--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Rather Colorful Turnday


Date:  March 26, 1998
Places:  Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern and Southern Bowl
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:  Every now and then, my friends do something that reminds
me why I adore them so.  This was one of those times. :)  Kassi's not
always in the habit of celebrating her Turnday at the Weyr, but now and
then, someone remembers... usually with very interesting results.  
Brandy, candy, pots of paint, hallucination, and rampant insanity 
combine in this log to make Kassi's twenty-sixth Turnday one she'll
never forget--no matter how much she may try!  Many thanks and snugs go
to Meli, Maylia, M'rgan, D'thon, and 'Lex, without whom my life would
probably be a lot less hysterical and a great deal more boring. :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Log:

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

Jayna considers a moment. "Well, just after we moved to Telgar, I suppose, 
sir. It was easier at Benden." She leans an elbow on the table and rests 
her chin on a fist, swirling her klah. "The hold was a lot closer. But 
I've seen my family here and there," she adds. "Oh, hello, Kassima," she 
smiles, with an idle wave.

"When the moons hit your eyes like two big Baker's pies," Kassima sings as 
she wafts into the room, a large stuffed-to-the-gills sack slung over one 
shoulder, "you're probably drun-kay... la la la, dee da da--oh, heya." She 
pauses in her attempt at musicality to wave to Jayna and salute Kiat as 
best she can while holding this giant sack. The effect is comical at best. 
"Jayna, sir. Seen Kindre about, by any chance?"

Jayna laughs and sits up. "No, can't say that I have. Sorry."

K'tyn and Jayna are chatting quietly; Kiat waves to yon greenrider as she 
enters, returning his gaze attentively at Jayna. "Everything was easier at 
Benden," he comments quietly, then nods at Kassi's question to him. "She 
was in the weyr, Kassi. Resting a bit."

Kassima smiles slightly at that, flumping her sack down onto the 
Thunderbolt table with a *foomph.* Whatever's in it must be soft. "Ach, 
sharditall. I've a gift for the two of you, sir--with your Turnday being a 
few days agone and all, and hers only a few months away--so don't think 
you're escaping the annual gifting, but I can't give it until you're both 
about. Feh. Just goes t'show, if'n I'm nay belated with something, the 
world will end." Heaving a melodramatic sigh, the greenrider waltzes off 
in the direction of food, still humming about giant moon-pies or some such 
nonsense. Good mood, or rampant insanity? You be the judge.

Jayna grins, watching Kassi. And listening to her.

Kerlyn walks in from the bowl.

K'tyn shakes his head, Kassi's manner ever confusing to him. "My Turn--
Kassi! You needn't do anything of the sort for either of us," he states in 
a vain attempt to head the greenrider off. "Better that you give things to 
those who need them." He blinks, frowning. "Not that I know anyone who is 
in need, really, but.." He laughs, then, recognizing the futility of his 
words as she heads off for sustenance, and in an aside to Jayna, says: 
"There are somethings that are just unstoppable. She's one, eh?" He 
winks.

Pierron twirls his moustache at the weyrlingmaster.

Jayna looks into her empty mug. "I know what my problem is. I just haven't 
had enough klah," she diagnoses, with a snap of her fingers. "Yes, sir, 
I'd say," she agrees with K'tyn, noticing Pierron's mustache-twirling as 
she stands and heads for the pot. "Oh, heya, ma'am," she says to Kerlyn.

"Weyrlingmaster," Kiat greets Kerlyn. "Good afternoon."

Kerlyn eyes Pierron balefully, not pausing for pleasantries as she makes 
her way to the serving tables, pouring herself a cider and putting 
together an improvised sandwich of thick stew and a roll. Balancing this 
on a plate, she works her way back to a table, "Afternoon." After a 
moment, she notices K'tyn, and adds a belated, "Afternoon Sir."

When Kassi returns, a light meal of ribs and her beloved cider in hand, 
she's humming something entirely different. "'Tis a beautiful day in this 
neighborhood, a beautiful day here at Telgar... well, all right, so 
beautiful might be overstating the case--but 'tis certes beautiful down 
home, this time of Turn. The lunatic fringe is as senseless as ever, and 
fortunately as prolific--two new ones born since last Turn, would you 
believe? Bloody lot spawn like fish. Evening, Weyrlingmaster." Shoving her 
sack out of the way, she plunks down her food and just grins at the 
Weyrleader. "Ah, but sir, are you nay friends? And since I got her an 
Emasculator last time, I owe you one--besides, 'tis already commissioned, 
paid for, made, and wrapped, so you're nay getting out of it now."

Telgar Weyr> Kassima reveals that she has secretly, all this time, been 
played by Mr. Rogers (who is in turn really William Shatner). Surprise!

[Editor's Note:  No, this is not actually true.  Just in case you were 
wondering. :) ]

Jayna deftly refills her mug and resettles to her seat near the bench, 
taking time to fold her message hide and tuck it away. Wouldn't do to 
spill klah on it; she might want to read it a fifty-first time. She 
chuckles at Kassi's new song, shaking her head.

Telgar Weyr> Maylia peers... you tossing slippers around, Kassi?

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Nope. Just singing 'It's a Beautiful Day In 
This Neighborhood.'"

K'tyn shakes his head at Kassi's ramble. "No one--" he amends, "No rider 
needs an emasculator." He shudders vaguely in dread. "That you got one 
for Kindre--What does that say? And, more importantly--Ah, never mind. 
Just, do me a small favor? Please, no more emasculators."

"*I* need an Emasculator," Kassima argues, grinning. "I need it to 
threaten Mart with, presuming that he lets me within a dragonlength of him 
after yestereve's incident. Really, that man goes spastic at the drop of a 
hat. I will promise nay t'get Kindre any more Emasculators, sir... if'n 
you insist." She holds up her hand as though in solemn oath.

Kerlyn may not be the most sociable bluerider in the weyr, but that 
doesn't mean she's above eavesdropping on those that do. One eyebrow 
arches up just slightly, and she pays her food dilligent attention. The 
few words she has picked up are more than enough to let her know she 
doesn't want, or need, to hear this.

K'tyn nods. "Good. That's settled then." He sounds hopeful, though his 
expression says he'll be grateful to somehow 'lose' the one that Kindre 
has already. "Say, Jayna. Still feeling left out of things?" He grins. "I 
think I have an idea to fix that."

Jayna grins. "Uh-oh," she says, resting her klah on the table. "What might 
that be, sir? Does it involve...uh...emasculators?"

Kassima just smiles sweetly at the Weyrleader. She may have promised not 
to give Kindre another one herself, directly, but... there's more than one 
way to skin a wherry. Picking up a rib, she wonders, "Feeling left out of 
things, Jayna?"

K'tyn just looks at Jayna for a long moment. "No, it does not. I was going 
to suggest that you invite your family here, actually."

Jayna flushes, absorbed in her klah for a moment. She looks up at Kassi. 
"Well, not out of things here, so much, Kassi, but a bit out of touch with 
my family back at the hold." She clears her throat. "Uh...I'm sorry sir," 
she apologizes. She flushes a bit more, but smiles despite her red face. 
"Sir, that sounds like a wonderful idea, if I may?" she says.

K'tyn nods. "Certainly. And, if you ask well enough in advance, I might be 
able to have them brought in on dragonwing." He laughs, just now hearing 
Kassi's comment.

"That sounds like a grand idea," Kassi volunteers after swallowing a 
mouthful of meat. "There's almost bound t'be some embarrassment involved, 
a'course, if'n your family's aught like mine... but it'd probably be 
interesting. Aye, I know how *that* goes. Well, sort of. The fact is, if'n 
I forget to write or visit for very long, the kinsfolk send Katari up here 
t'harangue me until I agree to shape up. Nay anyone can harangue like a 
guard lieutenant who enjoys trouncing your rump in a spar about fifty 
times a day."

Jayna's shoulders relax a bit at Kassi's depiction. She chuckles. "Your 
family trounce you, Kassima? -You-?" she asks again, obviously unable to 
picture it.

Kerlyn's cider mug is empty by now, and she sets it down with a quiet 
thump, "They in this sweep area? I've some weyrlings in need of errands to 
run to keep busy enough that they're not running wingleaders underthings 
up to teh top fo teh star stones anymore."

K'tyn gets to his feet, taking his plates and mug to a nearby bin where 
those things go. "Kerlyn," he asks on his way back. "How fare you? Well, I 
hope? And better since the last..." He breaks off, as they both seem to 
speak at once. "That's a fair idea," he offers. "Twould answer both issues 
at once."

Kassima ruefully confirms, "Oh, aye... and easily enough. Tariken and 
Kayal are the ones who taught me t'throw knives in the first place, and 
Katari has much more of a knack for fighting than I; that never was 
m'strongest talent. She's been training for Turns besides. If'n you see 
her about--tall, thin, stick-woman with cropped black hair and blue eyes, 
and as sardonic as Faranth's own gizzard--I suggest you run." Her 
attention swivels to Kerlyn, then; silently, she mouths 'Wingleaders' 
underthings?' to herself.

Jayna looks at Kerlyn and K'tyn, a bit overwhelmed by the whole concept. 
"They're back at Benden, ma'am. North of the Hold," she clarifies. "But I 
wouldn't want to take riders away from their other duties," she says. At 
Kassima's description, she smiles, her blush finally fading a bit. "I'll 
take you're advice," she nods, emphatically.

Kerlyn can't help a small smirk, as she nods to Kassima-- coincidentally 
Telgar's newest wingleader-- but her face is neutral once more as she nods 
to the weyrleader, "Aye sir, though it's certainly not enough on it's own 
to keep them busy. A reasonable start though, unless Jayna objects to her 
family being used as a punishment of sorts." She adds, "And aye, I have 
managed to regain my civility."

Jayna barks a laugh, quickly stifling it. "Oh, ma'am, there are some /in/ 
my family who consider 'em a punishment," she says, swirling her klah.

Kassima mutters into her cider mug, "What *is* this local obsession with 
underthings of a sudden?" Her tone, audible only by those listening 
closely, is that of someone who's fairly sure she doesn't actually want to 
know the answer to that question.

Telgar Weyr> Kerlyn grins. Now Kassi-- they aren't necessarily yours.. 
just as yet unidentified female.

K'tyn merely smiles, glad to see that this has all worked out. "Good, 
good;" he sounds distracted. "By Faranth's left little toe! I've forgotten 
I've a meeting at the smithhall. Shards!" He gets to his feet hurriedly. 
"I'll be back later," he promises. "But this can't wait."

Jayna stands. "Thank you, sir," she smiles.

K'tyn nods at everyone and takes his leave, fairly running for the door. 
"G'day!"

K'tyn walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kerlyn lifts a hand in farewell, "Clear skies sir, my duty to Prometh." 
She adds, to Kassima. "I wasn't sure whose they were-- elected not to 
press for a complete confession- if you were curious, they're on the 
corkboard in the weyrling barracks."

Jayna sinks quietly to her seat, good humor seemingly recovered.

Telgar Weyr> Kassima says, "Nah, but there was the discussion about 
underwear we were having last week... or yesterday's convo at HRW. Kassi's 
now convinced that the Weyr has gone mad. Zhai, Kiat! :)"

Telgar Weyr> K'tyn laughs. We are insane.:)

Kassima just grimaces at the very thought of what she might find on said 
corkboard. "I suppose I'd best check, aye, if'n nay anyone's stepped 
forward t'claim 'em." Clearing her throat, she elects to steer far away 
from this particular subject; she's had enough of discussing underwear for 
a few days. "Who of your kinsfolk would you want t'be bringing up here, 
Jayna?" There. Good, safe subject... right?

Jayna grins. "Well, they surely all couldn't come. So we take the oldest 
ones and the youngest ones right off the top. How about a few in the 
middle? My cousin, for sure, if she'll come. It was news of her 
handfasting that started all this."

Kerlyn gets to her feet, nodding to Kassima and Jayna on her way to 
deposit her dishes with the dirty, "Afternoon." On her way back, she 
pauses on her way to teh bowl, "Just stop by the barracks and let me know 
who and how many and when if you do want the little rotters to go pick up 
your kin."

Jayna grins. "Thank you, ma'am! Thank you very much."

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

"Afternoon," Kassi returns with a nod to the Weyrlingmaster. "Clear skies 
t'you and Sorath both. Are there none who'd particularly die for a chance 
t'come to the Weyr, Jayna? Some of mine would. Look at Simaeva; she even 
agreed t'foster m'children, just t'live here."

Jayna nods, emphatically. "Oh, yes, there certainly are!" She starts 
ticking them off. "Devin, and Feris, and Elana, for sure. Kelleg, but we 
wouldn't want him here," she grins. "Is Simaeva your sister? A cousin?"

Kassima shakes her head, toying with one of her as-yet unmunched ribs. 
"I've nay siblings--which is just about unique in m'family, given m'age, 
but m'birth left Mum barren. I've dozens of cousins, though. Simaeva's one 
of those; she's the daughter of Mum's sister Simaeri. Most of m'family's 
never been here, I'll confess it. T'Benden with the tithe sometimes, aye, 
but... anyway, there's Simaeva, K'star, E'rian, Thera, and a'course, Kay 
and Khari--plus Katari, Jessamyne, and Simian on occasional visits. 
Eryssiara was here once t'be certain I hung Slithereth's head up properly. 
I think Sythriva found a way up, too, but beyond that...."

Jayna laughs. "Quite a crew! Sounds worse than mine, which I didn't think 
was possible. I've got...let's see...five brothers and sisters, and seven 
cousins we were all fostered with. Plus another three cousins from the 
Hold. Never saw them much. Fussy, kind of. Not into the farms." She shakes 
her head, nostalgically. "We were all pretty much brotherly and sisterly 
together. Except for The Three, of course. Is your K'star the same as 
Mehlani's K'star?" she asks, already pretty sure of the answer.

"Most of m'kindred live at Da's cothold or up at the main hold, save for 
the branch of us here and a few more distant relatives in Ruatha," Kassi 
reminisces. "K'star? Aye--there's only one of him, for which we should all 
thank Faranth! He's E'rian's brother and m'father's brother's son. 
Katari's brother too, if'n you can believe that."

Jayna shakes her head, whistling. "Alright, I'm lost. Obviously can't keep 
things as straight as I thought," she laughs. She thinks a moment. "Nah," 
she denies. "It's the twistiness of your family."

Kassima offers rather impishly, "Would you like me t'recite the names of 
all m'closest cousins, aunts, and uncles? I warn you, 'twould take some 
time. M'family spawns like fish, as I said a'fore; Jessamyne and 
Sialirysa just had another spawn apiece a few months agone, bringing 'em 
up t'four and five respectively, and Kayal's wife Evanira's expecting 
their second. About time, say I. Kavanir must be fourteen by now, for 
Faranth's sake!"

Jayna chuckles, latching onto the last sentence like a hungry dragon on a 
wherry. "Uh...Kavanir's the first? So his brother or sister'll be fourteen 
turns younger?"

Meli walks in from the bowl.

Kassima nods wryly. "They're nay cutting it so close as it seems, either; 
Evanira was fifteen when she had him, so there's still a chance of a large 
family for those two. Aunt Kaynni will raise the Red Star t'boiling if'n 
she finds herself cheated of grandchildren aplenty!"

"Happy happy happy... hmm... how's tha' go..." Meli rambles on to herself 
as she strides into the cavern at full speed. So intent is she, she nearly 
tackles a poor drudge who didn't move quite quickly enough.

Kassima turns at the sound of footfalls, smiling broadly when she sees 
whom they belonged to. "Meli! Ack!" That second exclamation is proclaimed 
as the windmilling drudge spills the contents of the pitcher he was 
holding right on V'dan's head. She's rather hard-put to stifle laughter, 
and can you really blame her?

Meli makes a quick shift to the side, neatly avoiding the drudge, the 
puddle, and the spluttering V'dan without ever really noticing any of 
them. "Evening, Kassi, Jayna."

Jayna ohs, and halfstands as the pitcher starts to go. Too late! She 
winces and drops back into her chair, shaking her head and smiling at the 
greenrider.

Jayna says "I'd better go get a rag or something and help clean that up," 
she smiles, standing.

Jayna walks towards the inner cavern.

Kassima has to agree, "Probably better, since V'dan will be nay help." The 
greenrider in question ceases his sputtering long enough to give Kassi a 
wet glare. "What's the rush, Meli? Is M'rgan here with his band of 
underwear-wielding weyrlings to humiliate us all?"

Meli glances up, just before she barks her shins on the bench. "Hmm? 
Hurry? Neh, no hurry. Ah, uh, Happy Turnday, Kassi."

Kassima smiles a brilliantly pleased smile. "Ach, Meli, how good of you 
t'be remembering! Would you believe, Aunt Simerva misplaced m'gift this 
Turn? 'Twill nay have t'endure any frothy green dresses, floppy red hats, 
or pink wherry shoes! And I still have your gift around here somewhere, 
come t'think of it... don't run away whilst I rummage for it, eh?"

Jehrina walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Pierron gives a small bow to the weyrwoman.

Jehrina nods as she passes through

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

Meli gives Jehrina a smart salute, then starts rummaging through the 
pockets of her jacket.

Kassima does salute the Weyrwoman, albeit rather belatedly (and 
pointlessly, now) since her head's half-stuffed in a satchel. "Nay, this 
isn't it. Nay, that's Aph's, and--ah, here!" Eventually, the greenrider 
hoists forth a long, garishly-wrapped parcel in all sorts of horrid shades 
of green, red, black, and white, tied extravagantly with green and gold 
ribbon. "Happy very, very belated Turnday, Meli."

Meli frowns, after searching her own pockets fruitlessly. "Y'not s'posed 
t'give me a gift on your turnday, Kassi."

Kassima makes a face at Meli. "Nay, 'twas supposed t'be giving it nigh two 
months agone. I hope you'll nay hold that *too* much against Kin or I 
either one, since 'tis from both of us."

Maylia walks in from the bowl.

Meli smiles crookedly. "Neh, won't hold it against you, m'grateful that 
y'thought o'me." Turning her head slightly, she catches sight of Maylia 
and gives her a wave.

Maylia returns the wave, grinning broadly as she fetches herself a glass 
of wine. "Heyla, you two," she calls to Kassi and Meli.

Kassima smiles up at her friend. "As I am that you thought of me, believe 
me. Now, are you going t'take this thing, or wait until m'arm breaks off 
from holding it?" She grins and jiggles the gift a bit, waving to Maylia 
with the other hand. "G'deve, mentee mine!"

"Hey, Maylia, grab me a citron, neh?" Meli calls over. Then she turns back 
to Kassi and holds out her hand for the package. "Guess s'not somethin' 
fragile, obviously," she quips.

Kassima drawls, "Well... aye and nay. You'll see for yourself. Go on and 
open it!"

Maylia obligingly does, and sets the citron before Meli with a flourish. 
"Anything for you, Kassi?" She offers, setting her own wine glass down 
gently.

Meli chuckles again, then begins to unwrap the package, taking her time 
and being extremely fastidious about it, almost to the point of being 
ludicrous.


---

        Cut from brilliant, translucent glass polished to perfect 
smoothness, the bottle that you lift forth from its nest of fabric catches 
at the light and seeks to entrap it within its depths. Of simplistic 
design and only two hands high from end to neck, it seems more a practical 
gift than anything else and a bit disappointing in its way until one looks 
beyond the surface and discovers the slender and graceful dragon who 
glides sinuously over the front, where she has been incised. The prismatic 
etching gives the ends of her wings and her tiny eyes a hint of rainbow 
iridescence, glimmering like silver faeriefire. This is a bottle worthy of 
Pern's most exquisite and exotic vintages, though for now it has been 
filled by the gifters with something you might appreciate a bit more: 
Hugh's finest brandy, gleaming with a rich luster that promises 
intoxicating delights quite fit to be savored. The plug of sparkling 
etched glass that keeps the vintage safe has a slim cord of green tied 
around it, by which it is attached to the following note: "With K'rick's 
invaluable aid, we've gone to the Hulk, and Hugh bade to part with this 
brewa Turnday gift for you, from only the finest hops made! (We're 
assuming that's true, at least, since one could hardly expect Hugh to 
admit otherwise!) With loving regards and fondest wishes for a day filled 
with all the pleasures you could desire, Kassima and Kindre.

---


Kassima shakes her head, hoisting her admittedly near-empty mug of citron 
in demonstration. "Nay, thankee--I'll refill it m'self when the time 
comes; you needn't go to the effort." An anticipatory smile plays across 
her face as she watches the unwrapping process.

"Shells an' shards, Kassi...." Meli exclaims, as she reveals the 
exquisitely crafted bottle of brandy. "An' it's from Hugh no less..." Her 
face just radiants her happiness, as she looks up at her friend. "Y'two 
definitely know th'way to my heart."

Kassima grins broadly at the other greenrider, quite plainly pleased 
herself. "Aye, well--K'rick owed me one, after that trick he pulled with 
the Water. And it seemed t'me that I recalled you having a fondness for 
the stuff. Will you forgive us for its belatedness?"

"Oh, definit'ly, I'll forgive you. I'll even share it w'you," Meli grins. 
"Since it's y'turnday, an' all that. Wouldn't want y'to go t'bed wi'out 
the threat o'a think head in th'morning, neh?"

Maylia grins, observing the gift unwrapping herself, and pulling her 
gloves out of her pocket as she takes a seat.

Telgar Weyr> Meli says, "Ok, anyone who wants very fine brandy in 
celebration of Kassi's turnday, head on down to the LC :b"

Kassima rolls her eyes up in her head, groaning in mock-horror. "A night 
spent *sober*? Oh, Faranth *save* me from such a dreadful fate! You 
needn't share a gift, y'know... but I won't say I'd object 'tall if'n you 
did." The wine connisseur in her forces that confession, though at least 
it's accompanied by a sheepish smile. "What a day, eh? Simerva 
miraculously loses the Turnday Gift of Horror, and now you're offering 
t'share brandy with me. I can't think of a better way t'be spending a 
Turningday, all told."

Meli thanks Maylia for the citron with a nod and a smile, and then adds 
"Well, then, what say th'three of us try a sip?"

Kassima rises from her chair to quest out in search of clean glasses. "You 
remember the brandy from the Hulk, don't you, Maylia?" she asks of the 
youngest greenrider. "This is something like that. Except I swear that 
*this* batch I didn't slip any purple dye into."

Both gloves now across her thigh, Maylia pulls a smallish object from her 
pocket, a blue firelizard head popping up after it and chittering. "Oh, I 
remember that brandy," the girl answers, a touch of mischief to her eyes. 
"No purple? Did you find some way to make green?"

Meli just shakes her head. "Neh, neh, green an' purple's all right for 
that stuff from Southern, but this's _Hugh's_ brandy." She waits patiently 
for Kassi to find the glasses, as she begins to carefully removing the 
seal.

Kassima rolls her eyes expansively, setting one of the better wine glasses 
in front of Maylia. Another goes in front of Meli. "Nay yet, though I 
daresay Grego could--but why would I spike *Meli's* drink? That's saved 
for people like Mart and Cav, who either get spastic over underwear or 
sleep with their eyes open. Or 'Lex, who's just evil."

Maylia sets down the object, revealing it as a box wrapped in dark green 
fabric - with lighter green streaks over it, and pushes it towards where 
her mentor had been sitting, so it's there when she gets back.

Kassima blinks when she moves to set the third glass in front of her own 
seat, finding a wrapped green box there. "Heya," she greets it in a 
surprised voice; looking up, she asks, "Why, what's this?"

Maylia can't keep a grin from developing on her face, so she shrugs. "Just 
a little turnday gift for my mentor and friend, is all."

Meli begins to pour out the rich, amber liquid into the glasses, after a 
quick check to ensure they are free from dust. "Turnabout's fair play," 
Meli says in a definitive voice.

One would think, surrounded as she is by fine brandy, with a giant sack of 
Faranth-knows-what in front of her and two friends nearby to boot, that 
Kassi couldn't look much more pleased. One would be proven rather wrong 
when the greenrider hears Maylia's statement. "Ach... Maylia, you 
shouldn't have!" Picking up the box to admire the amazingly lovely rather 
than tastelessly gaudy wrapping, she admits, "Which isn't t'say I'm nay 
glad you did... should I open it, or guess first?"

Maylia beams a smile, expressing her happiness at being able to do this in 
her own quiet way. After a moments thought, she chuckles. "Oh, how 'bout a 
guess?"

Kassima traces the delicate patterns of the sisal-scarf wrapping with one 
fingernail, smiling with all the delight of a young child in this same 
situation. Of course, young children wouldn't pause to take up a glass of 
brandy while they think. "Is it... a new wherry-skewer for chasing men 
around beaches with?" she asks whimsically, winking at Meli, who would 
remember the first such incident. "Or a set of ribbons t'tie in 
unsuspecting male hair?"

Meli passes out the glasses, then swirls her own brandy a few times, 
inhaling the odor deeply. "Neh, Kassi, y'already have those. Try t'think 
of somethin' new?"

Kassima sets down the glass in order to carefully rattle the box. Her 
brows furrow at the distinctly solid sound, accompanied by a hint of 
something else.... "Is it alive?" she wants to know next. "Have you gotten 
me a giant slab of liver?"

Maylia bursts into giggles, shaking her head until her braid bobs behind 
her. "No, but you're on the right track, mentor-mine!" She finally 
manages.

Kassima tries not to shudder at the idea of being on the right track with 
liver, since it wouldn't be polite. Carefully, with a delicacy few might 
realize she possesses, the greenrider loosens the sisal scarf from around 
the box and lifts the lid. An audible gasp is her first reaction--followed 
by, "Oh, this isn't liver!" She pulls out a metal pocket-flask, 
meticulously engraved with knotted designs that encase the semblance of a 
flaming dragon rampant.

Ro walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Meli burst out laughing, "I get it! Liver... liquor... "

Meli grins. "Eventually y'liver'll end up th'same color as th'brandy!"

Maylia keeps right on giggling, shaking her head. "I didn't mean the 
liver!" A rather inept wave of her hand, since she's too busy giggling to 
do much else. "I meant the wherry-skewer." Hmmmm. An odd thing to compare 
to a flask.

Ro gives Meli an odd glance as she walks over to get a mug of klah, having 
gotten over the fear induced by Flirk's.

Kassima admires the flask for several moments, enchanted; finally, she 
holds it up to her ear and jiggles it a bit. "Is what's in here safe 
t'pour... or will it turn parts of me that I'd rather nay see purple, 
purple?" Her grin has taken on a definite mischievous cast.

Maylia, by this time, has pushed aside the brandy glass and the wine 
glass, and is face down on the table giggling. Her head shakes from one 
side to the other briefly, and a muffled, "No, no, not purple, Kassi!" Can 
be heard.

Meli laughs along with Maylia, though perhaps with fewer tears. "Ah, ah, 
no, but if'y'like, Kassi, we c'n strip you down in th'bowl an' paint any 
part o'your purple that you want! I think Tamlin knows where th'kids 
paints are at."

Kassima slides a grin then over to Meli, and this time it's a fully wicked 
grin. Well, okay, a fully *delighted* wicked grin. "Oh, Meli, you wouldn't 
believe what I suspect this stuff can do. Did you never hear of Josiah's 
blue snow?" The greenrider uncorks the flask to peer inside, and 
triumphantly proclaims, "Blue! 'Tis blue! Oh, how marvelous--this'll be 
perfect when the purple runs out!"

New peals of giggles come from the face-down Maylia at the thought of 
painting Kassi purple. "Oh! NO! Paint 'er green! T'match Lysseth!"

Kassima glacks and sets down the precious flask before her shuddering can 
cause any of it to spill. "Meli! Are you trying t'horrify me into needing 
t'gulp down this brandy instead of savor it as it deserves? Stripped down 
in the middle of the Bowl, indeed! And painted purple, nay less!" The 
ever-modest greenrider shivers with real dismay at such an image. "Ack! 
Nay green, nay green!"

Meli nods, getting well into the swing of this. "Well, why not jus' paint 
her t'match her jacket? Rainbows... splatters... we could take turns 
throwin' splotches on her."

Meli nods emphatically. "What d'you think, Ro?" she calls over to the 
other woman. "You, me, Maylia, we c'n manage t'get her out there an' get 
started, wouldn't y'think?"

Maylia lifts her head to reveal laughter-tear streaked cheeks. "ooooo, 
purple and red and yellow and green splatters! Marvelous!" She manages, 
giggles between each colour. "Nobody'd be able t'tell you'd been stripped 
by the time we were done!"

Kassima moans and starts hunching down in her chair, as though hoping to 
miraculously disappear. "Oh, you *wouldn't*!" she pleads. "Gah! You 
couldn't even think of it, please tell me!"

Meli plants her palms on the table, on either side of her bottle of 
brandy, as if to lever herself up. "Jus' need t'find the paint pots..."

Kassima starts trading desperate glances between the as-yet undrunk brandy 
and the safety of the Bowl outside. "Is it worth losing a chance t'taste 
this stuff nay t'be stripped clothesless and painted by sadistic 
greenriders?" she muses. That she even has to consider the question is a 
testimony to just how good Hugh's brandy is.

Ro replies to Meli after much consideration "I think it would be 
interestin'"

"Oh, well, y'can bring th'brandy with you, Kassi. Might help keep y'warm 
til we're done," Meli states very matter-of-factly. "Yeh, Ro, d'you know 
where they keep th'paint pots for the kids? I think they're down in 
th'last storesroom..."

Ro shakes her head "I have no idea. They never have had me workin' with 
the little ones."

Kassima cringes. "Couldn't you be satisfied t'paint me on my *ledge* or 
something, if'n you really must?" she asks hopefully. "And do keep in mind 
that I'll get revenge for this, y'know. You'll find wherry-heads in your 
beds when you least expect it, and I don't mean the term as it applies 
t'bronzeriders!"

Meli leans over to stage-whisper to her friend. She mutters to Kassima, 
"... Kassi... not... anymore..." 

Ro wrinkles her nose "I don't think either possible meanin' sounds all 
that good, Kassi."

Kassima buries her head in her hands at Meli's mutter. "There have *got*," 
she insists, "t'be easier ways of celebrating one's Turnday. Can't we at 
least drink the brandy first? If'n you're going to visit me with the 
horror of horrors as some sort of revenge for something I haven't figured 
out just yet, at least have the mercy t'let me be drunk first." Whether or 
not she's kidding is hard to determine. It always is, with Kassi.

Meli resettles herself, with a nod to Maylia and Ro. "Sure, Kassi, mustn't 
waste th'brandy." Revenge? It's an honor, obviously.

Kassima sighs with relief, picking up her own glass. "In that case, I'd 
like t'propose a toast. T'new friends, to old friends, and t'being able 
t'turn twenty-six without being splattered with paint pots."

Meli picks up her glass, in response to Kassi's toast. Then rising fully 
to her feet, she lifts her glass high. "I'd like t'add t'that, f'it's ok. 
A toast, to Kassi on her 26th Turnday..." she begins.

Meli pauses a moment, watching the others, thoroughly enjoying her 
friend's discomfiture.

Kassima starts to smile again, though there's some wariness there. 
Touching though this may be, the threat of paint pots is pretty hard to 
forget or ignore.

Maylia raises her glass to the toast, preparing to add her own part as 
well.

"To Kassi, greenrider, wingleader, ma'am..." Meli begins.

"Whom we all love, despite her sp.. outspokenness..." she adds.

"Within our hearts you'll always stay," is the next line.

"Despite Turning old and decrepit t'day," she ends with a grin.

"Nay Wingleader," Kassi corrects, through a lopsided--and, let us face it, 
somewhat goofy--grin. "And *certes* nay ma'am--nor decrepit, because 
you're only as old as you allow yourself t'think you are!" Winking, she 
allows some of her sentimentality to show through for once and leans over 
to give her friend a one-armed hug. "Thankee, Meli. You can't know how 
much that means t'me."

Meli mutters to herself, ""...still... purple... green though..."

Kassima whaps the back of Meli's head lightly for that before she pulls 
away. "Just try it, and I'll write filthy limericks on the backs of each 
shirt or jacket you own--in bright green paint, nay less!"

Meli grins and takes a sip of the brandy, slowly, planning to hold it on 
the roof of her mouth a moment and inhale. She ends up swallowing 
abruptly, however, as her head gets whapped, and she starts coughing til 
her eyes water.

Kassima does her best to look repentant, but doesn't manage a very sincere 
job of it. "Are you all right?" she does at least ask, solicitously.

Meli coughs a moment longer, then straightens and nods. "M'fine... s'fine 
brandy," she replies, her voice husky from the firey liquor.

Kassima grins in satisfaction. "Should be," she says succinctly, waggling 
her eyebrows. "Like I said, K'rick owed me big time." As belatedly as 
ever, she waves after the passing guest.

Lysseth> Above, From the Telgar Star Stones, Kl'loh's brick-brown Yoxath 
rears on hind legs and bugles a greeting to brown Ularrith and his rider, 
M'rgan of HighReaches Weyr.

Lysseth> Ularrith backwings for a landing.

Lysseth> Juliath rumbles a greeting to Uly from her settled position 
nearby.

Lysseth> Lysseth raises her head, warbling in surprised greeting to the 
'Reaches brown.

Lysseth> Atop sturdy Ularrith, M'rgan strokes the neck ridge in front of 
him as he frees himself from the confining straps. "Yes. You keep Juliath 
and Lysseth company while I go in." He unhooks a few pots from Ularrith's 
straps before climbing down.

Meli nods. "Definitely not homemade redfruit brandy," Meli agrees. "But go 
ahead an' try some..."

Lysseth> M'rgan jumps down Ularrith's side to the ground, as the dragon 
rumbles softly.

Lysseth> M'rgan takes a second to orient himself before heading into the 
living cavern.

Ro sips her klah, content to avoid the brandy as well as the risk of being 
stripped and painted.

Kassima adds sternly, "And you'll owe me even more if'n you think about 
paint pots just *once* again tonight, so watch it!" Warning delivered, she 
takes a much more leisurely sip from her own glass--and then, regretfully, 
spews it in a full spit-take when Lysseth reports the High Reaches 
visitor. "Mart's here?" she asks incredulously, a natural response given 
the circumstances on which they last parted. Underwear, traumatized 
weyrlings, and all.

Lysseth> Lysseth rumbles in what can only be termed amusement, watching 
the living cavern entrance with glowing eyes.

M'rgan walks in from the bowl.

"Yeh, I do believe tha's Uly near Jul," Meli replies. "Prolly wants t'wish 
you a merry an' all that..."

Lysseth> Juliath and Ularrith sense that Lysseth remarks conversationally, 
<< Riders never do cease to amaze me. They're certainly illogical 
creatures, what with this spitting business and all. >>

M'rgan wanders into the living cavern, the pots clanking together. "High 
Reaches' duties," he calls out as his eyes sweep across the cavern, lookin 
for faces he recognizes.

Lysseth> Ularrith rumbles to the pretty green ladies as his rider leaves 
and he waddleswaggers over towards them.

Meli waves a hand towards Mart. "Over here, brownrider," she calls before 
turning to grab another glass and filling it with brandy.

Kassima grabs for a rag to start wiping sprayed brandy from the table; 
fortuitously, it didn't get near her new scarf or flask of insidious dye. 
"Duties to the High Reaches and her queens," she calls back to Mart. Out 
of the corner of her eye, she scrutinizes him--probably checking for 
hidden weapons or other such implements of death. "You're nay here t'be 
killing us, are you?"

Lysseth> Lysseth decides that the swaggering brown might be more 
interesting to watch than the Living Cavern entrance, as her rider isn't 
really that liable to choke to death on brandy no matter how much she 
seems to try. Affably enough, even playfully, she extends her long neck to 
nudge him in greeting.

M'rgan waves back to Meli and clanks on over to their table. One pot gets 
set directly in front of Kassima and the others in front of Meli. "I 
brought what you requested," he tells Meli with a grin before tapping a 
finger on the pot in front of Kassima. "You'll have to open it and see if 
it'll kill you."

"Ah, good!" Meli exclaims, handing Mart the new glass, filled with very 
fine brandy.

D'thon walks in from the bowl.

Maylia quietly sips her brandy glass, watching the pots curiously. "What's 
in them?" the young greenrider asks.

Kassima gives first the pot, then the brownrider who brought it a shrewd 
look. "If'n I were you, I'd want t'kill me," she admits cheerfully enough. 
"Several times over, probably. Which doesn't augur well. On the other 
hand, if'n you've nay killed me yet, it seems a bit late t'start now. I 
*really* worry about those pots in front of Meli, though. Please tell me 
they don't contain paint? Oh, and sit down and have a glass of brandy, 
if'n you would." Summoning up her courage, she takes a deep breath--she 
needs it, after that ramble--and gingerly, with considerable trepidation, 
opens the pot to meet her demise.

D'thon wanders into the cavern, shucking off jacket and gloves and hanging 
both by the hearth. He pauses, apparently curious about the exact nature 
of yet another odd Telgari scene.

M'rgan takes the glass from Meli curiously, giving it a sniff. Immediately 
he pulls his head back out of range and carefully puts the glass back down 
on the table, never saying a word about it. He steps around behind Meli to 
take a seat, his blue eyes remaining at all times on Kassima and the pot.

Meli lifts a brow, then nods to Mart, setting the brandy aside. Someone 
else will surely turn up. And thinking that, she spots D'thon. "Heyla, 
evenin! Come an' join us f'Kassi's Turnday?"

*sniff* *sniff* What's that smell? Could it be... paint?

D'thon perks up slightly. "Evenin'," he replies, pouring a mug of klah 
with a mildly curious expression. "I'd be honoured."

Blink. Blinkblinkblink. Blinkblink. After blinking enough that her eyelids 
have batted more in one minute than a true flirt's would in an hour, she 
just... gapes. Stares. Gawks. "Dear Faranth, 'tis the Revenge of the 
Brownie," she murmurs in awed horror. The pot, it would seem, contains 
'lizard eggs... or are they? Frowning speculatively, Kassi dares a fate 
worse than death and leans in to look closer.

Meli eyes her own can with some trepidation, glowering slightly at the 
'Reaches brownrider. She pushes it towards the middle of the table, then 
leans back nonchalantly, as if all were well.

Maylia throws a confused look at the other riders, and sets her brandy 
glass down to lean forward. "Well?" Is her question.

"These eggs look *very* familiar," Kassi can be heard to comment, her 
voice echoing a bit in the pot. Finally, she dares to scoop one out--and 
shakes it, very gently. Something rattles inside. "Now, either the brownie 
has killed several fire-lizards and put their severed heads in here to 
scare the living daylights from me, or these are *nay* 'lizard eggs." 
Elementary! With more mirth than fear and suspicion in her eyes this 
time, she looks up at Mart. "So, should I dare the dead creatures and 
look?"

D'thon steps over, taking a sip from his mug and peering to have a look. 
He glances around, eyes sparkling slightly with the oddity of the whole 
thing.

Getting a certain look from the brownrider, Meli leans forward to retrieve 
the additional cans. *sniff* *sniff* She watches Kassi with an amused 
grin.

M'rgan smirks evilly at Kassima as she leans towards the pot and he folds 
his arms across his chest as he leans back in his seat. At Meli's glower 
he gives her a confused, slightly-hurt look. "Hmm? What was that, Kassi? 
Oh, you can look. If you dare."

Meli holds out a glass of brandy to D'thon, gesturing him closer, then 
gives a can before her a tap with her finger, smiling and nodding at Mart.
D'thon peers at the drink, sniffing at it, then takes a sip. One eyebrow 
rises slightly, and another sip follows as he steps closer.

Kassima seems to have forgotten the paint-pots, or she'd indubitably have 
fled the premises in horror by now. "There's naught I won't dare, 
brownie," she reminds him insouciantly, grinning. She carefully pries 
apart some of the glued shell and spills the contents into her hand: 
pieces of candy, and nothing sinister at all. "This won't kill me!" She 
sounds surprised, and definitely pleased; setting the candies down on the 
table, she gets up and goes over to hug the brownrider in thanks. "Dare I 
hope this means I'm forgiven?"

M'rgan arches an eyebrow upwards as the candy spills out. "How'd that get 
in there?" he says with mock surprise, leaning towards the eggs and pot. 
As Kassima comes over he returns the hug but he does chuckle with a 
slightly sinister voice as he releases her, adding a small pinch to her 
side. "I wouldn't say forgiven. More like you've gotten a delay. But one 
of these days when you least expect it..."

Meli leans forward to peer into the can, reaching it to move one or two 
eggs about with her finger. 'Candy, hmm? Wha' kind?'

And with her other hand, Meli carefully scooches one of the paint pots 
around and down til it rests behind her back on the bench.

Kassima yelps at the pinch, and rubs her side with a look of mock-reproach 
for the Weyrlingmaster. It'd be more authentic if she could stop smiling, 
though. "Wouldn't have it any other way, brownie. For awhile there, 'twas 
afraid 'twere nay going t'try and get revenge anymore... and then what 
would the point of this duelling be? 'Twould be like kicking a canine pup 
or something." She gives Mart's shoulder a light slug, then glances over 
to Meli. "So long as you've nay agreed t'help with this scheme of 
hers...."

D'thon's eyebrows rise again as he takes another sip of brandy, then 
pauses. Carefully, he pours about a quarter of the glass into his klah, 
shaking it a little, and takes a sip of the mixture. He grins, still 
watching the little drama play itself out.

M'rgan's gaze wanders towards the ceiling as he says with complete 
innocence, "Scheme? What scheme?"

And there goes a second pot, deftly removed from sight but within easy 
reach.

Maylia stares blatantly at the waste of good brandy, as she slowly takes 
tiny sips of hers, fully appreciating each one.

D'thon shrugs, with a quick wink to Maylia, as much as if to say "Who'd be 
to know...?"

Kassima trusts Mart's innocence not at all, and eyes him with clear 
dubiousness even as she reaches back to snag her glass of brandy. "The 
scheme t'paint me all sorts of lurid colors out in the Bowl. Would that be 
*paint* you brought with you in those other pots, dearest archnemesis?" 
She may not see them, but the smell is hard to miss.

"Honestly, Kassi," Meli states with a slight roll of her eyes. "Y'd think 
y'thought everyone was out t'get you. Now, why would he bring paint all 
th'way from th'Reaches?"

"Pots? What pots?" M'rgan has learned over the turns that if you keep on 
asking stupid questions no one will expect any smart answers from you. His 
gaze wanders along the ceiling, past Kassima, and over to Maylia and 
D'thon. "How are you all doing today?" he says with a smile, still 
feigning complete innocence.

Kassima steals a glance towards Meli. "Where you and Mart are concerned, 
old friend, I find that paranoia is probably safest. If'n 'tis nay paint, 
why don't you open 'em up and show me what's inside? Please tell me," she 
implores of Maylia, D'thon, and Ro, "that you'll nay aid Meli in her 
scheme too."

Meli blinkblinks. "Open wha' up?"

Ro eyes the brownrider, giving him a thorough looking over. So this is the 
famous (or is that infamous) Martigan....

"The pots of...." Kassima trails off, staring hard at where she *knows* 
there were pots just moments ago. "Paint," she finishes lamely. "Where'd 
they go? You hid 'em, didn't you?" Her accusitory gaze takes in both Meli 
and Mart.

Meli's brow furrows. "Y'sure tha's your first glass, Kassi? Maybe y'having 
a bad reaction to somethin' you ate earlier..."

A'lex walks in from the bowl.

M'rgan twists around to give Kassima a curious look. "The pot is still 
right over there," he tells her as he points to the pot of firelizard eggs 
that is in front of her chair. "How much brandy has she had to drink?" he 
stagewhispers to Meli with concern.

A'lex strolls in with his rather typical smug expression...

D'thon chuckles. "Depends on a couple of things..." He glances to A'lex. 
"Hey 'Lex."

Kassima waggles her finger at Meli. "You know, and I know, that I haven't 
gotten more than a single sip all evening. I wasn't hallucinating those 
pots--they were right there! And just *try* t'deny you were talking 
earlier about painting me somehow." Turning around, she pokes her finger 
in the direction of the end of Mart's nose. "You *are* in on this. Don't 
try to deny it!"

A'lex grins, nods and salutes around as appropriate.

Maylia shrugs to the question of brandy consumption, inspecting her own 
glass. "Seems normal to me, but who knows?" She says. Kassi then gets a 
look of utter confusion. "Are you feeling alright, mentor-mine?"

Meli gives A'lex a wave, and a big grin, before she carefully schools her 
expression into one of concerned disbelief. "Maybe someone slipped her 
some tubers, or somethin'"

A'lex looks about, "Tubers? Mmmmmm, mashed? I'm STARVED!"

Ro walks towards the inner cavern.

"Heyla, A'lex," Meli calls over. "Come an' have some brandy. It _seems_ 
t'be ok, as Maylia said, though Kassi might be havin' an allergic reaction 
t'it."

Kassima manages to look faintly ill at 'Lex's statement even as she eyes 
Maylia with new suspicion. "I'd be feeling a lot better if'n people 
weren't trying t'convince me 'twas hallucinating again. There *were* pots 
here, and I've nay even had *one* glass of brandy, and I'm as sane as I've 
ever been unless Pierron put fellis in the food. Doesn't anyone else smell 
paint at all?"

A'lex frowns, "Brandy? I'm not sure. Especially if yon Greenrider has been 
near it at ALL."

Meli shakes her head. "Neh, neh, s'fine stuff, straight from th'Hulk. 
Verrrry smooth."

M'rgan gives the bronzerider a friendlier smile than he normally gets from 
the brownrider before shaking his head at Kassima after he takes a long 
testing sniff. "I don't smell anything. Except maybe you." He sniffs at 
Kassima, immediately wrinkling his nose. "Have you been bathing in 
firestone?"

D'thon takes another sip of brandy-laced klah, quietly smiling at 
something or other... what that is, Faranth alone knows.

Maylia deadpans, "You've hallucinated before? Tell me, what started it? 
Brandy?" The younges greenrider looks concerned. "Did you eat something 
odd? After all, there's the pot that's been there all along, and that's 
it."

A'lex nods a bit nervously to M'rgan, but manages a smile...

Meli shifts slightly, trying to catch M'rgan's eye behind Kassi's back, 
then each of the others. One brow lifted questioningly, she jerks her head 
towards the bowl.

Kassima gives Mart a slug to his shoulder that's rather less light this 
time. "We had drills earlier, if'n you must know, but Lyss and I've both 
soaked since then! And nay, Maylia--mischievous friends are what did it. I 
was convinced Aph had put 'special herbs' in the citron." She scowls 
darkly at the brandy, never mind that she's really the only one who had 
much chance to spike it.

Meli leans forward towards Kassi now, peering at her face carefully. "Hmm, 
might be a bit flushed. Maybe some fresh air'll do y'good, Kassi, get 
y'away from whatever y'think you're smellin'. S'fine night, neh?"

A'lex grabs a big plate of tubers and plops in a seat next to Meli. "So, 
how's things?"

M'rgan yelps and twists his shoulder away from Kassima, rubbing it as he 
mutters under his breath about women with bony knuckles. "I could 
definitely use some fresh air. The smell in here..." He quickly ducks away 
before Kassima can land another blow on him.

Meli gives A'lex a welcoming smile. "S'good, thanks f'askin'. Though we're 
all a bit concerned about Kassi at th'moment. Y'know anythin' about 
mindhealin'?

Kassima narrows her eyes, still guarded. "So long as you don't bring the 
paint along. I'm nay nearly drunk enough to blithely let you get away with 
that scheme yet. Hey!" She whirls about, but Mart has wisely gotten out of 
her range. "You're just asking for me t'try out Maylia's gift on you, 
femaleman."

A'lex says "Mindhealing? No... Rock... wasn't that J'cob's mindhealer?"

Meli levers herself to her feet, a suspicious *clink* accompanying her 
movement. "Hmm, could be. But maybe th'air'll do th'trick, and we won't 
have t'go that far."

A'lex nods, "Do you need help getting out there Kassima? I'd be happy to 
lend a hand."

Kassima massages her temples with her fingers, sighing. It's the sigh of 
someone whose day was going wonderfully well, until it suddenly 
deteriorated into a mass of confusion. Odd how many of Kassi's days go 
like that. "Nay, A'lex, thankee; I believe I can walk under m'own power. 
Gah." The rider just throws up her hands and starts outside, though not 
without first draining the last of her brandy. "Mayhaps everyone will just 
snap out of it with some fresh air," she can be heard to mutter.

Maylia rises too, making a little scooping motion with her left hand, 
below the table. As she rises, there's a little blue tail sticking out of 
her bulging pocket. Perhaps the little guy scooted off?

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

Meli comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Telgar-LC> M'rgan arches an eyebrow up at the femaleman comment, some of 
the playful humor leaving his face. But he stifles his retort and plasters 
a big smile back on, rising with the others. He follows a few paces behind 
Kassima.

A'lex comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

M'rgan comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

A'lex wanders out, plate of tubers in hand.

D'thon comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

Meli inhales deeply. "Ah, spring! Must be nice t'have a Turnday in 
th'spring, neh Kassi?"

D'thon tracks after the whole swarm of people quietly.

A'lex looks mock startled, "Turnday? Kassima! I didn't know!"

Kassima strolls with feigned nonchalance out to about a dragonlength from 
the Cavern, then spreads her arms wide to assume a pose of mock-wonder. 
"Ah, spring! And y'know, things don't make a *bit* more sense with fresh 
air than they did in there. 'Tis nice indeed, when nay anyone's trying 
t'drive me out of m'head--a shame I've nay yet had a Turnday like that, 
isn't it?" Droll to the extreme, she nonetheless turns back towards her 
friends. "Are you all satisfied that I'm normal-ish now?"

Maylia comes out of the short tunnel from the living cavern.

A'lex snorts, "Not."

D'thon nods. "Pretty much so... I hope." He grins, a rather unpleasant-
looking grin in fact.

Meli hrms, tapping a finger against her cheek, the other hand safely 
tucked into a pocket of her jacket. "Depends, Kassi. Y'still think we're 
out t'get you, and do y'still smell... paint?"

M'rgan doesn't seem to think it's spring yet as he immediately tightens 
the collar of his jacket and slides his gloves on. "She's ancient," he 
comments to A'lex as he wiggles his fingers into his left glove. "Kassi, 
you've never been normal. I still think you were dropped on your head a 
few dozen times as a child."

A'lex says "Maybe she spent too long sniffing fumes..."

"Aye, and aye," Kassi replies promptly. "Why would you have all followed 
me out here if'n you weren't out t'get me? And watch it there, brownie... 
you're only two Turns m'junior, I'd nay have you forget." She gives him a 
mock-stern look, wagging one finger at him. "Dropped on m'head a few dozen 
times? Oh, nay... 'twas only fourteen. The rest is due t'genetics."

A'lex says "Faulty genetics? Is there such a thing?"

"Gen...tics?" Meli repeats, stepping slightly away and fussing with 
something in her pocket.

A'lex says "Big word meaning... your parents or something..."

Maylia looks as innocent as she can, as she fusses with the firelizard in 
her pocket. A blue tail pops out, then a brown head. Odd.

A'lex scoffs down s'more tubers as he admires the assemblage.

D'thon glances to Maylia, blinking. Hmm.

Kassima flicks her fingers dismissively. "Some term m'Healer cousins like 
t'use when studying family backgrounds. Y'know... genealogy... genetics? 
Make sense?" Raking her fingers through the overgrown forelock that serves 
as her bangs, she mutters, "Something is wrong, here. Something is 
definitely wrong...."

A'lex nods, "Aye, we've no Birthing Day cake for you."

M'rgan looks around at the others and then turns his gaze towards the sky. 
"I don't see anything wrong, Kassi. Though it looks like it might rain 
tomorrow."

Meli glances up herself. "Y'think?" she replies to Mart's comment, now 
stepping a bit closer to Kassi again.

A'lex sighs, "No rain... I hate rain."

A'lex wanders around trying to look for rainish looking clouds.

D'thon peers around. "Everything does seem to look well, doesn't it?" 
/We'll fix that,/ he mouths silently to Meli and M'rgan.

Maylia wanders a little, her random steps as she tries to get that blue 
head back into her pocket bringing her closer to Kassi and Meli. Of 
course, someone very observant might notice that it used to be a brown 
head.

"Rain's useful," Kassima comments absently. "Drowns Thread... listen, you 
lot, I *know* you're up to something. You've got t'be. That's how the 
world works." Logic, from Kassi? Miracle of miracles! "I'd feel a lot 
better about it if'n you'd just *tell* me what you're going t'do t'me, so 
that I can start planning m'revenge now and nay have t'be waiting!" She 
seems, amazingly, not to have noticed the amazing popping heads in 
Maylia's pocket. This must really be spazzing her out.

A'lex's plate of tubers is grabbed by a large Bronze hand, but he's still 
carrying SOMETHING.

"Right then!" Meli replies. "We all definitely want y'to feel _better_, 
neh?" she asks.

And with that, Meli moves decisively forward, with a nod to the others.

Nraith licks the tuber plate clean.

A'lex steps in at Meli's nod, a hand flashing out towards the Greenrider.

D'thon strolls around behind Kassi, ostensibly watching the sky. Then, 
with a rather sudden move, he grabs Kassi's hands and grips them together 
behind her back.

Kassima has but a moment to make a disgusted face at Nraith before it 
occurs to her that she's been surrounded by madmen. "Glack!" she 
articulately glacks as her hands are be-grabbed. "But I'm nay drunk enough 
nay t'mind this yet!" she finally wails, still fighting the inevitable.

A'lex chuckles, a Evil grin on his face...

Meli pulls one of the fictitious paint pots from her pocket, the lid pried 
off to reveal a rather chartreuse shade of green within.

A'lex also holds open a rather garish Purple paint pot...

Lysseth just snickers, insofar as dragons can snicker. This sound is 
nearly drowned out by Kassi's triumphant yell of, "I was right, see? I was 
right! She *does* have paint! I'm nay crazy after all!" She pauses for a 
moment. "Well... um... nay the sort of crazy where you *hallucinate* 
anyway--and that's something!"

A'lex looks into the pot in his hands, "What a fascinating color..."

Meli reaches out a hand to point to Kassi's jacket. "Kinda matches this 
spot, neh?"

Wroxath wanders over with a rather amused rrrmbl. His rider continues to 
hang on to the greenrider's hands, with a rather twisted grin.

A'lex extracts a rather long, delicate looking brush from his back 
pocket...

Nraith leans in towards the Turnday Greenrider and whuffs, his breath 
smelling decidedly of Tuber.

Meli just pulls her finger back and sticks it straight into the paint. 
"Might look good on her ear... or neck... or p'rhaps her back?" she muses, 
with a grin at the others.

Kassima's eyes narrow as a sudden further thought of horror strikes her. 
"If'n you are going to paint me, you are going t'do it with my clothes 
still *on*, thankee," she says in a somewhat strangled version of her best 
command voice. Remember that sound that was reminiscent of a hamster with 
an Electrolux? Well, it's back. Of course, when Kassi inhales the tuber 
breath, it's replaced by the sounds of hacking, coughing, and near-gagging 
instead.

A'lex says "I personally think she needs a green bum, just like her 
Dragon, Meli..."

A'lex says "And big purple eyebrows."

While smirking at Kassima's predicament, M'rgan's eyes go vague. He sighs 
softly as he comes back to himself, Ularrith already rising out of his 
slump and moving towards him. "It seems I'm needed back at the Weyr. Happy 
Turnday, Kassima," he says with an evil grin.

A'lex grins at M'rgan, "Thanks for the assistance, Brownrider."

D'thon chuckles in an uncharacteristically mild way. "See you 'round, 
M'rgan."

"I'm going to *hack* get you for *cough, wheeze* helping with this, Mart!" 
Kassi manages to choke out, while aiming a halfhearted kick at A'lex. 
"Paint my rump and die, purple-man!"

Meli leans forward, swiping the glob of green paint neatly down Kassi's 
cheek in a swirly design. "Quite festive."

A'lex says "Oh, NOW you have to go challenge me like that... I was willing 
to let it drop and just GIVE you the paint..."

A'lex dips the brush and paints across Kassi's forehead "Nraith was here."

Meli sticks her finger back into the paint, to replenish the side. "Hmm, 
looks uneven now, though." She waits until A'lex is done, then moves 
forward in preparation to annoint the other cheek.

"Don't *make* me tell everyone about your little underwear fixation," 
Kassi threatens in deadly earnest, but the effect is rather spoiled as she 
starts, incongruously, to giggle. "Hey! That tickles--cut it out! Meep! 
There's paint running down my neck now!" The horror, the horror!

In little tiny letters of course.

M'rgan quickly clambers up onto Ularrith's neck before anyone can get any 
ideas about painting him also. He barely secures one flight strap before 
he orders the brown dragon into the sky.

M'rgan climbs up onto Ularrith's back, using his foreleg as a step.

D'thon grins ferally from behind Kassi. "How goes...?"

A'lex grins, "Tell whomever you like miss Greenrider... people will think 
what they want of me anyway... I'm a Bronzer, remember?"

Ularrith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry 
him aloft.

Meli draws a zigzag on the other cheek, then scoots around back to where 
D'thon is standing. "Want me t'hang onto one arm, an' you c'n paint 
somethin'?

A'lex says "It's lots of fun D'thon... try it!"

A'lex looks up at Nraith, "Purple Bellybutton?"

Dragon> Juliath bespoke Lysseth with << Are they going to turn your rider 
into a green finally? >>

"You're going to *pay* for this!" Kassi hollers up towards the sky, never 
mind that she sounds like a horrible fourth-rate villain. "We'll just see 
how you like everyone thinking you want t'prance around in shorts with 
little red hearts on 'em, bronzeboy... get *away* from me with that paint! 
Just because I'm an old crone doesn't mean I deserve this!"

Lysseth> Juliath senses that Lysseth's mind just bubbles with amusement. 
<< I hope so! She has been having this coming for a long time. >>

A'lex says "No, because you're Kassima, you deserve this."

D'thon shakes his head. "'M not the artistic kind... y'all go ahead..." He 
winks.

"Looks right well on y'Kassi. I've always said y'could do w'a bit more 
face paint," Meli chuckles over her friend's shoulder.

A'lex snerks, "D'thon, she's going to blame you and try for revenge wether 
you paint her or not. You might as well DESERVE it."

"*Oh,* nay...." Bracing herself carefully, Kassi starts trying to draw her 
legs up to protect her midsection--an ultimately futile ploy when one is 
not being held *that* firmly. Either she looks like an idiot, sends 
D'thon toppling in the effort, or both. "Naught I've ever done could've 
been enough to deserve this. I mean, with K'nan... well, that was *one* 
thing; I could paint him *back*!" The idea of being tormented with no 
recourse towards a counterattack really seems to have her at a loss, 
doesn't it?

A'lex says "Oh, and I had recourse for counter attack when I was peeing 
purple." He laughs, "We're only doing this because we love you Kassima."

D'thon steps back, making a slight growling noise. "D'you really want 
everyone t'know how heavy you are, Kassi?"

A'lex snickers. "Oh dear."

Meli takes hold of one of Kassi's arms, though not painfully tightly, 
above where D'thon has her, and holds the pot of green paint out to 
D'thon. "Hmm. How do we get th'jacket off while still hangin' on?"

A'lex grabs Kassi about the waist and lifts her feet off the ground, 
"Remove jacket please before I get hurt."

Kassima manages to summon up enough poise to quip drolly, "I shudder 
t'think what you'd be doing if'n you hated me, then. Argh, this paint's 
starting t'dry--" She kicks back with one leg, trying to connect with a 
bluerider target. "I am *nay* heavy!" protests the admittedly stick-thin 
greenrider. "And people couldn't *see* your water being purple, 'Lex, so 
'twas nay so ba--" She breaks off and resumes her struggles when Meli 
mentions removing her jacket. Okay, she could live with being painted, but 
these continuous threats to her clothedness.... "'Lex! Let me *go*, 
bronzer!"

A'lex says "Hey hey hey! Watch where you're kickin! And who's to say no 
one saw me doin by business all purple..."

D'thon grabs Kassi's jacket by the collar, hauling it off her. "So far, so 
good..." He finds a convenient low-hanging branch and places it there. 
"Your turn, Meli." Green streaks start to appear in the rider's hair with 
alarming rapidity.

A'lex sets the GREENrider back down, taking an extra arm while D'thon and 
Meli work.

"Eep," Meli yelps as A'lex hoists Kassi. Losing her balance, she stumbles 
backwards and nearly lands on her behind, but one the jacket is off she 
steps forward again and around to the front.

"Purple belly button, y'said?" Meli states.

Just because she's there, Maylia steps in and adds a nice blue swath down 
the bridge of Kassi's nose...

A'lex says "I think she had enough...."

A'lex laughs at the Bluenose...

Meli starts to giggle, glancing at the war-painted greenrider. "Yah, hey. 
Happy Turnday, Kassi, y'ol'tuber you!"

Kassima retorts back, "If'n you invite people t'come see you doing your 
business, that's your business, but--augh!" She wriggles and struggles, 
but it doesn't seem to be any use. Oh, the humanity! "What're you doing 
t'my hair?" is her next wail. "I defy anyone t'say that purple water isn't 
an improvement over this!" She doesn't really sound upset or angry... more 
as though she's being melodramatic for kicks, but her struggles do become 
a little more real every time someone threatens her clothes. "Leave 
m'belly-button alone!" Bluenose yelps.

D'thon shrugs. "If you will..." A quick "Z" in green appears across 
Kassi's back. "Anyone for more?"

A'lex grins, "I'm done, for now..."

Kassima blinks, then, at Meli, and just goes limp, eyeing her with 
disbelief. "Y'mean... 'tis over? You're nay going t'conk me upside the 
head and paint me all sorts of colors and leave me out here for everyone 
to laugh at so that m'reputation will be utterly tarnished for eternity?" 
Apparently, that's more along the lines of what *she* would do. Heaving a 
sigh, she mutters, "Thank *Faranth*!"

A'lex says "We can if you WANT us to..."

D'thon coughs, eyes dancing. "No, thank US."

Meli now has green paint all over her hands, so she sets the pot down on 
the ground, spreads out Kassi's now-removed jacket, and plants a handprint 
on the front. "Yeh, _now_ it's over." She laughs and shows Kassi her 
handiwork.

A'lex oooohhhhs, and adds little purple fingernails to the green 
handprint.

Kassima shakes her head frantically at 'Lex. "Nay, nay--I mean, that'll be 
quite... um... sufficient. Think you could let go of me now? There's still 
brandy in there... ooh, nice, Meli! I like that better'n a bawdy limerick 
any day."

A'lex smirks when he finishes. "Someday, Greenrider, mark my words, I 
**WILL** paint your behind purple."

Meli continues to grin. "Yeh, _my_ brandy!" she repeats. "Best go an' make 
sure no one's walked off w'it."

Kassima replies with a snort, "The likelihood of you ever getting a chance 
t'paint m'rump, bronzeboy, is nonexistant--so give it up now! Aye, your 
brandy, m'candy and dye... Faranth. This has been one Turnday I'll likely 
never forget, even if'n the paint does wash off eventually."

A'lex just grins, "We'll see... we'll see..."

Kassima grumbles as she finally pulls her way free and tugs on her 
maltreated jacket, right over the great green Z, "Can't you just stick 
t'painting Channie's rump? Anyway, *I* could use a good, sound drink."

A'lex gets a look at Kassi's back as he lets her go, "D'thon? WHo's Z?"

D'thon shrugs. "Nothing. Just coincidence it turned out like that..."

Meli says "I like it," even though she didn't get that great a glance 
before it was covered up. "Zee.... Kazzima... Zippy... Zoinks..."

Vidarth backwings for a landing.

R'val slides down from Vidarth's back and lands in a crouch.

Kassima remarks wryly, "You're confusing me with Zoiketh's rider again, 
Meli! Considering that I'm female and lack a beard, I can't see *why*, 
but... anyway."

R'val clambers off Vidarth, and straightens, removing helmet, gloves, and 
so forth, "Evening, gang..." He peers at the paint-smeared Kassima, "Dear 
me."

A'lex sighs and heads for Nraith's back, "Night all, happy Day Kassi."

A'lex climbs up Nraith's riding straps, with a bit of assistance from a 
graciously extended foreleg. He settles in between two forward neckridges 
and straps himself in.

Nraith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him 
aloft.

Meli closes up the various pots of paint, waving a green hand at Uri as he 
arrives. "Brandy an' candy, neh?"

R'val blinks, "Brandy? Candy? Both are good things> Dare I ask, why is 
Kassima painted?"

Meli chuckles. "S'her Turnday, Uri. An' now tha' she's properly anointed, 
we're goin' back in t'celebrate some more."

R'val gestures to the cavern, "Back in there? Well, I'd be happy to come 
join the celebration then, far be it from me to refuse liquor and 
candy..."

[Editor's Note:  And at this point, I had to bamf... so it's assumed that
Kassi went back into the Living Cavern, drank enough brandy to get 
pleasantly tipsy, and lived bizarrely ever after. :)]