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Sweet Success


Date:  December 7, 2003
Place:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern
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:  Upon seeing Isawen's brother stuffing himself with 
sweets in the Living Cavern, Kassi hatches a scheme to make him eat 
actual *food* that may lead one to question whether her children can
possibly grow up sane. ;)  Farone also makes his first appearance at 
Telgar, and Tasayli does her own expounding on the evils of siblings.

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The Log:

You walk past the lintel and into the wide living cavern.

Pierron humphs thoughtfully as the Wingleader of Thunderbolt arrives.

Rahlan winks at Laren, "Ah, so you've met that nasty wherry, have you?"
Tasayli gets a disdainful look, "I'm nearly as tall as she is now. I bet I
could take her..." He doesn't seem to worry about the creampuff threat, but
it seems to give him an idea, "Numbweed in the food, you say? Why didn't I
think of that one?" He follows Tasayli's gaze over to Farone and gestures
at the pile of sweets, "You're welcome to help get rid of evidence, if you
feel like it."

Farone raises his eyebrows at Rahlan's offer and reaches forward to pick up
a sweet. He turns it around in his hands thoughtfully. "Thanks," he mumbles
in a soft voice. Then, "Get rid of the evidence? You should save it for
later. That way it'll last longer."

The distinct perfume of firestone dust might precede Kassima into the room,
for all that she's made some perfunctory attempts to clean the stuff off
herself--enough so that Kaisan, inevitably accompanying her in his sling,
at least won't be in danger of choking. That doesn't mean there aren't
still streaks of it on her face, in her hair, and all down her pants,
though. When Pierron gives her a dirty look for this, she flashes him her
brightest and least repentant smile, and the exchange puts something of a
spring in her step despite her evident weariness. "Evening," she greets the
room at large while on her way to where refreshments are waiting.

Tasayli adds to Rahlan's invite, "Have a seat? Telgar's duties to you'n
yours, too. Or can I help you find someone or something?" She seems to
interpret FArone's discomfort as newness here. Kassi's arrival, though,
sparks a bright smile from Tasa. "Kassi! Hey, did you see Tav out there? Is
he frozen yet? Or is Lysseth in a mood for a handy brother-sized snack?"

Rahlan scoops some of the sweets into his pocket with a smirk at Farone. "I
took too many, but don't worry, I'm saving some for later. Or rather, for
Isi's hair." Kassima gets a wary look at her arrival, and he scoops a few
more of the sweets into his pocket to trim down the mound on the table.
Can't go looking too obvious, especially when Tasayli has drawn attention
over to the table.

Farone dips his head at Tasayli's invitation, intensely solemn even at the
hospitality of children. He makes to heavily slump into a chair. He pulls
his thick eyebrows together quizzically at Rahlan's quips, but is able to
lean forward and conceal some of the pile with his forearms as well.

"Haven't seen much beyond a firestone stack and various spawn for hours,
Tasa," Kassima reports, pouring herself a very large mug of milk. "Khari,
Kiss, Kazy, and Kai t'be precise; if'n they saw him about, they didn't tell
me. What's he done *this* time?" She shows absolutely no doubt that
Tavauri's done *something*. Of course not. Her eyes do flick over the
sweets, but her only reaction is to look decidedly amused; she doesn't seem
prone to attack the table with a flying tackle and snatch them all away
with a lecture about the importance of vegetables. Yet. "Bloody shells; nay
much t'my taste today--I guess the soup would do. Anyone had that yet
tonight who can tell me whether 'tis well-made?"

Tasayli munches on her latest sweet, and suggests, "Maybe Lysseth landed on
him? You'd not see him, then?" She half-shrugs, answering, "He's just being
himself. Told Terlos I liked him." Her nose decidedly wrinkles up, she's
obviously not enamoured with the mentioned boy. "Dunno 'bout the soup,
though. The bread was good."

Relaxing a bit when Kassima doesn't comment on the stolen sweets, Rahlan
pops yet another of the sticky goodies in his mouth. His only comment on
the topic of food choice is "Who needs dinner, when you've got stuff like
this?"

Farone follows Rahlan's lead and pops the sweet that he was offered into
his mouth. He chews slowly, dark eyes trying to be casual about surveying
the bizzaire woman covered in firestone dust.

Kassima nods to that, and filches a couple of pieces of bread to put on her
plate before adjusting Kaisan's sling--carefully; the baby would seem to be
napping--and heading for the soup bowl. "People who are wanting t'lose
weight," is her droll answer for Rahlan, "and nay have that disease where
all your innards turn t'water and you spend all your time in the latrines
until you die of dehydration. I mean, eww. Nay how I want t'die. Can you
imagine the expressions of poor people who'd *find* you? Torn between
horror and the need t'hold their nose, nay doubt. I'd rather have some soup
with m'dessert than *that*." Which isn't to say that a bubbly doesn't find
its way onto her plate before she ambles towards her usual seat. If she's
conscious of Farone watching her, she doesn't show it.

Kassima adds once she's settled in, "I might nay *see* him, but you'd
better believe Lyss would be complaining nay end about the mess all over
her talons. I'd nay count on a dragon t'do your dirty work for you, Tasa.
Who's Terlos?"

Farone has a sniff of Kassima's meal and he shifts in his seat. He daren't
stand now. His stomach grumbles and he reddens a little. He shifts in his
seat again.

After grimacing at the description of an awful outcome to sweet-eating,
Tasa puts on a pout, and offers, "I'd clean her talons, if she would?"
Farone's might be quiet right now, but his stomach rumbling grabs Tasa's
attention. "You're welcome to have some dinner, if you'd like," she offers.
"There's always lots, no worries. Where're you from, anyways?"

Rahlan actually stops chewing as Kassima's description goes on. Eyes narrow
as he scrutinizes the wingleader. "Well," he finally says, after swallowing
what's in his mouth. "It's a good thing I'm sharing all these sweets,
then." Farone's grumbling stomach draws his attention and he gasps. "Don't
think you're coming down with that disease she mentioned, do you? You only
had the one..."

Tasayli tosses a response to Kassi, too. "Terlos is just a kid. All pimply,
an'he never washes, I swear."

Kassima makes sure that Kaisan's secure in his nest, and keeps one arm
curved around him for good measure; the other picks up her spoon and sets
to attacking the soup. "You're welcome to the food, y'know," she mentions
to Farone, attention turning automatically to the source of the grumbling.
"I'truth: 'tisn't stinted t'visitors, if'n that's what you're worried
about. Help yourself by all means. Sorry I didn't offer t'get aught while
'twas up there; m'mind's half-fried, I swear... oh, it should take more
than *one*," she reassures, but then narrows her eyes at the pile of
candies. "Unless... you don't suppose someone *poisoned* those sweets,
d'you? With a laxative or the like? Faranth, I bloody well hope nay; I
mean, I'm trying t'eat here, and *that* certes wouldn't help." She keeps a
completely straight face through saying this. Mind you, she has to duck her
eyes towards the soup at the very end of it. "Nay deal, Tasa, nay deal--and
*he* certes sounds like a prize. Does he have any sisters you could claim
Tavauri's in love with?"

Farone places a calloussed hand over his stomach and flushes again at the
attention. He smiles slowly and shakes his head at Rahlan. "I don't think
so. But maybe I will take the ladies' advice and get a bowl of soup. You
can't grow muscle by only eating candy, y'know." He slowly gets up and
turns to Tasa. "Thank you. Umm. I'm from... Hillside." He looks between
Kassima and Tasa. Then moves to get a bowl of soup.

Tasayli flashes a grin at Rahlan and his sweets, but shakes her head to
Kassi. "Nah, his sister's, like, four turns. I figured maybe one of the
gossipy aunties could hear he likes her but is too shy to tell her
himself." Vicious, she is. "How's Kaisan doing?" Farone's answer earns a
foggy smile. "Where's that? Far from here? I'm Tasa, by the way."

Rahlan gives a pile a thorough look. "Poisoned? You think they could be? My
stomach -is- feeling a little..." He trails off, then narrows his eyes.
"Hey, wait. That couldn't be. I snatched 'em from right under the nose of
Baker-" He snaps his mouth shut, then starts again. "That is, I was given
them. That's what I meant. For being so, um, helpful in the kitchens."
Farone gets a nod and the boy asks, "Have any wherry-faced older sisters
coming to get you and drag you back home? Lucky if not."

"Your muscles get replaced by fat," Kassima agrees, "and for all I know,
'twould have other adverse effects. Hillside?" she echoes, just prior to a
spoonful of soup. Tasayli gets a wry grin. "Probably can't spread that
rumor, then. I like the Auntie approach better anyway. He's *asleep*,
thanks be t'Faranth, and a bloody miracle that is; aside from that, he's
wonderful and gorgeous. Naturally." Almost by reflex she shifts the baby a
bit so the girl can better see for herself, all without missing a beat with
the soup. "See, that just proves it. You're going t'throw up *everywhere*
soon. D'you really think the Bakers aren't vindictive enough t'put
something in candies? It could be a *plot*. Mayhaps they let you snatch
them, all so they could laugh at you when you ate yourself sick and died in
a horrible, inglorious, undignified mess. Then they'll commission the
Harpers t'write *songs* about their victory over you, or something." She
doesn't acknowledge the backpedal at all; her eyes do have a suspicious
sparkle, though, don't they?

Telgar Weyr> Kassima just eyes Kassima. I wonder if it was wise for this
woman to have children. ;)

Telgar Weyr> Simone eyes Kassima too. Doesn't Kassima have, oh, eight of
them? :)

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Yes. And I'm starting to feel sorry for them
all, given what she's telling Rahlan. ;)"

Farone raises his eyebrows and searches for a bowl. Taking peoples' offers
for granted, he tops himself off a large bowlful of soup and cuts himself a
thick slice of bread. He quirks a grin at Rahlan's statement and shakes his
head slowly. "Nobody coming to drag _me_ home. I have a younger sister, but
she's no wherry-faced."

Tasayli makes an 'awwwwwwww' face, as she leans over to better see the
baby. Then, Rahlan's told, earnestly, "You know, those bakers sure didn't
chase much after you. I think she might just be right!" Nevermind that she
herself isn't looking distressed, and did put away a couple of the sweets,
too.

Rahlan glances at the sweets suspiciously. "You ate some too!" He points to
Tasayli desperately. "And you had one as well!" A hand flicked at Farone.
He takes in the latter's comments with a frown. "Lucky you. My sister is
ugly -and- annoying." Eyes widen suddenly. Hey! I bet -she- had something
to do with this. She's been acting suspicious e'er since I stole her boot."
Narrowed eyes turn towards the kitchen and he adds, "Plus she's always
sticking her nose in other people's business, even in the kitchens. I bet
she talked the bakers into this..."

Telgar Weyr> Tasayli thinks that's just indication that Kassi *should* have
kids. No mom should be without creative threats.

Tasayli thinks fast. "Yeah, I only had two. And I had other food - sops up
poison, you know."

"See, but they ate bread," Kassi points out, aiming her spoon towards
Rahlan. "Which is binding, right? The bread won't *let* them die that way.
Mind you, if'n you've eaten more, a side of meat might nay hurt,
t'strengthen up your stomach for its battle against the poisons. It should
be quite an epic challenge if'n you hurry; else your system will just
surrender like a wuss, and you'll know as you die that you're dying because
you have wimpy, girly insides who are probably crying for their mother as
we speak. Ach, but d'you *really* think your sister would be the culprit?
When she'd have t'be the ones to tell your parents about this? C'mon. You
know how parents are. They'd probably blame *her* for it somehow." Turning
to Farone, she asks him curiously, "You are a visitor, then? Or are you
looking t'make a home here?"

Farone trundles on back to the table with his newly acquired meal. He sets
himself down, half his bread already disappeared into his mouth before his
bowl hits the tabletop. He says through a mouthful of bread, "I hope
y'don't mind me sayin', but.. You one girl couldn't be that harmful.
'Specially not to her brother..." He's about to say more when he considers
Kassi's question. "Mmm. Well, I uh.." He takes a long gulp of soup to wash
down the bread. "I was looking for work, yea."

Eyebrows raise at Tasayli's comment and Rahlan jumps to his feet. "Aha!
I'll eat some other food, then. And after I'm better, I'm gonna tell those
bakers a thing or two. Thinking to poison -me-!" As Kassima's words sink
in, he clutches his stomach and gives the rider a horrified look. "Not Isi?
This could be really serious, then!" Without another word he dashes to the
serving tables, nearly running into a few poor residents in his haste. He
glares at the bakers at the serving table as he gets a plate loaded up with
food. And more food, especially the ones mentioned. He ate a lot of candy,
so he gets an awful lot of food, just to be safe. Narrowly avoiding the
returning Farone on the way back, he nods in agreement, already chewing on
a piece of bread. "You're right. Couldn't have been her. She can't do
anything right."

Tasayli objects, saying to Farone, "Hey, hey, brothers do mean things, and
sisters have to do stuff back. You should see some of the bruisings I've
given Tavauri." She does admit, though, "But I've never tried to poison
him. Ma'd make me take some of the poison, too, knowing her." Tasa looks to
Kassi for confirmation of that. Surreptitiously, a hand reaches out towards
Rahlan's plate, and she tries to sneak some food from it.

Kassima tucks away her last bite of soup and leans back as much as her
chair will allow, nibbling on a slice of bread. She does her level best to
keep her amusement from showing as she watches Rahlan running hither and
yon--but that's no easy task, and she resorts to picking up her milk mug
and keeping it poised where it covers her grin. "Just be sure once you've
got some of that down you t'pace yourself with the rest," she advises
Rahlan. "You don't want t'spend all your ammunition at once. Your fight
against the poison must be a *campaign*, measured and cunning." In other
words, she's probably hoping to keep him from bolting that food so fast
that he ralphs *anyway*. "What sort of work?" she asks Farone. "You've
picked an interesting time; we've had several people turning up hoping for
work, or just t'stick around for awhile, what with Mirrath risen. Oh,
Maylia would *so* make you do it, Tasa. And then she'd probably make you
clean up after you *and* him after you'd been sick. She's evil enough."

Farone doesn't stop eating for long and it doesn't seem long before he's
cleaned out his bowl. He looks up. "Mirrath risen? I don't know anything
about that. I was actually on my way to the hold. I was farming, but we
fell on bad times. I'm just stopped cuz I had to make sure my grampaw got
to where he's gonna be staying now." He sniffs. "Work? I don't know. I'm
strong. I'm alright with fixing and tinkering, but I'm not taught." He
shakes his head. "You know, you kids shouldn't talk so bout your family. If
anything happened, you'd be awfully sorry."

Rahlan, his hands occupied, opens his mouth to protest the theft, spraying
bread crumbs about in the process. Then he seems to think better and shuts
it again. No time to talk when it could mean life or death. He finishes off
the piece of bread, then grabs up some of the meat possessively, in case
anyone was thinking to steal that too. He nods some at Kassima's advice,
slowing down enough to actually chew the food more before swallowing. He
does take a quick break from the meal to point out to Farone, "That's easy
for you to say, you're not related to my sister."

Tasayli manages to filch a slice of wherry, but doesn't notice the spray of
crumbs. "Hey, who're you callin'a kid?" Alright, so maybe her behaviour's a
bit on the young side. "And I'd be thrilled if Tav'd go apprentice
somewhere, he's a pest. I'd not hit him so often if I didn't have to, to
keep even." Or maybe to get a smidgeon ahead, her half-smile suggests.

"Oh," says Kassima, nodding, "so 'tis your grandsire who's t'be living
here, nay you? That's curious; why's he moving up here? Nay that 'tis any
of m'business, strictly speaking, so you scarcely need t'answer--I'm just a
curious sort." She sets her mug of milk down with a quiet sigh and wraps
both arms around her son, the better to cuddle the baby without risking
waking him up. He gives one warning flail within his blankets and sling,
but curls in against his mother: crisis averted. "I'd point out that Isawen
doesn't seem *that* bad, but somehow I'm suspecting 'twould nay get
agreement from you on the score," she quips to Rahlan, "so 'twill save
m'breath."

Farone shrugs. "No. he's not living here." He looks to the baby quietly and
then goes about clearing up his dishes. He mumbles to Tasa, "Sorry."

Rahlan has to pause again from his meal to protest Kassima's words. "She
came all the way up here, only to spoil my careful plans!" Obviously he's
still quite bitter about that fact. "It'd be much more fun here without
here. I bet she's spoiling my chances. I'll never get Searched if she
scares the dragons away." For some reason, he seems to think that a
possibility.

Tasayli seems the type to take appologies at face value, and offers Farone
a grin. "S'okay." But Rahlan's next topic, that just gets a "Huh? Man,
you've never seen a searchin' dragon, have you?"

Kassima tilts her head, openly puzzled; but she doesn't ask further
questions of Farone for the nonce. Instead she just nods, and dips a shred
of bread into her milk. "You do realize," she asks Rahlan, "that being here
doesn't mean you're going t'get Searched, right? That you're about as
likely t'be Searched here as from your home? Someone's broken this t'you?"
Her tone isn't taunting or mocking; cautious, if anything. She does however
have to hide another grin at Tasayli's response.

Rahlan rolls his eyes at Tasayli. "Of course I haven't! That's why I had to
get away from the Hold. They always kept me locked away, doing chores, so I
couldn't." The boy doesn't at all look like he was locked away... he looks
like a normal, active 13 Turn old. Perhaps overactive. "But my theory..."
he protests to Kassima, "I came all this way." Reluctantly, he admits, "Isi
said something like that, but I thought she was just trying to get me back
home."

Tasayli snorts, getting up in search of food for herself - enough snitching
from plates. "Lemmetellya, a Searching dragon's not going to let a stone
wall get in the way of a Search, and your sister looks a lot smaller than a
wall." She nods firmly after Kassi. "That's just what I was tellin' that
guy, Lar-something, earlier. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen."

Kassima shakes her head, lightly patting Kaisan's back as the baby begins
to stir. "The Search dragons will be riding all over the place," she
explains, "Crafts and Holds and other Weyrs; and if'n there's someone there
fit t'be a Candidate, 'tis usually that the dragons will sense it whether
they can *see* the person or nay--shells, Tasa, how many d'you think have
been Searched out of the Living Cavern by now? And living here's nay
guarantee either. Of m'children, only the eldest has been Searched, and the
first time she was 'twas for Ista--nay here. Khari, Kris, Kimlyn, and
Kyjain are all of the right age, Khari very close t'over it, and they've
lived here all their lives, but there hasn't been so much as a whuffle.
'Twas Searched from a Hold m'self, and Lysseth's pulled plenty from other
places than here." Her nod to Tasayli is just as certain. "And if'n
*'tisn't* going t'happen, then there's naught you can do t'*make* it
happen. When push comes t'shove, there just aren't that many people in the
world who are ever Searched. And fewer than that Impress dragons."

Farone follows Tasayli over to the food area. "Whatever a man can be proud
to be is what he makes of himself." he says in Rahlan's defense. "If that's
what he wants, what's wrong with trying your best? Even if it might not work?"

Rahlan peers at Tasayali as he chews his food, then Kassima as well. He
seems to stew over this news for awhile, wavering. Finally he throws the
half-eaten fingerroot back to his plate with a groan. "But that would mean
my theory is wrong..." But he's not utterly defeated - he rallies at
Farone's words. Well, if what you say is true, that..." and he mimics
Tasayli "'if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen', then being here won't
-hurt- my chances any. If I do get Searched, it'll save me a trip."

Tasayli holds a plate, and starts taking little bits of this, samples of
that. "Nothing wrong, I guess," she admits to Farone, with a shrug. "But
it's kinda silly. Think of what else he could be doing, and not change his
chances one bit?"

"Because you can't *try*," Kassi tries to explain, shaking her head. "You
can't make yourself a Candidate, or someone a dragonet will walk up to and
Impress on Hatching day. You just are or you aren't. Naught wrong with
wanting it; but I'd advise against fixating on it, because the only way
'tis within your control is that you can refuse Search, should it be
offered t'you." She does nod to Rahlan, though, with a wry grin. "'Twill
nay *hurt*. 'Twill just nay *help*. If'n you're all right with that, then
nay harm done beyond the hiding your parents will probably give you when
you get home if'n you aren't."

Farone shrugs a bit and grins over at Rahlan. "I think it takes a lot of
nerve to run away from home. Imagine all the confort you're missing.
Imagine all of your stuff at home. Being picked through by just anybody. I
mean, all your favorite things being enjoyed by other people in your
absence... What if they do stop missing you? What if they forgot all about
you? What if they liked it that you were gone?"

Rahlan sends a glower Tasayli's way for being called silly. It turns into a
wince though at the mention of his parents. "Surely they'll just be happy
to have me home? And safe? And not punish me..." Wishful thinking. Farone's
words give him more pause. "Not just anybody... My parents wouldn't let the
other kids have my stuff." A pause. "Unless they thought I wasn't coming
back? They'd still save it in case, right?"

Tasayli offers Farone a wide grin for his tactic. She joins in. "Or if
they're mad at you for leaving, they might give your stuff away." She
returns, and starts to tuck into her meal. "You didn't leave behind
favourite stuff, didja?"

"All of the above," says Kassi immediately with all the authority of a
mother of eight. "Assuming they take you in again. Depends on what they're
like; but I'm guessing they will, if'n they sent your sister t'bring you
home. Nay idea about your things. I'd probably keep them, but Tasa's got a
point: if'n 'twere *very* mad...."

Farone shakes his his head, slicing himself some meat. "Sounds pretty grim
to me."

Rahlan goes through a quick mental list, inspired by Tasayli's question. "I
left that carving my dad did for me... Surely they wouldn't -sell- it? And
my cot. I was one of the best ones. Really comfy. My clothing... My Gather
wear!" The list could obviously go on, but he pauses there. "I don't think
they'd be very happy with me..." A point of Kassima's brightens him a
little, "But you're right! They did send Isi to get me!" Suddenly, this is
a good thing.

Tasayli pfffts, stating, "If your cot was that comfy, someone else's
sleeping in it, betcha anything." She hids a grin behind a forkfull of
mashed tubers.

Kassima agrees with a solemn nod, "And they *probably* wouldn't send her
all this way just t'fetch you back so they can tell you t'your face that
you're disowned. Probably. But if'n you've any small sibs I'd nay be
surprised if'n your cot at least has found a new claimant--after all, what
would you have done if'n Isawen had run from home and left behind something
you wanted? Honest, now?"

Farone walks back over to the table. He lets the others continue their
verbal sparring. They certainly don't need his help.

Rahlan glares at Tasayli for her comment, aiming a chunk of fingerroot at
that tuber-bearing fork, though he's too distracted to try very hard. "If
she'd run away from home... Well, I'd have taken her stuff, but if she came
back I'd at least replace it with something not as good, but at least
resembling the original."

The fingerroot winds up in Tasa's lap, and she sticks out her tongue at the
younger lad. No wonder Farone assumed she was a kid. "Yeah, so, you'll get
a cot when you go home, but not yours. It'll have ten lumps, all arranged
so you can't get comfortable unless you sleep standing up." She's not doing
a good job of hiding that she's enjoying this.

"So you should be expecting t'come home t'find yourself with a worse cot,
at the very least. Probably one with a gimpy leg," Kassi theorizes,
carefully tugging a loose strand of her hair free from Kaisan's clenched
fist. "And what Tasa said too. D'you have younger sibs or cousins? Probably
one of 'em's borrowed your Gather wear and gotten foodstains all over it.
I'd nay be surprised in the least. Really, 'twas generous of your sister
t'just come and bring you back rather than doing something *really
terrible* t'everything you owned while 'twere gone. Why, she *could* have
left tunnelsnake heads in your furs and your clothing trunk, and by the
time you got back they'd *really* have started t'reek. Plus the eyes would
probably be falling out. Have you ever tried t'wash eyeballs out of your
clothing? Bloody nuisance 'tis." She gives a firm nod for emphasis.

Farone sits down and says quietly, unable to keep from piping up, "Well, I
doubt it's as bad as all that. I bet you have folks that are just worried
about you and wanting for you to go home. But once you are sent to be a
rider, you won't be able to see them I 'spect. You tried, but it's not what
you wanted. Better to go home and wait it out with your family around you
and your comfort and your things. This time in your life... you'll never
get back. And you'll miss it, because it will be gone forever."

Tasayli goes further than Kassi, not letting up on poor Rahlan.
"Foodstains? Betcha one of them's got a runny nose. Think on it. Runny
nose, long sleeves..." Her voice drifts upwards, suggestively.

Rahlan sticks his tongue out right back at Tasayli. Without swallowing the
bread that's in his mouth first. "I have cousins... And there's kids all
over the Hold. They better not have touched my cot!" The eyeball bit really
widens his eyes and he wrinkles his nose. "Ugh! How do you know so much
about eyeballs? And runny noses! Ew." He shakes his head at Farone. "But I
can visit them after I get a dragon." Obviously the word Weyrlinghood
doesn't mean anything to the boy.

Tasayli observes, "Kassi knows lots about eyeballs, and poison, and other
gross stuff." A Weyrlingmaster's daughter, the girl laughs outright, now,
but at least has the tact to cover her mouth after a couple loud HAHAs.
"What, you think dragons hatch flying?" She grew up here, so it's natural
she doesn't realize that no, not everyone does know.

Kassima's explanation for the eyeball bit? "I'm a greenrider." Completely
deadpan. "Comes with the territory. 'Tis how I know so much about
undignified ways t'die, too; I've made a modest study. He," with a nod
towards Farone, "has a point about going home--but since Isawen says you
can't, mayhaps you'd do better t'just think hard about whether this running
away thing was a wise idea. As t'visiting, *if'n* you Impressed 'twould be
something like a Turn a'fore you could be *betweening* t'your home Hold,
if'n that soon--just think about all the things that could happen t'your
stuff between then and now!"

Kassima also flashes Tasayli a bright smile for her endorsement. Trust
Kassi to see that as a compliment.

Farone offers, realizing that he hasn't given his name when Kassima gives
the 'he', "Farone."

"Well, I figure it would take a couple days." Rahlan considers Tasayli's
reaction again. "Maybe a few sevendays?" He seems a bit confused by
Kassima's credentials, but is reluctant to question someone who knows so
much about eyeballs. "A Turn?" he repeats, bemused. "Maybe I will need to
go home with Isawen in the spring, just to check on my stuff..." Farone
gets a bit of a nod when he gives his name, but the boy is more worried
about his cot.

Tasayli continues to laugh at the first two time-to-flight guesses. She
continues to giggle slightly, as she nods to the newly introduced Farone.
"Well met. I'm Tasa."

Farone finishes eating and gets up. "Gotta get going" he mutters.

Catching that confusion, Kassima attempts to clarify: "As a greenrider, I
have t'know interesting ways t'torment maleriders and men; besides, you
learn all sorts of interesting things about eyeballs when you're proddy."
Is she serious? Surely she's not serious. One corner of her mouth is
twitching upwards, but she hides it with a timely sip of milk and a quick
duck of her head to murmur some nonsense or other to her child. "Kassima,
green Lysseth's," she offers to Farone in response, with an amiable nod.
"Pleasure and all that--and clear skies t'you, if'n you're going. G'luck
with the work-search, hey?"

Farone inclines his head. "Thanks for having me.. D'you know anyone at the
hold that I can talk to?"

Just because that's where his mind is, Rahlan's farewel to Farone is,
"Right. Watch after your cot, if ya have a good one." Kassima gets a
nervous look at all this eyeball and torment stuff. "That's what
greenriders do when they're proddy? And eyeballs?" Though he's not specific
about what he's thinking, it brings a rather horrified expression to his face.

Tasayli shakes her head to Farone's question. "Don't know many folk down
there, nope. Was nice to meet you."

"At Telgar Hold?" Kassi chews over this question for a moment. "'Twould nay
really recommend Lord Telgar; he probably has his hands full complaining
about dragonriders t'someone, but the Headwoman or Steward there should be
able t'set you up with something. Take care on the road if'n you go that
route; if'n 'twere you, I'd wait until the morrow and then ask a rider
t'run you over, if'n you haven't much in the way of luggage." Rahlan gets a
sweet, sweet smile. "Torment maleriders? A'course! Well... some of us do.
The others try and sleep with 'em. But me, I go for torment. The eyeballs
have always been fish eyeballs or tunnelsnake eyeballs in my case, but
there was a rumor once about another rider I knew...."

Farone offers Rahlan a crooked grin. He nods to Tara. His chair slides back
as he gets to his feet. "Thanks again. I'll heed your advice about talking
to the stewart.. Though I think I'd like to walk. Goodbye."

Farone walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Rahlan shudders at Kassima's last words. He slowly pushes his plate away.
"I don't think I'm very hungry anymore..." And he only ate half of it.
"Maybe I should go to bed. Give the food time to work on the poison..." He
empties his pockets of most of the sweets, leaving a few remaining with a
muttered, "Never know when they might come in handy..."

Kassima looks pleased with herself. Was this her plan all along? To ensure
no one could blame her for Rahlan eating himself sick by making him lose
his appetite? Was it all a great feminine conspiracy? It's a mystery for
the ages! "Good idea, Rahlan," she agrees with a nod. "Good luck! 'Twill
root for you in the battle!" ...Of course, given the way she stealthily
filches a few of the abandoned sweets to stuff into her *own* belt pouch as
soon as he's gone, it might have all been a scheme towards another end
entirely.

Rahlan heads off towards the inner cavern.

Tasayli's pretty quick to snatch a couple of the sweets, herself, as she
gets up. "Bathtime," she gives as explanation. "At least it'll be one place
I won't run into Terlos. G'night, EvilAuntKassi."

Tasayli walks towards the inner cavern.

Just as Kassi finishes stowing sweets away in her pouch, there's a thin,
sharp wail from Kaisan, announcing that he's had *enough* of this behaving
nonsense and wants to be fed, and changed, and fussed over! Now! Kassi
shows some haste in getting up, and little wonder--that child is *loud*.
"Sounds like a plan," she says to Tasa over Kai's cries. "G'luck, and
g'night, and... all right, we're going! Shhh, love, we'll get you tended
to--" And she flees, at a pace just barely short of a run.

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.