-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Meeting of Spring Games and Sushi Date: June 30, 1997 Places: Benden Weyr's Living Cavern and Records Room 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: No one ever said that Kassi would win any Civility Awards when she's proddy, and yet, she winds up chairing a meeting? Those two situations are bound to make a clash... and they do. But fortunately, some raw fish help to assauge the situation and some of Kassi's volatile temper--if only by keeping her too occupied to talk for awhile. Pagefoo and most knotfoo has been left out of this, so this log should be light on spam for you reader-types. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern. Kassima does *not* look very happy as she effectively storms into the 'Cavern, muttering and grumbling under her breath. She's carrying a stack of hides, seperated in half by a thin green cloth divider. "Sharding reports and fardling notes and effing bloody weather surveys--shells! I'm of half a mind to chuck the whole Faranth-forsaken lot into the nearest blasted river and do a jig as it sinks into the depths." She settles, however, for plunking them down by her chair on her way to a mug of cider. Alnar walks here from the Inner Cavern. Alnar skips in swinging his stuffed dragon around. Kassima's verbal assault on Life, the Universe, and Everything continues even as she spikes the cider with a vial of blue-green-gold liquor so strong that it hisses and bubbles. "As if'n that weren't bloody *enough*, there's the *meeting*, and if'n aught goes wrong with *that* I think I'll disassociate the perpetrator from whatever extremity they hold dearest! Faranth's golden egg-infested arse... oh, heyla, Alnar." She nods briefly over to the lad, and ceases her muttering in order to stew in silence at her table once she reaches it. Katrina walks in from the bowl. Katrina waves to Kassima. "Hello." Kassima picks up one of the topmost hides and scowls at it, then smooths her expression so that her look up at Katrina is only slightly black. "Evening." She doesn't dignify it with a good. Benden Weyr> Kassima sighs and loves being proddy. :) I promise to be civil for the Games meeting, though. Well... mostly civil. :) Katrina smiles knowingly and heads for the klah pot. Alnar looks about. "Anyone seen my mama?" Katrina smiles at the boy. "Arbreth is looking for her." Fahlina, hearing her mother's voice, runs to see her. Alnar moves over to Katrina. "Hi," he says cheerfully. Kassima scans over the hide and scowls again, swallowing a gulp of the highly alcoholic cider. She mutters to herself, "... infested... clippings--how... the name... supposed... figure out... the... in the... if'n they're... *specific*!... all..." She sighs, then, and gets up. "Meeting," she says shortly. "I should go. And nay, I've nay seen Alyssa." She heads out without further ado. You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl. You walk into the records cavern, leaving the bowl behind. C'vadan strides in from the bowl. Benden Weyr> C'vadan aieeees! I'm alone with Kassima!!!! Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Heh." Kassima is shuffling a stack of hides at the head of the council table, looking about as cheerful and pleased with the world as she has been at any point lately... which is to say, not at all. "Here for the meeting?" she inquires shortly of Cav. C'vadan nods and stands on the opposite wall from Kassima. Asrai strides in from the bowl. Asrai jogs in, tugging off helmet gloves buckles...all that good stuff. C'vadan whews silently as someone else joins them. "Hey there, Asrai." Asrai smiles brightly and plops down in a seat next to C'vadan, "Heya... aren't you heading out to Igen?" Kassima nods to Asrai, too, and gazes around the mostly empty cavern with what could only be blackest disapproval. "Well, if'n this is all the audience we're going t'get, I may as well get started," she sighs. "Have a seat, quiet down, and I'll tell you some of what the meeting's about." Asrai is real careful to be quiet as Kassi calls for it. C'vadan nods to Asrai's question, though the trip won't be soon enough. Kassima chooses not to sit, and instead remains standing, as stiff and formal as any fanatic could wish. "As y'may have heard," she says in civil, if rather clipped tones, "Benden Weyr'll be hosting a Spring Games once the blasted snow goes back to whatever thrice-cursed place it came from and leaves off. We'll be having competitions, mostly. Inter-Weyr for part of it, and the rest'll be between whoever bloody well feels like it-- Resident, Crafter, rider, or whatever. Got that so far?" Asrai nods, in understanding, adding the verbal, "Yes Kassi." Kassima picks up one of the hides and looks over it briefly before resuming. "We'll be inviting all the Weyrs to participate in the Games, as well as the local Lords and Craftmasters out of courtesy. Everyone from Pern's welcome to be here, so 'twould be best if'n everyone was on good behavior so that we can keep good Hold-Craft-Weyr relations with all of these places. We'll need messengers t'take scrolls of invitation to all those Lords and Masters--and people t'draft 'em as well. That's part of where you lot come in." She lifts up an eyebrow. "So, who's willing to deliver 'em, or scribe 'em? We can chase down people and beat 'em over the head until they agree, but 'twould be nicer if'n we could find out who's willing to do it without all that bother right now." Asrai raises her hand. "Um, I'm not real good at writing still...but Cyg and I could deliver them." C'vadan raises a hand. "I am willing to scribe, Kassi." Kassima adds as a seeming side-comment, "We also need 'em to go to the Weyrs. So if'n any amongst you have plans t'flee to another of the Weyrs for whatever reason, y'could always take one of these messages with you and save someone else the trouble." Taking note of Asrai's hand, the proddy one nods to her and dips a quill into the inkpot nearby, scribbling something down on her hide with a flourish. "Asrai t'deliver, C'vadan t'scribe. Good. Now, we'd also like t'get an idea on how many people'd be willing to participate; we've got a few things planned already. I'll tell y'what as soon as I find the sharding list... where'd the effing thing *go*?" She rummages around in the hides, muttering under her breath. Asrai looks over at C'vadan, wondering what they have gotten themselves into. Kassima ah-hahs as she pulls out the list, scanning it as well before tossing it back on the table. "Here's some of the deal: we're hoping t'have competitive aerial displays between the Weyrs--once Merla comes up with the letter for you to scribe, Cav, and you t'deliver to the various places, Asrai, y'might want t'look and see if'n that's mentioned. If'n 'tis nay, word of mouth's as good a way to provoke interest as any. Rope drill competitions are another thing we're after, with teams of two-- again, any Weyr's welcome. There're dragon races, dragon oiling races, painting, balladeering, dancing perhaps--that one's undecided as yet. Impersonation competition--hah. That should be an interesting one. And m'favorite, the rider-dunking booth." She smirks. "We're looking for volunteers t'help judge some of these, and t'compete in the others. Nay that there're enough people even *here* t'give a good notion of general idea popularity, but what the hey. Any of 'em spark your interest?" C'vadan's eyes glaze over. Asrai chews on her lower lip for a bit, not so sure about this...joining thing. Merla strides in from the bowl. Merla enters, somewhat late, and looking a bit flustered. She has her reading glasses on, unusual for her when she's not sitting with a parchment. She approaches the table, and sits beside Kassima, setting a dosset of parchments in front of her. Asrai gives Merla a little wave as she enters. Kassima's right eyebrow slowly arches, as she looks over her poor, hapless audience. "None of 'em do?" she asks somewhat incredulously. "Nay a one? Look, I'm nay saying you'll have t'be there for *certain* if'n you think you might be interested now; all I'm asking is which ideas sound good and which don't. Surely *something* appeals." She nods to Merla from where she stands by the head of the table, a stack of hides--her notes, presumably-- in front of her. "'Twas just asking about general interest in the events, Merla, but 'twas nay getting much response. On the up side, Cav's agreed t'scribe, and Asrai's going t'deliver some of the messages for us." C'vadan glances from Merla to Kassima. "I'll help as I can," he offers. Asrai relaxes somewhat, "Oh, I'm sorry Kassi, I didn't understand the question. I think all the games sound great. Although, I can't quite understand how one would judge an impersenation contest. I mean, what if the judge doesn't knpow all the people being impersonated?" Merla's eyes widen as she looks at Kassima a moment, and then realises the state the woman's in. She mutters at herself under her breath for being late. "I suppose you'd have to know the person..." she says. Raj zips into the records cavern from the bowl. Raj flits into the record room, alighting on a nearby shelf. Kassima nods, a bit closer to satisfied by these responses. "Good. We can use help, Faranth knows. And by the by, there'll be a question and answer session at the end, so y'could always hold the queries until then--but since we're on the subject, by m'reckoning the contestants would have t'tell the judges who they were impersonating a'forehand. Make sense? Moving on, 'twas going to ask next for any further ideas you lot might have... unless Merla'd like t'add something?" She glances at the queenrider. Merla shakes her head, 'No, Kassi, I believe you covered it admirably." Asrai peeps in, "I thought the rider dunking contest sounded really fun." C'vadan looks at Asrai. "You would," he teases her. Asrai giggles, totally forgetting that Kassi might not appreciate it in the mood she is in. Kassima nods and shuffles around in her notes again, muttering something about bloody hides and bloody notes and where the fardles is her sharding paper. Again, she ahs as she finds it. "So... ideas? We'll listen to anything. Y'never know when someone might chip in with something usable-- believe it or nay, it *does* happen. And I'm inclined to agree. I get this image of riders being dunked while wearing kilts... male ones, a'course." She flashes Cav a brief, poisonously sweet smile, then frowns at Asrai's giggling. "And keep it down to a fardling dull roar! Just in case there *are* any ideas, I'd like t'hear 'em." Scanning over the table, she adds, "Well?" Merla gives Asrai a sympathetic glance, pleading for her patience. She makes sure Kassima isn't looking first. Asrai meeps soflty, the giggling cut off at once as she tries to look as attentive as she possibly can. "Well Kassi, what about little things? Like the three legged race and egg toss and such. that might give the non riders something to do. Kassima nods briefly as she scribbles those down. "Egg toss might be too messy, but the three-legged race *might* have merit. So that y'know, I'll mention that we've got a few things for the nonriders--pie eating, dragon oiling, painting, helping with the races, balladeering, mayhaps dancing, impersonation... all of those are open t'riders and nonriders alike, save for the oiling, which I don't believe is open t'riders. We'll be having another firestone sack-toss as well, as the last was rather a success." Replacing her quill in its inkpot, she asks drolly, "Aught else? Haven't heard from you yet, Cav." Merla considers a "Kassima while proddy" impersonation, but she says nothing about it. She'll add it to the minutes later when no one is looking. "I'd like to make sure we include non rider activities...I think what we've got is doing that pretty well, so that's good." Asrai nods in agreement. C'vadan says "Is there anything else?" Kassima mutters something about brownriders under her breath that's probably better left unheard, and nods again to Merla. "Aye. Weyr-Hold- Craft relations, and all of that. Besides, what better way t'show 'em that Benden's the best Weyr than by winning all the games?" She grins, apparently enjoying a vision of Benden kicking rump at the competitions. "Anyway, if'n we're done with ideas, a'fore we get to the questions and answers, I'd like t'ask that you all talk to others about the Games--word of mouth's a good way to pass on information, and the rumor mill around *here's* certes rapid if'n given enough of a push. Next topic up is prizes." For once, she manages to find her notes on that fairly easily. "If'n you've something nice that you're nay having any use for, or can make something, do. We'll need prizes for the victors, y'know. We're hoping the Crafters will help with that, but y'never know what a rider might find lying around that he or she doesn't want, or a resident, or anyone 'tall. Any of you know of aught offhand that you could offer up?" C'vadan scratches his head. "Not really." Kassima gives Cav a mildly scathing glance, and the fact that it's mild shows admirable self-restraint on her part. "Just that and the questions- answers, hurried one. If'n you've naught t'ask and naught t'add, Faranth forfend we should take up your time further. But if'n y'do, well, 'twill nay be so long ere 'tis over, don't worry...." She sighs, and takes a deep breath. "Anyway, keep your eyes peeled. If'n naught else, even a prize of a number of dragonrides to a winner might be acceptable." Asrai shakes her head slightly, not having any idea for prizes either. Merla's eyes widen at Cav's easy response. She winces a bit, as she waits for Kassi's reaction. Merla sighs slightly, this is not at all going the way she had hoped it would. "Kassi, did you ask about delivering the messages before I got here?" Kassima further adds, "And if'n you've fire-lizards who've laid eggs by the time of the Games, even *those* will be taken by *some* suckers who have naught 'tall better t'do with their time than feed bottomless pits. Aye, Merla, I did--Asrai said she'd do some delivering, and Cav agreed t'copy and scribe." Merla nods, "Very good...thank you..." she says simply. Perhaps it's a good thing for this meeting to end. Kassima nods yet again, and sets her notes down. "Now, if'n 'tis all, then this would be the time to ask questions about aught that's been unclear for you about the Games. We'll have more information about 'em later on, once we hear from more people, so y'can also ask questions later--but 'twould be good t'get all we can taken care of now." Asrai shakes her head, "No, you answered the one question I had." Merla says, "I have a question. Will we need anything brought in special from the holds, or from the south for the festival?" Kassima folds her arms over her knee, which is crooked as her left foot is resting on the seat of the head chair. "Possibly," she says after a moment's thought. "The Bakers would know what kind of food will be best. The best stuff we can bring in for all these people to eat and drink, the better. It might be worthwhile t'provide a stand of liquors, too, t'make certain nay anyone's disappointed with Benden hospitality. If'n we go ahead and have the aerial snowball fight at one point, we'll need t'store some snow in cold stores as soon as possible, too." Merla says, "Perhaps we should try to get the winecraft to send us a special shipment. Maybe we can do something for them in return." "'Tis a thought," Kassi acknowledges. "Mayhaps we should send a runner over there to bargain a shipment for them in exchange for a favor from us. Any volunteers for that task?" Merla smiles, "I can take care of it..." Asrai says "Well, we could talk to Boll about purchasing the specialty liquors, and won't HR still have snow during the games? We could go get some fresh when we need it." Merla grins at that thought, "It certainly won't melt /between/." Kassima adds thoughtfully, "Boll's got some fine drinks that they brew, popular ones; it might further do t'send a note to Lady Dyane inquiring as to the possibility of procuring some of tho--out of m'head, Asrai! But aye, 'tis truth. The 'Reaches will like as nay have snow, but why run and fetch it later if'n y'can just go out to the Bowl and gather some without the effort now?" Merla's eyes widen incredibly as she thinks Kassi is suggesting timing it with snow. "Kassi...I'm not so sure that's a good idea..." Kassima peers at Merla, a bit befuddled. "Eh? What? You scoop it out of the Bowl, stick it in cold stores... seemed like an easier solution than hopping over to the 'Reaches in spring and getting some. Maybe I'm wrong. Faranth knows, *that's* the case often enough." Merla blinks, feeling a little foolish. "Oh, I see...that makes sense." She says, "Good idea, Kassi..." Asrai nods, "Alright, but Kassi, it is an alternative if there is not enough room in cold storage. which might well be the case if they are going to want to start making food in advance." Kassima simply nods in acknowledgement of both statements. "Aye, but it depends on what they're going t'want t'make. Some of it'd be stored in other places than cold stores, and some they might want fresh--'tis better that way, y'know. Fresh and raw, with the blood dripping and jui--ahem. Anyway, I don't think 'twill be a problem." Asrai doesn't make any further comment, she just nods in agreement. Kassima picks up her notes again, straightening up and pushing the chair back. "Is that all? If'n so, then I think the meeting's ready to close, unless you've aught else t'add, Merla." Merla shakes her head, "No, Kassima, I belive that's all I have." Asrai nods, gathering up her helmet and gloves once more. Lysseth> K'tyn comes down the stairs from the Weyrwoman's Ledge. Lysseth> Cygnith wuffles K'tyn as he passes. Kassima nods for what's hopefully the final time. "All right, then. The sharding meeting's adjourned. Thanks to all who attended, and all of that sort of thing." Lysseth> K'tyn hums, half-singing to himself, "Oh, when I came home so drunk I couldna see-oh, to see the herdbeast standing afore me-oh, I says unto me mate, tell this to me-oh! How come the 'beast there, no beast should be there..." He grins at Cygnith, looking at the blue closely. "Fine Fettle, me lad," is all he says, a broad grin on his face. Asrai smiles at the Greenrider, as well as the Goldrider. she then turns to give C'vadan a look to say, 'See that wasn't so terrible.'. Lysseth> Lysseth gives the Weyrleader an odd and somewhat disgruntled look, shifting another finger's length farther away from the noise and rumbling irritably. Merla smiles, "Thank you for chairing the meeting." Lysseth> Cygnith tilts his head to the side to regard the Weyrleader. Rumbling softly he wuffles the singing K'tyn once more. Asrai slips out of the records cavern. Kassima inclines her head. "Ach, 'tis nay problem. Since I can't leave the Weyr and I can't do much else but hidework and targeting practice, what else had I t'do?" Merla smiles, "You did a fantastic job. Thank you. This should go very well indeed." Lysseth> Asrai comes out of the Records Room, looking extremely relieved. Seeing K'tyn she smiles and waves, "Hello Sir." Lysseth> K'tyn wheels about, pivoting on his heel. "Ah, Asrai, Greetings. How are you, hm?" "'Twill go as well as circumstances and people allow it to go," Kassi replies cryptically. "At least 'twill nay have t'worry about finding Lyss glowing during it--always a relief. Faranth forfend all those people should be confronted with a proddy rider, of all things. Let's just hope that nay too many other greens decide t'start lighting up the nights during that time." Lysseth> Asrai smiles, continueing to make her way over to K'tyn and Cygnith. "Oh, much better. Just got out of the Spring Festival meeting with Merla....and Kassima." She giggles, showing that for all her teasing it really wasn't that bad. Lysseth> K'tyn eyes Lysseth, espying her brilliance as he turns; he makes a short bow to her, and when his straightens up, tis apparent that he carries s a laquered? box. Glancing up to this ledge, he stares a his ledge a moment, making eye-contact with the bronze up there. "Meeting! That's where I'm off to," he adds. "Got to make a delivery." Lysseth> Lysseth snorts at the bowing human, her burning carmine eyes dimming slightly as she closes her inner eyelids to allow herself a moment of sleep. Lysseth> Asrai blinks, still smiling, "Well, you seem in a very good mood for one. Sir." Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "What? Is that so amazing?" He laughs. "I suppose it is, hm? Just got a full night's rest for once." Lysseth> Asrai smiles, "Well that's good to hear. So, what sort of meeting is it that you bring a present to it?" She looks pointedly at the fancy box in his hands. Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "Tis just some foodstuffs that I told Kassima I'd bring for her--She seemed quite interested in tasting them. Will you lead me to her, and Merla, and share in the bounty?"?" Lysseth> Asrai pouts slightly, "Oh, I wish I could sir. But I have some errands to run." she turns to point towards the Records Room, "But Kassi and Merla are still in the Records Room." She turns back to smile once more at K'tyn. Lysseth> K'tyn bows, grinning yet again. "Then I will let you get to them-- and I'll get these to yon greenrider." Lysseth> Asrai giggles then takes a hop and a leap, landing her neatly between Cygnith's neck ridges with the aid of Cygnith's proffered forearm for a lift off point. Lysseth> Asrai makes her way up onto Cygnith's back with the aid of an offered foreleg and a strong grip on the riding straps, settling between his silvery neckridges. Lysseth> Rolan comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern. Lysseth> Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai waves to K'tyn before taking off, "Have fun Sir, and walk lightly around Kassi...I think Lysseth is real close now." Lysseth> Rolan looks around, looks at the scroll he's carrying then at the people around him. Lysseth> K'tyn nods at Rolan, still smiling from his conversation with Asrai. "Heya." Then, "I would not do anything less, Asrai. Thanks for the warning, though!" Lysseth> Up between Cygnith's neckridges, Asrai's giggle can be heard as Cygnith uses his compact form to launch him almost straight up. Lysseth> Cygnith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft. Lysseth> Rolan says "Hi Duly!" looks back to K'tyn "Pardon me...Do you know where I can find" looks once more at the scroll "K'tyn?" Lysseth> K'tyn nods at Rolan. "Aye," he says easily. "And what would you be wantin' with him, hm?" Lysseth> Rolan says "Lord Rodin sent me with a message for him sir" Lysseth> K'tyn nods. "Then I'll take it, since he's me, y'see." He tucks the box under an arm and holds his other hand out for the message. Lysseth> Rolan hands a sealed message to the man "Oh! well that makes finding you much easier!" Lysseth> K'tyn grins. "Does it then?" With nary a moment to waste, he unseals the letter, and reads it. Lysseth> K'tyn laughs, quietly. "Well, Rolan, you may assure Rodin that I will do as he asks, at the appropriate time," he says with a warm grin. "In fact, will ya follow me yonder so that I may draft out an appropriate response for the Lord Holder?" The Weyrleader nods at the Records' Room. Lysseth> Rolan nods K'tyn strides in from the bowl. Rolan strides in from the bowl. K'tyn wanders in from the bowl, blinking for just a moment in the doorway. "Ah! Kassi," he says quietly. "I've brought something for you--tis that tasty fish I told you about?" He nods at Merla. "M'lady." Kassima is sleeping in the head seat of the table, arms folded and head down as she apparently nodded off rather suddenly. The sounds of people entering, though, are enough to wake her, and her eyes flash green against their very dark sockets. "What now? Oh. 'Tis you, sir." She salutes sharply, adding a slightly grudging, "Benden's duties t'Benden Hold," to Rolan. Rubbing at her eyes, she peers at the box. "The raw stuff from that seahold? That's right; I recall it now. The uncooked meat that's *nay* bloody." She's obviously curious, but manages to find enough manners not to just snatch at the box, and even to say a moderately sincere-sounding, "M'thanks for the kindness, sir." Merla smiles at K'tyn as he enters, "Greetings." she says simply, from where she's sitting next to Kassi. She smiles at Rolan as well, nodding a greeting. Rolan nods shyly K'tyn shakes his head. "Tis no kindness, but a wish to satisfy my own hunger as well. You see, the good cook at the sea-hold did give me enough for ten!" He places the laquered box on the table, opening it. There, packed in clean snow, lie the delicasies. "Tis quite delicious with this spicy condiment, here," he says as he points at a brilliant green paste. Kassima eyes the brilliant green paste. "That shade reminds me of something," she muses. "I suppose a bit of spice wouldn't hurt. So you dip the raw fish into this stuff and eat, eh? Sounds easy enough...." From the interior of her jacket, she pulls--unsurprisingly--a flask, and a vial. The flask is red wine. The vial is some terrible looking green gook. Faranth only knows how she managed to hide them under the jacket, which doesn't really look loose enough to hide much at all. "Didn't bring glasses, so the skin'll have t'do," she says shortly. "The green stuff's for me, unless the rest of you have a particular fondness for Salless's asparagus glop." Rolan looks around Merla's brow rises, "Hmmm...I think I'll pass..." K'tyn grins. "Twill be quite good, I am sure, Kassi," he says as he pops a bit of the salmon colored fish into his mouth, a bit of the paste atop it. He chews estatically, his eyes watering. "This is so good...Oh! The message. Sorry, there, Rolan? Was it? Just a moment..." Rolan nods "Yes Sir" Kassima draws a knife from her belt, and spears a piece of fish with it. She dips the fish into the paste, careful not to get any on the blade, and slides the fish from the dagger with her teeth. "Nay bad," she opines after swallowing. Her eyes water a bit, but other than that involuntary reaction, she shows no sign of distress at the spices. K'tyn hums, nearly below his breath, as he moves to a nearby desk and drafts a reply to the Benden Lord holder, signing it with a flourish. "Here, my good man," he says cheerily, offering the rolled hide to the Holder's man. "And do partake, if you wish. Tis a goodly amount, there!" Rolan takes the scroll "Uhm..." looks at the offered snack "No thank you sir K'tyn shrugs, "Tis your loss, then, for tis quite...tasty. Shards!" he says after snaring another of the prizes. "It melts in your mouth! And makes your nose want to explode off of your face," Kiat nods at the aromatic herbs. Rolan tucks the scroll into his pouch, glances again at the fish, then looks up "explodes off your face? Merla considers, "Why do you eat it then, Kiat?" she asks with a grin. K'tyn shakes his head, stamps his foot and wheezes after eating another bit of the fish and paste. "Because I like it," he says simply, grinning. Rolan looks again at the food, hunger over powers will to keep his nose where it is, "well maybe one...wha do i do? K'tyn blinks. "Just pop a bit in your mouth..and put some of that--a /small/ amount," he emphasizes, "On top. Then, enjoy the soft texture, the sweet flavor..." Clearly, Kiat likes this dish A LOT. Rolan makes and eats the snack.... Kassima eats in silence, packing away fish and paste alike almost robotically--but at least she doesn't complain that they're not bloody enough, which is a miracle. She also drains some of the wine, though there's plainly plenty left. "Nay bad, sir," she says finally after swallowing another mouthful. "Nay bad." [Editor's Note: Okay, so I was a bit repetitive. :) I was in a page convo at this point and rather distracted, so I didn't realize I'd already said this; ICly, put it down to the headache and lack of sleep making Kassi redundant.] Benden Weyr> Kassima keeps getting this idea that those of us in the Records Room should be sitting on those pillows by a low table, eating with chopsticks. :) Rolan chews thoughtfully; doesn't look particularly pleased... "interesting.... Benden Weyr> K'tyn grins.:) K'tyn grins at Rolan. "It is, isn't it? I do like it," he says redundantly, before turning to look at the green and gold riders. "How's the planning going? Need you me for anything?" Kassima sets down the blade she's eating with for a moment, and pulls out her notes once again. "Message delivery, prize donation, idea supplying for competitions, and competition, game, or other event organization. We could use volunteers for all of those." Rolan says "you need help delivering messages?" R'val strides in from the bowl. R'val wanders in, a sheaf of paper tucked under his arm. "Evenin'." "By dragonback to the various Weyrs, and Halls and Holds of the Benden Sweep Area, aye," is the highly proddy Kassima's short answer. "Asrai is currently taking care of that, but she might need aid, as there are rather a lot of messages requiring delivery." She drops the notes back into her lap, and resumes eating with her knife blade. R'val raises both eyebrows as he stops in the doorway, "Aid?" He speaks, "Can I help at all? I know the Spring Games are in planning, and I'd like to help if I can." Rolan says "well i don't have a dragon, but i deliver messages in the benden area for lord Rodin, if you want..." K'tyn ahs. "Ideas for competitions? What have ye got? Is there a list?" He waves to R'val as the bluerider enters, popping more of the food items into his mouth. Merla works away on a sheet of parchment. Rolan looks embaressed " i didn't mean to butt in, excuse me Kassima snorts. "Where were you during the meeting, then? I didn't think Dawnslight was having drills at that time of the day. If'n y'want to help, fine. We need prizes donated, messages delivered, ideas supplied, and some games organized. We've already got organizers for some of the...." She breaks off and, with a sigh, rifles again through her stack of notes to find the list of games. "One moment, sir. I'll have the list as soon as I can find it in this bloody fardling shell-blasted stack of hides. I seem cursed to lose the blasted things t'day." To Rolan, she shrugs. "Haven't got 'em drafted yet. If'n y'want t'take one back to Benden Hold when we do, 'sfine by me; talk to Merla about it." R'val raises an eyebrow at Kassima and regards her coldly, "I was busy. I can donate a sculpted dragon or two, as I usually do. Delivering messages, I can do that too. Ideas.." he chuckles, "Well. I'm just a bluerider." K'tyn nods. "Of course, Kassi. There is no rush about it, I am sure. I was merely curious if there were to be singing contests or the like," he says diplomatically. Rolan nods to K'tyn "I guess I'll be going sir" K'tyn nods at Rolan. "Come back, when ye can, lad," he says absently, waving to the other. "Tell Rodin I will be up to see him soon." Rolan slips out of the records cavern. Kassima tugs the sought-after hide free, finally, and reads. "Possibilities include--none of these are finalized, mind--inter-Weyr competitive aerial displays, firestone tossing, competitions in painting, dancing, balladeering, impersonation, pie-eating, and storytelling, competitive rope drills, an aerial snowball fight, and a three-legged race suggested by Asrai. I thought the egg thing might be too messy." She returns R'val's cold look with one of her own that could freeze a glass of water to a frigid temperature that would crack the goblet itself. But then, that's the way she looks at most things these days. "Good for you. Aye, sculpted dragons would be suitable. And we could use more people to deliver messages. You'd want t'talk to Asrai, t'make certain y'don't both deliver a message to the same place. And in the name of the Egg, R'val, bluerider y'may be, but I'd nay--" Another deep breath, and she bites back whatever she was going to say. "Anyway. We appreciate your help." R'val reclines against a table and nods as Kassima speaks, paying attention for the most part, his expression neutral, growing more thoughtful, "I'll talk to Asrai. Sculptures are the only prize donation I can think of at the moment." He grins swiftly, fleetingly, "I know Vidarth'll insist on participating in the snowball flight-fight." K'tyn snorts. "I think I'llbe out of that one, though...perhaps snow- sculpting? Or... something? Steal the banner, mayhap?" He wracks his brain to think of games he's played with/in the snow. R'val cocks his head at K'tyn, "Steal the banner?" He asks. Kassima stabs her dagger through another slice of fish, nodding briskly. "The sculptures would more than do. Bring whichever ones y'find suitable to one of us, and we'll keep them for you. Flight-fight... what an interesting turn of phrase." Dipping her fish in the paste, she notes, "'Tis the Spring Games. We'll only have snow because we'll stock some snowballs in Cold Stores for the event, or perhaps filch it from the 'Reaches. There's nay going t'be enough for sculpting and whatnay; besides, I think the 'Reaches do that at their Winter Festival, traditionally." Kassima has a sudden thought, and adds, "Another thing that can be done is asking the Bakers what sort of foods they might need from other Holds to put together for a feast. They may need t'barter, but you can go and see what they'd want in return at least." R'val chuckles, "That's true, Kassi." he remarks, sitting on a table, legs swinging idly, "And we don't want to steal their idea, now do we?" "Hardly," is Kassi's dry observation as she leans forward from her chair at the head of the table to get a bit more paste. "We're out t'make a good impression, nay to plagiarize one." K'tyn grins at Kassima. "Well, just let me know what Ineed to do, hm?" A low rumble echoes into the room. "Leilanth summons! I must go." With almost undue haste, he leaves the room. K'tyn slips out of the records cavern.