-------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Torment and Burden, In Sickness and In Spawn.... Date: January 23, 2001 Places: Telgar Weyr Skyspace; South Boll's Skyspace, Gather Beach, and Lava Lounge 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: At long last, Kassi takes Leya and T'kar on their belated Wing inductions at South Boll and the Lava Lounge--and while there, she throws a fancy knot at T'kar once the vine swing has addled his brain enough for him to take it. ;) This is a relatively short, cute sort of log, without any dancing on bars but still with fun and Wing companionship aplenty. :) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Log: You spring from Lysseth's ledge with one downsweep of your wings, soaring into the sky above the Northern Bowl. The rim of the bowl falls away from you and you soar into the open skies. <*> Tovith flies up from the northern half of the bowl. <*> Fasolth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! <*> From the South, From the Telgar Star Stones, L'klal's burnished bronze Pteynth rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to brown Fasolth and his rider, T'kar, welcoming them home. <*> Cariath flies up from the southern half of the bowl. <*> Lysseth trumpets brightly to both of her Wingmates and Cariath for good measure, flying in one long, almost lazy circle before stabilizing and blinking *between*. <*> Lysseth disappears into Between. Between You gasp as the icy black nothingness of Between surrounds you! You hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing. The trip takes five heartbeats... Black... Blacker... Blackest! You suddenly emerge... <*> Lysseth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! TGW-Bowl>> Above, Fasolth returns, circling quickly to Tovith and Lysseth. On his neck, T'kar appears to be a bit sandy and wet around the legs. "Greetings everyone..." Lysseth> Tovith and Fasolth sense that Lysseth decides in good humor, cool and clear as sapphire water, << I do not think I want to know why your rider's legs are wet, Fasolth. >> <*> Fasolth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! <*> Tovith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! You wing down onto the gather beach. <*> Tovith backwings to a landing. You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles, cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully. Dragon> Lysseth and Tovith sense that Fasolth replies, matter-of-factly, << We have just been swimming. At the island. >> He doesn't bother to specify which. Fasolth backwings to a landing. T'kar slides carefully off of Fasolth's neck. Dragon> Tovith bespoke Lysseth and Fasolth with << An island? >> He flashes an image of the waters in front of them. << Did it look like here? >> Leya slides down off of Tovith, her feet landing on the ground with a soft *thump*. "Shardit," Kassi mutters upon hitting the ground, already reaching for the fastenings of her jacket. "I always forget how *hot* this place is... you're sure you don't mind leaving sunny Shipfish, T'kar?" Lysseth is already sprawling herself out in the sand with an undignified glee; here in her favorite place, she can take on the mannerisms of a younger dragon without feeling too silly about them. Dragon> Lysseth and Tovith sense that Fasolth thinks on that. << It did, somewhat. It was like this... >> His image is recognizable as Shipfish Island's beach. Lysseth> Tovith and Fasolth sense that Lysseth assures with blithe delight, mindvoice prickling with specks of sand just as the sand prickles her hide, << No place is as glorious as this--though *Shipfish* does come close. It is so *warm* here. >> T'kar had only loosely thrown on his jacket and helmet. His feet are bare and carry sand from another beach, along with a little dampness. "Oh, it's not a worry. Wing comes before free time." He grins widely. Fasolth explores his second shallows for the day, nosing around and stirring up sand into the clear waters. Leya looks around for a few moments, the heat taking a little while to sink in after the cold of *between* and the interest of seeing a unusual place. She then blinks, "It /is/ hot here." She pulls off her gloves, then her jacket. "But very pretty." Tovith waits impatiently for Leya to remove his straps and once she's done that he's immediately off landing with a great *splash* into the water. "Hopefully this won't be *too* much of a chore," Kassi replies with dry humor, tossing gloves, jacket, helmet, boots onto the sand and bending to roll up the cuffs of her pants. "Though I am sorry I left it so long! Both of you should've been here long since... *have* either of you been to the Lounge a'fore?" Dragon> Lysseth and Fasolth sense that Tovith replies, his mindvoice's usual rich autumn inwoven with a spreading delta of aqua blue water. << Warm water. Lots of warm Water. >> Are his only words so filled with ecstatic happiness that they're enough. Lysseth> Tovith and Fasolth sense that Lysseth's thoughts trill with open laughter, giving no words, but only a familiar and lovingly careworn joy. T'kar shakes his head. "I've been to this beach, but nowhere else. I have heard stories, though." He continues to grin while Fasolth shoots an amused look at his fellow brown. Dragon> Fasolth bespoke Lysseth and Tovith with << I believe I have been here before. My rider says so, but I don't remember it well. It is a nice place. >> Leya pauses in rolling up her own pants, tilting her head to one side as she thinks. "You know what? I don't think I have." She places both hands on her thighs so she can look around with straightening back up. "I think I might've come here once as a woodcraft apprentice, but I believe that it. And I've certainly never been to the Lava Lounge." She grins widely, "I'd've remembered /that./" Kassima finishes rolling cuffs and sleeves and sets her hands on her hips, grinning herself. "As well you should've. The things that've been done on this beach...." She shakes her head in amazement that may not be entirely feigned. "Well, this is your induction ceremony, you two--though there's nay much *ceremony* as such. Mostly just an excuse t'get drunk and for me t'get blackmail on you for later purposes." A flutter of eyelashes accompanies that statement. "So which would you rather? Straight on to the Lounge, or would you rather be taking a swing or two on the vine a'fore we get down t'drinking?" T'kar winces a bit. "I don't really do a lot of drinking. I'm more here for the companionship, if that's all right. Not that I won't have a few drinks." He chuckles lightly with another grin. Fasolth meanwhile spouts water at a seemingly unsuspecting Tovith. Leya looks around, grins at Tovith splashing around in the water and scaring all the first, then turns back to Kassi. "How about we try out the vine? I've never been vine swinging before, so how about we do that first." "Sounds like a plan t'me," Kassi agrees, amiable. She abandons the side of her sprawled, basking, sun-blissed lifemate to stride towards the path leading up to the vine, her feet leaving imprints in the sand. "Should I show you how 'tis done first? And then you can try--and don't worry too much about the drinking, T'kar; 'tis *traditional* t'get drunk," she adds with a maudlin sigh followed swiftly by a wink, "but we'll make the most of it." T'kar looks over towards the alleged vine curiously. Fasolth looks up as well, then turning a mischievous eye on Lysseth as the riders move away. "Right, we'll see." Grin. Leya kicks her outer clothes and Tovith's straps over to lay in a pile next a strangely shaped rock so she'll be able to find them later. "You show us first, O Illustrious 'Leader, then we will try our dutiful best do as well," she answers with a grin. She doesn't say anything about the drunkeness part, at least not yet. Kassima dips in a low bow to both of her Wingmates. "Your wish is m'command," she quips, and sets to ridding herself of all her knives first. This takes a moment. When finished, she intones, "Now, watch very carefully, and do as I do." She turns to face the vine... and stoops for a handful of sand, which she proceeds to sprinkle over her own head. "In the name of Slithereth, greenriders, Rivalla, and the all-important lucky sand, for the honor of Benden and Telgar, long may they reign in corrupt evilness, I claim this vine in the name of lunacy!" And awaaaaay she goes. Lyss doesn't even raise her head, oblivious beach bum that she is. Kassima runs to the vine, leaps up, grasping the vine and sweeps out majestically out over the sparkling waters! However, upon seeing the distance down to that water, hands tighten and refuse to release the vine. After several minutes of swinging back and forth, two drudges appear with a set of crowbars to release the terrified diver. Kassima gets dumped into the foam by the action of the crowbars, and a loud ker-splash combined with a lot of yelling ensues. When she resurfaces, it's with a terrified spiderclaw caught in her hair and a piece of seaweed draped over her shoulder. "That," she coughs as she wades for shore, "was just a demonstration of what *nay* t'do." You wade towards the shore. T'kar scratches his head. "Umm...haven't done this in a while, Kassi? I mean, there's obviously something wrong with the vine. Are you sure it's safe?" Brown eyes sparkle with merry amusement. Leya covers her widely grinning mouth with one hand, though her eyes that sparkle with merriment betray here. "Oh, that's good. Because I really don't want to have to be pried off the vine with crow bars," she chokes out. She carefully schools her expression back to something that might resemble seriousness if you were partially blind. "Umm, are you going to try again? To show what we *should* do?" Kassima gives T'kar an eye just brimming with evilness, and plucks the poor spiderclaw from her head to lob it in his general direction. Far enough off the mark to probably miss, though. "Been a few Turns," she admits rather sheepishly. "Just a few. But 'tis safe as ever 'twas, and I don't think anyone's died on it yet." After blowing a cheerful raspberry to both brownriders, she eyes the treacherous vine. "Well, if'n you think I *should*... or you're perfectly welcome t'try your hand first." T'kar shrugs cheerfully. "I'll do it," he offers with a reckless grin, eyeing the faintly twitching vine. Leya eyes the vine warily, squeezing the damp sand between the toes of her bare feet. "Do you have to do the sand sprinkling thing first?" She glances down at the sand, then back at the vine, "What does it do?" Kassima bows again, lower this time. "Be m'guest," she invites, and steps back to watch with anticipation. This should be good. "The sand's good luck," she confides. "Or 'tis supposed t'be. Mayhaps the vine is just afraid of people crazy enough t'pour sand on themselves." T'kar takes a handful of sand, eyeing it for a moment before he sprinkles it lightly over his head. "Uh...for luck and the hope that you two won't have to inform my weyrmate of any bad news." He winks amiably and gets a running start, trying to at least begin pretty much as Kassima did. T'kar backs up and runs at the vine, trips and falls flat on the face at the edge of the cliff before tumbling head-over-heels into the waters. Leya gasps and winces, then runs over to the edge and looks over, "T'kar! Are you alright?" Kassima claps a hand over her mouth hurriedly to keep from laughing aloud, though her eyes sparkle a suspiciously bright green. "That wouldn't work, T'kar," she calls out to him. "Since that hope's invalid--I do have bad news for your weyrmate. Besides, you forgot t'do the *sand dance*. And so did I! That's why we crashed!" She's less concerned, probably from seeing other people do just this thing before, but she does trot over to peer towards the place where he landed. "You're still in one piece, I hope?" From the shallow waters, T'kar splutters a bit of water, but tosses his head with a laugh. Fasolth doesn't seem too worried either, so he must be fine. "Ah...sand dance? I did a little air dancing..." A few quick strokes and he's back to the shore, making his way up the hot sands towards his friends. T'kar steps onto the sands. Leya looks relieved that T'kar's not hurt, then looks at Kassi, "Sand dance? Well, I guess I'll try now..." She steps back, looks with uncertainty at the vine, then bends over and picks up some sand which she then sprinkles over her head. "In the name of, ah, Slithereth, brown riders, and uh, the sand, and Telgar, I wing on this vine." While she's doing this, she's shuffling her vine in manner that some weird cross of dancing and nervousness. Leya grabs the vine, swings out and does four spectacular somersaults, but forgets to let go! The vine becomes twisted about an ankle for a moment before slipping free! All you see is an incredibly huge splash. *CANNONBALL* Kassima doesn't bother to repress chortling now that she can see that T'kar is fine. "And right graceful 'twas, too," she teases. "Or close enough! Oh, good show, Leya!" she then yells, jumping up and down a few times for good measure. "Way t'go! Wooooo!" Tovith wanders out into the water and the waves curl around his feet. Leya steps onto the sands. Leya comes back out of the water, sputtering and shaking her hair out of her eyes. She swims back to shore, grinning. "That was fun," she states, wiping a few last strands from in front of her eyes. T'kar grins. "This is the most dangerous vine I've ever seen...but yeah, pretty good, Leya. So, it's all in the dance, eh?" He glances over at Kassi as though he's thinking about tackling her, but just chuckles and gestures. "Your turn again, my dear Wingleader..." Telgar Weyr> M'rgan howdies. Telgar Weyr> Laidan waves to Talisha g'night then waves to M'rgan hello. Telgar Weyr> Kichevio waves to Tali and Mart. :) "All right, all right," Kassi sighs, pretending resignation. "I'll probably break m'neck and stick poor Leya here with the Wing, but... oh, but 'twas almost forgetting." She digs around in her pocket; her hand is curled around something when it reemerges, and she extends her fist to T'kar. "Will you hold this for me while I swing? Wouldn't want it t'be getting damaged." Telgar Weyr> Leya snugs M'rgan. :) Telgar Weyr> Kassima zhaiwaffles to Talisha, and snugs the brownie. :) Telgar Weyr> Tarlo snugs the Tali and Mad Mart. Telgar Weyr> I'sai suddenly thinks of the Thunderdome. Telgar Weyr> Tarlo was actually thinking Willow...Mad Martigan. Telgar Weyr> K'ran nominates Kassima to be Tina Turner. Telgar Weyr> Aisling snugs a M'rgan ;) Telgar Weyr> Kassima oohs. I have this sudden impulse to start singing 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' Telgar Weyr> M'rgan cries out, "Bust a deal and face the wheel." T'kar reaches out, amiable expression still lighting his face. "Sure, what's that?" Telgar Weyr> T'kar backs up, "Got to do with it, got to do with it..." Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Now all we need is a bald midget with a funny costume." Telgar Weyr> Tarlo wants to be one of those feral looking kids. Leya folds her arms over her chest and pretends to glower at Kassi, "Don't you dare." She then grins, "Besides, you said you didn't think that anyone had died on it before. I don't think you'll be the first." She expression turn inquisitive as Kassi hands something to T'kar, leaning over to peer. Kassima, to answer, uncurls her fingers one by one to let the object drop into T'kar's hand: a Wingsecond's knot, braided in white, black, and brown, just slightly damp from being subjected to that earlier dive. "The real reason 'twas clinging to the vine," she explains cheerfully. "I'd forgotten this was in m'pocket--but methinks it survived intact. We'll just have t'get you a dryer one later, if'n you want." Leya gets a wink. "Don't put it past me. I always wanted t'die in an original fashion." Telgar Weyr> Kichevio will take Mel Gibson if no one else lays claim. ;) T'kar cocks his head slightly, letting the knot drop into his hand while he runs a hand through his damp brown hair, which helpfully sticks out all around. "Oh. You wanted me to wear this, then, not just hold it? I could just hold it if you want." Bright teeth are displayed in a big grin as he alternately eyes the knot, Kassima, Leya, and Fasolth. Leya's eyebrows raise and she grins at T'kar as she recognizes the knot as she wears an identical one. She opens her mouth to congratulate T'kar, but stops as Kassi responds. "But not today." She says to Kassi, "You die in an amazingly original way when you're one hundred and ten turns old and not before then." "Well, you *could* hold it," Kassi drawls, "but 'twould make things awkward, always having one hand full. I'm thinking wearing it might be better. Unless you don't have a shirt on, because then the pin would probably hurt." No kidding. Straightening up, she asks in her best and most crisp Wingleader Tones, "T'kar, brown Fasolth's rider, will you do Thunderbolt and its Wingleader the honor of serving as my Wingsecond, t'torment and burden, in sickness and in spawn, until your eyes start bleeding from reading all that chicken-scratch hidework and you go stark raving mad?" In an amused aside to Leya, "Aye, Mum. Whatever you say." T'kar tosses off a salute, formal but with a relaxed air that suits the moment fairly well. "Wingleader Kassima. If you accept Wingseconds that are already stark raving mad, for a brownrider at least, then you've got yourself a deal." He does seem to be wearing a shirt, though it is thin and white and he has unbuttoned it all the way down. Ocean water currently plasters the whole deal to his shoulders pretty well. "And though I've got this shirt, I think I'll have to wait." Name Sex Position Status Idle Q ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Aisling (F) Greenrider Not all that it seems 8s * Alessandra (F) Greenrider IChooseToCelebrateThFirst 31s * I'sai (M) Wingsecond YouSunkMyBattleship! 39s * Jehran (M) IGW Steward Look! A cookie! 10m - * Jorenan (M) MasterBaker 43s - * K'ran (M) Weyrling 9m * Kassima (F) Wingleader WouldYouCouldYou4TheTree? 0s * Kichevio (F) Greenrider Let The Evil Begin! 1m * Laidan (F) Weyrling I've got the Blues. 2m * Leya (F) Wingsecond Only a leaf on Yggdrasil 2s * Ofira (F) MasterBaker Eating Dessert First 1m - * T'kar (M) Wingsecond We shall punish you! 1m * Tarlo (F) Weyrling 1stIWasAfraidIWasPtrified 2m ------------------------------- ( 13 players ) ------------------------------- Telgar Weyr> Kassima takes a moment to congratulate T'kar, Thunderbolt's latest masochi--err, Wingsecond. ;) Telgar Weyr> I'sai congratulates. ;) Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Kassima, this game is evil." Telgar Weyr> Aisling yays! Congratulations. hey, I -warned- you. Telgar Weyr> Kassima chortles in delight. Yes. Yes, it is. Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "But Tbolt is eviler yet. ;)" Telgar Weyr> K'ran does take a minute to cheer for his mentor, though. Telgar Weyr> Kichevio yays for T'kar! :) Telgar Weyr> Alessandra says, "YAY, T'KAR!" Telgar Weyr> Tarlo bouncies and snugs the new W2nd! Telgar Weyr> T'kar beams. "I'd like to dedicate this award to the disturbingly salt-flavored green and orange jello I had at the Chinese buffet tonight." Telgar Weyr> Aisling eeeuws. Telgar Weyr> Alessandra says, "what /is/ it with Chinese buffets and jello?" Leya mutters under her breath, "At least he didn't get scared have to be scared to death..." She grins as Kassi recites the Wingsecond privileges and obliges Kassi with a few twitches toward at the end of it. She then grins at Kassi, "And be sure to eat your greens and wash behind your ears." Telgar Weyr> T'kar decided to stick with rice, sushi, and things with identifiable meats and vegetables. "I wouldn't recommend Chinese squid or snow crab legs (which I pitifully tried to crack with my bare hands), either. I'm sure they're usually good, but not in an all-you-can-eat format. And definitely don't approach the tapioca." Kassima's salute is fully formal, but her grin is anything but. "All *right* then. That takes care of that--and don't be worrying; you can save it until you can properly show it off t'Meri, hey?" She winks, then drops all pretense at formality to crouch for more sand. "And now that business is done... in the name of kilts and Emasculators, of Martina the Great and her pretty blue dress, for Slithereth's honor and greenriders' and Wingseconds' and Wingleaders' and bovines' for good measure, I command you t'swing me, O vine!" Before running for it, though, she does a disturbed jig of sorts, braid bouncing and sand flying. This woman is weird. "As you wiiiiiiiiish!" she yells in reply to Leya as she makes her dash for the Amazing Vine O' Death. Kassima grabs the vine, swings out, releases it before slicing cleanly into the water. From the beach, Leya sticks her tongues out at Kassi's back as she dashes off, then laughs and claps as Kassi exhibits perfectly the *right* way to use the vine, at least this time. "Great job, Kassi! That was wonderful!" "I've done better," Kassi says modestly once she's finished spitting out water, wiping out her eyes, and such. "But thankee, thankee." She first swims, then wades back to shore, her clothes now thoroughly waterlogged. You wade towards the shore. T'kar laughs. "Fine then. I'll do that." Setting aside the knot for now, he scoops a liberal amount of sand over his head, shakes his rump a little and does a cartwheel, adding, "In the name of M'kla Klah, babies, browns, Thunderbolt Wing and my ego, give me a better jump here! I'm coming down!" As soon as Kassi has cleared the way, he sprints off. T'kar grabs the vine and dives simply into the water, rippling the water only slightly. T'kar steps onto the sands. "Wooooooooooooooooooooo-hoo!" Kassi yells for her new Wingsecond as he dives, making a big show of waving her arms and pumping one fist in the air much like A'rsenio might. "Woo! Woo! Woo! Go, T'kar! And go, Klah!" Leya laughs aloud at T'kar invocation of the lucky sand, then claps as well at his smooth dive. "Much better, T'kar!" she calls out. She simply stands for a few moment before pausing, "Oh! It's my turn now." She smiles sheepishly as she bends up and scoots up some sand which she dumps over her head, sticking to her hair and sliding down her face as she closes her eyes and does some weird high kicking dance that might be the odd cousin of the can-can. "In the name of browns, knives, Wingleader, Wingsecond, and non-proddy greenriders let me swing thee with sucess." She then races toward the vine, laughing as she runs. Leya backs up and runs at the vine, trips and falls flat on the face at the edge of the cliff before tumbling head-over-heels into the waters. Telgar Weyr> K'ran grumbles. I hate writing web pages. Leya steps onto the sands. Telgar Weyr> Kassima does, too. So don't ask me why I have so many. Leya pouts, squeezing the water from her waterlogged shirt, "The dance didn't work this time and I thought it was a better dance too." Telgar Weyr> K'ran has such a lousy sense for graphic design. Dammit, Jim, I'm a software engineer, not an artist. Telgar Weyr> Tarlo hees! I suck at HTML... Telgar Weyr> T'kar is a tired fellow, whatever Jim wants to say. "Gotta get going pretty soon here..." Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "K'ran, use linkware, that's what I do. Moyra has some really nice ones." Telgar Weyr> Kassima snugs T'kar. Thanks for coming, even if we didn't get you drunk. Maybe on Thursday. ;) Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Linkware?" Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "What is this strange thing you say?" Telgar Weyr> T'kar nods and grins. "Thank you, Kassi!!" Kassima cracks up at the dance. She can't help it. She falls backwards on her rear end, laughing and holding onto her sides. "Beautiful, Leya!" she calls. "Beautiful! Clearly, 'twas an interpretive midair dance of some sort. Kudos, kudos!" Telgar Weyr> Aisling says, "You can use design sets. I use them alot on my pages." Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Pre-designed webpage graphics. I believe it Moyra.com, though I do like Fullmoongraphics.com too." Telgar Weyr> Aisling says, "There are -tons- of places out there." Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Much like shareware, but for a 'licensing fee,' you link back to their site." Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Ah." T'kar laughs heartily, shaking his head with amusement before he carefully picks up his knot, brushing it off. "Well, if you don't mind, I'll get back and show Meri, then get to sleep. But I owe you a trip to the Lava Lounge!" Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Yeah, but you have to be careful, most places stuff is rather tacky looking." Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "And takes forever to download, if they're big." Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Really? None of the ones I've downloaded took long." Telgar Weyr> Aisling says, "Same here." Telgar Weyr> Aisling prefers simple and clean designs. Leya smirks, "Of course. I meant to fall off the cliff like that." She then grins at T'kar, "All right. See you later, T'kar. Have fun showing off your new knot." "'Twill hold you to that," Kassi warns, waggling a finger. "And 'twill make you pay for *all* m'drinks. You'll be broke in minutes." Clearly, she's kidding, and probably a good thing too. "M'regards t'that weyrmate of yours, as ever, and clear skies t'you and Fasolth." Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "That's what you get for not downloading the monstrosities. ;)" Telgar Weyr> Kassima admits that she loves those web sets, but almost invariably pieces together her own graphics when she uses them. Which is why Kassi's page isn't as elegant as Aisling's. ;) Telgar Weyr> Alessandra is a connsumate graphics packrat. Adobe Photoshop is my best friend. Telgar Weyr> K'ran debates just blowing off the whole graphics thing and going raw text. Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "I love Photoshop (even if I only have the LE version). I used to it to doctor one of my wallpaper pics just yesterday. :)" T'kar grins. "Have fun, you too. Clear skies!" T'kar hoists himself up to Fasolth's neck. Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "No... Raw text is /boring./" Telgar Weyr> I'sai'd rather see raw text and sooner, in most cases. <g> It can always be prettied up later. What's LE? Fasolth bugles cheerily right at Lysseth just before he leaves, hoping to stir up some crankiness. A more innocent bugle is sounded for Tovith before he flashes away. Fasolth hunches down before launching up into the skies, with powerful strokes. Telgar Weyr> Aisling says, "You can add some simple bars and with a nice background, it looks nice." Telgar Weyr> T'kar says, "Night!" Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "There's plenty to be said for raw text. Depends some on what you're doing, but if there's a lot to read, it can be much nicer." Telgar Weyr> Aisling nodsnods. I prefer logs in raw text. Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "LE is Limited Edition. It's the pared down version of Photoshop. Only around $90 instead of around $500." Lysseth is entirely too good-natured to be cranky, though; instead, she bugles right back, wriggling her tail once for good measure. "Shameless sun-beast," Kassi calls over her shoulder to the green. "That was fun. I'm hoping this'll make things easier on you, Leya--I know you've probably had more hidework than you should, and gotten stuck with drills too oft." Telgar Weyr> Aisling grins at Kassima, Thank you ;) Telgar Weyr> Leya says, "Yeah, logs are better as raw text." Telgar Weyr> Kassima *nods* to Ais. Logs and graphics don't mix to me. And stuff like the Encyc--I used some graphics, but I didn't use many. Telgar Weyr> Aisling says, "Ais' main page doesn't have alot. The background, the title graphic, some buttons and lines." Tovith bugles happily back to Fasolth from where he's lurking in the water. He's covered in seaweed and is pretending to be a vicious water beast from the deep. Leya just grins. "Yes, you look very scary, Tovith," she murmurs. "Oh, it hasn't been too bad, really. It'll be nice to have another person to pass off the hidework and drills to though," she answers. "Absolutely terrifying," Kassi solemnly agrees. "'Twill be awhile a'fore he's ready t'head drills, but I do feel better knowing there's another 'second. I always think, 'What if'n 'twere both pregnant or something?' At least he can't get pregnant." Ostensibly. Looking towards the jungle, she wonders, "Should we on to the Lounge, d'you think? Or would you rather keep swinging?" Leya nods as she finishes wringing the water from the hem of her tunic, "Well, you shouldn't have to worry too much about me getting pregnant, unless Tovith wins a male greenriders flight or something it doesn't look like something likely to happen." Now that she has nicely jinxed herself, she continues. "I think I've had enough swinging for today." She looks down at her soaking wet self, "Do they mind if you come in dripping water?" Kassima looks down at her own rather soaked garments, and wiggles her bare toes in the sand. "I suspect they're used to it. Let me just snag something--" She trots to Lysseth's side, and unhooks a large wicker basket of the picnic-carrying variety from her straps; this, she carries back. "For Alessi," she explains. "So we can bring food t'her and give her a bit of celebration, too. Anyway, never say never--it *could* happen, or you could just end up drinking after a greenflight like with M'kon." Leya grins, "I suppose they would be, what with all this water nearby." She watches Kassi unhook the basket and smiles at her explaination, "That's a great idea!" though she wrinkles her nose at the end part. "I dunno, I threw a pair of gloves at K'ran after your greenflight." "You did?" Kassi sounds altogether too amused by that. "He deserved t'have *something* thrown at him, if'n m'memory's even half accurate. And thankee--but we'll have t'get a bite t'eat ourselves, too; I don't know about yours, but m'stomach's nigh ready t'throttle me! Shall we go?" Leya nods, if rather sheepishly, "I did, I at least remember that. I don't quite remember what he said to make me throw them at him though. I just remember it made me mad enough to throw those gloves at him." She grins, "Right now, my stomach's just giving me warning, though I think if I wait much longer it's going to start to protest. So, let's get going." Kassima chuckles wryly, shaking her head. "Something out of line, nay doubt--but after a flight, well... most things can be excused. Just wait until you try the lemon chicken!" she adds, switching to the other subject as she makes for the jungles. You wander up the jungle path. You push aside some creepers and enter a hidden cave. You climb up the crude ladder and disappear from view. Leya climbs up from the caves below. "Ahoy, Marcus!" Kassi greets brightly as she finishes her climb, heading immediately for the bar. "Don't just stand there, man--I'll start with a Green Dragon tonight. And the lemon chicken and rivergrains, if'n you please, and a few whimry sandwiches t'go, and...." She descends to a low murmur to make her orders for Alessi's basket, but pauses to suggest over her shoulder, "If'n you've never drank aught exotic, y'might start with the Green or Blue Dragons, Leya--they're about as mild as 'tis getting here." Leya looks around as she walks in, pausing by one of the walls to read some of what's written on it before following Kassi to the bar. "I've only drunk wine before, and non-alcoholic things, of course. Do they have Brown Dragons? And what they like?" Kassima confirms as she settles into a seat, "They do, aye... but you're nay wanting one. The ingrediants are beyond vile." Marcus gives her a dirty look for this; she ignores it. "You can try it if'n you like--they don't taste that badly if'n I remember right--but don't say 'twasn't warning you." Leya frowns as she also sits down, occupying the seat next to Kassi. "Why would it be worse than the ingrediants of a Green or a Blue Dragon?" she asks, somewhat peevishly. She doesn't wait for answer and looking up at Marcus, says, "I'd like a /Brown/ Dragon and the Lemon Chicken, please." Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth glints into view, his mental aspect kept spare at such late an hour; << Lysseth, do you sleep? >> "'Tis involving ground-up insects," Kassi mutters, but sufficently quietly that she might not be heard. "Nay insects in the *Green*... but your funeral service, 'twill be." When her own food and drink are set in front of her, she picks up her fork, but hesitates in taking a bite long enough to inhale the citrusy scent. "This stuff is *wonderful*. T'lar once timed it just t'bring some t'Meli and me--have you ever had chicken, Leya?" Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth's mind is a lazy thing, brimming with the memory of sun, the warmth of the sand, the washing of water--but alert yet; she answers in wavecap foam. << Not quite, Taralyth. Not quite. And you do not either. >> Marcus pours Leya a mug of Brown Dragon. Marcus hands Leya the drink. Marcus smiles and pours a drink. Marcus hands Kassima a glass of Green Dragon. Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth shares rather than hides his amusement, reply no less genuine for it; << Indeed I am not, >> and for her warmth trades that of his time-smoothed ledge and a weyr quite large enough for even two such as they; << Nioth dreams of fish, but we three are yet awake. >> Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth echoes amusement for amusement, mirth for mirth, though the drowse of jungle warmth keeps her laughter quiet. << Yourself, >> she guesses, << and your rider--and Nioth's? >> Leya darts a quick, wary glance at Kassi's mutters, apparently she caught some of it, but she either decides to ignore it or she didn't hear the insect part. Leya spears a bite of her lemon chicken "Really? He timed it just to get this?" she says sounding impressed and incredulous at the same time. "And no, I don't think I have." She then eats her bite of chicken, her eyebrows raising. "Hey, this is good," she says after swallowing. Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth must defer to her keen perception yet again, he assures, along with the mild scent of sawdust among that - faint to human senses, more readily perceptible to draconic - of hide-oil and leather; the crunch of eating; the rumble and ring of laughter. Kassima explains, sheepishness creeping into her voice, "Meli and I were both pregnant by him at the time, and Meli decided she had a craving, so... well, he wanted t'satisfy her quickly. Nay a *bright* move, but certes generous." She sets to her own repast with enthusiasm, pausing to savor the bites. "Much less gamey than wherry, I always think. A shame 'tis too rare t'be having it often, or 'twould probably be m'favorite food." Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth affects modesty, draping its grey veil across her thoughts for a brief moment before it dissolves; no such sensations does she have to share, but she can offer the parallel of rider's experience: sea wind and the odd heaviness of plants, an overlay of flowers, and--chicken. Chicken with lemon, all topped by mild, sweet drink, and with no crunch at all. Some thoughtful soul has removed the bones. Leya's eyes widen and a smile creeps up the side of her face, "Yes, very sweet, I just hope he didn't get into to much trouble for it." She eats some more of the chicken, "It certainly very good." She eyes her Brown Dragon suspiciously then takes a small sip. She slowly nods, "Not bad..." Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth doesn't seek to pierce such a veil, not with its being so swiftly removed; though he listens, at length, << What good is it, if it has no bones? >> Kassima teases, lifting her own glass, "Nay accounting for taste. Give me a Green Dragon any time--and give most males a Green Dragon anytime, at that." Now there's a thought to drink to. "Oh, his Wingleader... well, acting Wingleader... chewed him out something royal, and he was punished, you can wager. Timing's a dangerous thing t'be using for a frivolous purpose. But that didn't make it any less sweet." Her smile is reminiscent, and touched with sadness. "I still miss him." She takes a deeper draught. Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth demures, << Well, no good to you or I. >> There's still the memory, though fading, of blood's cupric tang and salty sweetness; the older memory, made strong through time, of rich red meat and the splintering of bone between teeth. << Good enough for her. It's soft and sweet, and there's nothing to choke on. >> Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth eats up the memory, and when it is gone: gravely, with some concern - this is Lysseth's rider, after all - << Does she choke so easily? >> Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth tingles an almost minty, starlit sensation of pleasure/gratitude for the concern. << Not so very easily, >> she assures. << She did not choke on the sea today. >> Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth's all of a sudden a bit blank - but hopeful, even trusting that she'll soon illuminate him: << Choke... on the sea? >> Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth is nothing if not illuminating, when she chooses to be: << Yes. >> Well, that's helpful. More helpful are the images she provides in clarification, of a run--a leap--a catch--a fall, letting go a vine to plummet towards the waiting ocean and be clasped by its arms. Salt water invading lungs is rather a less pleasant sense, but she shares that, too. And ends with the rasp of a breathless cough. << You see? >> Leya takes a bit larger sip of her drink and her eyes begin to water, but she quickly blinks away the extra moisture. "Yeah, I can imagine." She eyes Kassi's drink, then hers, then slowly takes another sip. Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth sends that on - to someone _else_ who chokes on the water he'd so bravely been drinking; << Oh. >> And then, << He has not done it. Says he will not do it. He says that about many things. >> Kassima watches Leya eyeing her drink, and is inspired by some imp of perversity to tip her head back, tip the glass back--and make the entire contents disappear down her throat in one toss. "Monsoon next, Marcus?" she asks hopefully, setting the glass neatly down. "You're doing well with the drinking," she encourages Leya. "Slow and steady's a good way t'start." Chuckling, Marcus shakes his head and pours Kassima a glass of Monsoon. Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth issues more laughter, waves crashing in the dark. << Is he not brave, then? >> she teases. << Less brave than mine? >> Or just more intelligent, though that goes unsaid. << He should. She thinks so. It is as close as humans can get to flight without our wings to help. >> Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth wonders, prismatic colors spinning that much more quickly at the thought, << But why would they want to? >> An image, then, of Lysseth gliding low over the ocean, her rider jumping off from her neck. Leya just...blinks as Kassi downs her entire drink at once. Her eyes slowly shrink back to their normal size as she finished chicken. She smiles weakly as Kassi, then taking a deep breath tries to take a decent sized drink of her Brown Dragon and nearly chokes but does manage to down it. Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth watches that spin with the enchantment of a small child, though she behaves herself and does not grab for the pretty bauble. << There is a certain rush, >> she intimates, << a certain freedom. Like when we fly without *them*, only--without the... other aspects. >> Amusement flickers at the image. Oh, good. Now her rider will probably want to *do* that. Kassima's grin is outright wicked, but she spares Leya's eyes--or perhaps her throat--and doesn't immediately repeat the trick. "Don't go too fast," she warns. "You'll make yourself sick if'n you're nay used to it." Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth glints an added glow her way; still - << 'Other aspects'? >> and there's the sense, faintly faded with the not-now, of _his_ flying, looping playful circles above the Star Stones while his rider puzzles over hides far below. Life is not all slouch and sun. Telgar Weyr> Kassima puts on 'What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?' Appropriate enough. ;) Telgar Weyr> K'nan chuckles.. everyone out getting drunk, eh? Telgar Weyr> I'sai says, "Them as didn't earlier, I'm guessing. ;)" Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "That's such a lovely old hymn, Kassima. And so few people actually *understand* it -- they think the captain's daughter really is, well, the captain's daughter. :)" Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth would envy thee, O fortunate, were it not for the lingering memory of wilder flight that hasn't yet--quite--faded; as it is, she can admire that glow, and be smug. << Well, >> she amends, << other aspects, if you do not fly without your rider save but at certain times. >> Telgar Weyr> Kassima is, slowly but surely, and doing her best to help Leya become likewise. As for Is, he's just scandalous. Drinking at the thought of having to put on fine clothing. ;) Oh, it isn't? I can't say I know much of the song's back story. :) Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "The captain's daughter is the cat-o-nine-tails. :)" Telgar Weyr> K'nan chuckles quietly.. Telgar Weyr> Kassima laughs! I like that. ;) Telgar Weyr> Bronwynn forgets how the song goes... Telgar Weyr> K'ran says, "Which gives the song a whole different dimension." Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth can gleam under that admiration, and be a little - yes - possessive even now; still, there's a grand ivory-toothed yawn to go with it, << ...I will tell him. >> Leya nods, coughing. She blinks, her eyes seeming to be somewhat reluctant to focus. "Yeah," she finally manages in a hoarse voice. The next drink she takes a small sip. Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth can be likewise feline-pleased at that possessiveness; turnabout is fair play, after all--but she has the grace to hide it, if not infallibly, beneath amused suggestion: << Perhaps you should sleep first, Taralyth. >> Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth might - might - _shall_... Kassima presses her mouth into a line to keep from laughing, and murmurs something to Marcus. He passes her a clean cloth, which she in turn passes to Leya. "For your eyes," she explains. "They're watering, y'know." Leya gratefully takes the cloth, smiling somewhat weakly and punchily at Kassi. "Thanks." She daps at her eyes, then takes another drink and immdediately has to put the cloth to use again. "It's pretty strong," she says in a husky tone of voice. Kassima agrees, kindly hiding any amusement, "Fairly so. You should go easy on that stuff--I know 'twas saying we'd get roaring drunk, but really, we shouldn't *both* get drunk if'n we want there t'be drills tomorrow." Leya nods, blinks, then quickly grabs at an excuse not to have to finish the drink. "Oh, that is true." She really does try to sigh like she very disappointed, but it's not very effective when she's eyeing her drink as if it were something that might jump out of the mug and attack her. "Maybe I shouldn't finish this. You know, so I'll be in better shape tomorrow." Kassima is really, really hard-pressed not to laugh now, but she manages to suppress it by downing the rest of her drink. In one gulp again, though this leaves *her* eyes streaming. "Fair enough. And since I want t'be sure Alessi gets her basket, I'd best head back m'self." She slides the appropriate marks over the counter, and reaches for the basket of goodies. Leya slides out of her seat a little too quickly and has to grab the bar for support. She pauses, gets her balance, then slowly lets go. She begins to carefully walk toward the exit, with only one glass back toward her half empty mug, looking a little too happy to be leaving it behind. Kassima follows her Wingsecond a bit solicitously, the better to make sure Leya doesn't fall down the ladder or anything like that. Her own steps are disgustingly steady. It's one advantage to being a long-time lush. Leya climbs down the crude ladder. You climb down the crude ladder. You step out into the jungle heat. You wander down the trail a ways and step out onto the beach. Tovith steps onto the sands. Kassima takes a moment to affix the basket of goodies to Lysseth's straps, then put her various leather accoutrements and such back on, before climbing aboard. You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly. You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered foreleg. Lysseth> Tovith senses that Lysseth asks, a bit sleepily, << Is your rider's visualization clear? >> <*> Tovith reluctantly climbs out of the water, shaking off the seaweed, and lets her climb aboard. <*> Leya uses Tovith's leg to climb up, then sits between his neckridges. Dragon> Lysseth senses that Tovith responds, if in somewhat sulky tones at having to leave. << Yes, though it took her long enough. >> Lysseth> Tovith senses that Lysseth accepts this, though concern runs through her sending in thin veins: << All right. But check it with the watchrider's if you're at all doubtful; that's what I'm doing now. >> A pause. << It seems to match. Back to the *cold*, then.... >> Yeah, she's thrilled. <*> Lysseth spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with a rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air. You hunch down before launching up, with powerful strokes. Dragon> Lysseth senses that Tovith sends his acceptance. << I'll do that.>> After few moments, he sends again. << The same. Guess I'd better follow. >> <*> Tovith wings up from the beach. <*> Lysseth disappears into Between.