus shrugs and pours Meli a shot of Thread. C'ron hugs Aellya happily, "What took ya, dear?" R'val laughs at Kassi, "Not too strong, by any means! I just..prefer to make it out of this bar still able to walk." Meli holds out the shot of Thread for C'ron. "Think this'll do?" Davidon glances over at Kassima, quietly drinking from his wine as he watches her through the crowd. Marcus blinks, "Are you sure you want that drink?" Marcus shrugs and pours R'val a shot of Thread. Jerissa studies the wall with interest, reading. R'val takes a shot of thread from Marcus and grins, "Now this is a good, strong drink." C'ron smiles boradly to Meli and booms, "Thank ya! Uh, what's your name? I'm C'ron." Aphrael peers dubiously over at R'val. "He survived Kassi's brew?" Duke climbs down the crude ladder. Tamma turns to find Jerissa. Where is that greenrider? Finally she spots her and hurries over. Somebody she knows, besides her wingmate, is always a welcome sight. Meli gives a salute. "Meli! Green Juliath's toy." Kassima snorts in amusement. "I think that classifies it as too strong," she informs him, taking a sip of her green dragon. Then she nods to Aph. "Aye... I just can't seem to get him t'die, much though I try." She winks. R'val nods to Aph solemnly, 'Uh-huh. I don't think it's quite strong enoughf or me." He grins impishly. Fiona asks Kassi, "Was that that southern green stuff?" C'ron chuckles happily to Meli, "How's it feel ta be a toy?" Aellya grins and says "A little trouble finding this place, Those instructions Mammeth relayed weren't so hot." She leans into C'ron's embrace, and tickles him, "Whats that you're drinking there?" She perks up, looking at C'ron's mug. Aphrael rolls her eyes at R'val. "Shards, how strong do you -want- it?" Channie finds a quiet place to sit, and watches the people. R'val sticks his tongue out at Kassi, "watch it, or I'll make ya drink blue dragons." Jerissa grins at Tamma, "Sorry about the other night, that drudge was getting seriously out of hand" she comments, sipping between sentences. Kassima snorts. "Aph... I think next time I'll mix this stuff with your doom drink and let him see how strong 'tis then!" To Fiona, she shakes her head in negation. "Nay, 'tis a drink I made m'self when I was experimenting nay long ago." R'val Hmmms? at Aph, and waves a hand negligently in the air, "I dunno. Stronger than that for sure." Finding a seat in the crowd, Meli finally sips at her drink, eyebrows lifting in appreciation. She replies to C'ron "Eh, mostly a lot o'fun, y'know. Better'n bein' a drudge." Kassima grins and shakes her head in disbelief at R'val. "I like Blue Dragons fine; Green Dragons are just better." Aphrael bursts out laughing at Kassi and nods. "Ayep, that'd be strong enough." She directs this to R'val as well. Aellya starts laughing at C'ron, nudging him roughly. "What a 'question' C'ron." She grins and wrinkles her nose at Meli and then asks, "But now I'm curious too. What 'is' it like?" Fiona ahs, then slips into a seat at a booth. Benden Weyr> F'hlan, as his dragon informs him he's being invited to drink something called a 'bronze dragon', splutters on a mouthful of klah in the LC. Benden LC> P'tran walks in from the bowl. Benden LC> Salless tells her girls to look sharp when the weyrleader walks in. C'ron holds a mug of Thread after taking a sip. He coughs slightly and then gasps aprpeciatively. He says to Aellya, "I got no idea, but I like it." Jekar quickly looks in Meli's direction and frowns slightly at her statement, before he sits next to Fiona. Marcus blinks, "Are you sure you want that drink?" Marcus shrugs and pours Jerissa a shot of Thread. Benden Weyr> Aphrael snickers. :) Tamma says, "Oh, that's okay. He needed it, from what I heard of the conversation. What's that?" She nods towards Jerissa's drink and adds, "And is it any good?" Aellya whips her head around and says petuatantly, "Well, where in sharding blazes is mine?" Benden LC> P'tran pulls off his riding gloves and is about to issue greetings when he sees the caverns largely empty, save for another bronzerider and a few stragglers. Jerissa grins and toasts generally, sipping cautiously at first and then nodding, "Oh, that certainly warms you up. Someone called it Thread or something? Horrid name for a drink." Benden LC> F'hlan, looking rather startled, coughs, gasps, "No, Salless.... m'fine...." He waves off the woman, takes a few sharp breaths, and stares out into the Bowl... Meli nods to Aellya. "M'name's Meli... didn't catch yours. Did ya mean what's it like bein' a 'toy', or were you askin' about th'drink?" C'ron chuckles and kisses Aellya head, "Marcus, give me another of whate'er the shells this is. An' I know the feelin' Meli. I was a drudge for a time, ridin' is better!" Fiona pokes Jekar in the ribs saying softly, but emphatically, "You are /not/ a drudge, so lighten up." Benden LC> P'tran ums as he looks around. "Evening, F'hlan," he says. He raises an eyebrow when he sees the bronze's reation. "Something the matter?" Benden Weyr> Kassima giggles at F'hlan. Would you rather have a Gold Dragon? They serve those here, too. ;) Jekar snorts. "Aye. Lighten up in a bar full of noisy drunk riders. Sure." Meli laughs between sips. "Ya, was one m'self, down Seacraft way. Rather spend all m'time cleanin' an' oilin' Juliath rather'n cleanin' an' oilin' an' scrubbin' there." R'val grins at C'ron as he spots his drink, "Ah, so you like Thread, do ya C'ron/ S'a good drink." Benden LC> F'hlan half-smiles at the younger rider, and, blushing a bit, says gruffly, "Prefeth, ah, just asked Tzornth something..." Ursa raises her glass to Davidon, "So," she grins. "Should I have left you at the weyr with your studies?" Benden LC> P'tran ohs? and tucks his riding gloves into his pocket. "Something you care to repeat?" he asks with a slight smile. Kassima lifts her glass in a toast to Aphrael. "Here's to drinks too strong for mere mortal men to stand. We'll have to remember to set it on fire 'fore serving it next time, too." R'val blinks at Kassi, "A flaming drink? OUch." Tamma nods, "But an entirely appropriate one to start the night off with, I guess?" She asks the bartender when he's nearby, "Can I have one of those? Thread? Thanks." She peers at it once she's got it. Marcus places a glass of Blue Dragon in fron of R'val. Davidon coughs and runs a hand through those stray hairs hanging around his face, "I don't know, I don't think I would have had nearly as much fun!" C'ron chuckles to Meli, "Well, I never met a table that when I cleaned it said 'thank you'." He hands Aellya a mug of Thread. R'val tosses his mug to Marcus, and then orders a Blue Dragon, beaming with pleasure, 'Should try one of these, Meli, C'ron. They're the best." Aellya grins and says "Aellya, of Igen Weyr, rider ta Green Jyrith." She replies, "If you wanted to know." She nuzzles C'ron briefly and says "Yes, do Marcus, one of what C'ron's having." Benden LC> F'hlan says dryly, "Tzornth, it seems, has just learned of the presence of some drink called a 'bronze dragon'... at Boll. Prefeth wanted to know what Tzornth and I were doing..." He looks slightly startled, still, though regaining his composure. Aphrael giggles at Kassi and lifts her own drink. "What an interesting toast." she says, drinking deeply. Ursa burst into a big grin, apparently awfully tickled to hear that. "Well, good." Meli laughs, tossing back the last of her green dragon. "S'right!" Kassima grins at R'val. "Aye--Aph's doom drink goes up like a torch, and mine would prolly explode." R'val grins, "Aph, do I wawnt to taste your doom drink?" Davidon takes a sip of wine, "I just wish I knew a few more people." Benden LC> P'tran ahs and nods slowly, and then takes another look around the caverns. "I take it then that's where most everyone is at the moment...." Aellya takes the mug casually from C'ron and sips, gasping as it touches her lips. She chokes for a moment and says hoarsely, "Thats good. Real good." She then proceeds to tilt her head back and swallow a few gulps. Benden LC> F'hlan breaks off with, "Oh, no, Tzornth...!" His expression goes slightly distant again. Jerissa chuckles to Tamma, "Well, a drinks a drink I suppose. Nothing lost, nothing gained." C'ron turns to R'val, "Sure, I'll take a sip." He takes a blue dragon and sips it. "Nice! Not as much kick as Thread, though. An' that is a bad name." R'val grins at C'ron, "No, but it's kick is more in accumulation than in one drink, Drink five or six of 'em, it'll nail you to a wall." C'ron looks aghast at Aellya, "Shells, lass, ya're chuggin' that like its water." Benden LC> P'tran hmms? and looks over to the other bronzerider with mostly concern, but a slight bit of amusement. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth rumbles sagely that his rider should, absolutely, drink anything called a 'gold dragon'. Aphrael giggles at R'val. "You could try.. but I cant make it with," She points. "Marcus at the bar." Ursa peers around the room suddenly. "Where'd I lose Fiona?" she asks with sudden concern. Finally she spots her friend at a table across the room, way over there. Meli pauses to look over the crowd. "Hmm... what t'try next... any votes?" Fiona calls though the crowd to Ursa, "Hey! Bring your friends over here. We've got a quiet table. Well, sorta, anyway." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Laerth yawns and peers at Tzornth confusedly. << Come again? >> Benden LC> F'hlan smacks his forehead, and turns a mild shade of pink, moaning, "Tzornth..." C'ron responds to Meli, "Try R'val's drink. It's good." Jekar grumbles, "Not anymore..." And turns to the bartender. "Water," he calls, and doesn't /care/ if it earns him some jeering. Dragon> Tzornth bespoke Benden dragons with << Prefeth! Where did you say these 'gold dragon' drinks are? >> Kassima suggests to Meli, "The tunnelsnake's not bad, and the Sea Spike's got quite a punch to it...." Marcus places a glass of Kahluah in front of Jerissa. G'rel climbs up from the caves below. Aellya licks her lips as she lowers the mug and says "What, its not?" She winks at C'ron, weaving a little before leaning into him for support. Meli hrmps playfully. 'Neh, tha's a blue dragon... maybe th'tunnelsnake, in Slithereth's honor" Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lysseth rumbles in amusement. << My rider says the drink called the 'Green Dragon' is better. >> Davidon glances over at Kassima once more, then moves with Ursa and Kethran to the table with Fiona. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Prefeth seems rather amused as he replies. << The *lava lounge*, at *Boll*. >> Tamma nods to Jerissa, "True enough." she lifts the glass and says cheerfully, "To Thread, and may it go *between* and freeze there." Then she lowers the glass to take a long sip. Blinks several times. "Yow." Dragon> Juliath bespoke Benden dragons with << My rider agrees, Lysseth. >> Ursa pulls herself to her feet, turning to her friends. "Friends?" she asks. "Shall we join em?" and ambles across the room. Benden LC> P'tran glances towards the bowl for a moment and then returns his gaze to F'hlan, his expression now much more amused than concerned. "Ah, let me guess. Tzornth has latched onto some interesting tidbit of information and is pestering you about it." Marcus places a glass of TunnelSnake in front of Meli, "Enjoy" Marcus puts on a thick leathis apron, thick gloves and puts a thick cloth over his mouth and nose, unstopping a metal container, filling a metal goblet and handing it to Meli at arm's length. R'val nods to Meli, "Blue DRagon, green dragon...tunnelsnake. They're all quite good." Jerissa chuckles, already working her way through the menu like a trader lass once more. She nods, "This one's not bad either Tamma." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Laerth gives a rumble of understanding. << My rider was wondering where everyone was tonight >> Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Prefeth snorts over at his two clutchsisters, keeping his own opinion on Green Dragons to himself. C'ron hugs Aellya tightly as he takes a gulp or two of Thread. He winces and shakes his head, "How'd ya drink it so readily?" Kassima grins at Meli. "Reminded me quite a bit of Slithereth. 'Tis good that this isn't a later stop, or I'd be drunk enough t'break out into my tunnelsnake song right about now... and I'd prolly get thrown out." Meli eyes this new swirling concoction with a hint of suspicion, but tries it anyway. "Eh..." Davidon sips his spiced wine, "I wonder when this place saw this many people last eh?" Tamma asks, "Which on is it?" Aellya grins as she replies with a chuckle, "Experience. I know how to drink it. " R'val grins at C'ron, "It's an acquired taste." Ursa grins at Jekar. "That water, Jeklar?" she asks good naturedly. Tamma attempts to finish off the Thread after she asks. She fails. Spotting G'rel, she waves to him. Marcus pours Channie a mug of Brown Dragon. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth announces that if _he_ cannot have a gold dragon, then by Faranth his rider is going to, and he is not going to let F'hlan rest tonight until he gives in. Meli looks over at Kassi. Raising her voice a tad, she says "Yah, Kassi, sing us a song?" C'ron chuckles at R'val and Aellya, "Well, I'm an ale an' cider man, m'self. These strange concoctions is jus' odd. But nice!" Jerissa tilts her glass, "I think he said something about _klahuah_ or something like that. Its more mellow I think" she comments to Tamma. Channie takes her drink and ambles back to the quiet spot in the back of the room. Dragon> Prefeth bespoke Benden dragons with << My rider says she is strengthening weyr relations. >> R'val grins at C'ron, "You'l get used to 'em, just conserve yourself. Can't have you passing out just yet!" Benden LC> F'hlan says sheepishly, peering sidelong at the younger rider, "Tzornth has decided I need to drink tonight." He's still blushing. Kassima winces. "Meli, y'don't want t'say that too loud--people might hear you!" Tamma echoes, "Mellow? Aw, Jerissa, that's not what we're here for." Fiona sits back in her seat, eyeing Jekar's water with distaste, "I suppose you woulsn't get me something else, even if I asked, would you?" C'ron rumbles roaringly to R'val, "Shells, it'll take more'n a drink ta knock me down, I assure ya." Jekar snorts. "Like what?" He sips at his water. G'rel walks closer in, quickly reaching the cluster of the riders, the glass pushed in his hand. He waves back to Tamma and C'ron, and grins to Channie and Jerissa, "You're here, too?!" He grimaces after a sip from the glass. "Too spiced.", he says, after swallowing with effort. R'val grins at C'ron, 'You just watch those Thread drinks m'friend, they'll knock you down quicker'n you know!" Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth mutters something about, << And I'll tell the whole Wing what he looks like when he -- >> before he is forcibly cut off. Benden LC> P'tran grins and chuckles faintly. "Well, I certainly don't see a problem with it. Next Fall is not for two days anyway." Kethran ambles after Ursa, looking around at the others. Fiona lsitens in on the conversation, then says with a grin, "How about one of those Thread drinks?" C'ron takes another gulp or three of Thread happily. He shakes his head to R'val, "I'll hol' my own, R'val." Channie waves over to G'rel with her freehand. Idly fingering her glass, Meli grins wickedly at Kassi. "Louder, did ya say?" Raising her voice, she calls "Hey, Kassi, sing us a song?" Jekar frowns at Fiona, muttering, "Well, I never could refuse you..." R'val grins at C'ron, "I don't doubt it, you enormous runner you." He winks at C'ron teasingly and turns to regard the crowd. Aellya grins and says to C'ron, "I wonder if I can out drink you." She pats his belly and says "You think?" Aphrael peers around the group, trying to figure out who's the last one in, so that she can find out who's going to pay. Kassima winces. "Nay, Meli... these folk've done nay wrong to deserve that!" Benden LC> P'tran adds, "Anyway, people need a little break from the tension we've all been under lately with the renegades and preparations for Search." R'val grins at Kassi and pokes her in her skinny ribs. With the hand that isn't holding a drink of course, "C'mon you. I've heard you sing, you aren't so bad." C'ron looks at Aellya, "If ya woulda asked me five minutes ago, I woulda said ya could ne'er out drink me. But I ain't so sure now." Benden Weyr> Meli says, "We just want to give our new healers something to do, such as handing out hangover remedies :)" Kassima shakes her head stubbornly. "Nay and nay. I sing even worse than I play the musical glasses, I tell you--these people don't want t'hear that." Benden Weyr> R'val nodnodnods :) Benden LC> F'hlan nods sagely, trying valiantly to pretend he's not a noticeable shade of crimson along his cheeks. "Aye. What of you?" Ursa sips her drink. "have you tried this one yet?" she frowns at the menu. "It's a kalbua." R'val grins at Kassi impishly, "So be it!" he proclaims grandly, 'We'll make you drink till you're too drunk to say no!" Benden LC> P'tran hmms? "Me? I wasn't the one invited," he says with a wry grin. R'val adds, hastily, 'To singing us a song, that is.." Meli chortles at R'val. "Right, bluerider, tha's all you have on your mind, eh?" C'ron chuckles and shouts across the room, "I like your musical glasses, Kassima!" Jekar smirks once more at R'val, and motions the bartender over for one of those Tread things. R'val sticks his tongue out at Meli and fehs, "S'not true." Aellya grins over at C'ron and says "We'll see, yer much bigger than I, love, so ya could, so easily." Channie sips at her drink, peering over the top of the glass to watch the goings on. Kassima coughs. "'Twas about t'ask, R'val... don't think I'll ever be drunk enough t'not refuse t'sing." She coughs again at Meli and grins wryly. "Eh, well, he did have the randiest fire-lizard on Pern named after him, after all." Fiona cocks her head at Ursa's drink, then beams a smile at Jekar as he hands her a glass, "I'll try one of those next, maybe." Benden Weyr> F'hlan tries to talk P'tran into coming with him. Let's see somebody try to give him a drink and a green egg with the Weyrleader around. :) C'ron chuckles and squeezes Aellya, "Well, I got no duty tomorra...So let's have at it, lass!" He then takes huge chug of the Thread. His eyes bugging out a bit. Ursa laughs, "Save up, we've got another eight bars, remember?" Meli winks at Kassi. "Sometimes, I wonder wha' he'd be like w'out that randy dragon o'his in near ev'ry flight across th'whole continent." Benden LC> F'hlan says hastily, "I'm sure no one would mind...!" R'val ahems and Meli, and pokes her indignantly with his now empty mug,' Hush up, greenrider. I'm a perfectly wll behaved rider. As is my dragon!" Kassima grins and calls over in reply, "Aye, they were fun--until Aph drank all the wine out of 'em, at least!" She sticks her tongue out at Aph at the memory. Jekar hmphs. He peers into the shot of Thread dubiously. Aellya lifts her mug to C'ron and says "Alrighty. " She takes an equally big swig from her own mug, wheezing a little this time from the shock. Benden LC> P'tran appears to consider for a moment and then shrugs. "Don't worry about it F'hlan. This sort of thing just comes with the territory. I doubt you got invited to many of these things when you were Weyrleader." Tamma finally finishes her first glass of Thread, and, without a momen'ts hesitation, follows Jerissa in running through the menu, questioning what each drink is. One catches her interest and she says delightedly, "Green Dragon? That sounds like a good one." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth rumblechants to his rider, << Gold dragon. Gold dragon. Gold dragon Gold dragon >> Marcus hands Tamma a glass of Green Dragon. C'ron nods to Kassima, "Ruined a perfectly good song, I thought." He seems to be a bit dizzy with that last swig of Thread, he leans on Aellya a tad. Benden LC> F'hlan says gruffly, around another blush, "I, ah, um.. " His voice drops a few decibels. "Don't normally get asked at all." Ursa shifts a bit closer to Kethran, wrapping her arm around him rather amourously. Kethran grins at Ursa and orders one. "Haven't tried it, no. Fiona smiles over her glass at Ursa, "We could just have Vidarth plant me on Spinneth's back again, if need be." She glances over aththat group, "Assuming R'val's still standing, that is." Aellya's arm around C'ron squeezes him most affectionately as she peers about the room. She looks into her mug, amiss and says "Oh my, I'm almost done wit this." Marcus places a glass of Kahluah in front of Kethran. G'rel downs the rest of the wine, grinning, "Have to make up for what I missed." He watches over Tamma's shoulder, leaning on her. "Let's try? If it makes one belch fire, it's worth it!" C'ron manages to finish his drink of Thread and gawks, smacking his lips unpleasantly. "It don't taste good, but I don't think that's the point o' the drink." R'val grins at C'ron impishly, "Thread gettin' to you?" Kethran takes a sip and slips his arm around Ursa as well, looking a bit amorous himself. Benden LC> F'hlan considers this concept, brown eyes slightly wide, more than slightly surprised. Benden LC> P'tran nods. "I can understand that feeling," he comments softly, then smiles again. "Well, anyway, please, feel free to go." Jekar mutters to himself before he hesitantly takes a sip of the Thread. Closing his eyes, he tips head and glass back to get on with it, draining with a few long gulps. "Damn, damn, damn..." he mutters hoarsely, slamming the glass back down on the bar. Benden LC> Baram walks here from the Inner Cavern. Benden Weyr> F'hlan watches it slowly sink in that F'hlan has been invited to something. :) C'ron says merrily to R'val nodding slightly, "Just a touch, but I'll recover." Benden LC> Baram nods politely. "Good day, weyrleader." Ursa looks at fiona and bursts out giggling. Benden LC> F'hlan blinkblinks wonderingly, then says with a slight grin to P'tran, "I'll do that." Benden LC> P'tran gives a nod to Baram as he comes in. "Evening," he says somewhat absently Fiona looks at Jekar in rather speachless aw, then glances back to Ursa, "What?" Benden LC> Baram sits down at the quiet table by the night hearth. Kassima grins at C'ron. "Try nay t'over do it on our first stop, C'ron! There's a long way t'go!" Ursa grins, "Just remembering Vidarth putting you on Spin's back, thassal." Benden LC> F'hlan, with that, gives P'tran a salute just casual enough to be comfortable, and turns and limps quietly out. Benden LC> F'hlan walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Benden LC> P'tran grins at F'hlan and nods. "Good. Have fun," he says. R'val peers about him, 'Is it time to move on, yet?" Benden Weyr> F'hlan .oO (Okay, Tzornth. _1_ 'gold dragon'. Now shut up!) Meli continues to swirl her drink, occasionally looking as if she's actually drinking, although one can't be too sure. She continues to grin at everyone, following many conversations and poking a comment in here and there. Tamma tilts her head up to try to grin at G'rel as she swishes the green liquid around in the glass, then tilts the glass to match it, finishing off the drink all at once. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth rumbles in obvious satisfaction. Oh good. Benden LC> Baram smiles at the weyrleader. "How's the family?" Davidon sips at his wine thoughtfully, listening to everyone else, but not adding to the chatter at the moment. Benden Weyr> Kassima pours one of her patented evil potions in the pitcher of Gold Dragon and whistles innocently. ;) Benden Weyr> R'val hides the squadron of Zombie LCGs, in waiting for F'hlan's arrival. Benden LC> P'tran watches F'hlan go and then sighs slightly to himself with a slightly wistful look before being distracted by Baram. "Hmm? Oh, they're doing quite well," he replies with a slight smile. "Jehrina's been rather busy lately, but Jehran and TRelina have been doing well." C'ron disengages from Aellya for a moment as he stride over to G'rel. He pats him on th shoulder, "Glad ya could make it, G'rel! Hope Mammeth relayed the message OK." Jekar puts a hand to his chest, and mutteringly vows to /never/ do that again. But /Fiona/ asked him to, so... *sigh*. He motions vaguely for the tender to take the glass away. Tamma's assessment comes quickly: "Yowza. Yum." Benden LC> Baram nods. "That's good. Ummm, you have 3 children now?" Channie inflates the porta-table Benden LC> P'tran shakes his head. "No, just two, Jehran and Trelina." Fiona blinks at Jekar. /She/ asked him to? Grumbling under her breath, she just shakes her head. Meli hmmms, glancing around. "We shoulda kidnapped a harper.." Benden LC> Baram frowns slightly. "Then who had twins..?" Aellya calls out, "Well obviously he did, C'ron sweetie, he's here, ain't he?" Benden LC> P'tran ohs and grins. "You're thinking of Flannery. She's the one that had twins. SHe gave birth about a sevenday or so after Jehrina." Jekar looks up and /grins/ at Fiona's grumbling. "And they say /I'm/ grouchy." C'ron reaches out for Aellya's hand to drag her into a hug nearer to G'rel and Tamma. "Ayup, I reckon he did." Kassima chuckles at Meli. "Aye--someone else to sing so y'won't be bugging me about it." Fiona hrumpfs, "Well, you stole my drink." Meli's eyes widen. "Neh, I'd still be buggin' ya about it, luv. S'part o'my duty t'day." F'hlan climbs up from the caves below. G'rel follows Tamma's lead, emptying the last drops of wine, then pouring with the... green. He takes a cautious sip first, then a bolder one. He nods to Tamma. "'xactly" and downs the glass, then refilling, with more of the drink. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Laerth pauses after listening to the conversation before deciding to ask << Now why would anyone name drinks after different colors of dragons? >> Meli swoons. Channie pushes her way in and sits down. Benden LC> Baram nods. "Oh, sorry about the gaff." R'val grins, "Meli, you are a truly evil person." Jerissa's eyes glaze over and she hrmfs. "Shardit! Now? Oh alright! I'm coming." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lysseth rumbles. << The drinks are colored like the dragons, my rider tells me. >> Jerissa climbs down the crude ladder. Tamma looks up at Jerissa, and asks, "You're going?" R'val blinks, "F'hlan?" He looks amazed to see the bronzerider here. C'ron looks as Jerissa leaves, "Where is she goin'?" F'hlan, slowly, makes his way up into his place, and glances around quietly. There's a green fire lizard on his shoulder; _she_ croons brightly at all the interesting noises. Benden LC> P'tran grins. "Not a problem at all. I haven't gotten a good look at the twins myself, come to think of it. I remember seeing one of them at the Ista hatching, though. She brought them with her." Aphrael drains her glass, waving over at the bronzerider with a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Heya F'hlan." Tamma is too late. She has her answer, though. She wrinkles her nose, and offers her glass to the bartender for a refill. "Y'know," she remarks to G'rel, "There's one of these for every color of dragon in the sky." Meli waves over at F'hlan, nearly in a salute. "Bronzerider! Well met!" Kassima waves over to F'hlan before ordering herself a second drink, hiding an amused grin. Jekar smirks. "You /did/ ask me to drink one..." With a slight hand gesture the bartender's back and ready to take Fiona's order. "Thread, you wanted, too?" Benden LC> Baram smiles. Marcus places a glass of Sea Spike in front of Kassima. Marcus blinks, "Are you sure you want that drink?" Marcus shrugs and pours R'val a shot of Thread. Fiona nods, "Yes please." Aellya stumbles up against C'ron, bracing herself against his side, "Shardit C'ron. I can't walk so well just yet, That durned Thread drink kinda frazzled me." She grins, obviously teasing. C'ron waves to F'hlan cheerfully, not knowing who he is but doing so more to join the crowd of greetings. F'hlan, spotting Benden riders, limps over to them. He inclines his head in silent greeting; his eyes, for once, lack something of their usual solemnity. En route, he nods to C'ron as well. R'val grins,and mutely offers F'hlan a noxious, bubbling concoction of some kind. Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << I see ... well, the color part at least. Why call them 'dragons'? >> Meli patpats a seat near her cluster (gaggle?) of riders. "Sit y'self down... " Jekar nods slightly to Marcus, who deftly pours a shot of Thread for Fiona. "Bottoms up, m'dear." The grouchy weaver guy winks. Kassima grins and raises her glass in a greeting to F'hlan. "Heyla, bronzerider. Welcome t'the festivities and all." C'ron hugs Aellya and kisses her briefly, "Poor Aellya. I guess I won, an' it took just one drink!" G'rel arches an eyebrow to Tamma, after waving to the Benden rider, "And you'll surely want to try a bronze, won't you?" He drinks some more of the green, though. Aphrael leans over the bar and mutters something to Marcus. She sits back and waits for the order to come. Aellya snorts at C'ron and pokes him in the side gently, "Ya ain't won yet, lug. I was jus kidding cos I tripped." She grins. C'ron asks loudly, "What is the best drink here?" Benden LC> P'tran glances towards the bowl for a moment with a small smirk and a sigh. Aphrael calls out, "Blue dragons!" From the rowdy table Channie says "hey, I'm all alone over here!" Fiona takes the drink from Jekar, eyeing him suspiciously, then takes a tiny sip. Kassima grins as she sips her Sea Spike, blinking as the kick to the drink hits her. She calls over to C'ron, "Green Dragons!" C'ron rubs his side and winks at Aellya, "Shells, looks like it'll take awhile longer." Marcus pours a drink for Aphrael into a fluted glass. Marcus hands Aphrael a glass of Golden Dragon. Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << Nevermind ... P'tran is telling me to stop asking silly questions... >> Benden LC> Baram follows P'tran's glance. "Something up, sir?" Jekar naahs. "Her brew." He points to Kassima. Tamma downs her second green, then offers the glass to the bartender again. In answer, firmly, as if it's obvious, "Scorch, yes." Meli shakes her head. "Shardin' sweet an' spicy drinks... need some good ol' brandy, I do." Marcus grins and pours Tamma a drink. Marcus slides a mug of Bronze Dragon to Tamma. Aphrael hands the glass, coloured gold liquid, to F'hlan, grinning at the Benden Bronzerider. "Try this." She suggests. R'val grins at Meli, "Surely they have brandy here?" Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lysseth rumblepuzzles. << I'm not sure there is a reason, anyway. It's just one of those strange human things. >> C'ron drags Aellya to 'enter table' with him. C'ron pushes his way in and sits down. Benden LC> P'tran turns back to Baram and shakes his head. "Nothing, just speaking with my dragon for a moment." Meli continues to mutter to herself "Course, since I'm sweet an' spicy..." and looks up to wink at R'val. Aellya asks, "An what do I win if'n I win?" Fiona inflates the porta-table Kassima hmmms? Seeing herself pointed to, she inquires, "What about my brew?" Triayla climbs up from the caves below. Benden LC> Baram nods with a wry smile. "I see." Kethran pushes his way in and sits down. Jekar smiles faintly. "Surely it's the best drink in here." R'val waggles his eyebrows at Meli and grins. "Can't deny that, m'dear." Aellya pushes her way in and sits down. Meli says "Triya!" Kethran lets out a huge burp and leaves the table. R'val waves frantically, "Triya, hey!" Kassima laughs. "Spicy, Meli, but sweet? You?" She grins and then waves over to Triayla. "Triya, welcome! Glad y'could make it!" Benden LC> P'tran adds, "Some of the other riders went off for some relaxation and Laerth was curious about something, that's all," he explains. Aphrael waves over at Triya as she spots the her. "Triya! Good to see you!" Triayla slumps into a chair and grins. "Hi!" She waves to R'val, Meli, Kassima, Aph, C'ron and just about everyone. R'val grins, and presses a brown dragon into Triya's hands, "Here. A drink called a brown dragon. Perfect for you to start your night off with." F'hlan, at the flurry of suggestions directed his way, says simply, "Tzornth insists that I, ah, try a 'gold dragon.'" To Aphrael, he arches his eyebrows. "That would be this?" Benden LC> Baram smiles. "You didn't join them?" Triayla blehs. "R'val, are you trying to poison me?!" She refuses hastily. "I've tried one of those before." Marcus hands F'hlan a glass of Golden Dragon. Aphrael chuckles and nods at F'hlan. "Ayep, that's it." R'val laughs, and drinks it hismelf, smiling. Kassima grins at F'hlan. "A good drink, the Gold Dragon is, though I'm partial to Greens m'self...." Aphrael bursts out laughing at Triayla. "Don't drink the brown dragon." She agrees with a grin. F'hlan smiles faintly, accepts the drink, and studies it as if planning tactics against it. Benden Weyr> F'hlan fehs. Nothing I can run, code-wise, to see what this drink does. :) Benden LC> P'tran grins wryly and shakes his head. "Wasn't invited. Generally riders don't want the stuffy Weyrleader around in these cases," he comments. "Anyway, how do things fare at the winecraft?" Meli tosses back the last of her bit of Tunnelsnake and eyes the cave. "Hrmph, is this a progressive, or are we gonna sit ere all night?" with a playful smile. Fiona pushes her way in and sits down. Tamma sips at the drink in the mug, almost cautiously. Bronzes are Not To Be Trusted, after all. Benden Weyr> Kassima is tempted to offer F'hlan her highly-explosive who- knows-what's-in-it homemade Doom Brew, but decides against it. ;) Davidon pushes his way in and sits down. R'val nods with Meli and grins, 'Yeah, I'm with you Meli.It must surely be nearly time to move on." Benden Weyr> Meli tries to figure out an IC reason to invite the WL :) Jekar pushes his way in and sits down. Benden LC> Baram smiles. "The winecraft's doing fine, thanks." Triayla looks at Aph. "As I recall, that's what you said last time, and I tried it anyway, much to my regret." Kassima chuckles. "Most potent, p'rhaps, but I don't know about best... I've never tasted it. Don't dare to." Kethran grins and finishes the last of his drink, his arm still around Ursa. He smiles quietly and considers what to try next. Ah, yes. Marcus places a glass of Blue Dragon in fron of Kethran. Benden Weyr> P'tran smirks. Don't worry about it, Meli. If you think of an IC reason, fine, otherwise its ok :) Benden LC> Baram grins at the blue flit. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Lysseth warbles. << My rider says that if you're curious about the drinks, Laerth, maybe you and your rider should come up here and see for yourselves. >> Aphrael nodnods at Triya, her eyes not yet showing the amount of blue dragons she's had so far. "Glad you remembered. How's Jadith doing?" Benden LC> Verlyt is always carefull to keep out of Salless' way, due to the fact she once tried to quash him with a frying pan. Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Prefeth rumbles agreement with Lysseth. << Perhaps he would like the Bronze Dragon. >> Benden LC> P'tran nods to Baram, "Good to hear. I take it then that the renegade raid at Benden didn't do any lasting damage .." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Juliath rumble-snorts. << Or perhaps he would like the Gold Dragon too. I do now see why, though.>> Triayla smiles beatifically. "He's as lovely, as clever, as handsome as always. And Prefeth?" Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << Well, I can try to ask P'tran if he wants to go. He insists for some reason that no one would want him there. >> R'val grin at Triya, "It's been too long, my dear." Benden LC> Baram rubs the back of head. "No. No permanent damage." C'ron lets out a huge burp and leaves the table. G'rel glances at the bartender, narrowing his eyes. He waves him closer, then tells something quietly in his ear. He puts five glasses on the bar, and fills each. G'rel grins to Tamma. "Let's do half of each. Easier to try them all." He starts with a sip from a gold and a sip from a bronze. Now both are hazardous, aren't they? His first sip went much harder than the second. Benden LC> P'tran ums and nods, and glances towards the bowl again. Meli goes distant, then refocuses. "Eh... " she says loudly over the din. "Anyone think we should convince P'tran t'join us t'night?" Aphrael giggles at Triya. "That's great to hear. Prefeth's really great as well. Enjoying the time we spend down here at Boll, no doubt." Kassima grins. "Eh, soon enough, R'val. Nay many other places that serve drinks like Boll's...." She seems to be drinking her Sea Spike rather slowly, determined not to get sloshed this early in the trip. Triayla grins over at R'val. "I don't believe you suffered, sweetie, but it's nice to see you again too." R'val says "P'tran? Sure, let's let him in on the fun!"" Tamma takes a few swallows to decide whether or not she likes the Bronze Dragon. Another few swallows to decide whether or not to keep drinking it. Oh, hey, whaddya know, it's all gone. She thumps the mug on the bar for a refill. R'val laughs softly, "Don't believe, or don't care?" he winks at TRiya, "It's nice to see you too." Kassima hrms. "Sure, Meli, sounds like a good idea!" C'ron asks Meli as he gets his discarded Blue Dragon, looking behind him to see if Aellya follow him, "P'tran? Why would the Weyrleader o' Benden wanna be here?" Dragon> Lysseth bespoke Benden dragons with << Your rider is welcome to come, Laerth, if he wants. >> Aphrael says "Let's get the Benden Weyrleader drunk!" She calls out. Tamma ohs to G'rel, hrming. "Well, okay." She pushes aside her Bronze mug for a moment to follow the bronzerider in tastetesting. Kassima giggles. "Never seen P'tran drunk... might be a thought." R'val grins at Aph, "That would be something to see." Dragon> Laerth bespoke Benden dragons with << I will tell him ... >> C'ron looks at Triayla pleasantly, "Hello, rider! I'm C'ron. Who is she, R'val?" He smiles chipperly then takes a gulp of the Blue Dragon. Benden LC> P'tran hmms and runs a hand through his hair. "Apparantly I was mistaken .." he says in a tone that's both surprised and relieved. Meli starts to build a small pyramid out of dirty glasses on one of the tables, whistling softly as she does so. Triayla looks suspiciously up at C'ron. "Of course you're C'ron. I wasn't *that* drunk that I wouldn't remember you." Benden LC> Baram looks up. "Eh?" Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Prefeth sounds out a rather amused rumble, then adds. << You will like the warmth down here, Laerth. >> Kassima suddenly recalls something and grins at Triayla. "Say, Triayla, d'you remember just how many bars we went to th'last time we did this? Aph and I can't remember any more than six, but I know we thought we'd done nine at the time...." C'ron looks at Triayla curiously, "Uh...Have we met? Shells, I feel right dumb." G'rel does the first cycle, ending with the green, then goes over the glasses to the gold. His hand tries to pass around Tamma's clumsily somewhere on the brown, but he solves the problem by taking two sips of the bronze instead. Then he leans on the table heavily, grinning. "For the greens!" He yells to C'ron, answering his question. Triayla gives a long-suffering sigh. "Yeah. Right here in fact." she says sadly. Benden LC> P'tran says "About being invited. Apparantly I am." Benden LC> P'tran smirks. "Hopefully it wasn't because Laerth badgered anyone about it." Benden LC> Baram smiles. "Ummm, maybe you're not as stuffy as you pretend." Happy Bouncy Porta-table wobbles Tamma doesn't mind G'rel's doublesipping the bronze. She does, after all, have her own mug of it. Triayla looks at Kass. "I'm afraid I really don't remember. I remember the first two, but I'm sort of hazy after that." C'ron nods his head to G'rel and yells, "Get me a Green Dragon, then. I'm thirsty!" Benden LC> P'tran chuckles faintly. "Perhaps. Well, anyway, I best not disappoint them ..." Benden LC> Baram reddens a little, but continues to grin. Porta-Table Two wobbles, too. Kassima grins. "Green Dragon! Now there's a drink! Think I'll have another m'self." She acquires a glass of the green liquid and gulps the rest of her Sea Spike before starting in on it. Alea climbs up from the caves below. Benden LC> Baram nods politely. "Have fun, weyrleader." Benden LC> P'tran pulls out his riding gloves. "I better get over there. I'll talk to you later ..." Happy Bouncy Porta-table shimmies. F'hlan very quietly sips his gold dragon, not commenting that no one here has ever seen _him_ drunk, either. Anybody looking at him just _might_ notice a subtle lightening of his eyes and a faint flush to his cheeks, though, as he leans back in his chair. Meli double blinks. "Shells, only had two, an' the tables're movin' on their own..." Alea waves. "Heya!' C'ron asks everyone in a loud voice, "Alright, what Pub ratin' shall we give this place? From one ta ten." His face lights up as he waits for the replies. Benden LC> P'tran walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. Benden LC> Baram waves at P'tran as he departs. Porta-Table Two does a lil dance on it's own. Aphrael peers suspiciously over at the tables, then waves to Alea. Kassima grins. "Ten! The Lava Lounge's always been my favorite." Meli ponders this profound question with the consideration due, and calls out "Seven!" Tamma pipes up as she steals the Gold Dragon out from under G'rel, "I give it a Nine." Aphrael hrms. "Aside from the bartender, nine!" She smirks. Alea grins and orders up her favorite...green dragon of course! R'val grins, waving furiously as he spots Alea, 'Hey! You're here! Hi Alea!" he toddles a bit dizzily towards her. Kassima waves to Alea, raising her glass of Green Dragon in greeting. Then she hrms at Aph. "Y'know, you may have a point there...." C'ron waves to Alea, looking about for a certain Igen greenrider. He laughs at Aphraels comment, "Alright....10,7,9,9...I give it a 9 as well. Looks like the Lava Lounge gets a Rider Ratin' of Nine. Where to next?" Alea sips her drink. "Ah, Ten, nine what? Waht are we counting? Aellya lets out a huge burp and leaves the table. Tamma turns to check out the bartender, hearing Aphrael's decision. She examines him for a few moments with the eye of a greenrider. Turns back and changes her own scoring. "Ten, I mean." Alea grins as she see's Aellya. "heya!" F'hlan closes his eyes, with slow deliberation, and presses the glass holding the remnants of the drink for a moment against his flushed face. "Faranth," he mutters. Aphrael lets out a cheer. Kassima lifts her glass and cheers the rating. Alea saunters over to Kassi and Aphrael. "Whoa, let me finish this. I just got here!" From the rowdy table Channie sips her drink. G'rel yells back at C'ron, "Let Mammeth get one himself!" After a moment, he mutters, "Not that he needs being told to." He leans down, stealing a sip from Tamma's own mug, grinning at her broadly. Aellya stands up from one of the tables and heads back over to the bar with a purpose. She spots Alea and waves as she finally arrives there and says "Lemme try one of them other drinks there." She tries to find C'ron admist the crowd again. Meli hrmphs, having a soft spot for the Hulk. C'ron laughs heartily and downs the rest of his Green Dragon, "Alright Alea! We'll wait a spell. How 'bout the Dawn Sister's Tavern next?" Triayla shakes her head. "I can't give such a good rating to a bar that has such a horrible drink called a "Brown Dragon." she frowns disapprovingly. Kassima grins. "Sounds good, C'ron. Either that or the Rusted Hulk." Aphrael laughs at Alea. "Better hurry up and grab a drink. It sounds like we're moving on soon." Dragon> Benden dragons sense that Tzornth croons in deep satisfaction, sensing something akin to his rider's mouth being set afire. << _Now_ he knows how it feels! >> Tamma laughs, being close enough to hear G'rel's mutter. She tries to pull the mug away from G'rel before he can steal it, but fails. She wrinkles her nose at him. Alea looks over to Kassi. "Where have /we/ been so far?" Meli comments aloud "P'tran's here." Kassima grins at Alea. "This is the first stop, actually...." She nods to Meli. "Looks like!" F'hlan abruptly grins, widely, at Meli's comment, and looks vaguely relieved. Aellya takes the drink she recieves and after spotting C'ron, heads back over to him. "Hey there C'ron." She says in a low voice, low to get noticed. Alea grins. "Wunnerful, I didn't miss much then." R'val grins, "How're you doing, Alea?" R'val grins oer at Meli, 'He is! wonderful! Even the weyrleader's joining in on the fun. From the rowdy table Channie kicks her feet up on the table and sips her drink. Alea grins and hugs R'val. "Looks like I'm playing catchup at the moment. Everyone was ahead of me." Aphrael glances over at F'hlan. "How are you doing there, bronzerider?" She asks, perhaps noting the faint blush. Meli grins. "A fine Weyrleader, we have now, don't we?" C'ron goes through the crowd to loop an arm about Aellya, "Alright, last call. Finish your drinks. Dawn Sister's next." P'tran climbs up from the caves below. Meli chuckles. "Speak o'the..." Tamma picks up what's left of the Green Dragon on the bar, and finishes it off before G'rel can get to it. Kassima grins. "Aye, 'tis true," she agrees, raising her glass in yet another toast before giving a sharp salute to the Weyrleader in question. "Heyla, sir!" Aellya finishes off most of her drink, quickly, and setting it aside to be cleaned up after the group is gone, "I'm sure ready to go." Alea gulps her green dragon down. "Oh, Wow! Those are hard to drink fast." She giggles. Aphrael gulps down the best of her blue dragon. "Ready." She announces, casting a glance at the bartender. She salutes over at P'tran, waving. P'tran glances about in some surprise as he emerges into the cavern. "So this is where everyone from Benden has been hiding," he comments with a humorous smirk. R'val grins, waving towards P'tran, "hey P'tran, welcome to the fun, sir!" F'hlan lets out a low, slow breath, and murmurs reverently, peering at the remnants of his gold dragon, "Faranth!" At the arrival of the younger bronze rider, he looks up. P'tran, of all people, may best be able to note F'hlan being uncharacteristically mellow of eye. R'val winks at Alea, 'They'll hit you hard when you've had enoughof 'em. Want to try something different?" Alea grins. "Not me, I'm hiding from Jerissa." Meli unstacks the glass pyramid, and gives a salute, still crisp, at least for now. C'ron laughs and salute P'tran, "Ista's duty ta Benden an' her Queens, sir. We's headin' out shortly." Alea giggles at R'val. "I'll get my next one at the nxt stop." Kassima laughs. "Hiding? Nay, sir, just having a bit of a jaunt... things're about t'move over to Dawn Sisters, actually." She grins at F'hlan. "A good drink, nay?" P'tran ums and nods, a bit uncertainly at first. "Well, Laerth seemed a bit insistent, though I hope he didn't badger anyone into getting invited ..." F'hlan smiles crookedly at Kassima, and nods, a single time. R'val grins at P'tran, "They badgered him into inviting you sir, you're wanted here. Come have some fun." Alea chuckles. "Can't visualize J'rell here, that's for sure.' Meli nods. "Yeh, someone get the weyrleader a drink, he's behind... an' then we'll move on." P'tran chuckles at R'val. "Well, in that case, I suppose I can stay for a little while anyway ... Aphrael peers at C'ron. "Hey, I thought we said no more duties?" R'val grins, nodding to P'tran approvingly and winking at Alea, "Oh? I suppose not. So how's Igen, Alea?" C'ron hugs Aellya and chuckles to Aphrael, "Well, it's the shardin' Weyrleader o' Benden, I figure it'd be not right not ta say that." F'hlan raises his glass-occupied hand, beckoning P'tran over. "You, lad," he calls. 'Lad'? Since when is P'tran 'lad' to F'hlan. "You'll want this. But drink it slow." Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Hey Kassi. Give F'hlan some of your special drink . Mwhahahaha ;)" Aphrael giggles at C'ron. "Aye, I guess you're right." She glances over at F'hlan, then P'tran, half blinking. C'ron chuckles at F'hlan's comment and shakes his head. He calls out, "Everyone ready for Bar Number Two?" Channie lets out a huge burp and leaves the table. Tamma turns around in her chair, careful to steal both the Brown and Blue Dragons out from under G'rel, as well, and making sure her own Bronze hasn't been stolen yet. There's time enough to finish all three off before they go. Really. Aellya smiles and leans into C'ron for a moment before saying again, "I am." P'tran hmms and looks over to F'hlan. "What would that be?" Kassima grins to the Weyrleader. "R'val's telling it true, sir." She wrinkles her nose at C'ron. "Hey, what happened to that 'only give your duties once' rule thing? Oh... well, I guess you've a point, maybe." She drains her glass of Green Dragon and sets it on the counter. "Aye, C'ron!" Alea giggles at the bronze riders. "Did you give him a bronze dragon." She turns to C'ron. "I'm ready." F'hlan says succintly, "The Gold Dragon." His gaze is strangely soft. "But slow, I'm warning." Channie heads over to the bar with her empty glass, she waves to people as she crosses the room. Benden Weyr> Kassima dunnos, R'val... might kill him, and how would we explain that to Melora? ;) Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Feh. Details :)" C'ron takes off towards the ladder, "Alright, last one there covers the tab!" He winks as he heads out. P'tran ums and nods, and takes the drink from F'hlan's hand, looking at it a bit warily. With a raised eyebrow he says to F'hlan, "And you've had some of this?" Kassima glacks. "Faranth forbid!" She flees. [Editor's Note: The scene resumes in the Dawn Sisters.] R'val walks in from the hallway. Ordnan chirples at the strangers. Aellya walks in from the hallway. Kassima whews. "Escaped having to pick up the tab again, looks like." Aellya crows with laughter as she stomps in, shaking out her short mop of hair, "Shard it all, Cam, you beat me here." Aphrael giggles. "Lucky Prefeth's quick." She winks. C'ron gasps a bit from running so hard. He grins broadly to R'val and Aellya. Triayla walks in from the hallway. Channie walks in from the hallway. R'val winks at C'ron, "Your'e slow, m'friend!" He grins broadly, and moves towards the bar determinedly. Aphrael peers suspiciously over at C'ron. "You and Mammeth musta cheated, getting here so fast!" The barkeep looks at the riders as they enter, "Can I help ya?" Channie walks in with her hands in her pockets. C'ron chuckles to Aphrael, "We hogged the ladder." He winks. Triayla swings herself onto a barstool and gazes around nostalgically. Kassima sits on a stool and nods to the barkeep. "Aye... what d'you recommend here? Got any brandy?" Aphrael rolls her eyes. "Figures." She replies to C'ron, then peers over at the bar, deciding what to drink. Benden Weyr> F'hlan considers. He's had this 'gold dragon', can he go home now? :) :) Benden Weyr> Aphrael says, "Nah. We're dragging you along with us. ;)" Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "What, and miss the rest of the festivities? Awwwwww.... :)" Aellya looks faintly indignant. She stalks over to the bar. Benden Weyr> F'hlan winks. Benden Weyr> Aphrael says, "Now that you're part of the pub crawl, you have to come. Passing out's the only way out. ;)" C'ron rushes over and picks Aellya up in a hearty hug. "Aellya!" He plants a kiss on her mouth and asks her, "Whatcha wanna get ta drink?" Benden Weyr> F'hlan ahhhs, is _that_ the rule. Dang, nobody told F"hlan that. :) "I recommend the 'Nova' if ya be tough enough for it," replies the barkeep. Benden Weyr> Aphrael giggles :) Channie pushes her way forward towards the bar and looks at what's to drink. Benden Weyr> Kassima muwahahahahas. :) Benden Weyr> Meli hopes none of us have dawn sweeps tomorrow.... :) C'ron laughs boisterously, "A Nova it is, then!" Channie pipes up with, "What's in a Nova?" Kassima blinks. "Nova? I've nay heard of that--must be a specialty. What is it?" Aphrael doesn't -want- to know what's in it, nope. She just orders it. R'val returns, wandering towards Aph and Kassi and the others, with two different drinks in his hands, grinning like a fool, 'Now I'm partying in style. 'He announces. The barkeep winks at Channie, "Aie, thats a secret lass." Aladis walks in from the hallway. Channie titls her head to one side and holds out her hands, "I'll have one then." Aellya grins and says "Whatever yer having Cam." She squirms in his embrace, after doling him back a kiss. She snugs him tight, giggling. Kassima hears the barkeep's response and wrinkles her nose. "Guess I'm better off nay knowing anyway. I'd like a Nova too, please." Aphrael groans. "Oh no, not another one of -those- barkeeps." She remarks to Channie, grinning. Benden Weyr> F'hlan gets this image of P'tran and F'hlan staggering home drunk, and S'riv being stone cold sober. Now what's wrong with THIS picture? Channie grins back at Aph, "Jays, you'd better becareful around him then." Kassima grins at Aph. "At least this one's nay after you, aye, m'friend?" Lizzie peers out from behind the counter, looking at the crowd in the tavern. R'val chuckles, "Novas. All you're drinking the same thing. Me, I'm sticking with good, strong brandy here>" Benden Weyr> P'tran smirks. :) Aladis trots into the cavern, pausing for a moment to look around before heading over to her frinds. "Kassi! Aph! Channie!" Channie turns around and waves happily at Aladis, "Hi there!" R'val waves his free hand to Aladis, "Hey Aladis, join the fun." Aphrael giggles and nodnods, peering around. "I think we lost some riders." She remarks, then waves at Aladis! The barkeep turns his back to the corwd as he mixes the Hall's most famous drink. He hands it to Lizzy to take to the others. He adds a glass of brandy to the order. Kassima waves to her wingmate. "Heyla, Aladis! C'mon over and try this Nova thing...." She nods to Aph. "I do believe you're right." C'ron chuckles to Aphrael, as he holds Aellya, "Ayup! Means less damage if we got less riders." Aladis grins, pulling up a chair. "Had to finish drills before I could come. S'good to see you all." She smiles companionably to the others she's not met. "Nova thing? Sounds interesting." R'val grins at Kassima, 'Any idea what's /in/ this Noa thing?" Lizzie takes the tray out to deliver the drinks. She stops at the first person. Aphrael shakes her head in mock disgust. "After only the first bar?" She accepts the drink with a polite nod, sniffing curiously at it. Aladis winks at R'val. "*Never* ask what's in a drink unless you *really* want to know." R'val laughs at Aladis's wink and remark, and grins, "True enough." Kassima shakes her head. "Nay've heard of it before," she admits as she waits for her drink. When it arrives, she peers at it, then sips. C'ron chuckles as he receives a Nova from the barkeep. He takes a sip and gasps. "Wow!" Triayla walks away from the noise of the tavern and out into the corridor. Aphrael peers outside and grins. "Ah.. here's some more of them." Kassima glances outside. "There they are!" she proclaims, grinning. "Guess we've nay lost 'em after all." Aladis's eyes unfocus for a moment and she lets out a little laugh. "You'll never guess who's just arrived." Kassima hrms? at Aladis. "Meli, P'tran, and F'hlan... they must've been delayed at the Lava Lounge." Aphrael giggles at Aladis. "Ayep. F'hlan and P'tran were at the lava lounge with us." Aellya grins and takes a Nova as well, sipping it cautiously and saying "Now thats good." Lizzie ducks her head as the drinks are lifted from the try. When the tray is emptied, she moves about picking up empty glasses. Kassima mmms and nods. "Nay quite Aph's doom drink, but nay bad at all." C'ron sips his Nova happily, "Shells, didn't expect any weyrleaders. Oh well, Tamma'll protect me." Aladis bursts out laughing as she takes a drink from the proffered tray. "Hard to believe, isn't it? And it seems there are more riders arriving too." Channie squishes up her nose a little as she sips her drink, "Ohhie! strong stuff huh?" The barkeep smiles with pride, "Me own recipe." Meli walks in from the hallway. F'hlan walks in from the hallway. C'ron regards Aladis curiously, "Uh, who are you? I'm C'ron. An' shardin' fine drink, barkeep!" Aellya snorts with laughter, "What'bout me?" Meli slips in, ahead of the bronzeriders. "Heh! Not last." R'val calls out, "Meli! Here! try one of these things!" He shoves a drink towards Meli. P'tran walks in from the hallway. C'ron hands Aellya a Nova, as well. "There ya go, ya wench!" He chuckles merrily and hugs her tight. Kassima nudges Aph. "Y'ought t'sell your recipe for the Doom Drink to someone.... I'd do the same for m'own brew, but I don't think anyone'd live through the first full glass." She waves to the newly arriving riders. F'hlan limps slowly into the tavern, a trifle behind P'tran, and looks around mildly. Aellya smacks C'ron on the rump and says, "I already got one." Aladis quite calmly tosses back half of her drink. Blinking a moment, she then smiles and says in a somewhat raspy voice, "Good drink." Waving cheerfully to P'tran and F'hlan as they arrive, she turns to C'ron. "Aladis, green Asabeth's rider, of Benden." The barkeep just keeps filling glasses, handing them to Lizzy to serve. Meli takes the drink, only spilling a bit on her leathers. "Shells, R'val... tell me wha' it is at least!" G'rel walks in from the hallway. Tamma walks in from the hallway. Aphrael shakes her head at Kassi. "I can't make it the same every time tho.." She protests. P'tran hmms as he comes in, commenting to F'hlan. "Interesting drink, though," he says. "They always have that? I admit to not 'making the rounds' like this before .." Tamma tags along behind everybody, /still/ a slowpoke. F'hlan smiles to Aladis, his wingmate, and gives a single eloquent shrug to P'tran. R'val grins at Meli, "I dunno what's in it. but...it's a Nova. Spciality of the house, I gather." Benden Weyr> F'hlan peers. Four or five T-bolt riders here. Benden Weyr> F'hlan fights with a strong temptation to get F'hlan drunk enough to sing the Thunderbolt Wing Fight Song. :) C'ron grins to Aladis and extends a hand, "Nice ta meet ya!" Kassima laughs. "Variety's the spice of life! Though that bitter one of yours I could've done without." She winks at Aph and finishes the rest of her Nova in one gulp, blinking a bit as it takes full effect. "This one's almost as strong... but not quite." Meli hrms, eyeing the glass. "What's a nova?" But she takes a swig, and grins. "Hrm... Better'n the 'snake'" Channie takes another deeper drink and makes a little face, trying not to gasp out as she gulps it down. Meli sits at a large table along the back. P'tran hmms as he is handed a drink before he can say a word. "What was this again? A Nova?" C'ron looks around the bar a bit happily. "I like this place, not as festive as the Lava Lounge, though." F'hlan sits up on a stool at the bar. R'val grins at Channie, "Looks like that one got to you. Strong drink?" Aladis smiles in contentment taking a sip of her Nova, coverin C'ron's much larger hand with her own. "Well met, C'ron." She raises her glass to F'hlan. "C'mon and try one of these Novas, sir. Excellent drink." Channie nods to R'val, "Mmm, it's a little strong alright! Try some?" she holds out her glass towards him. Aphrael sips at her drink, letting it take hold of her slowly. "Yah, I don't know that I can make the nice one again though." She grins over at P'tran. "Don't ask sir, I don't think you'd want to know." C'ron nods to F'hlan brightly as he sips his Nova, "Ayup, sir, right powerful drink." F'hlan nods companionably to Aladis as he carefully eases himself onto a stool. Passed a Nova, he inspects it solemnly. P'tran takes a small sip, then pauses a moment, blinks once, then shrugs slightly and takes a larger drink of it. R'val takes the drinka nd sips it, his eyes widening, "Dear me. Is this a nova?" Tamma pauses in the doorway, and decides it's best not to let people know she was the last in. She heads for the bar, pretending like she's been there all along. She even manages to swipe a half-drunk Nova out from someone who isn't paying enough attention to it. Kassima glances at what P'tran's holding and nods. "Aye, sir, 'swhat they said 'twas. Seems t'be some sort of bar specialty." She hrms at Aph and grins a bit. "I recall the approximate way I brewed mine... but I doubt the *first* bottle will ever be drank!" Meli checks over the crowd, gauging everyone's state of inebriation. Deciding she's behind a bit, she tosses back the rest of her Nova in a large gulp, only slightly coughing. Aladis mutters to Channie, "... apprenticing... a... had it's good sides." Aladis raises her glass, winking at Channie, and finishes the rest of her drink. Meli stands up from a large table along the back. P'tran rolls his eyes. "You know, everyone does not *have* to call me 'sir' every time they speak to me," he replies suddenly, but with a slight smile Channie grins as she leans over to Aladis, She mutters to Aladis, "And why's..." Meli sits up on a stool at the bar. R'val pours himself a third brandy and grins at P'tran, "Force of habit, P'tran." The barkeep writes down the tab as the riders drink, noting shoulder knots and picking up names from the conversation. C'ron winks at Tamma, having observed her entry. He walks over to her, leading Aellya by the hand, "So do I got Dawn Sweeps day afta next?" He winks and chuckles. R'val sits up on a stool at the bar. Kassima nods to R'val. "Aye. Strong, nay? About as bad as the Thread at the Lava Lounge...." She blinks at P'tran and grins. "Eh, sorry, si--err, P'tran." R'val flops down on a seat at the bar, and watches the crowd, glugging back another brandy. Aphrael bursts out laughing at Kassi. "The problem is to get control of the bar again.." Aladis chuckles. She mutters to Channie, "... to drink!" P'tran nods to R'val. "Thank you. I was wondering if anyone remembered my name," he says with a slight smirk, taking another drink Tamma swishes the stolen Nova in the glass a bit, and looks up at C'ron innocently. "No, not unless you really /want/ them." "Nor," puts in F'hlan sternly, "I. _I_ am no longer Weyrleader of Benden." His eyes have lightened even further, though, offsetting his Weyrleaderish tone. R'val grimaces at Kassima, "Don't know if it's quite as bad...nearly, mind you." Meli nods to F'hlan as she takes her stool, then to R'val, still fairly clear-eyed. "Brandy, R'val? eh, why'd you give me tha' nova thing when they ahve brandy?" Channie mutters to Aladis, "Well,... drink all... much--I hope... be alright tonight!" R'val hmmms? " I like the brandy here. Want me to get you a Noa, Meli?" P'tran chuckles at F'hlan. "You want to trade?" he says humorously. Aladis winks. She mutters to Channie, "... fine...." C'ron chuckles at Tamma brightly, "Good! So, how ya like this?" He waves his hand about the room full of riders. Meli shakes her head. "Neh, brandy's always been m'drink. Get me one o'those, an' I might make it worth yourwhile." Channie grins happily at Aladis, "Ok, if ya say so." F'hlan says dryly to P'tran, "Been there. Done that. Worn the shoulderknot." R'val hands Meli a brandy that he picked up from the bar and beams at her, "Anything for you, Meli M'dear." P'tran laughs at F'hlan. "All right, I'll take that as a no. You can't blame me for trying, it'll probably be a long while before Leilanth rises again." Tamma observes, "It's crowded. But I like it anyway." Aellya drinks her own drink, having fallen somewhat quiet. She squeeze's C'ron's hand however with a solemn grin of one who isn't trying to show that she's overly tipsy. Lizzie scurries back to the bar to get another round of drinks that have been ordered. Aladis overhears F'hlan's comment and bursts out laughing as she asks for another drink. G'rel chuckles to P'tran and C'ron, "Well, let's try it?" He seems a bit refreshed from between. His eyes are turned the same way. He takes a glass from the bar after it's filled, then eyes the contents suspiciously. F'hlan sips the Nova, _very_ slowly, and grins to P'tran. Kassima laughs at R'val. "Careful, R'val--you'll make T'lar jealous if he hears." She winks and then laughs as she hears F'hlan's remark. Benden Weyr> F'hlan MUST be getting drunk. He's not only grinning, he's calling P'tran 'lad' and making jokes in public. R'val snorts at Kassima and grins rakisly, "The fun is in not getting caught.' He waggles his eyebrows. P'tran finds he has already finished about half his drink and ahems, blinking a few times. "Hmm ... I think I better slow down a bit .." Tamma nudges G'rel with her elbow, and says, "It's good." Motions her half-empty glass to him. Neglects to mention that she isn't the one who's drunk half of it. Meli giggles. Yes, giggles. Maybe she's finally catching up. She takes the brandy with a grin, and tosses it back neatly in one fell swoop. "Oooh..." C'ron looks with tipsy grin at Aellya, he chugs a bunch of the nova and is almost done. His cheeks burn slightly from alcholic heat, "Ayup! A right fine bar. I like it here." Channie looks into her glass and takes another drink. Benden Weyr> P'tran is joking about the WLship, so he's at least slightly bent in that direction :) F'hlan leans back slightly, against the bar, unashamedly employing it for support. He studies P'tran and leans over to him to murmur, then... R'val grins at Meli, "My my! You sure can slug back your randy Meli." Aellya nods and leans up to kiss C'ron on the lips with a wet kiss. "Me too" She starts to slurr a little. Kassima snorts in amusement and picks up another Nova, sipping this one a bit more cautiously. Glancing at Meli, she advises with a giggle, "Might want t'be saving some room for the Hulk's brandy, y'know." Aphrael blinks and giggles over at Meli. "Oh, hey wait! I gotta catch up with you!" She picks up a similar drink, downing it as quickly as she can. R'val starts to sway in his seat as he drinks back his brandy. F'hlan mutters to P'tran, "... me... the..." Lizzie cautiously looks back out before heading out to pick up empty glasses. Aladis peers at her second drink for a moment, then drinks it down in one gulp. Setting the glass down on the bar with more firmness than is absolutely necessary, she giggles for a moment. "Not a bad drink at all." Meli blinks three or four times, then focuses on Kassi. "Eh, maybe... have some o'that at home, though too. Nice bottle, been savin' it..." R'val slams down his last mug of brandy, almost too hard, and blinks owlishly. He orders, calling out, another brandy. Empress arrives from *between*. The barkeep continues his running tab, making sure the knots he sees on the riders are noted, as well as their names. Firelizard Perch makes a grab at Empress who deftly flies out of reach. P'tran hmms? and looks over to F'hlan strangely for a moment and then chuckles. "You look like you're doing quite well yourself. I simply cannot handle it as well." Aphrael is glad she's not the last rider in, since that person is picking up the tab for the group. Tamma quietly replaces the glass of Nova back near the hand of the rider she'd swiped it from, and orders her own. Kassima takes another gulp of Nova and grins at Meli, starting to look a bit dizzy. "Well, then, y'can drink that *and* a glass at the Hulk! I've got some Harper's Folly stored away, and some of something Tinya made... 'course, I didn't bring 'em with me. Just that one drink I concocted." F'hlan nods sagely to P'tran, and confides... Aladis leans over to Kassima and murmurs softly to her. Lizzie jumps at the noise getting ready to take off. But when nothing happens, she continues picking up glasses and mugs. Balancing the tray, she dissappears behind the counter. C'ron goes over to G'rel, walking just a tad unsteadily, "Well, it looks pretty happenin'. Shells, I think we should do this again." F'hlan mutters to P'tran, "... tomorrow...." R'val's eyes alight, "Harper's Folly!?" he swivels his somewhat nonfunctional gaze towards Kassi and eyes her intently. P'tran takes a long drink of his Nova as he listens, obviously ignoring his own advice about taking it more slowly .. Dragon> Cirdanth bespoke Lysseth with << My rider wishes to know if we can join you? >> G'rel walks away from the noise of the tavern and out into the corridor. Lysseth> I bespoke Cirdanth with << You're welcome to. We are at *Dawn Sisters.* >> On F'hlan's shoulder, Neme preens, and croons to P'tran near her. Dragon> Cirdanth bespoke Lysseth with << We come! >> Kassima giggles at Aladis and whispers something back. P'tran grins to F'hlan and nods. "I know. I'm only sorry I won't be able to see it to the end." Alisa walks in from the hallway. Aellya nudges C'ron in the ribs, having been dragged around by him and says "You know, I jus though. We mightn't wanna go betweenin' once we get too drunk." Alisa walks in with N'fan drahhed along behind her. N'fan walks in from the hallway. P'tran is not making much of an effort to say anything quietly to F'hlan.. Meli calls out, pointing at N'fan "Last!" On F'hlan's shoulder, Neme prettily curls her tail around F'hlan's neck, giving him a green necklace, and nuzzles his hair repeatedly. Alisa grins and ut ohs, murmuring to N'fan, "Wonder what happens to you now.." C'ron turns to regard Aellya kidnly, "Well, ya can *between* as long as ya ain't really plastered, was my understandin'!" N'fan gets dragged in behind Alisa. He tries to take a moment to get his bearings..and then he smiles and waves at all the familiar faces. Aphrael shakes her head at Meli. "Prefeth hears.. Cirdanth now." Kassima nods to R'val. "Ayep, Harper's Folly. Been savin' it for something special." She shakes her head at Meli. "Nay, Kershala's just got here--she can pick up the tab!" F'hlan nods regretfully to P'tran. Aellya grins and says "Well, yeah, but how do you know when you're really plastered?" She grins. N'fan blinks at Meli. "Last..?" he repeats uncertainly. R'val beams towards Kassima," Oh really??" He laughs evilly, "I'll have to have some." Aladis giggles at Kassima's comment and quietly orders another drink. As she waits for it, she spares a particularly bright smile for F'hlan. Meli grins at the replies. "Eh, well, y're safe then.." in a bit of a slur. N'fan glances at Alisa and shrugs. "No idea," he murmurs. Alisa grins, "When you have to grab the hold to keep rom halling all Pern?" P'tran clears his throat again as he nearly finishes off his drink. "I just don't ... " He pauses a moment and blinks a few times. "Ah, don't handle it as well." Tamma asks, being rather near C'ron and Aellya, "Isn't getting really smashed the point of this? An' I think maybe y'might want to be able to get out of *between*, too, not just go in." R'val nudges Meli and murmurs" yer slurrin' Meli." Aphrael explains to N'fan, somewhat shakily. "The last in picks up the tab, N'fan." F'hlan, spotting N'fan, nods amiably to him, then to Aladis again, then he shifts his gaze back to P'tran. "Well, granted, my flits going up once a Turn _has_ gotten me broken in on this..." Kassima shakes her head at R'val, then giggles as this makes her head spin a bit. "Nay, nay--I've only one flask left!" Meli turns her head to look at R'val, swaying on her stool at the sudden movement. "I am?" Channie hops up onto the edge of the bar, feet swinging back and forth. Kershala walks in from the hallway. R'val points an accusing finger at Kassi, "Share or..or..I'll sick Slithereth on you!" He turns to Meli and bobshis head, 'Uh-huh. Tis true." Kershala ducks in the door and glances around at the chaos. Channie waves to Kershala. P'tran laughs a bit loudly and finishes off his drink with a bit of a flourish. "To be frank, I'm glad I'm not in that situation. Laerth rising to chase Leilanth -- and, um, the few times he's chased greens -- is more than anough for me in that area." C'ron waves brightly to Kershala and says warmly, "Kershala!" Meli swings her head back towards the door dangerously, and grins crookedly. Pointing at Kershala this time, she calls "Last?!" Aladis's cheeks dimple as she notices F'hlan's glance, bumping into the rider nearest her as she leans over to fetch her drink. She winces, turning to R'val. "Sick Slithereh on her?" The barkeep clears his throat before addressing the crowd, "I don't care who picks up the tab, but I /will/ get paid." P'tran is not quite sure that made any sense, but shrugs. Kassima snickers. "Don' think you can control Slithereth, R'val... he's got a mind of his own, that snake does." Yep, Kassi's definitely starting to get just a *little* tipsy. She waves gaily to Kershala, sloshing her drink around a bit. Kershala grins and starts inching toward C'ron through the crowd, waving to Meli as she goes. Empress snorts at the room. Empress launches into the air and disappears *between*. On F'hlan's shoulder, Neme croons, punctuating her human's and P'tran's words. Aphrael spins around and waves at Shala. "Hey Shala!" R'val bobs his head to Aladis, "Uh-huh. Don't you know the story of Slithereth?" Channie glances over at the barkeeper and smiles sweetly to him. Tamma turns, looking relieved as somebody else walks in. She's not the last anymore. Not like she had plans to pay for anyone except herself, anyway, but it helps not to be expected to. She downs the Nova, and mmphs. Perhaps she shouldn't have done that so fast. Meli chortles, nudging R'val. "I 'member one time, we dunked ev'ry ninth one through th'door in a bit vat o'water..." F'hlan blinks, then, and glances over to R'val. "'Slithereth?'" he echoes, dark eyebrows going up. Lizzie begins wiping up one of the nearby tables. Kershala waves back at Aphrael, nearly lost in the mass of human surrounding her. "Scuse me, pardon me..." Benden Weyr> F'hlan uh-ohs at Aladis going dimply at him. :) Aphrael giggles and nuges her friend. She mutters to Channie, "Hey,... can convince... to... the tab?" Aellya leans into C'ron somewhat ineberatedly. Aladis chuckles, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh, I've heard tales of Slithereth and his exploits." She turns, spotting F'hlan, and winks. R'val grins and nudges Meli back, his eyes gleaming, though they're a bit glazed, "Oh? Dear me. That sounds like a plan. We oughtta try that." N'fan looks around for a pair of open seats for Alisa and himself. Channie smiles innocently, flittering her lashes, She mutters to Aphrael, "... just..." she giggles. P'tran glances over to R'val, eyes taking a moment to focus, and chuckles slightly. He clears his throat again. "I'm afraid I'll have to head back..." Kassima nods to F'hlan, though the question wasn't addressed to her. "Y'remember him--the tunnelsnake said t'be living in the latrines? Big thing, eats whole wherries for breakfast?" Kershala tugs up an empty chair and settles next to C'ron, waving to the harried barkeep. "Cider, best y'got." C'ron grabs a sack and then says seriously in a happy drawl, "This is the drinkin' riders fund. Toss in the amount o' marks ya think your drinks are." He circulates the riders with a happy grin holding out his sack. R'val nods to all those who r epeat the name and regard him strangely, "Uh-huh. Slithereth. Benden's giant tunnelsnake." Aphrael nodnods, her eyes wide. She seems convinced. She mutters to Channie, "Oh... How... it..." F'hlan nods ruefully to P'tran, but he's staring, now, at R'val and Kassima. "Benden's giant _what_?" Meli grins, holding a finger before her lips unsteadily. "Shhh...." she shushes overloudly. "We'll get 'em at th'next stop..." The barkeep pours a mug of cider for Kershala and sends Lizzy over to deliver it. On F'hlan's shoulder, Neme flitters as her human's voice rises a few decibels. R'val grins at F'hlan broadly, "I m'self never heard of the thing. Kassi and her group of andidates apparently saw the thing first." Kelah walks in from frolicking with Kemith, "Fire-head, that dragon of yours is a nut..." Channie glances over at the barkeep again, She mutters to Aphrael, "... depends... guess--on... rate is..." Aellya pops open her pouch and tosses in a few marks to the sack as she snugs C'ron with her other arm. She picks up her drink after doing so and grins "C'ron, yer gonna have an awful headache in the mornin'." Tamma rummages around in her pocket and finds a mark peice, checks its worth, checks her drink, and tosses the piece into the sack, ordering another drink to make it even. P'tran ums at R'val and looks about to say something, then shakes his head. "I'm not getting into *that* one," he says, grinning Channie waves to Kelah from her perch on the bar, "Cousin!!" Kassima grins at F'hlan. "Tunnelsnake! Said t'be absolutely huge. Remember writing a song 'bout him once...." She gets a reminiscent look in her eye as she drops a few mark-pieces into the bag being circulated. Meli dips into her beltpouch with clumsy fingers, pulling out some truly worn old seacraft marks, dropping them in the circulating bag. P'tran takes a moment to refocus and then quietly heads out R'val fumbles in his pockets for some coins, and deposits a clumsily counted amount in the bag. P'tran walks away from the noise of the tavern and out into the corridor. Kershala shrugs and pulls out a couple of marks to donate to the bag. "Hadn't a sip yet, but this ought t'cover when I do." Aphrael hrms as she considers that. She too, watches the barkeep speculatively. She mutters to Channie, "... -could-..." C'ron gets another Nova from the barkeep and filters through the crowd. He smiles thankfully to Aphrael and circulates. "Well, Aellya, I might have a headache, but tonight I'm havin' fun!" F'hlan distractedly chips in on the tally, waves to P'tran, and frowns slightly at R'val and Kassima, particularly the latter. "You're pulling an old bronze rider's leg," he accuses mildly. Jekar lets out a huge burp and leaves the table. Fiona inflates the porta-table Aladis digs in an inner pocket, finding a cookie and popping it into her mouth, then finds a couple of marks which she tosses into the collection. R'val shakes his head at F'hlan, "Apparently, tis true. If you can trust Kassi.' He winks at the greenrider. Channie runs a hand through her hair and smiles over at the barkeep innocently. Aellya chuckles and says "I got a cure for them hangovers though." She grins "I'll pinch your nose and make ya drink it." Kassima shakes her head, blinking dizzily after this activity. "Nay, nay--Dwane was the first t'see him and t'name him... even got bit by him. An' several others've said t'have seen 'im." Kelah pulls up a stool next to his cousin and slaps her on the back, "So what're you havin' you little scamp?" Kershala grins at C'ron. "Looks like it. Don't envy you t'morrow. It's Aellya's groaning our Weyr's going to hear." C'ron laughs to Kershala, "Glad ya couldmake it. Ya missed the Lava Lounger, the Drinkin' Riders gave it a 9 of 10." Channie grunts as her back gets smacked as she looks at her cousin with narrowed eyes, "Well, it took you goodly long enough to catch up! Have a drink?" Kershala says "So sorry. What a thing to miss." She doesn't sound all /that/ sorry. "Well, I'm here now." Jekar looks around for any more weaverfolk. Well, other than Fiona, since he's practically her shadow. Kelah smirks, "Well Kemith had a spot that he was begging to have scratched... and sure I'll have a drink, glad to hear you're buying!" ;) C'ron laughs boisterously, "Well, ya're here now!" The barkeep prepares the next round, giving Kershala a quick wink in the process. Channie pokes Kelah's arm and calls out, "Ah, one of those--ah, what are those things called?" she looks over at Aphrael. Kershala grins at the barkeep and winks back before tossing back her cider. "Whoo! Good stuff. 'Nother of those?" Aphrael hrms. "Nova?" She suggests to Channie. Kelah raises an eyebrow at his cuz. C'ron sips his Nova cheerfully and replies lightly to Aellya, "Well, I think I might need an aewful lot of cure." Aladis leans back against the bar and takes another sip of her drink, chuckling softly to herself and glancing back over in F'hlan's direction. F'hlan, having finished off his Nova, stares with slightly furrowed brow at his wingmate Kassima. She holds her own in Fall, but shards if he ever heard he concct THIS tale, or anything like it. Then again, this is the first time he's really gotten _social_ with his younger wingmates. "So how big _is_ this Slithereth?" he demands. R'val calls out, "C'ron! You drinkin' cider?" Aellya smiles and snugs C'ron lightly and says "I'm sure." She murmurs. Channie nods and swings her feet again, "right, A Nova for my dear cousin, make it two, cuz he has to catch up!" she giggles softly. The barkeep prepares another cider, personally delivering it to Kershala. Channie sighs over at Aphrael, She mutters to Aphrael, "I... little... huh?" Kelah smiles and smiles at Channie, "Is that a doubting quality I detect in that ever-so-cute voice of yours cousin?" Kassima hrms thoughtfully. "Well, he'd have t'be big enough to eat full- grown wherries.... I *think* Dwane says he was about man-sized." She honestly seems to believe what she's saying, which is probably one of those effects of being tipsy. Aphrael shakes her head regretfully. "I don't think so.. but at lease -we- don't have to pay." She winks. Kelah smiles some more for good measure! Channie just flitters her lashes as she looks up at Kelah. "Hm." C'ron delivers the sack of marks to the barkeep and works out payment, winding up with some extra change. He shrugs puts it back into the sack, heading over to listen to R'val and Kassima's tale. R'val snorts at Kassi, "I wishI 'd seen this thing. "He mutters into his drink, "I still don't quite believe it." Aladis frowns thoughtfully. "Y'know, Kassi, I think I've seen some large, hulking thing about the Weyr." Kelah chuckles and winks at his cuz. "So what're in these... Novas?" Kershala nurses this cider mug a bit more slowly, then winces as a tinny creel sounds in her ear. "Ah... barkeep? Have anything meatroll-style? Something for hungry little pests. Baby pests." Channie grins over at Aph and nods slowly, her eyes flickering over to Kershala and the barkeep." The barkeep counts the marks and nods to C'ron. "Good doin' buisness with ye." Channie purses her lips slightly, "Hm, they wouldn't tell me what was in it." Kassima recites almost absently, "Deep in the latrines, beyond hope of cleaning, a pair of snake eyes are said to be gleaming.... It eats full- grown wherries for breakfast, it's said, and the Candidates whisper about it with dread...." She blinks at R'val. "Well, I've nay actually *seen* him," she admits reluctantly. The barkeep sends Lizzy after food for Kercshala. C'ron gets up onto chair and towers above everyone, he calls out happily, "Alright, we ready for Number Three yet?" F'hlan flicks his lightened gaze, closer to gold than brown now -- or at leat goldd-flecked brown -- to Aladis, and accuses, "You're all pulling an old bronze rider's leg!" Aphrael raises an eyebrow at Channie, and watches interestedly. Lizzie nods and dissapears out the tavern door. Meli spins halfway round on her barstool, stopping facing out over the crowd, swaying unsteadily a moment and reaching a hand back to steady herself on the edge of the bar. R'val snorts softly at Kassima's words, and grins triumphantly, pointing a finger at her again<" See? Tol ya. S'just a legend.' He seems to have forgotten that five minutes ago he was proclaiming the reality of Slithereth. Tamma blinks as she scans the tavern. She knows nearly no one. Well, that's okay. She's drunk, they're drunk, nobody'll notice. She, too, heads over to listen to Kassima. Kershala grins up at C'ron. Waaaay up. "Don't fall, please, Cam... You're a little too close for my comfort." Kassima hrms at Aladis. "I think that could easily be Shlith--err, Slithereth, aye." She glances at C'ron and protests, "But we haven't rated this place yet!" F'hlan, at C'ron's call, looks up. N'fan overhears enough of Kassima's comment to recognize the humor in it. He chuckles quietly, still smiling as he turns towards the sound of C'ron's voice. "Number three?" he asks. Fiona deflates the porta-table and takes it away! R'val looks up and beams, standing, unsteadily, "Three?" Aladis blinks innocently at F'hlan, her lips curled in a smile. "Now, sir," she asks, her eyes twinkling, "would I do that to such a charming bronzerider?" Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "FEAR Aladis, F'hlan. ;)" Aladis turns slightly toward Kassima, and winks. C'ron grins to Kassima, "Right right. Alright, what is the Rider Pub Ratin' for the Dawn Sisters? Between one and ten!" Benden Weyr> F'hlan is Fearing. He saw her dimple. :) Channie pushes the drink into Kelah's hands and eyes him, "Hm? C'mon now." Tamma turns. Oh, hey, c'ron. She knows him. She calls out her score: "Seven." Aphrael frowns. "Rating? Oh yeah.. I'd give it a 7 or 8, I think. I like those Nova's." Lizzie comes back into the tavern with a huge bowl of scraps for Kershala. She hands it to her with a shy smile and scurries off again. Kershala thumps the bar with a grin. "Good cider. 8 from me." Jekar looks up at mention of number three, and shrugs into his jacket, collecting Fiona's and helping her into it as well. "I gotta be one of the /few/ people here not drunk under the table..." Kelah laughs and studies the Nova. F'hlan states firmly, "Seven," and adds to Aladis, "I'm not that sharding charming." Kassima considers this for a long time, then swigs the rest of her Nova and says in a reasonably clear voice, "Eight, I think." R'val calls out, OH, I dunno. a six, maybe a sseven>" Meli consisters, and says "Seven" again. Aellya rubs a hand through her hair and shrugs as she says "Aye, a seven." Kershala nods and smiles after Lizzie. Smiles... and almost opens her mouth to say something, then grins and shakes her head. Channie crosses her arms over her chest and frowns at her cousin, "Going to let your little cuz outdrink you?" Aladis finishes her drink. "Seven," she says quite clearly. Then, turning to F'hlan, she winks. "Are too." Four tiny hatchlings converge on Shala's bowl of scraps, two blues, a brown, and a slinky green creeling and fighting for space. On F'hlan's shoulder, Neme COOS! at her human and nuzzles him vigorously, evidently agreeing with Aladis. C'ron nods his head, teetering for a moment on the chair before regaining his balance. "Alright, sounds like a 7! The Dawn Sister's Tavern has an official Rider Pub Ratin' o' 7. How 'bout the Hulk next?" The barkeep scowls, "Is that all? This is the best tavern on Pern. You'll never find a drink like the Nova elsewhere." N'fan seems a bit confused, since he arrived late to this party. Quietly he asks no one in particular, "Three? Seven?" Kassima giggles at F'hlan. "Then why're all the lower caverns girls so enamoured of you, hmm?" She sets down her empty glass and grins. "The Hulk sounds great. I'm in the mood for some of that brandy of Hugh's." Channie waves over to N'fan. Aladis raises her nearly empty glass to the little 'lizard on F'hlan's shoulder. "See? I've got agreement." Kelah laughs and winks at his cousin and tosses the drink down his gullet, wiping his lips with a smile on the way back up. Aladis perks up. "Brandy?" N'fan smiles a little, but still looks a bit bemused as he waves back to Channie. Fiona smiles at Jekar as he helps her into her jacket, "Well, that /is/ their objective." As she overhears the next stop, she says softly, "I've been to the Hulk enough times. Wanna go back to the Hall?" Kelah coughs a little, "Well, that's quite... good." Kershala sets the bowl on the table to let the hatchlings eat, and stands up. Not quite unsteadily. Not yet. F'hlan snorts, but not unkindly, and carefully starts getting to his feet. "The lower caverns girls are as mythical as Slithereth," he declares, and adds to C'ron, "So where's the Hulk?" C'ron steps off the chair and grins to everyone, "Alright! Last call everyone...The Hulk is Number Three." Channie beams and hops down from the bar. R'val beams, 'Ah, the hulk!" He leaps to his feet. Jekar can't nod quickly enough to Fiona's query. "Indeed...who'll take us?" Tamma tags along out the door. She won't be last this time. Kassima nods at Aladis and whispers, too quietly for that barkeep to hear, "The best brandy on Pern!" She looks over to F'hlan and nods sagely. "Aye, both're absolutely real. Absolutely." Kershala frowns and murmurs, "Hulk?" C'ron totters to F'hlan, "It's in the Seacraft Hall, suh." Meli stands at a slant, almost as if she were on a ship on the sea in a slight swell. "Th'Hulk..." Channie grabs Kelah's arm and pulls him out with her. Aladis sets her glass down and grins. "Shall we?" She beams, perhaps a bit too brightly, at Kassi, "Sounds fantastic!" The barkeep walks over to Kershala and grins, "And what would you rate my tavern, lovely lass?" R'val puts an arm under Meli's armpit and grins< "Don't fall Meli." Kelah downs the second Nova and slaps some marks on the bartop, "Not paying as usual cousin?" He chuckles and follows Channie out. F'hlan nods a trifle less firmly, mutters, "Not that sharding handsome," and limps carefully out the door. Kershala grins at the barkeep. "Oh... the cider's great. 8 at least." F'hlan walks away from the noise of the tavern and out into the corridor. Meli turns to eye R'val. "Fall?" she considers. "Hey, why're you standin' on an angle?" Aphrael walks away from the noise of the tavern and out into the corridor. Kassima hops out of her seat and beams. "Aye, t'the Hulk!" With that, she skips merrily out of the tavern. R'val snorts at Meli, "I ain't. You are!" Aladis wavers slightly as she heads out the door. [Editor's Note: The scene now shifts to the Rusted Hulk, just as Kassi arrives.] R'val wanders in. Kassima whees. "Beat C'ron this time, we did!" Tamma wanders in. Aphrael runs in, all but collapsing against a table. "Woo! First in!" Kershala wanders in. Meli wanders in. R'val hurries in after Aph and Kassi,g rinning triumphantly, a'llright! Man, we're fast. Not bad for half-inebriated riders." Kassima grabs a bar stool with confidence and sits on it, regardless of its questionable state of togetherness. There is a loud creak as she puts her full weight onto the chair. First one leg of the barstool gives out, then another, followed by a loud *OUCH* as she falls to the ground, surrounded by splintered wood. Aellya wanders in. Kershala grins at Kassi. "Try a sturdier chair?" Tamma almost lets out a triumphant whoop, chanting, "I'm no-ot la-ast, I'm no-ot la-ast!" Hugh slowly pours a bit of fine, aged brandy into a mug, and hands it to Meli. Kassima yelps and eyes the broken stool. "Shells!" Rubbing her sore... dignity... she tries again. Meli sits down on a rickety looking bar stool, which sways a bit, but remains standing. Kassima sits down on the barstool and perches there with confidence. F'hlan wanders in. Kershala pulls out a barstool of her own and settles down. "Cider! Two of them!" Aladis wanders in. F'hlan murmurs, appearing at the door, "Tillek air..." Hugh slowly pours a bit of fine, aged brandy into a mug, and hands it to Kassima. C'ron wanders in. F'hlan says "Tillek red!" R'val sits down on the barstool and perches there with confidence. Meli points at C'ron. "Tha's Nine! Someone get a bucket!" Aellya grins wryly at C'ron, "I beatcha this time handsome." Hugh pulls a draft of rich dark stout and slides it down the bar to *slosh* near R'val's hand. Hugh slowly pours a bit of fine, aged brandy into a mug, and hands it to Aphrael. Aladis grins as she comes in, wandering over to her friends. Hugh slowly pours a bit of fine, aged brandy into a mug, and hands it to Aladis. R'val grabs a mug of stout and, beaming, takes a heavy slug out of it. Kassima licks her lips and takes the brandy, sipping it and savoring the flavor. "Best brandy on Pern!" she enthusiastically acclaims as she grabs some jellybeans from the jar and stuffs them in her jacket pockets. Aellya walks up to C'ron and hugs him tight before loosening him and walking over to the bar. F'hlan, grinning a strangely fond grin, puts in his order. Hugh pours F'hlan a glass of red wine from a dusty red bottle. "Ey, Tillek Red, Best Red on Pern." He says, as he hands it to F'hlan. R'val grins owlishly at Meli and Aph and Kassi, "Think I'll try some beer before I have the brandy>" Aphrael peers over at F'hlan. "Tillek red?" She slurs, picking up her brandy. C'ron hugs Aellya happily and kisses her. He then asks aloud, "Alright, what's the best ta drink here?" Kelah wanders in. Hugh hands Meli a bucket of water from behind the bar. She nods to him and stalks purposefully towards C'ron. "You were ninth in th'door, C'ron...." F'hlan smiles kindly to Aphrael. "My foster father's favorite." Channie wanders in. Kassima shakes her head. "Nay accountin' for taste, I suppose... F'hlan, you should really try the brandy 'fore we go, though." She wrinkles her nose at R'val. "Yech." C'ron laughs heartily and nods to Meli, "Well, as Ninth, I guess I get soaked." Channie grins sheepishly as she walks in. Kelah bounds in shaking his head at all the riders and pulling his cousin along, "Can't believe you talked me into this..." Meli grins and lets fly with the water. Kershala says "Heh, not with my cider!" R'val giggles uncontrollably at Huhg and grins at Kassima, "Brandy is fabulous, aye, but I need a warmer-upper." Kershala tosses back her cider, still grinning. "Not bad... not bad at all." Channie giggles widely and beams up at Kelah, "Tell me you're not having fun...." Aphrael shakes her head at F'hlan. "Too weak, F'hlan, you'll have ta have some of the brandy before we go onto out next bar." Tamma turns to watch C'ron as she gets a glass of white wine, and laughs. Aladis takes the brandy and raises the glass to Kassi, then drinks a good half of it. She blinks, smiling sweetly at F'hlan. "How sweet of you to drink the red in remembrance." Channie re-waves to everyone. C'ron gently pushes Aellya out of his proximity as he is dreached with water from Meli's bucket. He sputters happily and cries out, "Hugh! Give me a Brandy!" Kassima laughs at Meli and applauds the soaking. "Good show, Meli, good show!" F'hlan sips at his red contentedly, and tells Kassima and Aphrael, "Lasses, if I'm going to get drunk enough to go *between* without my dragon tonight, I'll have to pace myself." He adds to Aladis, "Well, Marrill's a good man. Miss him. Should visit him more often." Channie titls her head to one side, "oh--Brandy?" Kelah chuckles and has a seat at the bar, pulling Nie up with him, "C'mon cuz... you're slowing down... " Channie leans against Kelah and smooches his cheek "Heh, you wish!" R'val calls out, laughing uproariously, "Bet that soak sobered ya up, eh C'ron?" Kelah snickers. C'ron chuckles to Hugh and adds, "Another for the lady," he motions to Aellya. He takes his mug and tosses down some brandy and laughs. "Good shot, Meli!" Meli sets the bucket down and bows, arms flailing as she balances herself and sraightens."Why, thank ye." Aphrael blinkblinks. Logic. Wow. "Uh.. you're right, F'hlan." She seems to consider this, sipping at her brandy a bit slower. Channie orders two brandies, not wishing to be left out of, and makes sure one goes to Kelah. Kershala scoots her stool over closer to C'ron and Aellya. "'Nother cider.. Good sh.... stuff." C'ron pats R'val on the back, "'At's right, 'course I was ne'er drunk." He nods his head and winks at the bluerider. Aphrael cheers C'ron's soaking. Meli sits down on the barstool and perches there with confidence. F'hlan smiles serenely, and takes his time with the red, watching the antics surrounding C'ron. Aladis runs a hand through her mop of curls. "Delightful drink," she murmurs taking a sip. She smiles again, perhaps a bit too brightly at F'hlan. "You drunk, sir?" Kelah smirks at his cousin as he takes up his brandy. "A toast little cousin?" R'val snorts at C'ron and winks," NEver drunk? Fah. I don't believe it." He turns to Meli, and passes her a brandy as he gets two from Hugh, "Here! This is the best brandy on Pern!" Meli grins, fait accompli, and resumes drinking her brandy. C'ron goes over and gives Meli a big huge wet hug, "Thank you, Meli!" Kassima hrms and nods thoughtfully. "'Tis a point you've got there, F'hlan... methinks I'll be buying a bottle of this brandy to add t'my wine stores at home an' just have one glass here. Benden Winecraft's got too many things to try to fill up here." Wow, logic from a semi-drunk Kassi-- who would've thought it? F'hlan lifts his dark eyebrows at Aladis. "What, now? Or in general?" Channie narrows her eyes at Kelah, "hm, a toast to what?" she does, however, hold up her glass. Kershala suddenly is attacked by a number of hatchlings settling on her shoulders. "Gee-eez... Hush up, guys." Meli splutters, laughing. "Why, C'ron, y're all wet!" And looking at R'val she adds..."Yeh, used t'live here, y'know." Tamma finds herself a table and perches on a stool, sipping at the wine and scoping out the seacrafters, first warily - as if checking to see if somebody's going to catch her - and then just lazily. Hmmm. Aladis tosses off her first drink and quietly orders another. She grins at F'hlan, cheeks dimpling again. "Now. Think you can?" Kelah smiles, "Why, to clear skies of course!!!" C'ron deposits Meli, chuckling incessantly, taking a pull from his brandy. He then shakes himself out spraying those near him with big droplets of water. Kershala sprawls a bit, back against the bar while she sips at her cider and watches, grinning. R'val grins at Meli, "You did indeed. So you know how awesome the brandy is. "he takes both o them, and begins happily chugging back more brandy than he ought to. F'hlan says dryly to Aladis, "Rider, I've gotten myself drunk enough to be unable to walk. It's not a matter of whether I can." Channie giggles and nods, "Aye, a fine thing to drink to!" she lifts her glass a little more before taking a deep drink. Meli wipes damp hair back from her face and grins crookedly and somewhat cross-eyed at C'ron and R'val. "Right." To both or either of them. Kershala peers down into her mug thoughtfully. "Ne'er been drunk before." R'val grins at Meli triumphantly, "Any other real good drinks at this bar then Meli? Since you're the expert and all." C'ron states aloud in a confident voice, "This is shardin' fantastic brandy. Pity about the nine rule. But rules is rules." Aladis jumps a bit as she is splattered with water, casting an amused look toward C'ron. She chuckles at F'hlan. "The secret is," she says drolly, "is to walk so smoothly that one doesn't appear drunk at all." Kassima leans over to talk to Hugh, passing over a mark piece and receiving a flask, which she sets on her lap and watches carefully. She grins at R'val and C'ron and Meli, though she's not sure why. "The brandy here's the best, aye... nothing like it on Pern." Meli shakes her head, then grimaces at the motion of the room that results. "Neh... but th'fish'n'chips are great." Kelah smiles at his cousin and takes a long drink of brandy, coming up and wiping his mouth with a sleve, "Clear skies," he hoots, "and brandy to spare!" C'ron approaches Aladis and adds, "Or ta be so drunk, lass, that ya don't care." Kassima blinks at Aladis. "That's possible?" she asks, obviously intrigued by the concept. R'val hrms, "Not sure I got room for food in my stmoach, right now." He muses at Meli. F'hlan's mouth curls in a smile. He nods wisely, and finishes off his red, tilting his head back, and letting it flush his way down through his blood. Kershala tilts her head. "Brandy, huh? Think I'll try that..." Aphrael blinks, eryes wide. She almost knocks her brandy over. "Food? Fish and chips!" She bounces over to the bar. Channie quiets down a bit to listen to what the others are talking about, she sips at her brandy. Hugh drops some breaded fish sticks and tuber wedges into some hot oil to cook. When they are done cooking he takes the 'fish n chips' and drops them into a basket in front of Meli with some tartar sauce. Aladis sips from her brandy glass, nodding to Kassima. "Stuff's even better than a Miner's Special." Hugh drops some breaded fish sticks and tuber wedges into some hot oil to cook. When they are done cooking he takes the 'fish n chips' and drops them into a basket in front of Aphrael with some tartar sauce. Hugh slowly pours a bit of fine, aged brandy into a mug, and hands it to Kershala. Meli grins. "Close..." Channie enters the closet casually, the door closing behind with an ominous crack. Meli giggles at Channie. Kassima giggles at C'ron. "That's when you start wearing wine glasses as hats, I imagine...." She blinks again at Aladis. "Miner's Special? I've nay heard of it." Kelah blinks at his cousin going into the closet. Kershala blinks a little at the brandy, then reaches up to tug at C'ron's shirt. "So... how strong's this stuff?" Hugh drops some breaded fish sticks and tuber wedges into some hot oil to cook. When they are done cooking he takes the 'fish n chips' and drops them into a basket in front of R'val with some tartar sauce. C'ron points to himself, "I ain't ever worn no wine glass hat, Kassima. Thas' your job." Aphrael peers over at Channie. "U-oh.. she's stuck.." R'val manages, at last, to force the words through his booze-sodden tongue, and pulls the plate towardshim, licking his lips in exaggerated hunger. HE looks up and blinks slowly, "Uh-oh. Did Nie go into the closet?" Meli reaches over the bar and grabs the bottle of malted vinegar and plunks it near her chips. "S'better w'this on the chips, but th'tartar's good on the fish." Aphrael chews happily on her food. N'fan wanders in. Kelah chuckles and calls out in the direction of the closet, "Hey! Fire- head! That's the /closet/ not the bathroom!" Aladis giggles at R'val, "How many of those have you had?" She finishes off the brandy, smiling widely at Kassima. "Some secret mixture of the Minecraft. Very strong and very good. I think Master Lily knows how to make 'em." She pauses a moment, glancing toward the closet. "Channie's in there?" Kassima grins. "Aye, and a fine job it is!" she agrees. "Almost as fun as playin' Moreta's ride on the musical glasses." She peers after Nie and shakes her head. "She did, aye... poor Nie. That closet's horrible." R'val blinks at Aladis and grins< "How many fish n chips? None, this is my first plate!" He looks proud of his restraint. Tamma taps her fingers against the table, eyes still scanning the tavern, still sipping at the wine. Well, it can't hurt to /look/ at the guys, right? Right. She finishes her wine and gets a refill. Can't hurt. Kershala frowns, unable to get C'ron's attention, and finally just shrugs and tosses back her brandy in a gulp. Then stops. Then gasps and starts to choke. N'fan walks in behind Alisa, pausing a moment to let his eyes adjust. Kassima grins at Aladis. "You like strong stuff, hrm? I know something you should try...." She again pulls that discolored bottle of blue-green stuff out of her belt pouch and offers it to Aladis. Meli digs into her meal with zest, between slugs of brandy. R'val calls out towards Aladis, "Don't do it, Aladis! Tis a trap. That boozez of Kassi's is poison." Kelah downs the remainder of his brandy.... and what Nie left of hers... and orders two more before going to pull her out of that closet, "Darn little cousin... always getting herself in a fix..." Kelah enters the closet casually, the door closing behind with an ominous crack. Kershala gasps again, eyes watering and sets the brandy glass aside. C'ron chuckles and pats Kershala's shoulder and winks, "That strong." Aladis takes the bottle, peering at it curiously. "Looks like bubblebath. What is it?" She snorts at R'val. "Bluerider, if you can down four Miners Specials and remain standing, then you can advise me about strong drinks." Grinning, she turns back to Kassima. "It *is* safe to drink, isn't it?" Kershala wipes at her eyes, but manages to glare at C'ron. "Thanks... *ack* for the war...ning." Kassima grins at R'val and says, in a tone of disappointment, "Eh, but you're still alive!" She shrugs at Aladis. "Don't know... I don't think it's really *poison*...." F'hlan, leaning carefully back against the back of his chair, resting his head against the wall behind him, watches his greenrider wingmates and grins faintly. C'ron pats Kershala's shoulder happuly, "Ayup! I figured ya needed a drink." Alisa nestles herself against N'fan, sliding one arm around his waist, and looks about for a nie glass of stout somewhere. R'val pokes out his tongue at Kassima. Roughly. He's having trouble seeing straight. "Feh! Nothing you concoct could poison me, you dsilly greenrider." He proclaims this, pours another brandy, and slugs it back witha loud, satisfied belch. Kershala coughs a couple more times. "I... " She shakes her head blearily. "Stick t'cider, I think." N'fan smiles at Alisa, and tries to get Hugh's attention so he can get some juice for himself. Kassima wrinkes her nose at R'val and says, quite clearly, "Feh." Meli * hangs around for a few more stops before being dragged home, honestly :) Aladis passes the bottle from hand to hand. "Odd," she mumbles to herself, "it's *hot*." Carefully, she uncorks the bottle, holding it away from her body as she hears a hiss and sees white vapour coming from the bottle. Smiling bravely, she riases the feared bubbling bottle to her wingmates and takes a drink. C'ron hops from foot to foot and winces. He says a trifle loudly, "I gotta use the men's room." Meli wanders over to the Courtyard. Alisa laughs softly and shakes her head, grabbing a stout from a passing tray. R'val watches Aladis fearfully, his drink hovering in his hand as he focuses all of his booze-sodden attention on the grenrider. Aladis wrinkles her nose and closes her watering eyes. Stifling a cough, she turns to R'val with a grin. "Smooth. Very smooth. Sure *hic* you won't *hic* try some?" Benden Weyr> Kassima notes that Aladis is drinking something truly evil. I have *no* idea what it is, except that one of these days I'm going to have it spontaneously combust. ;) Aladis giggles. Kershala orders another 'safe' cider and sips at that, but is looking just a little crosseyed. Tamma pauses in her seacrafter-scoping - apparently not having found much of interest - to peer over to Aladis and The Bottle. Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Not a Miner's Special?!" Benden Weyr> F'hlan yegads. I'm the oldest one on the crawl. C'ron rushes out the door, comically impatient. He comes back after a minute looking much more relieved. He asks loudly, "Who took my brandy?" Kelah wanders in. R'val grimaces at Aladis, "I already did. SMooth it is, if smooth is something what eats away yer innards!" He has a vague accent all of a sudden. Or is he just plastered? Channie wanders in. Kelah /pulls/ his cousin out of the closet!!! Aphrael blinks over at C'ron. "Who shtole what?" She slurs. Channie blinks and looks around, wavering on her feet, "Oh, thanks!" Kelah shakes his head and retieves his second brandy from the bar. Kershala tosses back another cider and, wobbling a little, shoves it over with a demand for another brandy. Brandy? Alisa sips from her stout, giggling at the drunken riders. C'ron complains bitterly, "Someone took my brandy. Hugh, hit me again!" He grins with a disoriented smile. Kassima grins crookedly at Aladis. "Y'like it, then? I'll have t'brew more...." She glances around and inquires of F'hlan, since he's nearby, "D'you want to try whatever's in the bottle?" R'val orders, in a sludder voice, yet anothe