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Purple Eggs, Purple Eggs


Date:  December 1, 2007
Place:  Igen Weyr's Hatching Galleries
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Lhiannonth and Gelth's clutch arrives!  And it's 
purple!  Oh, so very purple.  The Igenites gather, along with a High
Reaches visitor, to see the sight and place their bets, and witness
Josilina's personal tragedy:  there's never an escape from grey eggs.

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The Log:

Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Gelth sounds about as excited as a kid on
Christmas morning. << Eggs! The eggs are coming! >>

IGEN-> A'zric grins. For those who don't get Gelth's *cough* subdued
commentary in yoru dragon's head.. the weyr is a buzzing with the news that
the lovely Lhiannonth is ready to be a little elss lumpy and get those eggs
into hot sand. Spectators welcome. :)

IGEN-> Josilina grins. Hatching grounds are off the weyrling training field.

IGEN-> Kassima says, "Bless you. ;)"

IGEN-> Janine says, "Riders can use the ledges"

You head in through the tunnel and climb up onto the Stands.

Lanisa climbs into the stands.

On the Sands, Josilina scrambles in not long after Lhiannonth lands, the
gold pacing restlessly, scraping and shifting the sands with her talons.
"Isn't this a bit /early/?" Jos demands with no reply, and she doesn't
really seem to expect one, taking a place off to the side, near the gallery.

On the Sands, A'zric answers anyhow, as he strides across the sands,
keeping up a good clip as not to pause too long on those hot hot sands. "A
little early, yes. I hope they're alright." He immediately adds,
specifically for Lhiannonth. "I'm sure they're fine."

"Yes, well, you can just be very pleased with yourself then," Sria is
murmurring, mostly to herself, though in all likelihood to someone else
entirely. She settles in, finding a seat towards the front as the galleries
begin to fill.

On the Sands, Gelth alternates between getting in the gold's way, and
trying to stay out of her way, and moving sand around and then being in her
way again. He's nearly bouncing on that hot sand and garnering him a smirk
from his lifemate.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Lulling Lavender Luxury Egg
is revealed.

On the Sands, Soft lavender too dark to be properly pastel is the base and
background color, unvarying. Were that all the egg had to offer--no
patterns, no chiaroscuro, only that gentle liquid wash--then it would like
as not be lost amidst more vibrant clutchmates. Innumerable circles save
it. Within their hair-thin boundaries of white the lavender takes on an
opalescent cast, hinting at other colors without losing itself. In the
largest cases this is clearly visible, but most of the bubbles are tiny,
frothing, joined together in pale foam that drifts across the twilight sea.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Lulling Lavender Luxury Egg in the red
sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

"I don't know," Kassima says doubtfully to the chestnut-haired man who
comes in with her, wearing the knot of a Benden Weyr greenrider. "Eighteen?
I'd be pleased t'see it, but... shells, why am I arguing? You bet on that,
I get your money, good deal for me. Over there, there are seats." She and
V'dan pick their way over to them and settle down; Kassi, as is her
clutching wont, has a lapful of hide for taking notes. "Oh! Hmm.
Hmmm-mmm-mmm...."

Lanisa makes her way in, hands in pockets, leisurely seeming pace. Never
mind her hair is all mussed from when she actually dashed across the
bowl... Ahh, yes. And not to mention flushed cheeks, also courtesy of the
dash.

On the Sands, "They better be fine," Josilina half-mumbles, "but I'm sure
they will be," the last is also a tad more loudly said for the benefit of
the eager clutchparents. And then: there's an egg! "Oh! It's pretty! And
not deformed! They're fine!" She beams, looking pleased as she sounds, and
bounces on her toes just a bit.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Frigid Fimbulwinter Flush
Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, In the Weyrs, Holds, and Halls far north of Igen, where
white-outs blank the skies and the snow they deliver frosts the world, this
is a familiar tint seen on hands each winter. As its pale rose overtone is
best appreciated from a distance, the close viewer might decide the egg is
chilled blue and not purple at all--irregular crescents of white set off
the frozen hue and cool what warmth remains. From afar the lingering flush
fights back, turning blue to lilac. Ripples of darker and lighter color
race each other down the length of the shell with neither achieving dominance.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Frigid Fimbulwinter Flush Egg in the red
sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

On the Sands, A'zric reaches over to give the enthuiastic bronze an
affectionate slap on the haunch. "Looks good Gelth, try not to explode with
pride all over everything, hmm." His critical eye goes over the first egg,
and now and second as well as another joins the hot sands. "Good sized, no
worrisome markings. Good start, definately."

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Tempest in a Teacup Egg is
revealed.

On the Sands, The egg is large in size but so light in hue that it can seem
luminous against the sand, like china held up to the sun. A pale bone
white, it is dotted with tiny shapes that might resemble flowers or maybe
just flicks of a restless brush. Some are closer to lavender, others lilac,
a few loud plum or faded mauve. Only in one off-center place does the
formal pattern cease, interrupted by long, barely there shadows like narrow
leaves, the fortune made but still unseen.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Tempest in a Teacup Egg in the red sand
after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

V'dan nudges Kassima in the ribs. "It's brown. Put me down for brown." To
which she answers, "Gladly, since 'tis green," and scrawls something on her
hide; two somethings, deciding, "And that one's blue. Brrr. Here I thought
I'd done with seeing that color. Another green, that third." Scribble,
scribble, flourish, and she unstops a 'skin of wine.

Raykini makes his way up into the hatching galleries as quickly as he can,
having just heard the news of eggs being laid on the sands. He offers a nod
to the people he knows, quickly moving to find himself a seat. "What did I
miss? How many have clutched so far?" He asks to the nearest person next to
him.

On the Sands, Josilina rises to her tiptoes, peering out into the
bleachers. "I wonder if R'sel made it with Jorel," she muses. "I think Lhia
told Svaroth, but then he didn't answer, or she didn't tell me." She looks
back to the clutching gold, "Being understandably distracted - that one's
so /pale/. The one before was, too. Do you think that's bad?"

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Subdued Secretive Sparkle
Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, It isn't the color of the shell that so varies with the
ambient light. In shadow or sun, it's purple; dark, more secretive than
vivid, subdued in beauty, but there is still too much warmth and too much
life in the shade to see it as black. What daylight does is bring out the
miniscule chips and flecks of gold that litter the surface like mica
scales. By contrast they deepen their dusky background further, and may
lead one to wonder what other secrets the egg yet conceals.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Subdued Secretive Sparkle Egg in the red
sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

Sria offers quiet duties to those that sit nearby, or notice her knot;
generally she's silent, watching. Occasionally there's a polite nod or a
smile for a nearly recognizable face, someone who's seen her during past
visits, but for the most part she remains observant. She does reply to
Raykini's general query, however: "Just the three so far. - Oh," with the
new addition, her eyes on Lhiannonth: "Four, then."

"Three, I think. Or make that four. Unless I missed something before I got
here." Lanisa replies with a grin before finding a seat for herself as
well. At Stia's comment she then gives a firm nod, "Four it is then." And
the strawberry haired woman leans back in her seat, putting her feet up
before her.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Glistening Glob of Grape
Jam Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, Shading and shadows turn a smooth surface into the appearance
of something, lumpy. Deep, rich, pure purple, with highlights and accents
that are only grades of that singular hue. Patterned overall akin to
something made of gel that was scooped up by a large spoon and then its
oval form dropped into the sand. There is even a bit of the latter stuck to
the shell, caught up as little motes which mar the surface.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Glistening Glob of Grape Jam Egg in the
red sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and
then carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down
to doze.

Raykini leans forward as he idly scans the sands, mentally counting the
shells just barely seen sticking out of the ground. "You're right, four."
Ray says to the other, sitting up higher in his seat to get a better look,
"That's a nice looking egg, good clutch so far."

On the Sands, A'zric shakes his head as he crosses his arms across his
chest and watches the gold fuss over the freshly clutched eggs. "Nope, pale
colour doesnt worry me a bit. I've seen all the colours of the rainbow on
eggs and not had any bit of harm come to them. Shape worries me more, but
even that I've been surprised over the turns."

Kassima reports as though it were perfect truth and not one woman's
opinion, "Two greens, a blue, and... green again. Couldn't ask for a better
start. Oh, there's a brown now too. Purple." Her eyebrows quirk. "They've
all been purple. That's a new one."

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Illuminated Iridescent
Imbroglio Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, Bronze, peacock blue, and hints of gold streak and swirl in
random nonsense patterns through burnished plum. There's little logic to
where color appears. True, that wash of gold--or is it silver?--edged in
iridescent ripples has the vague shape of a strawberry, that speckled
grouping could be a leaf, but it takes such work of imagination to get
there that it's likely more pleasant to appreciate the chaos for what it
is; to let the individual colors fade all into purple beneath a relaxed
eye, and somehow still jump out when they're sought.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Illuminated Iridescent Imbroglio Egg in
the red sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air,
and then carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back
down to doze.

On the Sands, "That one's nice," Josilina appears comforted by the latest
addition. "And that one," she adds. "I wonder if they'll hatch early, too,"
she muses - and to some extent is seems she's talking just to talk, giving
little weight to what she's saying as she paces a short length of the
sands' edge, watching Lhiannonth carefully, the gold nosing at a bit of
sand and apparently trying to direct Gelth to check on one of the
already-laid eggs.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Smoke on the Water Egg is
revealed.

On the Sands,  A swirled haze of grey hangs above the rippled silver
liquid, ghosting across the shell and giving it an appearance of
nonsubstance. The ethereal surface mirrors clinging vapor and though
tranquil in appearance, it most closely resembles the smoldering pall left
after a roaring conflagration.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Smoke on the Water Egg in the red sand
after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

Sria overhears Kassima's last and her eyes scan the six - seven, now -
revealed shells. "Purple. You're right. Well." As if she really doesn't
have much else - or has too much - to say about that. Only then does she
look around, and that it was Kassima's comment registers, and she smiles
her (belated) greeting over to Lysseth's rider.

"They're probably all green, just to clash with those shells." Lanisa says,
perhaps by way of conversation, though it's with amusement that she shakes
her head.

On the Sands, Gelth lumbers over to check on the egg that Lhiannonth's
directed him to, bending his large head to give it just a little nudge and
then using a foreclaw to adjust the sand around it. Oh so gentle for such a
massive creature. A little rumble, perhaps to speak to the freshly clutched
egg.

Raykini wraps his arms around his chest, a eyebrow slowly dissapearing into
his bangs. "Purple." He repeats as other people say it, "Huh, interesting
color. Can't say I'm fond of purple myself but..."

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Temporary Tenebrous Treat
Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, Rather oblong and narrow as dragon eggs go, this one is dark
and more blue-toned than many of its mates in Lhiannonth's clutch. Almost
one could call it black, from a distance, if they squinted. Almost. The
stars put an end to the illusion. They craze the surface, long-legged,
bodiless spiders of white tapering into the inevitable amethyst; they cover
much of the shell in a semblance of delicate rime, beneath which the
stygian purple broods and waits.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Temporary Tenebrous Treat Egg in the red
sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

Kassima supposes, "Better than grey, mayhaps," in a tone that's rather
droll. But there's half a grin to go with it, flashed and fleeting.
"G'deve, Sria--duties to the 'Reaches. 'Twill take your marks if'n you want
t'lay 'em so, Lani. The greyish one--" She pauses, mutters, "I should watch
what I say, apparently... the greyish one has a blue. Mark me."

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Lilac Iced Cupcake Egg is
revealed.

On the Sands, Rich, inviting yellows, and tans with that slightly toasted
to golden appearance that a yellow cake has just as its perfectly ready to
pull forth from the oven. The darker tones shadow as lighter highlight the
semi regular stripes like ridges covering two thirds of the shell, but the
crowning glory is lilac in swirls; as though some creamy confection were
spread over the remainder, covering the top and dripping, thickly down a side.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Lilac Iced Cupcake Egg in the red sand
after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

On the Sands, A'zric lifts his voice, calling into the bleachers. "Kassi!
Put me down for a brown out of that one." He points to where only a bit of
the grape jam egg is peeping out of the sand.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Deceptively Debonair Despot
Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, Oh, it's purple, all right. It's alive with purple, awash in
purple, rich and sumptuous purple from apex to nadir--and not for it any
insipid pastel or dull, watered-down shade. This is the vivid purple of
crushed velvet and amethysts dark as fallen stars. Irregularly rayed chips
of glinting white set it off, found here and there. Ruby speckles,
blood-bright, chase them, and strands of black just touched by grey connect
the marks like chains. It is still purple that reigns, ever elegant and
giving way to nothing.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Deceptively Debonair Despot Egg in the
red sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and
then carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down
to doze.

"Looks to narrow to be a larger dragon, doesn't it? Might be it's blue."
Not that Lanisa's committing yet on that egg, of course it could just be
she's busy eyeing the latest, "Almost thought we were done with purple and
yet look. That one's topped with it. Heya Kassi. I'm still mulling them
over... Ahh, and another. What are we up to now? Eight or so?"

On the Sands, Josilina's agog and kind of generally hung up on that gray
addition to the clutch - so much so that she barely notices the subsequent
eggs. But Kassima's voice catches her ear - "It's not gray!" she glances
back into the bleachers, "It's... pale purple! 'Cause they're all purple,
see? So... it can't be gray." The look she throws Lhiannonth then might be
comfortably catagorized as 'betrayed'.

Raykini rubs the back of his head as he slowly looks over the eggs, "All of
them have purple. I wonder what she got into to make all the eggs purple."
Ray says no one in particular. "Has there ever been a clutch before with a
certain color on all the shells?"

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Perfectly Plum Egg is
revealed.

On the Sands, As one's gaze travels the circumference of this egg, the
limy-yellow hue of a ripening fruit gradually gives way to the more rosy
stain which threatens to take over the primary undertone of the shell. The
flush of rich color concentrates, deepening into a violet touched burgundy
until the hues mingle enough to leave a predominate prevalence of plum.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Perfectly Plum Egg in the red sand after
allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then carefully
packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

IGEN-> Janine says, "Eggs one and two, prelim 
http://lothlorien.sytes.net/~janine/eggs/2007_11_29_Egg1_2.jpg"

IGEN-> Raykini says, "Oooh, pretty!"

IGEN-> Raykini likes the one on the right.

Sria's smile widens, at that. "According to some, yes, better than grey.
Duties and all that back to you, Kassima. Though I do hope there's at least
one -- greyish, there, yes. Good on you, Lhia." She seems satisfied just as
Jos is betrayed. Figures.

IGEN-> Josilina says, "Oh, man, Janine those are great!"

"That's my bet!" Kassi calls back down to A'zric. "But since 'tis you, out
of the very goodness of m'heart 'twill wager against m'better instincts."
She's more amused than reluctant by the sound of it. "Pale purple," she
quickly concedes. "A'course. I shouldn't rightly call it aught else." To
Lanisa, "Ten--nay, eleven. I'm thinking the tenth one's bronze."

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Pearly Purple Patina Egg is
revealed.

On the Sands, There is similarity, in pattern and gleam, to abalone shell
with its silken ripples of dark and light and the faintly metallic sheen
over all. But there the likeness ends. No seashell yet found has been so
purely purple as this: the crazy cursive lines that marble it are not quite
black; the lighter streaks, so radiant, that surface from its plum sea
cannot reach silver or pearl. It is left a thing of shadow and satin with
the smooth sort of surface that fingers beg to caress.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Pearly Purple Patina Egg in the red sand
after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

On the Sands, A'zric beams up at Kassima, sending her an elaborate wink.
"Never try and get in between a Bitran and his bet, even you Kassi!" A
glance towards Gelth and the weyrleader nearly chokes on something sent
between the pair, coughing to try not to burst out laughing.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth shifts in place, and a Sure Looks Strange To Me
Egg is revealed.

On the Sands, What a strange sight this egg is! The elongated oval that
protects the unborn life within is rather lumpy in appearance, covered with
bumps and small knurls. Even more striking is the overall neon purple
coloration of the shell. A lurid green orb that looks rather like a faceted
'eye' adorns one curve near the egg's apex, and a spiralling splash of
orange in the shape of an elongated cone tapers to a point above that
'eye.' A hint of furled, leathery wings might be seen in the deeper purple
shadows about the egg's equator, while a ragged gash below that 'eye'
sports pointed, menacing white spikes.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth rolls the Sure Looks Strange To Me Egg in the red
sand after allowing it several minutes of drying in the hot air, and then
carefully packs it in the hot grains. The gold then settles back down to doze.

On the Sands, Lhiannonth falls asleep, exhausted, surrounded by her clutch.

"I'll put a mark on that last one, with the eye for bronze." Lanisa puts
in, sitting up and leaning forward to look at it. "Shards, sure is
something, all that purple. - Looks like that might be the last one too, eh?"

On the Sands, Lhiannonth puts the finishing touches on burying that last,
oh-so-strange egg - off to the side, Josilina's beaming over its arrival -
before whuffling in Gelth's direction, ending with a low croon. And that
seems to be that, as the gold picks her way to the edges of the clutch and
lies down, tail stretching out to encircle as much as she can. "I think
she's done," Josilina reports the obvious.

Raykini reaches idly into his pouch at his side, "I'll put down a few marks
as well." A glint enters his eyes, a sly smile pulling at his lips. "I'll
pick that one, for a blue." He murmurs, putting in in a halfmark.

IGEN-> Josilina coughs. And so ends Pern's Fastest Clutching. ;) Sorry for
how hectic-ly quickly that all went. It went faster than I thought it would
when I coded it in. :)

IGEN-> Janine says, "Darn 2 ghz processors. :)"

Kassima returns, deadpan, "Perish the thought, Yaz. 'Twill save that for
the day I feel like giving up this life; then they'll write ballads about
m'extremely stupid courage, or stupid determination, or stupid stupidity,
as you like." A wide grin proves the jest. "Thirteen! That isn't bad at
all. And I've got... six greens," she tallies, "three blues, two browns,
two bronzes. That might almost be accurate. Glory be." The siren song of
marks lures her attention Raykini-wards. "The last one, d'you mean?
Excellent. Very good. Since it holds a brown, 'twill take both wagers very
happily."

IGEN-> Janine says, "Back in the day we had only 25 Mhz and were glad to
have it. :)"

On the Sands, Gelth rumbles to the gold, lumbering over to her to give an
affectionate nuzzle and then heads off to fuss over the eggs. The one to
the furthest edge of the sands is his focus for the moment, nudging it a
bit more centrally into the hollow of sand. A foreclaw banks the sand up a
little more firmly.

IGEN-> A'zric grins. It's an /efficient/ clutching. ;)

IGEN-> Janine says, "Spoken like a true smith."

IGEN-> A'zric laughs!

IGEN-> Janine thinks it was all that castor oil Lhiannonth drank.

Sria waits until the marks have exchanged hands to ask, "How accurate do
you usually find your own estimates, Kassima?"

On the Sands, Josilina begins to look uncomfortable, now that the eggs are
laid and Lhiannonth at least seems on her way to sleep. She glances over at
A'zric, "I think I'm going to head up," she gestures to the stands with a
jerk of her chin. "Do you want anything? I mean - are you staying?"

There's a quick nod of confirmation as Raykini gets to his feet, smoothing
his hands over his tunic. "Yes, the last one. And you'll see, it's a blue,
mark my words!" He can't help but cast her a playful wink, "It happened so
quickly, I didn't get to see the clutching last time I was around here..."
He drifts off into slence, a different expression entering his face all
together.

On the Sands, A'zric considers the eggs and then looks back to the
goldrider. "Yeah, I thik I'm going to stay a little while yet. Might wander
up to the stands, but while Lhia's asleep, I might just go have a closer
look. Early clutch and all. Dragonhealer's paranoia in wanting to keep a
good eye on them." He grins.

Kassima waggles a hand back and forth. "For exactly what's in what egg,
never that accurate, really. I thought Lysseth's egg had a brown in it. The
spread's usually round-about right, but I tweak the guesses 'til I get
something plausible." Grinning up at Raykini, she says, "I'll see a brown
and marks! Quick, aye. It went fast. First clutching you've seen at all?"

Raykini wraps his arms over his chest, stepping closer to the railing to
get a better look at the multitude of purple eggs. "Aye, a blue and I'll be
the one with a heavy pouch after the hatching." He flicks some of his hair
behind his ear, "It was indeed, we were never on land long enough to watch
a hatching, or even a clutching. The first time I ever saw a hatching, I
stood for it. But I wasn't around for the clutching, we'd just got our ship
back on the seas."

On the Sands, Josilina grins to match, and it's grateful to boot. "Oh,
that's right, you are! I mean, I'm sure they're fine, but. Well," she
pauses, pursing her lips, "except for that one." She gestures to the lone
gray egg, "I think there might be something wrong with that one." Nevermind
the lumpy, bumpy Sure Looks Strange Egg. It's the gray one Jos has a
problem with. "It definitely needs checking."

IGEN-> Raykini giggles, "It's such an odd batch XD."

IGEN-> Janine has to go. Getting the textures and colors is going to be a
bear and take longer than I can spare tonight.

IGEN-> Lanisa grins and wavers :)

IGEN-> A'zric waves!

Sria smiles at Kassima, "Mm. I think you're being modest." Or bluffing.
"Jos," Sri calls lightly down, "You shouldn't worry. All Lhia's -other-
grey eggs turned out just fine, after all."

IGEN-> Josilina waves, take care Janine :

On the Sands, A'zric laughs warmly. "I've been a dragonhealer longer than
I've been a rider, and the last batch of weyrlings were quite sure I'd
started riding before the dawn of time." There's another wink before he
heads out onto the blazing hot sands. "I'll have a good look at the grey
one, I promise. I expect it's just fine."

"I need t'convince M'tri t'bet on something. He's always good for the
ten-mark sucker wager," Kassi muses, taking a pull from her wineskin.
"Likewise. With the didn't-see-one-'til-I-Stood thing. Makes for an
interesting experience, doesn't it?" Shaking her head at Sria, she says, "I
only wish--watch, 'twill probably get... oh... four of these right. Being a
bit generous, but the odds are with me on the green guesses."

On the Sands, "Thank you," Josilina calls after A'zric, watching him tread
out for a moment before turning back to the stands. "They were not fine,"
she retorts, making her way to the stairs that lead to the bleachers. "They
were /gray/." Rather than going all the way up into the bleachers, she
stops on a lower step, leaning against the rail for easier conversing,
presumably, not to mention relief for her feet.

Raykini wraps his arms over his chest, falling silent as he eyes the eggs
on the sands. Suddenly, he doesn't seem as interested in them as he was and
turns his back to give Kassi his attention. "It was interesting, needless
to say. I think this time I'd like to watch from the galleries, though."

Kassima nods slightly, understanding. "I've a daughter," she says, "who
Stood at Benden and didn't Impress. Methinks she'd agree with your
preference. Mind, she was more relieved than aught even a'fore Thread came
again. I know I asked once," this to Sria and Josilina, "long ago, but I've
forgotten; what's wrong with grey?"

"I'm sure Trii'll get around to it... Eventually." Lani offers and then
gives a long suffering sigh, "Like as not he'll do just that too. Never
mind the twins out growing their boots and needing new ones." Like the pair
is suffering so for marks, "And Kassi, sh'll likely get at least half
right... Excepting for that last one. It's so not a brown." And it's now to
Raykini she winks if she catches his eye before she goes back to just
watching, just listening. Never know when an egg might get up and do
cartwheels after all?

Raykini nods his head slowly, letting his attention drift to the ground
which he scoffs at with the toe of his boot. "Aye." This is to Kassima's
story, "There's nothing wrong with gray, I think." He murmurs, giving the
sands another look, seeking out the oddball in the group. "But just maybe
there's something wrong with it. All the others are...purple."

Sria says, "They were fine," with conviction in Josilina's direction.
"Anyway, this batch looks lovely. Well done." As much for the gold as her
rider, perhaps. Kassima's question she doesn't attempt to answer, just
looks at Jos and waits, but Lanisa's input on accuracy earns a grin - and
she looks over at that debated egg again.

On the Sands, "Getting left on the Sands sucks." That's A'zric's take on
the subject up to the stands as he moves towards the gray egg that is the
object of such attention. "I Stood twice myself." His steps slow as he gets
near the egg, giving it a good berth as he walks a slow cirle around it.
Gelth comes over to watch it too, giving the little egg a soft wuffle of
wherrybreath.

On the Sands, "Watching from the galleries is cooler," Josilina puts in her
two marks, shifting one step up away from the aforementioned heat. "What
/isn't/ wrong with gray?" she counters Kassima, animated on the subject.
"It's so /blah/. I mean, no spirit, no color, nothing. Gray is a no-color
color. I don't think it's natural, you know?"

IGEN-> Raykini snerks at Josi.

Kassima gives an exaggerated sniff. "He doesn't support our thirteen
children either. *That man*. See if'n I buy him any more jewelry." And
somewhere, Daikoth informs M'tri that he is fired. The greenrider argues,
"It has t'be brown, or else there's only one brown in the clutch and that
can't be so--anyway, it definitely isn't a bronze. That one," with a point
of her charcoal to the Deceptively Debonair Despot Egg, "and that one," now
the Temporary Tenebrous Treat Egg, "are bronzes. Three bronzes in a
thirteen-egg clutch? I don't think even Gelth's that big a stud. Nay
offense, Gelth." Kassi's fingers drum against the wineskin. "It looks
healthy otherwise. Grey isn't that bad! Lyss is fairly greyish, and she's
beautiful."

Raykini continues to give the gray egg his attention, lips curving
downwards as he watches the bronzerider circle around it. "I think that one
may be a green." He says mostly to himself, "Or a blue, can't be anything
bigger than that out of a gray egg." Yes, he's also prejudice against gray
eggs, maybe purple as well.

"I'd be more inclined to think there is something wrong with the rest of
them. The grey has the right idea. It's an individual. Why would it want to
be just like all the rest?" There, so Lani says? She grins and glances back
at Kassi, "He is quite terrible that way, eh? He's just lucky we put up
with him and all those mistresses." For that, a wink Kassi's way to precede
more egg watching.

"As opposed to magenta with green spots, which occurs in nature so often,"
Sria adds, helpfully, seriously, still considering that one egg, and then a
few others as Kassima points them out. She doesn't add her own thoughts, on
hatchling colors -or- M'tri's jewelry and mistresses and all that.

On the Sands, "How do you tell?" Josilina wonders of Kassima. "I mean - is
it just size? I think I've asked you this before." Then, quickly, "Of
course Lysseth is beautiful! But she's green, too. And so that's okay."
Lani receives a skeptical look, but no comment. But Sria's remark merits an
instant defense, "That one is /beautiful/. /That's/ an individual, if any
of them are. What color do you think that one is?" She seems to be asking
the group at large.

On the Sands, Gelth's prideful rumble speaks clearly to 'Of /course/ I'm
that much of a stud.' as he eyes Kassima directly and moves a little closer
to the stands. A'zric notes while crouching down to get a better look.
"There's plenty of gray in nature, it's a very natural colour. I quite like
it, myself."

"The others aren't clones," Kassi argues in turn, for the fun of it rather
than any real quarrel. "There's the one that's as much yellow, the other
that's white, and for Faranth's sake, one of 'em has an eye. Aye, him and
his bronzeriders. Has he seduced you yet, Yaz?" Because this conversation
wasn't odd enough. "Sometimes I look at size, but then I regret it," she
answers Josilina. "First time I really tried that--m'favorite egg in
Dyinath's clutch was a little thing, and I thought, blue! Nay. Ruddy big
bronze. 'Tis more a feeling. Which egg is this, the eyed one?" Gelth, when
he approaches, gets a wry grin.

Kassima adds then, "But I agree that the grey one's a blue."

Raykini wrinkles his nose, reaching into his pouch and fingering the few
marks he has left, "I'd like to put these down to peg that gray egg down
there as a green, I'm pretty sure that's what it is." He's rather confident
in his opinion, what else could it possibly be for such a dull color?

Always for the fun of it, but Sria's standing: "'Reaches calls. Good to see
you all," even if she didn't officially meet some of them.
"Congratulations, Jos, A'zric. Nicely done."

Kassima is agreeable: "'Twill take the wager. Although Lyss thinks I
shouldn't. According t'her, 'twould serve all of us right if'n it did hatch
that finest of all colors." She rolls her eyes at the absent dragon. "She
doesn't delight in being contrary or aught. Clear skies, Sria! Good t'be
seeing you again."

Sria heads out to the Bowl.

A'tan climbs into the stands.

Raykini wrinkles his nose at that, "I'm not so sure about that." He says in
an adament tone, "Though...it would be a surprise, wouldn't it? If the egg
did turn out to hold a gold? Interesting..." He muses quietly to himself,
now giving the gray egg the whole of his scrutiny. "I still say it holds a
green. I'm standing by that."

"Gold?" Kassima repeats in surprise. "I'd nay say gold. Nay gold on that
egg. Nay, the finest of all colors *is* green. Don't you think, Gelth?" she
asks the big stud himself.

A'tan takes a few steps down into the galleries hearing a bit of the last
comments calls out to the trio, "I agree with you Kassi. Green is
definately the finest of all colors." He sends a wink to them looking then
out at the eggs on the sands. "I guess I missed all of the clutching huh?"

On the Sands, Josilina's attention shifts, the Weyrwoman distracted as
Lhiannonth wakes, the gold shifting and checking the eggs over without
getting up. One, two, four, six, thirteen. Good, good. As Lhiannonth
settles, Josilina looks back toward the bleachers, and now someone's gone.
"Where'd Sria go? Which is a gold? That could kind of be gold," she
indicates the Lilac Cupcake Egg. "Lhia," she notes a little darkly, "never
likes to say."

On the Sands, Gelth had been staring intently at the gray egg, his eyes
slowly drooping ever lower until Kassima mentions his name. Then his bronze
head pops up with a startled 'I've been awake all along' sort of expression
and a puzzled little rumble before he whuffles the greenrider. When you
don't know what's going on, a whuffle usually makes it all better.
Someone's been eating wherry.

"Eh, Lhiannonth's an old hand at this, all done in no time." Lanisa tells
A'tan, then grins as she adds, "Kassi's still taking bets though. So you're
never too late."

Raykini shakes his head, "When you say 'finest of the colors' I think gold.
But I think you're right, I don't think anything bigger than a blue is in
that egg. Regardless, wouldn't it be interesting, if it held a gold?"

On the Sands, "They are all pretty little when they hatch. Not every bronze
is a big hulking beast fresh out of the shell." A'zric has bene listening,
but now breaks his silence to add his two cents worth in.

Kassima sips again at her wine, the 'skin much deflated now; V'dan keeps
mooching her liquor. The Benden greenrider is otherwise occupied by sharing
Thread horror stories with the Igenite sitting behind him. "Back t'High
Reaches, it sounded like. There's a fair amount of yellow on it...." Kassi
tilts her head this way and that, studying it. "Golden yellow... but then
there's the purple. I don't know what t'think. I put it down for green. And
I do seem t'remember--" Whatever she remembers, it's not pleasant; she
stops the thought and laughs for Gelth instead. "Never mind. Or rather,
'twill take that as an aye. I don't think it could; queen eggs usually are
big, and always have gold on 'em as far as I've known, but if'n it hatched
one anyway I daresay Sria would laugh and laugh," she says to Raykini.
"Finest of all colors is definitely green t'me. Have any marks you want
t'be rid of, A'tan?"

A'tan grins broadly at Kassi, nodding his head, "I think I might have a few
marks to bet. Been saving them for the clutching as a matter of fact." He
glances around him at the other onlookers, waggling a brow, "Of course Shay
doesn't know, but hopefully I'll win so she won't get on me for it." The
rider looks down at the eggs nestled on the sands, "They sure are nice
looking bunch Lhiannonth and Gelth." he says loud enough for the two
dragons to hear. He settles down on one of the benches, stretching his long
legs out the best he can. "What you betting on Lani? I'm sure Trii won't
mind."

On the Sands, Josilina pushes a sweaty curl out of her face, and glances
back at Lhiannonth again. "I think I'm going to head in and get something
to drink." She looks to where A'zric is, pitching her voice to carry,
"D'you want me to bring anything back for you?"

"Bronze for the one with the sort of eye." Lani supplies and then
considers, "I agreed on one of them apt to be blue also, but didn't put
marks on any but the one so far." She gives a crooked grin and shares,
"Trii tends to spend more marks on his bets than I lose on mine anyway. -
How've you been anyway? And how's your Shay?"

Raykini takes his seat back, seeming to have enough of veiwing the eggs for
the moment, enjoying the breif conversation around him. "I think that one's
a bronze, personally." He murmurs, pointing to one egg or another, "And
that one a brown."

"Name your wagers, then," Kassi invites with a grin. "That egg with the eye
is a popular one for bets. If'n all turns out according t'my guesses, I
stand t'be very happy at Hatching's end--nay that *all* ever turns out. But
the hope springs eternal." She slaps the hide spread over one leg lightly;
it holds her list.

On the Sands, Josilina doesn't, in the end, get to wait for A'zric's
answer, as Lhiannonth raises her head and whuffles. "Oh - " Jos purses her
lips, "okay. I'll be back in a bit!" She calls again to her Weyrleader, and
she heads out via the stands, offering smiles and goodbyes to those she
knows on her way.

IGEN-> Josilina's getting pulled away by RL, and must head out. Thanks for
coming by, everyone, and take care!

A'tan chuckles softly at Kassi, "Give me a few minutes and I'll let you
know what I think. Maybe I'll get lucky and make enough to buy Shay some
new material for a gather dress for her and Rhyan." He studies the eggs for
a moment before turning his attention to Lanisa, "I've been pretty good.
Trying to get Z'nal out once Uralth is able to go between to visit one of
our romping places." is stated. He smiles warmly at the mention of his
weyrmate, "She's doing well. Been busy with commissions and Rhyan has been
wanting to help quite a bit lately."

IGEN-> A'tan snugs Josi, "See you later"

IGEN-> Lanisa wavers :)

Raykini shakes his head as he reaches into his pouch, turning it inside
out, "I all ready spent all of my marks, don't get paid too much as a
handyman, after all. Got better wages on the sea." His expression turns
sour for the slightest of moments before he quickly changes it into a mock
smile. "So you'll have to deal with the bets I made."

Kassima grins wryly to Raykini. "Aye, aye, I meant A'tan; you'd mentioned
a'fore those were your last. What Hold did you sail from originally?" She
darts a glance A'tanwards. "You and Z'nal go romping? How's he been? I
heard the prognosis for Uralth t'be as good as ever eventually is good."

"Maybe a green..." Lani's caught murmuring, her gaze darting back up and
then she smiles, "Busy seems to be the thing to be these days. Good that
you're thinking of things she might like, such as the ever favored new
gather dress, eh? So Rhyan's much the same already?"

A'tan rolls his eyes with an amused expression, nodding his head, "Yes,
Rhyan seems to be taking on some of her mother's qualities. I'm hoping
she'll be a bit...well...not so harsh?" he says in a light tone. He grins,
a pause, "Well, Z and I haven't gone romping in a while. That's why I'm
hoping I can get him out to do it. We've got a drinking spot we've been to
in the past." He shrugs, "Trying to get him back to his normal old self is
all. And Uralth is going to be wonderful once he's all healed up." His
attention is drawn to Raykini, "The sea you say?"

Raykini looks over at Kassima, his expression turning sour once more,
obviously this isn't a fond subject for Raykini. "We sailed on the Istan
seas before we were suddenly dumped here." Ray says indifferently, "I used
to be a fisherman, a long time ago. The sea was my home."

A'tan tilts his head a bit, a curious look to the young man, "Well can't
you just go back to the seas if you miss it so much. I mean, no offense of
course, but a rider can take you back to Ista." The greenrider glances up
towards the entrance of the galleries and sighs, "Leonneth needs me for
something." The man stands, brushing his hands over his pants, "I'll let
you know my bet soon Kassi." He smiles at Raykini, "Talk to you guys soon."
with that he heads out, a wave given.

"It sounds as though you miss it," Kassima observes, seldom one to refrain
from stating the obvious. "Why'd you stay on? Seacraft likes a good
fisherman. Nay t'imply I'd rather 'twere elsewhere, mind you, but the
desert has t'be a change and a half. Is it a bar?" she then asks A'tan,
hopeful. She wiggles her fingers to Lanisa when the bluerider goes, called
away perhaps by work, perhaps by weyrmate; and either way, Kassi calls
after her, "Don't forget t'remind Trii t'wager!"

A'tan calls back over his shoulder with a grin to Kassi, "Yes its a bar!"

Kassima nods to A'tan, amiable. "Y'know where t'find me. 'Twill take wagers
right up 'til they crack. Clear skies, regards t'Leonneth, all of that."

A'tan heads out to the Bowl.

IGEN-> A'tan says, "Night Igen"

Raykini shakes his head slowly as he rubs the back of his head, "It's not
that simple." Ray says hesitantly, "I can't really go back, so I'm stuck
here until I find something else. Thankfully you learn a lot of different
trades, so I've a few options in front of me, fixing things is good for now
until I figure out what to do."

Kassima supposes, "And you're only wanting the seas of Ista." It's a
hesitant guess, as it would be given how little she knows him. "I don't
quite understand, but at the same time, I do. 'Tis something t'fill up your
life with, anyway. An experience t'speak of later, if'n you go on to other
places, other things."

Raykini sighs quietly, closing his eyes in exhaspiration as he runs a hand
through his hair briefly. "My father had high hopes for me on the sands,
he's the one that convinced me to stand on the sands in the first place
when the rider asked. I can't go back and dissapoint him because I didn't
impress, do you understand? I have high respect for the man, I don't want
him seeing me in a bad light, that's all. I can't go back to the seas, I'm
not sure where they're docking at anymore, I haven't spoken with my crew
since I came here after the hatching."

"You don't want t'Stand again, you've said," Kassima points out, "which
would mean you're nay going t'Impress, which means you're never going t'see
him again? That's a hard thing t'do t'yourself and t'him. Granted that I
don't know the man. My offhand guess would be he's nay a total fool if'n
you respect him; and if'n he's nay a total fool, he'd rather have his son
than cast him out for... what, his dragon nay being in a particular clutch?"

Raykini leans back in his seat, casting his gaze onto the eggs, anywhere
but the rider. "No, I don't want to stand again. It's because of the eggs I
can't go back." So he's sour about the whole thing, "You don't know my
father, as you've said. He's a critical man, it'll matter to him. He has a
reputation to uphold, after all."

Kassima shakes her head, propping the sole of her boot against the back
edge of the seat in front of her. "'Tis because of two choices that you
can't go back, more like. From the sound of it. One choice t'Stand. The
second, t'stay. Eggs just sit out there; and the hatchlings inside, by one
theory, have nay choice at all." She rubs the back of her neck. "You're
thinking he doesn't already know?"

Raykini shrugs his shoulders, "That's my opinion. I stand by it." Raykini
says critically, clutching his arms tighter over his chest. "I'm here, he
doesn't know I'm here. After all, this is the last place he'd probably look
for me, there's hardly any water here at all. I doubt he knows exactly who
impressed, and I haven't sent a firelizard to him since before the
hatching. So if he heard, it's not by me, and if he has, I'm not going to
face him. That's my choice and it's a regretful one I must make, but one
I'll have to stand by."

"Finding out who Impressed isn't difficult when you've an interest. If'n
your child is Standing, you've an interest." Kassima shrugs, herself. "I
can't tell you what t'do and wouldn't want to in a family situation. I will
say, as a mother who let m'Searched children know how massively proud 'twas
of them for the Standing, that Impression is just one source of pride, and
a child can provide you with many. Did he say that if'n you didn't Impress
you shouldn't come home?"

"I guess." Raykini says reluctantly, frowning at the eggs on the sands in a
almost dissaproving fashion. "I know you can't tell me what to do. I'm not
expecting you to. I've got my problems, I'll deal with them. Shards do I
have my problems." He groans quietly rubbing his hands over his face. "No,
he didn't say. As I said, this is entirely my choice to chose this as my
recluce. And besides, I made a best friend here." He's not even going to
get into other events.

Kassima shakes her head and murmurs something under her breath. "Speaking
again as a mother," she says, "consider, sometime, writing the man a
letter. 'Twould still get you out of facing him direct, and he'd nay have
t'wonder if'n Thread ate you. If'n you're going t'stay on--and that's a
fine choice, for all of me, but mayhaps you should fix on building a life,
nay biding time and thinking of the sea. Mayhaps? Or visit it so 'tis nay
such an ache, some seaside far from Ista."

Kassima adds dryly, "I spent over two decades resenting where 'twas because
it wasn't where I wanted t'be, so I'm mayhaps being a hypocrite t'so
advise, but."

Raykini sighs quietly and shakes his head, "Maybe one day I'll send him a
letter, but I'm not ready to yet. Maybe I'll never be, but in the meantime
I'm going to stay here. This is one of the few places where I can lend a
hand and not feel paranoid looking over my shoulder every moment to see if
I recognize my father. And besides, Igen showed us wonderful hospitality
when they rescued us. I feel I owe something to this place for taking us in
for the breif time they did." He offers a faint smile, "I just tend to
frequent the lake, it's by far my favorite place here."

"That's fair. 'Tisn't so much the waiting until you're ready that would be
a shame," Kassima says, stretching out her other leg so it lies across that
seat in front. "'Tis the never. It does seem a good place t'be in these
days. Strange t'think that once I avoided it, and now I'm reasonably happy
here. Although I'm with you on the Lake." She exchanges wry smile for faint
smile. "Coolest place, of all the still-broiling options."

Raykini laughs quietly and gives a indifferent shrug of his shoulders,
"When I miss the sea I go there and just sit by the shore." He closes his
eyes, as if imagining the lapping of the waves in his head, his face almost
seeming peaceful for a moment. "I keep myself busy otherwise. I like making
sure I pull my weight around here."

Kassima finishes off the wineskin and sets it to the side. "You know where
you could probably go t'visit," she says, thoughtful. "Well, or mayhaps
nay. Did your father ever sail t'Shipfish Island? There's naught there for
a trader so far as I'm aware, or anyone, really, unless they're wanting a
bit of time away from things. Nay t'talk you out of pulling your weight;
Faranth forfend. But everyone gets time once in awhile."

Raykini pushes himself from his seat easily enough, "Well, maybe I'll go
somewhere for a brief trip, I could use some time to myself..." He drifts
quietly into thought, "I havne't been there, no. We stayed more to Istan
waters, and once our ship was repaired again, we had the dragons set us in
Tillek."

"'Tis far nearer Tillek than Ista, I believe. I've only been there by
dragonback. I've only heard," Kassima admits, "of anyone going there by
dragonback, and that's what made me think of it as an option for you.
'Twouldn't solve your problem, but when you're severed from home--'tis
better t'have a hint of it now and then, if'n 'tis me you're asking. It
makes the rest easier t'endure."

Raykini crosses the galleries to approach the edge of the gallaries,
looking thoughtful down at the sands. "Then maybe it might be an option."
Ray says half to himself, "If boats aren't able to dock there, "Or maybe
other islands where it's too shallow or too rocky to sail near. That's an
option too."

Kassima nods, though he probably can't see it. "I presume such exist. I've
only been on a ship once, methinks. A pleasure cruise at Boll. Doesn't
exactly make me an expert, but Greystones isn't so far from shore that I
don't know some of what you're missing." She half-smiles. "A lake is a
lake. The sea is the sea."

"Being a seacrafter, a fisherman, isn't the same as some 'pleasure cruise'
as you inlanders call it." Raykini states in a drawl, distate obvious in
his voice. "You have to pull your weight, the whole of the crew have to
work together. If we don't, we don't pull in the fish at the end of the
day. It's the same with how a weyr works, I suppose you could put it, only
on a smaller scale. But yes, a lake is a lake and the sea is the sea.
Neither can compaire to the other, but I do get enjoyment from the lake.
That is what is important to me."

Kassima's tone shades dry. "I'm aware of that, as it happens. Thus
m'mention of it in a confession of ignorance. Holds, Crafts, Weyrs, fishing
ships, human societies all seem t'function that way." A nod follows. "Then
that's what matters."

Raykini offers a slight smile, "Err, sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.
Some people think we don't pull our weight just because we're on the sea
and not the land." He rubs the back of his head.'

"Idiocy. Anyone with a fondness for shellfish who does it ought t'be
dragged face down through a muck pit." Kassima makes a face. "The ropes,
the nets, the hauling, the slicing, the storms. It hardly looks easy."

Raykini chuckles quietly and shekes his head, turning his back to the sands
to give Kassima his full attention now. "Aye, we've a lot on our heads,
just most don't really seem to relize it. Especially when there's thread in
the skies, and storms. We've more to watch out for than most."

Kassima shakes her head in vague disbelief. "Something you don't run much
into unless you're a man of the sea, I suppose. 'Twas going t'call it
rather bizarre, but 'tisn't so different from the out-Weyr folk who assume
we do naught but debauch all day, or that riding a green means things it
doesn't. Assumptions everywhere."

Raykini shrugs his shoulders, "We don't run into it often, no. But thread
has been falling rather irreguarly, hasn't it? I haven't been paying much
attention to it aside from the few times I've helped on groundcrew when it
fell near us." He shrugs, "I have great respect for riders, but don't know
much about it myself, I'm afraid."

"Oh," and Kassi blinks. "Sorry, nay what I meant. I meant this
land-versus-sea attitude. The Thread's an unquestionable problem. Igen's
accounted well for itself; nay sure every Weyr can say likewise." A
half-smile, there and gone. "I'm biased, a'course. Well. I could talk long
and long about riding, most likely, but unless there's something you
particularly want t'know I'll spare you."

Raykini shakes his head, "I've learned alot since my stay here, I'm sure
there's still lots to learn by my continued stay. None of my questions need
immidiate answering, so it's not particuarly important. And I never said I
had anything against inlanders, I just dislike being on land."

"Probably," Kassima agrees. Then, because she can't quite resist, "Such as
that the grey egg has a blue dragon in it, and the eyed one a brown, say?"
Grinning, she drops her feet to the gallery floor and stands, rolling up
her hide as she does. "I hope if'n you plan t'be staying long that you find
a way around that. In the meanwhile, g'night. It's been a pleasure making
wagers with you."

Raykini can't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "You're wrong, lass. The
gray one has a green and the eye one has a brown." He's still standing by
his bet, grinning as he heads out of the galleries.

Kassima mouths, 'Lass?' as she also leaves, looking, if anything, very
entertained.

You head out to the Bowl.